#and the subsequent adventure they go through with the ghosts there | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ghostmath · 2 months ago

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actually you know what i’m going to start putting it here. if all i’m writing right now is neopets fanfic then that’s simply what all of you are going to have to see. or scroll past, according to your desire. anyway here’s my two-chapter short story (novelette??) about the aging Internet, the struggle to find a place for yourself in the grown-up world, and how nothing lasts forever, especially the things that felt like they would when you were a kid. It’s also about ghosts. obviously

MOVING PARTS: Part One

(Part Two here)

GIVING UP THE GHOST

Neopian Adventurers Must Adapt to Changing Times or Be Buried With History

by Corey Copperbottom, Neopian Times correspondent

NEOPIA CENTRAL — A long, long time ago, an especially unusual Neopian Times article was penned by an especially unusual predecessor of mine, one Tanya Deanyn. Justifiably regarded as something of a sensationalist in her day, Deanyn had made it her mission to scout the next big adventure hero (bear in mind, this was before the discovery of several now well-trodden locales such as Geraptiku and Moltara, and certainly before the well-publicized budget cuts earlier this year forced the Defenders of Neopia to shutter its doors) and subsequently use the platform afforded to her by the Neopian Times to skyrocket her champion (and presumably herself as well) to fame and glory. Why she picked a scrawny, ghost-hunting teenaged Shoyru��barely out of high school and with all the charisma of an Almost Gummy Rat (Grape)—remains a mystery to this day. And as it’s now been several years since anyone at NT Headquarters last heard a peep from Ms. Deanyn, it seems doubtful anyone will be solving that particular mystery soon, if ever.

But mystery was an inescapable part of life back then. Deanyn’s “Ghostchaser” stories—pulpy tales precipitated from the chemical reaction between a quirky ghost-hunting youth and a mediocre writer with ambition so inexhaustible and gloriously out of proportion with the scope of her work that it frequently approached megalomania—passed for journalism because they were exactly what the average Neopian wanted to read with their morning cup of joe. In that changing world, where the unexpected lurked around every corner, people wanted to know that there was someone out there keeping them safe. Tanya Deanyn’s work was moderately popular. For a while, Kiyoshi Paco, Deanyn’s eponymous “Ghostchaser”, became a household name.

Then the market crashed.

Almost overnight, the jobs dried up. Danger and mystery are expensive, and citizens learned to be safe, rather than sorry. Suspected pirate hideouts were demolished, city walls got taller. Royal mages were called in to cast anti-ghost charms around settlements prone to haunting. Adventurers like Paco, who had until that point put food on their tables largely through charitable donations and the goodwill of those ordinary Neopians they ostensibly served to protect, found themselves in the difficult position of needing neopoints to survive but being incapable of earning them. Before young Paco fell off the map, records show he was making minimum wage as a clerk at the Guild of Explorers headquarters here in Neopia Central. What became of him after his scant five months of employment there came to an abrupt end is unknown, because he never again achieved anything worth reporting.

And he’s certainly not the only would-be hero to suffer this ignoble decline in relevancy. Around the globe, that old image of the classic adventurer—his grin roguish and his collar popped as he fearlessly charts a course through the unknown—has faded from the minds of modern Neopians. The current generation is more likely to know Jake the Explorer from a cereal box than they are to recall the legendary jungle adventures that made him the early face of the Guild of Explorers in the first place. For what is there left unknown that’s even worth knowing? Does the discovery of the tomb of some long-dead king in the Lost Desert help me run my tax-filing business in Shenkuu? Will the temporary banishment of a ghost from a house in Neovia lower my rent in Neopia Central?

As a society we have well and truly moved beyond the childish need for adventurers to come and save us, and it’s high time we admit that—lest we fall victim all over again to some opportunistic new “reporter” who’s just a couple coconuts shy of a coconut shy.

After all, everyone has to grow up someday—even ghost hunters.

One of the last holdouts of adventure was, of course, the Guild of Explorers, whose venerable headquarters stood near Neopia Central’s old town centre on emerald green lawns that were just a touch overgrown, its huge double doors flanked by marble columns whose numerous nicks and scuffs were only noticeable on close inspection. It was within the hallowed halls of this prestigious institution that a split Aisha named Tyra Magena was spending a pleasant summer evening enjoying a small adventure of her own.

“This will be the end of exploration as we know it!”

The Aisha responded to the heated declaration with practiced nonchalance, letting her hands slide down along the burnished wooden edges of her lectern until her arms were fully extended, framing the roughly brick-shaped metal gadget on display. Her expression was perfectly calibrated to convey a sort of dignified indulgence as she peered over the top of the device at the belligerent Tuskaninny in the first row. He was on his feet (so to speak), his angrily puffed red cheeks making him look very much like some variety of freshly boiled seafood.

“Mr. Blom, as we have discussed at many other points in this series,” said Tyra, “Exploration will live on as long as we explorers live on to do it. My invention will keep all of us alive longer, so we can spend more time doing just that.”

Scoffs and retorts broke out across the packed lecture hall.

“This conversation is going nowhere! I can’t believe the Guild is still humouring this ludicrous proposal!” Mr. Blom the Tuskaninny whipped his head around, appealing to the blue Kougra seated at the moderator’s desk next to Tyra. “Jake old boy, I beg of you. Put an end to this sham and send this deceitful technophile back to her evil lab.”

“The Guild reminds all members that personal attacks are not tolerated in the course of an academic debate,” Jake intoned, spinning a pen between his fingers absently. “Your concerns have been noted, Mr. Blom, but as this is an open forum, you must remember that not everyone here shares them. A portable communicator like one being presented by Ms. Magena would make many of your fellow explorers feel safer in the field.”

“That’s right! Some of us aren’t as young as we used to be!” shouted a grey-bearded Ogrin near the back of the hall. “If I fall into a pit trap and can’t get up again, I should jolly well like to be able to call for a lift!”

“Have we really gotten so soft?” A grizzled Skeith a few rows away had twisted around on the bench so she could shake her walking stick menacingly in the Ogrin’s direction. “Back in my day, we’d fall into three pit traps before breakfast on most adventures! And we’d like it.”

“Maybe that’s why your joints sound like Scarblade’s hull every time you move!”

“The Guild reminds all memb—“

“Peril builds character!”

A clear but pleasant voice spoke up. “I think we’re all being a little selfish.”

At once, the bickering died out, and a sheepish silence fell over the hall as all eyes turned to a young spotted Lupe at the end of the first row. With her wildly curled orange hair and bright, earnest expression, she made a striking impression that seemed to effortlessly command the respect of the other guild members. She closed the notebook she had been writing in, wholly unbothered by the sudden attention on her as she continued, “The whole point of a guild is to connect as many different people as possible under a common goal, isn’t it? We’re all very different people, it’s just silly to assume we’re all going to agree on something like this. We all have our preferred tools and techniques for exploring, and Tyra’s comm would just be one more option. No one’s forcing you to use one.”

“Well said, Aley,” said Jake after a moment’s silence. “As usual. We’d all do well to remember that the point of this series is to generate conversation about the applications of technology for the modern adventurer, not to debate the validity of the technology itself.”

“How do we even know it will work?” demanded Mr. Blom. The colour of his face had become marginally less alarming, but he still stood, now pointing accusingly at the silvery brick on Tyra’s lectern. “If we pin all our hopes on some little box that runs out of batteries right when we need it, we’ll be worse off than if we never had it at all!”

“Tyra wouldn’t do that,” Aley said. “If she says it’s gonna work, it’s gonna work.”

Jake sighed. “Once again, Mr. Blom, our speaker’s credentials are not up for debate. Ms. Magena’s expertise speaks for itself. Many people in attendance tonight, including Aley and myself, have used her inventions before and can attest to the reliability of her workmanship.” He removed his fedora, running his hands through his hair. “Anyway, as far as I’m concerned, so long as this technology takes a support role to the people actually doing the exploring, I’m all for it. Adventure should be about challenging yourself, I agree—using all your senses to experience everything the world has to offer. But you can only do that if you’re not spending all your time worrying about getting lost, or hurt, or worse. Let’s face it. Guild enrollment is down, and it gets lower every year. Anything that gets more people out there is a good thing in my books.”

Tyra nodded, speaking up. “And remember, the specific device being presented here is just a prototype. It’s perfectly functional already, but it’s only one example of the kind of utility technology could bring to our discipline.”

“Not to keep kicking a dead Whinny about it,” drawled a rugged-looking Island Shoyru with his boots propped up on the back of the row in front of him. “But there shouldn’t be a buffer between an explorer and the unknown. Call me old-fashioned if you want. But adventure with convenience is just tourism.” Murmured noises of agreement followed his remark, but Jake cut them off.

“I can see we’ve reached the end of any productive discourse for tonight, so let’s leave it there,” the Kougra said, putting on his hat as he rose. “As a reminder, this series continues tomorrow night at 6, when we’ll all have the distinct honour of going through this all over again. Thank you for your time once more, Ms. Magena.” He strode across to her and shook her hand to scattered applause, although an equally audible rumble of frustrated muttering filled their ears as the attendees began to shuffle back through the tiered seating towards the exits.

“Sick of us yet?” Jake asked her under the commotion.

“Are you kidding?” Tyra flashed him a grin as she stacked her papers and grabbed her prototype comm from the lectern. “I live for this.”

On her way out through the darkened foyer, she was unsurprised and a little smug to see Mr. Blom lurking near the open front doors, looking agitated. At the first sight of her, he pounced.

“How many lectures has it been now, Magena? How many more until you’re satisfied?” A string of spittle swung from his mustache, glittering in the moonlight. “Are you trying to punish us for something?”

“Mr. Blom,” Tyra said with a dramatic sigh. “It’s 10:30. This lecture was supposed to wrap up over an hour ago. Go home.”

The Tuskaninny moved to block her path. “I think you want us to fall apart. You’re trying to make us fail like you and your little Ghostchasers gang failed all those years ago. Oh yes, there’s no point in denying it. We know all about it. Don’t you read the Neopian Times?”

“Yes, and there’s very little I enjoy doing less,” Tyra said, sidestepping Mr. Blom while he continued to bluster and froth.

“Don’t walk away from the truth, Magena!” he yelled after her, even as she started down the steps outside. “You haven’t heard the last from me!”

“I’m counting on it,” she called back over her shoulder. It’s what’s paying my rent.

Kiyoshi was just getting to Thyme when he heard keys at the door.

“Hey,” Tyra’s greeting sounded especially tired tonight. She stepped into the apartment and slung her briefcase down on the chair by the door, then looked around and blinked. “Wow,” she said. “Did you clean up in here again?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess,” the Shoyru replied absentmindedly. He fished out the jar that he’d just spotted hiding behind the nearly-full spice rack and scanned its label, which proudly declared its contents to be Cinnamon!. Suddenly overwhelmed by the cruel machinations of destiny, he groaned, sinking into the bar stool and surrendering his head to the oblivion offered by his arms.

Through the depths of his despair, he was vaguely aware of Tyra coming closer, then stopping when she was in front of the kitchen island he’d spent the last hour labouring away at.

“Kiyoshi,” came Tyra’s voice after a couple of seconds. “Are you alphabetizing my spice rack?”

“It didn’t work,” he said wretchedly, lifting his head just enough to cast a withering glare upon the jar clutched in his fist. He used it to gesture at the top row of the spice rack, where the neatly organized little jars had indeed failed to preserve even the slimmest space in their lineup that might now accommodate their fallen brethren Cinnamon!. “It’s okay. I’ll start over.” And with that, he grimly began the process of removing the jars from the rack.

“I don’t even cook,” Tyra said. “You know that.”

“I didn’t have anything else to do. I finished the bookshelf earlier today.”

“The… which one?” Tyra said, dumbfounded.

“Oh. The last one. All of them.”

It’s going to take me years to figure out where anything is, Tyra thought, but managed to calm her voice before she spoke again. “Kiyoshi, you really don’t have to do any of this.”

“I‘m not doing anything else,” he mumbled, focussing on his domain of spices.

Tyra slid onto the stool next to him. “Did you ever meet up with that girl with the haunted swimming pool?”

“Yeah,” Kiyoshi said without looking at her. “False alarm. It was a setup for her podcast.”

“Another podcast?”

“She said she’d pay me in exposure. Like I need any more of that.”

Tyra struggled to think of something to say. “There’s gotta be a legitimate haunting somewhere in Neopia Central. One of these days someone will really need you.”

“The one time there was actually a ghost, the ghost was in on it too.”

“Kiyoshi—“

“Those paint brushes should be illegal.”

“Kiyoshi, it’s not your fault that people aren’t being honest with you.”

“But it is my fault for not being honest with myself.” The jar of Cinnamon! rolled off the counter and clattered to the floor. “If people don’t need a professional ghost hunter anymore, that’s fine. That’s good, actually. But I need to be able to move on with the rest of the world. I thought if I could keep that job at the Guild of Explorers, at least that’s kind of related to something I’m almost good at, but…” He shrugged his shoulders heavily, slumping onto the countertop again.

“They didn’t deserve you,” Tyra said automatically, but Kiyoshi’s wings curled around him further and she immediately knew it had been the wrong thing to say. By all the light of Fyora, she was bad at this.

“I just feel bad staying here for free,” Kiyoshi mumbled.

“You paid the whole rent for like the first three months after you sold your neohome,” Tyra said firmly.

“And then never again.”

“Yeah, but you can’t help it if the neohome market is abysmal. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. My parents are still paying half my rent, even after all the times I’ve asked them to stop.” She shrugged. “I’m probably making more than them at this point, with all the honorariums I’m getting from the GOE. Seriously. Don’t worry about the rent. Besides, I’m happy you’re here. You’re a good roommate, and a good friend.”

He looked up. “I am glad you’re doing well, at least.” He gave her a small smile. “One of the three of us had to be successful.”

“I think Jeri qualifies as successful,” Tyra said, remembering how the final member of their old ghostchasing party balked at the prospect of a steady job with the Guild of Explorers and ran away to Krawk Island with his old treasure-hunting partner Aidne, “if getting as far away from a desk job as possible counts as his measure of success, which I think it does.”

She hopped off her stool to pick up the Cinnamon! “I know this is going to sound ungrateful,” she said. “But for what it’s worth, I still don’t really feel successful. There’s so much more I could be doing with this tech. I hate feeling like I’m not allowed to take it as far as I know I can.”

Kiyoshi sat up a little, studying her. “NaKaranth?”

Tyra sighed. “Yeah.”

Tyra’s first communicator—the clunky original that she had taken on countless excursions over the years, that had gotten their old team out of countless scrapes—had been a collaboration between herself and an unusually sociable Alien Aisha named NaKaranth. He had scavenged the components for her comm from space junk he found floating around the Virtupets station. Without his help, she would never have been able to build anything like it, and NaKaranth knew it. His people had rules about the dispersal of advanced technology to Neopians, rules that she had consistently persuaded him to bend in her favour. But her plans to mass-produce and distribute a smaller version of her own comm had definitely crossed a line. Even though (as she had attempted to explain to him) the inner workings of her prototypes were ‘paraphrased’ and not ‘transcribed’ from the original comm, the situation had stressed the Alien out enough that he had jumped planet and returned to the Homeworld. He once mentioned that some of the snoopier Homeworlders had started asking questions about her, but at the time she had stupidly internalized it as a compliment.

So now here she was: tiptoeing along on an annoyingly short leash that she couldn’t bring herself to break. She hadn’t talked to NaKaranth in over a year but she still found that she was unable to fully dive in and explore the comm to its fullest potential—somehow knowing that if she did, she wouldn’t be able to stop herself, and the already strained threads of their friendship would be torn beyond any hope of repair.

Tyra realized that Kiyoshi was still watching her. To stop herself from feeling self-conscious, she said suddenly, “Do you ever feel like your whole life has just been packing for a trip you haven’t taken yet?”

Kiyoshi swivelled his stool back and forth, laughing a little. “I’ve often felt the train could hurry up a little, yeah.”

“Very inconsiderate of it to leave us waiting at the station all these years.”

“It’s like. If this is the real world everyone told us we needed to be a part of, why is it so hard to find anywhere we fit?”

Tyra sighed. She placed the Cinnamon! randomly on the third shelf of the spice rack, which made Kiyoshi frown. She propped her elbows on the counter and leaned back languidly. “We’ll get there eventually. We both will. Me? I just need to have a stroke of genius and find the perfect battery for my comm, and then it’ll be smooth sailing.” She made a half-hearted pantomime of a boat sailing by with her hand.

Kiyoshi seemed unconvinced, but interested. “What, um. What do you need for the battery?”

Tyra rolled her shoulders. “The original comm has this big crystal wired into it that feeds into every system in the machine. NaKaranth called it Zigzagium and I still don’t know if he was lying. But I can’t get more of it anyway, so I have to find a substitute. The placeholder battery I’ve got in the prototype is…” Tyra considered her words. “Bad. Like, really bad. It needs to be plugged in every few hours to recharge. Ask me how well I think that would go over with the Guild if they found out.”

“Could you use magic somehow? Is that weird?” Kiyoshi said abruptly.

Tyra laughed, but Kiyoshi pressed on, even as his cheeks flushed. “I mean. I know I don’t know anything about magic, but you’ve been studying it on the side, haven’t you? I don’t think Alien Aishas can do magic, so maybe it’s something only you could think of? Can you even combine magic and technology, or is there like. Some cosmic rule against it?”

“No, it’s a good idea,” Tyra said. “I’ve been thinking about it. But it’s tricky. The more complicated the solution, the less likely it is that it’ll work. The new comms are so small, there’s no space for any extraneous parts. Every single one of them needs to be the perfect match for the job it’s meant to do. And if I’m going to try working magic into it, I barely even know where to begin. I’ve got this whole list of materials and reagents I’d like to try experimenting with somewhere along the line, but I haven’t really had a chance to go out and buy any of them yet.” She yawned. “These stupid lectures are eating up all my time. Prepping the lectures, delivering the lectures, staying to give witness reports after the lectures…”

“Can I see it?”

She looked at him blearily. “The witness reports?”

“The list,” said Kiyoshi. He was sitting up straight now, eyes brighter than Tyra had seen them in a long time. “Can I borrow it?”

Tyra blinked at him, then rummaged around in an inner pocket of her lurid green overcoat until she found a crumpled piece of note paper. “I guess you can,” she said hesitantly, “but listen, Kiyoshi, don’t worry about it. I can get this stuff myself. It’s my problem anyway. I just need to stop losing track of time in my workshop, and be better about sticking to my schedule, and maybe start waking up a little earlier…”

She didn’t remember closing her eyes, but the next time she opened them with a start that nearly had her slipping off her stool, Kiyoshi was standing in front of her, already holding the tattered list in his hand.

“Tyra,” he pleaded. “For the love of Fyora please let me do this for you.”

The first few items on the list were easy enough, but by noon the next day, Kiyoshi started running into problems.

“Angelpi don’t lay eggs, and even if they did, I wouldn’t give you one!” snapped the green Usul at the Petpet Shop, clambering onto a stepstool to toss a handful of seeds into the cage of squawking Pawkeets that hung over the checkout counter.

“They don’t?” Kiyoshi said uncertainly, but only the excited screeches of the Pawkeets answered him. The Angelpuss on the counter tottered over and rubbed against his hand. He scratched it under its chin and it purred contentedly. “Then where do baby Angelpi come from?”

The Usul hopped down from the stepstool and snatched up the Angelpuss, which yowled indignantly. “They come from the Petpet Shop,” she said acidly. “Which, I’ll remind you, is the name of the business, my business, that you decided to wander into and monopolize with your weird questions. If you’re not here to buy a petpet, then scram. Your sloppy clothes and bad vibes are upsetting the petpets.” She pointed sharply at the Pawkeets.

Kiyoshi wondered if the vibes that could do anything but upset the Pawkeets had even been discovered by modern science. He glanced at the list and decided to try again. “Do you sell Puppyblew tails?”

“OUT.”

Back out on the bustling, sun-warmed streets of Neopia Central, Kiyoshi grumbled to himself. “Why is everything to do with magic so inherently suspicious…”

He glanced down at the list. Still a good few things to check for, and there were plenty of neopoints left in his belt pouch from what Tyra had given him. So next on the list was…

“Egg hot dog,” Kiyoshi said to himself, shoving the note back in his coat pocket. A couple of shoppers casually gave him an extra wide berth as they hurried past. “Okay.”

Just outside of Neopian Fresh Foods, a clamour from inside the store stopped Kiyoshi in his tracks. More yelling, followed by a crash. He had just taken a hesitant step towards the sun-faded flyers plastered all over the front of the cheeseburger-shaped building, when the front doors swung open and a greenish-blue figure came flying out at him. The Shoyru gave a choked gasp and stumbled backwards as that someone collided directly with him, then went straight through, instantly freezing the air in his lungs. For Kiyoshi, the sensation of the ghost passing through his body was as familiar as the reflex that had his hand reaching for his slingshot before he remembered with a pang that he had left it back at Tyra’s place.

While the Shoyru wheeled, catching his breath, an enormous jar of purple baby food came soaring out the front doors, falling short of the streaking tail of the ghost and exploding on the sidewalk near Kiyoshi’s feet. As the ghost vanished through the wall of a nearby shop, the Chia shopkeeper came stomping out of the food store, nearly knocking Kiyoshi into the crash site of broken glass and purple goop as he did so.

“And STAY OUT!” the Chia hollered after the ghost, shaking the handle of a broom in the air, although not a trace of the figure remained. The Chia glared at the wall the ghost had passed through, then jammed his chef’s hat back onto his head and marched back into his shop.

Speechless, Kiyoshi glanced around at the other Neopians on the street and was again taken aback to see most of them already recovering, murmuring to each other in unconcerned tones and shrugging their shoulders before they continued on to their destinations. Kiyoshi glanced one more time at the wall where the ghost had vanished, then spun on his heel and caught the door of the food shop before it could close.

“Wait!” he said, staggering into the store and almost slipping on some of the baby food that had apparently gotten under his shoe. He caught himself on a rack of bread products, struggling to catch the loaves before they tumbled to the floor. “Wait, what was that?”

The Chia turned around, his expression falling into a disapproving scowl as he glanced from the loaves bouncing out of Kiyoshi’s hands to the streaks of purple across the floor behind him. “That’s my own personal poltergeist, that’s what that is,” said the Chia shortly.

Kiyoshi’s shoes squeaked as he took a step forward. “That was a ghost, wasn’t it? A real, actual ghost?”

“Boy, you city kids sure don’t catch on quick, do ya?”

“You were chasing it away.”

“Well, obviously!”

“So it wasn’t a customer? Wasn’t just someone painted ghost for… for personal reasons?”

The Chia laughed incredulously, retreating behind his cash register and replacing his broom against the wall. “A customer? He doesn’t have any money! Not that it stops him from coming in every day and trying to buy the same blasted container of Flotsam Flakes over and over again!”

Kiyoshi’s mind whirred. “Every day?”

“Every day, same time, same jar of Flotsam Flakes! Been going on for months! I tell ya, I’m being pranked from beyond the grave! And he has the audacity to check his stupid see-through pockets every single time and act like he’s surprised he still doesn’t have the neopoints. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he didn’t even know he was a ghost!”

Kiyoshi slammed a handful of neopoints onto the counter with so much force the Chia jumped. Glancing suspiciously between Kiyoshi and the pile of coins, the shopkeeper said, “What’s this for?”

“Gimme a jar of Flotsam Flakes.”

#my writing #short story #ghostchasers #neopets #you dont need to know anything about my characters to read this btw. i am assuming you dont #and it is pretty specifically situated in Neopets Lore™ but you could probably understand most of it without knowing anything about neopets #please read it. especially if you too are an aging millennial who grew up on petsites and have a lot of complicated emotions about them

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cowlickers · 2 months ago

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Can I describe y’all my crazy video game idea? cool thanks sit down and it’s good probably gonna be a while. so the entire premise is this if this woman (doesn’t have a name yet) but The random moments of her morning she gets transported to a video game world, but the catch is it’s a series and every subsequent games of her going into a video game world in a particular gameplay style during a portion of her morning routine and I have such a vivid vision of what it’s like. She’s literally just trying to get ready to go to work, but she’ll immediately be in the shower and get transported into a platformer, but then when she finishes her adventure in the world and goes to cook herself some breakfast, she gets transported into an RPG when she goes to pick out her outfit, she could transport into a rogue like. Maybe when she goes to try to pick up her room, she could transport into a tower defense game. or if she goes to try to watch her favorite TV show she could transfer it into an ace attorney type game. or like if she goes to a gym, she gets transported into a fighting game. i’m conflicted on whether or not to decide to make the world that is changes styles. Every time she enters or have it be a completely different world that she gets sucked into I don’t know maybe there could be a set group of characters that dwell in that world who also change with the style of game I don’t think I would want it to be all one game that constantly change styles, because not only do I think that would be like incredibly technically impossible but I also would want to have a fully fleshed out game world for each of the style of game. and maybe the reason why all these things are happening is because her grandfather really liked the video games and wanted to share his passion with his granddaughter, but she really didn’t mess with the video games in that way and so when her grandpa died his ghost is just sharing all the games that he wanted her to play but the thing is she hates it because she doesn’t like video games but she then learns to love them because maybe in each separate game, she learned something new about her grandfather that she didn’t know, and she slowly starts to appreciate her grandfather after he’s gone. Oh my gosh forget about the pathos of why this game exists. I just thought of an incredibly cool way to introduce potential villain to the series. The game that introduced the villain is a mascot horror game like five nights at Freddy’s, or Poppy’s playtime. I know I’m kind of jumping around here in this post, but I also want to think that like with each different game that this character goes through her world gets changed just a tiny bit getting filled with like aspects of all the worlds like maybe she is physically stronger and faster after going through the platformer and RPG world maybe she just becomes a little bit more intelligent and good at problem-solving from the ace, attorney and puzzle game worlds. Maybe sometimes any companions that she meets in the world show up in the real world for her. All right if you’ve gotten through this far in my insane ramblings of this idea allow me to share with you the inspiration for this game and I don’t think you are fully ready for what I’m about to say the inspiration for this game is that one episode of Phineas and Ferb episode where Candice gets into a video game in a shot when she was showering. I was just thinking to myself man that would really freaking suck if you were in a mundane situation, and then just got zapped into a magical video game world and have to complete it in order to get back to your normal life. all of that from one episode of Phineas and Ferb.

Honestly, the shit that I come up with sometimes

#game idea #ideas #game development #game design #text post #gaming #video games

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tritoch · 6 months ago

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post-dawntrail miscellaneous wishlist

just some thoughts, spoilers for all of dawntrail

i need at least a little more for the WoL to do (i don't actually think we're the wol anymore tbh i think we're The Adventurer which is a terrible name they should replace ASAP), especially with whoever the antagonist is. this doesn't have to be big i'm fine with just a coouple dialogue options, it's boring not to have any relationship to a lot of the world and particularly to the antagonists. when sphene is like "i kept you here because the program decided you were the best combatant" i was like oh okay :\ and they didn't really do enough with her and you to justify your flashbacks and subsequent line imo.

i want to fight alongside bakool ja ja. please. i wanted him or koana to come to zone 6 instead of g'raha soooooo bad.

i want more kingship and rulership shit with wuk lamat. i think that stuff is fun and i think her arc going from "we should befriend all peoples!" to "my duties as vow of resolve require that i systematically murder (ghost-murder?) all your subjects, and i'm sorry for that." was really really well done. they've signaled the nascent political conflict of "hey you just installed your nephew as our king, killed our former rulers, and then claimed regency...?" will be a part of things going forward and i think that will be fun.

going forward i want the scions either Mostly Gone or Fully Present. i thought g'raha and estinien were used best in this expansion, followed by y'shtola and thancred and urianger, and i thought the twins were pretty ill-served. i also thought it was a glaring issue that we had no turali on our team aside from their princess/queen, and would've liked to pick up a team member from xak tural (not the cowboy kid, it'd need to be a different archetype).

more character interplay in general is needed. wuk lamat is too much of a centralizing hub in this expansion for the character interactions (you have more of a relationship with koana through her than you do to koana directly, that kind of thing), and we were sorely lacking in banter between members of wuk lamat's team.

more erenville. that dude has PROBLEMS.

#ffxiv #dawntrail spoilers #meta: durai report

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guthrie-odonto · 1 year ago

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Chapter 3 still hasn't been released yet, which can only mean one thing... we can still speculate and have fun ideas as to who the fan-favorite Secret Skrunkly Boss™ will be! In my case, I have a mix of multiple common theories: The runningest, rip-roarin'est raptor this side of the Pixos, Chonery the Cowboy! (pronounced similar to "Connor" and "canary")

Once the beloved star of a simultaneous kids show and computer/video game (think like Dora the Explorer but inverse/a video game would be seen as a show in the dark world), Chonery even knew Ralsei at one point, the two being good friends and going on all sorts of fun adventures before Ralsei ended up leaving for his princely duties in a way, Chonery was the Chara/Kris to Ralsei's Asriel.... One day, Chonery would be told by some stranger (through mail, like how some shows would have fan mail segments) that their show would come to an end, as cowboy shows tend to go. At first, they just saw it as a chance to give one final great perfomance and proudly watch as his successors carried on in their role. But...

Nobody came...

Nobody did anything with them, no director/screenwriter/controller gave any commands, nothing was done with the sets he once performed on, nobody even came back for props. Eventually, the mysterious entity they had been in contact stopped writing to them, his last note being about the truth of this world paired with a shadow crystal and a poncho constructed from pure darkness, information so core-rattling that it left literal scars on their eyes. Being left alone without a spotlight, without light, without anything more than darkness for so long, cursed with the so-called freedom of abandonment beyond their control, even their color left them; but that's just how cowboy shows are... right? The one place they ended up finding solace in was the deep caverns of the fossil mines and the remains found within. Might not seem like the place for a spunky buckeroo to be in, but perhaps they saw a bit of themselves in the extinct creatures after all, they were certain that they too were a Goner.... And besides. If a canary sings in a mineshaft and nobody is around to hear it... why would it mean that there's something wrong?

Then, after the dark fountain that had been seeded was opened, Chonery noticed that some visitors had shown up in his little ghost town. Not just any visitors, but genuine, bonafide lightners! It wasn't enough to completely bounce them back, but the sight of Lighters of all entities visiting their little patch of NOTHING was enough to bring some hue to Chonery's shaded face. And if that wasn't enough, his old friend "Rip-Roaring Rally" subsequently arrived, having detected the dark presence that had been spawned in the Dreemurr household. After being filled in on the situation, Chonery even volunteered to join the party as someone who knows the ins and outs of this particular dark world as well as being just as knowledgeable on matters of darkness and lore as Ralsei (in battle, Chonery and Ralsei would act together as a single party member). And what's more, they didn't even ask for anything in return, not even a chance to get the airtime they'd gone so long without it's not like a dead bud walking such as themselves had any reason to breathe anymore. But Chonery would have an idea for a project he'd make for the fun gang, one that they suggest Kris and the player could help out on by obtaining the six power cathodes split amongst the two big factions of the dark world, the gangs led by Mike and Tenna respectively. This, of course, is the buildup for the secret boss fight, but it was also... oh, it was an idea. a great idea.

It was a simply WONDERFUL IDEA.

for some meta, behind the scenes notes: Chonery (a portmanteau of Chara, Goner, Flowey, and canary–as in "canary in a coal mine") is obviously a mix of Chara and Flowey in allusions, paralleling how Ralsei was in Chapter 1 and being the Ralsei version of Chara. (doesn't hurt that it means they have eye scars that match Photoshop Flowey and look like a face in the Memoryhead enemy from Undertale) In addition, they also draw on the popular cowboy/woody theory, with the video game aspect being from the sonic theory crafted by @right-brain-left-brain as well as the semi-common idea that the chapter 3 secret boss could be inspired by how Asriel had an attachment to Yoshi and felt enough guilt over pulling the "Yoshi down the pit" trick to confess to it in church–hence why they're specifically a raptor (plus it fits the sonic angle because what's more 90s and cool than a dinosaur?) Also, the secret bosses all have some kind of speech quirk (Jevil's repetition, Spamton's advertisment interruptions) and have actual voice lines somewhere, so what'd those be for lil' ol' Chonery here? They'd be both. That's right, instead of a written speech quirk, all their dialogue would come with voice acting (almost as if they're capable of not just speaking to Kris and the others, but to the player). As for what object they're formed from: The trashed flowers from Asgore? The bootleg video game controller? Kris' feelings of the once-happy (or at least relatively stable) state of the Dreemurr family overall, now a shadow of what it used to be? Who's to say.

Even with all their knowledge on the truth of this world and what darkners become in the light world, Chonery isn't so sure themselves...

#I suppose they could also have holes in their hands like LBRB said for the Gaster/Mystery Man design trait #Just here they've come to mournful terms with the percieved fact that freedom is an impossibility if not a lie-unable to be held #amber's post #my art #deltarune #deltarune chapter 3 #deltarune oc #secret boss #flowey #woody theory #sonic theory #deltarune theory #yes I'm doing Utahraptor Susie; bite me

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angelofrainfrogs · 1 year ago

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Going Back: Ch. 1

~Coauthored by @zeitghest~

Fandom(s): Five Nights At Freddy’s: Security Breach

Description: Things are looking up for Gregory. After putting the soul of a formerly-immortal killer to rest, he and his new family can finally begin their lives anew. Sure, Gregory might have been cursed with mysterious Remnant in exchange for being involved in this mess—not to mention his caretakers consist of sentient robots and ghosts… But there’s no doubt that the bond they share is unbreakable. They love him, and he in turn.

All in all, life is finally starting to go right for once.

…Unfortunately, true peace is a hard-won battle. There are other things to contend with besides William’s decrepit soul, and Gregory will learn that his role in the lives of the Aftons and Emilys is far greater than anyone could’ve imagined.

Rating: T

Read on Ao3

Hello and welcome! :) This is Part 2 of The Wires that Bind Us Series; although you don’t have to read the first part to enjoy this fic, it’s highly recommended to help contextualize the plot of this story and others moving forward. Here’s a quick summary of prior events:

While hiding out in the Pizzaplex, Gregory is discovered by Glamrock Freddy and an old animatronic known as The Puppet. Turns out the robots aren’t all they seem—possessed by children of Fazbear Entertainment’s original founders, Gregory winds up involved in a quest with Charlie Emily and Michael Afton to take down the digitized but still murderous soul of William. Along with some help from other spirits that linger in the burned-up diner down below, they managed to extract William from the Glamrock Bonnie suit he was using as a new body and trap him in a video game, which they subsequently destroyed.

The journey wasn’t easy, though. Along the way Gregory was injected with Remnant, the full ramifications of which are still unknown. What he is sure of however is that through the trauma he’s gained a new family that cares for him better than anyone—including a dad in the form of Glamrock Freddy. You see, human souls are a powerful thing; when bonded to an animatronic they can leave a lasting impression. Thanks to Henry Emily’s fantastic engineering, Charlie, Michael, and Freddy were able to possess lifelike androids to start their lives over anew.

Where we left off in Part 1, the quartet had just left the Pizzaplex to head for a nearby hotel and get some rest after their adventure.

***

It's going back, back, back, back They've been through this before It's going back, back, back, back The final page of the lore The sound of cheer The need for fear The souls of the kids are free Rewind the tears

~Going Back by Kyle Allen Music~

It was a fairly large hotel. It made Charlie wonder how many people visited this town nowadays, what with the Mecca of Fazbear Entertainment standing tall and proud as its most notable landmark. Last she checked, this town had a population of a little over 10,000. Not a whole lot, but not a small number by any means. Sammy's draw of tourists had done wonders for the family businesses.

“We should order room service as soon as we check in. Gregory's going to need to build his strength back with something that isn't a pizza-flavored slushee,” Charlie pointed out, waiting before crossing the street. While she was sure Freddy knew not to linger in the road, Charlie grasped onto his free hand regardless to make sure he and Gregory were still trailing along.

The parking lot looked pretty full, and they approached with only Michael's shopping bag of clothes as their luggage. At the front desk, popping gum in his mouth sat a concierge manager typing things into the computer, digits nimbly pounding away at the keys.

“Be with you in a moment!” the overworked college student called, finishing his email. Getting up from the desk and walking towards the quartet, he put on his best customer service smile. “What can I do for you folks?”

Despite him never having interacted with another human outside the comparatively small bubble of the Pizzaplex, Freddy took it upon himself to respond. Beaming down at the young boy, he announced: “Hello! My family and I require a room to stay in—preferably one with 'room service,' as we are quite hungry.”

Michael bit back a groan. God, he could see it now—he thought catching Charlie up to speed with things would take a while, but it seemed like Freddy was going be the biggest problem. Quickly stepping in, Mike moved in front of the redhead to catch the concierge's attention.

“Sorry, ignore my—uncle. He’s... not from around here,” Michael said, reaching into his pocket to retrieve Sam’s wallet. Offering the boy an apologetic smile, he clarified: “We need a room for four people, at least 5 nights with the possibility of an extended stay. It doesn't have to the biggest; we don't mind sharing beds. Just preferably no smaller than queen-sized—two kings would be great, if you have it.”

“Do you guys have ping-pong or air hockey here?” Charlie asked, officially overloading the poor kid with too many questions.

His eyes flicked between the three of them, blinking. “Uh... Y-Yes! Yep, there's actually one available family vacation suite! That's a bathroom, two king beds with a kitchen and full amenities, too.”

The concierge leaned over and grabbed a pamphlet, handing it over to Charlie who presented it to the rest of the group.

“With room service, plus full spa, gym, and arcade access, that's about $250 a night,” he added, doing his best to answer all of their questions.

Charlie tried to hide her shock at how expensive things were. Sammy did say they could use his credit card on anything after all... And the room looked nice. Gregory deserved a good spot to be in and relax.

“We'll take it,” Michael said quickly, not in the mood to haggle. He was just happy they'd found something so spacious—he thought with all the cars in the parking lot, they'd have to settle for a simple room with just two beds, and a bathroom, maybe a couch if they were lucky. Though Sammy would probably appreciate a cheaper price, Mike knew he'd understand them wanting to indulge after so long being cooped up and handed over the credit card. “You can put the tab on here.”

Freddy, who'd only been exposed to the exorbitantly hyped-up prices in the Pizzaplex, had no frame of reference for what was considered expensive. He appreciated Michael taking charge, hanging back next to Charlie's side as Mike and the concierge moved to the front desk to get all their information and secure the room.

“Need anyone to take your luggage, Mr...?” the young man began to ask. Taking the credit card from the brunette, he couldn’t help but notice the distinctive name emblazoned on the metal rectangle.

Samuel Emily.

Anyone who lived in that area of Hurricane knew the Emilys. The boy then felt sort of stupid for not recognizing Mr. Emily's family—even if he couldn't quite recall ever seeing this group before.

“Nope! We don't have much,” Charlie responded, reassuring him with a grin. With that succinct answer, after charging the card the manager would put their names in as Emily for the time being.

“Uh—okay then, you’re all set! Here are your room keys, guys, and your recreational passes,” he explained, pointing to the number on the keycard. “Room service will call after 20 minutes; give you some time to get settled. Have a nice day, and enjoy your stay!”

“You have a wonderful day as well!” Freddy called over his shoulder as Michael firmly took his free hand and urged him towards the elevators.

Mike couldn't help but roll his eyes, a smile lifting his mouth at Freddy's endearing friendliness. At least that hadn't changed.

Before long they'd ridden the elevator up to the 7th floor and found themselves in front of room 717. The door opened with nothing more than a delicate press of the keycard against its sensor lock, and Michael led the way into the suite.

“Oh, hell yeah!” he exclaimed, staring around the room in wonder. True to the concierge's word, there was a little kitchen and sitting area at the end of the short entrance hallway they stood in.

Michael wasted no time kicking his shoes off, dropping the bag of clothes, and walking into the space, taking note of the two doors coming off of the sitting area that led to the bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom itself was shaped like an L and also had two doors so it could be accessed from either the bedroom or the main area, per whatever suited the guests' fancy. Michael spun in a slow circle, his arms spread out wide. “I can definitely get used to this place.”

Charlie had noticed on their way through the halls that things looked notably different from the last hotel she remembered staying in nearly fifty years ago. The style of interior design had changed from those homey patterns to something more minimalistic over the decades. Gone were the days of strange patterns and bright colored dishes, replaced by a more neutral palate. If asked, Charlie would argue and say that it seemed a lot more boring to look at.

But how could she really complain when their room had a flat television?

She was awestruck, and looked around Michael and Freddy at their temporary living space. It wasn't long before she found the bedroom and flung herself onto the nearest mattress. She sunk in almost immediately and stretched her arms out to the ceiling.

“It's like laying on a pile of angel hugs...,” Charlie groaned, feeling the stress she didn't know was in her back melt away the longer she reposed on the top of her bed's comforter. “Come on, Freddy! Put Gregory to bed and take a load off!”

While Michael went to explore the kitchenette and bathroom, Freddy followed after Charlie. At first Gregory didn't want to move, frowning as his father's warmth was suddenly taken away when Freddy detached the limp grip around his neck... Although this stopped as soon as Gregory felt the plush mattress underneath him. If they'd thought he was in deep sleep before, it was nothing compared to what the exhausted kid was about to experience as he instantly passed out again.

Freddy had set Gregory on the second bed, so in order not to disturb him he went over to where Charlie lay. He made sure to take his shoes off as he'd seen Michael do at the door, choosing not to comment on the fact that Charlie hadn't done so herself. She was clearly overwhelmed, and Freddy had to admit he was a bit stunned himself—not at the technology or the way anything looked, but simply for the fact that it was such a foreign environment to anything he was used to.

No longer would he have to enter “sleep mode” in a charging pod. Severely underestimating the cushiness of the comforter underneath him, Freddy promptly fell back onto the mattress with a surprised gasp, landing with his head on the pillow right next to Charlie's.

“Oh... this is very comfortable!” he commented with a laugh, turning his face towards her as he rested his hands on his stomach.

Charlie opened an eye, glancing over to Freddy as his weight shifted where she laid on the bed and rolled into her friend slightly. There, she would proceed to ask Freddy a question. “Have you ever actually slept before?”

Surely, sleep mode was similar, Charlie thought. But could Freddy dream? That was the important question.

Gregory certainly dreamt. Looking over at the tiny kid curled in the middle of the mattress would tell you that instantly. He twitched every now and then, having an active dream—maybe one where he was running...

“It's really easy. You just close your eyes and stop thinking of anything,” Charlie guided. Though she always slept better with music, Charlie wouldn't be needing it tonight. The excitement and terror of one action-packed weekend was enough for Charlie's mind to cringe at the thought of staying awake any longer. While Charlie was a side sleeper, choosing to roll and face Freddy as she shut her eyes, Gregory was in a tightly wound ball, laying on his right side and holding himself as he dreamed.

“I have never truly slept as you have,” Freddy replied, then listened to Charlie's instructions. He soon shut his eyes as well, staring at nothing but blackness.

And then he waited.

And waited.

He tried to think of nothing, but in doing so he was thinking about not thinking, which put Freddy in a catch-22. Still keeping his eyes closed, his brow furrowed slightly as he asked: “How do you... think of nothing?”

“You just don't,” Michael piped up unhelpfully, appearing in the doorway. Their one bag of clothes was slung over his shoulder again as he leaned casually against the frame, observing his family either passed out or on the verge of doing so. He too needed a rest, but first he really wanted to take a nice, hot shower and wash off all the gunk and grime from the past few days.

“Here, I found the room service menu on the coffee table,” he said, throwing the laminated booklet towards the bed where it landed next to Charlie's back. “I'm going to take a shower—you guys can handle it if they call, right?”

It was a simple task, answering the phone and giving them an order Gregory might like to eat, but Freddy and Charlie's unfamiliarity with everything made Michael a bit nervous—especially since the only one besides him who could help looked like she’d already drifted off.

To Mike’s surprise, Charlie opened her eyes to look at him standing across the room. With a grin, she reclined her arms behind her head. With the sheer technological advances of these androids’ existence, she was sure her father designed them to be waterproof. Even so, she was glad Michael seemed more than ready to test it out first.

“Sure,” Charlie replied with a shrug. “Don't worry so much; we'll be fine. We'll order Gregory something simple and a few other things for the room. By the way, if you happen to figure out if these android bodies need to use the bathroom, could you give me a heads-up?”

Charlie was half-joking. She hadn't exactly had the urge to go, but she couldn't help thinking about all that food she ate. It must go somewhere, right? Or maybe it just gets burned to make fuel inside her?

Charlie felt like the only thing these robotic forms were missing was an instruction manual...

“Will do,” Michael replied with a roll of his eyes. He fished around in the bag for a new set of dark wash jeans and tank top, this one black with a simple neon logo for The Fazbear Band emblazoned on the front. New outfit obtained, Mike dropped the bag on the floor and headed to the bathroom.

Like Charlie, he had a suspicion that their bodies were converting things they ate into fuel. How, he had no idea—that was another question for Henry the next time they met up.

After locking the bathroom doors, Michael was quick to throw off his dirty clothes, cringing at the messy pile on the floor they made. The group would definitely need to do a shop outside the Pizzaplex to invest in other items besides shirts and pants…

Michael wanted to take the hottest shower he could physically stand, letting the burning water eat away at his years of tightly-wound anxiety. However, he also didn’t want to damage any internal systems in this robotic body, so he opted for a temperature best described as “pleasantly warm.” As he scrubbed the dried blood out of his hair, he could feel his stress going down the drain right along with the crimson water.

While Michael commandeered the bathroom, Freddy and Charlie perused the room service menu.

“What do you think Gregory will like?” Freddy asked, curious of her opinion. “I would prefer it to be somewhat healthy, if possible…”

“Healthy... Hm...” Charlie looked over the kids menu. It was recommended for children 12 and under, so that seemed appropriate for him. It couldn't hurt to get Gregory more than one thing, considering how fast that kid ate. She wondered if a growth spurt was right around the corner. “Okay, hear me out. We get him this peanut butter and jelly smoothie, plus the broccoli mac and cheese. And a pulled pork sandwich?”

Charlie was initially going to get him the chicken nuggets, but she was afraid it wouldn't be enough to hold him over until dinner. She figured it was also about time to get him back on a healthy eating schedule. Just then the phone rang, prompting Charlie to jump up and answer it before the incessant noise woke up Gregory.

“Think about something you want to eat, okay, Freddy?” she said, answering the phone in a sing-song tone before reciting their order so far. She was glad to see Gregory was still asleep, out like a light and dead to the world in the middle of his bed.

“Me?” Freddy blinked down at the menu. Right; in this body he should be able to consume food as well. He roamed over all the options, not afraid to admit with a small laugh: “It is a bit overwhelming, if I am honest!”

Still, Charlie was expecting an answer. Freddy would like to just try a bit of Gregory’s food—and he was sure the boy wouldn’t mind sharing with him—but he knew Gregory needed all of it to make up for the nutrition deficit he’d been suffering for far too long. He really was a tiny kid for 12 years old…

“I suppose I will try a cheeseburger?” Freddy said it as more of a question. Burgers were quite popular at the Pizzaplex and Freddy had always wondered what the fuss was about.

Charlie nodded, holding her hand over the receiver as she listened to Freddy's request. “One cheeseburger with all the fixin’s, please—uh, medium rare!”

She figured that was a safe bet. That’d been her dad’s usual order if she remembered correctly, so perhaps Freddy would like it, too.

“Could I also get a 24 piece basket of the hot wings, bone-in?” Charlie curled the phone cord around her fingers, walking back towards the living space as to not disturb Gregory. She thought for a moment of ordering champagne, then decided against it. It would be nice to celebrate, but knowing Gregory, he'd try to get into the bottle and drink some for himself. “20 minutes? Solid, thank you... Yep, you have a good day, too.”

Oh man, she was adjusting to talking to people again. After hanging up the receiver, Charlie quickly jumped back onto her side of the bed before reaching over and hugging Freddy.

“Dude—you're gonna love burgers,” she assured him, almost excited to watch Freddy take a bite from his first meal.

“I am eager to try one!” Freddy replied with a grin, maneuvering his arm from underneath Charlie to wrap it around her back. He held her loosely as she hugged onto his torso, thinking back on how far they’d come from their initial, confused meeting in the ball pit.

Despite the strange circumstances, even back then they’d gotten along perfectly, becoming fast friends in a matter of hours. Perhaps, subconsciously, they knew they were destined to stick together for a long time.

About five minutes after Charlie ended the phone call, Mike emerged from the bathroom. He looked fresh and clean, hair a wet, slightly wavy mess as he’d decided to give it a brief towel dry and let the air do the rest. He was quick to jump on the bed next to Charlie, smushing her into a sandwich between himself and Freddy.

“So, what are we talking about?” he asked cheerfully, completely inserting himself into whatever bonding time the others were having.

Freddy could only chuckle at this, understanding Michael’s want to be close to them even if he had an interesting way of showing it. After all he’d been through, it was refreshing—and relieving—for Freddy to see the man's true personality peek through without constant anxiety pushing it down.

“Oh, you know,” Charlie began, playfully nudging her old friend as he scooted in closer. “Just talking about how much you smell. Yikes, dude; you sure you actually stood under the water in there?”

She shot a grimace at Freddy, which lasted around half a second before Charlie burst into twinkling laughter. Ignoring Michael’s offended scoff, she told him: “I ordered both of us hot wings, by the way; hope you don't mind.”

It was a strange dynamic they all shared. From Charlie's almost reserved demeanor when they first met to her now openly involving Freddy when she clowned on her friend, the three of them had certainly come far. The days of hiding in backrooms and away from the light were over.

“Oh my god… hot wings?!” Michael draped himself over her shoulders with a dramatic gasp. “Charlie Emily, you know me so well.”

“I take it you are a fan of that dish?” Freddy laughed, watching as Charlie tried in vain to push away Michael’s dead weight as he practically rag-dolled on her, grinning all the while.

“That and a good old-fashioned burger; those were some of my favorites,” Michael replied, and Freddy’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise.

“Well, what a coincidence! Charlie ordered me a burger as well—you are more than welcome to have a bite.”

“I’m taking you up on that for sure.” Mike gave Freddy a rather lackluster thumbs, attention now focused on bothering Charlie. He had a lot of years to make up for, after all.

Charlie effectively had her arms pinned as Michael rolled over her, essentially using her as a pillow. He totally ignored her as she attempted to wiggle from beneath him while he had his conversation with Freddy, but without the use of her arms there was no throwing him off easily.

“Are you comfy yet?” she asked sarcastically. Squished lightly between her two friends, she managed to screw one arm out from under Mike and poke his ribs with a bony finger.

Gregory was beginning to stir at the sound of fun. It was the oddest thing, he felt as though he'd gotten a full night’s sleep—though he was sure it still couldn’t be that late in the day. He almost felt jealous as he watched his family interact without him, but there wasn’t anything to stay mad at. Gregory would get up slowly, hoping to get a drop on them and ambush his family where they all hung out casually on the bed.

“I was, until my pillow stabbed me in the ribs…,” Michael grumbled, finally rolling off Charlie to lay on his back. He scrunched one leg up, hooking the other over his knee as he locked his hands behind his head. He could definitely still use a legit rest, but the shower seemed to give him a small burst of energy—enough to have trouble sitting still for a little while longer, at least.

Michael may not have noticed Gregory sneaking towards them, but Freddy had a second sense when it came to his son. As Charlie and Mike playfully bickered, Freddy’s ears perked up at the muted padding of little shoes against carpet. For a moment he ignored this, acting like he was completely unaware of Gregory’s approach as he laughed softly along with the others. However, just as Gregory reached Freddy’s bedside in preparation to strike the redhead acted fast.

Whipping around, Freddy was quick to snatch him under the arms and hoist him into his lap, hugging him close. “Hello, superstar! I am glad you could join us! How are you feeling?”

Gregory squawked as he was lifted, unable to mask the smile on his lips. Other than his pale eyes, there didn’t appear to be anything different about him—no major change in health from before the nap. Thank goodness.

“Better! I feel great, actually,” he laughed out, content despite his plan not exactly working. He leaned in, hugging Freddy around the chest as he took in his surroundings. “This hotel room’s pretty sweet!”

When he’d left that horrendous foster home a while ago, Gregory knew one of the things he’d miss most was sleeping in a real bed. Though he’d had some respite in Freddy’s room this past weekend, the itchy carpets of the Pizzaplex and hard flooring could only be comfortable for all of three minutes.

“I got you a big lunch to get your strength back, kiddo,” Charlie said, turned on her side again now that Michael quit using her like a backrest.

“We are staying in a family vacation suite,” Freddy added, gesturing towards the doorway leading to the main area. “As well as these extremely comfortable beds, we have our own kitchen and sitting area, and full spa, gym, and arcade access.”

He was quoting the concierge now, understanding the concept of an arcade perfectly but curious as to what the gym and spa entailed. He could make educated guesses of course, which weren’t too far off—he knew gyms were meant for humans to work out in and spas were meant to relax.

“Arcade?!” Gregory asked, surprised to know there was something he’d enjoy at this hotel. Well—besides from the free meals and beds.

“After you eat,” Charlie reminded him gently. Someone had to disappoint him a little, and she knew Freddy didn't enjoy telling his son no. Though as his big sister, Charlie could burst his bubble all she liked to a certain degree.

“We’re going to max out your poor brother’s credit card at the end of this, Charlie,” Michael mused, turning on his side to face the others and resting his head on his palm. He grinned up at Gregory, happy to see that he did in fact look chipper than earlier. “But yeah, we’ve got a bunch of food on the way—apparently your dad’s going to try a burger.”

Gregory's eyes widened at that, and he eagerly patted Freddy’s shoulders. “Oh man—you're gonna love it!”

All this talk of food made Gregory's stomach growl loudly. The lack of a proper diet was beginning to take its toll. If only he still had that blue ice cream cake, he thought. He could fill up on that right away.

As if on cue, there was a hard knock at the door as an unseen staff member called out: “Room service!”

“I’ve got it,” Michael assured, launching himself off the bed and heading for the front door. Opening it revealed a huge tray piled high with food, which he immediately brought inside with a careful balancing act. Charlie really had gone all out with Gregory’s lunch…

The others made their way over as Michael set the food on the kitchen counter. When Gregory tried to peer up and see their spread, Mike told him: “Looks like you’ve got a sandwich, some Mac and cheese, and… a smoothie?” Eyebrows furrowed curiously, he picked up the drink and read the label on the side. “PB&J flavored… huh. Mind if I take a sip? Thanks.”

Without waiting for an answer Mike took a loud slurp of the drink, his face shifting through an array of emotions as he processed the weirdness of it.

“Michael…,” Freddy chided gently, though he couldn’t fault him for being intrigued. Admittedly, now that he could eat Freddy wanted to try everything on the counter too.

Gregory laughed at his reaction. The smoothie was a mix of grapes, strawberry yogurt, and peanut butter. It tasted too sweet to be good for you. Yet it must have some nutritional value if it had fruit, right?

“Oh man, is it like the pizza slushee?” Gregory leaned over, snatching his smoothie out of his big brother's grasp. Immediately, Gregory went through similar stages of grief to Michael after taking a sip. It had an odd texture with the various seeds—he was almost positive this yogurt was just mixed with strawberry preserves to make it even sweeter. After processing what’d just assaulted his taste buds, he held the smoothie up to Freddy.

“Try this—” Gregory suggested without giving his verbal opinion. He didn't want to influence his dad’s decision to drink the odd smoothie more than his face already had.

Freddy took the smoothie, visually analyzing it before hesitantly putting the straw to his lips. He took the smallest of sips, more so trying to get used to the sensation of drinking before he could focus on the flavor itself. He swirled the smoothie in his mouth, giving the flavors and textures a moment to process before swallowing it down. The corners of his lips quirked up and down of their own accord, his expressive face unable to settle on how he felt. Meeting Gregory’s inquisitive gaze, all he could say was: “It is… odd.”

Meanwhile, Charlie popped open the large container of hot wings, its spicy aroma wafting over the table. Luckily they’d been given an array of dipping sauces along with a few vegetables. Charlie figured she’d end up sharing those veggies with Gregory, as her and Michael were likely just going to pig out on the platter of chicken wings. “I could cry, these look so good...”

Michael joined Charlie at the table, enticed by the mouthwatering scent of chicken. They each picked up a wing, clinking them together as if they were glasses before taking a bite.

“Oh my fu—reaking god…,” Michael groaned, curbing his swear at the last second when Freddy’s eyes snapped to him. It seemed like the former bear’s patience for cursing was at its end, now that he had time to worry about that sort of thing. Mike immediately scarfed down the rest of the chicken wing and deposited the bone on the empty side of the container. “I missed food so much…”

“Right?!” Charlie said, discarding a wayward bone. This hotel’s kitchen didn’t mess around with the wings. Satisfied for the moment, Charlie wiped her fingers off—now more attentive towards getting Gregory his sandwich and side dish. After she set Gregory’s plate at the table, Charlie retrieved and set Freddy’s burger down as well.

“I can’t believe I was fine with not eating for like forty years—never doing that again, that’s for sure,” Charlie scoffed, going in for a second spicy morsel.

Gregory wasted no time. Like a feral beast, he dug into his bowl of gooey homemade macaroni and cheese. The dish had been baked over with spiced bread crumbs, its broccoli snapping with roasted flavor as he munched on his pasta. It felt good to eat a dish with some vegetables in it. While Gregory's deathly pallor hadn't changed from the meal, he seemed more lively and aware with each bite.

Satisfied that Gregory was enjoying his food, Freddy picked up his burger. Again, he conducted a visual examination before digging in, taking note of “all the fixin’s” that Charlie ordered. Then he took a tentative bite, placing the rest of the burger back in its container while he chewed experimentally. His bright eyes widened as the satisfyingly greasy flavor washed over his tongue, and instead of giving a verbal opinion he simply picked the food right back up and took another bite.

“Good news: Freddy likes burgers, everyone!” Michael announced, though his words were muffled as he spoke through a mouthful of chicken wings.

Freddy nodded in agreement, swallowing down another few bites before offering Mike a bite. “I am sorry… Did you want some, Michael?”

“No—you’re good, big guy!” Mike laughed, shaking his head and grabbing another wing. “Enjoy your first official meal!”

Charlie snorted, covering her mouth as she dug out a napkin from their meals and tossed it Michael's way. The sauce on his face was making her mouth burn just by looking at it. If she remembered correctly, Michael had been far better with spices than her. She was always dipping her wings into the blue cheese sauce provided and powered through despite the pain it took to clean the spicy meat from the bones.

“Yeah! It's your first time eating, so take a wing—” Charlie offered, pushing hers and Michael's platters towards Freddy a little.

While Gregory wanted to part with some food to share with Freddy, he found himself on autopilot when eating. He wasn't paying attention at all, and had quickly finished off his pasta before starting on the pulled pork sandwich Charlie so graciously chose for him. It felt nice to eat real food.

When he heard his name being called, he finally looked up. The corners of his mouth were stuck with cheese and barbecue sauce as he listened.

“Gregory—is your food really good, little man?” Charlie asked, subtly pointing out how he hadn't spoken since they began their meal.

“Mhm—” was all Gregory could answer. Both cheeks were full and he foresaw himself spitting anywhere should he actually try to talk.

Freddy quickly realized that he wasn’t a fan of messy food. The burger was bad enough, falling apart towards the end and dripping a trail of grease down his hand that he quickly stopped before it reached his sweater. Learning quickly, he pushed his sleeves up before attempting to eat a wing, although the texture of the sauce coating his fingers made him grimace slightly. It reminded Freddy of children slapping their sticky hands onto every part of his suit they could reach, covering him with unknown substances and prompting a thorough wash at the end of each day. Still, he managed a surprisingly demure bite of the chicken wing that left little residue on his mouth and had to consent it was also delicious.

Having wiped off his own face, Michael grabbed a handful of clean napkins and threw them to Gregory. Honestly, now that he’d been fed the kid probably needed a shower more than anything—it would certainly make him feel even better to put a clean outfit on over a body not already caked in grime

Gregory read Michael's mind. He was a little surprised no one had commented on the sheer unhygienic state he was in. All of his bandages, once fun and brightly saturated colors, were coated in a generous layer of filth. He was sure were he to peel back the protective plastic, the healing skin beneath would be clean and lily white.

There would be a paradox with cleaning himself off. People would see how pale he'd become, and may worry and nag his dad about the matter if they were super nosy... Then again, people were going to complain if he smelled bad, too.

With his sandwich finished, Gregory pushed his emptied containers away, asking Freddy: “Can I be excused? I need to shower or I'll catch the plague or something...”

“Of course,” Freddy replied with a nod, already starting to gather the empty containers together.

“The bag of new clothes is in the bedroom,” Michael reminded as Gregory rushed off.

After Michael and Charlie scarfed down the rest of their wings, they helped Freddy collect the trash. Upon Freddy’s confused question of where to put things, Mike laughed and informed him that they could just return the tray to the hallway and staff would pick it up. It was interesting to figure out the little things Freddy didn’t know—Michael had to remind himself that what was common knowledge to him wasn’t necessarily as obvious to the former animatronic.

When Freddy bent to place the tray on the hallway floor, he felt Sammy’s business card crinkle in his pocket. Locking the door and returning to the living room area, he told the others: “We should call Sammy and let him know we successfully acquired a room.”

“Do you want to do the honors, Charlie?” Michael asked, watching Freddy pull the little card out of his pocket.

Charlie leaned back, the sensation of being full unusual and new all over again. While eating had given her a sort of tired demeanor, she could always talk to her brother. “Sure! Sam's probably already worried we haven't called already.”

Charlie didn't want to tell the others, but Sam had begged Charlie to stay. While she wanted to catch up with her twin, it was very clear that he wouldn't get anything done with her around to distract him. She'd return tomorrow, and the three friends could catch up—maybe reintroduce Sammy with Liz and Evan, if he was up for it.

And Sam still had to meet with his dad…

After taking the card from Freddy, Charlie wandered into the living area and dialed up his number. He voice grew dimmer as she walked, with Sammy picking up immediately.

“Hey! It's Charlie—” she started, unaware that he knew the hotel was calling him from the caller ID. Their conversation consisted of what room they were staying in, and how nice it was to be out and about again after so long.

Inside the bathroom, after Gregory dressed himself he took a good look in the mirror. Wiping away the fog from the reflective glass, he sighed deeply.

He was happy to be out of the Pizzaplex—even happier to be alive and with people who cared about him. Still, this ghastly appearance he had now just made him feel strange. It’s like he was looking at another person's face in every reflection he saw of himself. The shower didn't help with that; it couldn't wash away the effects of the Remnant on his body.

Feeling his mind grow foggy, Gregory decided to lean against the sink and stare dejectedly until his face looked normal again.

Of course, it didn’t take Freddy long to sense something amiss. After the water had been cut off for some time and the boy still hadn’t emerged from the bathroom, Freddy glanced towards the closed door with a pinched expression.

“Hey, we’re supposed to be relaxing, remember?” Michael commented, placing a hand on Freddy’s back. Despite his playful words, Mike also felt a nagging tug in the back of his mind as he remembered the last time he’d left Gregory alone in a bathroom… although he was quick to remind himself that William and his tricks were gone. Plus, Michael was in there last and hadn’t seen anything that might inject an unsuspecting child with immortality juice.

“…I should check on him,” Freddy murmured, and Mike knew not to fight him on the matter. He gave Freddy’s back a pat, then went to lounge on the couch and check out the TV, curious to see what sort of trashy shows were on nowadays. Knocking on the bathroom door, Freddy called out softly: “Gregory? It is Freddy; are you alright?”

Gregory was stirred from this odd depersonalizing episode. Blinking out of it and looking to the door, he called beyond the sturdy wooden barrier between them.

“Combing my hair!” he lied, quickly brushing his fingers through his bangs. Gregory held it out before dropping the still wet locks of hair, in desperate need of a cut soon. “Be out in a second!”

The last thing he wanted was to worry Freddy of all people. After making himself a little more presentable, halfway tucking his tank top and not caring if it was uneven, Gregory strode from the bathroom. Charlie had since taken her call out on the balcony, the cord to the hotel phone pinched between sliding glass doors. Between Michael's flicking through endless channels, you could hear the light chime of her laughter.

Gregory smiled up at Freddy. “What's up?”

There wasn't anything wrong. He was fine.

…Well. Fine enough.

Surely the strange apprehension he felt when entering bathrooms now would go away eventually. One day he'd forget the whole fiasco with that plushie even happened, Gregory told himself.

“I was just checking in on you,” Freddy said, returning the smile. Clearly the boy had been stressing about something—Freddy could see it in his pale face and shining silver eyes. “Follow me a moment, would you?”

He led Gregory into the bedroom and closed the door, just in case he didn’t want his siblings to overhear their conversation. Freddy hoped he'd open up and tell him what was bothering him, but if not he at least wanted to assure Gregory he was always there if he wanted to talk. The poor boy had been through so many traumatic events over the past weekend, it was honestly a wonder he could still be in such high spirits. Freddy half-expected some residual shock to hit at any moment—possibly even for Michael and Charlie, too, though they had years to deal with the situation compared to Gregory’s three days.

“Sit next to me,” Freddy instructed gently as he perched on one of the beds, patting the empty spot at his side. When Gregory clambered up and got settled, Freddy ran a hand through his wet hair, pushing it out of his face. “I just wanted to let you know that you can always talk to me about anything. You have been through a lot this weekend—more so than anyone should ever have to, let alone someone so young. If there is ever something bothering you, I will listen and do my best to help in whatever way I can.”

Freddy’s words and kind expression were backed with nothing but the utmost sincerity. Of course he could talk to Freddy about anything; Gregory knew this.

But what good was talking about how he felt going to do?

Maybe this mindset—this way of approaching things—wasn't good. But Gregory felt as though it was merely his self-esteem being affected. Or... perhaps it was a side effect of the Remnant.

There was a while where Gregory thought on this. That is until he realized his father was looking at him with increasing worry. He had to say something—whether it was a cover up or the truth it didn’t matter.

“It's my face... I just don't look like me anymore. I'm still getting used to it,” Gregory admitted, unsure how important it was that his mind left his body while staring at his own reflection. He would omit this little detail for now.

“Ah.” Freddy’s expression shifted to one of understanding. “Well, I can certainly empathize to a degree—it seems like it may take us both a while to get used to our appearances.”

At this point, Freddy still hadn’t gotten a chance to really look at this new android form of him—not while he inhabited it, that is. So distracted with the rest of the world, he’d been content to catch the occasional faint glimpse of himself in a passing glass window. However, he knew Gregory’s concern came from an entirely different and darker place.

“If it is any consolation,” Freddy continued with that eye-crinkling smile of his, gently cupping one of Gregory’s cheeks in his hand. “I still think you look just like my superstar, regardless of what you might see in the mirror.”

At least they weren't going through this alone. Gregory never thought he'd ever get to feel the familial closeness and pride of being loved unconditionally. But Freddy remained his papa bear; now he just happened to look less ursine than ever.

“That helps...” Gregory replied, leaning into his touch. “I'll get over it eventually. Like you said... I just have to get used to it.” He sighed in a resigned fashion.

And hey—maybe it would help him hide better from... them.

“It's probably for the best I don't look like myself, anyway.” Gregory reached up and grasped Freddy's hand where it rested on his face, glancing away momentarily. “Then my foster parents can't find me...”

Almost imperceptibly, Freddy’s fingertips tightened against Gregory’s cheek. This was a topic he hadn’t wanted to think of just yet, but knew this was a real threat on the horizon. For all intents and purposes, Freddy had kidnapped a child. Despite the well-meaning behind his actions, he knew there was a whole slew of issues regarding that he hadn’t the first idea how to go about dealing with.

“No matter what happens, I am staying with you,” Freddy reassured, wholly confident of at least that fact. He finally moved his hand, only to pull Gregory into a tight hug. “Now, how about we get the others and check out that arcade? I am curious to see how it compares to the Pizzaplex!”

Gregory had never seen such a collection of attractions than those at the Pizzaplex. He doubted the little hotel arcade could hold a candle to the might of the gaming library Freddy’s had. Still, it was totally worth it to go and see the looks on Michael’s face when Gregory beat him at fighting games again. It was a fun distraction.

And that’s what he really needed right now. Anything to get his mind off the silver eyes in his head, and those terrifying faces of people who only loved him for the paycheck he brought with him.

***

There were a few reruns of popular shows playing on some TV channels. The 90’s hit The Immortal and the Restless was having an anniversary marathon—all twelve seasons aired two times and followed by the dramatic movie conclusion. When Charlie was done with her phone call, she couldn’t help but notice the familiar theme song playing on the high definition television.

“Oh no, what season is this?” she asked, hurrying to hang up the phone so she could scamper back towards the couch. She didn’t want to miss anymore of the show than she already had.

“Season five,” Michael replied, shifting to make room. His eyes never left the TV, even as he felt Charlie sink in next to him. “You’ve missed so much… meanwhile I’ve seen this entire show way too many times.”

Mike couldn’t even begin to count the amount of hours he’d laid motionless in front of the TV, watching crappy soap operas with reckless abandon. It’d become somewhat of a guilty pleasure over the years, especially as time went on and it became more difficult for him to actually leave his apartment. What better way to get away from the troubles of his own life than to become invested in those of fictional characters?

As Charlie settled next to Michael, Freddy and Gregory emerged from the bedroom. Noticing the pair on the couch, Freddy walked over to their side and announced: “Gregory and I are going to visit the arcade and would love for you to join us!”

“Huh?” Mike was fully invested in the vampire drama, and it took a monumental effort—and well-timed commercial break—to tear his gaze away and look up at Freddy. Once he processed what the man said though, he was quick to brighten up with an eager nod. “Oh, sure! We can definitely explore the hotel a bit.”

Good thing they were playing the marathon twice, Charlie thought, grinning as she lifted herself energetically from the couch. That way they could start at the beginning tomorrow.

“I almost forgot about the arcade!” Charlie was going to enjoy being able to play a video game without the oppressive atmosphere of the Pizzaplex ruining all their fun. Remembering the bag stashed away inside her jacket pocket, she mused: “I wonder if this prize counter will accept three rolls of game tickets from Freddy's…”

“Great question,” Gregory said, already trying to get out of the door. He reached for the knob and opened up the hallway and holding it. “We'll find out when we get there!”

***

PREVIOUS INSTALLMENT: Spend the Night ~~ Next Chapter

Looking for more? Check out the Chapter Masterlist on Tumblr!

Or check out the entire Wires that Bind Us Series on ao3!

#fnaf security breach #fnaf sb #fnaf #fnaf au #five nights at freddy's #glamrock freddy #michael afton #charlie emily #fanfic #fanfiction #ao3 #angelofrainfrogs #zeitghest #spend the night #going back #the wires that bind us au

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7ban-sama · 1 year ago

Note

please give me your opinion on all the tsukasas / yashiros / amanes from the different aus aidairo makes ….. (feel free to just pick one character though if you want skdjfvns)

Forgive me if I forget anything egregious-!! There's so many AUs, I'll do my best to browse through them, but AidaIro are industrious... I might miss something. u.u

You will be getting my opinion on all 3 of them per AU though. It's fun to consider the OT3... :3 Subsequently, I think I'll be skipping anything where we don't see all 3 (like ah, that standalone idol Hanako from earlier on.) Just to streamline things. Here we gooo!

🔍Phantom Thief 💎

I'm including this one out of fairness sake... but I will be real. I do not really think much about it, nor really care about any of their designs here. Unfortunately, idc about, detectives, criminal investigation, that sort of intrigue. Whether it's serious or funnay-sillay, I can't say it's very interesting to me. The most aesthetically pleasing one here is just Hanako, with hims fancy crane fabric and mask etc... (Kind of cheating though, bc he's just in his gakuran otherwise.) I know Aida-sensei really had fun drawing this guy whorishly covered in jewels. Tsukasa being a little boy-lad, funny. Nene-chan in some sherlock cosplay dress, bad. My eyes glaze over.

It's amusing to see their roles be stripped down to like, Nene INVESTIGATING Hanako's CRIMES, and Tsukasa being an INFORMANT, giving her TIPS because he knows Hanako's IDENTITY. That's what's happening in the manga, yes. It's so crude, in this way, I have to laugh.

🦇Ghost Hotel🩸

For this AU, I really love going over the interview of the people coordinating it, because you get to hear reports of AidaIro-sensei being very enthused about the theming of the cafe. They decided the theme, menu item names, and explained aspects of the world to the staff. It's very cute to me lol, it feels like they were having so much fun. The first cafe they did was more 'typical', with the characters as waiters/waitresses serving you. I think GH is a clever concept, finding a way to transport you into a whole other world, and also still justify that you are 'going' to an 'establishment', and going to be eating there lol. You still get the delight of experiencing the characters be 'staff', even — just in a more creative and stimulating way. An evil hotel manager is a lot more fun than just being your waiter-!!! Etc.

Seeing Amane as an evil vampire, it's almost like seeing a frog on a lilypad. Suddenly it's like we're putting a pin on the whooole look, the Halloween cat vibe, black and gold eye'd scraggly shota. B'caped, villainous, but so cavalier. The villain of a point and click adventure game. His ah, many rows of buttons are a lil silly, but overall I like his 'fit. It's like Amane was always meant to be this... Running some sort of honeypot to ensnare innocent, poor wanderers, and seeming to do it simply for the love of the game. Glib, while watching you lose your memories and become brainwashed.

This Amane is INCREDIBLY FUNNY and an INCREDIBLY DIRECT representation.. In a way that just makes me feel like I'm gonna barf. Like every layer of it lol, the, I'm never going to let you leave❤ Mmhh I love to consume beautiful women (so what does it say I sucked my brother dry?) Anyways I will take your life tonight. Ehh, the fact that he doesn't seem guilty or troubled at all by what he did.. Well, it's maybe been so-? Many years-?? And he's become so established, he's just at a point of-?? A-acceptance? Enjoyment? With what he did... does-??? He's decorating Tsukasa's grave playfully, I dunno...

Also the, fact that Amane is a vampire, means you have to, basically conclude that killing Tsukasa was... pleasurous... in the way that eating a delicious meal would be... It's a biological urge. And also killing Nene, again, will be, pleasurous. Hm... What does this mean for their situations in canon... Aha hahahahaha hahaha

So yeah overall I like this guy a lot. I think I would have a lot of fun RP'ing this one.

As for Nene here, I'm not really big on her starting look... It's liiike, not doing it for me, a bit too. Fancee lady. Victorian flavor etc. which just isn't my bag... She doesn't look awful or anything; I like her lil parasol. That being said...

... this nightgown is wonderful. I love her hair adornments too. A sleepy little lady, bride material. Thank you Amane for, assaulting her like this, I agree with your decision. I've envisioned her becoming a ghostie just like Tsukasa, as a result...

She's at her sweetest here, too, just innocently letting Amane in without thinking too hard about it. I like that she thinks over her day, and smiles, noting that she had fun, despite the strangeness. (Despite the scariness...) It's very Nene-chan of her. I think she'll take to her fate graciously, as she is always destined to... I see a lot of potential in her. ❤

Now, the original victim, in HIS frilly nightgown, ready for beddy-bye. Isn't he sweet... He's actually my favorite out of this AU, out of the three. Far too precious, it really hurts me. I like to think that, in the past, when Amane was a newly-formed vampire, he was a lot more self-hating and afraid to feed, prone to starving himself. (Closer to emotional profile of the more troubled Amane in canon.) Despite this, Tsukasa was always gracious and encouraging, permissive. In true Tsukasa fashion, he was so encouraging and loving that Amane one day couldn't stop. That was that. His ah, nubby right hand is also a remnant of that interaction (as much as the pillows and blanket...) Bit clean off.

So much time has passed and they've been bound to one another like this. Tsukasa is found lingering outside of room 87 / Nene runs into him instead when trying to seek the Manager / Amane's key is definitely to room 87, just blurred... They must share a space and interact. I feel like after 'work', once everything's quieted down, Amane must simply retire to his special ghostie boy at the end of the day. And does god knows what.

It's quite scary that not everyone can see Tsukasa... yabai. I always feel like Tsukasa's existence gets buried and obfuscated by Amane's actions... Isolated, locked away. *frantically gestures at the Antares speech also* Much to be concerned about. It's eerie, then, that Nene is one of the few that can see him. And ah, of course, again Tsukasa is simply willing to aid and guide Nene through this. I like when he's this counter-force... A rogue agent, someone who'll answer questions if you just asked. He'll help you.

My overall feeling for the AU is, I like how ship is here! It's fun! Whereas Phantom Thief feels crude with how 1:1 it is, I think GH is more like, a gd riot, while still managing to be sexy too. I'm simple, I like vampirism, I like the direct correlation of Amane predating on Tsukasa and Nene. Makes me feel endless concern whenever I look over the details. Much in store for the canon.

🎭Hanako of the Opera🌹

IDK what it is about me, but I can admit, I struggle to parse this event. It's not easy for me to follow everything that happens... Perhaps just the nature of it being one of those 'game' type events, with randomized elements, and also it being a story with present 'roles' being inserted. It's limited in ways, ,,

Okay but, as always, it's funny what is conveyed in a couple details. Amane is looking so crazy during scenes, maniac. Tsukasa ?? kitty cat?? Lurking about??? Enigmatic. The twins matching rings (which, in the original story, are given to Christine to represent her loyalty to the phantom) — OK. Matching jewelry symbolizing twins devotion to one another, check ✅ And all three of them have roses? Wonderful, something threading Tsukasa and Nene-chan, as Amane gives both his girlies roses. Overlapping romance check✅ (This ship is always too much lol...)

Rating the looks: Nene is lovely 💕 Shining star of the opera. The boys are more *noncommital hand gesture* but I like the fanfare of the cape, and I do. *sigh* I do think the half mask is cool, I've always thought it was cool. Fsr I vibe 'split' face situations (even specifically having sonas with large white face markings...) so yeah I'm into it. I wonder if? They are-? Both disfigured under there-?? Mysteries.

I distinctly like the shawl Nene is wearing here. Kiss kiss. (... I also just really love this image lol, this is so funny of AidaIro-sensei... to explain the delays within the narrative like this...) wait why am I just realizing in this image Amane has like. A laced up boot up to his calf. That's not what the twins are wearing in their character profiles ? Wait why does it look like he's only wearing 1? What? hm okay. Anyways I love this image

🐉Kamome Monster Nursery🍭

This is one of those really wild AUs... Though I feel like it's iconic, perhaps just as an example of how Iro-sensei can invent unpredictable worlds. Overall I really like their Halloween AUs; both Aida and Iro love Halloween, and since JSHK overall is so ~spookeh ghosts~ it kisses well with Halloween mischief.

The twins. Let's evaluate them both at once!!

This is one of those Amane's that's more on the 'subdued' side, along with being more academically inclined. To me, it feels like there are a couple 'sliders' that move around in relation to one another. If Amane is more studious, he's lessss... ostentatious, with his look and personality. He's too busy looking at clipboards and taking notes. In this way I think he's a loser with no game (lol) but at least he has Tsukasa with him to keep him on his toes. Tsukasa meanwhile seems to be having lots of fun here! I like that he's the more capable one, I feel like that's a consistent truth, deep down... That Tsukasa is actually smarter and more talented, overall. He's just so 'odd' that people don't notice... ww

I like the thickness of Amane's turtleneck, and I like that Tsukasa's in shorts and has such thick purple socks. So fun!! I also like how 'blue' the shades of purple on his outfit are, I really love the dark purp and black stripes on his top. His stripes make him match Amane's turtleneck's ribbing. Harmonious. Tsukasa's stethoscope feels horny to me though, in a way that makes me, mad-? (I don't trust AidaIro and their thing with hearts.) Aside from that, lab coats are whatever, not my thing. They're not super fun to draw but I can forgive it. (I have drawn these goons.)

They're kind of enigmatic to me, in that I wonder how they wound up here, doing this specifically...? But the world is so odd lol, I think it's odd how the class of 'monster' feels like they-? Don't... have rights-?? They're raised and studied, not treated like people-?? As a result, I feel like the twins kinda have broken lizard brains in this world, regarding monsters as specimens purely, and not forming deep attachments... They are engrossed in their research. Tsukasa is playful as a person, and good with raising monsters, but doesn't bat an eye as they get shoveled along through the system. This place perhaps outright facilitates that kind of detachment, so they're a perpetual motion machine doing this. So ultimately they only care about one another...

Small detail, but the drawing looks like Tsukasa's art to me! Aida-sensei bothers to be consistent with characters having a 'style', so ah, I think the point is it 'looks' like a little kid made it, but it's actually a gift from Tsukasa.. We don't see them interact much, but I like to think they must collude throughout the day, and then after the workday is over they retire together. They have matching seals too which means-? Some-? Thing-? Critical about their connection to one another...?? So they have to be entangled...

But we need a Nene-chan to come into their life and shake things up-!! Hahaha. I'm glad she has the ability to burn this whole place to the ground herself... A creature with a lot of potential!

As a lolicon I'm SIMPLE, and I love to see LITTLE GIRL. Lil girl, baby girl, baby baby baby. Soo freakin' cute, ugh, acting like a little feral beasty... and that we can just put her in a thick collar. Whatttt?? Sexy... Are there really no limits here? I get to watch Nene-chan be bitey and demanding?? Ourghh

Also, the fact that she's being raised by Tsukasa and taking after him, while dressed up in 'his' color... Sick & twisted. Showing me Tsukasa playing with Nene and giving her whatever she wants and them going on rampages together??? Sick & twisted-!! The fact that she has a little red heart earring on her, corresponding her to Amane, SICK & TWISTED!!! It's worrisome you know, because Nene is Amane's bespoke love interest across every world... They HAVE to collude-? He has to be interested in her, he has to. Find her attractive...?? Inevitably!? At that point, it's suspicious to me that monsters also develop faster than humans. Hmm, so she will be sexually mature soon enough. (Lol, Renesmee swag?)

You can't just show me Nene being Tsukasa-like, resembling Tsukasa, acting like Tsukasa, and Amane's just also in the room. Dragon loli all dressed up and collared, and being hand-reared by the brother of her love interest. DON'T YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE THIS TERMINATES-?? I sure do. *sucks in drool*

The set pieces make me pretty horny. I think I am a bit weak to esoteric research labs and, like dehumanizing situations for sapient(?) beings. Nonhuman behaviors, hand rearing, the aesthetic of daycare and baby toys etc... fun, I like it. I like to explore the space.

🏫Teen School Drama🪄

This AU is like. Lol where are we-? This boarding school and the overall aesthetic is giving a kind of Western-slay. Ahh I've been transported back to Angelland lol. There's a photo on AidaIro's twi tter featuring a Harry Potter mug (the Marauder's Map lolll) so ah, this combined with some of their other work gives me the impression they like... That sort of Vibe, ~wizarding school in London~... regardless of whether or not that's the actual setting, I just think it's worth noting. The particular stink going on.

This Amane... he makes me laugh. Who is this-? Little nerd? An even more subdued, sciency-aligned Amane than the guy in Monster Nursery.

He's so stripped down feeling, and his palette has mysteriously become black/blue/gold, instead of black/red/gold. Why's that... The way no one could have guessed he was that little blue apple. Like— obviously people would sooner guess the ghost cookie or devil cake, etc. Even the fanciful king, thing, Teru was, because like. You would think Amane is devilish or has some sort of imposing presence... so it's the funniest reveal he's like, a quiet nerd who tinkers with RC cars and drones... I would even say fandom at large is more apt to see canon living-Amane as more shy than I personally would, but this still came as a shock for many. This little meep. (Octavius rex i guess, since Nene is barking up this tree.)

It's pretty novel though... to be able to think of an Amane that is this hobbled with social interactions. I like to imagine he struggles with making eye contact. A guy of few words... not practiced with having conversations. If you read his mind, he would be slowly disassembling and reassembling devices. *staring at nothing, waiting for class to end so he can go back to his dorm and do this*

But as much as he amuses me, he also frustrates me... How to word this. I find it suspicious that this Amane can command Tsukasa to manifest to him, without even a word, just sending a drone at him — and Tsukasa would drop everything to do so. Okay, so you have this very powerful wizard at your beck and call... and Tsukasa is typically quite obsessed with Amane, so. Hmm. Just simmer on that. And then you have fact that Nene is, putting herself out there, being CUTE about it, and he's like. Mnnn. Please don't. You'll draw attention to me... thinking moreso about the social discomfort, not like, Nene's gesture.

... to ME, he feels kind of, 'stuck in his comfort zone'...? I'd say it's pretty generous to see him as 'just shy'; if I think about Amane across worlds, I'd guess this one is probably just as asocial and disconnected from valuing people as individuals... He's always had Tsukasa, there, reliably, and has never had a reason to do anything besides funnel into his interests. Eh, it's kinda like if Amane could just blithely read about constellations AND just have Tsukasa by his side, super OP, catering to his whims. And then if later down the line, Nene was pursuing him on her own terms, so he didn't have to lift a finger or put the moves on her... This is all insane to me... kslkfksdg.... I suppose this Amane feels like a LESSON in, how COMPLACENT he can BE... It is possible for him to be this withdrawn, this uhh, stubborn, this placid. Not oozing anyyyy charisma, it's crazy, lmfaofdj hgdks I really think if you dated this one, he'd absolutely suck. Negative one thousand points, bad boyfriend material.

(As an Amane kinnie it's like, watching myself be kind of insufferable like a spoiled child LOLL where is your GAME man... lol but you're still gonna get it i guess...)

Now... this girl. I want to fuck this Yashiro so very badly. She exists to torment me. Hruu.

The look is lovely. Her blue knit top, her red jacket, short plaid skirt, tall socks. The absolute territory...! Since she's usually so shy about her legs, and covers them up, it's amazing to see her showing some thigh. Ehh... scandalous. And then pretty twin tails, decorated in hearts, makes me feel weak. I really like twin tails...💔 Her witch outfit isn't appealing to me, but I don't mind rly, since her base look is soo good. I don't imagine she has to get fully decked out all the time anyways.

Her status as both a cheerleader and a witch intrigues me... Such a confident girl! I wonder if having magic abilities helps her feel more capable? It's incredible to me she just, attempts to talk to Amane regularly. That she would be like heehee❤ I'll cheer for you~... She doesn't feel so uncertain about whether or not he'll be interested in her-?? Even though he's quiet and avoidant of attention. So fascinating... With the right tools at her disposable, perhaps Nene can do anything.

Hmm, I often like to envision her... getting in over her head, with the whole witch thing... Onene inflating her head a bit! The 'downside' to that gained confidence. It's easy to imagine that Nene wouldn't be above using magic to gain favor in the pursuit of love... If Nene would swallow a mermaid's scale out of desperation for a relationship... I think being a witch capable of spells would provide unfathomable temptations for her. Along with Amane being a challenge to court, I ah, feel like the situation is rife for Nene to create, schemes, plans, to bag him. With the confidence that she could definitely succeed... and that he would be none the wiser, about it. There could even be an angle of, feeling like she's doing him a favor by being forward, he's just so shy, I bet he's never had a girl like him before ❤ I'll take care of it all!!

Which is funny, because I think this is exactly the way Hanako thinks of his 'flirting' (sekuhara) in canon. This AU flips things around, but in a way that I enjoy. ^^ I like that Iro-sensei is capable of scrambling the main cast around, but still keeping things so interesting! Allowing me to witness the girlish version of simping and the wear down method lol...

Now... Wizard Tsukasa-!!! The catalyst of the event!! The capable, full-fledged magic user... He's enchanting💜 In his nice white sweater, and untucked undershirt... Would love to see him put on that hat. Sigh

I love seeing a Tsukasa so capable. I like to think he's a prodigy, and no one on campus who uses magic could hold a candle to him. The great and powerful TsuTsu!! Bare with me for this flight of fancy, but in settings where the twins are in a 'normal' setting (going to school and all), I still like to factor in Amane's heart condition. I like to believe he was still born with it, though technology is advanced enough that he was able to be saved through surgeries at a young age. That being said, it leaves him with a weak constitution, still being the sickly twin. I like to think that Tsukasa's nature of fetching Amane gifts to his bedside persists, and he's by Amane's side constantly, helping with little things. For magic to exist in this world... I feel like, of course, Tsukasa would pursue it to be able to service Amane even better. It's in his nature... when granted power, access to grant wishes, he simply wants to use it for Amane. So, the reason he gets so good at it all is for Amane 💜 It's what sets him apart from others.

... haha, okay, personal delusions aside, I think Tsukasa exudes a sort of... pleasant serenity here. I like the music notes in his text, like he's humming or speaking melodically. Fun, playful boy... Someone who speaks with hearts❤ Similarly to Nene, I think being able to wield magic gives him a bit of a confidence 'boost', so he's less self-conscious than some younger versions of him (that feel clumsy or like a burden...) Comfortable with his position in life currently. He's by Amane's side, after all! Hum humm, might as well have fun then, ne? There's no harm in it~

Argh, you know, it's an AU where things are atypical/shuffled around, so I think Tsukasa looming over Nene and taunting her is closer to something 'unusual' and unexpected (he's not purposefully ominous in canon ww) ... but like, it's sexy to see here, heurr. I feel a little messed with, when I have to consider TsuNene like this... It's as if I'm being baited lol. But I LIKE IT so oh well. As much as I think about Nene getting up to shennanigans behind Amane's back, I like to think of her having to deal with Tsukasa, who can observe and thwart her with ease. He doesn't do it mean spiritedly or anything, but I feel like sometimes he is watching her like...~ It would be fun to meddle. Just a tiny bit... <3 Able to give Nene a run for her money. The fact that Amane likes her is interesting to him <3 and maybe there's a little bit of flirting on Tsukasa's end too... <3 Ahee...

The fact that Tsukasa is able to intercept Aoi and Nene's combined efforts to stop him, and, that Amane then interrupts — and Tsukasa just goes ohp, ok, Amane needs me! Bye! & drops everything... feels like it says so much about the ah, flow of 'power' here. Despite Amane being The Mundane and despite Tsukasa being OP magic user... Tsukasa still defers to Amane-!! Ugh it creates this visual in my mind, where Nene's POV is one where Tsukasa might as well be Amane's big pet tiger curled around him. Lounging, languid, but... intimidating...

I like this AU overall lol. It just makes me horny very effectively. At least I feel like I'm not alone, because fujoshi are distinctly distressed about this AU and the implications of. Amane like, sending a drone to get Tsukasa, with the? Head of the? Rabbit costume he is horny about now? It literally feels like he's just ordering Tsukasa to come help him out with this, problem. Like why are they about to have weird sex through this conduit. Yamete kudasai...

Nyways final note is, I think Amane can eventually tempted by poon, between the forces of Tsukasa and Nene both, and then he will start to metamorphasize into a nastier guy, thinking about suck fuck fuck fuck suck suck & fuck. Which is good for him. He will be healed.

📞Kamome Valentine Company💘

This AU came out of nowhere and really sucker-punched us for Valentine's day... One swift sock to the gut. I barely survived February because of this all. My god. Where to even start.

At first glance from the twitter icon, you don't get much of an impression of this Amane. I was mostly surprised to see that he had angel wings, as so far, it's usually been the inverse (other illusts having Amane be a devil while Tsu is holy aligned...) However, once the event started rolling out proper, I felt my gut sink as we got a better look at this guy. Promising that he can polish your love and make it shine... That lidded gaze, the look of an Amane that is trying to WORK YOU OVER... I could not BEGIN to trust this creep, ueeuahhh!! Makes my skin crawl. He actually is a devil. (Avvy's proposed he might actually be identical Tsukasa, and it's just an illusion he has going on... good possibilities.)

Alright but what's this looooook??? The metal... collar? The corset-!? The boots, the one glove... All this fetish gear, why are you looking like this! Running this shop with your brother! Ackkk! Oh and of course, to top it all off, you and Tsukasa both have matching jewelry, as some, expression of your commitment to one another… While you endlessly make bets and squabble for fun, in this warehouse full of jewels... It's really yabai that they have some sort of, hearts in cages, while their power itself is the ability to make love into jewelry. Their hearts look different from what's present in the cages, so I feel like whatever extraction process was done was different...

It's extrapolating a lot, but eh while I'm here, I might as well say — I like to think of the twins as having once been human. Some... dirty raggamuffin orphan boys... And one day, they effectively tapped into a kind of magic, some sort of dark ritual, etc. that effectively cursed them into their current forms... It was an act of commitment, equivalent to canon's shinjuu, and they've been bound eternally since. The end product is they've really become cursed beings who cannot, think or love properly. Avvy's described them as having a sort of emptiness to them, and I agree. It feels like they're locked in their obsession... Ermm, and much like how, it feels like the canon circumstance is one where, the twins can't help but want to reenact the shinjuu — Amane just wants to kill Tsukasa / Tsukasa just wants to be killed by Amane — again and again... I feel like once the twins get on a tear, they're kind of endlessly looping their desires, and they almost can't conceive of anything beyond what they are doing. Just slamming the button that says MORE. Do it AGAIN.

Obsessed with turning love into jewelry endlessly... obsessed with playing with each other... so it goes... sigh

(also I hate that he's likely evoking Eros... Ughh, god of sex and love, urghhhh... I'm gonna hurl... *has had a sona named Eros since I was 14* Whatever.)

It is time to have much pity in my heart for this Nene... She's a VICTIM of this establishment... one of MANY. They have cages lining the walls of what they do to girls like her. So scary... Excessive! Diabolical!!

I do wish we had more time to spend with her. I hope somehow she makes her way back here, through some thread of fate... I don't want to believe she'll be gone for too long... *worried for her* At least, she's technically unburdened from her last circumstance...

This is again not ah, the sort of look I personally would choose for her — too 'mature' feeling? A type of formal clothing I'm not especially into. That being said, I like the hair framing her face mostly emphasized as the rest is pulled back. (Still, not into the braid it's in...) She's pretty in some close ups... Not bad looking, just not my favorite look for her. This is a nicer hat than GH girlie tho. I'll kiss her still~ chu...

Mmmh, once again, out of the three, I'm most bewitched by the Tsukasa of this set. First getting a glimpse of him in the header, brutal for me. Horns! Devil wings!! Pppuuushed back hair, white frilly top, shorts, baby blue socks... Girlie on the phone? *0 brains* call girl... *even less brains* Phone sex. Sex with this one. Sex between work. *stops having a stroke* anyways.

To me, pragmatically speaking, the idea of my unrequited love being destroyed and forgotten about is the most appealing. I trust Tsukasa's proposal more... well, I at least feel as though he's being more honest. Assuming that Tsukasa had a different path laid out for Nene, I would trust it more than what Amane did.

I kinda waffle back and forth on it though, because Avvy's brought up a good point, that perhaps both the twins functionally do the exact same thing — part of their game might just be about whose proposal wins? In that case, ugh, twins-!! I guess you shouldn't trust either of them lol. That might just be the reality of this world. =.=

Yk. Despite the twins having such an intertwined existence, and surely doing this sort of thing all the time... I like how Tsukasa, at the end of this all, is staring quietly with small mouth big eyes, as he feeds Amane. That's the sort of expression I often read as Tsukasa being... overwhelmed, or kind of subdued, his mouth practically disappears. It's like he's really focusing on Amane's mouth eating the chocolate. I must see. His hind brain is tingling, due to what Amane is...? Insinuating? With his comment? But it's Tsukasa, so I think he also can't fully grasp what is being said. I'll do something for you later? Okay, Amane. ⬅ It's aspects like this that really mess me up though. Because a world like this is like, urgh, ugh, ok, the twins are? Definitely fucking? Or inbound, about to fuck, maybe fucking all day, or like, on the precipice. Perfect 50/50 split, what is the reality. Fucking today for the first time on Valentine's day? Suck your fingers while you feed me c hocolate. Ahh... *you lose me in the mist*

🐈‍Bakeneko Ryokan♨️

Our most recent cafe event to date, and honestly, what feels like the most luxurious one. It feels embarrassing to say (since it just came out) but this is my favorite AU of them all, currently-!!! It's far too decadent in every way... Just look at this map!! Eh, ahh! I wanna go here so badly! Ehhh! Everything feels luscious and beautiful...! It's crazy Aida-sensei made this... This feels so involved and over the top... Meanwhile, I'm enraptured by Iro-sensei's description of things, like how it feels to approach this place.

"The air outside is cool and fresh. A deep fog enshrouds this place… The only light you can see is coming from the Ryokan." (Translation by DBS Scans!)

I'm just like UGH, atmosphere!! Makes me want to immerse into this world so badly! Traveling up the mountain side, as the fog encloses around me... A light in the distance, my only hope... Again, I really admire the integration of ah, an entire narrative alongside the theme of, cafe, food establishment, being served by the characters, etc... Transported to another world while you come here to eat. And again there is an element of danger to your visit here. A place you won't likely be returning from... Will you get eaten, or will you get turned into a bakeneko yourself-!? Such a fun set up omg

Hmm, another Amane that looks like a too-pleased maniac... why am I not surprised. :I It's so devious he is a nekomata amidst bakeneko... it's like ah, Amane is decidedly the more evil and dangerous version of this yokai — almost to make sure there's no misconstruing that you shouldn't trust him ww. I think it also conveys that he is perhaps more powerful than we can observe, hiding a slew of abilities... maybe even a more extravagant beast form, larger than his typical kitty cat body. No way to know... (typical for Amane though... he won't let us know...)

But much like his vampire self, being a naughty kitty really suits him. If there was anyone destined to be a shitty tom cat, it's just, Amane... He's just got that sort of nature, don't he. Patrolling his territory, pissing on your things. Rubbing his scent glands on you. Because you are his. Enjoying that silvervine... Meanwhile, the texture of his hair and ears make me feel like he must be a very scruffy feeling black kitty, if you saw him up close. Hmm, it's just a very compatible charisma... the Halloween cat swag once more.

Always fun when Amane is in yukata. :3 Get all silked out... and I like his black tabi socks, they are cool. They further obfuscate slivers of skin, making him feel very clothed, toe to tip. The cut in his high collar, so that his bell comes out, is very crazy looking. I'm into it. Also like the extra gold band and bell on the tail, and the teal ribbon with it... The red and white rope on his zori, and for the keys slipped in his yukata, are the same as Tsukasa's shimenawa obi he is wearing. A little something connecting them here. I have to assume the keys he's keeping are to Tsukasa's room directly. Ugh, lock you up. I get it I get it... *exhausted, threadbare*

As for this Amane's nature, it's kinda fascinating... because, I feel like having been Tsukasa's pet kitty means, he kind of, couldn't have the same sort of problems he typically does when they are human brothers... It's just? Hard to imagine that he struggles in quite the same way. Wasn't he living a simple life once, getting chin scratches... He would surely just purr and rub up against Tsukasa... and then, why would that change, after their escape from the circus? Just so easy to imagine the twins are very, pet pet rub rub, nuzzle purrrrr purr mrr... The way their life has gone, there's also no pressure of 'the future', in the sense of some impending career or pressure from parents. They are freed from such things. Maybe he still wouldn't be the best at uhh, verbally comforting you lol, but I think he would be openly affectionate. Oozing out, condescending sounding, but very much enamored. Kitty lurvvve...

Another thing: I've seen JP fans theorize that Amane chose to emulate his human form after Tsukasa's, which I totally love the thought of. He's so distressed in that shot of them running away... I like to think he was less capable with magicks once, so it took a lot to finally congeal his human form — so it comes to him in the moment of adrenaline, saving Tsukasa from the fire. But it's cute to choose to match... I want to think that's how it went. :3

Mmm oooh I was soooooo looking forward to seeing more of this Nene, after the few glimpses of her from promotional art (and the original shikishi...) She seemed so, gormless, empty shiny gaze. Yet lovely and pleasant, happy kitty. I'm so happy the more we've seen of her. Her yukata is gorgeousss.... Love the petal-y frills at the end, the pink inner fabric, the long embellished sleeves and tassles! Light blue/green, pink, red! Yes yes yes!! Colors that totally suit her! Mmm she would be so nice to touch... I prefer how her hair is done up here btw, no braid, just tied up! I disprefer the tightness of a braid. A small bun like this is nicer to think about playing with, pulling loose. *Amane voice* I ah, also like that she has little bells in her hair, and they feel like they thread her design with the twins' ostentatious big bells... It's a nice touch. A little something.

She really lives up to her name... She really is Pretty-chan! Ackkh.... by the way, I'm still dying every day over the name PRETTY-CHAN!!! It's that thing, that rule almost, where Nene is considered beautiful when she is nonhuman... Becoming this fanciful, large breed of cat, long fluffy fur, and her seafoam green tipped tail!! It makes so much sense she was once a beloved house pet.

Though, true to form, a platonic guardian cannot mean much to the romance-focused Nene... Off into the mountains she goes! Searching for guys to fawn over her... Only to! Wind up with this shitty, scruffy mans harassing her! Such is her destiny...

I like that she does dances :) fun, I would love to watch. Shake that tail around for me, girl... Ahh. She's so fun. I guess I understand actually why Amane can't resist sekuhara... With such a nice girlie walking around, it really makes you want to nip her heels and chase her around lol

With the release of this story card, I've been kind of arrested though... Learning that even Pretty-chan is like, slobbering over the idea of eating a human... A-ah, okay, and Amane is stoking her? Playing along? Even though he's harboring his human brother-!? Whyyy... 😭 I do n't understand... What do you mean there's a world where Nene could desire to eat Tsukasa-!?!??Fg h gg./h. fhg... why is she also i nsan e... help... I still feel like I'm falling out of my body. I 've literally always wanted to explore Nene being 'crazy' but now that I have the chance it's like sits on my hands . This is too much. The potential here... I shudder violently thinking about it. I'm in a dream I can't escape...

*biiig sigh* Glorious images of Tsukasa-chan in this AU... Much color and splendor... No shoes of any kind, because he's probably mostly indoors! The long decorative sleeves tucked away, because he's gotta be ready to scrub the floor. Little miss mittens. Nya. Even if you're not really a bakeneko, you've got all the charm of a kitty, don't you? Rolling around while your 'brother' dangles a cat tail above you...

I feel like this Tsukasa lives quite a fun life. Padding about, RPing as kitty, meeting nice girlies who talk to him and might find him novel and cute. Hiding in closets, getting dragged about by his tyrant master. Random naps, lazing in hot spring water, enjoying the food here... Considering where his life started — as some unwanted child performing labor for a circus... This is probably more than he could've ever dreamed of. Life is good and life is fun!

I have to assume the details of his disguise were by Amane. I feel like if it were up to Tsukasa, he'd just match identically with Amane... it's probably Amane who is like 'no, you're not a nekomata... and actually, you could never even become one, ever, you'd be some kinked tail little thing'. Fetishistic perception of Tsukasa. The fact that Tsukasa could complain about his ears and tail is like, so funny to me, it makes it feel like it really is mostly for Amane's sake... He's the one trying to keep you his tasty little secret, shhh. I have to assume it's also Amane who wanted the reciprocation of giving Tsukasa a collar, since he's earing the one from when he was Tsukasa's pet in the past. Ugh, I swear it just represents that they own one another, mutual feelings...

So much going on here... and I have to accept this is just another world where Tsukasa is some tasty morsel. There is a biological urge to consume him. Again. Because it just feels so good and he is so delicious. Thanks I guess, iro... *i am frowning*

!! Bonus section for AUs featured in stand alone illustrations !!

🐹Hamster Owners🐭

Attached to one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE VOLUMES, is this baby. It's such a simple image, isn't it? But this is one of those things where I feel like, Ah. This was made for me, specifically... I love rodents... I love this style of little ferals, where they still have human heads — little sphinxes! Nene-chan hamster!! Tsukasa as some sort of little, mousey-wousy!! Incredible-!!!! The way Tsukasa is helplessly licking the outside of the water... he no understand. Ack... and then this young Amane!! 8 yo boy!! Peak boy!! In his shorts and with bandage booboos... clutching hamster cage bedding! Nrghhh! Pet owner Amane... yes, he's the 'owner' in the situation, and they're the pets. Ra urhghg!!! It's all so 'simple' but it's for me to adore!! It looks amazing!!!! It's feeding me endlessly, as a standalone image... (I've drawn too much porn of this AU... LOL)

🧹Maids📚

Haha, these feel like some random sketches Aida-sense did one day, just for fun. Maybe without much of a 'world' behind them... but they still give me pause! The Yugi's fancy rich lad quality coming out... Perhaps they are home schooled. While Nene is a servant to their household-!! God it's a good age gap here, she is very onee-san. The despicable charm of Amane splitting a donut with Nene and going shh, secret... Maybe it's unprofessional and not the sort of thing your parents would like, maybe you'd get in trouble for interrupting her from sweeping. But must do it still... Hehe. And Nene of course is like, oooh, okayyy~ Going along with...

Unforch at these ages, it's too easy to imagine Nene being like lol, handsome lil guy lol, teeheee, maybe he has a lil crush on me, so cute. Far too seamlessly going to make jokes like, ahh, well mayb e when you're older❤... Ohh, Amane-kun, how charming... I'll wait for you❤... (A particle of Nene's brain: but it would be nice if he grew up all handsome and I got to go from being a maid to a mistress of the house... swag...) All of this will get out of hand quickly. It's like a, give a mouse a cookie problem, you fuel this crush/concept, you will make Amane sick and entitled. He will like incel rage about it almost. I don't want to wait over a decade... I want my slaw

I'm tunnel vision ofc, would love to see Tsukasa tugging on Nene's dress as well. He's here too, he will have a crush too. Onene-san should have a lot on her plate.

❄️Kamome Skating School⛸

Splendid... incredible... marvelous... This image blessed my crops, as they say. In one fell swoop, it introduced me so many things. Simply, a world where the twins are alive, and together, and we're watching them about to skate together? (It's usually more ambiguous, where they overlap...) B-bandaged boy-!? Bandaged Amane-?!? Even just aesthetically, that's crazy, he's such a specific boy that is featured in highly specific contexts... but wait, so is living Tsukasa! He's really a rare sight! Double rarity! And then Tsukasa is, looking, amazing, with skates on his hands, I want to see him SKATE LIKE THIS!! I think he could do it.

And then, you just have Amane dazzled by this increble Nene... The super capable Nene, look at her! Amazing!! Show stopping! I'd love for her to be super good at skating, distinctly... Ah, again, a Nene confident enough to show her bare legs ;; I love when this is the case... Rare girlies... Ugh and I'm like, actually very attracted to figure skating and the kind of attire that goes with it, so I feel very very very very serviced. We really just barrelled into this AU and RP'd it excessively the month we got this illust... good times✨

🎶Idol Cup🎤

Much delight had here. To reiterate, I'm a simple idol otaku. I mostly like female idols but I'm into the general concept enough to be allured by the twins as a duo. They look amazing ww, it feels like Amane stans Tsukasa so hard here...

In the past, I was mostly keyed in on Tsukasa being mic'd up, but I realize Amane is as well, and they must be singing together. Duets... that's almost too much for me. I like to think the twins have 'the same voice' in reality, like how they work in the anime, just for ah. Some sort of eerie, unusual element to them. I wonder how much that would make their singing fascinating to hear... Would they blend seamlessly? The same voice, twice, harmonizing, echoing... IMO the twins are very talented and good at dancing/singing, but they can't win #1 because they are too creepy and incest vibes. It's like hmm it almost feels too scandalous, trashy. If only you two would gyrate less... but the women in the crowd ARE screaming.

Meanwhile: Nene back there makes me wanna cry, little cupcake. Littel cake topper wife. Help-!! !!! I want to talk to her backstage and invite her into our room lol, like come to our studio. Let me watch you sing and harmonize with Tsukasa... Really, I'd love to abduct her for a 3way routine, let's all have matching black and purple 'fits. And then I'll fuck you after the show just like I do my brother. Yaaaaaaa the crowd is going wild back there... Mmmm doesn't it just feel so good.

OK that's all I got in me. Enjoy

#☀️#💬#❤️🤍💜

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cantsayidont · 1 year ago

Text

Bat-Tin-Tin

In the fall of 1954, Rin Tin Tin returned as a TV star in a new ABC series called THE ADVENTURES OF RIN TIN TIN. Of course, it wasn't the original Rinty, who died in 1932, but one of the dogs who played the character was allegedly a descendant of the first Rin Tin Tin. The show, which had a Western setting, proved popular, running for five seasons and 164 episodes.

Toward the end of the first season in 1955, a new supporting character debuted in BATMAN: Ace, The Bat-Hound.

Although signed by Bob Kane, this story was drawn by artist Sheldon Moldoff, who was Kane's ghost for many years. (Kane drew little if any Batman art after the feature's early years, although he had a much more favorable deal with National than Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster did with Superman, so he got more credit and a steady paycheck.) Moldoff later admitted that Ace was modeled on TV's Rin Tin Tin — not that that's a particular surprise to anyone.

This was another case of DC striking while the iron was hot; the TV show debuted in mid-October 1954 and this issue was on newsstands by the end of the following April.

Next, we come to a controversial point that is much-mocked among comics fans: why Ace has a mask. The story explains it this way:

So, the point is not that people might discover the dog's secret identity, but that Bruce Wayne has JUST published a series of prominent newspaper ads with pictures of this specific dog, presumably also calling attention to his distinctive markings. (The forehead markings are emphasized more in dialogue than in the actual art, but that's another matter.) As comic book origins go, this really isn't THAT ridiculous.

Naturally, Bat-Hound proves an invaluable aide to the Caped Crusaders. Movie and TV dogs normally wait for cues from their handlers, but heroic dog characters must be more proactive:

Batman and Robin subsequently discover that Bat-Hound belongs to a man named John Wilker, an engraver, who has mysteriously disappeared, leaving his suburban cottage a shambles. Later, Bat-Hound detects a familiar scent on the scene of a robbery at General Paper Company:

Note that despite the mask, John Wilker immediately recognizes his own dog, whose real name we learn is Ace. Unfortunately, the pooch is swiftly knocked out again.

Fortunately, Bat-Hound is only out for a while. Guessing that he'll come around soon, the captured Batman and Robin contrive a … dubious plan.

Amazingly, this works:

Note that a reporter does in fact recognize Ace from Bruce Wayne's newspaper ad, so at least within the context of the story, Bruce and Dick's concerns were valid. Maybe not the MOST plausible pretense for giving the dog a bat-mask, but an effort was made.

Ace did indeed become Bat-Hound again, appearing next in BATMAN #97 (February 1956). In his early appearances, he was still John Wilker's dog, requiring some plot contrivances to explain how he was able to hang around with Batman and Robin, but this was resolved in BATMAN #125 (August 1959):

Wilker obviously knew that Ace had been Bat-Hound in the incident in which Ace, Batman, and Robin rescued him, but in Ace's interim appearances, Wilker was out of town or out of the country during his Bat-Hound exploits, so I guess he just didn't hear that Bat-Hound had returned, or something? (Continuity is not the strongest suit of these stories; there's some, but it's not what you'd call rigorous.)

Ace continued to appear semi-regularly through 1964, his adventures growing progressively sillier, but when Julius Schwartz took over as editor of BATMAN and DETECTIVE and instituted the "New Look," Ace was one of the various elements discarded from the series without so much as a nod.

Other versions of Ace have popped up since then — Batman ended up adopting another dog he called Ace in the early '90s, and the elderly Bruce Wayne in the pilot of BATMAN BEYOND has a mean guard dog named Ace. Ace appeared in the KRYPTO animated series and made several appearances in the 2009–2011 BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD animated series. Most recently, a version of Ace appeared in the DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS animated film, voiced by Kevin Hart; there, he's a shelter dog who befriends Krypto, and ends up gaining super-powers, which the original Ace never had.

There are people who really hate the concept of Bat-Hound, but I can say with assurance that there are far weirder (and far stupider) things in the vast lexicon of old Batman comics.

He's a good dog, Bront.

#comics #rin tin tin #batman #ace the bathound #sheldon moldoff #bill finger #robin

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sohannabarberaesque · 5 months ago

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We'd be interested to know, for one--

Who between Ted, Tina and Gilly keeps a running record of all the times Goober disappears and subsequently reappears vis-a-vis ghost and poltergeist sightings ...

Whether Hong Kong Phooey's preference for Chinese food (especially cashew chicken) is of the takeout or dine-in sort ...

Whether Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, in another of their common outbreaks of The Munchies, would actually go for cauliflower-crust pizza ...

What would go through Huckleberry Hound's mind in sipping on a bottle of Carolina's beloved Cheerwine on a lazy summer's Sunday afterlunch ...

What the Divin' Wolf Pups (as in Bon-Bon and Ding-a-Ling) find fascinating from their diving experiences generally ...

How Peter Potamus would react to one of his nephews or nieces as join him on an adventure among the uncharted side of Polynesia swimming with a dolphin for the first time, with the dolphin somehow taking a liking to the young hippo ...

How many bananas Magilla Gorilla can stand at one sitting before feeling full and bloated from the snack ...

#hanna barbera #headcannons #fanfic prompt #random musings #we'd be curious to know #hannabarberaforever

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therealaves-blog1 · 1 year ago

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I want the void to see my takes on Star Trek: Coda

They vaporize the site from orbit and the attack stops. Everyone counts their dead and Chen a friend of Taurik morns him but realizes he might have left some knowledge in her brain when they accidentally pseudo melded earlier.

The Aventine arrives with the DTI B team from Watching the Clock while Tom Paris and Belanna Torres back on Earth meet with the head of the DTI and big wig admiral (apparently a prior adventure had them remember Year of Hell, which is cool) so they can give time advice.

Dax and co beam over and everyone interrogates the prisoner whose in some kind of insane transporter prison thing due to being a time ghost. He confirms hes Devidian and is basically puppeting the time ghost body around. They find out theyre trying to kill anyone who can interfere, like Wes, but seem to imply the various god beings are sitting this one out to see how it lands. Wes confirms this as the orgainians, among others he tried to contact are gone. the time ghost mocks him, implying they’ve killed all the other travelers which upsets Wes. They get to admit that the intentional diverging of timelines and subsequent destruction is a stress test for their big idea. The time ghost disconnects and basically dies. But Wes manages to get an idea of where they might be hiding. In sickbay Picard and Beverly worry about whether Rene can be returned to his correct age and list off two separate episodes where that shit happened. Rene is apparently mumbling in his sleep. Wonder if that will become relevant later.

Wes, Picard, Chen, the DTI, and others hop on over to the Aventine where the more cool and based ship’s better tech can be used to time travel. Which they then do to that planet Picard and Wes saw, but this time to some few thousand years in their relative future. Whole section has a vibe of ‘Picard’s in charge here’ which sucks cause this is Dax’s ship and crew. Show some damn respect old man. Planets lit up with time bullshit and they go down in a shuttle finding some crystal bullshit. They go inside and its like a hub for access to different timelines and shit and is one of many installations networked together. Theyre attacked and start trying to hold them off while Wes does space magic to connect to it.

The Aventine is also attacked but because they are better than the Enterprise they hold them off more effectively. Theres a breach and attacks continue but they buy enough time to let engineering do a energy wave that kills everything. on the surface a ton of people die before another ghost shows up and is talking mad shit before it gets 86d by the security detail. Chen is injured and starts old aging, one of the DTI and most of the security team are killed before Wes finishes and they get beamed back up.

We skip ahead to their return to the Enterprise to learn that the end of the chapter where Dax was under attack? that oh yeah that was her fucking dying. We learn this from her sad second in command (now acting Captain) Sam Bowers, as he talks with Picard about how sad it is that Dax is dead. Host and worm.

BOOOOOOOOO, fuck this, how dare. Ezri deserved better, cant believe they’re just trash canning her before she even got to talk HER GOOD FRIEND WORF OR CAPTAIN SISKO OR KIRA. OR EVEN FUCKEN BASHIR. HOW DARE SIR HOW DARE.

I’m okay, im normal about Star Trek and can be trusted with material. Worf has another weird dream about fighting in the Ent D with the time ghosts and watching a security officer die. Hes weirded out but feels its important somehow and opts to discover it on his own. Its clearly Riker’s D that got got (teehee). Worf you have been through so much cosmic bullshit, I feel like not bringing this up straight away is a failure on your part. Your cool commanding officer (Sisko) straight up had religious visions and you were happy to engage with them. Now is not the time to revert to pre DS9 neuroses Worf.

Wes goes over the data and is like ‘Good news, we know what they’re up to. Bad news, oh fucking shit fucking good god no.’ So they’ve built a ton of those hubs across time space and different realities time and space. and they use them to funnel energy back to the main nucleus thing. They started with going into busted up timelines that were already near their end and triggering natural decay but this has expanded to higher and higher branch points along the timelines. with places that have natural time anomalies being inherently less stable. Wes muses whether this means that their branch can even be saved or if he’s done this many times on lower branches and this is just the furthest any version has gotten. Everyone is bummed out and they head for Earth to meet up with ol Bill Riker. End of book.

WORF DOESNT EVEN GET A REACTION TO EZRI’S DEATH. THAT IS BOTH HIS CLOSE FRIEND AND THE CONTAINER OF HIS LATE WIFE MEMORIES. HOW IS THERE NOT LIKE EVEN A MOMENT FOR HIM TO MOURN AND RAGE. BOOO. BOOO I SAY. BAD DEATH. EZRI DESERVED BETTER.

Next time, book 2, which opens with Sisko so Im already back in.

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themunofprovidence · 3 years ago

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I maxed out my tags so that’s why they end abruptly

OK but trans hunter is so funny to me

Cus

There's a few different things to consider here

Are All the grimwalkers trans???

Did Philip Know Caleb was trans??

Or did he make the first grimwalker n be like, hmmm,,,, that's,,, not quite right, must have gotten the spell wrong,,

Only for it to Keep happening

He's also like, a witch hunter christian from the 1600s, maybe he just Assumes it's a grimwalker thing??? His mind can't like, think up any other explanation

And if it always happens

Does he just raise them as boys, does Hunter even know he's trans??? Dudes never been around other kids his age, so like, gender stuff prob just confuses him

Or does belos just like, sit around, waiting for the next grimwalker to come up to him and awkwardly and timidly explain that they would prefer to be seen as a boy actually,

Only to be pleasantly surprised with how well belos took it, not knowing this is the 45th time he's done this

#ok so in my Pacrim Owlphibia AU I do explore this a bit but in a way that sidesteps wether or not he’s cis„ he gets temporarily stuck in a #female body for reasons and gets mad dysphoria about it and has to suffer through it until he can be put back in his own body (or at least a #body approximating it). I wasn’t originally gonna tell y’all the context but I will now. Amity takes the other path she could’ve taken in #Eclipse Lake and kills Hunter„ though she immediately feels horrible about it so Eda takes the body over to Chell from Portal who is on the #knee for reasons to ask her to resurrect Hunter. this is an AU wherein Aperture has extremely advanced and well utilized cloning and soul #transfer technology and is among the stuff Chell brought with her when she skadoodled away from our earth. Sidebar this Chell is an extremel #y powerful psion/esper/psyker because she is a massive agglomeration of different Chell souls from the various mergers of ghosts of cloned #Chells from her decade long test subject tenure under GLaDOS. she communicates via telepathy but is not all that good at it and unintentiona #lly broadcasts images of her time in Aperture along with loud white noise whenever she telepathomunicates. in a previous encounter at the en #d of Adventures In The Elements she used telepathy on Luz and Eda to scan their entire memories and though Luz didn’t get Jack but a headach #e and a nosebleed„ Eda was able to discern that Chell had died many many times and was subsequently cloned„ moreover that Chell is familiar #with the process and potentially even done it a few times on the isles. have I mentioned that Eda spent at least a solid decade on earth rig #ht around after she got cursed? I explore the concept of Eda being boiling isles diasoporic in the AU. so she knows what cloning is. anyway #yeah Eda brings Hunter’s corpse to Chell and thankfully his soul is still in there but due to him being a grimmwalker there’s some complicat #ions in regards to regenerating or cloning the body„ so they have to shunt Hunter’s soul somewhere in the interim before he passes on. I hav #e three ideas about that: a soul blackbox (which is only to be used temporarily because it features the ‘relive the past five minutes for an #alysis’ feature as seen in GLaDOS)„ a personality core (Chell didn’t bring or make any)„ or put him in one of Chell’s so far unused clone ba #ckups„ preferably one that hasn’t fully formed relative to specification ergo more or less his age. they do this option after briefly puttin #g him in a blackbox so that he doesn’t go into the light while they discuss about it all. and do you wanna know the best part? I thought of #all this back at the end of 2a or early mid-season hiatus. the fact that I can further use this to explore Hunter being the philosophical #foil to Chell in their stances on the identity of clones (Chell is a staunch believer that all clones are identical in identity ie the same #person„ as informed by her being an aggar.io of Chell ghosts. Hunter is a believer that all clones are unique regardless of similarity„ they #are all their own individual people„ though they are still all FAMILY. I have it that he knew exactly the implications of the Hollow Mind #reveal in that he is the most recent in a long line of manufactured and duplicated people„ why else would he call the past guards family lik #e that when there was no previous indication that GG was a hereditary position? especially since Belos + collector were being very clear abo #t him being made and replaceable and furthermore a replacement for many before him. it was a choice to call them family and he knows exactly #what the details are. the circumstances.) is just icing on the cake here. I mean golly do I get to explore identity in extreme length and de #tail in this AU„ it and love are basically the full throughline of my current narrative span of 700 years. have I mentioned that Pacrim Owlp #hibia takes place over the course of 700 years? the first 5 of which not including time skips? I’d already made Anne into a god while simult #aneously indited the general big picture mindset of the 3 stones god before season 3b started airing. specifically towards the current final

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im-totally-not-an-alien-2 · 3 years ago

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Au where when Jason died he became a ghost in the Ghost Zone/ Infinity Realms and became friends with a bunch of child ghosts. They never knew how or why he disappeared one day, but continued playing together hopping that one day he'd come back and tell them all about his newest adventure.

The day they met Phantom was a fun one! There was a huge explosion and when they went to investigate there was this white haired kid just floating through the rubble of rocks and weird metal, completely unconscious. He reminded them so much of thier lost Robin, so of course they adopted him into thier group.

One day a new ghost was telling them stories about the superheros in the living realm and they learned that Robin was apparently alive and with this scary bat guy who ruled a city with fear. That didn't sound like something thier Robin would be okay with so being little kids, they came to the conclusion that Robin was being held against his will and thats why he never returned to play with them.

Featuring: Phantom and other ghost children sneaking around Mt. Justice, breaking into the Watchtower, Danny overshadowing an old computer and becoming 8-bit for a while, Martian Manhunter playing with the children and pretending to be vanquished via foam sword, Damian (as Robin) getting kidnapped-called a liar for claiming to be Robin-thrown into a closet for "being mean"-and subsequently forgotten about, Red Robin also gets kidnapped and it goes way better and the kids play with him a while and explain they're looking for thier friend who was a hero named Robin. Tim puts the pieces together and subtly informs the League whats been happening.

Jason gets called in and freezes upon seeing the ghosts and feeling the pit water stur before he runs away screaming when they run towards him. Them calling him by both his civilian name and "Robin" and asking him to "come back" and "play with us" did not help

Later, the JL whisper-fights in the meeting room cause all the children are scattered around sleeping (some in peoples laps) when Phantom (from where he's asleep in Batmans lap) has a glowing ring appear around him and changed his form.

Hearing the commotion, one of the kids wakes up just long enough to tell them "Oh yeah. Phantom randomly gets revived sometimes. He'll go back to normal in a few hours." Before conking out again.

#fanfiction prompts #prompts #dp x dc #danny phantom #batman #justice league #rescue mission #jason todd #red hood #damian is big mad #tim has children hanging off of him and has to take a deep breath #grayson had childhood hanging off of him and tried to teach them backflips #jason is not okay #robin #red robin #tim drake #everyone is confused about everything #chaos is everywhere

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psychopersonified · 2 years ago

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Got a Theory… don’t we all 😏

Yes the Primary story being told is Interview with the Vampire.

But I feel that Secondary story that is happening in Dubai with Daniel mirrors Louis’ theme in Merrick. Louis wants to reconnect with Claudia’s ghost. Her diary (i.e her point of view) feature prominently. David (now Daniel) is a witness and an enabler in this odyssey. Louis even tears out a page of the diary so that Merrick can make the spell to bring her spirit back.

In Merrick, Louis is forced to read an entry in the diary that is a confession of sorts as to her motive - driven by anger against her fathers who made her the way she is. Her need for retribution/redress for her fate/pain. She hates them BOTH - and her plot is to maximise pain on both of them. Despite this, Louis still wants to communicate with her to help/comfort/guide her soul.

Yes the ghost isn’t really Claudia according to Merrick. But it’s really still about Louis trying to make things RIGHT in his mind. This is essentially his justification for his suicide - wanting his death to mean something or giving him the courage to finally act on his suicidal thoughts. In the series, his motivation for the interview is to be a warning about some apocalypse, this might be true, but it might also be a pretense - Rashid already hints at this.

I think we’re going to see the same Merrick themes occur for Louis in the series. Like in Merrick, those torn pages might be the lynchpin to bringing about his understanding. As he works through the events and diaries with Daniel there are going to be revelations that throw his perceptions into chaos. It either sends him further into a tailspin, or because this Louis is a stronger one, it finally pushes him into the final stage of grief - acceptance.

This acceptance will be the catalyst for his reunion (hopefully) with Lestat (and/or Claudia if she survived) It allows him to be with Lestat (or his vampire family) the way he always wanted but could not because of guilt.

Season 2 can then be the rich complex story of how Lestat (and maybe Claudia) reach the same ‘place’ of acceptance as Louis. And so we get our happy-ish closure in regards to their relationship. Then we can dive into adventures and shenanigans in subsequent seasons.

#amc iwtv spoilers #iwtv spoilers #amc interview with the vampire #interview with the vampire #iwtv 2022 #vctv #amc iwtv #loustat #iwtv amc

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landinoandco · 3 years ago

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Our Love is a Game

Lando Norris x Reader

Request from @jamieeboulos

Warnings: pinch of fluff, cute ending because they are the best

Word count: 2.7 k

Requests are open :)

It all started with a phone number, an innocent exchange that would subsequently change the world you knew; mostly for the better. When you had met Lando, as far as you were concerned you had just met a 21 year old who lived in London and had a passion for cars. How wrong you were. It was only when things started to get serious that he sat you down and explained everything that came with being a formula one driver; more importantly the fandom that he was involved in.

You had always been a private person and admittedly this piece of information almost broke your relationship but after some time to think you had decided that he was worth it all. You both decided it was a better idea to keep your relationship as quiet as possible - you took every precaution to make sure you stayed a stranger to the fans.

For the past 2 years, you thought you had managed to stay clear of the cameras, the photos and the twitch streams but it wasn’t until a fan-made compilation caused your world to spiral out of control.

You and Lando were out for a run, it was a part of your morning routine - a great way to start the day and it was time that you two could escape the motor sport world and act like a normal couple without worrying about who might be watching. It was time you both valued and appreciated. On this particular morning, Lando had decided to add to his Instagram story, a short video of his morning adventures - the mist still hanging around the trees as you ran under a heavily graffitied bridge, the early birds song chirping animatedly. At the time you didn’t think much of it as you were too busy tying your hair back up to notice.

It wasn’t until you got home and looked at his story that your heart stopped, rushing over to the kitchen island you placed your phone down and ran your fingers through your hair. It was a blink and you’ll miss it moment but in the corner of his video - the last millisecond before it ended - there was a flash of a purple top (the purple top you had been wearing) and a swish of brown hair as you chucked it back up into a ponytail.

“Lando.” You called out, trying to keep your voice as calm as you could. You didn’t know why it had affected you so much - or why you were so desperate to keep your identity a secret. It wasn’t like you wanted to hide your relationship; you were the happiest you ever had been, everyday was exciting and offered new prospects - it was more that you were so used to being in this bubble with Lando, the idea of it bursting seemed rather unappealing. Usually you didn’t care for how others saw you but seeing some of the words that people used to describe him, it would be enough to trouble even the thickest of skins.

Lando’s close proximity broke your thoughts as he stared down at your phone, pausing on the flash of brown and purple. “I am so sorry, love.” He almost whispered, his eyes widening at his carelessness. He picked your phone up to take a closer look.

“It will be alright, won’t it? I mean, it’s a blink and you’ll miss it.” You had said, more to reassure yourself than Lando. He didn’t answer, anxiety building in the pit of his stomach because he knew exactly what he had started.

The fan-made compilation didn’t go viral until a few hours later - as it turns out that flash of purple was the perfect cherry on top of an unappetising cake. Lando was sat on stream - not that this was out of the ordinary and Max had decided to join him, leaving you alone to rewatch Friends for the umpteenth time.

The pair were sat reacting to videos on YouTube when a clip of a seal swimming into a shoal of fish started playing - the amusing part was that they kept quickly dispersing away from the seal in question. Unsurprisingly, they laughed and Lando spluttered: “This is me trying to find a girlfriend.” What the fans didn’t know was the apparent irony of that sentence and this was what caused the major meltdown; whilst Lando and Max were busy crying with laughter - that chat had filled up with the same link and references to the video you would be redirected through.

Max was the first to stop laughing, tapping Lando on the shoulder as he pointed at the chat. Hundreds of the same message filled the screen: “That’s not what this compilation shows.” “Lando, what are you hiding from us?” “Lando and Max laughing knowing very well he has a girlfriend.”

“Chat what on earth are you waffling on about.” Max chuckled uneasily, looking at Lando out of the corner of his eye. Lando sat with a forced smile, his nostrils flaring as he continued through the comments. He could only let out a tense laugh as he swallowed thickly - his throat feeling suddenly dry. You were still sitting, completely engrossed and unaware that Lando Norris was now trending on twitter.

Max had come up with an excuse to end the stream not long after, Lando uncharacteristically quiet. His thoughts were with you in the other room, had you seen it? Did you know? How would you react? He felt as though he had lost all control, like he had failed you entirely - all he wanted to do was protect you yet he was the one to screw it up.

“Hey,” Max nudged his shoulder, “It was bound to happen at some point. Let’s go and see if she’s seen it - if not then -” He took a deep breath, “We will watch it together. We need to know what we are working with here.” Lando nodded, unable to reply, his body went into automatic pilot mode and too quickly he was standing facing you.

Pausing the tv, you looked at Lando - his jaw tightened and facial expressions set as though he had just seen a ghost. “Is everything ok?” You asked apprehensively.

“There’s something you need to see.” Max reached for his phone, pushing Lando onto the sofa. You offered your arm to Lando, pulling him into a hug. Max pulled up the video and pressed play. A tense atmosphere held the room hostage - breath restricted and gazes fixed onto the tiny screen in front of you.

It started with a clip from this year’s Goodwood - Lando preparing to drive his last hill climb - you remembered it well, a McLaren hat placed on your head mainly to cover your identity; knowing that there would be more than a few fans around. The clip moved to 3 separate stills - all of you in your McLaren hat. One with your back to the camera, you hand placed around Lando’s waist, the other two a side profile as you spoke to Max.

The reaction was immediate, you slapped your hand to your mouth, Lando looked horror-struck and Max was watching you carefully.

The video moved on, this time a clip from the quadrant video where Niran trains like Lando for 24 hours - Lando and Niran were in the kitchen preparing to eat their breakfast when once again the video moved to stills. This time they were of your reflection in the oven - holding the camera. You had thought at the time, if you were behind the camera it would stop every chance of you accidentally being caught on camera. Apparently not.

The video had moved on again, this time to stills of Lando arriving on track - of course there was no way for you to get on track without being photographed and you were fine with that because you would just arrive after Lando either with Jon or Charlotte. Photos of you arriving with Jon and Charlotte flashed up - with them you were just another member of staff but put with those other stills and it really did yell out that you and Lando were romantically involved. Finally the flash of purple from Lando’s story. The game was up.

“Oh my-” You stuttered as the video came to an end. Fortunately your Instagram hadn’t been shown but judged by how skilled you knew the fans to be - it would only be a matter of time. “I feel sick.” You admitted, wiping your hands across your face. Lando still hadn’t said a word, staring blankly at the floor. Max was the first to come up with something logical, turning to you and Lando.

“It will blow over.” He started, “The fans will soon lose interest and move onto the next big headline. We just need to ignore anything we see regarding the subject.” He moved his attention to you. “Maybe avoid social media for a few days. Let everyone cool down -” Sensing your means to interrupt, he held his hand up. “I know you shouldn’t have to and I know none of this is fair but unfortunately people have no boundaries and believe because it’s on social media it is their business. If they were in our situation, I’m pretty sure they would be the first to complain. Let’s just go along with it for now. It will give you time to think about what to do next.”

Lando cleared his throat, pulling you closer into him. “I’ve failed you. All I wanted to do was protect you.” At this, Max got up and left.

Shaking your head, you pressed your lips to his forehead. “You could never. Think about how long we kept it secret for. Besides, until we announce or admit anything - it isn’t confirmed.” You offered, trying to soothe his worries. He nodded, still not convinced.

“Our love is like a game and it’s not a game I enjoy playing.” He croaked, lacing your fingers together.

“I know, Lando, I know. Let’s let everything calm down and then we can think about what our next step is.”

Weeks later and it was the night before you were due to leave for your summer holiday. You would be spending it with Lando and some of his friends and family. Due to the current pandemic, it had been so long since you had been away - even if it was a bigger group of you going; you were still looking forward to spending that quality time with Lando.

Max had decided to take himself and Tom off to the streaming room - leaving you and Lando to sort out the remaining items you needed for your time away.

“I have a present for you.” He said suddenly, his hands behind his back. You beamed, taking a step closer to him. He shook his head, “If you want it - “ He pointed at his lips.

Rolling your eyes, you pecked his lips then held out your hands like a child. Lando chuckled, “Close your eyes.” Hands still outstretched and eyes closed, you waited for Lando to present you with your surprise. He grasped your left wrist and attached something to it - “No peeking.” He added. A moment or two later, he dropped his hold of your wrist and said: “You can open them now.” You could hear the smile on his lips. You opened your eyes and looked straight to your wrist - he had given you a pink watch. You furrowed your eyebrows and looked up at him, his eyes twinkled as he then pointed to the orange watch on his wrist.

“Watches?” You asked, confusion laced your tone.

Nodding, he said, “We all have matching watches but in different colours - they are for our holiday away.”

You gave him a lopsided grin and wrapped your arms around his neck, “I love it. Thank you.”

In the streaming room, Max was having to ignore the majority of the comments because they were all asking the same thing: “Who was the girl from the compilation.” He was trying his hardest to keep moving off the topic, instead showing off the watches - it had been his idea, blue for him, orange for Lando, a child’s watch for Tom and a pink watch for you. He had listed off all of the colours and said who they belonged to: “And then pink-” He paused, mentally face palming. He looked over to Tom for assistance - he hadn’t meant to say pink at all. “And pink is for someone.” He cursed his poor excuse but as if by magic - Lando walked through the door.

Distracting the stream from his slip up.

Croatia was a dream come true, the hot summer sun on your back and the time to just relax and recharge. Days spent with Lando sunbathing on the boat or stuck in a tense game of Uno. Not being the only female was brilliant as well - as they got to go off and not feel guilty about leaving you on your own.

Currently, you and Lando were standing in each other's arms - the afternoon drawing into the evening as the sun began to set. You had your arms around his neck and his arms were around your waist, sighing contentedly you broke the silence: “This is nice.” He pressed his lips into your hair, a sign that he agreed with your statement. In that moment, it was just you and him - everyone seemed to disappear from around you and all worries vanished. It was the simple yet affectionate moments that had always meant the most to you. You felt as though you could relax every muscle in your body, listening to his steady heartbeat - you wished for this moment to never end, to forever be in his arms and to not worry about who sees you there.

Ever since that compilation had been made, the thought had been on your mind a lot. Were you ready to go public with Lando? At the end of the day you were both happy and surely that was the most important thing.

Later that night, you were sitting eating your meal when a phone was handed to you, displayed on it was a picture of you and Lando - in each other’s arms.

Instantly you knew what this meant, looking at Lando you were met with the same expression. He did as well.

You and Lando had decided it was time to announce your relationship, there was no point sneaking around anymore if people knew and were looking out for you. You had agreed that the best way to do it was if you joined him in a stream, that way they got to know you a bit more for who you were.

“Is it ok to feel as nervous as I am?” You asked him, pulling up a chair beside him. He was setting up the stream, two mugs of tea placed in front of you. It seemed completely unnatural to sit facing the camera.

“I mean, this is kind of a big deal so yes I would say, it’s completely natural for you to feel nervous.” He reached for your hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of it. Nodding, you took a deep breath.

“Ok. I’m ready.” You said, your heart beating at a million miles an hour. The corners of his lips turned up, leaning in to leave you a kiss on the lips.

“I love you and I’m so proud of you.” He admitted quietly, as though you were the only person in the world, his eyes flickered with complete adoration.

“I love you too. Now, shall we start it?”

Lando went to press the start stream button but paused. He turned back to face you, his eyes wide and offered an apologetic smile.

“What did you do?” You asked, a smile toying at your lips as you had an idea of what it might have been.

“Stream, meet my girlfriend.”

He had already started it...

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