#and that was part of blackhearts “rage”

[buckpaws]

man vs nature and man vs self..its the same picture

[fortune-maiden]

TGCF Revised Ver: Mid Autumn Banquet

Short arc is short and honestly aside from some stuff in the beginning I think most of the changes here are fine. It does feel like it flows better in some parts

The biggest change here is the beginning of the arc:

Originally QR possessed one of the guys he'd kidnapped, then showed up at the Xianle Royal tomb to desecrate it and then XL dragged him home. In this version, he just found a random dude while escaping after the events of the Fangxin arc and possessed him (this was the only kind of person he could possess). Notable changes though: it's said upfront that this dude is a gambler and a drunkard (and that this is the type of person QR hates most because it reminds him of his own dad). And he came crawling to Puqi Shrine to hide from LQQ. XL is still quite savage to him though. Also QR's long rant about how everyone sucks is moved to the end of this scene with him also cursing out the Three Tumors as a group after cursing them out individually. (Also my mtl has him call SWD a 'nouveau riche' instead of blackhearted and I'm very curious if this is an actual change or a translation thing xD)

And now the big rage change. THE PICKLE JAR SCENE IS CUT! Bye bye Pei Ming's final stint as an antagonist, Pei Xiu standing up to his boss/ancestor, and the Wind Master making a fool of him and then cheerfully inviting XL to the mid-autumn banquet. In the revised ver Ling Wen just informs him there's a banquet and he attends (though all the reasons he lists for being unable to refuse are the same)

No Lang Ying in this version so SQX does not mention taking XL to pick him up later.

XL recognizes LW's male form right away in the revision, while in the original he only caught on after seeing PM & SWD next to her. Also snip goes the bit about the Three Tumors praising each other and SQX calling them fakers.

The audio drama adds some cute dialogue here about LW not wanting to go to the hot springs with PM and SWD telling her to go with him and pretend PM doesn't exist. I love it a lot. (also this is SWD’s first line of dialogue in the AD haha)

LW/PM going 'Instant karma' to SWD after he made fun of them is cut. Awww

Idk if it's a translation thing but the price for stopping the mid-autumn play was possibly reduced from 100k to 10k merits - most likely a translation thing because it’s still 100k in the AD

Oh? Looks like the XL's play in the Mid Autumn Festival is called "The Strange Tale of Flower and Night" and SQX notes that it must have been written by one of his new believers...and XL then notes that his only believers are the poor villagers in Puqi Village. There is no mention of the Banyue merchants here like in the original.The play is still about Banyue though

Which leads to the consequence of cutting the pickle jar scene. SWD asks after Little Pei and PM says he washed his hands of him (I guess they had their talk offscreen?) SQX proceeds to mock him for not disciplining PX properly and brings up the past incident with his subordinate and the Rain Master, which makes PM uncomfortable (he has no reaction to SQX defending Banyue in the original) SWD scolds him as before (honestly SQX does feel a little ruder in this ver since she's bringing up the one topic PM doesn't like) (possibly also a translation thing, but SWD explicitly calls PM SQX's elder in the mtl which is cute) (mtl is also much nicer to SWD when it comes to *that* line)

The Rain Master convo that originally took place during the pickle jar scene happens here. Its also noted here that YSH silently allowed XL to borrow water for Yong'an 800 years ago (since he didn't exactly ask in this version) Also notably SQX reveals right away that the Rain Master was the last ruler of Yushi, and Pei Ming was a general of Xuli and XL realizes their history. In the original we don't learn this until Mt Tonglu.

And now for an annoying characterization cut because it's been a while. Originally when XL & SQX discuss PX's exile they have a moment of nodding about the Human Realm wearing one down over time. In the original there's an added bit about how XL is nodding unconsciously while SQX's nod is exaggerated. There's no flourish in the revision and I am annoyed because this is a key difference between the two of them. SQX says these things but doesn't fully understand them yet...

(While I'm sad about the pickle jar scene, I will admit moving this dialogue makes the scene flow better here. Originally we went right from SWD scolding SQX to the lantern battle. It was actually pretty abrupt...)

After SQX receives her ranking, other officials note that LQQ would have normally been ranked there. But he became depressed after the events of the Fangxin Guoshi arc and wasn't focusing on his duties :( Originally, he's only mentioned as being less popular than QYZ despite ascending earlier

Since SQX doesn't need to take XL to Lang Ying in this version, she goes to drag her brother away from his friends.

Also snipped is Feng Xin giving XL a congratulations. Poor Feng Xin :(

And then XL goes home and the scene with QR is more or less the same.

Very small changes overall and most of the characterization is in tact. Save for Pei Xiu's.

RIP Pei Xiu. I still love you.

[riiverstyyx-blog]

Wednesday Addams x GN!Reader

In which Wednesday saves the day and nearly loses her world.

Warnings: Body horror imagery, Gore, Near-death experiences, Fire-based contents, Unhealthy love related tendencies, SHOW SPOILERS, Hurt/Comfort,

Song: Saint Valentine, Gregory Alan Isakov

Wednesday Addams thrives off of the familiar yet shackling embrace of death.

Her soul lays dormant within its grasp; her mind teeters atop the bridge that rests above its ghost-infested domain - shoelaces always untied.

She tempts it, Death, giving the embodiment vague tastes and glimpses of her very life within its grasp. Breath and bone would intertwine whilst her feet would glide the floor in the choreographed dance with death.

Never before would her mind weasel away from the rotten smell that clings desperately onto her atoms, and never would the prospect of a person burning alive come across as unappealing.

When death occurs in relation to herself, in her words she loathes it- but realistically, she adores it; as long as it doesn’t claim someone who she considers ‘hers’. And you were ‘hers’. Perhaps that’s why her blackheart races and her stomach drops when Crackstones spell ricochets off of herself and encages your body in an eruption of flames before she is given even a moment to process it. She can’t imagine what that would have been like from your perspective. 

Her eyes stare, wide, as she watches the flames lick your body.

Any other time, perhaps she would have been enjoying herself. Briefly she is reminded of her time with the Jericho statue (which she would love to recreate now), before the gut-wrenching screams and wales of the flames finally yanking you into their grasps tear through the air. 

Skin melting, and bones revealing before they too begin to turn to ash. It’s a horrifying thing to witness.

She wants nothing more than to hold you - if she was lucky that would put out the flames, but if she were a smidge luckier, it would simply take her with you.

Her wide, blinking eyes are quick to take note of Crackstones laughter transforming into an angered yell, and she notices Bianca’s panicked expression when her sword impales the dead man walking.

With sweat encapsulating her palm, Wednesday herself follows along and draws his attention herself by staking him through the heart with a wicked expression forming onto her face.

Far to many things were running through her mind for her to notice Bianca speaking to her when his body began to fade. All of her attention was on the now dimming fire she was approaching.

Wednesday should feel some form of - not that she would admit - joy.

Crackstone had been defeated, and Nevermore could be considered ‘safe’ once again, but she doesn’t think that will matter any to her if you aren’t there to enjoy it at her side.

She stumbles toward you with furrowed brows, her eyes not leaving your ash-ridden corpse. 

Falling to her knees at where you lay, her fingers twitch as they glide over you, attempting to find something - anything to grasp upon.

Her expression remains panicked, hands shaking when she realizes there isn’t anything for her to recognize. All that’s left is pieces of your charred corpse and the nauseating residue of your perfume.

Bianca herself is already in tears, but some other part of her heart breaks when she takes note of Wednesday’s own tears leaking down her pale, blood-coated skin.

“Addams-” Bianca chokes. “Wednesday.”

There is no response. She’s unsure if she can’t here her, or is choosing not too.

“Wednesday, can you hear me?”

Bianca knows to try and stay calm. One of them has too.

Her blue eyes flicker toward your being, widening momentarily. Faint movement comes from the ashes, and Bianca is quick to remove her palm from Wednesday’s shoulder, kneeling to move the ashes aside.

An unfamiliar rage fills Wednesday, but before she can speak, a bright golden glow is pulled from the ashes, forcing Wednesday to cover her eyes and lean back.

Heat surrounds her, and slowly, almost tentatively, she lowers her hands and glances around, only to look back at you.

Where your corpse once lay is a bird of fire - a phoenix, and it’s staring at her with those familiar eyes.

No words can escape Wednesday as she watches a tear fall from the creature before its body begins to glow, transforming into a smoke-based mist that begins to surround your ashes.

Weaving in and out of the destroyed body, the golden glow begins to piece you back together.

In some unexplainable way - some completely unfathomable way, you are being reformed. Your nickname of “Frankenstein” fits far more now that you, well, have died, rather than being a monstrous creation of your parents. (Perhaps that is a story she will have to ask about once more.)

Wednesday doesn’t blink until your body looks as it once was, well, despite the strong scent of blood and burnt flesh.

There’s a sense of fear in her when she does blink. What if you disappear? What if you aren’t actually there when she opens her eyes and she has to inform Enid of your traumatizing passing? What if she has to tell her mother and father a tale of of the love she had, and lost?

She is lucky, this is something she is now confident in, because when her eyes open once more, you’re still there, but now your eyes are wide, glowing an inhuman gold and locked onto nothing but Wednesday herself.

Wednesday Addams nearly feels pure terror when your confusion turns into a soft, yet playful grin. “Are you alright, Addams? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

She should have hit you, perhaps gutted you alive, but she couldn’t.

“Amore Mio,” she mutters, taking your hand into her own and gently placing her lips upon your knuckles. “You are terrifying.”

Your eyes soften, placing your palm onto her cheek to gain her attention.

“But you like terrifying, yes?”

“Yes. I adore terrifying.”

[tomyo]

Nimona and a Decade of the Queer Experience

To me one of the most anticipated aspects of the Nimona adaptation was to see how they changed the a lot of the queer themes from the original comic. Nimona was created in a time where it was still taboo to represent same sex relationships in anything trying to be marketable into an era where it is so commonplace that Nimona would have seemed regressive if it stayed true to the material.

Naturally the way Blackheart and Goldenloin are portrayed has greatly changed but also has a lot of the message from the original. Nimona is now about the trans experience.

This isn't to say transness was never at the core of Nimona but I don't think even baby nonbinary me would have been able to connect it directly to that.

Nimona the comic, to me, deals with similar but different issues from Nimona the movie. The comic was a story of trying to upheave an untrustworthy militarized state through the initially goofy lens of a budding father daughter relationship that ultimately fails.

Blackheart at the start of the comic already is trying to defy the government and Nimona seeks him out because he's actually playing the role of the villain already. She herself felt like this mix of female and queer rage. It made believe somewhat in the idea that the little girl by the end of the story was truly her who had once tried to do better for her home and was rejected for becoming something *different*. Overall you can feel more presently that deafening dread that Blackheart and Goldenloin love each other and acknowledging that would ruin both of their lives. This is moreso due to that whole conflict of their ideologies and sides they are on interfering but the metaphor is there. We could read this easily as Blackheart being out of the closet and at odds with society where Goldenloin on in the closet and working on the name of oppression. By showing Blackheart looking visibly like a villain it harkens back to the queer coding of Disney villains and a feeling a lot of queer people had to experience at that time, being an enemy to the public simply for existing. Coming back to Nimona, she's the perfect example of a trans masc egg experience; punk in a way that isn't fully certain in embracing or trashing anything feminine. Not fully androgynous but butchy and an unfocused anger at everything around them. I can never speak for the entirety of the trans experience but I know the feeling being born in an afab body and violently hating the society that I want badly to accept me, the way we insist that we intend to fully express our being while also creating this weird mix of unconvincing conformity. Again I laugh so much at her design elements; shaved head, tomboyish in chainmail but with curves, and short dresses, and impractical belts. Her actions also read as someone who's greatest sore point is loss of her bodily autonomy which ultimately she's subjected to during the climax. The monster/power of Nimona to me tends to ultimately mirror more of an emotional state rather than transness itself. Both version of Nimona have people see it as something Nimona is inflicted with rather than a part of her existence as she reveals at the end. Even Blackheart believe he can cure her of it with the equivalence of a procedure or medication but it's because he only perceives Nimona as the little girl and not the little girl as a part of the whole that is the dragon. I think there is a lot of things we can read into the dragon being and even at the idea that queerness is something people seek to cure that doesn't need one in the first place. And ultimately that's why the story ends on the somber tone it does, the biggest focus of the story was how Blackheart became the parent to Nimona and misguidedly tried to 'fix' her. And like a lot of people, especially for the time period, Nimona had to leave behind the family and society that couldn't accept her as her.

And so we move forward through the years.

Media is not made in a vacuum, Nimona the comic is a critique of early 2010s ideologies and maybe doesn't even worry about them as serious in a pre 2016 world. Nimona 2023 however exists on the other side of that threshold. Like I said, I don't think the original comic was consciously trans mostly because the zeitgeist wasn't conscious of transness. 2012-2014 (the comic's creation period) encapsulated me personally going from no aware knowledge of gender to confusion at learning my friend's pronouns to fully identifying as nonbinary in a world few people knew what that meant. But not long after that we had Korra's ending, the reveal of Ruby and Sapphire, Kaitlynn Jenner, Menanists, and then the nightmare of the 2016 election and all that came with it. The truth is a contradiction occurred; queerness became a part of the in group so long as it followed the rules of heteronormativity. I think it is fair to say a lot of queer people became more eeeh conservative for lack of better terms. For once we finally had a chance to be out and so long as we followed the conditions set out, exist well. We can live comfortably, why rock the boat? In other words, respectability politics. We are then at odds with those who believe we should keep complacent for fear of being rejected.

That brings us to Nimona the movie.

Blackheart no longer is the guerilla activist he once was, we now are introduced to him as a part of the system; specifically the model minority. Movies only have so much time for you to build understanding of it's world themes and ideas and so it tends to need to be more punchy with getting the point across otherwise become less coherent. So rather on the nose "Knighting a non noble is against god" as very flatly stated in the begging. Since the time of the comic, being gay has been normalized and we now see Blackheart and Goldenloin start out as a couple (to be frank I couldn't fully tell if they were official or not but they were all but in writing together) and by in universe logic, Goldenloin is the golden child pastor's son with divisively accepted boyfriend. Blackheart is an inspiration for his common men while his noble classmates are disgusted at the idea of him being allowed the same rights as them, essentially being allowed to be an policeman. It's his role as the model minority that he still believes the system is right when he is framed for murder; it is the one bad actor who's at fault despite a whole society shunning him with little reasoning needed.

Nimona in the other hand is a bit more in control of the relationship. Nimona of the comic latched onto a spurned man who was more methodical than she was in her work but Nimona of the movie is pretty much what pushes Blackheart into the image of a villain. Movie Nimona's goal is more or less to find community and for reasons we will get to only believes she can find it with other cast aside from society. She is jaded enough to know that Blackheart will continue to be labeled as the way they do to her. This time the shape shifting is explicitly trans; Nimona now is no longer worried about experimentation or trying to be cured but of being called a monster, the fear of her, and eradication; words I feel like I've heard too much in lgbt spaces lately. She talks about wanting her own demise with her heard turned down and eyes somber in moments that hit too close to home. She is a worn down warrior for her own existence. On safer grounds with Blackheart she more wittingly challenges his transphobia. Blackheart cannot perceive her out of the binary that she is default a girl and her transformations are something else, he asks if her transitions hurt, and he tries to convince her to blend in with others for his own comfort. As he spends more time with her, he's able to view the world he was taught differently and doesn't view the less pretty sides of Nimona as scary. However, programming is hard to free yourself out of.

The Director is by definition, conservative. She believes is a religious like text that society should not change unless it all falls a part. Her belief in this runs so deep that she easily is willing to kill pseudo religious figures as her personal code of morals override any actual logic in faith(anyone remember how magas talk about Trump as being sent by God while also disavowing him for encouraging vaccinations?). Her rhetoric that non nobles with be a societal slip eminates classism and racism (commoner is somewhat of a race allegory). She denies her own words to hold power, criticizes Nimona of whispering deceipt into blackhearts ear while actually being the one doing so to Goldenloin, and justifies her actions through holy scripts. She holds a stern belief in cleansing the society of it's demons down to intending to kill a large part of her society to rid it of the tran metaphor Nimona is. She is the quintessential conservative power so bent on it staying that way that she will destroy everything in spite of any logic to why it's right. Goldenloin, as the champion of the institution, a head cop if you will, looks upon the chaos learning the director's intent to kill thousands and says "what are we doing here?" A lot of institutions (aah there's the naming for you) in our country are like this. I think to some like, there are people who entered religion or became a police officer because they wanted to do good. But the rhetoric in these spaces can skew that perspective exponentially. Some with better access out may find that point of "What are we doing her" The moment the logic of the system no longer makes sense. I would love to talk more a lot this an the comic institution at a later point.

Back to Nimona and the queer identity.

Nimona was searching for a group to accept her, changing her appearance to fit in. She thinks she has it with Gloreth until Gloreth is taught that Nimona's existence was monstrous and rejects her as well. The scene of the villagers attacking her is poinient as well; they endanger and threaten her with violence (which would likely have been more explicit if not for kids) and she first turns to something weaker to escape but they refuse and so she is forced to turn to something bigger ane vicious in order to live but it only sets up the narrative that there is a reason to fear her when she didnt attack first, she simply had to protect herself. Nimona in the present is ready for her death, the narrative so out of control that it breaks her.

Blackheart is able to bring her back from the brink by doing the important thing of truly apologizing, have humility for his mistrust and bigotry, and offer her support on equal terms. Nimona this time does not flee her friend that failed her but sacrifice herself for the hope of a better future beyond the walls.

The final part to mention; the walls. The walls are mad out as a big deal in this. No one leaves beyond them and the one small town of Gloreth fills to a big capitalist tech dystopia that markets dragons as both cute mascots and something to eradicate to as young as children. Society is a small shoebox not allowed to even see beyond the walls; see a new potential of this world. Simply put, the beyond is the beyond of heteronormative society. Even as society has become more accepting of LGBT identities, it has only liked to consume it in an easily interpreted manor. There are a lot of even just fringe identities that used to get lambasted for being weird simply for existing, trying to apply those same rules within their spaces as they've become socially acceptable. For every push forward we make, there is still presentation and identity that will get ostracized for being out of the box. We create these walls and only build them out further every so often rather than knocking them down. If there is anything to take from Nimona it's to embrace the beyond.

Morning edit; Hiii thank you for reading all of this. I kinda furiously typed this after watching the movie last night and there are certainly some flaws for it. Towards the end you can see a lot of typos because I was literally falling asleep and there are definitely some concepts I would've liked to flesh out better but kinda glossed over to focus on what the stories were saying about Nimona specifically. I think if anything, I'd want to reexamine Blackheart in both stories because I honestly forgot a lot of his actions in the comic, same with the institution because it took a while to even remember about the Director being a character from the comic. To be real, there's some really specific events on where Nimona was made that tend to hit me pretty hard so I rushed through the comic when I read it last year. I might try to take me time now because Nimona is so meaningful. I even want to talk about how it made sense Disney tried to shut it down (I'm certain there's a lot of business reasons but I don't think it was compatible with the Disney brand). For all the ways we have queer stories, I don't think we see a lot of trans stories yet. I'm hoping the series like Dead End Paranormal Park and Nimona are the start of a new era that focally represent that.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

MESSAGE FOR: Ward, A., ILKHAN / FIRST LORD

FROM: M. Hazen, COMGEN

My IlKhan, as requested, here is a breakdown of the forces being sent to Helios as part of the third wave of Operation TOUCHDOWN.

------------------------------------

* National:

-- SLDF Royal:

1st Royal BattleMech Regiment "Turkina"

2nd Royal BattleMech Regiment "Werewolves"

3rd Royal BattleMech Regiment "Gunslingers" (ex-Stone's Lament/KotRS)

331st Royal BattleMech Regiment "The North American Regiment"

410th Royal BattleMech Regiment "The United Member States Regiment"

1st Royal Swiss Cavalry Regiment

13th Royal French Demi-Regiment

59th Royal Jump Infantry Regiment "The King's Own Jump Troops"

82nd Royal Jump Infantry Regiment "The All Americans"

101st Royal Jump Infantry Regiment "Screaming Eagles"

175th Royal Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The Desert Rats"

181st Royal Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The King's Own Scots Rifles"

206th Royal Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The Democrats of Brazil"

8th Royal CAAN Regiment "The Black Sea Regiment"

20th Royal CAAN Regiment "The Saipan Regiment"

124th Royal Heavy Assault Regiment "Dai Maxbuster"

1st Royal Separate Special Purpose Regiment "The Fidelis"

Elements of Clan Iron Orca - Command Star

-- SLDF Regular:

46th BattleMech Regiment "The Chrome Hounds Regiment"

171st BattleMech Regiment "The Zhukov Regiment"

332nd BattleMech Regiment "The Antarctica Regiment"

335th BattleMech Regiment "The Joan of Arc Regiment"

398th BattleMech Regiment "The European Regiment"

9th Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The Pride of Puget Sound"

59th Mechanized Infantry Regiment "New Kyoto Samurai"

80th Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The Texas Rangers"

138th Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The Chicago Regiment"

233rd Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The King of Denmark Regiment"

245th Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The Latvian Rifles"

256th Mechanized Infantry Regiment "The Dutch and Belgian Fusiliers"

1st French Regiment

1st German Regiment

1st Ukrainian Regiment

1st Infantry Regiment "The Big Red One"

4th Infantry Regiment "The Gurkha Rifles"

10th Infantry Regiment "The Welsh Foot Regiment"

61st Infantry Regiment "The Michigan Sixty-First"

77th Special Operations Group "Blackhearts"

-- Non-Star League:

>> FWL:

1st Nova Cat Provisionals

Kara's Scorchers

>> Capellan Confederation:

Death Commandos

1st McCarron's Armored Cavalry

1st St. Ives Lancers

Marshals of Tikonov

>> Federated Suns:

1st Avalon Hussars

Davion Assault Guards RCT

3rd Davion Guards

McKinnon's Company

>> Lyran Commonwealth:

2nd Donegal Guards (AWOL)

>> Draconis Combine:

Hikage

Ryuken-San

1st Genyosha

4th Arkab Legion

5th Sword of Light

>> Rasalhague Dominion:

Rasalhague Galaxy

1st Drakøns

>> Magistracy of Canopus:

1st Canopian Night Stalkers

2nd Canopian Fusiliers

>> Aurigan Coalition:

1st Aurigan Guards

>> Taurian Concordat:

Taurian Guards Regiment

>> United Hindu Collective:

Messengers of Shiva

>> Raven Alliance:

First Raven Phalanx

Alliance Grenadiers

>> Scorpion Empire:

Seeker Keshik

* Mercenaries:

Neon Knights

Lone Wolves (inc. Fox Patrol)

Lindon's Company

Steve's Stevedores

Tiamat's Terrors

Raging Horde

------------------------------------

As we discussed, this does represent a significant deployment of SLDF personnel, but the experience these units will gain will far outweigh any risks. Standing up units with the names and recruitment profiles of old SLDF regiments is a powerful tool to establish continuity with the old Star League, and provide the people of Terra incentives to join up. I am hoping similar programs can be carried out as the Star League expands.

Deployment of these forces will begin on D+6, following destruction of remaining Blakist assets in the Coen Regional Area of Operations (CRAO), currently scheduled for tomorrow, D+5. Most of the forces listed here will deploy to pre-selected AOs across Helios, with several SLDF Regular units detailed to continue occupation operations in the CRAO following the first and second wave units departure to a new AO.

Mercenary and non-Star League forces will be assigned as deemed fit. Currently I plan on attaching the following units to my own operational sector command - in addition to those already attached in prior waves:

2nd Royal BattleMech Regiment

59th Royal Jump Infantry Regiment

124th Royal Heavy Assault Regiment

1st Royal Separate Special Purpose Regiment

46th BattleMech Regiment

1st Ukrainian Regiment

1st Infantry Regiment

Taurian Guards Regiment

1st Canopian Night Stalkers

2nd Canopian Fusiliers

Hikage

Ryuken-San

3rd Davion Guards

Neon Knights

Yours,

M. Hazen

Commanding General, SLDF

MESSAGE ENDS

STOP STOP STOP

[adultswim2021]

The Venture Bros. #42: "Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel" | October 19, 2009 - 12:00AM | S04E01

Hey! It’s a TV Show I actually like! But it’s also a show I like enough that I feel compelled to watch the blu-ray extras for. Hell, this episode had me watching a fan-edit. What can I say? I’m in love!!!! 

I can’t really get into the story of this episode without first talking about it’s unorthodox structure. Basically, the episode jumps around through time in a particular way. We cut back and forth between Brock’s story, which covers what he did immediately after walking off the job as the Venture’s bodyguard. The other story-line is what happens back at the Venture compound. Brock’s story occurs forward in time, like most stories in most episodes of most shows do. BUT: the stuff taking place at the Venture compound is shown to us in reverse order.

There’s also complimentary motifs for each subplot: Brock’s scenes all have a title card that correlates to the original stories found in Marvel Comics #1 from 1939. The Venture’s scenes begin with a CGC rating for a comic book being flashed on screen, which correlates to an actual copy of Marvel Comics #1 which is in the Venture’s possession. As the story moves backwards we find out that the comic has suffered a lot of careless abuse, going from a 9.6 NM grading to a 0.0 (or from 0.0 to 9.6 the way we see it). 

Slightly confusing is Brock’s story occasionally finds him at the Venture compound, so there’s some crossover. There’s also visual transitions from one scene to the next, even if it involves a significant time jump. Brock’s story primarily takes place early in the timeline, while the Venture compound stuff takes place later in the timeline. 

The episode’s cold open starts off with a scene that takes place right at the end of the season three finale, with the Monarch’s car exploding. It takes Brock out, who gets scooped up by the O.S.I. They take him aboard their S.H.I.E.L.D. ship and fix his heart by using robot HELPeR.’s head, sorta like an Iron Man heart (a character in the episode later mentions that robot hearts became all the rage since the Iron Man movie came out). Brock visits the surgeon that gave Hunter his sex change and gets a replacement put in, freeing HELPeR from his imprisonment in Brock’s chest. Brock mails HELPeR’s head to the Ventures wrapped in his jacket, which Hank takes and treats like a sacred object (we also see him wearing it defiantly in the face of Hatred's insistence that he and the Ventures wear uniforms).

Brock hides out for a bit with Steve Summers, the Bionic Man, whom he memorably gifts a bad painting to as part of his art therapy (I remember this painting being an avatar on a message board I posted on. This information is incredibly important to me, so I’m putting it here, parenthetically). Brock goes to spy on the Blackhearts and Hunter, who you may or may not recall doublecrossed Brock at the end of season three. Basically he was working with the Blackhearts in sending various assassins Brock’s way, lying to him about the OSI being behind it, for the sole purpose of just having Brock kill the Blackhearts’ competition. So that’s why Brock is seeking retribution.

Brock’s confrontation goes poorly, and Brock gets blasted out the Blackheart’s highrise headquarters. It’s here where he gets scooped up by Sphinx, and we find out Hunter was actually working with Sphinx as a mole in the Blackhearts. He also has his dick back (or he’s stuffing; but it's strongly implied he has, or has had, a pecker). It’s truly a banner day for those who like it when people have penises (the default genital).

Meanwhile, the Ventures plot involves them taking on Hatred as their new bodyguard. We see him in the OSI airship, undergoing some kind of chemical castration (or perhaps something more super-sciency), so I guess we don’t have to worry about him molesting the boys. Sorta fucked up, but the idea of “this is just a cartoon and also it’s meant for adults” used to cover a lot more ground in 2009 than it does now. The scene which introduces the fact that Hatred is now their bodyguard just jumps right into it: showing him already established and in the early stages of whipping the boys into shape. We’re also introduced to the HELPeR head being fused with the Venture walking eye.

This scene, which has Hatred trying to make a breakthrough with Hank by having Hank shoot him, is maybe my favorite scene in the episode. It’s especially funny, and it introduces this new dynamic really beautifully. Noted in the commentary; Doc was charged with writing this scene and Jackson thought it would be a little more spelled-out with Hatred formally introducing himself as the new bodyguard. The just-jumping in approach yielded a wonderful scene. It's especially good to start an in-universe shake-up on the right foot, and that's what they goddamn did, gosh darn it.

Also going on at the homestead: Venture is approached by both 21 and a group of Nazis (separately) to do some cloning work. 21 wants to bring back 24, and gives Venture his NM copy of Marvel Comics #1 as payment. Venture is incredulous that a dusty old comic book could be worth anything, and immediately lets Hank have it. We already know that he fucks it up all nasty-like, thanks to the reverse-story telling. 21 is dismayed to learn that the clone of 24 will be a baby on account of the clone slugs’ destruction.

The Nazis are looking to clone Hitler, whose brain seems to be in the body of a bulldog that takes a liking to Dean, which causes friction when it’s decided that the moral thing to do would be to murder it. This resolves with a parody of the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Orpheus melts the Nazis into goo as well as destroying all of the clone pods (this was a very deliberate way of putting the whole clone thing to rest). This is one of the first scenes of the episode, so it’s not really a spoiler. A scene taking place immediately after these events plays after the credits, where Brock shows up, kills Hitler with the Hitler-killing Golden dagger (how’d he get that?) has some words with Hank, and then takes off.

I had historically considered this episode to be a bit of a failed experiment, at least in the way that it’s very confusing to the first-time viewer. Now that I’ve been through the series a few times (and have even deigned to watch a fan-edit that reorganizes the scenes in chronological order) this episode’s confusing structure gets less jarring with every viewing. Noted in the commentary: the intended effect was for the initial watch-through to confuse the viewer, and have it make sense by the end and especially on repeat viewings. Mission accomplished, I guess.

Anyway, I always approach this episode with low expectations, but this time I found a lot to love about it. I was dramatically composing grandiose sentences in my head about how season three managed to find the show going up it’s own ass, and that this episode starts the season on a similar footing. It takes a few viewings, but I more-or-less think this episode is great, and I admire the experiment. 

I will point out that after watching the chronology cut of the episode, that the Ventures story does seem like it’s missing some important pieces of the puzzle. Like, the story jumps past important beats, and having the episode show this story backwards does distract from these story holes. The Go Team Venture book does cop to the idea that this is roughly the reason for showing the one subplot in reverse order as a "fix".

This episode also kicks off Brock not being in the show for a while; he bids adieu to Hank and wouldn’t be seen for a little while. This decision, along with the playing of the timeline of the episode’s story, are characterized as being part of some larger mental collapse felt in particular by Jackson Publick, who asked Adult Swim to change the order from a single 13 episode season to a two-part season with 8 episodes in each part. He just wasn’t up to the task of writing more episodes, and was afraid of crashing and burning and fucking up with their money. Quitting smoking seemed to have a lot to do with it. He was also working on Superjail around this time, as well.

One last thing! The confusion of the episode’s scrambled order was exacerbated on the west coast by an error: Adult Swim aired the first act of the episode twice. So, after the commercial break, the first half started over. Given the nature of the episode, it probably seemed intentional at first. I don't remember seeing it live. More likely is I was recording it and was planning to watch it when it was over (or close to over), so I could fast forward through the commercials. I probably found out what happened online first. I have a vague recollection of feeling grateful that I knew where to find a torrent of the episode, recorded on the east coast.

Okay, one last LAST thing, actually: One tidbit I liked from the "Art of" book: the original idea for Brock's bad painting was to show him staying up all night passionately painting said painting and having that be the reveal. Funny!

[one-winged-dreams]

Hungry

ship: all the devils are here (the Condemned x Blackheart) source: marvel words: 532 tw: gore

this is so short because it's gonna be a... SPICY fic. This part is cute enough that I thought I'd share it as a singular oneshot here though.

If one wanted to find him, one needed only follow the wake of carnage and half-eaten corpses, the literal trail of blood and gore notwithstanding. Savage hunger drove him out of obscurity, and now he had come here of all places to feed his insatiable appetite. He hadn't expressed an ounce of prejudice toward the demons he had fed upon, half or whole.

The final key to locating him was the ungodly sound of gnashing teeth and gluttonous snarling, disgusting slurping noises, and snapping bones accompanied by the wet tearing of flesh amongst a chorus of other such debased noises.

Blackheart found him huddled over a veritable pile of corpses mutilated beyond recognition other than that of meat alone.

"You're very bold to have come here of all places to satiate your appetite, Condemned," he addressed him as he approached, circling around to keep to his flank.

The disgusting noises stopped, the forsaken god's head tilting backward until the top of his face was vertical enough that it could lay its eye upon him. His 'tongues' slurped disgustingly across the jaws that separated his face from his head, splattering gore across and underneath his chin.

"Disgusting as ever, looks like. Care to explain yourself or are you going to let your teeth do the talking again?" Blackheart huffed, not sensing any sort of threatening presence from him.

The Condemned slowly stood, swaying a bit as gooey viscera slid down his body to splatter upon the ground with sickening volume.

"Hh… HUngryyyy… So… HUNGRY… Let me eat, Blackheart. I want… To EAT!" he punctuated by hissing violently, near identical to the sound of an irate viper.

Blackheart huffed, folding his arms as he walked around him in a half-circle. "You're ALWAYS hungry, Condemned. Did it drive you so desparate that you would come to Hell to feed yourself with MY subjects?"

The Condemned opened his jaws wide to hiss and rattle and noisily make it clear that he was in no mood to be polite or civil. "Your subjects are nothing to me! I am a GOD! I'll take and take and TAKE WHATEVER I WANT!"

Narrowed eyes were all Blackheart could show to express his annoyance. "For a god, you sure don't act like it. And you certainly don't remember how easy it is to subjugate you. Weak little godling, past your prime eons ago. Slave to your base instincts. Have you forgotten every time I've bent you to your proper place?"

With a shriek of rage, the Condemned's hair flared and bristled like an angry cat. "YOU WOULD SPEAK TO YOUR MATE THIS WAY, BLACKHEART!? TEN THOUSAND PLAGUES UPON YOUR VILE TONGUE!"

"I DON'T EVEN HAVE ONE, GODLING!" Blackheart had fallen victim to the Condemned's fit as well, now making the argument two-sided try as he might to avoid it.

The two spitefully held each other in a glare, bristling with rage as gutteral growls and hisses rang from their throats like so many feral beasts.

With one fluid motion, Blackheart straightened, spreading his arms wide.

"Come to me, godling."

And, with the kind of leap that would be envied by the most agile of wild cats, the forsaken god did.

[moonmitski]

I am sending you the reminder you asked for, oh my dearest punk deity, please give me the second part of your punk recs🙏

okay here we go!! tried to make this one more female orientated, so we got half. i honestly need to listen to more female-led punk myself! gonna do the same thing where i rec an album to start with

social distortion (i grew up with them, they have a little bit of a country flavor which i think is really cool. honestly really surprised i didn’t recommend them the first time) -self titled

sleater-kinney (again surprised i didn’t rec them the first time, my FAVORITE riot grrrl band) -dig me out

descendants (pretty classic, an early example of pop-punk) -everything sucks

all (this one’s more obscure, earlier punk, very classic-style punk. made by some of the guys of descendants after they broke up) -allroy’s revenge

the offspring (less political, very fast paced, newer than a lot of the bands on this list) -rise and fall, rage and grace AND americana

mommy long legs (hella weird riot grrrl, newer band) -assholes

le tigre (yes everyone knows deceptacon because tiktok went crazy about it 😭 but they’re great riot grrrl and was formed by kathleen hannah after bikini kill) -self titled

dazey and the scouts (very new, not very well known band, but so good) -maggot

joan jett & the blackhearts (everyone knows and loves joan jett, but i wld def recommend checking her out more. god she’s such a fuckin badass) -up your alley

days n daze (folk punk, very different, very scratchy so i don’t blame you if it’s not your thing, but i love em so i thought i’d toss it in) -rouge taxidermy

[confiteorims]

Drabble Title: N/A Setting: End of ARR MSQ/ “The Parting Glass”  Warnings: mentions of some canon typical violence

In some ways it felt like a dream. 

A horrible, terrible dream where the Sultana, in all her idealism, had choked to death on the very air in her lungs right before his eyes. All while he was helpless to do anything more than run to her side as she fell to the floor. Where had the poison come from? E’mrys didn’t know, how could he know? Ul’dah was a political nightmare at the best of times, from his own observations 

Maybe the distant almost unintelligible babbling from Teledji Adeledji sounded so muted from shock.

Or, well, in all likelihood it was because he simply didn’t care. The man clearly had an agenda, was obviously behind this whole mess. And E’mrys had little interest in playing a part, no matter how unwilling. 

Crouched low, hand resting on the pommel of his sword, he eyed the Brass Blades behind the Lalafell. Not enough, not nearly enough to stop him. But... Something was off. 

Hadn’t there been one other-?

As soon as he realized the trap it was too late, the blow landing hard against his head, directly on his ear. It sent him sprawling, stars exploding before his eyes. A low groan escaped him as the room spun nauseatingly. There was no time to even adjust, to try to make the ringing in his ears stop. The instant his back hit the rug, right on the puddle of poisoned wine, the Brass Blades were on him. 

Hands bound tightly, far too tightly, behind his back with rough rope. An unfamiliar and yet agonizingly all-too familiar sensation. His vision blurred, for a brief moment Brass Blades and Adeledji both replaced with faceless strangers clothed in black iron. E’mrys shuddered, forcing the memories down with a sharp inhale. 

Just in time to be forced to his feet and dragged, like a prisoner or an uncooperative animal, through the palace. 

Infuriating.

Head still spinning, he barely noticed being thrown to the floor. Barely heard any of the arguments and accusations, until Teledji’s clammy little hand gripped his chin.

“Of course, it’s so very convenient that the great hero of these treacherous Scions would be this wanderer with no true ties to any nation, hm? Or should I say any Eorzean nation.” The slimy little smirk on the bastard’s face made him snarl, the implications of his statement sparking the budding white-hot rage in his chest even as icy dread crept down his spine. “I suppose it’s only to be expected, after all! The Empire has grown rather clever so why wouldn’t they send in a trained spy to act the hero!”

And that- That was the final straw. E’mrys lunged forward, feeling immense, visceral satisfaction with the startled yelp the Lalafellin bastard made as he snatched his hand away. 

Satisfaction that only grew with the blood he saw on the man’s hand, paired with the faintest taste of it on his teeth. 

“How dare you.” E’mrys hissed, tail lashing wildly even as he bared his fangs once again. “How dare you call me a Garlean spy.” It was all so much, The shocked silence in the room, the weight of the Scions’- of Raubahn’s -gazes on him. The way the ropes cut into the skin of his wrists and the ringing still in his aching ear. Everything was pushing him far too much. “I never willingly worked for the Empire, and I haven’t had any contact outside of taking their miserable lives since Carteneau, you scheming blackhearted pathetic rat. Once I get free I’m going to-...!” 

A kick to his stomach, sudden and heavy enough for the force to travel through his armor, cut him off. Wheezing, E’mrys slumped to the side, glaring wildly up at the perpetrator. Ilberd. Of course. Of course. The de facto leader of Alphinaud’s fool’s dream of a perfect army. Who else could make so many of the Crystal Braves turn traitor besides the ever so charismatic man before him?

He’d kill him. 

That was a promise he swore to himself even as the arguments once more grew to fill the air around him. 

No matter what it would take, he would see Ilberd dead by his own hands.

Something dark was burning in his chest, a fire he desperately gripped to keep the chill of memories and fear of judgment at bay. It ached. Even though he knew he had Minfilia’s support, it still ached like an old wound. 

He wasn’t a Garlean agent. He wasn’t. He was free from that life. 

Wasn’t he?

Wasn’t he free to simply be E’mrys? 

But then...who really was E’mrys? He didn’t know how to answer that question anymore. 

[malethirsty]

And The Beat Goes On - Tomaso Ciampa

Summary: You’d never expected to become so attached to Tomaso Ciampa, first you were a fan, then you were his protege but can the relationship go much further than that? The answer will surprise you.

Warnings: M/M smut (21+), Bareback (Wrap Before You Tap), Violence

Inspired by: https://twitter.com/malethirst/status/1198592781150670848?s=21 & also a request hy @issacloveswwe so if you’re into hot men wrestling and a perspective on it, please check him out, he’s awesome.

If Tomaso Ciampa considered himself daddy, then you were his son. Ever since he had the NXT Title removed from him, he had been training you for your big debut on the roster. He worked you hard with strikes & promo work “They’re actually one and the same, it’s about mentally weakening your opponent, working them down till they can’t do much else and then striking like a snake.” He told you, and you took his advice to heart. Though many saw an evil Blackheart machine, you saw the kind and good soul that lurked beneath.

You appreciated the times you’d spent with him, but when he finally healed and returned to the roster, you were suddenly half complete, he still trained with you but in a lower capacity as he chased Adam Cole for the NXT Title. You were right there supporting him as he intended to make his trip to a Two Time Champion. But in TakeOver Brooklyn, it all came thudding to a halt, you had been in the front row, as part of the NXT team Showing off their new roster talents, so you were stuck as you watched Tomaso’s ‘friend’ Johnny Gargano take the belt and fuck up Tomasso’s plans, letting Adam eclipse him. Was it anger towards Tomaso or a desire to get back at Finn Bálor who beat him earlier by taking away his longest reigning stat, you didn’t know, all you knew was you had to make sure he was alright. A while after TakeOver ended, you walked up to the meds room to see Ciampa on his back, looking blankly up at the roof. “Tomasso” you got out and he looked up at you “Y/N, please go, you shouldn’t have to see me like this, all broken down.” “Bull” you said “It’s wrestling, if I couldn’t handle seeing you beaten up every now and again, I’d be your aged care nurse, not your protege.” He shot a grin ‘Thank God he’s cheering up’ you thought “Think we can train together, to beat Gargano I need to think sharper than before.” You excitedly nodded, more time with him meant you could alleviate that broken emotion you had once he’d stopped. Not thank you were thankful for either Adam or Gargano, the thought of thanking them made you shudder.

So eventually you trained together, Tomasso picking up some of the brutal tips you had gained on the indie circuit. Perhaps a bit too well, as a few weeks later, Ciampa took the brutality to new heights as he smashed Gargano around. Gargano did give as good as he got, but Tomasso was the main deliverer of pain. After the mess was cleared up, Regal & Triple H demanded their differences be resolved, through one last final match. “Gargano’s come last in these due to recklessness” you said, referring to the Cole v. Gargano match at TakeOver: Toronto “He would have had time to practice since then, we can’t rest on him” Ciampa reminded you. Nodding, cause he was right, you still had the last encouraging word “Listen, if you pull it together, you’ll be fine.” Ciampa locked eyes with you, his blue eyes meeting your warm ones and did something that many would be surprised in, he smiled “Well then help me train Y/N, let’s beat this son of a bitch.”

With the PC short staffed due to COVID-19, you and Tomaso trained in close quarters, keeping a distance apart in case, though both of you were cleared, you didn’t want to run the risk. However, wonder lurked in your head ‘What would happen once this feud is over, what will Tomaso Ciampa do?’ You hoped he wouldn’t leave you again, it was painful enough the first time “What are you thinking of?” Tomaso asked “Whether we’ll continue this after this One Final Beat match is done.” You said “Of course we will! The only reason I was distant is that I love having you around and when I went for the NXT title, I needed to focus.” ‘At least he didn’t hate me or something’ you thought as you smiled at him “You know you have the most beautiful smile.” You turned around shocked that Tomaso would let out a comment like that, he was usually more stoic in his praise “Well thank you!” You said, surprised “What? You think I’m not capable of being nice?” “Well given you ran around as a heel for two years it’s a bit surprising” he humorously flipped you off and both of you laughed as you set back to work.

Finally the day arrived and this time, you decided to watch in gurrella instead of watching in the stands, hoping it would change luck, despite Tomaso’s insistence otherwise “Changing position won’t change the match.” He said blankly “I know that, I’m using gurrella as a look out, if someone’s running up with a steel chair linked to Gargano, I can go out behind them and yell to warn you.” Tomaso’s eyebrows raised “That’s actually a good plan, maybe this old dog has taught you new tricks.” “You. Are. 34. Years. Old.” You exasperatedly said slamming your hands together with every word, causing your mentor to burst out laughing. “Ciampa and Gargano to gurrella, Ciampa and Gargano to gurrella” came an announcers voice over the loudspeakers, you passed Candice LaRae on the way up and gave her a short smile which she returned. Eventually you arrived and you used the pretext of going to the food table to stay there whilst both men were briefed on what the match would be. As soon as both men departed, you turned around to watch.

Unpleasant would be an understatement, both these men went at it with such force, it was like they really were fighting for their lives. It got so damn rough that you weren’t surprised that Candice LaRae ran in through gurrella seemingly in tears ‘She’ll probably get Gargano to stop.’ You figured, and she did with a smooth kick to his groin “That’s gonna cost her, no sex at all tonight.” You humoursly commented to the backstage crew who chuckled, only for the laughter to turn into shocked gasps as Candice delivered one to Tomasso! Gargano covered Ciampa as the ref counted 1, 2 and ... 3. “NO!” You yelled, in utter agony that your companion had lost the final battle, you covered your hands and sunk to the ground, it was like your heart had splintered all over the place, no matter of glue could fix it. Your strategy ruined, Ciampa broken, Gargano & Candice dripped in decedant evil, standing prideful above their fallen former friend.

By the point the cameras went off air, the empty heartbrokenness was gone, replaced by pure, unadulterated rage. “Oh look, it’s the bitch of a guard dog.” Gargano said grinning “Hello Gargano” you said curtly, not wanting to tell them how weak they had made you “Looks like you got an upper hand.” You gestured to Candice “Yes he did” she returned, “Maybe you consider getting with the winning team and stop following Ciampa around with love heart eyes.” “And what’s that supposed to mean?” You asked, your tone ranging to dangerous levels. “Y/N, it simply means you should break off this pathetic one sided crush and be with us, we can train you better, be there for each other, even make you scream better than that old man ever could.” “Besides” Candice said, following Gargano’s venemous statement “Johnny Wrestling is known for being the perfection of wrestling, me a pioneer of intergender wrestling and you could be our sponge, soak up all we have so that you can be the most powerful version of yourself, not what many here say you are, the dick rider for Tomaso Ciampa. That is what they say you are, only relevant for riding Tomaso’s weak cock.”

Aggravated was not even the word, you were BEYOND furious. You got right up to Candice’s face “Honey, you aren’t known here as a pixie, or as an intergender pioneer, Kimg Corbin has been more of an intergender pioneer than you. For the entire time you’ve been here, you have been Johnny Gargano’s wife. If it wasn’t for the man’s dick you’re riding, you wouldn’t be in NXT in the first place. And you.” You turned your attention to Gargano “You have some fucking nerve, you think everyone is out to get you, and they have power hungry motives. Well I hope you love your power trip, cause soon you’ll turn it to each other and you know what they say ‘Live Together, Die Alone’” Johnny took a swing at you, you blocked it and using your legs, barrelled down Gargano and placed him in an armbar, he writhed and screamed in pain, Candice taking a run up, you then did something that was both very gutsy, and very risky. Using the rest of your body, you swung your right leg forwards striking Candice right in her vagina, causing her to bellow in pain as she collapsed. Suddenly hands were pulling you away from Gargano “Stop. STOP!” Came William Regal’s voice, and upon this, you slunked away, angry as you were, it was dangerous for anyone to piss off Regal, you instead made your way inside the ring area.

Tomasso was still there on the ring floor, utterly in despair, not like the TakeOver Tomaso, who looked at the roof immerly beginning for advice. He looked like someone who didn’t know where to go, or what they’d do. You went through the ropes into the ring “Tomaso” he flinched “Y/N, leave.” “Stop that, I’ve seen you like this bef-“ “I want you to go!” Tomaso yelled, it stunned you, but you refused to give in “No.” Tomasso began to start crying “Why would you spend all your time on me, you heard Gargano, I’m a failure as your trainer.” “That is crap and you fucking know it, how could you have failed me if I have yet to wrestle a match?, Triple H is looking for spots, as soon as Cole looses his belt, I’m in.” Tomaso shook his head “Your trainer should win matches, not loose them.” “If your trainer is perfect, they try to exact the same standard on you and that’s not it, cause everyone has to lose at something. I’m not good at flips, does that mean I’m a bad protege? Of course not! Tomaso I need you, the WWE Universe needs you, more importantly, you need you, wrestling was what you are made for, take that away and you’ll be miserable.” Tomaso finally got to his feet “Give me a reason” “Are you serious? You know in your heart you want to do this.” “Y/N, I need more than my heart right now, cause my heart gets me into this shit, it got me to reunite DIY and look how that turned out, I meed you to give me a reason, why do you need me? Why am I a shattered man so important to your growth here?” “BECAUSE I LOVE YOU TOMASO!”

The words escaped your mouth and a long while ago you’d curse yourself but now you didn’t care “I fucking love you Tomaso, I have done since the day I saw you, when you offered to mentor me, it was like a dove was soaring in me, it was liberating. As we spent more time together, everything deepened, I knew it wasn’t a crush, I knew it was love, pure, utterly reckless love. And that’s when you went back to the main roster to chase for the NXT Championship, I was in such pain, I had spent so much time with you, that time away ripped me open from the inside out. I finally got to get back to that when the whole TakeOver thing went down, I would have liked it to be at a celebration party where we lined up and kissed your ass, but it was in the med room and I didn’t mind, cause I’d rather have you a loser then not have you at all. I love you Tomaso Ciampa, let me know when you have enough balls to love yourself as much.” You finished, breathing heavily, it was Tomaso who looked stunned now as he got to his feet. Knowing you wouldn’t get much else out of him, you turned away, before his hand grabbed you and swung you back around. “I’ve said m-“ you tried to get out but the time for talk was gone, Tomaso was kissing you deeply, wrapping his hands around your head deepening it, like if he let go, you would vanish.

Eventually you broke apart as Tomaso got rid of each article of clothing you had on, along with his gear, so soon both of you were standing naked in the ring. You admired Tomaso’s naked body, he was like one of those Roman gladiators, mattered chest hair, thick muscles and quite possibly the biggest cock you’d ever seen “Get on the floor.” You went down slowly, knowing if you dropped to your knees suddenly, you could bruise yourself or worse, Tomaso laughed gutturally “So damn pretty when you obey daddy. Who do you belong to?” “Y-you daddy.” “That’s right” Tomasso groans out as he moves almost serpent like back towards your mouth, that’s when his dick is near your ass and before you could stop yourself you blurted out “You’re my first.” You blushed a deeper red as Tomaso gazed down at you, moving his hands up your torso “Oh Y/N, I should have known, you shy you were when you first saw me, the timidness behind you when you were trying to ask me things, you didn’t know how to act strong cause you’d never been in love, never knew what it was like to be fucked by a daddy like me. Don’t worry, I’ll help you, like every time before.” Tomasso’s fingers rested on your mouth “Open” he demanded and you did so, sucking his fingers deep down, coating them with saliva. “Good work babe, you know how to make daddy happy, you need a bit of help and that’s alright, relationships are give and take. Relax your ass for me, part your cheeks.” Wondering why you had to part them, you obeyed his instructions, you were about to ask why, only for your question to turn into a gasp as Tomasso shoved a finger in and pushed around, your walls were clamping around him and it was slightly painful “Tomaso, it hurts.” You got out, he quickly pressed his lips to your head “I know, this always happens, do you want me to stop or?” He asked, looking at you for your consensus “Rest a bit” you asked and he obeyed your instructions this time, waiting for a few minutes as you got used to it “Now” you said and Tomaso continued, this time you got a rush and groaned “I’m going to do two now alright? Grip my left hand to numb the pain, if you want to stop say Cold, and I’ll stop, understand?” He looked at you waiting for an answer and you nodded your head.

It was quite an experience, being stretched open by your trainer turned lover in the middle of a wrestling ring, he was right about the pain as he stretched you with more fingers, but by squeezing his hand, you were reassured he was here and would stop if you needed. As with the first, the burn passed and soon you were bucking on his fingers “Daddy, I need your cock” you moaned out in bliss, Tomasso grinning as he removed his fingers and readied your cock “Your hole isn’t Goldie, but I can still tell it “Daddy’s Home!”” With that he shoved his cock inside your ass, the stretch making you rise off the ring, chest first, like an exorcism, but exorcism’s didn’t include a muscular daddy moaning in your ear and stroking your back “So tight for daddy, calm down baby boy, it’s alright daddy’s got you now, I’ll make sure you have the most incredible sex ever.” You nodded, Tomaso’s voice was like molten gold to you and you were desperate to experience all of him.

Tomaso began a gentle pace as he fucked you, moans coming from your mouth non stop, him occasionally adding a groan as well. After a while, whilst you liked this nice nature, you wanted to dance on the wild side, you dug your nails into Tomaso’s back and lent into his ear “I want more”. You drew back to see him grin as he picked the pace up, as his balls began to thud against your ass “Oh yes Y/N! Oh My God, so good for daddy, such a tight hole, desperate and needy for daddy’s cock! Push yourself onto me! I need you close!” You obeyed Tomasso’s instructions as you met, making you both cry out in ecstasy. “Oh Yes! YES TOMASO!” You cried out “Yeah, you like daddy’s big dick?” “Yes! Please never stop fucking me!” “Wouldn’t that be something.” He shot a smile down at you as you continued to work yourself on his cock. You decided to be experimental, you lent forwards as he fucked you and bit into one of his nipples, stimulating it with your teeth, the other with your fingers “OH YES!” Tomasso screamed aloud “Oh fuck Y/N, you’re kinky and I want to show you it all, BDSM, nipple clamps, handcuffs, whips, you name it, we’ll try it! God it took so long for us to say we loved each other but look at us now!”

This was incredible, you were both in the ring, fucking all the tension out of each other, you were starting to experience a hot sensation, not like burning but more a warmth down your lower reigions “Oh Tomaso! Tomaso! TOMASO!” You yelled as your cock shot something over you “Oh my sweet baby boy shot his load all over himself. That’s alright, I’ll teach you cum control.” “W-was that bad to do?” You asked “N-no, in fact your walls are clenching tighter now than before. You can control when it happens though, it’s all experience and knowing when you’re close.” He explained as he bucked faster and rougher “Oh Y/N, daddy’s gonna cum! I’m clean, do you want me to leave it in or take it out?” You thought quickly, knowing as amazing of a fuck Tomaso was, even he would be weak closer to his release like you were “Leave it in, we already have one load out, we need one in.” Tomaso’s face lit up “Yeah, I’m gonna cum in you Y/N, you’re gonna take daddy’s load so good aren’t you?” You nodded your head eagerly as you rose up to meet Ciampa Oh Fuck Y/N! Daddy’s gonna cum, take it all baby boy. Oh fuck yes! OHH! AH!” Other various moans came out as he shot his load all over your tightened walls.”

Tomaso, load free and fuck done, fell forwards onto you, protecting your head from impacting the wood of the ring. You stayed there for a while, catching breath as you got to grips with his thick arms, somehow they made you safe, though you weren’t aware how a pair of arms could do that, but you guessed being around Tomaso, you’d appreciate a lot more. Speaking of Tomaso, he moved his head up to give you a kiss “I love you Y/N, stay with me.” “Of course daddy. I love you Tomaso Ciampa.” You both grinned and laughed, before sharing another kiss. Despite Trips saying the match was one last beat, you knew Tomaso’s blackheart would beat for you and somehow, that was everything.

[comrademars]

songs for when you want to incite a revolution

1.) “Guerilla Radio” Rage Against The Machine

2.) “Ohio” Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

3.) “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” Gil Scott-Heron

4.)  “Судно” Molchat Doma

5.) “Daloy Poliszei” Geoff Berner

6.) “American Idiot” Green Day

7.) “Novocaine” Fall Out Boy

8.) “Purple Haze” Jimi Hendrix

9.) “Another Brick in the Wall” (Parts 1 & 2) Pink Floyd

10.) “Revolution” The Beatles

11.) “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na...)” My Chemical Romance

12.) “Sunday Bloody Sunday” U2

13.) “Paper Planes” MIA

14.) “What’s Going On” Marvin Gaye

15.) “Born in the USA” Bruce Springsteen

16.) “Zombie” The Cranberries

17.) “Fuck Tha Police” NWA

18.) “Just A Girl” No Doubt

19.) “Monkey Gone to Heaven” Pixies

20.) “I Fought the Law” The Clash

21.) “Fight The Power” Public Enemy

22.) “Anarchy in the UK” Sex Pistols

23.) “Rock the Casbah” The Clash

24.) “Rock and Roll” The Velvet Underground

25.) “Revolt” Muse

26.) “Burnin’ And Lootin’” The Wailers

27.) “Yes Sir, No Sir” The Kinks

28.) “This Is America” Childish Gambino

29.) “Life During Wartime” Talking Heads

30.) “Killing In The Name” Rage Against The Machine

31.) “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” Tears For Fears

32.) “Bulls On Parade” Rage Against The Machine

33.) “Gimme Shelter” The Rolling Stones

34.) “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” The Animals

35.) “War Pigs” Black Sabbath

36.) “Youth Against Fascism” Sonic Youth

37.) “Know Your Enemy” Rage Against The Machine

38.) “Know Your Rights” The Clash

39.) “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” Dead Kennedys

40.) “Baby, I’m an Anarchist!” Against Me!

41.) “For What It’s Worth” Buffalo Springfield

42.) “Fortunate Son” Creedence Clearwater Revival”

43.) “Southern Man” Neil Young

44.) “Panic” The Smiths

45.) “When The Revolution Comes” The Last Poets

46.) “Brick by Boring Brick” Paramore

47.) “When Doves Cry” Prince

48.) “Puncha Nazi” Doll Skin

49.) “Desolation Row” My Chemical Romance

50.) “Blitzkrieg Bop” Ramones

51.) “American River” Destroy Boys

52.) “Bad Moon Rising” Creedence Clearwater Revival

53.) “Bad Reputation” Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

54.) “God Save the Queen” Sex Pistols

55.) “It’s Okay (To Punch Nazis)” Cheap Perfume

56.) “Call You Out” Mommy Long Legs

57.) “Rape Me” Nirvana

58.) “Territorial Pissings” Nirvana

59.)  “Paranoid Android” Radiohead

60.) “20 Dollar Nose Bleed” Fall Out Boy

61.) “Karma Police” Radiohead

62.) “This Machine Kills Fascists” Anti-Flag

[chaotic-rowan-marvel]

USM Future AU Season 2

Hunt for Victims

Spider-Shock and Amadeus attempt to create a list of heroes they’d like to recruit onto their new team, that they still haven’t made a name for.

Red Gusher Madness

Before Spider-Shock and Amadeus can head out and look for their desired heroes, it turns out most of the previous superhero team has been mind-washed by an ancient gem they were sent to obtain and are now on the hunt for them.

Noval Legacy

When the previous Nova, Sam Alexander, is out of commission due to psychic repercussions from the Gusher Gem and will seemingly be in a coma for a while, Titus presents himself and reveals he has escaped his punishment from space and wants revenge against Nova. Now a new member of the Alexander bloodline must step forward to protect the team from the Ex-Nova.

Spider-Gwen

After a portal appears above New York, a familiar face joins the duo’s world.

Family Comes First

After receiving a strange video message, Amadeus disappears. When interrogated by the team, Fury reveals that Amadeus had a sister named Maddy that was presumed dead after his house exploded.

Like Brother like Sister

After decoding the video with Amadeus’s instructions, the team finds out Amadeus has infiltrated a Hydra base that has been holding his sister. Meanwhile, Amadeus sees that Maddy has already near broken herself out.

Nova out of Time

After messing around with the space-time-continuum, the team accidentally opens a portal and ejects a Sam Alexander from the past into the present from before he ever met Spider-Man.

The Spinner’s Revenge

Enraged at being publicly humiliated by Spider-Shock once again, The Spinner decides to hit him where it hurts; his team.

Black with Envy

The monster Blackheart has unearthed, taking over Amadeus, Nova, and Ghost Spider, turning them into his rage filled slaves. The rest of the team must bring them back to their senses.

The Superior Spider-Man

Otto Octavius has come back, in a cloned body of Peter Parker, proclaiming himself the Superior Spider-Man and tells the team he wants to be a better hero than Spider-Man ever was. Nobody’s buying it.

Sinister… Infinity?! Part 1

Enraged at his plan being found out, Otto Octavius activates his last resort, a cloned army of all of the previous members of the Sinister Six.

Sinister… Infinity?! Part 2

All of SHIELD attempts to fight back against the clone army while Miles and Amadeus sneak off to Otto Octavius’s lair, trying to find a kill switch for these clones. However, in battle, Scarlet Spider makes the ultimate sacrifice.

Sinister… Infinity?! Part 3

After a funeral spent mourning their lost friend, Nova-Sam has to be sent back to his time in order to keep the timeline steady

[masked-mallards]

Masked Mallards, The Multiverse, and Everything Else

ch. 8 Whatever happened to Elmo Sputterspark

Sanitatemverse

45 years ago

Posi – St. Canard

Abandon Electrical Plant.

Ma Beagle was used to disappointment. The Beagle Boys were all her children and were a constant failure. She had hoped that their father’s knack for criminal activity would rub off on them and he could lead them to greatness. However, Thick’s influence can only go so far. She was the brains and Thick was the leader, the only one big enough to stop them was Scrooge Mcduck. So, they decided to set up shop in St. Canard, way from the old billionaire’s influence. The Beagle Boys were only successful when Thick led the mission, but Thick couldn’t go on every mission with them. So, Ma Beagle mainly sent him on jobs given by their biggest patron F.O.W.L. 

The small beagle had sent her boys to the local Cirque to collect protection money for the organization, and to teach them a lesson of meeting their quota. The Cirque Du Duck have been lacking in recent years, and F.O.W.L wasn’t too happy about it. They do not take kindly to failure and would have dropped the Beagle Boys from their payroll, but F.O.W.L never let anything go to waste. The Fiendish Organization of World Larceny sent one their agents to ensure the Beagle Boys dealt with the problem. He was a hound known as Agent Sneaky Luiseno. Luiseno had accompanied Thick to the Cirque to collect.

The head agent of F.O.W.L had come to check on his progress. Ma looked to the rooster who sat in the dark. He had made himself comfortable on the couch and had surrounded himself with the female members of the Beagle Boys. “Your boys are late,” he said. “That doesn’t look good on you.” Ma Beagle addressed him. “My apologies Agent Talon,” she responded. “Thick had said he let them have a little fun at the circus. Didn’t expect him to actually take them to a show.” In truth Thick had wanted to find Elmo before they attacked the Cirque. Thick and Ma had fought this morning about the loyalties of Elmo Sputterspark and where they lie. Ma Beagle never trusted the grandson of Bart T. Ratcliff. 

The old rat had always run the Cirque Du Duck, even when her grandfather Blackheart was a child. You can’t be in business that long and not break a few eggs. Mcduck might beg a differ, but then again he had conned Blackheart out of the deed to Duckburg. Sputterspark had come to live with Ratcliff after his parent were sent to jail. The boy became an excellent pickpocket since he came to live him. Ma only agreed to let Elmo be a part of the attack on Cirque Du Duck, only if Thick contacted Sputterspark after they got there. That way, if Elmo was a spy for Ratcliff, he has no way to warn anyone. Ma had turned on the radio to contact Thick and check his progress. When the iron doors flung open. 

Her eldest son Big Time, came running in followed by Bouncer who chased after him. Elmo and Burger were the last to enter carrying Thick. Thick was still unresponsive, and was missing an arm. Burger cleared a nearby table and Elmo laid the large beagle on top of it. Talon got up from the couch to investigate. Ma beagle rushed over Thick, the only beagle aside from Blackheart she cared about, pushing Elmo out of the way. The blood around Thick’s arm was dry, so it had already started to heal and grow back. Agent Talon looked around; Luiseno was not among to party that came back. Ma Beagle shot daggers at Elmo. The fact that Thick was hurt today of all days sent her paranoia in to overdrive.

She grabbed Elmo by the scuff of his shirt and pulled him to her eye level. “Start talking,” she growled. “This was supposed to be a simple smash and go. So why are you back empty handed and with Thick worst for the ware?” Posi- Talon cut in. “Where is Luiseno? Why isn’t he with you?” he asked coolly. Elmo went silent, he knew Ma Beagle never trusted him. Before Elmo could speak, Bouncer came back with Big Time under his arm. The small beagle ran his mouth to save his own skin. “The Cirque knew we were coming,” He said. “They hired some merc with a chainsaw to protect them. He sliced off Pa’s arm and cut Luiseno into ribbons. He called himself Negan. Elmo can tell you; he was with the merc before he attacked us.” Ma beagle tighten her grip on Elmo in rage. “Is this true?” she demanded.

“Yes, I was with him,” Elmo said in a panic. “But I had no idea who he was. I was told he...” Elmo stopped himself from saying anymore. He might be Ratcliff’s spy; didn’t mean he was a good one. “Go on” Posi-Talon said a mock encouraging tone. Elmo didn’t want to tell them the truth, they wouldn’t believe him and not to mention what Magica would do if he threw Drake Mallard under the bus. Besides, Drake had lost enough because of the Beagle Boys. He doesn’t need to lose another family member, even it is Negan. Elmo knew no matter what he said, once Thick woke up and told them that he refused to join the attack, The Beagle Boys would know that he was a spy.

“Never mind,” the rat said defeated not looking Ma Beagle in the eye. “You were right, I am a spy, however I didn’t know about Negan.” Ma Beagle tossed Elmo to the ground. “Damn it!” she raged. Bouncer released Big Time; he was no longer anger at him. He set his sights on the traitor. The broad Beagle lifted Sputterspark off the floor and tossed him into a nearby workbench. Elmo’s weight on the old table was too much and it broke, the table collapsed on top of him. Bouncer picked the rat up with one hand and pinned him against a wall. Elmo’s feet dangled off the ground as he tried to free himself from the beagle’s death grip. Bouncer began to pound Sputterspark’s face in with his free hand. The rest of the Beagle Boys watched smiling and laughing at Elmo’ punishment. However, it was far from over.

”Bouncer that is enough.” Talon said in a professional tone. Bouncer growled at the rooster, but released Elmo. The rat dropped to the floor with a thud. His face was battered, bruised, and swollen. He could barely see. Talon approached him. “Don’t think you are out of the woods yet,” he said. “I do not take kindly to spies in my mist and because of you, F.O.W.L lost a valued agent.” Talon snatched up Elmo by the fur of shoulder. He dug his fingers into the rat’s nervous system. The agent was known to have knowledge of pressure points in the body and use it as a weapon. Elmo’s body went limp and he was at the mercy of Reid Talon.

Talon pulled Sputterspark to his feet. “My superiors will not like to hear about how we had a rat in our operation. I am going to have to deal with the Cirque personally, if they stand up against F.O.W.L. others will follow. They must be made an example of.” He paused and pulled Elmo up to his eye level and forced him to look at the rooster. “But first,” he continued. “I’m going to have to deal with you and send your dear grandfather a message.” Talon eyes darted to his side. “Burger!” he barked. “Get the chair!”  Burger disappeared down the hall on his task. Talon turned his attention back to Elmo. The rooster had an unsettling smirk on his face. “I heard you’re a brilliant scientist in the making,” Talon said almost sounding impressed. “To bad you chose the wrong side.”

Elmo’s eyes widen in fear when Burger came back. He was carting an old electric chair. Reid could read his thoughts. “Don’t worry” he said. “I do not intend to kill you with this.” The rooster walked over the device. “This is a special model designed by the engineers at F.O.W.L.” he continued as if he were marketing it. “The amount of electricity can be more easily controlled by a remote.” He procured a small grey machine from his jacket pocket and waved it around. Elmo looked around. Every exit was blocked off by the Beagle Boys. Ma Beagle smirked; she had been looking forward to this for a long time. She looked at Thick. His arm was beginning to grow back. She turned her attention back to Sputterspark. “Get him boys” she commanded.

Elmo tried in vain to escape, but he was overwhelmed by his former colleagues. Three beagles nabbed him and forced him to the chair. He pleaded for mercy as they strapped him in and hooked him up with wires on his head. “PLEASE....HAVE MERCY....I’LL DO ANYTHING!” he begged. He was noticeably shaking. The beagle took pleasure in Elmo’s despair. Talon said coolly. “I sure you would, but the thing is, I don’t want anything you could provide.” Burger handed Talon a large textbook and whispered in his ear. Talon’s face light up and he took the book and sat in a chair across from Elmo. “Burger tells me that you were gonna graduate high school soon and start your college career to become an electrical engineer. How sweet.” The rooster said with fake sincerity. “The college you what to enroll in is a major one, you have to past the entrance exam in order to enter.

“The wires attached to your head are hooked up to the part of your brain that manages your long- and short-term memory.” Talon explained. “One zap and who knows what happens. Even the Sanitatem Trance can’t restore memories.” He opened the textbook and thumbed through the pages. “I am in a generous mood,” the roosted continued.” Ill help you prepare for your test. For every answer you get correct, Ill think about letting you go.” He paused. “However, if get the answer wrong....” Talon press one of the buttons of his remote. The electricity crack and popped. Elmo screamed as the electricity coursed through his body. Talon pressed the button again and the chair went dead, but Elmo’s body was still shaking with the voltage. 

Talon tapped the grey textbook. “This is a collection of research done by F.O.W.L’s own electrical engineers.” he said. “If you can correctly answer what is in this book, you are a shoe into that school.” He flipped the book open. “Now Let’s begin, shall we?” the rooster said. “Wait wait wait!” Elmo panicked. Talon replied. “Sorry, a pop quiz waits for no one.” Talon made himself comfortable in his chair. “What is your name?” He asked. “Elmo Sputterspark” Elmo replied. A large amount of electricity hit Elmo like a bullet and he yelled in pain. “Wrong,” Talon said waving his finger. “Honestly, how could you forget you your own name?” Talon turned the page of the book. “But it is my name,” Elmo wheezed. Talon raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Maybe a couple of more zaps will refresh your memory.”

“No...wait....please...” Elmo begged. His pleas fell upon deaf ears. Talon turned on the power to the chair again. Elmo’s body shook violently as the power coursed through his body. The fur around his wrists began to smoke and sizzle with heat. After two minute of pumping Elmo with electricity, Talon shut off the power again. Elmo’s mind became hazy. He could feel himself passing out and the Sanitatem Trance trying to take hold. Burger stuck a needle in the rat’s arm, forcing him awake. “Now, now,” Talon tsked. “We can’t have you pass out just yet, can’t have you undoing all the work we’ve done so far.” Talon turned back on the power to the chair. The Beagles snickered in glee as Elmo screamed in agony.

Elmo began to feel the effects of the electrocution to his brain by the time Talon turned of the power again. “Ma Beagle what is going on?” Elmo asked, already forgetting how he got here. “How did I get here? Why am I strapped to this chair?” Ma Beagle shrugged, she delighted in Elmo’s confusion. Elmo looked around and his eyes locked on Thick. Flashes of Cirque Du Duck crossed his head. He could see everything but couldn’t hear what was going on. Drake introduced him to his look-alike relative. The relative attacked Thick and sliced off his arm, or was it Drake? Elmo couldn’t remember. Talon spoke up and snapped Elmo back to reality. “Do you know who Bart. T Ratcliff is?” the rooster asked.

“He is the owner of Cirque Du Duck and my grandfather on my mother’s side” Elmo answered. Talon didn’t electrocute him this time. “Do you know, why you are here?” Talon questioned. “It is because Ratcliff sold you out. It was to prove his loyalty to us.” he lied. Elmo shook his head. “No, I don’t believe you.” the rat said. “Oh, really?” Talon asked smugly. “Tell me how come we found you out then?” Elmo went quiet, he didn’t have the answer for that. The only people who knew about him being a spy was Ratcliff, Magica, and the Mallards. Magica didn’t fear the Beagle Boys or F.O.W.L, no one messed with the old witch. Shera has had no contact them, and Drake was too proud to even consider to get the good gracious of his father’s killer. 

Ratcliff was the only one who dealt with the criminal groups on a regular basis. However, it wasn’t enough of a reason for Ratcliff to betray him. “I don’t know.” Elmo said. Electricity ran through Elmo’s body again. “Wrong answer.” Talon replied as he turned off the chair. The electricity pumped through Elmo’s body. His head tilted as he wailed from the pain. When it finally stopped, Elmo looked around confused. His gazed fell upon Talon and Ma Beagle. “Why am I here?” he asked her. “Is this some sort of gang initiation?” Ma Beagle leaned in and whispered into Talon’s ear. “Looks like his long-term memory is damaged,” she said. “He joined us a year ago.” Talon smiled. “Good,” he replied. “At this rate, we can rewrite his memories and send him back to Ratcliff.” Talon turned his attention back to a confused Elmo and zapped him again.

The pattern of questions and electrocution went on for hours. Thick had woken up and had a new arm. A jagged scar formed a ring around near his shoulder were Negaduck had severed the limb. He confirmed Big Times testimony of the events at Cirque Du Duck. Elmo at this point couldn’t even remember Thick or Ma Beagle by name. Only that they had kidnapped him when he was little to get Ratcliff to do their bidding. Anything that happened after that, Elmo could not remember, and Talon could miniplate his memory as he pleased. Talon took note that Elmo’s fur began to spark with electricity, even when the power to the chair was cut off. He pushed it from his mind.” Must be seeing things.” he thought.

Talon filled Elmo’s head with lies. He told Elmo, that Ratcliff had sold him to the Beagle Boys to pay them off. What happen in the years between then Talon said he didn’t know, but give Elmo’s current battered state he had a good idea. The Cirque Du Duck had prospered since then, and all Ratcliff had to do was sacrifice his grandson to the dogs. The more Talon electrocuted him; the more Elmo began to believe that Ratcliff abandon him. Elmo began to show signs of aggression toward the mention of Bart. T Ratcliff. Burger gave him another needle of modafinil, when Elmo’s consciousness began to fade. The rat was made alert and the torture continued. 

Eventually, Elmo couldn’t remember anyone from the cirque, not even his own name. However, knowledge about electrical science remain and how to take care of himself. That information was stored in a different part of the brain. Talon never zapped him when he asked about technical things. Talon got up from his chair and walked over to Elmo, who was slumped in the electric chair. Elmo’s eyes darted around. “What is your name?” the rooster asked. After a minute Elmo look at him. “ My....name...is...I...I don’t know.” Elmo stuttered. “Do you know who I am?” he asked in a dazed tone. Talon put his hand on his beak and mused. Elmo’s fur was charged with electricity and had turned black from being burned. “Hmm... I think your name is Megawatt.” 

The rooster answered. An unnamed beagle shouted. “That is the name of my favorite band, try something else.” Talon raised an eyebrow. “Dim Bulb?” Talon said trying another name. Another Beagle shouted from the crowd. “That’s my name,” he said. Ma beagle was beginning get annoyed with her children’s interruptions. “Shut up Dim Bulb,” she growled. She walked to Talon’s side and gave Elmo a look over. “Your name is Megavolt and that is final,” she said then turned to the rest of the Beagle Boys. “Right...?” She inquired. Every Beagle Boy in the room answered in unison as if they were soldiers. “Yes Ma!”

Talon rolled his eyes, with the exception of Thick and Ma, the Beagle Boys were idiots in his book. The rooster handed the remote to Burger. “I want you to stay with Megavolt and continue to reeducate him until we comeback.” He turned to the rest of the gang. “In the mean time I want you all to prepare to mount another attack. This time we are not going to collect a debt. The Cirque Du Duck needs to be made an example of, we gonna kill everyone there and burn it to the ground!” Ma Beagle spoke up to rile up her sons. “Do this to avenge Luiseno, to protect the honor of your Pa, do it for dear old Ma!” The Beagle Boys roared and hollered. They were ready and willing. “That’s the spirit, boys!” Thick shouted over them. “Be ready to attack tomorrow at dusk, and teach the world a lesson that they won’t forget.” 

The Beagle Boys departed leaving Talon, Ma and Thick Beagle, Burger, and Elmo. “Oversee the preparations for the next attack.” Talon instructed Ma and Thick. he grabbed his coat and retrieved a radio from it. “I am going to see what I can find out about this “Negan” and hopefully dispose of him. He shall rue the day he interfered in F.O.W.L business!” Talon started up the radio, and it cracked to life. “I need you to snoop around the camp.” He talked into the radio. “I want you find out what can about Negan, I will meet you at the cirque tomorrow.” A voice came from the other end of the line. “Roger boss,” it said. Talon placed the radio on the couch. The three left the electrical plant. The only ones left were Burger and Megavolt. Burger turned on the electric chair and watched as Elmo squirmed. After a few minutes he turned it off and placed the remote on the table. He picked up the Talon’s textbook and disappeared down the hall to put it away. Elmo was alone. His fur cracked and popped with electricity. 

Bang. The sound of the explosion caused Burger to fall to the ground. He looked in the direction it came from. Smoke rose from the main room Elmo was being held. Burger rushed back to check the prisoner, only to find the electric chain was nothing more than a warped piece of metal and wood. Elmo was nowhere in sight. The power to the building went out, yet Burger could see lights from other buildings. Something scurried across the room. Burger was immediately alert. “Elmo is that you?’ He asked weakly. He didn’t know why he was afraid. There was no way Elmo could hurt him. The was no reply. Burger made his way to the exit. He had to report that Elmo had escaped. A blue volt of lightning struck the beagle in back. Burger’s body hit the floor with a thud. He couldn’t move and feel anything past his ribs.

Burger cried in pain until he heard footsteps and the sound electricity approaching. “Elmo?” Burger said not believing his eyes. The rat stood up with a slouch, and had no expression on his face. His fur sparked, and popped like clothes that you get out of the dryer, his clothes were torn, and his fur had turned as black as coal. Elmo looked down at Burger. “Who are you?” he asked. “Why do you call me Elmo? My name is Megavolt.” Elmo’s eyes lock on the grey book Burger had tucked in his arm. “You know what,” he continued. “Never mind, you have something I want.” The last thing Burger saw was Megavolt lift his hand and produce a massive lightning volt. Burger’s screams were drowned out by the electrical pulse.

Megavolt pried the book from Burger’s charred remains and flipped through it. “Interesting,” he mused. “I have to run experiments to prove these theories, but first I have to pay a visit to my dear old grandfather Ratcliff. Can’t exactly remember way, but I want him dead.” The memory of Elmo Sputterspark was gone, all that remained was Megavolt. Megavolt left the old electrical plant taking the book with him. He began to feel weak. “Hmm...” He thought. “Must have used to much juice on that beagle, I guess my power does have its limits.” He wandered around the back alleyway and found a place to sleep. “My biological structure is different now, the Sanitatem Trance should restore me like an electrical battery. I need to learn the limits of my capabilities and what I can do to improve upon them.” Megavolt climbed into a dumpster as the sun set and dozed off. Tomorrow, he’d go see Ratcliff.  

Hours earlier at Cirque Du Duck.  

Nega – Magica De Spell walked to a nearby window. She sighed, “So let me get this straight,” she said in both angry and annoyed tone. She addressed Drake first. “You went off by yourself to practice forming portals...without my permission or supervision. I was right to send Poe out to look for when you didn’t come home right away. Also, it seems you were planning to confront the Beagle Boys.” She walked to the other end of her caravan, and picked up a picture frame and signed. Drake had seen it so many times he knew what it was. It was a photo of Magica and the Macawbers sharing a meal together. Magica and the Macawbers became fast friends since she joined the Cirque. Within the few years she knew them, they made her an honorary family member. That is why she was the first one in line to adopt Morgana after the family was exterminated by the Beagle Boys.

She put down the picture. “Look,” she continued. “I know it hurts, but you are going to have to move on. Picking a fight with the Beagle Boys won’t bring Sergei back or the others. What it does is put a large target on your back.” She paused and turned stern. “Your actions today had put our operation at risk! If you hadn’t created that portal, Negaduck would be in the Negaverse right now where he should be! Not to mention what the Beagle boys will do once they regroup! As punishment, Morgana will replace you as my assistant during shows for 6 months, and you will be running extra laps for a week! That’s not even covering what your aunt is going to do to you when I tell her.” 

Drake was in protest. “Your giving my position to a 7-year-old!?” he exclaimed. “Look, I know I screwed up big time, but this going too far!” Magica rolled her eyes. “Oh, give it a rest Drake,” she responded in annoyed tone. “Your ego could use a reality check anyways.” Negaduck snickered. However, with one look from Nega – Magica, he quickly changed his tune and went silent. Drake clenched his fist. “Be that as it may.” He countered. “I can’t sit here and do nothing. The Cirque can’t even pay rent much less the Beagle Boys. They came here today to do harm. I had to do something!” He looked Magica in the eye. “How am I going to be the Guardian of St. Canard, like you say I ‘m destined to be, if you keep me from protecting my home?” Drake’s voice was thick with sarcasm. He still didn’t believe in destiny.

Magica started at the duckling. Her mouth moved as if she wanted to say something, but decided against it. “It is not time for you take that role yet,” she answered in a calm voice. “All you need to do is trust that I know what I am doing.” Magica could see that Drake still had a hard time believing in magic. He had convinced himself, that his quadworth ability was a mutation. The witch didn’t care wither how he came to terms with it, all that matter is that able and willing to act as her champion. However, it seems that Drake was losing fate in her. He had no motive to go against Nega- Scrooge McDuck. 

Magica turned her gaze to Negaduck. Negaduck stood attention and had a slightly worried look on his face. He knew he done it. Unlike Drake, Negaduck had motivation to act as her champion. His father had driven him over the edge and he wanted revenge. Sergei Starling is the current spymaster of Nega- Scrooge McDuck himself. Unfortunately, both Drake and Negaduck shared a stubborn personality and a complete disregard for the rules. Magica put her hand up to her head and rubbed the bridge of her beak. “I am honestly not surprised by you at this point,” Magica started, this was a normal conversation with Negaduck. “You were in trouble again because you were careless. 1st you lose your talisman. Then, when you get caught thieving, you led one of Nega-McDuck’s men to the Posi-Sanitatem.”

“It is not like I had much of a choice.” Negaduck argued. “It was the portal or the guard.” Magica didn’t miss a beat. “Don’t act like this couldn’t be avoided boy,” she barked. “This wouldn’t have happened if you haven’t stolen in the first place!” Magica eyed the bloodied chain saw that Negaduck had in his hands. “Also, you have done a pretty bang up job of keeping a low profile since you arrived in Posiverse.” She continued. “You angered the Beagle Boys by killing one of their own. Again, why do you risk discovery?” Negaduck looked her in the eye, slightly annoyed. “Because I am not going to live my life hiding from everyone! I like my freedom and I want to keep it.” The witch glowered at him “You won’t have free if you’re dead.” Magica retorted.

Magica walked back to the window and put her arms behind her back. “When we get back to the Negaverse, you will be confined to the Muddlefoot residence for half a year, and I will personally see that you stay there. The only time you are allowed to leave is with me.  Just like Drake you will be running extra laps for a week. I have to create a new talisman for you and it will take a day to do so. So, you will be doing chores around the Cirque in addition to your punishment.” Negaduck didn’t protest. Yes, he hated the idea of beginning in “prison” for half a year, but he wanted to stay on the witch’s good side. His eyes went wide in surprise. “Wait,” he exclaimed. “I’m stuck in this world!? Douglass is going to flip!” 

De Spell made her way to the center of the caravan and sighed. “Now that I have that out of the way,” she said. “I can make a new talisman, but there is a slight complication.” She paused. “Do any of you remember my lesson in how the Multiverse remains balanced and how it keeps quadworths from traveling around without limitation?” Both boys answered. “yes.” Negaduck answered shrugging. “No” Drake responded. Magica sighed. “You’re gonna get a lecture when this is over,” Magica said slightly annoyed. She recomposed herself and addressed Negaduck. “Negaduck, please explain the harmony between worlds.” Negaduck went quiet for a minute. “Actually,” he responded. “I lied; I don’t know how it works. I was hoping Drake had the answer.” De spell did a facepalm and ran her hand down her beak in annoyance. Drake snickered. “Kids.” Magica thought. 

She swatted the both of them atop their heads. “Every migraine I get comes from the both of you.” she growled. “Anyways,” Magica continued. “The Harmony between Worlds is what keeps the multiverse stable and quadworths like you in check. If quadworths travel around the multiverse freely, it would tear up The Void causing a massive blackhole that would suck everything in around it. In short, the multiverse, and everything in it would end via being squished into a pebble.” She tapped her staff on the ground. It was her way of making sure she had their attention, especially Negaduck. 

“So, to prevent its total destruction, the Multiverse limits the number of organisms traveling through the Void. It does so by not allowing any anyone to stay without someone taking their place. Same number in, same number out.” Negaduck gave her a confused look. “What does that have to do with getting back to Negaverse?” He asked. Poe flew over to Negaduck, “You didn’t come here alone.” The raven said. Poe reached under his wing and produced a Doberman puppy. Negaduck snatched up the small dog. The tiny hound opened his eyes and the first thing it saw was Negaduck. “I guess I need to name you, don’t I?” Negaduck asked.  He had completely forgotten about it since he came to Posiverse. The pup gave him a confused look. Negaduck thought for a moment. “Killjoy.” He said. “From now on your name is Killjoy.” Killjoy didn’t have a clue as to what his name meant. He stuck out his tongue and kissed his “parent.” This caught Negaduck off guard, he even smiled a little. He quickly frowned. “We are going to have a talk about your cuteness.” Negaduck said sternly.

The duckling’s heart almost skipped a beat. “The soldier back in the alley!” he exclaimed. Magica nodded “Reid Talon must be sent back to the Negaverse with you.” she replied. Negaduck frowned “Wouldn’t it be safer to just kill him and you go in his stead?” he asked Magica. Drake interjected. “Is you first answer to every problem to kill it?” Negaduck faced Drake. “Hey, I might not have the greatest track record with thinking things through, but I am not stupid,” Negaduck shot back. “Powerful people in the Negaverse want me dead, and Nega - Talon works for them.” Drake still looked unconvinced. “Look, do you have a better idea?” Negaduck said in a slightly annoyed tone. He was getting tired of Drake’s biased mightier- than- thou- attitude. “Well,” Drake started. “Since, according to you, Talon doesn’t know what a quadworth is or that the Multiverse exist. I have practiced hypnotism; we can make him think the was dreaming or the like and he never left Negaverse.”

“We  could do that,” Negaduck answered. “Provided the chicken hadn’t gotten himself arrested for being armed. You said it yourself. The possession of arms is not permitted in St. Canard.” Magica listened to the ducklings go back and forth on how to get Nega – Reid Talon back to Negaverse without him being the wiser. Each plan became less unintelligible than the last. Magica eventually interjected, when they had come up with a plan involving a kangaroo, a Viking helmet, and a jar of peanut butter. “Unfortunately, boys” the witch said, trying not to laugh at them. “Poe has already gone back to the alley and Talon was gone. We have to find him first before we even think about going back to the Negaverse. Finding Nega- Reid is our top priority right now.” 

Magica walked over to her desk and went to work. She placed a blue saucer on top of it and open the drawers of her desk. From it, from it she retrieved a vile, claw clippings from some animal, and lastly a newt. The witch mixed the ingredients together and whispered incantations. She opened a box on the table contain various objects. Magic pulled out a green feather from the box and dropped it into the saucer. Orange smoke rose from the saucer and took form of St. Canard. It lingered for a minute before changing into a rooster then it dissipated back into the saucer. Drake watched as Magica peered into the dish. De Spell had often tutored him in the science of Alchemy. She picked up a scrap of paper off her desk and jotted down an address. 

“Negaduck,” She said, handing the note to him. “Tomorrow you and Drake will go to this location. Talon should be here.” Negaduck took the note read it over, then showed it to Drake. Magica tapped her staff again and the boys looked at her in attention. “I know this bird’s path,” she said, tapping the note. “If you do not seem him at this spot tomorrow, come back to the Cirque immediately. He will come here.” Negaduck spoke up. “How do you do know that he will come here?” he asked. “Because I am a fortune teller.” Magica answered as if she had been waiting for the question. The curtain, that acted as Magica’s front door to her caravan, was flung to the side. A lanky female duck marched in, she had long grey hair and thin limbs. Morgana hid behind the entrance. 

“Aunt Shera!” Drake exclaimed. “What are you doing here!?” he asked. Shera rushed him and gave him a hug like a frightened mother, nearly knocking Negaduck over in the process. However, she quickly released Drake and scowled at him. “Where have you been?!” Shera demanded. “You know to check in with me when you get home. Especially on the day the Beagle Boys come!” her expression turned back to fear. “When you didn’t come home, I drove to the school to see if you were there and Instructed Elmo to have you go wait for me at our trailer until I came back. When I did return. I found the trailer empty and your crossbow gone, and I knew what you planned to do.” Shera became angry again. “What were you thinking?! They could have killed you!” Shera pulled in Drake in for another hug.” Hell, if you scare me like that again, I’ll kill you myself!” she said in tears.

Negaduck watch the little family moment. He hadn’t had that kind of closeness with his own. The only family he had left was trying to kill him. Negaduck shook of a feeling of envy, he had to remind himself that he wanted nothing to do with Nega – Sergei. Drake got off luckier than he did. Shera broke herself away from Drake. “Who are you, and why do you look like Drake?” she asked Negaduck. “This is Negaduck,” Magica responded. “He is Drake’s counterpart from the Negaverse.” Shera gave him a look of concern. “I’d ask what happen, but news travels fast through the grapevine in Cirque Du Duck.” Shera Anyway, Morgana said you were here, Ratcliff is holding an emergency meeting at the fire pick regarding the Beagle Boy attack. He wants everyone there.” Magica escorted everyone out of her caravan. “Very well,” she said. “We shall finish this discussion later. 

”The fire pit was filled with people, everyone looked scared. They had buried Luiseno, well what was left of him. There was no sign of Elmo Sputterspark. The crowd was a buzz, frantic stages hands muttered about possibly leaving town. Others thought to beg for forgiveness. Negaduck never understood why these people didn’t finned for themselves like they did in the Negaverse. Come to think of it, there wasn’t even a Cirque Du Duck in the Negaverse. “Did something happen to it during the Anasian War?” Negaduck thought. It was certainly a place to check out after he got back. Negaduck to notice of Drake slipping away as if he didn’t want to be follow. So naturally, Negaduck tailed his counterpart out of the crowd. 

Drake was sure he was alone. He reached into his pocket and retrieve raw beef he had bought from the market earlier that day. The duckling made his way to the open field at the back end of the Cirque’s property. Hidden amongst the grass, was a trapdoor. It led to a cellar the cirque used in case of a tornado. Drake opened the door. “What are you doing?” a voice aske behind him. Drake nearly jumped out of his skin. He whirled around to see Negaduck standing on the other side of the trapdoor. Killjoy poked his head out from Negaduck’s coat and let out a small yip. Negaduck pushed his head back him in. Something down in the cellar barked. “No, stay!” Drake said in a command voice. “What’s down there?” Negaduck asked. Drake shut the wooden trapdoor with a slam. “Nothing.” he replied.

“You were just talking to a door; you are a terrible liar.” Negaduck deadpanned. Negaduck walked to the other side of the trap door and opened it up. A flurry of white fur jumped out of the cellar and forced Negaduck to the ground. Negaduck was met by the snarling teeth of a large white wolf. A low growl came from Negaduck’s coat. Killjoy crawled from beneath it and put himself between the wolf and Negaduck. The tenacious pup stared down his elder. “Snow,” Drake said raising his voice. “Heel!”. The wolf calmed and walked over to drake. “I am sorry,” Drake apologized. “She’s about to have a litter, and is a little territorial. She picked the cellar as her den.” Negaduck pulled himself up. Killjoy was still glaring at Snow. “Killjoy!” Negaduck hissed. “Unless you want to become her dinner, stop challenging her.” The pup bowed his head and went back under Negaduck’s coat.

Drake unwrapped the raw beef and tossed it in the cellar. Snow went after it, knocking Negaduck down again, and disappeared into the cellar. Drake closed the trapdoor and locked. “So, why do you have a wolf in there.” Negaduck asked, getting up and dusting the dirt off himself again. “I suppose, someone would have found out about her eventually,” Drake said. “Just please don’t tell Shera. She’s –“ Negaduck cut in in a deadpan. “Is an overprotective parent.” Drake sighed. “Yes,” he answered. “She’ll have a cow.” Negaduck could somewhat relate to Drake on this. Douglass would always flip out anytime Negaduck would not come home for days, though he knew the duckling could take care of himself. The old goose is going to have a heart attack when finds out that Negaduck got stuck Posiverse for a day and half. Negaduck will never hear the end of it.

”Anyway,” Drake continued. “A few months back, she escaped from her transport confinement on a train. Snow was on her way to join some rich guy’s private zoo in Rio De Squawk. However, the train had an accident, causing Snow’s cage to fall out of its boxcar. She was injured in the process. Long story short, I found her, treated her wounds, found out she was pregnant, and set her up here.” Negaduck frowned. “So, it didn’t occur to you to call to call the local zoo?” he asked. “It did at first,” Drake responded. “But they don’t have the greatest track record. They have been caught red handed smuggling diamonds in animals for the Beagle Boys.” Drake went quiet for a moment. “That gang has their hand in everything in St. Canard, even the police, you have to be careful who you trust.”

“It wouldn’t be so bad if you eliminated the problem” Negaduck retorted. Drake turned to Negaduck; he was still upset over Negaduck’s brutal attack on the Beagle Boys. “Because,” Drake growled. “I not about to kill someone, even it would make me no better than the Beagle Boys.” Negaduck knew he hit a nerve. “So.” Negaduck responded. “They only speak one language, best to learn it, otherwise they will continue to terrorized St. Canard, because they can. Trust me, I would know.” Negaduck paused. “I’m not a stranger to people like them.” Drake started to make his way back to the fire pit. “I just can’t determine someone’s fate like that.” Drake said before he turned around back to Negaduck. “Why should you?” Negaduck thought for a moment. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about it much,” Negaduck responded. “I guess it’s just instinct to hack a guy to pieces when he threatens you with a machete.”

Drake,” a voice called from across the field. “We are about to start, who is that with you?” An elderly rat came into view. “Mr. Ratcliff,” Drake said. “This is Negan, my cousin.” Drake grabbed Negaduck’s arm and dragged him in the direction of the camp. Drake didn’t want the old man to discover Snow. “Sorry,” he said. “We will see you at the fire pit.” Ratcliff put his hand on Drake’s shoulder. “Hold it young man,” Ratcliff instructed. Ratcliff handed a dog bag to Drake. “Your friend in the cellar is eating for more than one.” Ratcliff continued. “Be sure to give this to her.” Drake and Negaduck looked dumbfounded. “How did you know Snow was down there?!” Negaduck asked. “My boy, there is not much around here that I don’t know about.” Ratcliff answered. Ratcliff approached Negaduck and looked him over. 

“Magica had told me that everyone had a counterpart in the Negaverse,” He said. “Just didn’t expect the them to look exactly like us.” Negaduck didn’t know what to make of the old man. He was close enough to Magica for her to tell him about the Multiverse, and knew exactly who he was. “But where are my manners,” Ratcliff continued. He took off his hat and bowed. “As already well know, my name is Bart T. Ratcliff, owner and proprietor of Cirque Du Duck.” Ratcliff stood up again and put his hat back on his head. “Come now boys,” he said. “Everyone is waiting, go find Shera at the fire pit.” Ratcliff escorted the pair back to the crowd were Shera was waiting. 

“Where did you two go?” she asked. “We went to let Killjoy go do his business.” Negaduck lied. Drake gave a sigh of relief, he was afraid Negaduck would rat him out after Snow jumped him, or that he was just as bad as liar as he was. Then again, Negaduck was his opposite. He wasn’t a bad person, at least Drake had no reason to believe he was, but his “act – first- ask – questions - later” way of thinking was definitely going to be a problem in the long run. Drake thought it best to be wary of his yellow-clad counterpart for the time being. However, Negaduck right about one thing. The Beagle Boys will never learn until someone says no more to their bullshit. If nobody did, things won’t get better for anyone.

The crowd grew quiet when Ratcliff appeared near the center of the fire pit. “I assume we all know why know why I have called this gathering” Ratcliff began. No one said a word, but Negaduck could feel the eyes of the camp peer into him. Negaduck could recognize some of the faces from the crowd, they were present when he had attacked the Beagle Boys. His mind began to race, Negaduck had killed may times before, but only benefited from it until now. “Earlier today,” Ratcliff continued. “The Beagle Boys came to Cirque Du Duck. However, as I was told, they left in a hurry after one of their own was killed. This place seems to be a beacon for death isn’t it?” A voice shouted from the crowd. It was Goose Lee. “It was that Negan kid,” he said pointing out Negaduck from the crowd. 

Ratcliff stopped his speech and eyed Lee. “If you ask me, we should give the little monster to the Beagle Boys, maybe they will forgive us.” Lee continued. Negaduck slide his hand on to his chainsaw, he wasn’t going down without a fight. “Now, now Lee,” Ratcliff said as if Lee was a child. “We can’t make any rash decisions here. We don’t even know if the Beagle Boy think we are responsible for this.” Ratcliff scanned the crowd before continuing. “It seems that Elmo has yet to return, until then we cannot say for certain what the Beagle Boys plan to do.” Lee glowered at the ringmaster. “Even so,” Lee shot back “This kid killed someone without reason, he is dangerous we need to get rid of him.” The crowd began to murmur in agreement. Several people surround Negaduck, he wrapped his hand around starter. 

Shera grabbed Negaduck's shoulder and pulled him close to her protectively. “Lee don’t you dare lay a hand on him!” she barked. This took Negaduck aback, Shera barely knew him and yet she was ready to face a potential mob to defend him. “Besides,” she continued. “Everyone knows you have been pining after Ratcliff’s job for years. This is just another stunt to make him look bad.” The murmuring continued and Lee turned his menace to Shera, who had called him out. Ratcliff chuckled. “It’s true that the child did kill one of them,” Ratcliff said. “However, the Beagle Boys came to do more than just pick up protection money.” Ratcliff gestured to the crowbars, bats, and other weapons on the ground. “According to witnesses, Thick threaten to harm the boy, so this is a matter of self-defense.”  

Goose Lee didn’t miss a beat. “You may be right,” he said. “But there is a difference between self-defense and hacking a guy to pieces.” Ratcliff rolled his eyes at the old goose. “Negan, is member of the Mallards family,” Ratcliff said. “The Mallards have been a part of Cirque Du Duck for generations and we protect our own.” Ratcliff’s tone turned serious. “Besides, if Negan and Drake didn’t act and the Beagle Boys attacked, it would have been a lot worst.” The crowd grew quiet again. “Elmo is not here,” Ratcliff continued. “It is most likely that he is with the Beagle Boys.” He paused. “Though Elmo is a member of their gang, he works as my spy.” The murmuring started again, very few knew of Elmo Sputterspark’s involvement with Beagle Boys.

“We will wait until his return figure out a course of action.” Ratcliff instructed. “Until then we stay put. However, I would advise that we lock all our doors tonight and travel in groups.” Silence fell among the cirque troop again. “This concludes our meeting,” Ratcliff said calmly. “Have a nice evening.” After a few minutes the crowd began to disperse. Negaduck, The Mallards, Magica, Morgana, and Ratcliff remained. Ratcliff’s eyes fell upon Negaduck. “Magica had filled me in on your predicament.” He said. “Since you are stuck here, do you know where you will be staying the night?” Morgana chimed in. “We have the guest tents; he could stay there.” Ratcliff shook his head. “No,” he said. “I might have said that the troupe couldn’t lay a hand on him, doesn’t me they will listen.”

“He will stay with us,” Shera said. “We have the extra room.” Magica spoke up, “Than it’s settled. Negaduck will stay with Shera. In the meantime, I will begin working on a new talisman.” The witch’s gaze fell upon Drake and Negaduck. “This doesn’t change anything,” she said. “The both of you will go into town tomorrow, find Reid Talon, and bring him back to the cirque.” The boys nodded and followed Shera back to her trailer. Morgan skipped back to Magica’s caravan. Ratcliff waited until the trio was out of sight. “Do you think it wise to lie to them like that?” he asked Magica. “When they learn the truth of Nega- Reid Talon, you might lose their trust, at least Negaduck’s.”

Magica sighed. “I need to see how they work as a team,” she answered. “They won’t have a choice down the line, and I need to know if they can do it. Counterparts are notorious for fighting one another.” Magica went quiet. “It won’t matter in the long run. At some point down the line, they will be on their own. Certain events will happen, and both ducks will want to bring down Nega-Scrooge McDuck.” Magica began to walk back to her caravan. She turned to face Ratcliff. “The Cirque is lost and you know it.” She said. “Why do you stay?” Ratcliff sat on a nearby log and pulled out a pipe to smoke it. “I have hope that the cirque will pull through,” he answered. “It has for so many years. However, I am not about to put everyone in danger if that is what you’re thinking. If Elmo is not back by tomorrow evening, I’ll have everyone pack up and leave.” 

Magica left. Ratcliff was alone smoking his pipe and watching the fire die out. Unknown to him, he was being watched. Goose Lee hid behind a nearby stand and had heard Ratcliff’s backup plan. “Sorry, Ratcliff, he said barely above a whisper. “Elmo will not be returning, not after I report this to F.O.W.L.” The criminal organization had paid Lee handsomely to keep an eye on Ratcliff and the Cirque Du Duck. Posi – Talon had already radioed to him that Elmo was taken care of, and ordered Lee to make sure nobody left the Cirque. By the time Ratcliff realizes that his grandson is not coming back it will be too late. Lee had hoped to get in touch with Talon regarding Negan. However, the radio wasn’t able to pick up his line. Lee thought it was weird, the line they used usually worked. The goose figured he try again in the morning. He snuck away and left Ratcliff alone at the fire pit. 

Meanwhile

Negaduck instantly felt sick when he entered the trailer. There was nothing wrong about the home, in fact it was completely normal, and that was the problem. Negaduck was used to living in war torn St. Canard, and was reminded that the Anasian War never happen in Posi – Sanitatem. The dwelling was covered in family photos, some were of Sergei Mallard, a duck that actually cared for his family. Negaduck shift his gaze back to Drake. A feeling of envy surged in his mind. He wondered, that if Sergei Starling was a good man, and didn’t take Nega – McDuck offer’s, would his mother still be alive? Would he actually be happy? Negaduck shook the thought from his mind. What could have been didn’t matter. “I need to focus on my main goal” he reminded himself. Sergei Starling was going to die by his hand for his crimes, and nothing was going to change that. 

Shera went to the far side of the trailer and opened a cabinet. She proceeded to unloaded several bowls and a large pot. “We are having beef stew tonight,” she said. Shera opened the small fridge next to the cabinets and frowned. “Looks like I forgot the milk again.” She continued. “I will need to run to the store and get some.” Shera grabbed her purse and headed to the door. The parent eyed her charges as she put her hand on the knob. “Don’t leave the trailer under any circumstances.” She said sternly. “I mean it.” Shera took the key on the hook next to the door and left. Drake and Negaduck were alone in the trailer. Killjoy wiggled his way out of Negaduck’s jacket and hopped to the floor. He sniffed around his new surroundings. The pup eventually made himself comfortable in a pile of laundry on the floor. 

Negaduck could hear Shera start the car, and listened. Once he was sure she was gone, he bolted to the door and looked out its window. He grabbed Drake’s crossbow and shoved into Drake’s hands. “Come on,” Negaduck said making his way to the exit. Drake looked a little confused and annoyed. “Where are we going?” Drake asked in a concern tone. “Why do I need to bring my bow?” Negaduck checked the windows, he had a paranoid looked his face. “I might be under Ratcliff’s protection, but that can only go so far.” Negaduck replied. Drake placed his crossbow on the floor. “Don’t you think that maybe you're taking this a little too far?” He asked. Negaduck stood by the door with his hand grasped around its handle. “I’ve got a way of reading people,” Negaduck said. “I don’t trust Goose Lee; he was way too quick to go against Ratcliff.” Drake interjected. “Lee is always like that.” he said with a hint of annoyance. 

“It is not the fact that he went against Ratcliff that worries me.” Negaduck said in a serious tone for once. “It’s that people were ready and will to follow him. It seems he has been persuading some of the cirque.” Drake crossed his arms and raised his eyebrow. “Look,” Negaduck “You said it yourself, the Beagle Boys have their hand in everything, even the police. If they are that organized, then they probably have eyes and ears everywhere. Including the Cirque.” At this point Drake was getting fed up with Negaduck’s paranoid behavior. However, he wasn’t wrong. Lee was constantly running against Ratcliff, and came close to taking control of Cirque Du Duck. The only reason he wasn’t able to was because Posi - Scrooge McDuck owned the land it was on and would have kicked the Cirque Du Duck from the property if Lee took over.

“We can’t trust him or anyone other than your aunt, Magica, Poe and, Radcliff.” Negaduck said. Drake approached his uneasy counterpart. He slowly reached for Negaduck's chainsaw, and relieved it from him of his blade. “True, we can’t trust most people,” Drake responded. “We can’t just sit here hold the fort all night.” Negaduck slammed his hand into his fist. “Your right,” he said. Negaduck grabbed his chainsaw from Drake. “It’d be much simpler to get rid of the problem permanently.” Drake moved between Negaduck and the exit. “No!” Drake exclaimed. “If you do that, it will warrant Lee’s point, and Ratcliff won’t be able to stop him.” Negaduck groaned in defeat. “I hope I don’t regret listening to you.” he said. Negaduck went to over to the nearby couch and slumped right in. 

Drake gave a sigh of relief. He grabbed a chair, placed it front of Negaduck, and sat in it backwards. “While we are on the subject of who can and can’t trust.” Drake said, his tone turning serious like Negaduck’s. “We both know we can’t trust Goose Lee, that is a given. It’d be wise to keep an eye on him for the time being. However, there is another person we should be wary about, and probably investigate.” He paused. “Nega - Sanitatem Magica De Spell.” Negaduck sat up from the couch. It was his turn to be skeptical. “Why do you suspect her of foul play?” he asked. “Doesn’t she need us to fulfill some prophecy?” Then again, she is very reluctant to share any information, regarding the supposed dooms day. Any time he or Drake asked about it her reply is always the same. All you need to do is trust that I know what I am doing. 

“You might be able to read people, but I can see the environment and facts.” Drake responded. He got up from his chair and picked a book from the bookshelf. Drake return to his seat and showed it to Negaduck. It was an old leather-bound book filled with loose papers and sealed shut with a leather buckle. On the books cover was a silhouette of a raven and a female duck. At the bottom of the illustration was “Property of Clan De Spell”. “Magica lent it to me,” Drake started to explain. “Said I could use it to study alchemy.” Negaduck took the book from Drake and flipped through the pages. “What does this have to do with Magica?” he asked. “Why are you even studying alchemy? I thought you didn’t believe in magic.”

Drake took a slight offense to Negaduck's remark and took the book back. “Alchemy is not magic!” he said. “It is a science of changing matter from on stage to the other. To answer your other question, I’m only learn the science because I think it can add a certain flare to my act.” Negaduck wanted to argue that alchemy was a form of magic, but decided to agree to disagree. Drake thumbed through the old book. Once he found the page he was looking for, he showed Negaduck. “This is what worries me.” Drake said pointing at the page’s title. “Tracker’s Potion”. Drake handed the book back to Negaduck. “Earlier, back at her caravan, De Spell made this potion to track down Reid Talon.” Drake explained. “However, in order for it to work, you need something that belonged to the thing you’re trying to track.” 

Negaduck read the page that listed the ingredients needed to create the potion. Magica had followed the recipe to the letter. The only thing she used that was not listed was a green feather. “Do, you see the problem?” Drake asked. Negaduck shook his head. “I assume that it is green feather she used,” he replied. “And the feather belonged to Nega – Reid Talon.” Drake took the book from Negaduck and put it back on the shelf. “Don’t you find it odd that she had it in the first place?” Drake pressed. “Or that she knew his name before you told her?” Negaduck got up from the couch. “Come to think of it,” he said. “That’s true, and once more she was quick to answer as to how she knew where he be. “I am a fortune teller,” she says.” Negaduck said, imitating her voice. 

“Yet there was nothing in her book that could explain how she knew where he was going, and going to be.” Drake continued. “Negaduck looked to the floor. “Who even is Reid Talon anyway?” Negaduck asked. “Why is Magica so sure he will come back here if we don’t find him first?” Drake shrugged. “I don’t know,” Drake said sadly. “What I do know is that there is more to this than she is telling us.” Both ducklings grew quiet. Negaduck went to the couch and sat back down. He thought he knew the witch, but now with what Drake has revealed, he began to wonder if he knew at all. “Now what?” Negaduck asked his host. Drake produced a cardboard box from a compartment underneath the table, and placed it on top. “Now,” Drake answered. “All we can do is wait until morning.” Negaduck read the name on the box “SORRY”  

1 hour later

Drake and Negaduck were on their 3rd round of the game of sweet revenge. It was a nice distraction from the day’s events. It was also used as an opportunity to learn about each other’s world. Drake got a real prospective of just how bad it is over in the Negaverse. Magica wasn’t kidding when she said Nega -Scrooge McDuck was a vile man. Negaduck seemed very interested in the technological advancement of Posi-Sanitatem. He said the Negaverse was behind because of Anasian War, and any that were made, were used by Nega – McDuck’s forces or the rich. Drake pondered if the mysterious patron of the Beagle Boys were to continue with their corruption, would Posiverse head the same way as the Negaverse? Drake shook the thought from his head. He told himself he was over thinking it. 

Shera entered the trailer with groceries and set them on top of one the counter. “O.K.,” she said, washing her hands. “I will start cooking, while you two clean yourselves up. You reek.” Drake cringed; it was the first time he realized since the fight with the Beagle Boys, that he was covered in dirt and grim. The Duckling cared very much for his appearance. “Dibbs on the first bath!” he exclaimed and ran down the bathroom. “It’s just a little dirt Drake,” Shera said annoyed. “It’s not like you preforming anytime soon anyway, your grounded remember?” Drake stopped in his tracks. “I still have to work the concessions stand during the next show,” Drake replied. “I still represent Cirque Du Duck, and I doubt costumers want dirt in their food.”

Shera frowned. “You might have a point there,” she said. “However, tonight’s show is cancelled due to the Beagle Boy attack. We are not about to endanger costumers if they decide to attack again.” Drake went silent. “I see,” he said. Then disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Negaduck alone with Shera. “Take your coat off and I wash it for you. Just put in that bin by the couch.” She instructed. Negaduck did as she asked, it was nice to for someone to do something for you without wanting something in return. That kind of generosity, or any generosity in general, was rare in the Negaverse. Negaduck placed his yellow coat in the bin, and a bag with two syringes a smaller bag of powder fell out the pocket. Negaduck had completely forgotten he had drugs on him. 

Shera’s eyes flickered. She snatched up the bag before Negaduck could react. Negaduck was used to getting a chewed out by Douglass anytime he caught him with the drugs. Yet one looked at Shera’s furious face and he knew she was going to be worst. The exit was blocked off by Shera.  Negaduck braced for what was to come. The yelling, the screaming, and what- the-were-you-thinking. “What is this?” Shera asked in an inquisitive tone as she waved the bag in front of his bill. “It depends on how bad it looks.” Negaduck replied trying to play coy. “Negaduck,” Shera said in a warning tone. Killjoy emerged from his nest to see what was going on. “Drugs,” he replied not even trying to cover it. Negaduck might like the idea of getting pinched, but if he was gonna it caught, he was going to own it. 

“Heroin?” she asked, examining the bag in the light. “Yes.” Negaduck answered. Shera walked over to a chair adjacent to the couch. “I haven’t seen this in ages.” She said sniffing the bag. “Well not since Sergei cut me off.” Shera eyed Negaduck who hadn’t moved. “Why do you have this anyway?” she asked. Negaduck was prepared to answer that. “Because it is an addictive chemical,” He deadpanned knowing a lecture was coming. He was used to the same song and dance from Douglass Muddlefoot. “It is bad, I know but I don’t care.” Shera gave a hurt and confused look. “That’s why you refuse to stop.” She responded in calm tone. “I asked why you took it in the first place.” Negaduck couldn’t understand it. He was prepared for a shouting match. Not to be quizzed on his life’s choices. 

“Back when I was beginning high school; Sergei and I were in a car accident that killed our parents.” Shera continued. “Sergei got off with a few bruises, I however, suffered broken bones, and cuts from the windshield. They kept me in the hospital under a lot of morphine until the Sanitatem Trance did its job. Unfortunately, the trance can’t heal the mind, and I got hooked on morphine.” Shera looked at the small bag as if she was tempted. She put the bag on the table. “I wanted more,” she said. “When the hospital didn’t give it to me, I found heroin as the alternative. The only way I could get the drugs was through the only people that would deal the drug with the cirque.” She sighed. “The Sputtersparks.” 

“I spent my life savings up that point on the White China, and thought I kept a well-guarded secret.” Shera started to cringe of the thought the subject, but pressed forward. “Naturally, Sergei found out and he confronted me.” Shera continued. Negaduck wondered why she was telling him her sob story, but didn’t interrupt. Anything to avoid a lecture. It was unusual to hear of Sergei in a good light. “He pleaded with me to stop, I was a mess and in deep with the Sputtersparks. When I refused, he took matters into his own hands.” Shera pick up a framed photo of the wall. It depicted a younger Shera and Sergei; they look old enough to be teenagers. “Sergei reported the Sputterspark’s underground business to the authorities, before the they came under the Beagle Boy’s influence.” Shera continued. 

“He didn’t tell them that I was buying their product.” Her tone turned somber. “My brother also waited until after the Sputterspark’s had their son Elmo, so the child wouldn’t be born in jail. It was at Elmo’s mother’s request. Even in the end, Sergei Mallard wanted to help people, even criminals.” Shera put the picture back and wandered back to the counter, picking up the bag. “The whole experience was enough to for me to learn to hate the vile drug. I haven’t touched it since then. Serge on the other hand, wanted to help people like me, so he decided to become a doctor.” Shera picked up the bag then looked at Negaduck. “However,” she carried on. “You and I both know that Nega – Sergei would never have done that. Magica told me all about what kind of man he is.” Her voice turning to disgust. 

Magica had been sharing information about him with her, he wondered if Douglass knew anything about Drake. “He abandoned you,” She said. Negaduck could feel his blood boil at the mention of his name. “I never needed my fath- that man.” Negaduck said angerly, he was trembling. Shera raised an eyebrow. “Of course not,” Shera responded. “He does seem to scare you though.” Negaduck’s face went red. “I-I m not scared of him” Negaduck said in a foul tone, but he couldn’t look her in the eye when he did. “Oh, really?” Shera replied. “You still wear a mask, yet you know his quadworth capabilities can’t take him out of Nega Sentitatem, you ran from a guard because he could have exposed you to Nega- Sergei.” Shera stood up. “You have been uneasy since you set foot in this trailer. Is because you see the face of the man who took everything from you, upsets you?” 

Tears began to burn down the duckling’s face. For the first time in years, he was going to have to relive the day his mother was taken from him and he was powerless to do anything. Had nothing really changed since then? Was he still the weak boy he was before? “I’m going to ask you again, and this time I want a straight answer.” She said sternly. “Why do you have this!” Negaduck wiped away his tears. “It started out as way to easy the pain after I got into street fights and illegal boxing rings.” Negaduck began, it was the first time he had been honest with himself. “Medical supplies, is hard to come by in Nega – St. Canard.” He explained. “At first, I took it as need, but then...” his voice trailed off. Shera urged him to continued. “Go on.” 

“It became an escape,” Negaduck went on. “Magica’s Prediction has everyone in the Muddlefoot Syndicate watching my every move. Douglass wants me take over when I older. They think I’m some born leader, but I’m not! I am just scared kid, who wants nothing to do with it!” At that point Negaduck was shouting. “My greatest fear is that, despite how hard I train, or no matter what I do. I’m still the same weak child that should have died in the Void!” Negaduck was breathing heavily. Shera tossed the bag to the floor and knelt down. She wrapped her arms around him. “Its O.K.” she said. “It is not weakness to remember or to have doubt.

”Negaduck fell silent. He didn’t know how to react. He used to being treated like the trouble maker he was. He mostly had to fend for himself in the Nega – St. Canard after N.S took over. Sure, he had Douglass, but the goose only cares about N. M’s prophecy and keeping Negaduck alive to do it. Herb was his best friend, but even he began to distance himself from him. No one had really cared about him in years until now. Negaduck held on to Shera, slumped to the floor, and cried. He hadn’t done so since he lost his mother. After several minutes, Shera brought Negaduck to his feet and wiped his face. “Sometimes a little catharsis can go a long way,” She said. “Feel better?” Negaduck nodded and even cracked a smile.

Shera picked up the bag of white powder. “Do you still want this?” She asked. Negaduck stared at it for a moment and took the bag. “No,” he answered. “but Douglass is going to want it back. Besides, I don’t need a crutch.” He shrugged and looked off in a different direction. “Negaduck...” Shera said in a warning tone. Negaduck told the truth. “Fine, I was going to use it to drug Reid Talon, and drag him back to Negaverse.” Shera rolled her eyes. She didn’t approve of Drake and Negaduck going to look for this man tomorrow, nor the fact that Negaduck wanted to drug him. At least it was better than the boys’ idea of a kangaroo in a Viking helmet. However, if getting this Reid Talon into Negaverse was the only way to get Negaduck home she was onboard with it. 

“You know,” she said. “You and Drake have a tell when you lie. You shrug and avoid eye contact.” Negaduck look surprised. “Really?” he asked. “I’ll have to remember that the next time I talk to Douglass.” Shera changed the subject. “Let’s get back to making dinner.” She said. “I assume you know how cook meat?” Negaduck caught himself before he shrugged again. “No,” he answered. Shera however, wasn’t fooled. “Then there is no time like the present to learn.” She replied grabbing the ingredients and a large pot and made her way to the door. “Come on.” She instructed. Negaduck followed and opened the door for her. Killjoy could sense that everything was going to be ok and went back to sleep.  

15 minutes later. 

Drake exited the trailer. Negaduck and Shera were talking as the stew cooked. They greeted him as he made his way to the small fire they had started. Drake noticed that Negaduck wasn’t in a hurry to get back to the Negaverse anymore, and he had was in better spirits. Negaduck went inside the camper to take his shower. He had told them this the first time he’s had hot water in years. Killjoy came outside as Negaduck came in, the Doberman smelled the pleasant aroma of dinner. “Ratcliff came by.” Shera said. Her tone changed to that of worry. “Elmo has still not come back yet. He is worried about him.” Drake was also concerned by this. It wasn’t like Elmo to not check in with him. The rat loved Shera’s cooking and never miss out on dinner with them.

Negaduck returned 10 minutes later. Drake scooped him a bowl and handed it to him. “Really!?” Negaduck exclaimed. “I can have this much?!” Drake was taken aback. He had briefly forgotten that Nega – St. Canard was a war-torn area. “Negaduck must find first world problem really annoying” Drake thought to himself. Once they had finished their food and fed the scraps to Killjoy, they return to the camper for the night. There was still no sign of Elmo Sputterspark. Drake wondered what could have happened to him. He shook his head. There was valid reason for Elmo not have made contact, given current events, he might be trying to be extra cautious, so he would get found out. Drake had known Elmo for years, he was fine.  

Back at the Electrical Plant.  

 Posi- Reid Talon couldn’t comprehend it. He sat across an empty lot at café, smoking an overpriced cigar. The empty lot was once the electrical plant. The Electrical Plant had caught fire had burned down in the afternoon. Agents he had in the force said it was caused by an electrical discharge, but it wasn’t the electric chair. That was destroyed before the fire. Megavolt and Burger Beagle were missing to. Ma Beagle had reported that Burger hadn’t returned to the junkyard and Thick hadn’t seen him either. Talon didn’t know if Megavolt was alive or dead, which concerned him. The rooster might have brainwashed him, but that didn’t mean that he wasn’t still loyal to Ratcliff. Sure, it was obvious that Megavolt hated the old rat, but Talon didn’t deal with maybes. Talon couldn’t contact his agent in the Cirque Du Duck either. The radio that they used to keep in touch was lost in the fire. Talon blew out smoke. “I guess it can’t be helped.” he thought. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. 

Chapter 7

https://masked-mallards.tumblr.com/post/190919389774/masked-mallards-the-multiverse-and-everything

Chapter1

https://masked-mallards.tumblr.com/post/190578269234/masked-mallards-the-multiverse-and-everything

[icequeen-shiva]

alright, you know what

about two weeks ago maybe by now, i made a post about how i’ve recently hit 200 followers and i’d like to do a q&a again, and even with a reblog from someone more ~*popular*~ than me, and multiple reblogs once a day for a few days by myself, i didn’t get a single fucking question. not one. earlier today i posted two pictures of myself where i felt pretty (i’ve since deleted them) and nobody i actually know of liked it and i got asked by a stranger who doesn’t even follow me if i had any nsfw pictures. i don’t get asks anymore, i don’t get shit. and that tells me that, you may be following me, but you aren’t connecting with me. and i feel that. i get on tumblr and i don’t feel like i’m friends with fucking anybody. and i did that. i know i did that. 9/10 times i let my fear of rejection and embarrassing myself overcome my desire to talk to people, so i don’t do it, or i let it fizzle out and we go our own ways and we don’t become friends. 1/10 times i actually function as a human being and make a connection or at least something that sticks a little.

so here, below the cut, is a comprehensive (loosely) list of things that i like, in no particular order at all, besides tickling, because apparently both sides of this need a little help connecting on any front.

scooby-doo

beetlejuice

the addams family

the sims

the mcu

classic disney animations; my favorites are dumbo, the great mouse detective, the rescuers, sleeping beauty, and oliver and company (it’s old enough that i consider it in the classic category)

~modern disney animations too; my favorites are treasure fucking planet, coco, and... i’m a sap, beauty and the beast. rise of the guardians too even though it isn’t disney.

musicals; i can’t pick a favorite just fucking ask me, but i don’t know a lot of newer ones honestly

empire records

the greatest showman still

cats (i mean the animals but i also like the show even though it is Weird As Hell)

my cat in particular

alice in wonderland

stranger things

space jam

tsum tsums

elvira, mistress of the dark

dice

kiki’s delivery service and specifically jiji things

winnie the pooh i don’t even fucking care i LOVE HIM AND ALL OF HIS FRIENDS

silly hats

playdoh

interesting earrings

exploring libraries or big bookstores

true crime mysteries; my favorite youtuber for this is georgia marie, bless her. i also watch bella fiori and kendall rae

fictional mysteries too

i have a kind of fascination with jack the ripper and with the lizzie borden case

shipwrecks! i don’t know why but shipwrecks fascinate me! why did they go down? all the stories that went with them!

i once read a novel that was told as a series of letters, or journal entries, by people on the titanic, including the iceberg and it was THE absolute saddest book i have ever read in my life. like, obviously i knew what was coming, but i got attached to the characters, the letters made them alive and it was just like... NO. NO I DON’T WANT THEM TO DIE. I KNOW THEY’RE GOING TO BUT THEY CAN’T. and it was awful. i had to put it down and cry.

cryptozoology

the bermuda triangle theories (i’m not saying i believe sOmEtHiNg’S gOiNg On but i think some of the theories are interesting)

ghosts

the nancy drew computer games

monopoly

i still play a lot of my snes games; my go-to time killer and head-clearer honestly is kirby’s avalanche. i also play a lot of super mario rpg legend of the seven stars, super mario world, kirby’s dreamland 3, and donkey kong 2 and 3

final fantasy x in which i’m guaranteed to call almost (i can’t stress that enough) every character at some point “my child”

hyrule warriors, i know it’s not a tRuE zelda game but it’s fucking fun

same with fire emblem warriors

red dead redemption

kingdom hearts

the uncharted series

splatoon but i don’t have it wahhhhh

mind you i am not very Good at videogames, i just like to play them anyway

game grumps

ninja sex party

jacksepticeye

markiplier

monty python

crocheting

tea

harry potter

classic rock. pretty big on queen lately. i like tom petty and the heartbreakers. i like joan jett and the blackhearts.

i just... like rock. across the board. i like the offspring. i like some rage against the machine songs. acdc on the radio makes me happy. def leppard on the radio makes me happy. beartooth, starset, powerman 5000, as long as it’s got a good beat and good stuff going on behind the vocals then i’m gonna be happy. i’m way more into the guitars and the bass and everything going on instrumentally than i am vocally, honestly. the whole big guitar solo to van halen’s “you really got me” and then that bassline that comes in, that bassline is sexy. it’s so simple but i LIKE it.

anyway music as a whole gets me right in the heart and can lift me up when i am at my literal worst point

it’s hard for me to name a favorite or specific bands that i like because there’s so many and i’m not really picky about it. 

pop vinyls

good ol’ vines

buffalo wings

mac and cheese

grilled cheese

dr. pepper

i drink a l o t of dr. pepper

pretending i know how to do makeup well

history; i watch a lot of expedition unknown and mysteries at the museum, and sometimes i’ll watch a free documentary on youtube if it catches my attention. last weekend i explained the donner party to my boyfriend. just.. on a whim. because i’d just watched a thing on it and he said he didn’t really know what it was. i’m that person.

OH I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS BACK AROUND TRUE CRIME BUT I READ A BOOK ABOUT H.H. HOLMES AND HIS MURDER CASTLE AND THE CHICAGO WORLD’S FAIR. it was by erik larson, i believe. larsen? i could google this. devil in the white city. there’s been talks to make it a movie. it’s a good read though i will admit i skipped a lot of the fair parts because i was there for the murder.

i also read a book about the lusitania by the same author and i was like ohhh my goooood what. it got a little boring sometimes, i had to push myself to keep going, but i would read dead wake again.

csi: miami reruns are the greatest thing don’t @ me

dark purple and black aesthetics

just like... witchy aesthetics. those colors and black cats

if you haven’t noticed by any selfies i’ve posted, i do have my lip pierced and i love finding new lip jewelry. i have a new opal stud in and i love its look

leather jackets

combat boots; i have a galaxy print pair and a pair with classic marvel comics stuff printed on the inside and you can fold down the sides to show it. they’re my faves.

owls

drunk history

the first 5 seasons of supernatural and i still have a soft spot for the winchesters and castiel

i’m slowly making my way through watching the librarians

i’m also making my way slowly through watching the magicians

(american) football

nature walks

going to the zoo

going to the aquarium

like really take me to either of the above and i will lose my shit

road trips

savannah, georgia

the smokey mountains

last august i drove by myself from ohio to boone, north carolina for a friend’s wedding and that wedding was smack on a mountain top and it was the coolest thing i think i’ve ever done

roller coasters BUT NOT EXTREME ONES baby steps ok

log rides tho, i don’t know why, i always love the water rides

ren faires!

cosplay, even though i’m not exactly active in it myself (but i want to be; one of my offline friends is an actually-getting-kind-of-internet-famous mei from overwatch cosplayer)

cards against humanity

foosball

pool but i suck at it

speaking of pools i love swimming ... but i suck at it, i just like boppin’ along in a pool

cookouts

summer

there is nothing like being out in the middle of nowhere in summer when the evening starts to fall and the sky is dark, dark blue and there’s a sea of shimmering lightning bugs out over a field. it’s beautiful. it’s peaceful.

there’s nothing like sitting outside on a calm spring night and listening to the spring peepers (they’re frogs) either.

if you couldn’t tell, i live in the middle of nowhere. i have to find enjoyment in the little things.

campfires

dancing around said campfire, you cannot have a campfire without good music. this is when a lot of my classic rock education came to pass.

elephants

my favorite books are the abhorsen trilogy by garth nix, tied with the serpent’s shadow by mercedes lackey

i am trying to get into comic books by way of the youtube channel comicstorian. they break comic books down for you and read them aloud with the images, altered slightly to avoid copyright strikes (and that’s all made very clear, it’s not done sketchily), and it’s been really easy for someone like me who doesn’t just have a comics store close (and i would otherwise continue on as i have been, forgetting to ever look for them on the internet). i listened to injustice 1 and 2, and they covered the game. i’m actively following scooby apocalypse, and there was some teen titans stuff i went all the way through up until now. i don’t think it’s finished yet from what i remember.

i love museums

candles

i actually kind of collect tea sets

i also have a collection of sand art bottles AND IF I’M EVER AT A FESTIVAL OR A FAIR WHERE THERE IS A SAND ART STAND YOU CAN BET I AM GOING TO MAKE ONE

yugioh duels; i’m definitely just a novice and it’s just a fun pastime my friends got me into when they found their giant binders of cards again

i’m not actually that big on pokemon, i don’t know a lot of them but it’s still fun and i know some. but i did love pokemon go when my friends still played it (don’t really have time anymore, and it kept crashing way too badly on one of their phones anymore anytime they tried to join a raid and it just wasn’t fun as a group then)

i don’t have any but i like the ~look of crystals and would like to have some, not for my own aesthetic but i just... like having pretty things!

listening to the rain

how the air smells (at least where i live) after a long rain and everything is just cleansed

depression has stopped me from writing for a long time but, in my heart, writing has always been something that has touched me ever since i knew how to do it and could put my stories down on paper instead of having to just talk about them... so i’m going to include that here

root beer floats

hotdogs

hard dip ice cream (if you don’t know what hard dip means... as my boyfriend didn’t... it means ice cream that you have to use a scoop with, not soft serve)

soft serve’s good too tho don’t get me wrong

strawberry milkshakes

this isn’t even stuff that anyone would need to know on this site to befriend me at this point, nobody’s gonna message me like HEY I READ YOU LIKE STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKES ME FUCKING TOO

you’re cool if you do that lmao

so bad they’re good creature features from the 50s and 60s

the old godzilla movies

i like the moon more than the stars, but i like them too

flower crowns

bouncy balls

original skittles

this has gone on way too long, nobody is reading this, your mom’s a hoe, goodnight

no she’s not, i’m sorry, if you got this far then i hope your mom is a nice person

[katnissdoesnotfollowback]

9000 R.P.M. - MS2SL Preview

Stuck in a dead end town and a dead end job, Katniss takes a gamble with the one thing she got out of her divorce -- a beat up sports car turned racer. She was always the better driver anyways. With a little help from a mechanic with blue eyes and golden hands, she turns that gamble into a chance for a better life for her and her daughter. But racing is still a boys' club and the road is never easy for a single mom.

WARNINGS: RATED E for underage sex (as in all involved parties are between 16 and 19 at the time of the dirty deeds, explicit sexual content, explicit language, unprotected sex, accidental pregnancy (use condoms people!), teen pregnancy, minor character death, infidelity, road rage (or I guess track tempers???), and a shit ton of misogynistic assholes.

Pairings: Minor on the Everthorne, Major on the Everlark ;-)

A quick sneak peek at what I’ve been working on for @mores2sl 2018! For more information on how to donate and read, and what this charity is all about, you can also visit ms2sl.com

Those of you familiar with my writing know that it is massively driven by musical influence. As part of this preview, here are twelve songs that are basically on repeat right now as part of the soundtrack for this story. You may notice a pattern here...this playlist is heavy on the Joan Jett (& the Blackhearts), Melissa Etheridge, Heart, Vixen, Shania, and Martina. In other words, chick rock. Deal with it, beyotches.

1. Vixen - Anyway

2. Melissa Etheridge - Will You Still Love Me

3. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - Fun, Fun, Fun

4. Ciara - Paint It, Black

5. Heart - One Word

6. Shania Twain - I’m Gonna Getcha Good

7. Melissa Etheridge - This Moment

8. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - You Got a Problem

9. Vixen - It Wouldn’t Be Love

10. Martina McBride - When God-Fearin’ Women Get the Blues

11. Heart - Magic Man

12. Melissa Etheridge - Rock Me Baby

And now, the snippet. Enjoy!

“Good luck, Mommy!”

They stand there, awkwardly getting Katniss ready.

“I’ll um, see if I’ve got an extra headset to protect her ears,” Peeta says. Katniss nods. She climbs in the car and Peeta reaches through to help her strap in. They move through their routine as though nothing out of the ordinary just happened. She’s putting on her gloves, taking a last glimpse at her black nails that match her car when Peeta tugs on the end of her braid. “Kick some ass.”

“Peeta,” she says, grabbing his arm as he retreats. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“The car...she really does look amazing. I just wanted you to know before they...they’re gonna to be gunning for me tonight. They’re gonna...knock the shit out of her and all your hard work...” her words fade beneath more loud cheers from the stands. The sounds churn in the muggy night and she shakes her head, unable to convey the regret she feels for what she fears is about to happen.

“Lucky for you, your mechanic spent four years working on cars that are built to take a beating.” He grabs the window net, pauses then smiles at her. “Knock back. Alimony can take it.”

The net is up before she can respond and the call comes to start engines. Fast spurts and barks fill the air. Alimony roars to life, her sounds lost in the crowd, but Katniss can still feel the vibrations. The purr beneath her. She adjusts the mirror and checks her belts. Takes a deep breath and waits for the flags. Her fingers tap on the wheel as the flag raises. The world freezes. The flag drops and deafening roars shake the earth.

Someone hits her right out of the gate. Then another. She’s jostled back and forth and glares at the bumper in front of her. He’s going too slow. Keeping her penned in and trapped.She gnashes her teeth, and waits for her opening. They’re tearing her car to the frame, one hit at a time. Not enough to get themselves warnings or tossed off the track. Just enough to send her a message.

It hasn’t rained in days and puffs of red clay obscure most of the track. It’ll be hard to see a thing. She waits for a thick cloud of the stuff to hide her and floors it. Rams into the car in front of her and pushes her way free. The dust clears and she backs off, veers right to go around. A bright flash warns her and she lets off, jerks back left and watches a car smash into the one she just pushed. Up into the wall.

[paladin-andric]

Blackheart, Chapter 7, Part 2 of 2

(A very dialogue heavy chapter! Not used to writing like this, but I think I did a pretty good job. Here we see the monsters of Palethorn attempt to heal Tourthun.)

Alexander made his way through the camp, mind racing. So many people’s lives were at stake. Whatever happened with the dragon would...well, it would happen, and Alexander would have to deal with it. If the dragon couldn’t help, so be it. The knight would find a way. He would be strong, and brave, and stalwart. He would destroy the Blackheart, even if it meant his own demise. He couldn’t let the rest of the world turn into this.

The knight marched towards the center of the camp. Monsters of all kinds lined the tiny settlement, though no one was moving. This appeared to be one of the rare instances in between surface expeditions, when most of the people had little to occupy themselves with.

Moving past tents and shacks, Alexander reached the center. As always, dim light shone down from the surface. Tourthun was lying on his side, eyes closed. A group of kobolds were standing around the dragon, chattering. Wurie was at the edge of the crowd. Spotting Alexander, he glanced over at the knight and offered a nod.

“Hey, pretty busy day, huh?” The wolfman captain crossed his arms and smiled. Alexander shrugged.

“Good luck with the kid,” Wurie offered, a sly grin on his muzzle. Alexander grimaced. Even he was joking about this?!

Stepping into the crowd, Alexander scanned for any familiar faces. He stopped as his gaze fell on Senci.

“Aha, there you are.” The knight marched up to the small warrior and crossed his arms.

“So, how’s it going? Any word on Tourthun?”

Senci nodded, smiling. “They said they’ve been working on medicine. Some kind of incense or something.”

“Yes, that’s right!” One of the kobolds stepped up to the knight. He was fairly unremarkable, though he wore a messy robe, stained with what looked like liquid spills.

“I think we have the cause of his sickness figured out! You see-”

A loud groan made the group pause. Alexander turned to see Tourthun slowly open his eyes and look around, dazed.

“Mmm...uhh...hello?” Tourthun was looking back and forth, but his eyes were glazed and unfocused.

“Ah, Tourthun. How are you feeling?” The dragon turned his head to Alexander, eyes still seeming to look straight through him.

“Ah, father. You have returned? Please do not leave me like that. I was...frightened.”

All eyes fell on Alexander. From the captain to the kobolds, many of them snickered and grinned, trying to hold in laughter. A few however, appeared confused and worried.

Alexander was red in the face. What kind of fever makes dragons think you’re their father? If he stopped playing along, how would the dragon react? Why did Wurie feel the need to stand there and stare at the knight, grinning like a loon? This was embarrassing enough on its own!

The kobold with the messy robes from earlier tapped the knight on the leg and gestured for him to come closer.

Alexander leaned down and craned his neck as the lizard cupped a clawed hand over his ear. “I think the magic made his brain all mushy,” the kobold uttered in a nervous whisper.

“Uhh, I see that,” Alexander replied bluntly, “So what about it?”

“What is that noise? Did you bring friends over again?” Tourthun asked, the dragon appearing confused.

“Yes, just a moment,” Alexander answered. He turned back to the kobold and shrugged.

“Well,” the creature continued, still whispering, “From what the doctors have said, our theory is that the necrosis damaged more than his chest.”

Alexander’s eyes widened, horror and comprehension dawning on him.

“You mean…”

“That’s right,” the robed monster said, “His brain’s all jumbled up and half-gone. It’s why he’s acting so funny!”

“How do we fix it?” Alexander asked hurriedly.

The kobold gestured to the crowd. A group of kobolds carrying what looked like a giant bowl pushed through the crowd.

“We have gathered powerful healing incense. It’s normally for...tiny things, like us, but we thought that if we just use a lot more…”

Oh great, the knight thought, an experiment.

“...that it should work on him!” the kobold finished, excited.

Alexander crossed his arms. “So, how exactly does it work? Is it like the healing powder the shellbacks make?”

“Ah, not quite! This mixture is a fine smoke that the user must inhale! Once in the body, it begins repairing damaged organs and tissue.”

“So…”

“It should heal his brain!” The kobold finished. “Though...it clouds the mind for a time, and makes the user very sleepy.” Alexander nodded.

“Alright...Tourthun!” The knight called out to the dragon. “I’ve been looking for ways to soothe your ills, and a few friends have brought me this.”

“NO!” The dragon roared angrily. The reverb made Alexander’s head spin. The knight was taken aback, as was the rest of the crowd. What was driving him to such rage?

“Tourthun?”

“No more medicine! You promised!”

Ah, this again…

“It’s nothing like that!” Alexander hollored back. Tourthun’s snarl disappeared, the dragon looking embarrassed.

“O-oh! I...I am sorry! I just thought...forgive my insolence!” Tourthun pressed his head and his legs up against his body, taking up less space as his gaze fell downward.

“Uh, don’t worry about it. Look, it’s not something you eat. It’s...incense. All you have to do is breathe it in. It’ll ease your pain and clear up your maladies.”

Tourthun glanced up hopefully at the knight. “Truly? No medicine? It just works on its own?”

Alexander nodded. “That’s right.”

“Well...okay! I am sorry I doubted you. Forgive me.”

The kobolds finished moving the large bowl up to the dragon, coming to a stop right in front of Tourthun’s face. Another one of the lizards ran up to the bowl with a torch and lowered it inside, setting the herbs and plants alight.

“Okay. Deep breaths. Just sit back and relax, Tourthun.” The knight looked over at the crowd, everyone slowly backing up.

“Mister knight, get away!” One of the kobolds whispered. Alexander frowned.

“Why? What did you do?” The kobold shook its head and waved its hands nervously.

“No, nothing like that! It’s just...magic smoke! Enough for a dragon! It could put you to sleep for good! So much dosage for tiny things like us! Too much to take!”

Alexander nodded in realization. Enough incense to knock him on his ass, eh? Well, that was plenty good reason for staying back.

He backed up with the rest of the group, forming a large, open circle around the dragon.

Tourthun eyes began to droop. “Aah...oh, my head...mmm…” “Everything alright?” Alexander called to the dragon. Torthun let out a deep rumble.

“Hmm...yes, wonderful...this scent is...lovely. I...I think I will...rest...for a moment longer.” The dragon slowly lowered his neck, bringing his large head down to the floor beside the incense bowl. He closed his eyes and sighed, satisfied.

“Oh...and...father?”

“...Tourthun?” Alexander answered quietly.

“Thank you...for everything. I am...glad you are here.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

With that, the dragon ceased talking.

The knight wiped his forehead. It was already hotter in here with the large, open flame, and the thick scent of the medicine wasn’t helping. It smelled like...smokey wood and flowers. Even back here, the smell wafted to Alexander in an overpowering manner. Good thing he had listened to the kobolds!

“So...that’s it.” The kobold in the robes returned, looking up at Alexander. “Now we just let the magic do its work, and if our theory is correct, he’ll start recovering!”

“And you’re SURE this is safe?” Alexander questioned.

“Of course!” The robed figure answered quickly, “This is an old kobold secret. We used to use this to heal our people from scrapes with our masters’ enemies. Dragons have mighty scales that turn blades with ease, so the best method to attack them is magic! Thus, we and our masters would often be targeted with necrotic magic. We created this mixture long ago to prevent further losses once we got the wounded to safety, and to ensure our masters lived on.”

“I thought you said this was for ‘tiny people’, not dragons.”

“Aha! Well like I said, we USED to heal our masters with this. I don’t know if you noticed, but we’ve fallen out of favor with dragons in recent times. As the great ones grow older, they gain power, and we become less and less appealing as servants. We are small and weak. Then there was Greenbranch’s evangelizing, which made a lot of us very picky with who we vowed to serve. Without a complete lack of morals, the crueler dragons couldn’t rely on us, and a lot of good ones still see us as nasty little creatures.”

“And so this art has become an elusive one.” Alexander finished.

“Yes! Many of us haven’t used this ritual on someone other than each other in our whole lives, and even using it at all is rare, now! I mean, with the exile, we’ve been living in a peaceful, orderly city. Not many uses for combating dark magic.”

“You lot seem...brighter than the stories paint you as.” Alexander rubbed his chin. “A lot of stories of rabid beasts throwing themselves at travelers back home…and really, I didn’t expect one of you to know the tongue of man, let alone so many.”

The robed lizard perked up. “Ah! Well I’m flattered you think I’m...bright. To be honest, many of us are...less so inclined to learn. Though, living in Palethorn, with so much knowledge and the means to attain it in your hands, it’s only natural some of us benefited! Moving from caves to the city meant opportunities to learn where there had been none before. As for me, I’ve always been an herbalist, and if you know anything about herbalism, you know there’s a LOT of reading involved. Only natural someone of my profession knows a lot!”

“I understand you,” Alexander said, “I suppose there weren’t many schools and archives out in the wild…”

The kobold laughed. “That’s right! Many were illiterate before we came here. To a lot of us, philosophy was just a funny word Greenbranch said a lot.”

The little herbalist smiled. “Well! Everything’s all done here, I suppose! Once he awakens, we should know if it worked or not.”

“Right.” That last line worried Alexander. What if it DIDN’T work? What then? Would Tourthun be stuck in a cycle of mental regression, thinking the knight to be his father forever? Would he lose what was left, and become feral?

No. He couldn’t think like that. He would drive himself mad with worry.

He had to have hope.

Wurie walked over as the crowd of kobolds dispersed. A few lingered around, still gazing at the dragon in awe.

The wolfman looked at Alexander, wide-eyed.

“Well...that just happened.”

The knight rubbed the back of his head. “I, uh...yeah.”

“Phew...this is insanity, you know?” Alexander nearly burst out laughing at the wolfman.

“Now there’s an understatement. Can you believe this?”

Alexander turned back to look at Tourthun. The dragon was curled up on the floor, next to the incense, eyes closed.

“A giant, intimidating beast of legend...curled up on the floor, calling you father and whining as a child would.” The captain shook his head. “Say what you will...magic is a terrifying thing, if it can bring a behemoth like that to this sorry state.”

Alexander sighed. “I suppose. That must have been a trump card though, surely. If he recovers, they’ll have lost more than us!”

The wolfman frowned. “I wish I had your optimism, sir knight. I just...I think we’re up against too much here. That’s no reason to quit, but I...I just…” Wurie trailed off.

“...it’s just so much, you know?” The wolfman’s sorrow was plain in his voice, high and quivering. “Everyone’s counting on me to get them through this, but...I don’t think I have what it takes. I’m just a guard...and these people need a champion. I am not sufficient…”

Alexander put his hands on Wurie’s shoulders. The captain looked up, surprised. The knight locked eyes with the captain.

“We WILL get through this.” Alexander shook Wurie to emphasise his words. “You aren’t leading an army. You don’t have to take on the forces of hell by yourself. You need not carry every last man, woman and child to Geralthin in your arms. The people don’t need a leader that’s a hero…they just need someone to believe in. To give them hope. By being a leader they can trust, well...you’re plenty heroic already.”

Wurie blinked, mouth open. “I...I…”

The wolfman wrapped his arms around the knight. Alexander stood in silence as the captain took deep, quivering breaths, patting him on the back.

After a few moments, Wurie stood up straight and let go of the knight. The wolfman sighed and looked at Alexander, fire in his eyes, even as the fur on his face was matted and wet.

“Thank you, Alexander...I needed that.” The knight offered a nod and a smile.

“We’re not gods, Wurie. We are men. We are fallible, prone to stress and despair. Just remember...even glaciers will crumble eventually. Let your grievances be known to those who will listen. It is all that keeps us sane.”

“I...I will.” Wurie gazed at Alexander, something in his eyes different. He looked on Alexander with a deep, newfound respect. “Thank you, my friend.”

The knight patted him on the shoulder and grinned. “You’ll lead these people to safety, I’m certain...as for me, I’ve got work to do.”

Alexander waved to Senci, who ambled over and tugged at Wurie’s armor.

“He’s right!” The kobold exclaimed, excited as ever, “You’re doing great! Everyone here looks up to you!”

Wurie smiled. “Ah, Senci...thanks, ya rascal.” The captain patted the kobold on the head. “I bet your old teacher would be proud of you.” Senci bashfully glanced to the side, looking embarrassed, but happy.

“Senci, we’re gonna go on an expedition. Check out some possible paths to the Blackheart.”

Senci nodded. “You got it, sir knight! Seeya, Wurie!” Senci waved as he moved to follow the knight.

“Good luck!” Wurie yelled back.

“That was SO nice of you!” Senci exclaimed, walking alongside Alexander, “I’ve never seen him vulnerable like that, and you perked him right up! I always thought he was a big stick in the mud, but...he’s been bottling a lot of stuff up, apparently.”

Alexander shrugged. “In times like these, sometimes you just need someone to let you know you’re not alone.”

Senci stared at Alexander, grinning. “You remind me of master.”

“Hopefully I’ll meet him one day,” the knight returned, “He sounds like a right good man.”

“I bet you two would be like best friends!” Senci said excitedly, “You’d LOVE visiting our home back in Lannis. There’s a training room, and a library, and a game room! We talk, and read, and relax, and every Saturday, we have tea and cookies…”

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