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giuliettagaltieri · 1 year

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Project: Galatea

Pairing: Miguel O'Hara x AI!reader

Synopsis: Allowing you sentiency made things more complicated between you and Miguel. But Peter Parker from Earth-199999 decides to take on an unfinished impossible project of his late mentor, and possibly bring you and Miguel back together.

Warning: Questionable nerd writing, spiderverse context, angst

Word Count: 6218

1 of 3

You are one of Miguel O’Hara’s greatest regrets.

You were created as an artificially intelligent system and with the advancements brought by the time Miguel created you, he was able to make you connect, bond, and feel. He was lax with your restrictions. Thinking of you as a companion than a holographic computer system.

He gave you a name that is not patterned to your system, it was just a name he gave you as he thought it suited your features that was just generated by the programming. He wanted your appearance to be something that is yours, and not something that he created based on what he preferred.

You usually sat on Miguel’s shoulders before he even became Spiderman, working as a bioengineer at Alchemax. He knows it’s late when you start yawning and you lean on him for a nap, kind of like how someone would put their phone on a power saving mode.

“Miggy, let’s sleep?” You often say as you plop yourself atop his hair.

He just chuckles as he works on his suit, getting tired of the easily ripped fabric of his previous gear, he decided to create one that is made of unstable molecules. “You can go offline. I’ll have to finish this.”

“’M not sleeping if you’re staying up.” You huff. “Come on, you can work on that tomorrow.” You fly in front of him and cross your arms.

He notes how your halo is a bit dimmer. “Alright.” He often wondered if you can really get sleepy. You are created through codes and though it is evident that you can have emotions, you can’t possess qualities the same as a real person would.

Your wings flutter excitedly as you flap them so you can perch yourself back on his head.

It was a little inside joke between you. You are the rational voice when he is about to do something stupid. An angel on his shoulder. Your sudden appearance would often startle his enemies and wonder what the fuck you are and you would simply smile, point at Miguel and say, “I’m his conscience.”

Your halo and wings often glowed in the softest hue of pink and white. Their hue depends on your mood.

Miguel yawns as he enters his bathroom. You shriek and shield your eyes when he lifts his shirt up to strip.

“You pervert!” You stomp your heel on his forehead and even though he can’t feel it, your annoyance was enough to amuse him, Miguel’s laugh was muffled by his toothbrush.

You often sit on the faucet as you wait for him to finish his shower.

“What does a shower feel like?” You muse, your chin resting on your hand while your elbow is perched on your thigh.

“Uh…wet?”

You roll your eyes at his response. You look away from him when he comes out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist.

“It’s refreshing, I guess.” Miguel shrugs as he scoops your light projected body on his large hand.

Your tiny hands hold his thumb for balance, not that you need it but you felt the need to anyway.

“Go offline now, firefly. See you in the morning.”

“Don’t forget to buy groceries tomorrow.” You say before flickering. “Goodnight, Miggy.” And you disappear.

“Goodnight, Y/N.” He smiles.

On Sundays, you both share lazy mornings. He would often walk around his apartment in nothing but his boxers and you eventually get used to it. You would sit on his shoulders as he attempted to cook for himself.

“No, it should be three tablespoons of soy sauce, not teaspoons.” You would correct him every now and then and he would just switch the utensil, knowing that you have unlimited access to the recipes online.

You would lie on your stomach on the throw pillow he would put on his lap as you watched a movie. “She easily could have transferred the data and he won’t have to go through all that.” You would comment now and then as your tiny feet sway in the air. “But that’s fine, I guess, he looks hot fighting the bad guys.”

Miguel would jostle the pillow and you would dramatically roll as you struggled not to fall off, it was probably because of the spatial awareness he gave you.

You would often sulk when he goes on dates. Not responding when he asks you how to tie the piece of fabric that should be his tie. He often found you sitting on top of the bookshelf, your knees tucked to your chest as you drew shapes on the dust covered surface, the shapes not really being made, reminding you that you are only a projection, a hologram, an artificial being, someone who can’t be with Miguel.

“Oh, come one, firefly.” Miguel would sigh as he watched the soft glow behind the books. “It’s only a date.” But you don’t reply.

When he comes home, earlier than he should have been, he’s a little disappointed when you don’t greet him.

“Y/N? Where are you?” He calls as he looks around his apartment. His hands are already loosening his tie. “Come on, I didn’t even kiss her.”

Miguel chuckles lightly as he sees your head pop out from behind the picture frame containing a silly photo of the two of you. “You didn’t?” You ask.

“Nah, her breath stinks of onions.” Miguel throws his coat on the sofa and he collapses next to it.

You giggle and you fly to him, landing on his chest, laying down on your stomach once more as your hands support your cheeks. “Yeah? You didn’t like her?” You ask a little excitedly.

Miguel shakes his head as he keeps his eyes on you. He smiles when you cheer out of happiness.

He would also have fun watching you play dress up in front of his holographic tablet. He’s in his bed, just lounging and you’re on his abdomen, swiping the screen to find a new dress to wear. Miguel glances at the clock on his nightstand. You’ve been at it for hours.

“I like this one, what do you think, Miggy?”

The man turns to look at you, only for his spit to go down the wrong tube, making him hack. “What the hell is that?”

You look at the white skin tight dress that covers your tiny holographic body. “A dress?”

Miguel frowns at you. “Says who?”

A cute brow is raised at him. “Calvin Klein.”

He clicks his tongue. “It looks like underwear. The fuck would you choose such an old brand for?”

You scoff and continue to scroll to look for something else. “It’s a classic.”

“Well, I don’t like it.”

Then it happens one day.

You are helping Miguel battle Mysterio when he meets her. He caught her just before she fell to her death.

Next thing you knew, they were going on dates.

“Yeah, I know. I’ll deal with the symbiote sighting tomorrow evening.” He says hurriedly as he makes his way to his front door but you land on the doorknob and you look at him angrily.

“You can’t choose a girl over an entire city!” You say sternly as you place your hands on your hips.

Miguel raises a brow and smirks down at you. “What an exaggeration. Are you jealous?”

Your frown deepens. “Miguel, you can’t seriously go on a date when Carnage is at large!”

He straightens up and looks at you, annoyed. “If I wear the mask all the time, I’ll go mad. Just let me be Miguel O’Hara for tonight.”

Miguel does not return to his apartment that night.

And you don’t respond to his calls for a week.

“You’re such an inconvenience, Y/N.” He quips. “I made you so you can help me with my work.” He says as he looks around for the villain that was wreaking havoc in the city. “Stop sulking and do your job!”

You would reluctantly pop out and help him, only speaking when needed, giving him the information that he needs and nothing more.

It was difficult for you to watch Miguel slowly fall in love with her, and even more so when he loses her.

He became sad and angry, very angry.

“Miguel? You need to rest.” You say softly as you watch him perfecting an experiment. You peer on his work and your eyes widen when you see a powerful focused energy hovering on Miguel’s work table.

You immediately fly to his face. “Are you mad? Do you realize what you are doing?” He turns to the other screen but you follow him around. “You can’t tamper with time and space like that.”

All lights suddenly go off and Miguel exhales deeply through his nose, his eyes full of rage as he glares at you. “Power it back on.” His voice is low and it was the first time you have ever felt fear because of him but you stand your ground.

The man does not falter with his disapproving look on you but you refuse to power his computers back to life. You won’t just stand around and let him interfere with the natural order.

“My name is Miguel O’Hara and I am authorizing a shutdown sequence.” He says and you frantically look around as a bright red screen flashes behind you.

“Miguel, don’t do this!” You cry to him, your eyes begging as you press your tiny hands on his cheeks but his eyes remain cold as he stares at the screen.

“Commence shut down of the Intelligent Digital Assistance System. Project name: Galatea.” Miguel looks at your pleading eyes. “For good.”

He watches your eyes fill with sadness before your form flickers just like how it used to whenever you whisper ‘Goodnight.’ And he watches the pixelated tear roll down your cheek before you disintegrate into a million tiny pieces.

The events that followed after his decisions of tampering with the fragility of the multiverse was his punishment.

There was no undoing it all.

He wished he just listened to you when you tried to stop him. It wouldn’t have come to all of this.

Now, he dedicates his life to protecting what else is left. Trying to keep the multiverse intact to prevent the same mistake from happening.

And Lyrate Lifeform Approximation was created, or Lyla.

Miguel made her different from you. Lyla is created to be more objective, more functional, with just a right amount of spunk for a bit of personality.

The Spider Society was then formed. A strike force dedicated to keep the multiverse from tearing apart.

In there, he found a sense of sympathy. The people in there suffered just like him. A lot of spider-people were in pain. But not all of them knew how to follow orders. Not thinking about the consequences of their actions. Never willing to sacrifice a portion of themselves for the greater good.

Like Miles Morales.

Or Peter Parker of Earth-199999.

They both came around eventually, after a couple or more heart attacks from Miguel.

Peter Parker was trying to learn from Spider-Byte and how future tech works. He was given a specific holographic screen in the corner and he’s been trying to pick it apart for hours.

“Wow, Ned’s not gonna believe this.” He whispers as his eyes dart from one file to the other, being connected like faint orange lines.

“Hold on, what’s this?” Peter mumbles as he taps on a tiny file that is placed separate, somewhere isolated, forgotten.

“Can I?” Peter scratches his jaw. “Should I?” He shrugs before opening the file. He rolls his chair backward as the tiny file explodes to the most intricate coding he has ever seen. He saw something like this before. When he studied Tony’s AIs. Or at least what was left of them.

He clicks on a file, one of the millions. A large ‘RESTRICTED’ was flashed on the screen in bold red letters. He tries again and the same word is flashed. He tries again and again until he sees Miguel O’Hara himself in front of a mirror and a miniature angel on Miguel’s hand.

“You like it?” Miguel asked.

The holographic angel nods excitedly, pure joy evident in her eyes. She twirls around in front of the mirror, inspecting her wings and adoring her tiny halo.

“Miggy, it’s perfect!” You fly up to kiss his cheek. The connection between you was impossible to miss.

And the screen goes blank.

“Are you kidding me?” Peter grasps his hair as he jumps around in excitement. Peter squints his eyes to read the file name. “Galatea.”

“Greek mythology Galatea?” Spider-Byte wonders behind Peter.

Peter flinches, his sidersense clouded with the amount of enthusiasm being contained in his body. “I-I don’t know. I don’t know yet. It’s-”

“That’s the file name of my older sister, Y/N.” Lyla suddenly pops out between them.

“Lyla, you know her?” Peter asks, not being able to hide his eagerness. “Is she an AI like you?”

Spider-Byte and Peter look at her in anticipation. “I’m not sure if I should talk about her.” She looks skeptical before she breaks into a wide grin. “Well, there’s no order for me not to so I suppose I can.”

Two sets of eyes follow Lyla around as she glitches towards Peter’s screen and she pops up a photo of you sitting on Miguel’s head as the two of you wore similar aviators.

“She’s Miguel’s first AI companion. Way before the Spider Society was even created, before he was even Spiderman, I think.” Lyla rubs her chin as she opens her own tiny screens. “Though, I’m not sure. Miguel replays their videos together in the dark when he thinks he’s alone but I can’t really find most of her files.”

“It was compressed there.” Peter points at the screen, trying not to get distracted from what Lyla just told them. “Did she get corrupted by a virus?” His thoughts wandered to the articles he read about Ultron.

“No. She uhm.” The small screen Lyla created vanished, making her glowing face look a bit dimmer. “Her program was shut down.”

Spider-Byte glanced at the screen that has you and Miguel in it. “Why shut down a working program?”

Lyla glances at your face on the screen. “She was created differently. More empathetic and subjective. For some reason, she was sentient.”

Peter gawks at her and he shares a look with Spider-Byte. “Was that even a possibility?” Spider-Byte asks.

Shrugging, Lyla gives them a tight-lipped smile. “Well, it happened, didn’t it?”

“She was sentient but she was shut down?” Peter asks incredulously. “Did she go rogue or something?”

Lyla shakes her head no. “She was the total embodiment of those wings and halo.”

“Then why was her program shut down?” Peter asked, his face twisted in pure confusion and disbelief.

Lyla doesn’t respond and turns to your picture with Miguel and your matching smiles.

Spider-Byte sighs. “They got too attached, didn’t they? Her and Miguel?”

Peter frowns at her question but remembers Wanda and Vision J.A.R.V.I.S.

An impossible idea pops in Peter’s head. It’s irrational, risky, and impulsive but those are just some of the qualities Peter got from his mentor.

“Do you think Miguel would give her codes to me?” Peter blurts.

Lyla and Spider-Byte looks at him as if he just asked if he could go break a canon.

“Absolutely not.” Was Miguel’s response to Peter when he finally asked the bigboss for your codes.

Peter curses under his breath. He even had to ask MJ and Ned to help him create a presentation as to why Miguel should give your codes to him.

“Oh, come on. I rehearsed that speech for a week!”

“She holds classified information. I can’t just give a copy of her to you.” Miguel says as he taps on his holographic screen.

“Not a copy. The original code.” Peter says more seriously. “Protocols and memory.”

Miguel pauses and glowers at Peter from his shoulders. The look was enough to make Peter second guess himself but his resolve comes back, stronger than ever.

“I’m trying to bring her back to you.” Peter says loudly.

This catches Miguel’s attention and he turns to look at Peter from above the platform in his office.

“Elaborate.” Miguel looks at Peter with a blank expression.

Peter pumps his fist secretly and clears his throat before speaking.

“I am currently studying bioorganics and I’m trying to complete an unfinished project of my mentor, Mr. Stark. He created a synthetic body that is not made of vibranium but something that is made of organic materials. You know, like a real person.”

Miguel looks at the screen next to him which is flashing Peter’s proposal. “And you want Y/N to bring life to that thing?”

“Well, it won’t be easy without the mind stone but I heard she’s quite sentient.�� Peter explains while gesturing with his hand way too much, clearly nervous. “That is also assuming that her operational matrix adapts to the organic body.”

“What if you fail? I’ll lose all her data.” Miguel says, a threatening tone clearly heard in his voice.

“Last time her file was opened was years ago.” Peter quickly shut his mouth when Miguel throws him a dangerous look. “What I’m trying to say is, this is a chance. You could potentially see her again, this time, with a physical body.”

Miguel heaves a sigh and chooses to glare at the walls instead.

“I know something painful must have happened for you to shut down her program like that. But it doesn’t feel right to trap a sentient being in a set of codes.” Peter frowns at his feet and grumbles the next words. “Come on man, I’m trying to give you a chance to apologize to her, face to face.”

Silence fills the entire room.

Peter is waiting for Miguel to yell again but he is taken aback when he looks up to see a defeated and longing look plastered on Miguel’s face.

“Just…” Miguel pauses, it was difficult for him and Peter can see it. “Don’t destroy her code.”

“Thank you, Mr. O’Hara. You won’t regret it!” He beams at Miguel.

“I sure hope not.” Miguel turns to his screens to resume his work. “And Mr. O’Hara was my father. You can call me Miguel.”

Peter wasted no time and started working on the project right away when he got back to Earth-199999.

It was difficult, trying to follow Bruce and Tony’s work. Especially when the body is more susceptible and reactive. You even had the anatomy of a real person, inside and out.

The project was something that Peter cannot do on his own. He needed his friends and MJ and Ned were more than willing to help. Both were hesitant with the thought of literally bringing an AI to life, considering what happened before in Sokovia. They did not know you, MJ and Ned, they were wary as they should be with all the risks they were about to make.

Peter had to turn your code upside down, in and out, trying to look for glitches or any malicious intent but found none.

The three of them are taken by surprise as to what your synthetic body could do.

It was MJ who noticed first. You have a lymphatic system.

By next week, Ned finds out that you have a fully functional endocrine system.

There was always something in you that they discover for the first time when they delve deeper. Which makes it difficult for them to make real progress. Just as they thought they made a breakthrough, your synthetic body just shows another ability that blurs the line between you and humanity.

“You need to stop looking at her like a robot.” Miguel tells him one day as Peter seeks any advice from him, considering that he did work in Alchemax as a bioengineer. “Treat her like how you would treat a human.”

That was when Peter decided that just him and his friends can’t do it alone. They were only college students!

This project calls for someone who has a doctorate in medicine and knows the human body like the back of their hand.

It was difficult for them to get Stephen Strange to have a look at the setbacks they encountered in your body. But when given the right information and told what he wanted to hear, Stephen was already opening a portal to Peter’s dorm room.

“I’ll tell you what’s the problem.” Stephen says. “Some of her neurons are meeting in a terminal. Electrical impulses can’t get through, causing circuit failures.”

Peter squints on the holographic screen that Stephen zoomed in. “Yeah. That’s where the mind stone is supposed to be.”

“But the AI has an awakened consciousness, she won’t be needing it.” Stephen mutters more to himself. “And the mind stone's already gone.”

Ned walks over to look at the screen, a cup of hot chocolate in his hands. “But you’ll be able to redirect them, won’t you?”

Stephen does not respond, only staring intently at the holographic form of your shell.

MJ glances at the anxious look on Peter’s face as he awaits Stephen’s answer. When silence still follows, MJ rolls her eyes.

“Don’t get your hopes up too much, Ned.” She sighs, making Stephen narrow his eyes. “There could be a thousand neu-”

“A trillion.” Strange emphasizes.

“A trillion neurons to redirect. He might be a neurosurgeon but he is not a miracle worker.”

Ned sucks in a breath and raises his cup to his lips and sips quietly, eyes wide, awaiting Stephen’s response.

Stephen suddenly rips off the sling ring and slips it somewhere in his robes. Peter takes a step back, almost getting hit by Stephen dramatically taking off his cape. “I’m about to become your deus ex machina.”

MJ snatches a piece of bread sitting on Peter’s dining table and takes a bite, sending a wink to Peter.

“Stark really outdid himself.” Stephen marvels at your intricate anatomical structure. “The shell does mimic the human body, the nerves, fiber, and vessels.” Stephen squints at something and hums. “But there’s the issue of physiology.”

Peter looks at the metallic casket and to Stephen. “What about physiology?”

Stephen points at the left side of your pelvis. “That’s an ovary.” He drags his finger on the screen to point at the right side. “There’s another one here.”

Peter could only look at Stephen. Waiting for him to confirm what was running in Peter’s head.

Surely Tony did not think that far ahead to give you that ability. That is ethically ambiguous.

“It is possible that it is not functional.” Stephen rubs his jaw. “Perhaps we could think of it as a vestigial organ for now.”

Peter simply nods, following Stephen as he zooms in on your lumbar spine.

“She has a functional endocrine system.” Ned recalls, making Stephen whip towards him. “I ran a noninvasive test and I detected traces of estrogen, progesterone, and FSH.”

Stephen runs a hand on his face. “And hCG?”

Ned ponders for a moment. “Yeah, human chorionic gonadotropin was also there.”

MJ clutches her bread a little too tight. “She is capable of gestation?” Her voice came out as a shaky whisper.

All eyes turn to Stephen who shakes his head. “That is ridiculous!” He chuckles dryly. “That shouldn’t be possible.” He stares at the holographic image of the synthetic shell. “Was Stark trying to play God?” His voice was starting to raise, his fist clenching.

“Whoa, I’m sure that’s not it.” Peter raises a hand nervously as he gulps.

Strange points at the casket. “You realize you’ll be bringing a being to life that isn’t supposed to exist.”

“She has a name!” MJ interjects.

“You understand that you are overstepping your mortal bounds.” Stephen continues.

Peter looks at Stephen, shocked. “Please, sir! I-I only want to finish this project for Mr. Stark.” He points at your holographic body. “And set her free from her digital prison. We are about to give her a chance to live, like really live.”

Stephen glances at your metallic casket warily.

“She’s not a villain.” Peter says more calmly. “I checked her code a thousand times.”

Stephen shakes his head.

“I can’t believe I’m about to take part in a project that is the peak of Stark’s god complex.”

Peter grins.

The chance of meeting you does not seem so impossible anymore.

Miguel watches Peter Parker of Earth-199999 with a sharp glare.

The “project” that the kid told him about has been going on for six months but he has been given zero updates regarding your progress.

His jaw tightens when he catches the kid stealing a glance at him from across the cafeteria in HQ before ducking his head again.

“Why don’t you go ask him what’s wrong?” Peter B says blankly at Miguel as he stuffed his mouth with fries. “Kid’s been doing that for the past hour.”

Miguel scoffs. “If he has something to say, he will be the one to approach me.”

For the past months, Miguel has been dropping hints to Avenger Peter, the nickname seems to really make the kid happy so the entire Spider Society just rolled with it. Miguel made sure to assign him on missions that might aid his project. The kid can be dense sometimes in picking up indirect messages but Miguel does it anyway, almost sighing out a breath of relief when he watches Peter’s eyes glimmer with realization.

“Whope- Okay! I gotta run. See you around, Miguel.” Peter B snatches his drink and clumsily leaves.

Miguel glares at the man’s retreating form before he hears his name being called.

“What?” Miguel spits.

“Uh, is this a bad time?”

Miguel looks to his side and narrows his eyes at Avenger Peter. Finally, he mustered the courage.

“What is it?” Miguel straightens, his enormous arms crossing in his chest, looking a bit threatening.

Peter looks at the empty seat in front of Miguel, he’s not sure if it’s rude to just sit there without being invited to but he does it anyway.

“It’s about Y/N.” Peter whispers rather too loudly, basically defeating its purpose.

Miguel’s eyes flickered with fury, making Peter swallow harshly, trying to choose his words very carefully.

“I know I really took my time with the project but the good news is that we successfully transferred her code to the shell.”

Oftentimes, Miguel would pitch in sarcastic comments but he can feel the weight in Peter’s words that he finds himself closely listening, trying to take in every detail that Peter shares.

“We managed to synthesize her code and reprogrammed her synapses to sync and adapt to the body.” Peter heaves a breath. “But the thing is, we can’t get to wake her up.”

The crushing feeling of losing someone again was not easy for Miguel to ignore but he nodded at Peter’s words.

“Did you try amping the power source?” Miguel suggests.

Peter nods slowly. “Yes. We tried from nuclear fission to the arc reactor.” Peter leans back on the cafeteria bench, looking too nonchalant despite the shadiness of his words, Miguel won’t be surprised if one day he finds out that the kid’s locked up in prison for conducting mad experiments. “I was thinking of contacting Thor but I really didn’t know how.”

Miguel masks the disappointment in his eyes with a stern look. “Did you make sure that you got all her system matrix properly embedded in the body?”

“Definitely!” Peter nods. “It’s like she’s far away, dreaming. She’s there but she’s also not. Y/N’s shutting us out.”

A pindrop silence befalls them.

“What did you say?” Miguel says sharply to Peter as he leans slightly forward.

The kid unconsciously leans backward. “Y/N’s…shutting us out?”

It all clicks in Miguel’s head.

“She needs me.”

Peter’s eyes widened at his bluntness. “Huh?”

“I designed her program to only respond to me. I shut off her system. Of course. Her protocol does not recognize you.”

Slowly, Peter catches up, his eyes widening in barely contained excitement. “Is she programmed to activate upon voice command?”

Miguel rises to his feet, quickly making his way out of the cafeteria while Peter giddily follows, the largest smile plastered on his face.

“I’m certain I can get her to respond.” Miguel mutters as he taps into his multiverse gizmo.

The familiar building up sound of the portal fills the air and soon enough a cluster of patterns and colors emerge right in front of them.

With purpose in his steps, Miguel crosses the portal headed to Earth-199999, to you.

Peter’s room was nothing short of underwhelming compared to the building they just stepped out of but Miguel can see the traces of genius scattered around the room.

On top of a desk, piled notes for astrophysical physics. Next to the kitchen sink, a perpetual motion machine that is made of the most tedious house materials. In a corner, a phone is being charged and is hanging by the charger cord.

The lights suddenly power off, coating the room in darkness. “I know you’re sensitive to lights.” Peter shrugs, to which Miguel only nods.

“Stop right there!”

Miguel turns to see a girl threatening him with a piece of…toast? And another kid who is doing a very poor karate stance.

“No, MJ, Ned. It’s fine, he’s here to help Y/N.” Peter raises his hands and steps in between Miguel and the other kids.

“Where is she?” Miguel asks.

The kid trying to do the karate stance points to the corner of the room that is covered by a screen.

Miguel easily slips past them, he didn’t even have to try.

He ignored the calls as his feet just led him to where you are. He didn’t know what he should be expecting to see. But he knew it wasn’t the metallic casket.

“She’s in there.” Peter stands next to him. “It’s powered enough and it should activate when you power her system on.” Miguel can only nod at Peter’s words. “We don’t have a hypothesis yet as to what would happen when she rises. But we could probably expect that she would manifest signs similar to someone who just woke up from cryosleep. Orthostatic hypotension could also be a possibility-”

Peter pauses when he feels MJ’s hand on his shoulder. MJ nods to Miguel’s pained expression.

The time they spent on your project was enough to drive them nuts and they are dying to see you but looking at Miguel’s face, they know they might never fully understand the longing he feels.

Peter does not know what happened between you two but he can ask another day. He watches how Miguel’s fingers carefully brush the metallic casket. If Peter didn’t know better, he would have been greatly disturbed with the amount of vulnerability the man is showing.

“Well, we’re gonna step out for a bit as you wake her up.” Peter says with a softer smile gracing his lips. “And I really appreciate the hints you drop every now and then.”

MJ smiles at Peter and she interlaces their hands together. Ned nods at the two and follows them out.

The soft footsteps soon fade and the sound of the door locking into place reaches Miguel’s ears.

A quiet buzzing was audible from the box that contained you. It must have been the energy they tried to power you with. But it was endearing to him in some way that only he could wake you.

There were only a few times where a man of such stature as Miguel O’Hara was brought to his knees. This was one of them. His knees hit the cheap fabric of the carpet and his weight bears on his skin. Miguel lay his hand flat on the cool surface of the metallic box. And he leans his forehead to it.

With his voice hoarse, he whispers your name. He swallows the rest of the words. He does not know why. He cannot wait a second longer to see you but the fear grips him hard, just like how it did for years.

It was a cruel terror but his desire to see your face again overpowers any fear.

“My name is Miguel O’Hara and I am authorizing a startup sequence.”

Miguel grits his teeth when he does not hear the same beeping sounds that precedent your arrival. His forehead creasing at the memory of you begging him not to lock you away. He did not deserve you, not after what he did. But Miguel O’Hara is a selfish man and he would stop at nothing to have you back.

“Commence booting of the Intelligent Digital Assistance System. Project name: Galatea.” He sucks in a breath, this time, meaning the next words with all honesty. “For good.”

Silence has never been louder. It clogged the room, suffocating him.

“Please, wake up.” He brushes his lips on the freezing cold case.

A hiss is released by the contraption and Miguel’s eyes widen as he steps back to see you better. But as more hissing sound came, vapor flooded the area where the metallic flaps were slowly opening.

Then a hand grasped on the opened flaps, then came distressed gasping.

“Y/N!” Miguel didn’t know what he was doing, his body was acting on its own as he hopped inside the casket to help you sit up.

Your hair covers your face and Miguel reaches to brush them to the side, his large calloused hand rubs on your bare back to soothe you. It felt unreal to finally have you in his grasp, hearing you, seeing you.

You whimper in pain when a particular cough rasped on your throat.

“Hey, take it easy.” Miguel whispers as he crouches down so he can see you eye to eye. “Breathe.”

And when you look up to him with your eyes heavy with exhaustion, Miguel halts his movements as he feels himself being caught up in a temporal illusion.

Time, space, everything felt irrelevant the moment your eyes met his.

“M-Miggy?” You whisper.

Miguel breaks into a disbelieving smile.

He watches your moonlight bathed face contort to confusion. You raise your delicate fingers, reaching out to his face but stopping just before your skin touches. You hesitate, not sure if what you see before you is truly the man you loved.

The tips of your fingers brush on his cheek so softly, he almost doesn’t feel it and you let them run across his warm skin so you can cup his cheek.

Your chapped lips break to the smile he missed and loved so ardently.

He closes his eyes as he lets your fingers dance on his skin. He holds in a breath when your fingertips smooth out the crease on his forehead and his much larger hand captures your wrist.

For so long, he wanted to apologize. He did, countless of times, in the darkness and silence of his room, to a photo of you. His apologies only floating in the air, unheard.

“What I did to you was wrong. Everyday, I regret it. I promised you happiness when I created your code but I upset you and I have no right to be hurting in the way that I am. I was so stupid for shutting your system down when you were only looking out for me.”

The moonlight bathed you, making you glow, an ethereal sight to behold.

“I wasn’t ready to say goodbye when you shut down my program.” You say as you place your hands on his shoulders. “But there is nothing you can ever do to make me stay mad at you.”

He was about to protest when you hushed him.

“I know.” You smile at him tenderly. “You don’t have to say anything else. I know.”

Miguel could feel his chest tightening. The complexity of the quantum physics, he has no trouble understanding, but what you do to him, he is easily lost. “I don’t deserve you, firefly.”

You nod. “No, you don’t.” You yawn before flashing him a sleepy smile. “But I’ll stay with you anyway.”

He chuckles, eyes boring into yours.

You are as stubborn as he remembers you to be.

Your breath mixes together as you let yourselves draw to each other.

His arm slips to your waist, pulling you flush to him.

“Pervert, I’m not decent.” You mumble against his lips. “I have so many questions.”

“Save them for later.” Miguel captures your lips in his. You let out the deepest breath you have taken and you let him mold your lips together. “I screwed up.” He slots your bottom lip between his and he nibbles. “But I could spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

You hum, amused. “Are you sure about that?” He kissed your shoulder. “I can be quite a handful.”

The corner of Miguel’s lips tugs upwards. “Believe me, I know.”

A teasing smile creeps on your lips and the half-lidded eyes that you are giving him are making him feel fuzzy, it was like you were never apart.

“You are so in love with me.” You press the tip of your finger to his chest, teasingly accusing him.

He shakes his head as he laughs.

“Always have been.”

Project: Galatea • Project: Pandora • Project: Eros

Ficart created by @tired-lime

#miguel o'hara x reader #Miguel O'Hara x you #Miguel O'Hara #Spiderman 2099 x reader #Spiderman 2099 #spiderman across the spider verse #ATSV #Miguel O'Hara x reader #miguel o'hara fanfiction

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public-trans-it-deactivated20240 · 1 year

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i would love to hear your dark spore rant. i didnt even know spore had a sequel.

Oh anon. Poor sweet anon. I’m so sorry.

So, the thing about Darkspore is…

… it was a really REALLY… mediocre game.

Like, the moment to moment gameplay was… fine. Just fine. Not incredible. But not BAD! Really, it only had two major flaws:

The first, it was buggy as hell. One particularly nasty bug was present in the games launcher, and on certain systems the game would fail to install at all. They were unable to ever fix this bug, which I speculate was a major reason the game was abandoned by the devs so quickly and lead to it being taken down from every major digital distribution site. You could still install and play it if you already bought it though! If… it actually installed for you.

Which leads us to the second flaw. It’s right there on the box.

“Internet connection required”

The game has Always Online DRM. All the levels, enemies, loot, your entire account, was all stored server side. And servers are expensive. So, when the games bugs became unwieldy and not worth fixing, and they took it offline… it became a money sink. It was a game generating ZERO revenue, but had huge server maintenance costs. So eventually, they just shut down the servers.

It is now very difficult to obtain the game, requiring you to buy one of the few unopened physical copies remaining. And even once you do have it, it is IMPOSSIBLE to play. There is a project called Resurrection Capsule in the works, some fans trying to create a private server for it. But with so much info stored server side, they basically have to recreate entire subsystems from scratch. It’s… not going very fast, and to my knowledge hasn’t been touched in over a year.

Story

The story of the game is pretty basic. A progenitor race of alien super-scientists create a new, synthetic form of DNA, called Exponential-DNA, or E-DNA. This rapidly mutates to create new life, and can be guided to create specific, specialized organisms, condensing thousands of years of evolution to a few hours. It can also be injected into existing creatures to alter them and make them more powerful. However it also linked everything affected by it into a hivemind. So it was outlawed. The creator of it decided to respond by creating a E-DNA virus, called The Darkspore, infecting himself with it, and spreading it across the galaxy and conquering it, wiping out his own race.

You play as another member of that race, who has been in hibernation for 1000 years while that was going down. Your ship AI has woken you up because it has managed to stabilize E-DNA and also keep it disconnected from the hivemind, and needs you to go kill the guy who took over the galaxy. That is how the game starts.

…

And how the story ends. There is not really any more story past that part. You get a cutscene describing each of the games 6 planets the first time you visit it, and a final “Hey you won!” cutscene after killing the final boss which ends with the cliche “implication the villain isn’t really dead” trope, and… that’s it. That’s the entire story. Not really the selling point of this game. Its not even entirely clear if it takes place in the same universe as Spore! It’s just set dressing for “Run through these 24 levels and beat everything up”

Gameplay

Darkspore was created by Maxis. This alone was HUGE. This was a team of developers who only really made lifesims like The Sims and Sim City, taking a stab at making a diablolike game.

And I GENUINELY BELIEVE every single studio out there needs to do shit like this. Designing for something so outside your wheelhouse creates SOOOOO much innovation so quickly. You get fresh new ideas injected into the genre so quickly. The final product won’t be good! You don’t have any damn experience in the genre! But it will create something unique beautiful, and god damn I wish we lived in a world where that alone was enough and devs weren’t focused on chasing profits instead.

Genesis

Genesis is just a fancy way of saying ‘Element’. There are 5 of them: Plasma (fire and lightning), Bio (plants and animals), Cyber (machines), Necro (death and fear), and Quantum (space and time) and the way they interact is… certainly a choice I guess. Each Darkspore you face has a genesis it falls into, and each of your heroes has one as well. If your Genesis matches that of the darkspore you are fighting at the moment, you take double damage and they take half damage. If they don’t match, all damage both ways is neutral.

The system itself is kinda mediocre. The biggest part of it, however, is the Variant Skills. Each Genesis has 4 unique skills tied to it that represent the common elements of that type.

Heroes

There are 25 heroes in the game, which each have one Genesis and one Class (Sentinel which are the tanks, Ravagers which are the DPS, and Tempest which are the Casters/Support)

Each hero has 4 total variants, with the first one you unlock being Alpha, and as you level up your account (heroes do not have their own levels) you eventually can purchase their Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants, with each variant having slightly different stats, and a different one of their Genesis’ 4 variant abilities.

Each hero has a unique basic attack, which USUALLY has a little extra to it. For example Sage shoots a bolt that hurts enemies it hits, but heals allies it hits. Zrin alternates between two different punches, one of which has a short duration DoT and the other of which has a 10% stun chance. Stuff like that.

They also have a passive effect that is always active while you are playing them. Collect a soul from each enemy killed for a 5% damage boost, 10% damage bonus when attacking from behind, a stacking defense buff every time you take damage, stuff like that.

Finally, a character has 2 unique abilities. One that is unique to them and can only be used while you are playing that hero, and a second ability that is everyone in the squad can use if that hero is present.

Squad Decks

Which brings me to the first rant and something I am SO AUTISTIC ABOUT (positive). SQUADS. The game had you craft Squad Decks, collections of 3 heroes that you can swap between during your missions, for a total of 883.2k squad combinations (I think my math might be off on that). Swapping between them is on a cooldown of about 10 seconds, but otherwise is don’t instantaneously and as often as you want without penalty. You always have 5 abilities active:

- The unique ability of your active hero

- The Genesis ability of your active heroes variant

- Hero 1’s Squad ability

- Hero 2’s Squad ability

- Hero 3’s squad ability

The first two abilities change out every time you swap heroes, but the last 3 are fixed. So you have 3 abilities that you always have access to, and 6 abilities that are paired up and you can swap between which pair of those abilities is active.

Your heroes do NOT share a health/energy pool, but DO share healing pickups. Any time you pick up a health or energy restoration pickup, it refills a chunk of the respective health pool of your currently active hero, and a smaller chunk of each of your inactive heroes in the squad.

So the core loop of moment to moment gameplay becomes swapping situationally between heroes both offensively and defensively, to get access to your other heroes skills and also to mitigate damage from enemies based on their genesis or control where your healing is directed.

Loot

Loot in Darkspore is fairly standard for your average Diablolike. Item drops have 4 tiers: Common (Item Level=Account Level-5), Uncommon (Item Level=Account Level), Rarified (Item Level=Account Level+5), and Purified (Item Level=Account Level+10)

Items of higher tiers have more chances to roll on a table to gain beneficial modifiers.

Each item fell into one of a few different categories: Weapon, Hands, Feet, Offensive, Defensive, or Utility.

Each hero has one of each slot, plus an additional slot based on their class. Ravagers have an extra Offense slot, Sentinels have an extra Defense slot, and Tempests have an extra Utility slot. Any hero can equip any item you gain, with the exception of Weapons that are hero specific. Some heroes also lack Hands or Feet, in which case their weapon has extra stats and can get the same modifiers as hands and feet can.

The items you equip can then be added onto the Hero in the Hero Editor. The Hero Editor is often equated to the Creature Editor in Spore, which is BULLSHIT and was a pet peeve of mine the ENTIRE DAMN TIME THE FAME WAS LIVE. This is a FALSE EQUIVALENCE. It uses the outfit editor from the Tribal/Civilization phases of Spore instead. Importantly: this means you cannot alter the overall silhouette of your hero. It will always maintain the same basic profile and animations. However you can freely place the extra parts you equip anywhere on its body, and can also place multiple copies of them.

Additionally, old parts can have their stats stripped, converting them into ‘Detail’ parts with no stats, of which you can equip 6 different parts, each of which you can include 10 copies of on your hero. So you could get some pretty cool looks from it!

However all this loot is garbage and you likely would not use most of it outside of appearance. Which brings me to…

Cash-out Loot

Usually if you mention the word ‘cash’ in any sentence involving a game published by EA, it would be a call for concern. Luckily this isn’t that! It’s just gambling! Everything is fine!

The main progression in Darkspore comes from gear, and the best gear comes from how good your ships engines are. These come from account upgrades as you level up your account, determining how many levels you can do in a row. Every time you complete a level, you are given an option: Keep going, or ‘cash out’ and get a guaranteed piece of Uncommon gear, with a 10% chance of it becoming Rarified, as well as all the gear you picked up in the level.

If you choose to keep going, you have to complete the next level. If you die, you lose ALL the gear you picked up, including that guaranteed piece. If you make it to the end, you are given another choice: Risk it all again and go on to the next level, or stop here and get your TWO pieces of guaranteed uncommon loot, which each now have a 20% chance of becoming rarified and a 5% chance of becoming purified.

You can only go another of levels equal to the number of Engine Upgrades you have earned by leveling up your account. So at first, after the second level you HAVE to cash out. As you progress you can start to do many more levels at a time, getting a dozen pieces of gear that are practically guaranteed to be the highest rank.

But of course you have to play these levels in order, and you don’t get a chance to upgrade your character with all the cool new loot you found on the way, so you can’t just jump straight into this. You have to slowly build up to being able to push yourself this much, and once you can, you have a readily available source of some of the best gear in the game.

And that ties into my absolute favorite system of Darkspore:

Catalysts

Many diablolikes have a mechanic called ‘Sockets’. The gear you equip has its own type of equipment slot, and you put gems in there that give you small bonuses. Every game does it a little differently, but it’s kind of a staple of the series.

Darkspore uses a similar system, but utilizes it VERY differently. While you are running levels, enemies will rarely drop Catalysts instead of loot. These come in 5 colors: Purple (boosts your base stats), Red (boosts offensive secondary stats like damage or attack speed), Blue (boosts defensive secondary stats like health regen or damage resistance), Green (boosts utility secondary stats like movement speed or lifesteal), and Rainbow (can contain any of the bonuses of the previous categories) They also come in two sizes: Big and Small. This determines how big the bonus from them is.

You have a 3x3 grid on your HUD that the catalysts you collect go into. You can rearrange them however you want, and if you create a line of 3 of the same color (Rainbow is a wildcard and matches with all of them), it will double the bonus of all Catalysts in that line. This stacks, meaning if you create multiple lines over a single catalyst it could get a x3, x4, or even x5 bonus if it’s the center piece of the grid and forms a line in every direction.

However, you can’t save Catalysts. You can equip it to the grid or drop it on the ground and move on. That’s it. You have to decide now. Do you keep that Big Purple you have for the big buff to your most important stat, or do you trade it for that Small Rainbow for a mediocre stat you just found that you can plug in the middle and double everything else in your grid?

“Surely that only matters early game, and once you have good catalysts you don’t swap them out that much, right?” I hear the diablolike veterans asking, because that is how socketing works in most of those games. And normally you would be right. Except for one major change: All your catalysts only last until the end of your run. When you get to the cash out screen, and choose to keep going? You keep them. But if you choose to cash out, or if you ever die, your catalysts all vanish. Every new run you have to go through and collect them again, which results in you playing your heroes in new ways and adopting new strategies based on what catalysts drop for you each run.

It’s an INCREDIBLE easy to learn system that adds SO MUCH depth and replayability to the game. I love it so incredibly much. Each mechanic flows elegantly into the the next. The catalysts help you do better runs which gets you better gear which upgrades your heroes which lets you do better runs, the entire spiral being locked into your account level to give a quantifiable metric of how far this spiral is gone. It was so good!

And now, it’s gone forever.

Man that sure was a long post. Friends have heard me go on this rant SO many times. Thank god I never got into a second mediocre game filled with novel innovations that are ultimately lost to time and can never be experienced again due to Always Online DRM making it unplayable. Can you imagine if I didn’t learn my lesson and did that a second time? Ha!

… I never did that again. Right?

… right?

…

HEX: Shards of Fate

Hex was a digital TCG legal battle with TCG elements created by Cryptozoic. It was originally put up on Kickstarter, advertised as a digital card game with both PvE and PvP modes, a unique focus on the design space opened up by being a digital game, and gameplay damn near identical to Magic: The Gathering.

The thinly veiled truth was that this game was never meant to succeed. They had hoped it would, and it would be great if it did, but I’m fairly certain that was always a secondary objective. The first objective was to get sued by Wizards of the Coast over the similarities to Magic: The Gathering.

Now, that might sound strange to an outsider, but to anyone in the industry, they are probably nodding along and going “Yeah that tracks actually.”

You see, Wizards of the Coast is… bad. Really bad. They do everything in their power to choke the life out of the industry and have resorted to a lot of questionable tactics to do so. One of these is against anyone who develops any form of trading card game. You see, WotC has a patent on booster packs, customizable decks of cards, and turning cards sideways.

Literally.

U.S. Patent No 5,662,332 (A)

It is not a coincidence that the second two biggest names in TCGs don’t involve turning your cards sideways. Konami contested that Yugioh was different enough to not violate the patent.

WotC responded by suing them. They settled out of court.

Nintendo actually hired WotC to design the Pokémon TCG to NOT violate the patent in return for WotC getting to distribute the first few sets. WotC gladly accepted, distributed the game, got their cut of the sales, and as soon as that was over….

WotC responded by suing them. They settled out of court.

Every single other game out there ended up paying royalties to WotC. Because the cut of the sales to WotC was cheaper than going to court even if you won. WotC had their fingers in every pie, but was smart enough to make sure not to piss people off so much that refusal was ever a viable option.

Cryptozoic was a company that, at the time, was making several licensed TCGs. The big one that jumps out was the World of Warcraft TCG, which they were in charge of (though it was originally made by Upper Deck). Cryptozoic was begrudgingly paying royalties because having the WoWTCG license was too good and they didn’t want to give that up. Then Hearthstone happened and Cryptozoic was going to lose the WoWTCG license as it got discontinued.

So Cryptozoic set up their new game, Hex, specifically to bait WotC into suing them, so they could get the patent overturned.

See, the patent isn’t actually valid. You cannot patent a game mechanic. There are certainly aspects of the patent that ARE valid and CAN be enforced, but the parts about mechanics can’t actually be enforced. WotC uses it because people can’t contest it, but if it actually was used in court it would get overturned VERY easily, and WotC would be declawed.

So Cryptozoic created a game that was a clone of MtG, used a Kickstarter to build up a large amount of legal funds, and got sued by WotC! Yes! Exactly what they wanted!

… and then they settled out of court.

Sigh.

I guess I’ll talk about the game now.

Lore

The lore of the game was solid. Pretty typical fantasy setting. Humans and elves and sort of racist orcs (better than most other orcs I’ve seen at least) and extremely racist tribal coyote people make up the good guys. Undead, spider-orcs, dwarves, and also pretty racist samurai rabbit people make up the bad guys.

There are two types of magic in the world: Blood magic and Wild magic. Elves are adept at wild magic. Shin’hare (the rabbit people) are adept at wild magic as well. The Shin’hare tried to take over the world, forcing the Orcs, Humans, Elves, and Cyotle to ally together to drive them underground into the underworld.

There the Shin’hare met and allied with the Vennen, an all male race descended from Orcs. They were adept blood mages, and they procreated by kidnapping orcs and using them as incubators for spiders. I fucking love the Vennen. I’ll focus on them a lot in this. The Vennen taught the Shin��hare how to sacrifice their young for more power.

The two then allied with the Dwarves, a genderless race of sentient stone statues who excel at creating machinery, and who believe the world itself is a giant machine. Specifically, a weapon of mass destruction, and they are trying to set it off. They believe blowing people the fuck up to be their natural calling.

The underworld and overworld forces go back and forth a bit, with the Elves doing a large chunk of the work as the only overworld race that can use magic.

Then Hex happened. Hex is a massive meteor made up of Diamond, Emerald, and Sapphire. Hex punched clean through the world, scattering gems all across it, before stabilizing in orbit on the other side, becoming the worlds moon.

These gems were incredibly magical, allowing every race to now use magic. Diamonds were restorative, bringing life to things. Rubies were extremely destructive and burned bright and hot and quickly. Sapphire allowed finesse manipulation and control over water. These

Yes this is just the MtG color pie.

Eventually, humanity stumbled into one of their old crypts that was very close to the impact site of Hex, and found it CRAWLING with undead. They were taking the Diamonds from Hex and putting them into the eye sockets of human corpses, causing those corpses to reanimate. These were NOT actually undead, but an alien consciousness that existed within the gems that were using human corpses as a host.

The Necrotic sought a peaceful and symbiotic relationship with humanity as thanks for the use of the bodies. Humanity responded by getting really pissed off that the Necrotic were grave robbing, and went to war over it. Eventually the Necrotic retreated deep into the underworld and allied with the other races instead, eventually helping the Shin’hare with a second attack on the surface.

The lore has a lot more depth than that, but that’s the basic. I liked it a lot. The Orcs being good guys who just really liked tests of strength was a refreshing take on orcs. I liked them a lot. The extremely racist caricature that made up the Cyotle and the Shin’hare? Less so.

Digital Design Space

As for the actual gameplay… it was MtG. Like, almost 1:1.

Like…

Seriously.

Shards work similarly to Lands, with there being 5 basic shards, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Wild, and Blood. You can only play one Shard per turn and when you do you get 1/1 Resource. 1 resource to spend on this turn, and 1 permanent resource. You spend that resource to play a card that costs 1, and you go down to 0/1 resources. Start of your turn, you would go back up to 1/1 resource.

Pretty straight forward stuff. Resources are a card type like in MtG, but once it’s played it acts as a perpetual resource like the Mana in Hearthstone, with no need to care about where the resource is coming from.

… wait a second though, this is a MtG clone. It uses the color pie. Caring where those resources come from is KIND OF a big deal in MtG.

Which is the first really cool difference between Hex and MtG! THRESHOLD! Each time you play a shard you gain 1 threshold in that color. To play a card, you have to have at least as many threshold as are displayed below its cost. See that purple dot below Murder? That means you need 1 blood threshold to play it.

Threshold is NOT consumed when you play a card, which DRASTICALLY alters deckbuilding and how feasible multi-color decks are.

For example, in MtG, if you had 4 swamps and 1 mountain in play, and 5 cards in hand that all cost R…. You can play 1 whole card this turn.

In Hex, if you have 4 Blood and 1 Ruby, and have 5 cards that all cost 1 and have a single Ruby threshold, you can play your entire hand that turn. This made it incredibly viable to splash colors in relatively smaller amounts. It also opened up cool new design space, like cards that cost 1 but still required 3 threshold in a color. Or cards that require 1 threshold of every type to activate a bonus effect (very common among Necrotic) or… for sockets!

HEY WE ARE COMING FULL CIRCLE!

Remember how I mentioned Diablolike games having sockets, but how Darkspore didn’t use it? Well Hex DOES. There was a pair of keywords called Socketable Major and Socketable Minor. Each set, there would be 10 gems (two of each color) that rotated out for Socketable cards. Cards with Major sockets could equip any gem, while minor sockets could only equip half of them. So for example the current rotation might have the Sapphire gems be “While you have at least 1 Sapphire Threshold, this card has Flying” for its Minor gem, and “When you play this card, if you have at least 3 Sapphire Threshold, target player draws 3 cards”

You chose which gem was in each Socketable card during deckbuilding. Different copies of the same card could have different gems equipped, or you could have the same gem equipped across multiple different cards. It was basically a way to go “This card was designed to be splashed in other color decks. You pick what that other color is.”

It opened up a lot of design space! This was something Hex did VERY well. They knew they were making a MtG clone, but they weren’t beholden to the same restrictions a physical card game did, and they THRIVED in those areas.

For example, REPLICATORS GAMBIT, a one cost card that creates six copies of a troop (read: creature) that just… could not exist in MtG.

Another example of this was in my favorite archetype in Hex: Mill. Now, I’m not normally a blue player. I’m not a big fan of the ‘you don’t get to play the game’ archetype. Even mill isn’t really my thing. But the way it worked in HexTCG? God I loved it. I wish I could see my opponents faces as they reached a trembling hand out to their bloated, grotesque deck, a cruel mockery of what it once was. They had started the match with only 60 cards, but now it held twice that number. Knowing every draw was more likely to bring their own skittering death out.

…

Maybe I should back up a bit.

Vennen are, in MtG terms, tribal Blue/Black with a focus on control. Specifically an aggressive form of control. Your wincon is still ‘beat your opponent to death’, but the means by which you do it is… spiders.

Lots of Vennen cards work by still allowing your opponent to do the thing that you blocked, but it now creates Spider Eggs in their deck. Lock down a creature as it enters play with ‘Everytime this creature becomes tapped, shuffle 3 spider eggs into your deck’ or ‘Whenever an opponent draws a third card this turn add a spider egg to their deck’ or ‘When this creature is destroyed add a spider egg to your opponent’s deck’ and when they DRAW a spider egg… well… the effect of a spider egg is more or less ‘When this card enters your hand or graveyard, draw/discard another card into that zone and destroy this one. Your opponent creates a Spiderling and puts it in play. “

Spiderlings are 1/1 Unblockable creatures.

The Vennen win con is to just fill your opponent with spiders and then shred them apart once the spiders start hatching. It was a DELIGHTFUL playstyle.

PvE

Hex also features a fairly robust PvE mode with a point crawl encounter map that was quite delightful. There were cards unique to PvE, but all PvP cards were also legal in PvE. In general, all your staples came from PvP and were the same core staples everyone uses to win (they were very generous with handing out common/uncommon PvP cards in the single player mode, which in turn also made Pauper a very popular format), however you also had PvE cards which made up your win cons. PvE cards weren’t balanced as tightly, and allowed to just be dumb overpowered bullshit just because it’s fun to use dumb overpowered bullshit sometimes!

There were also equipment slots that would modify the cards in your deck, turning PvP cards into PvE cards. For example, Replicators Gambit made it so that EVERY copy of that card gained that text.

PvE started with character creation. You would create a character that was one of the 8 races, and one of 6 3 different classes. Warrior, Cleric, or Ranger. I think there was a late update that added Mage but I don’t recall too clearly, and it isn’t document online anymore as far as I can tell!

Each class had a unique talent tree that you could customize and change how you played. Your race determined what colors you could play, and your level determined how many of each rarity you could play.

I played a Vennen Cleric. Cleric’s whole thing was that you would gain Blessings, 0 cost cards that would rise in your deck each turn, and could be played to draw a card as well as additional effects based on your build. My blessings put more eggs in the enemy deck, to the surprise of no one.

As you went from encounter to encounter you would earn new cards to modify your deck, swapping decks between fights. Then there were dungeons, long laborious streaks of a dozen or so encounters, with branching paths and decisions to be made, earning you tons of new packs and equipment and experience to boost your character. One especially fun encounter was crossing a desert with a pack of… I think it was gnomes? There were 20 of them that needed rescuing. The way you rescued them was putting them in your deck, and then leaving the desert through a single combat encounter. Except they were AWFUL. Like 3 cost vanilla 1/1’s level of awful. The more you had in your deck, the harder the encounter became. It was a really nice way to portray the logistical challenge of trying to fight while protecting all these useless tagalongs.

There were plans to even introduce Raids, 3v1 PvE encounters, but they fizzled out as the game got sunset.

The game was good. REALLY good. It relished in the digital design space in a way I haven’t quite seen since then. A few games, like Legends of Runeterra, have come close, but always fall short, and that’s so sad! I DESPERATELY want to play a TCG with this level of customization again!

Luckily that was the end of it. I finally learned the error of my ways, never touched anything ‘always online’ again, and now can live a life without regrets! … except Legends of Runeterra a little bit like I mentioned above but THATS IT! There are no other always online games I have regrets about!

…

ToonTown Online

Okay no, not seriously. I’ve never played toontown. But honestly it looked kinda silly and like a shitpost in video game form. I think it would have been fun to try at some point with a few friends. Not seriously, just to screw around in for a bit.

Never going to get that chance. Just like nearly everyone reading this will never get to play two of my biggest influences that shaped how I think about game design.

Always Online DRM is an insidious beast. It doesn’t just kill games, it kills *archival*. All we have left of these games is a relatively small number of gameplay videos. I was planning on having a lot more pictures in this post of all the interface elements I was talking about as I talked about them, but there just… aren’t any good pictures of them. Even these details are based on my own memory cross referenced with a couple of wikis, and even those were sparse.

Some games can’t feasibly avoid Always Online. MMO’s are a big example. But by adding it into a game that has a single player experience involved, and not making that single player experience a standalone thing on its own, you are destroying any hope that your game will be remembered. It will fade into obscurity. There will never be a cult revival. Your work will be discarded and forgotten and it’s… so incredibly sad to see.

I jokingly titled this section being about ToonTown, but really this section is about Kingdom Hearts: Union X. It was a mediocre and disgustingly predatory gacha. It was horribly managed with horrible issues around localization and it was just… a mess. But it was part of the world of Kingdom Hearts, and it’s story was important and mattered.

The game is no longer playable, but it’s also not entirely lost. The devs created a new version of it, as a gallery to view the cutscenes. The single-player side mode, Dark Road, is also included. The devs didn’t have to do this. They could have gone the same route as Darkspore and HexTCG, and had their work be forgotten. They chose to save it. Not in full, but at least the parts the deemed important.

It also makes me wonder how much this happens in other mediums. Ludology is a pretty new field, and it rarely goes into specific games and their impact on the medium, mostly just focusing on the impacts they have on humanity, rather than the mechanics themselves as these beautiful pieces of art. And it makes me wonder how often this happens with say… film critics. Are there any indie film makers who are deep in the paint of indie films and critique of not just the films themselves, but the very techniques being used, just sitting there going “It’s so upsetting that this big studio managed to do something this beautiful and all of us in the scene recognize it’s beauty, but no one else seems to, and now it’s gone?”

… as I’m writing this I actually realize that this does happen there. It’s how I found out about what became my favorite film of all time, The Man From Earth. It’s a small film that flopped horribly in theaters, and only gained any attention by being pirated by a lot by indies who wanted to talk about it. It’s a good movie, highly recommend. Not for everyone though.

I don’t know. I’m sure I had a point with all this but… seeing it happen again and again and now with streaming services taking stuff down it’s just… I can’t help but seeing not just more and more games, but more and more of EVERY artistic medium ending up in this area. How many digital artists entire portfolios have vanished off the face of the earth because their tumblr got deactivated? How many movies are going to be gone forever when Netflix eventually goes out of business? We can’t even rely on piracy! Many old pieces of media is just lost forever. Just ask the Doctor Who fandom. They probably know more about that than anyone else at this point.

But mostly I just really wish more developers would consider what parts of their games are important, and what kind of legacy they want to leave, instead of just what will generate a short burst of profit, with no care for what happens after.

… I should start doing video essays with how long this got. It’s like some kind of text based video essay. A text essay. Those are a new thing I just invented.

#Darkspore #Spore #Those are the only two tags on this post because those are the only games I talk about don’t worry about it. it’s fine. don’t read further.#HexTCG #Hex: Shards of Fate #Kingdom Hearts: Union X #Always Online DRM #The Man From Earth #I swear to god if anyone tells me I should just play Temo on LoR I will scream #YES I KNOW AND I DO #but also LoR sucks #and also that is missing THE ENTIRE POINT OF THIS RANT #the SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO LEGENDS OF RUNETERRA #maybe not soon #but it WILL die someday #and be gone forever #because it isn’t being preserved #Text Essay

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em-dash-press · 9 months

Text

Drafting Your Creative Time: Your Guide to Planning a Year of Creative Writing

2024 is about to start. You’re going to venture into another year of writing incredible stories, but what will that practically look like? I feel more in charge of my creativity by planning rough writing schedules. Here’s how you can do the same without locking yourself into a too-strict calendar that leaves your writing spirit depleted.

Set One Writing Goal

Twelve months is a lot of time, but anyone can handle a single goal. Make the next year easy on yourself by picking one thing you want to accomplish (and let’s not make it “publish my novel” if you’re just starting the manuscript on January 1, given how it takes roughly 18 months of work after you get an agent) (and that can take a few weeks to a few years, depending on your querying experience!).

Try picking a manageable writing goal like these:

I will write 10 chapters of my novel.

I will make a collection of 5 short stories I write this year.

I will submit a short story to at least 3 contests this year.

I will publish one new work of fanfiction in the next 12 months.

I will write one short story in a new genre.

Publishing a book can be a long-term goal, but your 2024 goal should be easy to break down into manageable steps you can accomplish by yourself. You’ll be more likely to reach the finish line and work toward another goal.

Establish a Stress-Free Writing Schedule

Creativity comes and goes, but your writing will never get done if you don’t form some kind of schedule. Your upcoming year could look something like this:

I’ll write every Wednesday night between 7-7:30 p.m.

I’ll use voice-to-text to get my story-related thoughts on virtual paper for five minutes every morning before school.

I’ll do freestyle writing for five minutes on Mondays and Saturdays to keep my thoughts flowing, even if I don’t find more time to work on my story that week.

Your schedule should be realistic, which means it shouldn’t stress you out. Make it match your weekly and daily routine. When do you naturally feel most energized? When can you carve out ten minutes for your craft?

Remember, you can always (and should!) adjust this set schedule as time goes on. Your non-creative schedule most likely won’t look the same on January 1 as it will on December 31.

Save a Few Writing Prompts

You might have a few weeks here or there when you’re juggling life’s responsibilities and can’t get to your WIP. It happens to all of us!

When you’re busy, try answering a writing prompt in three sentences or less. Use your phone, a sticky pad, or whatever’s nearby. You never know if it’ll inspire you later when you’re free to write.

In the meantime, you’ll keep using the creative side of your brain so your writing abilities don’t feel so distant.

Check out these prompt apps if getting online isn’t your thing or takes too much time from your busy schedule!

Find a Writing Community

There are so many ways to build a writing community. Start a tumblr about it (guilty as charged) or join a Facebook group. Find an active Reddit thread about your favorite genre or join a Discord server with writers.

You don’t even need to start talking to others and making friends if it makes you anxious. Read what people are saying to get inspired by everyone. You’ll naturally join in when you get excited about something they’re discussing and keep creative writing at the front of your mind.

Read Lots of Books

I always feel more connected to my writing when I’m actively reading. Artists of any kind need a source of inspiration to keep their creativity flowing. Keep an actively growing To Be Read list with apps like Story Graph (a Goodreads-type app that isn’t owned by Amazon and gives so much more information about your curated reading history!).

Visit your local library if you don’t have the money for new books all the time (who does?). As you get inspired by what you read, you’ll also pick up skills from authors you admire or note things you don’t want to recreate. Study each story’s structure and character development. You’ll return to your WIPs with renewed passion.

Embrace the Scary Editing Stage

Your first draft is your thoughts and dreams poured out on paper. The editing stage is where you refine and re-write your work until it shines. Set aside specific time for editing after completing a first draft of any story. Even if your editing phase doesn’t take very long, working on line edits and developmental edits will make your work so much better.

It’s also a normal form of frustration for writers, but one that happens no matter where your writing goes (on fanfiction websites, short story contests, a literary agent’s desk, etc.).

Schedule Your Rest

Writing might feel like a natural hobby, but your brain and body still need to rest after periods of intense focus/work. Schedule rest periods into your daily or weekly calendar. It’s time to recharge in whatever ways best suit your body, like:

Sitting outside

Walking in a park

Reading

Sitting in a hot bath

Going to the movies

Sleeping in

Keep in mind that sometimes you’ll need more rest than others. Extend some self-compassion by checking in with your physical and mental energy frequently during the next year. If you take time to rest, you’ll be less likely to burn out creatively.

-----

This next year will be full of growth, challenges, and joys in your writing life. Embrace every second by resting and writing in new ways.

#writeblr #productivity #writing productivity #creative writing #creative writers #writing advice #writing tips #writers of tumblr #writing #writing community #writing help #writing resources #writing inspiration #new years resolutions #creative writing resolutions

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mychlapci · 2 months

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I think ageswap au Prowl was definitely passed over by, like. MOST of high command until Sunstreaker and Sideswipe picked him up. Command is hearing about Prowl a lot more than most cadets and it’s never good. He’s mouthy, asks too many questions, won’t do what he’s told (or will seem to do it, but actually do whatever the fuck he feels like)—and it’s driving his sergeants insane. None of the other cadets seem to like him and at least a part of that is him getting them all in trouble, but even when Prowl tries his level best to connect with them he’s just. Transparently Other. He won’t go drinking period. Seems like he abhors parties. Lashes out easily and when Prowl apologized it’s usually Badly. The mech does like to race, but nobot actually wants him there and while not great with social skills, Prowl can tell. He’s a problem mech. Autobot High Command’s general consensus is that he’ll either wash out of training or scrape along and never accomplish much, no matter HOW good his test scores are.

Except Sunstreaker and Sideswipe go to actually observe this Prowl before writing him off. And what do you know, a lot of these behaviors are awfully familiar to two former, feral children turned gladiators. Prowl is… maybe the same age as his fellow cadets, but he’s YOUNG is the thing. Prowl claims to be a cold construct, but with Praxus destroyed there’s hardly any records left. That processor and the specialized hardware leaves mechs wondering, for certain. Whether or not it’s true is anyone’s guess, but no matter the case he definitely onlined right at the ugly end of Sentinel Prime’s reign. Destined for war with no other real choices. Frustrated and afraid and trying to find some kind of identity, only to routinely be told that said self is just not what anyone is looking for. It’s a familiar and very bitter pill for the twins to swallow, so they pick him up just to prove everyone wrong. Because if they deserved their chance, then this half feral mechling deserves one too.

I think even the twins are surprised at how well it works. Prowl’s never going to be a social butterfly, and he stays blunt and somewhat awkward no matter how hard they try, but he does better with a small group of concentrated “adult” attention. Much, MUCH later into their acquaintance Prowl will admit that much of his lashing out and mouthiness was just a poor attempt to seize any amount of control he could over a life where he was constantly afraid and had none. That he had convinced himself that if he could just control EVERYTHING then he’d finally feel okay. And also he’s sorry. Which, of course, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe had already guessed. But they only pet and fuss over their trainee and say oh, how brave you are.

Of course, the twins toting Prowl around has exposed him to most of command. Who have found out that, actually, he isn’t a bad egg. He’s got plenty of potential, and just needs one-on-one attention he wasn’t getting before. Like, the second most of the old-timers met him, they went “Oh, he’s a KID.”

And that’s how it all got started (with kinky sex along the way)

You said it much better than I have... Prowl just needed a chance, a guiding hand. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe saw so much of themselves in his struggle for attention and power and agency. They were determined to prove that he's not "just a bad kid", he just needs a push down the right path!

#tf hc's #ageswap au #texty

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etherealhoneybee777 · 2 months

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Okay, the mp100 fandom (and other fandom spaces as well) makes me really hopeful✨

The internet is mostly a cruel and terrible place. It largely exists as an instrument of global capitalism. Governments use social media to push propaganda that either reinforces their fascist, conservative ideals or instills leftists that want to fight back with a sense of hopelessness that paralyzes and scares them. And we’re also getting to a point where much of the content we see online is not only made by AI, but interacted with by AI as well. We’re seeing “art” and ragebait stories that aren’t even made by real humans, but are spread online as if they’re true. Transactions are everywhere, but because everything is a subscription service, we own nothing. Corporations are putting advertisements on even the most sacred corner of the web & encouraging people to constantly consume, to BE consumed with the desire to consume more things, and to fill up the little time we have left with constant, buzzing productivity—because the internet is an instrument of capitalism, and capitalism is about constant expansion, expansion that won’t stop until everything in our lives is quantifiable and our whole being is stretched thin in service of a pointless, unstoppable economic growth.

In the face of that, I think your mp100 art is amazing. I think your fic is amazing. I am glad you decided to share it with us. I am glad you took the time to analyze Mob or Serizawa or Tome. To post screen grabs of Dimple or gifs or animatics or anything else. I’m glad you reblogged my post and added some silly or thoughtful little hashtags. I’m glad you DM’d me or posted a long ramble about Ritsu or Teru or reigen.

People don’t have to do these things. They don’t have to sketch characters or share headcanons or write fic or make watch parties on cute little discord servers. But they do. They do it because it’s a fun thing to do & because they’re talented and passionate. And it makes me happy that on the internet—which is increasingly being used to alienate and control us—still hosts real communities and real people making real art and writing their real thoughts without any kind of profit motive or manipulative agenda. People are literally just posting because they want to share their work and connect with others. It reminds me that no matter what capitalism does, we live in a fundamentally social world & we’re constantly trying to connect with each other about the things we like. MP100 is the thing I like and the people here make me hopeful. I see people post their art/writing/headcanons and I get super happy. I get inspired. I look at people’s bios and all the different countries they’re from and get really happy that the internet can be used as a tool to connect people across the world with the same interest together.

Choosing to create and make friends and be nice and spread positivity over the internet is a uniquely powerful thing. It may not seem like much, (and being on the internet is often framed as “wasting time”) but the Internet is important and the things you do here are actually tangible and real. Making and sharing art—making friends—sharing writing and blurbs and headcanons is a legitimate pushback against the terrible capitalistic machine that the internet has become. I’ve heard a lot of creators say that their art doesn’t get noticed/doesn’t matter because it doesn’t get a lot of attention. But it DOES matter. Because, for every second that someone spends seeing your art, that’s one second that they don’t spend on government propaganda or brain-numbing advertisements or ragebait or AI generated “content”. And even if no one sees your art, YOU spent time making it. You loved it and cared for it and valued it in a way that capitalism can never profit from or understand.

I hope you know that I see your art & love it. I look at it when I’m sad. My gf and I look at mp100 art while we sit outside and feel the world leave our bones. Maybe this is too much, but I’m feeling earnest and joyful tonight & am trying to lean into those feelings.

I’m just thankful. You create and share just because you wanted to create and share. You’re making the world a better place.

#thoughts #mp100 #mob psycho 100

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nicromancytarot · 4 months

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BEHIND THE CURTAINS OF KNOWING YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE

No one asked for this, but I wanted to see if anyone else has these issues and if so I wanted to let you know that you’re not alone! So hello and welcome to my beautiful literature podcast on things I’ve experienced since knowing who my future spouse is!

For a little context, my future spouse (based on right now and if things go to plan lmao) is an influencer, but they won’t be an influencer by the time we meet, I’ve known about this connection between us for a year now.

I don’t hate the fact that they’re going to be out of influencing by the time we are together, however I don’t like that they’re gonna leave me for hours a day, like what do you mean you have to actually go out and go to work while I’m sad and alone at home?

I personally feel as though it’s one of the most isolating experiences, I feel like I need to be loyal to them although they’re probably not being loyal to me. I feel weird thinking about other people, and I’ve rejected an amount of love offers since, I was in a situationship recently that I ended since I knew that me and this dude would only date to date, and not date to marry. I don’t think I ever want to subject someone to dating me while I know that I’m going to end up with someone else, like I can give times, names, dates, it’s insane. My friends don’t understand it as they think it’s stupid to devote myself to someone who I may not even end up with based on timing (I will, or I’ll die) however I feel I know that I want to end up with this person, so why would I want to ruin that?

Dating and marrying this person links heavily into my career decisions, I’m working on going into the music industry, it’s so stagnant as I don’t know where to go after writing music, like how do I produce this shit??? So if we don’t end up together, it means I haven’t made it in the industry as I hoped I would.

Even when they do stupid stuff online that I don’t agree with, I feel like I need to be there to support them, like they’ve been semi cancelled a few times in the last 2 years and I’ve stepped back, moved onto something else but then been like “oh damn, my monkeys, my circus 😔” WHICH IS SO???? It’s certainly frustrating, that’s the best way to explain it.

Luckily for me, this bro is lonely, ain’t got no one to share a bed with, waiting for me fr fr lmaooo. But I hate seeing people say stuff about them like “I ship them with X” or saying something inherently out of pocket about them, although I’ll never voice it, it makes me feel so territorial, and I don’t even have the right to do that right now!!

Again back with the influencing stuff, they have a persona, I feel worried because what if I’m only into the person they perform as for their audience, and not their authentic self? And what if they end up feeling the same?? I mean Im assuming not since we’re gonna get married, but still brotherrrr.

Watching their downfall sucks, I feel privileged to be able to check up on this person every now and then since they’re public, but based on our connection and the next 2 years, their career is only taking a downwards turn until they change their profession, and then by then they might hop offline forever and I’ll die until we meet! (I’m very dramatic)

Constantly doubting myself and looking for more confirmation, someone could slap it into my face and I’d still question the authenticity until we are married with 5 kids, 3 cats and a dog (I don’t want 5 kids actually, that was a lie)

I like watching edits of them on TikTok, that’s a pro.

Thank you for entertaining my 3am thoughts!!

#tarot #tarotblr #tarotcommunity #divination #spirituality #future spouse #tarot witch #future #spiritual awakening

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sirjocktrainer · 2 months

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Tips on how a sub jock can find a trainer? I have talked up some guys at the gym and dropped hints but had no luck. I’m trying to avoid being overly blunt because I feel like that won’t be appreciated.

First it depends on what kind of trainer your looking for. if you mean a personal trainer, then ask at the front desk but know that will cost money and be a professional-while likely friendly-relationship.

But I don’t think that’s what you mean. you mean a kink dom kind of trainer. The problem with doing anything in person is that most people don’t talk about their kinks in public unless at a kink event. You could be working out and talking with a kinky dom trainer but neither of you might realize unless someone take a chance.

So getting a kinky trainer at a gym, unless you are a very outgoing person and the trainer you end up with is also very outgoing or get very lucky in person at a standard gym is not going to work, you might find a workout buddie if that’s cool. Now if it’s a gym knows for being mostly gay or very gay friendly you might be able to be a bit more overt about wanting it you might have good luck, at least guys willing to workout with you and be a bit more direct, teach you a few things and maybe go from there.

You can also try any local kink events, leather or BDSM gathering or munches might work but make sure you’re upfront about what you’re looking for so that you and any guy you connect with are on the same page about what kind of sub you are.

Looking for a kinky trainer is online, apps like grinder/scruff can work and I’m sure there are others, sites like Tumber or Twitter can also help but finding local on those can be hard even if you’re in a big city but you’re going to need to put yourself out there. Look for a workout partner, let it be known your looking for a guy to push and train you how to workout but it will take time.

I know this was a lot and if I left anything else let me know and good luck.

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sattlersquarry · 2 years

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little freak (peter parker x gn!reader)

Summary: (Post NWH) Peter Parker knows that it sucks to go through life alone. But after everything that he put you through, staying away from you is the right choice...right?

Word Count: ~4.4k

Warnings: Language, allusions to sex, kidnapping, near death experience, loneliness, lowkey inspired by Little Freak by Harry Styles.

A/N: I haven't written for Peter Parker in so long holy cow!!!!

Peter Parker knows that it sucks to go through life alone.

But when the whole world forgets you exist, loneliness is a guarantee.

Columbia University is fine. It isn't MIT, and Peter isn’t there with his best friends, but it’s a good school and MJ and Ned don’t remember him anyway, so going to the same school as them doesn’t really matter all that much anymore.

Peter reminds himself of these things like a mantra, that everything’s fine. He also tamps down the panic he feels anytime he sees you on campus.

He knows he can’t avoid you forever. He also knows if you do see him, you won’t know him, so he can just politely smile and keep walking and it will be like nothing happened at all.

But Peter keeps on hiding from you because of the heartbreak that threatens to tear his chest in two. Saying goodbye to you was one of the hardest things he’s ever done. The memory of finding you at your job at Delmar’s Deli last winter and not reintroducing himself like he promised tears him up inside, but it was the right choice. Still is the right choice.

Anyone who gets too close to Peter ends up hurt, or worse. Peter would rather die himself than hurt you more than he has already.

He’s content to be miserable and alone if it keeps you safe—but that all changes spring semester of freshman year, when you walk into the Psychology 101 lecture hall and take a seat next to him.

“Hey!” you say with such warmth and familiarity, Peter wonders if you do remember him now.

He drops the pencil he’s holding.

“Uh, hi,” he says, trying to calm his racing heartbeat.

“I’m Y/N,” you say. “Nice to meet you.”

You hold out a hand to shake and Peter’s hope deflates. Of course. You’re just being nice. You’re always nice, even to strangers, even to people that don’t deserve it.

“Nice to meet you too,” Peter says. He shakes your hand and remembers a second too late to add, “Peter. I’m Peter Parker.”

Something indiscernible flashes across your face.

“Peter Parker,” you repeat. The name is familiar. Why is it familiar?

Before you two can chat more, the professor begins his lecture. Throughout it, Peter steals glances at you every few minutes.

You’re a little older, but otherwise, it’s like no time has changed since the two of you were together. Since the days where you sat on his kitchen counter while he synthesized new web fluid over the stove. Since the days when you’d snap photos of him as Spidey in action for the school news team. Since the nights he’d sit with you on your fire escape, whispering about your plans for the future and stealing kisses under the stars.

Peter wants to go back to those days and nights, but he can’t.

So after class, when you ask if he wants to join you for lunch, he declines.

“I’ve got to study,” he lies. “Thanks, though! I’ll see you.”

He gives you a curt nod and polite smile before he jogs out of the room. Embarrassed, you call your friends Ned and MJ to debrief.

“I’m mortified,” you tell them after explaining what happened. “He practically sprinted away from me!”

“At least he was nice when he turned you down,” Ned points out, voice slightly garbled from a bad connection. “He could’ve been a jerk.”

“What’s his name again,” MJ asks.

“Peter Parker.”

“Huh. Sounds familiar.”

“That’s what I thought!” you say, pressing the phone closer to your ear. “A lot of celebrities send their kids to college in New York. Maybe he’s a nepo baby.”

You hear the clicking of keyboard keys.

“That’s weird,” Ned says. “I searched his name online and found…nothing.”

“Impossible,” MJ says. “Everyone has a digital footprint.”

“Not Peter Parker. Except for an Instagram account he made three months ago with no posts on it, there’s no trace of him.”

“Huh,” you mumble. “Super weird.”

“Stay away from him,” Ned warns. “He could be a serial killer.”

“Oh my god, he’s not a killer!” MJ says. “If he is, he would’ve agreed to lunch and then stabbed Y/N with a fork.”

“This conversation took a dark turn,” you say, shuddering at the image of the cute guy in your psychology lecture murdering you violently. “I’ll talk to you guys later.”

Things continue the same for a while: you and Peter exchange kind smiles and idle small talk before the psychology lectures, but as soon as class is over, he races off faster than you can say, “Got any lunch plans?”

One day, you walk into class and he’s wearing a large pair of sunglasses.

“Hey Peter,” you say. “I like your glasses!”

“Oh, thanks,” he says. Truthfully, he’s wearing them to cover a bruise, courtesy of a new low-level villain terrorizing Manhattan, a trickster called The Spot. “I’m afraid they make me look like a douchebag.”

“No way! You look so cool.”

Peter blushes and mumbles out a thanks.

After class, he packs up his bag fast, about to do his usual Irish Goodbye and leave before you can ask him anything. However, you’re too quick this time.

“Look,” you say, “I need to be real with you, Peter: I think you’re really cute and I’d like to get to know you more. Want to get lunch with me?”

Peter’s eyes widen.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he stammers. He adjusts the sunglasses. “I’ve got some stuff going on.”

“It doesn’t have to be lunch,” you say. “And it doesn’t have to be today. We could get dinner, or brunch, any day you want. Whatever works.”

You’re aware that you sound desperate. Shockingly, you don’t care.

Peter considers giving in. But he remembers the look of terror on your face as you fell off the scaffolding in the big battle. If Peter 3 hadn’t been there to catch you, you would’ve been killed.

“I’m really sorry,” Peter says, voice small. “You seem like a nice person. But I’m not interested.”

You visibly deflate, shrinking in on yourself as if you wish to miniaturize yourself like Ant-Man and disappear.

“Oh, no worries,” you say. You smile apologetically at him, voice shaking a bit. “I’m sorry.”

“Please don’t apologize,” Peter begs. “It’s okay. Really.”

This time, you leave first, head down as you cut through the crowd of students leaving for lunch or new classes.

Peter feels like a total jerk. But he’s protecting you. This is the best course of action. Right?

***

“What’s his address? I just wanna talk.”

“MJ, stop,” you say. The two of you are FaceTiming that evening, and you’ve just given her the rundown of your failed attempt at asking Peter out. You swipe a stray tear from your eye. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Nevermind, I don’t need his address,” MJ says. Her eyes glint with malice. “When we come for your birthday, Ned and I will track him down and beat him up for making you cry.”

“I thought you were a pacifist.”

“I am, until my best friend cries.”

“I don’t even know why I am crying,” you admit. “I mean, why do I care so much? I barely know the guy. But…”

“But what?”

You don’t know how to explain it. There’s an affinity for Peter Parker nestled somewhere deep in your ribcage, and you don’t know why. But it’s threatening to tear you in two pieces or swallow you whole if you don’t get over yourself.

“But he’s got a nice butt,” you say, attempting to lighten the mood. “I really wanted the chance to touch it.”

“There are better butts attached to nicer people,” MJ promises. “Guys that won’t totally shut you down without even giving you a chance.”

You hope that’s true.

***

When your birthday rolls around, Peter wonders if it would be weird to get you a gift.

Probably, right? Since you’re just psychology seat partners. But he knows how you didn’t have many good birthdays growing up, and in another life when the two of you were dating, he always went all out for your special day.

He chickens out and doesn’t buy you anything, but when you walk into class with a red birthday ribbon pinned to your jacket, he takes the opportunity to say: “Whoa, happy birthday!”

“Thanks,” you say with a shy smile. “I know, this is corny. My friends forced me to wear it.”

“Your friends?” he says, mind flashing to Ned and MJ. He misses them terribly.

“Yep, my best friends Ned and MJ. They’re at MIT but visiting for the weekend and throwing me a surprise party. They’re not very good at the ‘surprise’ part.” You clear your throat. “You can come, if you want. But no pressure.”

Peter considers declining, but he really, really doesn’t want to. He allows himself to be selfish, just once.

“I’d love to,” Peter says with a smile.

After he makes the rounds as Spider-Man, he arrives at your apartment. There are more people at the party than he expected. He recognizes a couple fellow Columbia students, and another student from your shared psych class hands him a cup of cheap beer. His heart stops up when he sees you in the crowd.

You’re dressed up more than usual, with the addition of a sparkly, plastic birthday crown. You’re talking and laughing with Ned across the room. You look happy. You look gorgeous.

Peter’s feet move faster than his brain. He’s stricken with the overwhelming urge to walk over there and tell you just how good you look, to backtrack on what he said before and beg you to go on a date with him. He misses you, he can’t be without you anymore, and goddamn, you’re stunning—

Smack! Peter runs into MJ, spilling beer down the front of her shirt. He was too distracted for his spidey sense to kick in and warn him.

“Hey, watch it!” she scowls.

“MJ!” Peter squeaks out. “I’m so sorry!”

The scowl deepens.

“How do you know my name?” she demands, fixing him with a harsh glare.

Shit.

“Uh, you’re Y/N’s friend!” Peter blurts out. “They talk about you, like, all the time.”

You’ve mentioned MJ maybe twice.

“I’m Peter,” he continues, holding out a hand to shake.

MJ crosses her arms, ignoring his outstretched hand.

“You made Y/N cry,” she says in lieu of a proper greeting.

“What?! When?!”

“When they asked you to lunch and you didn’t even give them a chance. Y/N’s the best person I know. You’re really missing out.”

Peter feels awash in shame. He didn’t realize just how upset he had made you. That was the last thing he wanted.

“Oh, I didn’t mean—I just—well, I’m—”

Before Peter can stumble his way through an excuse, you and Ned head over.

“MJ, what happened?” you say, noticing the beer stain.

MJ nods in Peter’s direction. “Pete the Klutz gave me a Natty Lite bath.”

“I’m so sorry, again,” Peter says, blushing furiously.

“I’m sure it was just an accident,” you say. “No worries. Right, MJ?”

She doesn’t respond. You nudge her with your elbow and she says, “Yeah, whatever, it’s fine.”

“I can help you get that out,” you say. “We’ll be back! Ned, Peter, make yourselves at home.”

Ned, always so kind, turns to Peter with a bright smile.

“So,” he says. “Do you like Star Wars?”

“Do I?” Peter says. “Does only a Sith deal in absolutes?”

“Oh yeah! Y/N loves it too. A few years ago we built a huge LEGO Death Star.”

Peter swallows the lump in his throat. That was the day you and Ned found out his secret, when he crawled into his room at the wrong time.

“That’s awesome, man,” Peter says weakly. He forces a grin, so Ned doesn’t pick up on his mood shift, and asks, “How many pieces was it?”

He talks with Ned for a bit, and when you and MJ return, he chats with you for only a moment, before you’re dragged away for cake and presents.

Peter leaves the party early. He feels like an ass, but he does it because he was right to keep his distance: being with you like this—this phony version of himself, the one where he can’t tell you the truth or keep you close—is killing him inside.

***

Peter’s spidey sense usually only picks up on true terror and panic. However, while walking through the campus library, his sense picks up a different kind of distress: deep, enveloping sadness.

It’s the kind that can eat you alive from the inside out. Peter knows it well, and it’s coming from the direction of a study room.

Through the tinted glass in the door of the room, he can just barely make out a silhouette backlit by a computer screen glow. The figure has their head in their hands, shoulders shaking as they sob. Peter stops breathing when he realizes it’s you.

He can’t even stop himself before he’s twisting the doorknob and entering.

“Y/N,” he says urgently, “are you all right?”

“Peter,” you say, quickly wiping the tears away. “Sorry. You caught me at a bad time.”

You start packing up your things with shaking hands. Peter puts a hand on your shoulder to stop you. You suck in a breath, trying to calm your breathing.

“What happened?” he says. Warped visions of you falling off the scaffolding haunt him once again, this time combined with even more gruesome visions from Mysterio’s mind-bending tricks. “Did somebody hurt you?”

“Someone would have to care about me to want to hurt me,” you mumble, hoping Peter won’t hear. Because of the super abilities you don’t remember he possesses, he does.

“People do care about you!” Peter protests. “I care about you.”

You scoff, a little meanly.

“Yeah, okay,” you snap. You resume shoving books in your bag and close your laptop a little harsher than necessary.

“I do, seriously—”

“Oh, really?” you say. You glare at him in a way that could turn a man to stone. “Is that why you barely talk to me in class, except for chit-chat about the weather? Or why you left my birthday party early? I don’t even know why I try with you, Peter. You’ve made it abundantly clear we’re not friends.”

You toss your bag over your shoulder and storm out.

“Hey, hold on,” Peter says, following you into the stacks. The two of you get shushed by someone, and he drops his voice to a whisper. “I’m sorry I left. You just had so many other friends there and I didn’t want—”

“Those people aren’t my friends!” you hiss. “MJ and Ned are my friends. The others were all invited by my roommate, because I have no social life. No love life. And to top it all off, I’m barely passing my classes.” You sniffle and rub your eyes harshly. “I’m a fucking wreck.”

“I’m really sorry, Y/N. You know, I could help you study—”

“Spare me, Peter. Don’t pretend like you all of a sudden care about me.”

Peter wants to scream until his voice is hoarse that he does care about you, so much. That he loves you and would do anything for you. That he misses your smile, your kiss, your touch.

“I’m not pretending,” he says, voice cracking. “I know I’ve been a little cold to you, and I apologize for that. I’m here for you, always.”

You roll your eyes and huff. You start to turn away, but Peter stops you.

“Please call or text me anytime, no matter when,” he says. He tears a page out of his notebook and scribbles his cell number on it. “Life kinda sucks sometimes. You shouldn’t have to deal with it alone.”

You’re still glaring at him, but you accept the note before darting away.

Peter watches you go, cursing himself for keeping his distance for so long when you needed the opposite. He makes a promise to himself right then and there that he’s not leaving you alone anymore. Never again.

***

Over time, you soften to Peter once more.

He makes more of an effort to “get to know you” in your before-class chats—even though he knows everything from before Dr. Strange’s spell. He also tells you more about himself, except for the obvious secrets.

Feeling bold, Peter asks you to go to lunch with him after class a few days after your conversation in the library. You’re suspicious by his sudden interest and look like you want to turn him down, but curiosity gets the better of you and you agree.

One lunch turns to two, which turns to five, which turns to every day, even the days you don’t have psych together.

You aren’t dating again, but Peter won’t lie and say he hasn’t thought about wrapping his arms around you and kissing you sweetly.

He gives into the temptation after he walks you home from lunch one day.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Y/N!” Peter says, once you’ve arrived at your apartment door.

“See you,” you say. You start to stick your key in the lock, but suddenly turn back. “Hey, wait. Can I tell you something?”

“Sure,” Peter says. “What’s up?”

You clear your throat, unable to look him directly in the eye. You focus on a piece of lint on his shoulder and say, “Listen, Peter, I’m fine to continue with these completely platonic lunches, but I can’t deny anymore that I’m head over heels for you and want you to be my boyfriend.”

Peter stops breathing.

“You are?” he says, voice cracking.

“Yeah,” you say. “I don’t know why, but I feel so close to you. Like I’ve known you for longer than half a semester. And if you don’t feel the same, that’s totally fine. I won’t be upset and I still want to be your friend. I just had to get it off my chest. So…yeah. You don’t have to say anything or—”

Peter surges forward, hands cupping her cheeks as he kisses you. You kiss him back, apartment keys slipping out of your fingers.

Peter realizes what he’s doing and pulls away, eyes tinted with shame and regret.

“Oh god,” he says. “Y/N, I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?” you say, forcing an awkward laugh. “I think that was the best kiss of my life.”

“I shouldn’t have done that,” Peter continues. He watches as your face morphs from confused to sad. “I like you too!” he quickly reassures. “And I do want to be your boyfriend. But my life is…it’s not easy. And being with me won’t be easy. I have…problems.”

“Pete,” you say. He melts at the nickname. “Everyone has problems. I sure as hell have plenty of my own. But I like you a lot. And if you like me too, don’t we owe it to ourselves to try?”

Peter’s mouth goes dry. He wants to shut this down. That would be the responsible thing.

Love trumps responsibility. Peter kisses you again, and again, and again, and then you grab your keys and clumsily unlock your door, dragging him inside with you to kiss some more.

***

Peter’s a nice boyfriend, but he’s flighty.

He’s late often, or he leaves early. You try not to let it bother you, because when Peter is around, he’s kind and loving and always gives you his undivided attention.

But you can only wake up to an empty bed after a night of passion so many times before it starts to hurt.

You decide you’re going to ask Peter why he never stays the full night with you. Not to be accusatory. Just in a casual, roundabout, you-still-like-me-right? type way.

You walk across campus, heading toward the bus stop that’ll take you to Peter’s place when you get the sense you’re being watched.

Hackles raised, you turn and glance behind you. No one is there.

You shudder and face front, walking a bit faster.

It’s early morning. Dapples of light wash the world in a rosy glow. It should be serene, but you still feel eyes on you, burning your skin like pinpricks.

You break into a jog, only two minutes from the bus stop. You think that you can make it, until—

Smack! Something unseen trips you, and you faceplant onto the sidewalk.

“What’s wrong, Spider-Man?” Somebody above you cackles. “Not expecting to see me?”

You quickly turn onto your back and gasp. A man towers above you. He’s wearing a white suit covered in black spots, like a poor man’s excuse for a dalmatian.

“I’m not Spider-Man!” you say, crawling backward away from him. “I swear!”

“Nice try!” he snaps. “I’ve been watching you, and after our battles, you always come back to campus. You always swing to the same apartment, and I followed you there. Don’t try to deny it!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you say, voice shaking. “I’m just a dumbass trying to get a degree. Now, if you excuse me—”

You try to stand, but the dalmatian wannabe raises his fist. Before you can scream for help, he whacks you in the forehead. The world fades to black.

***

Peter drags himself through his apartment, sore from Kingpin’s punches the night prior and wishing he was still with you.

Each time the two of you sleep together, Peter gets a spidey sense for trouble after you're asleep. He has to disappear without warning in the middle of the night.

Maybe the universe really hates me, Peter thinks. I finally get Y/N back, but I’ll lose them again if I keep ditching them like this.

He starts to pour a bowl of cereal but spills it all over the counter when he gets it: a sudden sense that you’re in trouble.

He’s not 100% sure how he can tell it’s you, but he just knows. He gets a feeling of where in the city you are and quickly suits up, before crawling onto the fire escape and swinging your way.

He’s on autopilot, only focused on one thing: keeping you safe.

He swings to the Brooklyn Bridge and, to his horror, The Spot has you tied up. Traffic is stopped on either side of the two of you.

You’re unconscious, chin tucked to your chest, but there’s a huge bruise forming over your left eye. Under his mask, Peter scowls.

“Hey, Spot!” Peter yells, landing a few yards away. “Aren’t you late for obedience school?”

“What?!” The Spot says, shaking his head vehemently. “No, no. You aren’t Spider-Man!”

“Aren’t I?” Peter says, gesturing to his suit. “Damn, you need your eyes checked.”

“You aren’t Spider-Man because they are!” The Spot says, pointing in your direction. “And Kingpin sent me to toss them into the East River!”

The crowd that’s gathered gasps and murmurs.

Peter’s heart sinks. After doing his Spidey thing, he must have swung to your apartment one too many times. This Dr. Strange Wannabe with terrible fashion sense followed him there and assumed you were him the next time you left.

Peter pushes down the nauseous feeling that swirls in his stomach. He can’t get distracted by guilt, not right now.

“There's only one Spider-Man,” Peter says coolly, "and he’s me. So, let them go, or else.”

The Spot cackles.

“Or else what?” he taunts. “You’re going to web me up? Try and catch me, first!”

The Spot opens a portal to the left of Peter’s head and punches him between the eyes. Peter staggers back as the villain pulls his arm back, closing the portal.

A game of cat and mouse continues: Peter shoots webs at The Spot. The Spot dives through a portal to avoid the webs. He punches Peter and gets cocky, and then Peter punches The Spot while the villain’s guard is down.

Eventually, you come to, head pounding. You adjust to the sound of people cheering, punches being thrown, and…is that water?

The Spot notices you stir and opens a new portal, right underneath you. The portal dumps you high in the sky. Gravity pulls you toward the choppy surface of the river, and you scream.

Peter moves on autopilot. He connects a web to the bridge and swings out to you, wrapping an arm around your waist when you’re three yards from the water. You burrow your head onto his shoulder and sob.

“It’s okay, it’s okay!” Peter says, holding you tight. “I’ve got you now.”

He swings back to the bridge and gently places you on the ground. He works to untie you as police cars and ambulances pull up. The Spot is nowhere to be found.

“I’m sorry, Spider-Man,” you say, sniffling and trying to keep tears from falling. “If you hadn’t saved me, you would’ve gotten your villain.”

“Don’t ever apologize,” he says. “I’m here for you, always.”

The way he says it…it stirs something in you. A memory.

Your eyebrows lift. Your jaw goes slack. You study Spider-Man’s mask, recognizing it. Not because Spider-Man is the most popular hero in the city—because you’ve seen this mask before. Touched it before. Pulled it off and kissed the boy underneath it.

Spider-Man starts to swing away so the EMTs can check you over, but you grab his covered hand to stop him.

His hands. They’re calloused and warm, and they fit yours perfectly. In another life, you used to doodle on those hands in Mr. Harrington’s class at Midtown. Because Spider-Man is Peter Parker, and Peter Parker was a student with you at Midtown.

A baptism of memories washes over you. You remember two lives: one where you met Peter at Midtown orientation. One where you met him in Psychology 101. You love him fiercely in both.

“Pete,” you whisper, quietly so only he can hear you. “It’s you.”

The white eyes on Spider-Man’s mask grow in size. Before he can respond, you throw your arms around his neck and hug him.

“I remember,” you say. “I remember everything. Vulture, Mysterio, the other yous…oh my god, Pete.”

You’re crying again, before you can help it. Under his mask, Peter cries too, holding you close as his mind buzzes away.

You remember him.

***

Peter Parker knows that it sucks to go through life alone.

He’s indescribably lucky that you’ve chosen to stay by his side, in every lifetime.

#peter parker x reader #peter parker x gn!reader #peter parker fanfic #spider-man x reader #spider-man fanfic #mcu fic: little freak

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questionableratatouille00 · 6 months

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𝓨𝓸𝓾’𝓿𝓮 𝓒𝓪𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓐 𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓪𝔂

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Moving to a new place is always a tough time, but the knowing you have a mysterious neighbor doesn’t exactly help.

Warnings: None?

[📞 Series Masterlist 📞]

𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚

“On Friday, April 4th, three helicarriers from the US government affiliated organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. fell into the Potomac River in Washington, DC. This occurred only thirty minutes after many previously confidential government, S.H.I.E.L.D., and HYDRA documents were leaked onto the internet. With us today we have Mr. Ed Brubaker here to talk more on HYDRA and how…”

It was like the same news story had been playing for the last week.

Your family had immediately urged you to move somewhere else, somewhere safer. You intended to move anyway, but their persistence was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

And so, you packed up your shit and moved.

You were an artist, so there was plenty to pack. You were only partially concerned over your financial situation—most of your art was bought online, so as long as you could mail things, it would be okay.

And, if worst comes to worst, you could always get a job at like, a sandwich shop or something.

“That over there is the barn. Concrete floor, sturdy walls, perfect for tractors and other vehicles and machinery. Right in front of it is the garage—four wheelers and whatever else is good in there. Here’s your main house. All one floor. Four bedrooms.” Mike said as he walked you up the porch to the sliding glass door.

He led you inside the house. “Master bedroom down the hall, master bathroom connected to it. These are your two living rooms, this one has a television. Back room’s got the laundry machines, and plenty of storage. It’s also got the big freezer. One of your bedrooms is connected to it.” Mike explained. “Nearest neighbor is two fields away—nobody but old folks like me live up here. ‘Cept for Mr. Blackwood, I believe. Though, I have no idea how old that gentleman is, I never seen him ‘round here when I was gettin’ this place here ready.” He pondered.

“Mr. Blackwood?” You echoed.

“Yeah. Chris or Charles or Chase or somethin’ like that. Never hear about him in town, didn’t even know he lived in that there house until recently. Either way, there’s the thin tree line separating you.”

“Right,” you nodded. “You are amazing. The place looks great.” You said to the man who’d sold you the house.

“I do my best, ma’am. The pantry’s fully stocked. You asked for fully furnished, and I planned to deliver.”

“You really did—this is absolutely perfect.” You would admit that the way you’d gotten this place on such short notice was a little shady, but you weren’t going to complain.

“Why, thank you.” He smiled. “Radio’s in the master bedroom. WiFi and internet aren’t the greatest back here—always plan like you won’t have it. Power can get rocky during storms, so always make sure you know where your radio is jus’ in case.”

“Right. Got it.”

Mike left a little later, and you got to bringing in boxes. You put the boxes in their designated rooms before beginning to unpack the necessities first. Things like clothes and stuff.

You wondered about Mr. Blackwood. He was your only neighbor for literal miles, so you had to wonder what he was like. Was he old, like Mike had said? Was he around your age, or maybe somewhere in between? Was he nice? Or would he be annoying?

You had other things to think about. Besides, this wasn’t the most important thing at the moment. You got back to unpacking.

The Captain walked through the halls, the sound of his shoes against the floor audibly telling the world that he means business. His blonde hair was slightly messy, as if he’d just been on a mission. His brows were furrowed, his fists clenched at his sides. A woman with red hair rushed to match his pace. She looked equally concerned, but more for him than whatever he was focused on.

The Spy reached out, attempting to put her hand on his shoulder. He paused to let her do so.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she told him. “You thought he was there so you followed your lead. You made all the right calls.” She attempted to soothe him.

“He wasn’t even there. All that time we could’ve been finding him and I was too busy leading everybody the wrong way.” The Captain frowned.

“It’s okay,” she hummed. “We’ll find your guy. We will.”

The Captain nodded as the Spy gently cupped his face.

“Besides,” she said after a moment. “There’s always one person we can ask for help.”

The Captain gave her an unsteady look, one of pure displeasure. Whoever the other person was, the Captain was not fond of him.

A/n: it’s been a long time coming, huh?

Graphics by @saradika-graphics

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x you #bucky x you #bucky barnes

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kqtzvv · 3 months

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saying goodbye to my persona - asahina mafuyu’s fourth focus

story:

mafuyu’s computer is confiscated and her mom restricts her activities even further. at the same time, mafuyu’s exam results are coming back. throughout the story, mafuyu tries to think of ways on how she can tell her mom how she really feels, but knows how her mom won’t accept those feelings. when she overcomes her fears, she breaks down in tears when trying to confess her real feelings and emotions.

her mom ends up rejecting her feelings, saying how she should have never gotten a computer for her if she was going to talk to strangers online and buying her a synthesizer to accidentally get her into music was a terrible idea. the “sweet, perfect” daughter her mom knew was gone suddenly. except, she never wanted to be one. mafuyu never wanted to be one, she just had a hard time communicating her feelings, playing a “role” in a “play” (life).

mafuyu runs away from her mom to escape the burden and warmth that she never felt at home, in the rain to kanade. as mafuyu breaks down even more, kanade tries to comfort her.

cards:

in this card, we can see that mafuyu is finally cutting the strings and breaking out of the empty void she has been trapped in for so long.

saying goodbye to my persona’s card fully represents and makes a connection to mafuyu’s first focus event, imprisoned marionette. the marionette strings and mask is still there, as also seen in the saying goodbye to my persona card. as marionettes are puppets CONTROLLED by strings, mafuyu cutting the strings in the new card shows that she is breaking free from being controlled by others like a puppet.

music video:

this entire song takes place on a stage, how mafuyu is playing a role in a play. this scene and the only time where niigo isn’t shown represents a mother giving her child a book, pressuring how that child should be studying. it can be just like mafu-mom and mafuyu. mafuyu’s mom pressured her into studies and studying all the time, and becoming a doctor instead of anything mafuyu wants to be. the entire stage play represents a home, which represents how mafuyu never truly felt warmth or comfort at ‘home’ with her mother.

mafuyu moves like a puppet at the starting part, unlike everyone else who’s free. this shows mafuyu is still under control of her mom and how everyone uses her as a toy and how others can feel proud of because they can’t reach that goal. mafuyu’s movements are stiff like a doll when she’s in her stage play home. during this time, luka also pretends to act stiff like a puppet, just like mafuyu but immediately changes so she’s fluid, referencing to mafuyu’s mother who pretends to understand mafuyu’s problems.

kanade letting a hand to mafuyu, mafuyu tries to reach her but before that, kanade has already moved.

same with mizuki

but with ena, when mafuyu tries to reach ena, luka blocks mafuyu from her, acting like the mother.

i believe this is because of this

kanade = to talk it out

mizuki = to run away

ena = to rebel against

mafuyu reaching out to kanade, mafuyu has already tried to talk it out and when she reaches to mizuki, she had just ran away from her house to kanade’s. but with rebel against, luka is still like the mother, trying to stop mafuyu from trying to rebel against. this refers to how mafuyu is doubting her choices and thinking how she’s at fault.

another way to see this is all of them referring to their 2023 jp focuses.

mafuyu reached out to mizuki second, referring to our escape for survival, again, despite mizuki trying to help, mizuki’s advice didn’t fully solve the problem.

mafuyu then reaches out to ena but luka blocks it because ena didn’t have a focus in jp 2023 focuses (at least not during the release of engeki/theatre).

the rest of them (luka, kanade, ena, mizuki), are going down against mafuyu, showing as how they are like the people with the high expectations and put all the pressure on mafuyu to do good and reach the expectations they can’t meet themselves.

during the chorus part, mafuyu finally breaks free and moves freely like how the others have been doing since the start of this song. the light as also turned blue, signalling we’ve left mafuyu’s cold, dark empty void she has had inside her for the longest time in agony. she becomes more life-like and not stiff after she’s out of the controlling. if you look closely, there’s fragments of the stage play home once the chorus hits. it’s like mafuyu’s illusion of a home is shattered as her true feelings float up to the surface.

at the end of the song, it’s just mafuyu and kanade, facing at each other. this is probably because mafuyu has ran away to kanade already on the current story, which means they’ll probably get closer. they also stand at the time, 1am, referencing to their group, nightcord at 25:00 (1am).

#mafuyu asahina #asahina mafuyu #project sekai #pjsk #niigo #niigo mafuyu

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nomsfaultau · 2 months

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Ask from wlwdwtys that was so big I decided to make it a separate post! Fault spoilers and violence mention incoming. Warning: BEEFY

1. What would the plot look like in a swap au? Specifically, the characters swap personalities. How they came to develop such different personalities in the same circumstances? Who knows. You, probably. Specifically, Tubbo swaps with Wilbur (cause I thought that their morals differ the most.), Phil swaps with Ranboo (their attachment styles and powers do not match up at all. Imagine being like 100000 and still having social anxiety.) and the Blade swaps with Tommy. Ranboo got chucked in cause there are 5 characters in the fault crew and it didn't match up.

Interesting ask given how much their backstories and powers influence personalities and morality systems. Alright I need new names to keep this straight. Wilbur in Tubbo body is Wilbee, reverse is Tubbur. The Blade in Tommy body is The Dagger, reverse is Tommurder. Ranboo in Philza body is Ranburn, reverse is Philzand but is probably never going to be important. I think for the sake of keeping Ranboo’s personality we might make them an embodiment of Fire and Fluster rather than Fire and Fury lmao.

Wilbee would come to a rather similar philosophy to Tubbo, albeit for different reasons. Tubbo and Wil are pretty different re: humans and society, though Wilbur tends to be the easiest swayed towards pacifism because running usually has the least risk and he cares about survival not revenge. Wilbee is a pragmatist and only attacks so it won’t die, but bee stings would kill it, so it would tend towards pacifism but not care about enforcing that belief on others. Fascinating. Tubbur is big on controlling the void, sees any use of it as a corruption that jeopardizes the world. Relies heavily on Ranburn for containment. Ranburn works surprisingly well on the philosophy front since cRanboo and Philza both have the stance of picking people not sides (or ethics). Very much less gung-ho about murder. But nobody’s perfect.

Early timeline changes: Ranburn adopts Tubbur. Or perhaps this Collection looks more like a romantic relationship for bee duo…? Mm. The timeline would have to shift pretty wildly for that to have them meet later once Tubbur is an adult, but it wouldn’t have many long term impacts. Which could be the case, since Ranburn probably isn’t going on a revenge quest after Anderson dies. (Ending 1: Ranburn and Tubbur never meet.) Unlike Wilbur, Tubbos’ reaction to isolation was to desperately reach out to anyone they could. Would be pretty injured trust still since Rhodes intervened when Tubbo was 5/Phil when Wilbur was 14 vs being an adult, but Tubbur would be far easier to win over. Now, Tubbo can be very dishonest about their emotions, but they wouldn’t mistake their longing for loathing like Wilbur does. But they are also about as desperate for connections to people as Tommy is. Fully I think they’d set up a house in the middle of nowhere and live really peacefully, using online connections to help Tubbur’s isolation. (Ending 2: Tommurder never finds them). Tommurder probably roams around looking just like The Blade. He’s less looking for control over The Blood God (which is poor compared to The Blade) and more looking for people to ~pester~ talk to. Integrates himself in the group if he finds Ranburn and Tubbur. The Dagger/Tommurder summoning goes pretty much the same. Ranburn doesn’t have the same principles about promises as Philza, only people. They would immediately rescue everyone (Ending 3: SBI saved, Wilbee has no one in the Foundation).

I can’t picture baby Wilbee Collecting Jasmine, so the community isn’t going to become hostile to it. Which is good because Wilbee needs no reinforcement on that end. Wilbee is HELLA distrustful of Rhodes at first. But Rhodes is a patient and determined sort, though it might take a couple years to get through that thick hive skull. Wilbee has a far more stable childhood, and turns out even more pro human than Tubbo since they still dealt with things like getting shot by Jasmine’s parents and so can be cautious. (Ending 4: Wilbee isn’t cautious enough, word gets out. The Foundation captures him as a kid. After years in the Foundation during a crucial developmental period, it likely loses hope by the time the rest are captured and is useless for escapes because he wouldn’t be looking for others decades later. Everyone is trapped) Without survival pressure, Wilbee is a lot more chill guy and lets the more silly overdramatic sections of his personality out. Doesn’t understand the concept of privacy in the slightest and loves listening to all the town gossip. Wilbur also has far better control on his anomalous instincts than Tubbo, and so I figure avoids the changeling impulse to add people to the Hive and thus never really figures out that section of his powers. Rhodes likely isn’t Collected, which will make the morally gray areas in the Foundation easier. (Ending 5: No missing person’s case opens for Rhodes. Wilbee isn’t captured by the Foundation. Everyone else is trapped) Potentially Wilbee has the same impulse to search the world like Tubbo, and is captured later.

Philzand would literally not die to Lawrence Lethe. Rip to Sandboo but he’s built different. Potentially Lawrence could be dead? That would have ramifications.

Part 1: Conviction: Ranburn does NOT pull off the yandere dad thing at all. Hallway never happens, and The Dagger wouldn’t have a complex about not escaping even if it did. And Tommy wouldn’t lose the will to fight because as Tommurder he always wins which reinforces that he should keep going. But Ranburn also wouldn’t have the same level of therapy during visits that the Collected relied on to survive the Foundation, so in some ways they’re a lot worse off than with Philza’s support.

The Blade and Tommy have the most similar personalities, and could easily fulfil the same actions albeit with different intentions. Perhaps at capture The Dagger is fighting instead of freezing, but he’s kidnapped either way. Tommurder does anything for his friends and gives into The Blood God to rescue The Dagger, which he still wouldn’t tell because he doesn’t want to be abandoned by The Dagger. And Tommurder’s difficulties with being alone lead to him breaking out a lot and getting The Blade tortured more. Tommurder’s worse at controlling The Blood God, but they’re also on friendlier terms since Tommurder just needs anyone to talk to, and so over the loneliness of the Foundation they probably develop a good relationship. The Dagger is very willing to use Red to attack given it’s his choice, and has good control since he’s analytical and willful and can figure out how to actually wield it effectively, unlike Tommy. Also not as reluctant about gallows duty like Tommy, which means less harm to him than Tommy suffered initially. The gloves never become a thing.

The Dagger is still chill and happy enough, which draws Wilbee in, who has no qualms about the murder jokes since Wilbee only avoids personally killing. The Dagger is more than willing to escape into the vents and try to team up with Wilbee. But when told to starve or kill, Wilbee murders Rosalind to same himself. (Ending 6: They do not escape with Rosalind) (Ending 7: on the very rare chance Wilbee thinks his survival odds go up if he chooses to starve and lose a hand to keep Rosalind alive -which. God there isn’t a chance in hell it does- then Lawrence Lethe has been killed by Philzand and will not prevent their breach. The Dagger and Wilbee escape. Ranburn, Tommurder, and Tubbur are still trapped)

The Dagger is used to being turned on and perceived as a monster through Red tests, but Wilbee is far more pragmatic about that. “If you had to be a monster to survive, then you’ll have survived. If those ‘friends’ of yours wanted you to be a person like them they would have ensured you were never in a position to be forced to make that choice in the first place.”

Ergo, The Dagger has far more trust that Ranburn wouldn’t forsake their promise to him. Perhaps misplaced, Ranburn doesn’t have Philza’s strength of convictions, but Techno also chooses to keep trusting people long past when he should, so it works out either way. UnCollected arc avoided. Yippee.

Also The Dagger has wayyy healthier relationships to other people than Tommy does, so when his mini escapes are found out, he doesn’t consider never seeing Wilbee a fate worse than death. (Ending 8: Tommurder is not summoned, no one escapes. The Dagger doesn’t stop trying to break out to see Wilbee, but eventually enough security keeps the both of them separated.) (Ending 9: Tommurder is summoned. Since Jasmine isn’t in the Hive, the orphan loophole isn’t a problem! So Wilbee is safe. Except Tommurder doesn’t have enough control on The Blood God for loopholes to matter because there are barely rules in the first place. Everyone in the room except The Dagger is slaughtered. Having a good relationship with The Blood God only helps if Tommurder knows who to stop him from killing. Wilbee fights back but does not survive, or does on a very very small population incapable of moving its body.) (Ending 10: They try to escape. Lawrence was killed by Philzand, they are trapped in a safe room and fail to escape) (Escape 11: If Lawrence is alive, Rosalind is not in the Hive, so Lawrence is not convinced to help them. He’s probably killed by The Dagger. Fail to escape). (Ending 12: The Dagger is non-compliant in the Dr. Blake confrontation. Guards are kept in the room, and he is overpowered. The Dagger does not escape, but everyone else does). Also Dr. Blake will continue to cause so many problems in the following sections since The Dagger wouldn’t deal with her like Tommy did. Tommy win for once pog??

Part 2: Acquittal: At this point I have no idea how they’re out or how Wilbee survived, though he’s probably trying to figure out a way to kill Tommurder without getting slaughtered because he sees him as a direct threat to survival. (Ending 13: Wilbee realizes that The Blood God operates on an individual basis. According to a news article a swarm of bees can kill a half ton boar slowly and painfully. Tommurder’s death is very very ugly)

(Ending 14: Ranburn goes through Amnestic Arc. Wilbee would like to help (doesn’t have neg rep from Hallway and UnCollection) but thinks it’s too risky and isn’t invested in helping a guy it doesn’t know even for The Dagger’s sake. Doesn’t care about The Dagger promising he’d help. Ranburn, Charlie, Halo, and Skeppy are trapped in the foundation) (Ending 15: Ranburn does receive help from Wilbee. Ranburn is not vicious enough to claw their way through the entire Foundation. The 4 are trapped) (Ending 16: Ranburn is desperate enough to carve their way through the Foundation. Lawrence was killed by Philzand and can’t get Halo and Skeppy free. Ranburn and Charlie get out). Ranburn is NOT staying in the Foundation. Are you KIDDING?! Which could potentially negate the siege arc, though Ranburn is sentimental enough to want to take back that domestic bliss he had with Tubbur even if the house is surrounded on all sides. It would not be Rosalind’s house though.

(Ending 17: if Ranburn held up w amnestics, Tubbur is completely against use of the void, no Greg arc (sadg). The Dagger could manage to hold off for a while but it’s likely the Red infected would murder everyone but him. Dead or recaptured) (Ending 18: Ranburn shows up to Rosalind house, not vicious enough to drive off the Foundation siege). The Dagger and Tommurder could potentially go fairly far, since they have complimentary powers. It’s genuinely pretty scary what they can do. Foundation is driven off, and the gang races off…in a random direction. Rosalind isn’t part of the Hive, so they aren’t going to Chicago. (Ending 19: Wilbee is not ride or die for The Dagger, figures they can manage better without everyone because more confident in self-sufficiency than Tubbo. Like. Nobody does it like clingy duo.)

Greg problems avoided because Tubbur is vigilant. Loose a very cool scene, but it’s fine. If we assume Wilbee survived with amputations, he would fall into the same pitfall as Tubbo given his avoidant coping style. So it’s ending up with chronic pain too. Isn’t terrified of Ranburn and is the practical sort so may spring for the corrective surgery unlike Tubbo. Not sure how well it would go, Ranburn doesn’t have the same hyper-competent tendencies Philza does.

Past what’s published I see absolutely no way for the plot to continue in any semblance of what it’s like now, plus spoilers. It becomes heavily reliant on a complex weave of character flaws and relationship dynamics that just. Aren’t present.

Some bullet points of things that change:

Tubbos’ morals and issues with the group are a driving force of tension, and is heavily influenced by their backstory. While peaceful, Wilbee simply isn’t so adamant on enforcing it on others, and Tubbur scraped by their entire childhood alone and so doesn’t have that same strict no kill policy though they try to be more peaceful. And Ranburn isn’t super bloodthirsty, The Dagger sees attacking as very useful but also knows his powerset could lead to collateral damage, and Tommurder prefers friends to fighting and has convinced The Blood God to go along to some extent. So like…toss out most of the philosophical discussions I guess…and drama. So the Tubbo-Wilbur swap has caused the most problems over all. I think the same would’ve been true for anyone swapped in for Tubbo tho, since they’re designed to be opposed to most of the group.

No Glove arc. Glad we could avoid making Tommurder and The Dagger a more toxic friendship? Because Tommurder would deffo enable self destructive behavior but The Dagger doesn’t have that trigger and wouldn’t try to brute force his own trauma like that. Ignore it and pretend everything is fine? Hella, but that’s also a Tommy trait. Also no minor fallout with The Dagger and Tubbur over accidental triggering, which also avoids bonding and fight scene. The Dagger is just cribbing stuff no problem.

Tommurder actually talks to The Blood God and can avoid The Blade’s panic, doubling down, and character growth. But also Tommurder could potentially just have Wilbee and The Blood God actually talk to one another to directly address that trauma.

None of the continuing fallout of UnCollection arc. So the Hallway is never confronted but also never happened so idk.

Rosalind isn’t in Hive so they never go to the Parra-Cardozo household. Amnestics arc 2 never happens, no one tries to save Philzand. And anyway Lawrence is dead no redemption arc for him loser. Niki still trapped.

All of the interpersonal drama tbh

Man I’m just scrolling through my outline and it all falls apart. The further it goes on the more dependent it is on the past choices of characters and how they would act, and so much of the story is derived from relationship rifts that are dependent on philosophies and traumas that simply aren’t the same anymore. And section 3 just won’t occur at all because the sequence of events leading to the group making the decision to begin fighting the Foundation on both soft and hard power levels doesn’t have the context or the character philosophies to occur the way it will in Fault, and so that entire section just wouldn’t occur (stuff like void madness, two major villains, meeting Niki, everyone having negative character development, so so so much). Who knew a plot devised from thinking through how specific characters respond to situations would fall apart when those are different characters!

Anyway this ask was a blast, thanks so much.

#sbi scp au #fault au #technoblade #tommyinnit #philza #tubbo #ranboo #sbi au #sbi #dsmp #mcyt #scp technoblade #scp tommyinnit #scp tubbo #scp wilbur #scp philza #ask #wlwdwtys ask #something to nom on

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