#and we will witness it happen godspeed

[iersei]

ALRIGHT Y'ALL I NEED YOU TO LISTEN.

listen to me my beloved glennfucker community and also assorted people that are witnessing the madness. hi and thank you for sticking around.

i won't lie to you. it IS disheartening as all hell to see the numbers go down. but i need you all to remember that we are a relatively cozy little fandom going up against one of the biggest and most active staples in the podcast community.

it would have been a little naive to believe we could only move forward. they're a powerhouse among the community, and they are fully capable of pushing back. we're going to see these numbers fluctuate. we're going to see us lose a little ground.

but we can also see one hell of a fight.

we are the underdog here, and that means we gotta bite and scratch and claw our way up here BUT I HAVE FULL BELIEF THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS AS CLOSE (heh) A FIGHT AS POSSIBLE. KEEP HOLDING ON WITH EVERYTHING YOU GOT AND REMEMBER THAT WE CAN MAKE. THIS. HAPPEN.

I WANT TO HEAR YOU ALL MAKE SOME NOISE. IF WE MAKE THIS A FIGHT, WE'VE ALREADY WON IN MY HEART.

GODSPEED EVERYONE AND LET'S FUCKING DO THIS.

[GO VOTE GLENN CLOSE HERE.]

[aura-acolyte]

Off-Screen Event: Fall of the Titan

(Music Box: Vs. Regi Trio from Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire)

“Oh come on! This again!” Mare shouted. “How did it even get above us!”

Regirock slammed its fist down towards the group, who all dodged out of the way.

“The Titans know this tree better than any Pokemon but Mew.” Sir Aaron explained. “They can get anywhere they want.” 

Mare kicked Regirock, causing it to stumble backwards towards Sir Aaron. Thankfully, he was a ghost so Regirock just went through him.

“Its strange, though.” Aaron said, rubbing his chin. “Usually they don’t enter the Altar Room. Something must be very wrong.” “Yeah no shit!” Mare shouted. 

Regirock attempted to bring its arm down onto Kyoshi but Mare threw herself in the way just in time, grabbing Regirock’s arm with both hands. The Rock Peak Pokemon continued to try to push downwards on Mare with one arm and lifted the other one to fire a barrage of rocks at Kazoku, which hit straight on.

“A little help!” Mare called.

“On it!” Kyoshi shouted, launching an Aura Sphere at Regirock’s arm.

The arm crumbled away, freeing Mare. She tossed the boulder that was its hand(?) to the side. Unfortunately, much like in the canyon, Regirock was able to reform its arm with ease.

“That’s it, Regirock is definitely my least favorite Legendary!” Mare shouted. “Let’s end this!”

She held up her forearm and tapped her Keystone with her pointer and middle fingers. And nothing happened. Because Kyoshi had just given her Lucarionite to Mosa.

“Son of a bitch.” Mare swore. She reached for Kaen’s Pokeball and then looked around the room. There was barely enough room for all of them plus the Regirock as it was. Kaen would just make the close quarters situation worse.

“Riley! You and Mosa need to Mega Evolve!” Mare called.

“What? But Sir Aaron said it was dangerous!” Riley shouted.

“It is!” Mare agreed. “But its that or we die! Normally I wouldn’t push somebody to do this but we have no choice!”

“I agree.” Mosa said. “I know the risks but we’re out of options.” Riley took a deep breath. “Alright.” He held up his forearm much like he’d witnessed Mare do and tapped his keystone with his pointer and middle fingers. As his and Mosa’s stones began to glow he thrust his arm into the air. Mosa was encased in a sphere of solid energy emblazoned with the Mega Evolution symbol. Then it shattered, sending out a wave of energy and revealing Mega Lucario.

It was different from when Kyoshi and Kazoku did it, though. When they did it they had complete control. Mosa, however, was full of barely contained rage. He was breathing heavily.

“Mosa?” Riley asked, worried.

Mosa looked back. There was rage in his eyes. But behind that rage, a flash of recognition. He turned around and dashed straight towards the Regirock, punching through it. Quickly, Regirock reformed but Mosa turned around and slammed straight through it again. And again and again and again.

Finally, Mosa finished off by leaping into the air and bringing a kick down onto Regirock’s head… knocking it straight through the floor and all the way to the ground below.

“We have to get down there!” Riley shouted.

“No problem.” Zinnia said, releasing Myrtle the Altaria and mounting her. “Climb on.”

Mare, Riley, Kyoshi, and Kazoku (who had just finished excavating himself from the rubble) did so.

“Godspeed, you four.” Sir Aaron said, tipping his hat to them. “And good luck.”

----

They arrived on the ground to the sight of Mosa violently punching what appeared to be the remains of Regirock. Noticeably, it was not reforming. Riley ran towards Mosa.

“Mosa!” He shouted. “Please stop! Its done! You defeated it!”

Mosa turned around. His breathing was heavy and ragged. He looked ready to attack anyone and anything in sight. But then he collapsed to his knees, exhausted. The Mega Evolution wore off, returning him to being a regular Lucario.

Riley ran over to Mosa and helped him up. “Mosa, are you okay?”

“No, I am not.” Mosa said. “That was… terrifying. But also… amazing. I have never felt that level of power before. I never want to do it again but at the same time I want to do it again.”

“Is this normal for Mega Evolution?” Riley asked.

Kyoshi nodded. “Yes. But with proper training one can learn to control it.”

“I want… to undergo this training.” Mosa said.

“Are you sure?” Riley asked.

“Maybe we should save this for later.” Kazoku said. “We are still no closer to finding Mew.” “You’re right.” Riley said. He took out Mosa’s Pokeball and returned him to it. “Get a good rest, okay.” 

Meanwhile, Zinnia was searching through the remains of Regirock. She wasn’t particularly worried about the Titan, legends said it would reform soon, so she figured she might as well poke around and see what she could learn. Most of it wasn’t that interesting but there was one thing that stood out to her. A glowing four-sided pyramid. Cautiously, she picked it up and looked it over.

“Hey, guys, come take a look at this.”

Everyone did so, Kazoku limping from being crushed by boulders. They all crowded around Zinnia.

“What is it?” Riley asked.

“Not sure.” Zinnia said.

Suddenly, recognition adorned Kazoku’s face. “I recognize that. It’s…”

But before he could finish a claw attached to a rope shot out of nowhere and snatched the pyramid out of Zinnia’s hands.

(Music Box: Team Galactic Appears! from Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl)

“Mine!” Said a woman with silver hair descending from the sky on a Jetpack. The claw had come from a gauntlet on her arm. “Thanks for defeating Regirock for me, by the way.”

[nicklloydnow]

"We look in amazement at the processes underway in the countries which have been traditionally looked at as the standard-bearers of progress. Of course, the social and cultural shocks that are taking place in the United States and Western Europe are none of our business; we are keeping out of this. Some people in the West believe that an aggressive elimination of entire pages from their own history, 'reverse discrimination' against the majority in the interests of a minority, and the demand to give up the traditional notions of mother, father, family and even gender, they believe that all of these are the mileposts on the path towards social renewal.

"Listen, I would like to point out once again that they have a right to do this, we are keeping out of this. But we would like to ask them to keep out of our business as well. We have a different viewpoint, at least the overwhelming majority of Russian society – it would be more correct to put it this way – has a different opinion on this matter. We believe that we must rely on our own spiritual values, our historical tradition and the culture of our multiethnic nation.

"The advocates of so-called 'social progress' believe they are introducing humanity to some kind of a new and better consciousness. Godspeed, hoist the flags as we say, go right ahead. The only thing that I want to say now is that their prescriptions are not new at all. It may come as a surprise to some people, but Russia has been there already. After the 1917 revolution, the Bolsheviks, relying on the dogmas of Marx and Engels, also said that they would change existing ways and customs and not just political and economic ones, but the very notion of human morality and the foundations of a healthy society. The destruction of age-old values, religion and relations between people, up to and including the total rejection of family (we had that, too), encouragement to inform on loved ones – all this was proclaimed progress and, by the way, was widely supported around the world back then and was quite fashionable, same as today. By the way, the Bolsheviks were absolutely intolerant of opinions other than theirs.

"This, I believe, should call to mind some of what we are witnessing now. Looking at what is happening in a number of Western countries, we are amazed to see the domestic practices, which we, fortunately, have left, I hope, in the distant past. The fight for equality and against discrimination has turned into aggressive dogmatism bordering on absurdity, when the works of the great authors of the past – such as Shakespeare – are no longer taught at schools or universities, because their ideas are believed to be backward. The classics are declared backward and ignorant of the importance of gender or race. In Hollywood memos are distributed about proper storytelling and how many characters of what color or gender should be in a movie. This is even worse than the agitprop department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

"Countering acts of racism is a necessary and noble cause, but the new 'cancel culture' has turned it into 'reverse discrimination' that is, reverse racism. The obsessive emphasis on race is further dividing people, when the real fighters for civil rights dreamed precisely about erasing differences and refusing to divide people by skin color. I specifically asked my colleagues to find the following quote from Martin Luther King: 'I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by their character.' This is the true value. However, things are turning out differently there. By the way, the absolute majority of Russian people do not think that the color of a person's skin or their gender is an important matter. Each of us is a human being. This is what matters.

"In a number of Western countries, the debate over men’s and women’s rights has turned into a perfect phantasmagoria. Look, beware of going where the Bolsheviks once planned to go – not only communalizing chickens, but also communalizing women. One more step and you will be there.

"Zealots of these new approaches even go so far as to want to abolish these concepts altogether. Anyone who dares mention that men and women actually exist, which is a biological fact, risk being ostracized. 'Parent number one' and 'parent number two,' 'birthing parent' instead of 'mother,' and 'human milk' replacing 'breastmilk' because it might upset the people who are unsure about their own gender. I repeat, this is nothing new; in the 1920s, the so-called Soviet Kulturtraegers also invented some newspeak believing they were creating a new consciousness and changing values that way. And, as I have already said, they made such a mess it still makes one shudder at times.

"Not to mention some truly monstrous things when children are taught from an early age that a boy can easily become a girl and vice versa. That is, the teachers actually impose on them a choice we all supposedly have. They do so while shutting the parents out of the process and forcing the child to make decisions that can upend their entire life. They do not even bother to consult with child psychologists – is a child at this age even capable of making a decision of this kind? Calling a spade a spade, this verges on a crime against humanity, and it is being done in the name and under the banner of progress.

(…)

"This conservative approach is not about an ignorant traditionalism, a fear of change or a restraining game, much less about withdrawing into our own shell. It is primarily about reliance on a time-tested tradition, the preservation and growth of the population, a realistic assessment of oneself and others, a precise alignment of priorities, a correlation of necessity and possibility, a prudent formulation of goals, and a fundamental rejection of extremism as a method. And frankly, in the impending period of global reconstruction, which may take quite long, with its final design being uncertain, moderate conservatism is the most reasonable line of conduct, as far as I see it. It will inevitably change at some point, but so far, do no harm – the guiding principle in medicine – seems to be the most rational one. Noli nocere, as they say.

"Again, for us in Russia, these are not some speculative postulates, but lessons from our difficult and sometimes tragic history. The cost of ill-conceived social experiments is sometimes beyond estimation. Such actions can destroy not only the material, but also the spiritual foundations of human existence, leaving behind moral wreckage where nothing can be built to replace it for a long time.”

��Since, in the Marxist framework, removing oppression is the primary way of bringing about the future, philosophy is subordinated to politics. As Marx wrote, “Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.” In Marxism, reason is not something universally accessible to all; it is the tool that certain radically free people use to impose their will on existence. This creates a contradiction: how can anyone change the world if history is inevitably going to culminate in communism? And if all philosophy is just a reflection of economic arrangements, is the same not true of Marxism?

This contradiction bifurcated Marxism along two different paths. The first path embraced the revolutionary philosopher, while the other one embraced history. The first path led to Lenin, the revolution, and the Soviet Union. The second path led to us. Del Noce wrote, “Marxism has ended up being a stage in the development of the technological and affluent society, which accepts all [of Marxism’s] negations of traditional thought but at the same time eliminates its messianic and (in its own way) religious aspect.” Marx’s vision was achieved by his ostensible enemy.

Long before it became obvious, Del Noce wrote that “the alliance between the technocratic right and the cultural left is there for everyone to see.” He argued that liberalism “sublimated,” or absorbed, various aspects of Marxism, transforming into what he called “the technological society.” Bourgeois society always had two historical enemies: revolutionary thought and religious thought. As a synthesis of these opposites, Marxism provided bourgeois society with the tool needed to defeat both. Our society largely embraces Marx’s historical vision: advancing technologies are viewed as de facto proof that the question of God, and all transcendent values, are irrelevant. Yet this vision of history is also turned onto Marxism itself. Communism was tried and it was a failed experiment. The technological society does not have to enlist any religious or moral claims to reject Communism. It simply dismisses Communism as inefficient.

(…)

Del Noce paints a landscape of a society that rejects all traditional values in the name of a supposedly neutral rationality, has a caste of revolutionary-cum-technocratic experts who function like gnostic priests, and engages in near-constant, system-approved “revolution.” This revolution was separate from Marxism, and was encapsulated in a sentence written by Friedrich Engels: “the thesis that reality is rational leads, according to Hegelian dialectics, to this other one: everything that exists deserves to die.” Del Noce wrote that “the revolutionary is the executioner of a death sentence that history has pronounced.” But since the radically bourgeois society rejects all transcendent values, its revolutionaries offer only negation. “The global rebellion becomes an absurd revolt against what exists” or what once existed. It becomes either a silly attempt to escape reality or a tool of the system it is revolting against. It should be obvious how this explains the woke, but it also shows how the anti-woke offer a mirror image.

There are many, like James Lindsay and John McWhorter, who champion “Enlightenment values” in the face of the woke. They praise things like reason, rationality, and positivism in the face of a new religious fervor. The miracle of rationality fought off the forces of religious superstition, we are told, and we must be vigilant not to slide back into the shadows of irrationality. Del Noce might call this “the Enlightenment after Marxism.” It is a mythic narrative that its proponents fail to see as myth.

Carl Schmitt once wrote that American financiers and Russian Bolsheviks were engaged in a common struggle. That synthesis is now complete. Del Noce helps us see how this synthesis is at the root of today’s most pressing issues, and how those who want to fight the woke cannot retreat into the static categories of the 20th century. Decomposed Marxism limits our ability to see a new horizon, and the future seems impossibly hopeless because so few are willing to reassess past mistakes.”

[rebelliouslala]

4 Something

warnings- character death, language, cult like behavior, angst

word count- 1.7k

You had been introduced to everyone, but to be honest, you felt as if you could not memorize the men you had just met.

To be fair, there were 16 other men.

Selen was the eldest, and therefore the elder brother figure of the entire Pound. Mouse was the youngest. He was an “intern” at the Dream Gems. He sat next to Chenle, and whispered to him quietly in Korean. He looked so small in this gang. You assumed he had to join when he was possibly younger than you became a member in the Ripple.

Selen had made you meet the others, and even repeat their names. Victory sighed as he endured everyone hugging him and strangely calling him Orpheus. Selen, surprisingly, went quick. With each snap of his fingers, as if it were the 1920’s, he pointed and named.

Your head spun with the names; You only went by small descriptions to memorize each man. And even then, you had no idea. Osaka, or Herac was sitting next to a lean man, Zeus. This man was lanky, but smiled widely and laughed as he sang.

The one that Johnny sat next to, with his statuesque face was Aphrodite. He was breathtaking. Gogo- Hermes, was faced away from a very energetic boy, with feathery hair, Helios. You looked at another man, with a pinched nose, named Athene. Selen sat next to him. You stared at him, and he nodded at you silently. 

And in this room, Johnny was not even referred to his name, his English nor Korean, but as Ares. You held his hand under the table.

“So, Eos has made this, Psy is their name, as a new spy. Now, Athene will make the plan.” Selen said loudly.

The man mentioned nodded, before he did a double take. “What? Hyung—?”

“Eos orders.”

Athene blinked, and he stood up, quietly kicking you.

“OW.” You stated with disgust, glaring up.

“Oh! Pardon me, would you mind punching Selen?” Athene said like a gent. 

There was an ahem. The man who made the noise placed his hands under his chin. “Continue, Athene.” Aphrodite said with a coolness.

The other man sighed quietly, but he got out a scroll. It was curled, but he laid it out so everyone can see. Yuta -you didn’t even want to try to remember his name-, helped it keep it open with his elbow, and another boy who was introduced as Songbird, who smiled up at Athene.

Athene now read loudly, “My fellow Gods, demigods and mortals; we invite a new, fellow mortal by the name of Psy. They have a chance to take down our enemy. Because of this, all business is now closed. We will be quiet and we will,” Athene leaned closer, muttering to himself in Korean, “We will now not be active. Herac, Dolphin, Psy and Ares, shall all go to the West Side and take the corrupt Ripple down. Any news from our spies will be delivered by Songbird and Orpheus.” Athene sighed as he pulled away, “With Godspeed, Eos.”

You hid your smirk at his flat tone. Perhaps Eos was too much of a narcissist to even realize his team was much too sick of his dramatics.

Athene pulled the scroll back, and he blinked. “Any questions?”

“Yeah.” You crossed your arms, “Is Eos okay?”

Aphrodite scoffed and he looked at you through his lashes. The other men, including Selen, scoffed and harrumphed at your response.

“Well don’t look at me like I’m some sort of goon.” You stood up. “You all might’ve thought the same.”

“Eos,” said the young man you saw training earlier, you believe his name was Achilles, “Is a God among us. I am lucky to be seen as a demigod—,”

“Oh my god.” You rolled your eyes as you grabbed Johnny’s shoulder, and whispered loudly, “What a cult, am I right?”

“Psy,” he whispered with guilt.

You turned, and sighed, holding the bridge of your nose as you looked upon everything. The shining waxed table. The white suits everyone wore. Their stares. How they all looked down.

“I’m going to take down the Ripple my way. Chenle—,”

“He is known as Dolphin!” Orpheus, started.

“Not another word out of your mouth.” You glared at him, before turning away, gently tapping Johnny.

He sounded worried. You’re already in enough shit. You should be dead. More than ever in this situation. With Eos. This is the worst scenario and your best friend didn’t know how to act. You held his hand tightly above the table and smiled.

“Let’s go. I will contact Ch- Dolphin, with updates. And or, Victory- Orpehus.” You giggled as Johnny stood up with you.

“Then Godspeed,” Helios said to you calmly.

“God damn,” you replied with a smirk, and pull your friend out as the others daggered your back with judgement.

And another, foreign dagger stared above the table, witnessing every single move you had just made.

The funeral was that. A funeral.

Nothing prepared you for the pain you felt staring at Yangyang’s body. His face was still, no smile, and he was so, so pale. Unlike the photo that was next to him. It was only from a few days ago. He was grinning. Laughing. It was with Mr. Money and Sushi, but they were edited out.

His real name was read out in multiple languages. From German, Chinese, Korean, English. It read the same. Liu “Dreamer” Yangyang. Friend. Son. Brother.

You gripped onto Johnny, and looked up at his eyes, trying to find his warmth. It had to be. It was supposed to be. Impossible. It had to be.

Johnny sighed quietly as his lips contorted, before he finally grabbed onto the words. “D-Do you remember how Dreamer always knew what you wanted for your birthday? And how he always shared with us the photos of Louis and Leon?”

A hot tear escaped your eye, as you hid in his huge chest and nodded. You nodded frantically as you began to sob. Johnny’s big hands held you, and he placed his chin on you, sighing quietly again. 

The plan was ruined. You lost the man who should be here and hugging you and Johnny before you both went on a cruise to Korea, and then after that, the world.

You let go to breathe, biting the inside of your cheeks with anger. Your gaze turned to Victory’s tears, and Sushi looking at the youngest member’s body

His face reminded you, strongly of how you were young once. Running away and living with Johnny out on the streets of Baise. You had only one television, the news, and that broadcast that evening was of a grown woman crying, over and over in Taiwanese, “WHERE IS MY SON? WHO TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME?”

His eyes shared the same pain.

“Psy.” You turned as Mr. Money hugged you. Embraced you. He hid in you. “I-I can’t we could’ve lost you too. And John, we- fuck.”

Osaka was in the corner, looking down as he stared at the Ripple mourn.

Once Mr. Money had released himself, you stared at Jewel letting Smalls and Henry hug him tightly. Jewel despised any touching. 

The fierce, cunning man, couldn’t even look what is inside the coffin. He only held the two now youngest members close to his heart.

Your hands gripped, nails digging to your palms. Now this was something you couldn’t take. The Pound may have you and Johnny’s lives on a string. But nothing could describe your frustration, to Sicheng. Victory. Whatever his name was.

To Yuta himself.

Osaka got up from his place on the wall, and he strutted himself to the coffin. He peaked over. 

Today, the man wore not the white cult suit from the Pound, but a simple, and dull outfit. He took off his grey jacket, his white shirt bulging out oddly, as his black shoes, matching his black suit pants, had rubbed against the table that Dreamer was placed upon.

“He knew.”

Everyone turned to the man. Osaka took a katana from inside his shirt, and now the cloth hugged him. The weapon had a sky blue diamond handle. The blade itself was an opaque diamond. Osaka placed it in Dreamer’s hands.

Jewel stopped him, gripping it and he glared at him. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“I thought perhaps—,”

Jewel grabbed it with both hands, and he threw back into Osaka’s chest, stepping forward. “You don’t touch his body. You don’t look at it. What the fuck happened there.”

“John already explained,” Smalls tried to explain.

“No, bullshit. John is a nice guy. We don’t even fuckin’ know Osaka- in fact. It seems his Japanese is a little shaky.” Jewel pushed Osaka now, speaking in Japanese quickly, with poison. Your ears weren’t the best in the language, but he did say something along the lines of, “Speak now or hold your peace, bitch.”

Osaka took the blows from Jewel. But he looked up. “We were all ambushed by Dream Gems. You know that they work under the Pound. We believe Chenle—,”

“BBall.” Mr. Money held his cane and separated the men.

“Listen. I’m sorry. I wanted to pay my respects—,” Osaka tried to reason.

“YOU DONT DO SHIT HERE!” Jewel roared, his eyes glowing with anguish. “YOU GOT HIM KILLED!”

“He’s not dead.” You said.

Everyone turned.

“Really? He’s okay? Di-,” Sushi started.

“He’s in a very deep, deep coma.” You slowly take your hand back, and put it in your pockets.

Henry teared up, hugging Smalls, “G-Good.”

“That doesn’t mean shit. Yuta needs to be investigated. On our last and final mission all of the sudden it goes wrong?” Jewel said as he glared at Osaka from the side of his eye.

“Then let’s attack The Pound.”

Johnny held your arm and gently pressed four times.

What.

Are.

You.

Doing.

“We need to make the Pound pay for what they did. And if Osaka isn’t bad, he’ll help.” You look at Osaka. “Won’t you?”

Osaka’s cold face suddenly melted to the side as he leans on a hip and he raised a brow, his smirk curving out as he said, almost naturally, “Perhaps I will for ya, doll.”

Johnny rolled his eyes. “Who should go with us?”

“Gogo. He’s reliable, after all he’s known Sushi for a long time too, hasn’t he?”

The big man nodded. “Yeah.”

You look at everyone. You planned for a bigger plan. A bigger dramatic. But that’s the Pound’s job. Right now, a plan, quite without common sense, was forming.

And the goal is was for you, and Johnny to be safe.

“For the Dreamer.” You said firmly.

“For the end.” The Ripple echoed back.

[toloveawarlord]

You can find my masterlist in my bio!

25 Days of Christmas Day 4

Characters: Jonah & Finley

Prompt: “How much eggnog have you had?”

Tagging: @plumpblueberry​ @christmaswarlock​ @sakura-1819​ @starry-starry-night24​ @kissmetwicekissmedeadly​ @thewitchofbooks​ @ikemensengokufangirl​ @stardust-dreamer13​ @gay-noodle-clan​ @nad-zeta​ @hamster-damn​ @canaria-blackwell​

A/N: Three tsuns in a row! Jonah and Finley together are the best XD. They bonded over their mutual love for Luka and Finley sneaks him cookies and treats that Luka has baked from time to time.

He’d witnessed her sneaking up to the table multiple times. It was calculative, always right between when the staff had set new glasses on the cloth and when they stepped away to attend to the guests. She slipped up, taking as many as she could hug to her chest without spilling them and then disappearing into the rose garden. Jonah was previously in conversation with a nobleman or being introduced to a daughter of some socialite, but not this final time.

This event held strictly by the Red Army and yet somehow, the young Godspeed had gotten herself inside. He’d have to speak to the soldiers and staff checking invitations in the morning. Although Jonah already knew the reason she had been let inside. Everyone in Cradle who met her were charmed instantly, and it didn’t hurt that Edgar and Kyle tended to dote on her, which many were aware of.

No one went beyond the designated area of the party. It was an unspoken rule that no one dared break, save for one little Black Territory girl. Jonah stepped over the empty glasses, absolutely horrified with the amount. Nearly fifteen, if he counted correctly.

And in the middle, laid the amethyst haired girl on her stomach, small hand clutching a near drained crystal glass.

“Finley, how much eggnog have you had?” Surely, she hadn’t consumed all of these. That would be preposterous. There’s simply no way. The Queen of Hearts crouched when the only response was a weak groan. “You’ve made yourself ill, haven’t you?”

The girl cracked her eyes open, giving him a dazed smile. “Worth it. I love eggnog so much, but Luka hides it from me.” She looked every bit the child that successfully stole all the cookies from the jar without being caught. The next moment the happy expression dropped, and she groaned again.

Jonah gave a sigh. “I cannot allow you to fall asleep here in the gardens, lest you catch a cold. I’ll send a message for someone to retrieve you.” He spoke but didn’t rise. Amber eyes assessing the small girl with muted affection. He cared little for the Ace of Spades, but his daughter was well liked by all, including himself. 

“Do you think I’m half made of eggnog now? Instead of blood, I’m just a delicious seasonal drink that tastes like spicy ice cream.” Finley tried to laugh but it made her tummy ache even more.

“Perhaps I should find Kyle to treat you-”

She thrust her hand forward, pointing further down the row of rosebushes. “Kyle drank too much again. He was asleep when I found this hiding spot.” True to her word, the Seven of Hearts was unceremoniously splayed, one leg awkwardly bent against the bush, and completely incapacitated.

Jonah pinched the bridge of his nose, utterly appalled at his fellow officer, although not entirely surprised. “That absolute fool.”

“I think I want to go home, Jonah.” She struggled to move her limbs, barely moving onto all fours before he’d plucked her up, careful to not make her sicker.

“That’s for the best. Let’s go.”

The girl rested her cheek against his shoulder, arms limply around his neck. A soldier was quickly dispatched to bring a Black Army member to retrieve her. In the meantime, Jonah found a quiet room in the Civic Center to wait with her. He couldn’t very well have their guests seeing a child in this state. It could reflect badly on his King.

“While we wait, you can disclose why you sneaked into this event.” He thought to reprimand her for it, but it would hardly do any good. The Ace of Spades gave her a little too much freedom, and he’d likely laugh off the situation.

“Well, I wanted to see Eden, but I remembered it was too cold for her to be outside. I’d be really sad if she got sick again.” Finley said, swinging her legs.

Jonah knew how much the young Bright was adored by all the other children, especially this one. Unlike her father, Eden was a sweet girl, and even the Queen of Hearts found himself doting on her from time to time.

“But then, I heard the staff say there was going to be eggnog, the fancy kind, like Luka makes. It was tasty, but Luka’s is better.”

He nodded his head at her remark. “Agreed. My angel brother has a special touch when it comes to cooking.” The topic at hand was what brought this odd pair together. They both shared stories about Luka on the rare occasion they were together.

“Please stop. It’s completely embarrassing.”

“Luka!” Both adult and child lit up at the Jack of Spades by the door with a frown on his features.

Irritation reflected in amber eyes. Luka caught the five-year-old as his brother nearly dropped her. Having completed his mission to obtain her, he turned to leave.

“You should say thank you. Jonah helped me-”

With his free hand, Luka lightly pinched his fingers into her side, causing her to jolt and laugh. “You’re the one who disappeared hours ago. Stop slipping from your detail.” Fenrir hadn’t been worried, but the rest of them had been, although, she disappeared often.

The girl continued to laugh until her expression turned sour. Her hand covered her mouth, and she paled. “My tummy still hurts.”

“That’s what happens when you overindulge,” Jonah chastised. He escorted the pair outside, etching the image of his adorable little brother bickering with the little girl. Luka tended to be on the quiet side, but not with Finley.

Luka set her up on the saddle of his horse, casting a glance back at his brother. “Fenrir will appreciate you taking care of her.” That was as close to thank you as he could muster.

But it elated the Queen of Hearts. Amber eyes fell on the young Godspeed. He’d never liked dealing with children other than his own little angels, but this one was quite the charmer. Luka guided the horse toward Black Territory and just before they were out of sight, Finley leaned around to wave at him.

“Merry Christmas, Jonah!” 

As he returned the gesture, he barely heard the conversation shift. Luka, can you make me a snack when we get back?  He’d begun to assume that she was a human black hole when it came to food. Both the brothers had matching amused expressions. No matter how troublesome she might be, no one was resistant to her charisma.

[blazingsaadi]

Everything wrong with Demon Slayer. In Bullet Points. Spoilers. Obviously.

•Tanjiro doesn't know what a demon is even though there's no reason why he shouldn't. There are so many around that a whole corp is needed to fight them, people in the village believe it, and Giyu was nearby which implies demons are in the area

•We're never told why the Demon Slayer Corp isn't recognized by the govt, nor does it make sense. Demons have been around for 100s of years as the strongest beings on the planet, with many witnesses and victims to verify their existence

•Tanjiro's setup is not done well. A common trope is for the mc to have a good life and have it taken away. When used correctly, the story takes the time to make us learn and care about the characters. The family is on screen for 2.5mins just to show they're a happy family and they aren't memorable. If I'm wrong give me each of their names, personalities, and guy to girl ratio without googling it

•What is the point of having 5 siblings if they're just going to die in less than 3 minutes? If we don't know the characters there's no reason to care if they die

•The training arc is greatly misused. 2 years in 1.5 eps. Should've been longer to flesh out Tanjro's forms and the overall power system (see my post on that if you're interested)

• It was never explained why Tanjiro could see the ghosts of former students

• Zero reasons to care about Nezuko and her 2-year sleep. We dont know anything about her and we know nothing bad will happen cause she's the entire focus of the mc's mission

• No explanation as to why she slept for 2 years. That may be how she heals, but why that long? Nothing prompted that time

• Nezuko's entire character is being cute. Cute is not a personality trait

• Zenitsu is a bad character. He's comic relief, but he isn't funny. His jokes: he screams, screams about girls, passes out from cowardice. Repeat

•Cant as get invested in fights because we don't know the movesets due to the abilities being specific and restricted (the result of bad training arc)

• Only thing good about the fights is the animation. The choreography is basic and uninspired. MHA is even better in that aspect

• 4 of the 6 lower demon moons were killed for no reason and we never see their abilities. They could and shouldve been used to show progression

MANGA and MOVIE SPOILERS

• Ranking system is barely used and has 0 references for strength. Tanjiro didnt even know how to check his rank and never did it again

•Tanjiro couldnt beat the 2nd weakest demon moon yet somehow beats the strongest of the lower six, roided up on Muzan's blood, with Inosuke's help

- Said demon not using his full power

is nothing more than plot

convenience

•Rengoku dies after the first arc where he's relevant. There's little reason for Tanjiro or the audience to be sad about his death because we barely knew him

• Tanjiro later goes on to talk to Rengoku's family like he knew him his whole life

•The Sound Pillar has a similar issue where he shows up for one arc, we get a bit of info and he's gone for the rest of the story. As for the rest of the pillars, there isn't much to them because we dont get to properly know them

•Example: Snake pillars backstory was shoehorned into the final battle where it had nothing to do with what's going on

•Inosuke gets stabbed in the chest by a poison hook and survived. The Sound Pillar who was trained to fight off poison succumbed to it, but Inosuke is fine because he's "a rugged mountain boy"

•Inosuke still had the strength to decapitate number 6

•Zenitsu randomly has a new ability called Godspeed. Never once mentioned or foreshadowed. Not even in the previous (2nd) training arc after infinity train

•A pillar gets stuck in a water trap by the 5th upper demon moon and cant break through it with his sword. A kid swordsmith fails to do it with a knife, be he somehow blows through it with his lungs

• The comment from the mangaka that the illustrations of the breathing forms are just visual representations and not actually there does not make any kind of sense with a lot of the fights

•Giyu and Tanjiro are losing badly to Demon Moon 3 and only won cause Tanjiro's face looks similar to someone he knew (who we dont care about) and lets himself die cause he Tanjiro helped remembered his past

• Misuse of flashbacks and backstories for most characters. They're either unnecessary, irrelevant to the whole story, or dont contribute anything

•Nezuko is way too op for no reason. The only demon who can recover from sleep, regenerates limbs at the pace of an upper 6 demon moon, gets a whole new transformation which was never explained, doesn't need to sleep to recover the energy, and still has enough power to burn away everyones poison

- her blood demon art is to set HER

BLOOD on fire, so that makes no sense.

There's zero explanation to it so choose

your headcanon

•Nezuko is the chosen one. Literally, she overcomes the sun. Because she can. The asspull was so great it echoed to the main villain, changed his plan, and changed to the overall plot

•Muzan isn't a good villain. Tanjiro just walked up to him and grabbed him like it was nothing. He then didnt kill Tanjiro even though he has the same earrings as another demon slayer who tried to kill him just to keep his human persona.

-Why is he even bothering posing as a human?

-He has a kid that is the result of a demon and

human, how on Earth is that not touched

on?? Was he trying to find the spider lily? If so

how does being around random ordinary

families help? IT'S NEVER EXPLAINED

•Zenitsu goes through a very drastic character change with practically 0 transition (due to his old training partner becoming a demon)

• He uses a brand new form to beat him, which we never saw him develop in the training arc before the fight what so ever

• He goes right back to being the person he was before

• Genya's ability is never explained

• Upper moon 1 says he's seen it before but it's still never explained

• The final fight with Muzan is over 10% of the manga and drags on

•Muzan pulls a "this isnt even my final form"

• Tamiyo claimed she needed the blood of the 12 demon moons to find a way to beat Muzan and heal Nezuko, but just ended working with the insect pillar to develop a poison

• Said poison ages Muzan even though he said to be immortal

• Poison counteracts Muzan by going "this isn't even my final effect" and hinders him in 3 more ways

• Tanjiro becomes a demon for honestly no reason

[kyndaris]

Braving Tried and True JRPG Tropes

When Bravely Default II was released, one of the first reviews I stumbled upon spoke about the person’s disappointment. Some of it came down to personal taste: the art style. Others were a bit more valid: the weak narrative and carbon copies of protagonists from other games. While the fan in me wanted to contest many of their claims, the more I played of the latest Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) from Square-Enix, I could not deny that there was a lot of tropes being used to prop up the strong gameplay loop and to give players the chance to try out the different jobs on offer. Still, many of these grips failed to deter me too much from my playing of the game. After sinking a hefty amount of time into it, I was able to push my way through the multiple endings and give Seth, Gloria, Elvis and Adelle the happy ending that they deserved.

As the faithful readers of my blog, you should know that I bought Bravely Default II while on a road trip with family. Though I should have been luxuriating in the February sun, I was much too engrossed in my Nintendo Switch to pay much mind to my surroundings. And even if Zac Efron or Chris Hemsworth had walked past, I’d probably barely bat an eyelid.

The first few hours of Bravely Default II had me busy reengaging with the mechanics that I knew from the first two games on the Nintendo DS and Octopath Traveler. Considering my familiarity with old-school JRPGs, it came as no surprise that I quickly managed to level up Freelancer as I cut a swathe through the grass surrounding the starting city of Halyconia. In fact, I realised quite quickly that the best way to get good items without paying a cent for them was to play the game like Link, eager to find rupees in the bushes. By the time I fought Dag and Selene and Horten, they went down like flies even though I hadn’t even bothered to change from my default jobs. 

Truth be told, when I read about the difficulties many people supposedly had with these earlier battles, I was scratching my head. Perhaps it was simply the method I play the games - grinding out each job to my satisfaction that had simplified what should have been difficult. On a side note, I thought that the job levelling was much better balanced than Yakuza: Like a Dragon and an infinitely more fun experience because of it. It allowed me to experiment with my team and find the best balance for taking on the various mobs in a given area.

The only time I actually prepared properly for a fight was when I took down Adam and the last few bosses. But even they were a considerable breeze when one had access to so many abilities. Paralysing everyone that stood in my way, inflicting poison and contagion, then having a maxed out Freelancer with Thief skills using Godspeed Strike? Child’s play.

Now, onto the weaker elements of Bravely Default II. The various plot-holes and unexplored characterisation of the heroes and villains. While Elvis and Lonsdale stood out to me, many of the others could have been interchanged with someone else and I would have barely been able to tell the difference were it not for their individual Asterisk attire.

Let’s start with Seth, shall we? Our main protagonist despite the ensemble set-up could have been ripped from any Japanese role-playing game. The ones he reminded me strongly of were Tidus and Vaan. Tidus, because he was a fish-out-of-water that had fallen in love with the woman that would have to sacrifice her life to bring peace back to the world. Vaan due to the fact that he never truly stood out and was simply part of the story just because of Wind Crystal shenanigans. Later on, he was made a bit more special due to his status as someone that had come from the Outer Seas.

In a way, it was a clever voice direction for Seth to be the only character with an American accent. This helped paint the fact that he was different from the others. Still, it would have been much better if we could have seen what his life had been like prior to the events that brought him to waking up on a beach in Halyconia. And while there are scenes in several sidequests that explore a little of Seth’s backstory, there’s little to sink one’s teeth into.

Gloria, on the other hand, is very much a stereotypical princess of a mystical kingdom. Though the voice actress is very good at expressing the pain she has gone through as one of the sole survivors of Musa’s destruction, I feel like it would have connected better with players to have seen the invasion and perhaps played a small part in controlling her escape. Though these things are just little nitpicks, it adds to the characters and allows people to emotionally invest in the happenings of the world. 

That, in and of itself, is probably Bravely Default II’s key problem. The fact that it tells rather than shows.

Elvis, of course, is the star of the show. His quirky traits, affable nature make him a clear favourite and much more human than his other counterparts. The narrative around Wiswald was also great example of fleshing out his past and the people he knows. It is much more personal, pulling on our heartstrings to learn about the death of a young child, and thus carries more weight than the water shortage in Savalon or the fairy hunting in Rimedhal, which was clearly meant to mirror witch trials. 

While Folie, the main antagonist behind the happenings in Wiswald, could have been better written and with a more tangible tie to the people of Wiswald, the fact that she manipulated Roddy, Lily and poor Galahad with visions of the dead Mona meant that a bit of pathos was achieved when she was finally brought down.

Adelle, a little cliche, was still an intriguing character that rounded out the team (I still can’t place her accent). The reveal that she was actually a fairy was a delight. It was also nice that her goals also aligned with the main narrative of stopping the Night’s Nexus, instead of being as superfluous as Elvis trying to solve the riddle of a book he had in his possession or Seth just tagging along for the ride. 

As for the foes that we faced? Most of them seemed like excuses to dress up how players obtained their Asterisks. Many of them seemed like caricatures. And honestly, Martha’s excuse to fight the Heroes of Light was abysmal. But, of course, the developers needed a way for players to experience what it might be like fighting a foe that had the Dragoon Asterisk before they could use it for their own.

I will admit, the story just felt like a vehicle to pick up each Asterisk along the way. Oft times, I had to wonder why so many of these people felt compelled to stand in the way of the Heroes of Light. And while it would have been much better to have a more personal reason for why we fought these enemies besides the fact that ‘Oh, they have an Asterisk and something, something Crystal!’ I still managed to push my way through.

Still, the fact that Dag and Selene managed to snag more character development in the sidequests was great. Gladys’s attempt at atonement and her brother’s grief was also good ways to delve into topics that might have been a little too dark for a title that had such gorgeous backdrops and adorable character models.

Now, to the meat of the matter. The plot holes and the things that were never truly explained. Edna’s descent into madness though Adelle often insisted her sister had always loved humans. How and where Lady Emma found the book that actually contained the memories of the Night’s Nexus? Where does Seth actually come from? How did he die? Why was he chosen by the Wind Crystal? Why was Adam so invested in trying to conquer the world? Did he experience something bad in his past that informed his current need to stop war by starting it? Where did Folie come from? Who is she and why did she feel the need to torment the people of Wiswald for her art?

So many mysteries. So little explanation.

Overall, Bravely Default II has quite a few flaws and missteps. Yet, despite that, it’s a sum greater than its parts. The narrative might not have been captivating, but it managed to keep pulling me through until I saw the true ending. Anticlimactic as the final boss battle might have been, I still felt a certain satisfaction in seeing Gloria tackle Seth to the ground. And honestly, who doesn’t want to Godspeed Strike their way to victory?

P.S. I will say that after witnessing Adelle save Martha, I had hoped for a blossoming romance, but the dialogue between her and Elvis during the second bad ending got to me. It may not be my one true pairing, but Elvis x Adelle was an arrow to my heart. My only question is: how old is Adelle? She looks like a child and yet, because she’s a fairy, she could be like a century older. Maybe better not to think too hard, eh? After all, why sweat the details?

[somethingjustsouthofbrilliance]

Too Weak to Fly (chapter 7)

This was supposed to be another short chapter, but it grew a bit out of control,so I had to cut the action somewhat earlier than I had originally planned. 

TW: somewhat graphic descriptions of injuries and violence

Well... godspeed.

Back to chapter 1

Tags:   @cosmic-malarky @swanheart69 @boysinperil @agentlokii 

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

Chapter 7

 Nobody stops him.  Not at the entrance when he steps off the escalator, not in the obscenely white, pristine hallways as he strides purposefully toward the large meeting hall.  

It doesn’t surprise him, really.  Heaven, for the past six thousand odd years, has been a forbidding, inhospitable place. Empty.  And for his purposes right now it suits him just fine.

Yet he can help but think back to when Her presence was still felt around this place; when these walls were filled with warmth and compassion and LOVE, instead of the frigid burn of indifference he feels here now.

 Lord Almighty, how could You allow this to happen?  Do You not see? How can You possibly approve of what Your children have become?  This emptiness, this coldness, this… this cruelty that I have witnessed with my own eyes… This isn’t what You taught us to be back when we basked in Your presence and listened as You told us Your will. Was this Your plan all along? Is this the Heaven of Your legacy?  Is this why You see this and do not wish to intervene?

He wonders briefly if this is what Crowley felt like all those millennia ago when he saw what Aziraphale and the others were too blind to see and he dared to ask Her about it. And if simply asking Her questions then – before the terrifying viciousness of the punishment for the wayward angels, before the inexplicable cruelty of the Flood, before the plagues, before the wars, before the uncaring silence in the end of days…– if that was all it took to Fall, then, should She hear his questions now, he would surely not remain an angel much longer.  Strangely, the thought of Falling doesn’t terrify him anymore.  Not after everything he’s been through, everything he’s seen.  No, he’s not afraid to Fall.  Which is quite fortunate, considering that what he is about to do will more than likely damn him.  And that’s fine.  If Falling is what it will take to make things right, then he is more than willing to pay that price.  But, first, he needs to make sure that Crowley is safe, and he can’t risk having Her hear him and brand him a rebellious angel just yet.  Not until he’s done what he’s come here to do.  So he grits his teeth, clamping them tight against the rebellious thoughts, and he keeps walking.  

 It is only when he nears the massive double doors bound with celestial gold that he stops, his path blocked by two young angels with poleaxes held at an angle.  He recognizes them instantly – the same two nameless, unimportant angels that have, on Gabriel’s order, destroyed Crowley’s beautiful wings with such callous indifference.  He stares at their hands, hands clasped around their holy weapons, hands that held the buckets steady as Holy Water poured down onto the bound, writhing demon….  

 His jaw ticks, fists clenching painfully tight at his sides.  “If you would kindly step out of my way,” he tells them, voice tight with barely controlled anger.

 “You have no business here, traitor,” one of the angels responds with a tone of affected boredom that reminds Aziraphale a little too much of Gabriel.  

 The smile he gives them in response – a sharp, predatory thing that feels awfully, unnaturally tight on his face – makes them falter, a shadow of consternation flickering over their expressions.

 “You know who I am then,” he nods matter-of-factly.  “Good.” He reaches into the inside pocket of his coat, pulling out a long, thin vial.  Holds it out, making sure the vial’s deadly contents are perfectly visible to the now decidedly nervous-looking angels.  “And I assume you know what this is as well.”  He rolls his wrist a bit, grinning unkindly at the way the angels’ eyes track the bright orange tongue of flame that twists gracefully behind the glass wall that traps it.

 “You wouldn’t dare,” the same angel speaks up again, but there’s no trace of the earlier self-assured smugness in his voice, doubt creeping in.

 Aziraphale’s smile falls, blues eyes narrowing ever so slightly.  Cold, ice cold, like his voice when he speaks next.  

“Do you, actually, believe that an angel who dared to walk into Hell to pick up this,” he nods toward the vial of Hellfire that seems to glow brighter in his hand as though fueled by his growing anger, “would then hesitate to use it?”  

He watches them digest his words, their gazes flickering nervously between his face and the vial. “I’ll be honest with you,” he says, drawing their wavering attention back to himself, “I have bigger plans for this particular vial, and I’d rather not waste it on two foolish little angels. But make no mistake…” He steps in closer, teeth bared.  Breathes out – a low whisper of a warning, a promise of retribution yet to come, “…you two hurt someone I care about very much, and if you dare keep me out here another moment longer….”

 He doesn’t finish his threat, he doesn’t have to.  The angels step aside without another word, the shafts of their poleaxes scraping dully across the floor as they move.

 Aziraphale doesn’t spare them another glance as he walks swiftly past them to push open the heavy door and slip inside.  

 Gabriel is the first one he sees, the archangel standing with his back to the door, head tilted down in concentration at whatever it is he’s holding in his hands.  The archangel’s hand jerks suddenly backwards in a sharp pulling motion, and Aziraphale’s ears pick up a strained, muffled groan that follows the movement.

 That pained, hopeless sound is like a cursed blade through Aziraphale’s heart.

 Fingers clenching tighter around the vial, he takes a long, determined step forward.  

“Gabriel!”

The archangel startles, turning toward his voice, revealing the huddled figure that stands kneeling on the ichor-stained floor before him.

 The room blinks out. Or so it appears to Aziraphale, at least, because, for a brief moment, everything around him seems to dim, the edges of his vision swimming out into a churning, nauseating blackness.  

And at the center of it is Crowley.  Him he sees perfectly, in every stark, cruel detail.  His body, naked and shivering in the too-too cold room.  His eyes – a bright, acidic yellow, blown wide with fear and pain.  The black ichor that stains his lips and chin. The horrible, weeping burns everywhere his skin has come in contact with the floor that virtually pulsates with holiness.  The golden manacles around his wrists and the collar around his neck with just enough chain length to allow him to stay on his knees where he is, but prohibiting him from moving any further.  Those knees, bleeding and blistering from being forced to bear his weight on the hallowed ground for Lord knows how long.  His left arm, hanging limply at his side, ichor dripping to the floor in a steady morbid rhythm from the empty, ravaged nail beds.  His right arm, trembling in Gabriel’s vise-like grip….

 “It’s a very annoying habit of yours, Aziraphale, to interrupt me while I’m working,” Gabriel cuts in, casually shaking off the bloodied pliers-like tool he holds in his free hand to discard a recently ripped out nail to the floor.  Turns back to his task with an aggrieved sigh and an eye roll. “I still have four more of these to remove.”  

 The room comes suddenly, sharply back into focus.

 “Release him.” He rocks forward on rigid, wooden legs, words twisting into a growl through the awful, mounting pressure in his chest.  “Now!”

 There must be something in his tone that gives Gabriel pause.  The archangel stills, lets out another long, frustrated exhale.  Glances once again at Aziraphale over his shoulder. And Aziraphale can see the exact moment that Gabriel notices the vial in his clenched hand, for in that instant a look of startled shock flickers across the normally impassive features, and the archangel turns to face him fully, releasing Crowley’s arm as he does so.  

The demon chokes out a broken, sob-like breath, pulling the arm toward him as much as the chains allow him, hunching over the injured limb in a pitiful attempt to shield it from further abuse.  But his eyes, wide and unblinking, continue to stare up at Aziraphale with an inexplicable expression of horrified despair.  He has yet to utter a single word.

 “Oh, is that how it’s gonna be?” Gabriel murmurs, purple eyes flashing as he shifts his gaze from Aziraphale’s face to the golden tongue of flame moving restlessly within its glass cage.  A beat and his expression shifts back into one of disdainful superiority.  “Do you think I’m a fool, Aziraphale?”  He tsks mockingly, nods back toward the kneeling demon. “Do you not think that if we dragged that creature up here to douse him in Holy Water that we already know about the trick you pulled?”  He takes a slow, deliberate step closer to Aziraphale, towering intimidatingly over him even at a distance.  “That we know you’re no more immune to,” he nods at the vial, “that thing than we are?”

 “I have no intention of getting you to believe that I’m immune to Hellfire,” Aziraphale objects, holding the surprised purple gaze.  “I merely wish to inform you that I have come to take my friend away from here, and I want you to believe me when I say that I will use any means necessary to do so.”

 Gabriel regards him silently, grim, assessing.  A moment later his face splits into a shark-wide plastic smile.  “Did you know that it takes a single diluted drop of Holy Water to melt a demon’s tongue?” he asks in a seeming non-sequitur that makes something very, very cold churn unpleasantly in Aziraphale’s gut.  “Just found it out myself yesterday.  Incredible, isn’t it?”  

 Aziraphale’s gaze flickers over to Crowley, to the thin lips pressed together into a twisted line of black-stained pain, to a wide streak of black ichor running down his chin and neck. He feels sick, the burning at the back of his throat added to the now nearly impossible pressure inside his chest that begs to break forth in a spectacular, wall-shattering scream.  How, he wants to shout.  How could an angel, a being of Light, even think to inflict such torment on another creature, let alone speak as though they enjoyed doing so?  How could anyone?

 “I was gonna go for the eyes first, you know.”  Gabriel keeps talking in that perfectly casual, conversational tone that sets Aziraphale’s teeth on edge, “but then I realized that, if I did that, he wouldn’t be able to see what else I’ve got in store for him. And what would be the fun in that? Am I right?” He throws his arms out, his smile – a fixed, frigid mask of exaggerated enthusiasm, as he invites Aziraphale to appreciate his reasoning. “Plus, this way I don’t have to listen to him profane these hallowed walls with his foul tongue.”

 Aziraphale really needs him to stop talking.  

 “Is there a… point you’re trying to make?”  He’s trembling, he realizes.  Vibrating with anguish and fury, his hand gripping the vial so hard, he can feel tiny spider cracks form along the glass surface.  A little more, and the deadly flame will burst free to devour him whole.

 “The point, traitor,” Gabriel responds darkly, all pretense of joviality gone, “is that Hellfire latches on to the closest source of holiness, no matter how…,” he gives Aziraphale a look full of disappointment and disdain, “pathetic and corrupt it may be.  And if it only took one diluted drop of Holy Water to turn that serpent’s tongue into liquid goo, it won’t take but a lick of that flame to burn your worthless self into a pile of equally worthless ash the moment you open that vial,” he concludes with a condescending smile, certain in the knowledge that he’s just called Aziraphale’s bluff.

 Aziraphale’s answering smile is strained around the edges, cold, deadly.  “Crowley and I have played quite a few ball toss games with our godson over the years.  I assure you, my throwing aim has gotten quite good.  I’m fairly sure that I can douse you in Hellfire flames without getting so much as a singe.”  He raises the vial higher, thumb poised over the cap.  Pointedly ignores the desperate, mewling, gurgling moans coming at him from Crowley’s direction.  “I’m willing to risk it.  Are you?”

 Gabriel frowns, seeming unsure for the first time. Watches Aziraphale’s face intently for some kind of tell, his own face souring at whatever it is he sees there.  His mouth twists in a grimace of displeasure and he raises his hand reluctantly, the chains holding Crowley captive disintegrating with a snap of his fingers.  

Released from their hold, Crowley slumps forward with a whimpered sob of relief, trembling fingers of his less mangled hand grasping at his neck to brush the red, painful-looking welt left behind by the golden collar.  

 Aziraphale lurches an aborted half-step toward him, the vial burning in his hand as Hellfire itches to get out, spurred on by the raging emotions that roll off the angel in wave after turbulent wave.  For a moment, for a brief, tantalizing moment he wants to abandon his plan, wants to run to his demon, to pour Hellfire onto the worst of the wounds, to soothe, to shelter, to heal….

The door creaks open behind him; before him, Gabriel’s face splits once again into a supercilious, contemptuous sneer, his eyes flashing triumphantly as he flicks his gaze from the door back to Aziraphale.  

The moment is over.

 “So, what is the plan now, then, Aziraphale?” the archangel inquires with sickly, saccharine sweetness, as he slowly begins to advance on him, hands folded regally behind his back. Behind him, Crowley mewls in distress, scrambling to rise on unsteady, wobbling legs. “Do you hope to fight your way out of here, get past all those angels,” he waves a hand toward the door, “with that pitiful bit of Hellfire at your disposal?”

 Aziraphale doesn’t bother turning around to look. He lets his gaze find Crowley’s instead.  Locks eyes with him for one interminable fraction of a second – an ocean of ice-blue calm against an amber-bright sea of turbulent panic.  Trust me, he mouths.  And then he rips his gaze away and lunges for Gabriel.

 The archangel stumbles backwards at the unexpected attack, tries to twist out of Aziraphale’s grip, but Aziraphale holds fast, arms clamped in a steel-like vise around Gabriel’s form.

 “I don’t need to fight,” he insists, pressing the vial against the archangel’s neck.  “I just need to know where to aim my weapon.”  He presses the vial harder, eliciting an alarmed hiss from the squirming archangel.  “Crowley will walk out of here now, and you will let him. You won’t interfere, and you will make sure that no one else does either.  Or I will uncap that vial right down your throat, and it is, as you said,” he bares his teeth, whispers into Gabriel’s ear a mocking echo of the archangel’s own earlier words, “Hellfire latches on to the closest source of holiness, no matter how pathetic and corrupt it may be.”

 In the periphery of his vision he sees the other angels hesitate by the doorway, throwing nervous glances Gabriel’s way.  He sees Crowley, frozen still where he’d last seen him, staring at Aziraphale with confusion and horror.  Move, he wants to yell to him.  Get out of here, move!

 “You’ll Fall for this,” Gabriel snarls, thrashing uselessly in Aziraphale’s grip.  “I’ll cut your bloody wings off myself!”

 “I have no doubt,” Aziraphale nods, and the simple, calm conviction in his voice momentarily stuns the entire room to stillness.  Aziraphale’s voice, when he speaks next, rings loud and clear in the ensuing quiet, the words – thoughts, rebellious, anguished thoughts he’d carried with him these past few days – pour forth, releasing him from their unbearable burden. “But when you do, you better pray that I don’t survive it.  Because if I do, I swear to you right here, right now, that I will come back here with all the Hellfire at my disposal, and I will burn this place into the Nothing it came from.  Because this here isn’t the Heaven that I remember, and none of you are worthy of being called Beings of Light.  If She were paying any attention, She would have done it Herself long ago.”

 The shocked rumble of voices that erupt in response to his words is overwhelmed instantly and completely by a blinding explosion of brilliant white light that floods the space before him.

[dragonrajafanfiction]

Aftermath: The Decision

Schneider, Guderian and Manstein sat in a private room reviewing the security footage of the events in the Executive Department’s war room.

The video showed how Carli entered and took her place next to Lu Mingfei.

They watched as the picture of the urn came up on the screen during the event. 

Schneider rasped. “Pause here. Go back three frames. Slow down five times. Watch her face.”

They watched the slow motion video as she raised her eyes to the screen, her expression turning to one of dread before she twisted her gaze away, raising her hand to avoid looking at it. Then the expression of growing panic.

Schneider folded his hands. “She knew what was going to happen.”

They watched her struggle for about a minute before being overcome by the dragon’s influence. Then they heard her words to Lu Mingfei as she cradled his face in her hands. 

“Even though it’s clearly a dragon language she’s speaking, it’s unintelligible. It can’t be the Dark King’s Speech.  Lu Mingfei doesn’t react to it, so it can’t be the Light King’s Speech either.” Guderian watched, baffled.

It was undetermined whether or not Lu Mingfei’s bloodline generated from the Light King or was a new mutation. Unlike the rest of the students at Cassell, he didn’t react to the Dark Kings royal speech. Up until now, it was understood that his unique bloodline was the reason for this. When Carli appeared with the same lack of reaction, they rejoiced, wondering if her bloodline would be the second one like Mingfei’s.

Now it appeared that wasn’t the case. Instead, a new mystery had opened.

They watched the video further as she left the facility, saw her cowering under the assault of the dragon, and then a bright blinding flash of light. She’d moved instantly from the bench to the sidewalk. The dragon, badly injured from Carli’s attack, fell under heavy artillery.

Manstein slowly shook his head. “Do we have any record of where she went for the past 6 months?”

Schneider nodded. “There is one witness, but he refuses to cooperate with our agents. Lukas Comemnus.”

Silence descended on the group. 

“We should ask him one more time.”

Schneider reached over to his wheelchair console and pressed a button. A ring came over the console on speaker.. 

The line connected. “Mr. Schneider.” said a young male voice.

“Mr. Comemnus…”

“Calling back already? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“I’m not going to ask you the same questions as before. I asked you where she was, what her speaking spirit was capable of, and you have … respectfully declined to answer. Unfortunately, due to recent events, I feel compelled that I give you one more opportunity to help us make a decision regarding her future at the college.”

There was silence on the other line.

Schneider turned his eyes to the console, eyebrows raised. “Is she not your friend?”

“Sir…” His voice was soft. “Don’t misunderstand. She’s a nice girl. But she’s not my friend. Because of her, my brother and grandmother are dead, and the company my family built is in chaos. Not exactly friend material.”

“And yet… you’re protecting her.” Schneider replied.

“There’s a point to this call… right?”

“With me are Professor Guderian and Professor Manstein. We all have… unusual students. Charlotte deeply endeared herself to all of them in a short period of time. Her disappearance had a profound effect on them. Her reappearance made them happy. We would rather not hurt our students. We believe in them as good young people who deserve happiness. We’re asking you if Charlotte should have that same chance…”

Silence on the line stretched on. Guderian swallowed. His precious Lu Mingfei nearly descended into depression after her disappearance. He might never recover if Carli would have to be institutionalized.

Manstein lowered his eyes. After Carli apparently failed her 3E, Nono was baffled. After the disappearance, she was even more distraught, even though she tried to hide it. If Carli then had to be isolated, he was sure Nono would play it off in her cold way, but who knew how much that might hurt her.

And of course, Schneider knew how hard Johann was working for Carli. That lonely boy rarely reached out to anyone that wasn’t a rival. Carli’s isolation could well be a permanent set back for his emotional well-being.

The young man’s answer came over the speakerphone. “I’m not sure how to answer that. Because, on the one hand, if you decided to isolate and contain her, you would have a good reason. But on the other hand… Comemnus was not capable of doing that with all our resources. Maybe Cassell could. I don’t know. She’s that strong. I played along with her because I had to. If I never see her again… I think that would be a good thing.”

“That said… she doesn’t mean to hurt anyone. She wants to help. In the end. It’s up to you and how you handle her. If you decide to go with isolation, you’d better damn well make sure it’s permanent.”

Schneider nodded. “Thank you. This will be the last of our communications. Godspeed, Comemnus.”

The line cut.

Manstein folded his hands behind his back, clearing his throat. “Not exactly a ringing endorsement.”

Guderian spoke up, glancing nervously at his fellow professor and friend. “Our faith in our students has not been misplaced so far. They’re fond of her. That must mean something.”

“I have not seen enough to condemn her just yet.” Schneider looked up. “Then our decision is unanimous?”

Schneider glanced at Manstein who stayed silent.

Guderian gave him an incredulous look. “You can’t be serious. Solitary confinement would break her!”

“Students are dead! From the first day she arrived!” Manstein said, shakily. He raised his eyes. “Their lives cannot be discounted and weighed so lightly!”

Guderian shrank, his shoulders lowering. “That may be true. But keep in mind, how Lu Mingfei won the Day of Liberty. On his first day. He shot them. Both of them. Not knowing the gun was fake.”

More silence.

“You… have a point.” Manstein nodded. “I will give her a chance.”

Based on This Chapter

[sweetlyunadulteratedpanda]

Greetings

well met here. I trust all is well? To be honest there are a few things that are causing me heartache at the moment/ One of them is how subtle and pervasive the indulgence of self is. I am not talking about spiritual babies, I am talking about individuals who have been taught and who have walked a way with Yashuah. One of the foundational things is to come to a place where we realise our battle is not against flesh and blood and that as sons of God we have the right and authority to change the spiritual atmosphere around us by taking responsibility to and under the word of God. It is our declaration ,being led by the the Spirit in what we know is right and permissable in God to change the atmosphere in faith. The first trick of the enemy under these circumstances is to get one to concentrate on being a victim or to look inward and give in to self-pity. If one knows what the ideal situation in God is for the time and circumstance it is our responsibility to deal with it in the spirit. Eventually the natural will follow. I know and understand that one is not perfect, I myself am often not so quick-witted in a situation but eventually when it happens over and over again one should tumble to the fact that there is a pattern here and alarm bells should go off. And it is all because the adversary tricks us into indulging the lie that we are a victim and it is so comforting to our flesh to believe that! AAAAAAAh! Please pray for patience for me in dealing with brothers and sisters who continually fall into this trap who should know better! OK! now that that is off my chest.  please precious brother or sister understand from the getgo that this walk is about dying to self daily and taking responsibility for your walk.

I love you-believe for you and in you- I send you a hug till we meet again- Godspeed

[punkscowardschampions]

Lux & Dash

Lux: Hey 😊 Lux: wanna hang out today? Dash: Bummer! There's no way Dash: I promised Sapphire we'd hang Lux: Can't I come with? What are you doing? Dash: she wouldn't be down Dash: you get the picture, yeah? Lux: I don't think I know Sapphire...? Dash: she has a groovy Cleopatra vibe Lux: 🐍🐍🐍 love that Lux: you gonna be Marc or Julius? Dash: Who did she dig more? Lux: You're more of the Antony type Lux: they had their own drinking club called inimitable livers Lux: and they played pranks on people in disguise Dash: Right on! Lux: I hope your love affair doesn't end in such dire circumstances Dash: it'll be outta sight, don't sweat it Dash: she's made loads of her own promises back Lux: She's not the sister of anyone is she? Dash: Onyx but he's cool Lux: Hmm, actually, my point is moot regardless, if she's Cleopatra, it's Octavia's brother you need to worry about Lux: Cleo could 💀 her own Lux: never mind then, you should be fine 😁 Dash: you know how to lay a real trip, huh? Dash: I almost forgot Lux: forgot about Marcus Antonius?! Lux: don't wanna be doomed to repeat it, Dashiel, think on Dash: no doom in my 🔮 babe Lux: 🌈✨ good times Dash: that's more the shit to 🗨 into being Lux: I don't think you can blame the eventual fall of Rome on me being in your inbox when you'd rather I weren't 😄 Dash: No blame, I just gotta do my own thing Lux: do you think any of us can ever be unique Dash: Beats me, that's heavy 💭 Lux: I thought that's what you were getting at Lux: Bummer Lux: I'll ask around Dash: I'm not trying to get into anything with you Dash: later, maybe Lux: You aren't going to have an answer for me later Lux: Don't sweat it, Dash Dash: if you wanna go ahead & cut me some slack I'll have magic for you Dash: just not now Lux: It doesn't matter Lux: I want conversation and someone to hang with, you want neither, that's chill Dash: what you want isn't a bad scene but it's not mine Dash: I can turn you onto someone whose it is, you'll have a blast Lux: that's okay ✌ Lux: I'll make my own friends, continue to Dash: Cool Lux: godspeed 🚀 I will let you know my findings 🗳📋 Dash: you know where to find me to lay whatever you want on me Dash: 🍎🍏🌳 Lux: what do you like most about 🍎🍏🌳 there Dash: 👀 Lux: good answer Lux: the ☀ looks best through 🍃🌳🍂 Dash: & the sky looks 🍒 from that high Lux: 🍒🥧 sounds good Dash: I'm hip to that Lux: does that mean you're going to make one? Lux: I'll get the 🍨 a la mode or nothing baby Dash: you're the girl, why aren't you making it? Lux: ha, I wasn't raised one though, so that kind of nonsense does not work on me 😅 Lux: I like brown sugar and cinnamon on the top please Dash: I'll find a 🐤 who's not wise to it & pass that on Dash: but they won't be fitting an apron how you would ✨ Lux: I don't want deception pie Lux: it will taste all the bitter for it 😖😖😖 yuck yuck yuck Dash: I'll pick the 🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍌🍉🍇🍓🍈🍒🍑 for it Dash: keep it sweet & honest Lux: make me a basket Lux: that way you get to be sweet and I don't have to participate in any misogyny for baked goods Dash: What's with the goddess demands when you know I've got demands on my time? Lux: you're so busy, right? Dash: 🚀🪐💫 Dash: I can't be weaving you a basket like it's no biggie Lux: well that is not what I meant 😏 Lux: but if you can't handle it then I'm sure I'll manage just fine Dash: weave a 🐤 a basket and she's 💖 for a day, teach her to basket weave... Lux: how very like a man to claim mastery over a skill women for centuries just did because they had to Lux: you had your chance to be 👏 over your pastry making expertise but you declined Dash: how righteous of you to keep the faith on that belief but yo, can you do it? I can Dash: declining everything I can teach you is a bad trip to be on Dash: you said you weren't down to feast on bitter fruit, that's gotta include sour 🍇 baby Lux: It's a very wholesome past life you've painted for me if I somehow acquired that skill Lux: certainly a prettier picture than the truth alas Lux: I haven't declined any invitation Lux: that's you Dash: I haven't either Dash: There's a time & a place for us to reconnect Dash: after Sapphire's Dash: & Lotus' Lux: your schedule isn't going to dictate mine Lux: we'll see when that time is Lux: 🌍🌌💫 willing Dash: come & 👀 me then Dash: it'll be unreal again Lux: you want me to watch you from the nearest 🍎🍏🌳? Dash: or 🌌 til the 7th day of the 7th month if you still vibe with that story Lux: That's an interesting way to inquire about my faith Lux: you'd make an excellent youth pastor Lux: 🤭 Dash: you've heard me play 🎸 Lux: and your cool lingo Lux: yep, it is indeed your calling Lux: we'll start your bible study as soon as the 🌍 is ready Dash: sounds like a drag Dash: how are we gonna make it fun? Lux: 🍪🍪🥛 and fellow youths, duh Dash: if you're gonna teach me it needs to be visual Dash: that's my way Lux: really? Lux: well, I'm going to need all my creativity and crafting skills to recreate Noah's Ark Dash: Moses'll be easy, I'll weave a basket for real Dash: he's the one, yeah? 👶 Lux: that's him Lux: have a whole cast of 👶 to choose from Dash: & animals Lux: I'll just try to avoid being like Sarah and 👊 all the mothers in envy Lux: not a good look Dash: I can get you a baby 🐈 if it'll keep the peace Lux: 😄 it'd be a whole other story if that's what Abraham had done Dash: he coulda taken 5 & let me 🛹⚡️ to my nan's place Lux: a man who marries his sister and needs to populate the 🌍 ain't got no time to chill, Dashiel Dash: the more you tell me, the more he fits into my family 🌳 Lux: 🤨 🧐 Lux: you're holy too? Dash: last time we got together you seemed to 💭👀🗨 so Lux: false prophets hold a certain amount of appeal, of course Dash: what was false? Lux: well, it's not for me to say you weren't speaking the word of God, I suppose Lux: but it's also a big no-no to worship false idols, it's in the big 10, so Lux: very tricky, actually Dash: Do you want me to try & make amends or what's left of the other 9? Lux: How many of do you think you've broken today? Dash: tell me what they are Lux Thou shalt have no other gods before me Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy Honour thy father and thy mother Thou shalt not murder Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour Thou shalt not covet Lux: score out of 10 please Dash: what's a graven image? Lux: that's the idol part Dash: right on, I don't have time to like carve a statue of you & worship it but the intent is there Dash: no adultery or murder either, but the rest Lux: well Lux: consider me appalled not shocked 😳 Dash: what's your score? Lux: 3, I think Dash: you covet the fruit for a pie & Lux: Yes 😘 Lux: and I am not honouring my father or mother and I've put myself before god so Lux: I think those are the only ones, though arguably referring to myself like that is taking it in vain but I wasn't the first one to say it Dash: that's the shit you should ask around about 🗳📋 /10 Lux: maybe I'll do weekly questionnaires Lux: no one else is as mad as you were to be compared to Mark Antony but A LOT of people think we're all ❄️ Dash: beauty enough for ❄ & false idols Lux: Sculpture isn't my forte but I'll do my best Lux: you'll have to stand still long enough for me to 👀 Dash: I don't think I can Dash: we're poetry in motion, I know you felt it Lux: I'm not in the business of denying what I feel Dash: you haven't grown a totally different head since I last 👀 you Lux: now that WOULD be impressive Lux: stuck with this one only Dash: stuck makes it sound like that's a bummer Dash: looking how you do could NEVER be a drag Lux: you've not lost your charm either Dash: every compliment I've given you before, I would give you today Lux: damn timing Dash: Meet me under the 🌙? Lux: I shan't turn into a 🎃 Dash: I won't turn into a 🐀 Lux: then I don't see why not Dash: Then I'll be waiting for you Lux: Patiently? Dash: you already know that's not one of my virtues Lux: 😇 takes a lot of hard work Dash: you're the 👼 Lux: I do like hearing it Dash: I'll write you another song Lux: you keep writing songs for everyone, no wonder you've got no time Dash: school's that much of a hassle, it's that or crash 💤 Lux: what don't you like about it? Dash: I don't like anything about it Dash: nothing radical ever happens Dash: & there's way more commandments than 10 Dash: I could be spending my time here on the farm, helping things run smooth Lux: Hmm Lux: Interesting Dash: I read, I know shit Dash: I can write and do maths Dash: understand people Lux: and you feel like that's all school has to offer you? Dash: I don't see why I have to do x or y number of years more in an institution Dash: there's nothing I can get there that I can't get in the 🌍 Lux: I'll add it to my survey ideas Dash: 🤯💭 Lux: 🐝🧠 or 🎨🧠 Lux: only time will tell Dash: I'm hip to it being about getting out of just being around the same 🐈 & 🐤 Dash: meeting people with different vibes who you probably won't dig Dash: but I've got my bro for that Lux: the footballer Lux: I remember Dash: my dad & his piece too, they're drags in the same way Lux: what do you bond with your dad over? Dash: I don't Lux: is it like school and you're not bothered though Lux: or is it a shame Dash: Do I 🌠 he 👀 me? Used to Dash: not a rush I need to chase now Lux: I get it Dash: He's got the ⚽🏆 son he wants & I've got a family here Lux: it's not a good enough replacement though, is it Lux: no matter how nice people are here, or wherever I end up next and after that Lux: I'm never going to hear the people I grew up with, who loved and raised me, call me by the right name Lux: or daughter, or sister Dash: You're not gonna stay? Lux: this place was made for moving out, right? Lux: it's transient Dash: they can love you, raise you, you don't have to split Lux: I've been raised but Lux: I get what you're saying Lux: when I put roots down again Lux: it needs to be for keeps Dash: this can be for keeps Dash: it is for me Lux: we had some travellers at my daddy's church for a while Lux: 'til they got moved on Lux: places like this Lux: it's never forever Dash: What's forever? Not my parents marriage or my dad's football career Dash: if we have to go we go together, all of us Dash: new buildings maybe but the same family Lux: I'm glad that you have that Dash: you can Dash: you're welcome & wanted Dash: nobody here is related to me by blood but we're still connected Lux: I know, everyone has been very welcoming Lux: on the whole Dash: you can get comfortable, this place has been here years Lux: alright Lux: anyway, didn't Cleopatra show yet? Dash: She'll be waiting for a mirror Lux: huh? Dash: she's not cool with coming to me before checking what she looks like Dash: as if I've never 👀 her Lux: doesn't it feel Lux: Abraham and Sarah vibes Dash: what do you mean? Lux: incestuous Lux: because you say they're your family Lux: but you sleep with them Dash: she won't stay Dash: a tourist Lux: and you only sleep with the ones that won't stay Dash: they sleep with me, it's part of the tour Dash: you remember Lux: Cool speech there then Dash: I don't always get it right, like Dash: I thought that was your vibe, it's not Lux: no, you were exactly right Dash: Lux, come on Lux: it's family to you Lux: you don't care about the endless stream of fucked up girls who can cross here off their nowhere left to go list Lux: what they might be searching for Lux: never mind you actually have a home, somewhere you could be Lux: I was beyond wrong about you Dash: Don't fucking frame it like that Lux: 'cos you did a brilliant job with your narrative Lux: part of the tour, give me a fucking break Lux: you know, you aren't superior because you choose to be here, it's the opposite Lux: what kind of person lords that over people who have no choice, nowhere else they can be Lux: what the fuck Dash: that's not what I'm doing, chill out Lux: just don't Lux: you have no justification, you have no reason Lux: and clearly whatever you are doing here is going unchecked so whatever Lux: I'll be gone soon, but just know, I fucking see you Dash: I told you before we started, you set the pace, everything we did we both wanted to do Dash: nothing I do needs to be checked Lux: so you're that guy Lux: it isn't only bad if it's some serial killer down an alley and the girl is screaming and crying no Dash: You're making this way heavier than it is Lux: You don't get to tell me what I'm making it Dash: I don't get why you're twisting everything Lux: I haven't twisted anything Dash: we had fun, you said you liked me Lux: this isn't a straight issue of consent Lux: it's the fact that I know you knew I was vulnerable, I told you things, why I was here Lux: and you think it's acceptable to fuck people who are in that position, and you can't deny it because you literally did it to me, because, you know, they won't be here long Lux: and to have the nerve to advertise this place, these people, yourself, as a fucking safe space Lux: family Lux: that is insanely fucked up, I don't know how no one has ever told you that Dash: you can back off this witch hunt, yeah? Dash: you're not the same as Sapphire or Amber or Lotus or whoever Dash: they don't tell me things, it's not the fucking same Lux: Well I'm definitely sorry I did Dash: that's all been shallow, this got deep, you know Lux: I don't think I know anything about you Lux: not really Dash: You're just flipping out, I flipped you out Dash: but I didn't mean to & you don't mean that Lux: I just need to not be here right now Dash: Lux Lux: It's fine Lux: I mean, it's not Lux: but I'm leaving the main house to go for a walk, so just don't let me see you, okay Dash: You're not gonna tell anyone, are you? Lux: excuse me? Dash: all that shit you said about how it's not a safe space Lux: who the hell do I have to tell? Lux: and that's the worst part Dash: There's loads of people you could, but it's not true Lux: for a second there, you almost sounded like you gave a shit Lux: places like this will always exist, I'm not under any illusion I can stamp them all out Dash: I do! Dash: maybe I fucked up but that's not the farm's fault Lux: I'm not going to the cops, I have nothing to tell Dash: my head didn't go there, there's loads of good people here, doing beautiful things Dash: if I'm not one of them, that'll be my karma Dash: you don't have to leave Lux: I'm not Lux: that's your karma Lux: someone needs to stick around so there's some sense of consequence for your actions Dash: you don't have to go full avenging 👼 on me Dash: I won't be going heavy on you Lux: It's not a joke, Dash Dash: I'm not 🤡ing Dash: nothing uncool needs to happen between us, I'll give you space or whatever Lux: You're afraid Lux: aren't you Lux: that if I tell what you're like, girls like Cleopatra won't go near you anymore Lux: Jesus Christ Dash: I don't need to be afraid of that, I told you, we're all having fun Dash: there's no big soap opera vibe Lux: Fuck off now Dash: Ask Amber, she was mad at me before you but not like that, you've got this wrong Lux: I haven't got anything wrong Lux: this is what you did, to me, that's the end of Lux: you can tell yourself what you like about the rest, that's no concern of mine Dash: Nah, we talked about it, how I've done shit before that's 💔 & you said you didn't care Dash: that I couldn't hurt you Dash: & that you could tell I wasn't a bad person Dash: Why are you just taking it all back like none of that fucking happened? Lux: Why did you prove me wrong in such spectacular fashion? Lux: there's a reason you prefer keeping things shallow, and this is it Lux: if the answer isn't a yes or it's cool, you don't want to know, you don't want to be checked Dash: The reason I keep things shallow is they're on a fly by, they don't want to stay & I don't wanna be connected to someone else that'll split on me Lux: you aren't the gatekeeper of this place Lux: and nothing's forever, by your own admission Dash: I am of myself & I do my own fucking checks, yeah? Maybe you don't have a heart left to break by your own admission but I'm protecting the one you don't believe I've got, like Lux: There's no world in which I'm feeling sorry for you right now, okay Lux: you do not vet every girl you fuck for her tragic backstory, cut the crap Dash: Gimme a break, I said talking isn't usually part of it, going both ways, wouldn't be very chill or shallow if it was Lux: Yeah, like I said, you don't care Lux: and that's your lookout Lux: but to give it that faux hippie bullshit about family and welcoming, when you mean only for yourself, fucking sucks Lux: don't bother pretending, just be honest Dash: it happened different with you, that's the honest truth Dash: search me why Lux: right Lux: I wasn't born yesterday Dash: I do care Lux: you should be a better friend Lux: to these people, the ones you care about Dash: yeah Lux: that's all I have to say Dash: I'll cool it too then Lux: I don't think you're evil Lux: but I don't think you're a good person now Dash: I can't change your mind? Lux: Of course you can Dash: by doing what? Lux: by being a good person or a bad Dash: Beats me how that's getting judged when everyone else already thinks I'm being a good person except you & my bro Lux: don't confuse people not caring either way for approval of your actions Dash: you want me to care more for people who don't, nothing confusing about that Lux: I said being good wasn't easy Dash: & responsibility isn't my bag, he takes all that on Lux: there we go then Lux: I'm not expecting anything Dash: like I said, I'm not giving you anything but space Lux: Whatever Lux: Goodbye Dash: I'm sorry we read each other wrong Dash: it hasn't happened before Lux: It's happened plenty before Lux: they leave Lux: your behaviour and attitude is bullshit and I won't be apologising to you Dash: chill, you've made your point Lux: it's not about making it, it's about you understanding Lux: but why the fuck should I care, actually Lux: you're right, way too confusing, way too hard, no point Dash: get out of here then Dash: I don't understand & you don't care Lux: I'm not leaving, remember Lux: and that's the fucking point, you'll have to get used to feeling uncomfortable with it Dash: you can split conversationally, was more the vibe Lux: no, Dash Lux: you don't control the conversation, the narrative, any of it, that's the 'vibe' Lux: if you're feeling some type of way, you should go, take some responsibility for yourself Dash: You're responsible for hassling me now Lux: Then leave Lux: you control you, I control me Lux: I'm not doing what you don't want to do for some notion of being the fucking 'chill' cool one here Dash: I don't understand this, that's why I don't want to Lux: I don't think you want to Lux: it's fun and it's easy to do fucked up things Lux: and if everyone else is doing them, or not calling you out for it, why not Dash: I didn't do a fucked up thing to you Lux: I've said you did Dash: but that's not the way it was Dash: I opened up to you to, I still am Lux: You tell me about the tour and then you tell me I'm different though Lux: How do you expect me to take you at your word when what you've described there is exactly what went down Dash: I showed you around & I've showed some of them around, that doesn't mean everything else that happened was the same Lux: you said it like you thought I'd think it was funny Dash: I don't know why I did that Lux: Be honest Lux: was it just to see how cool I was and how I could hang Lux: or was it because you forgot, and thought I was one of the boys Dash: that couldn't be further from how I see you Lux: okay Lux: that's something then Dash: I meant what I said when I told you you're like a song I can't get out of my head, how I wanted to live in all those moments cos of what they felt like Dash: it's only got worse since then Dash: I didn't wanna hurt you, I don't Lux: you didn't hurt me by what you did Lux: at least, not at the time Lux: it's what you said Lux: to have to put bad intentions to those moments, you must get how shitty that is, you at least feel that too Dash: I was trying to show you this is different Lux: my head hurts Dash: Yeah 🌪 Lux: make sure you have some water Dash: that's your magic 🔮✨💖 Lux: I don't think I have any right now Dash: You haven't lost it Lux: I just need to replenish Dash: Me too Lux: I'll wish you good luck on that then Dash: Later? Lux: Yeah Dash: 🚀🪐💫

[barryallenis]

So Clark is always around to save Lois. Does that mean he doesn’t think she’s capable? Or is it because she’s white and she gets to have sweeping romantic moments with him while Iris gets boxed to the strong Black woman trope. If Black women are pointing out this gross racial undertone and are saying Iris is not being prioritized, loved protected. Iris’s been stuck for months, she needs Barry. Any meta on that team could handle Godspeed. Why did he train them if they can’t even do this?

I really can’t speak to that because all I really know over superman is the like 3 episodes he’s been in on DCTV.

I’m sorry that you feel Iris is being boxed into a strong black women trope. I haven’t gotten that impression because I haven’t ever felt that Barry and Iris don’t have enough sweet romantic moments. (When they got their apartment, all the sweet couch scenes, the dates (albeit, slim), their therapy breakthroughs, barry singing to her, barry supporting her through her fear of the future with nora, the coffee dates before they were even dating). To me Iris comes off as loving, extreamly empathetic, quick witted, determined (sometimes to her own detriment), AND strong. I’m sorry if you don’t feel like those other aspects of her are being showcased enough, and I hope we get to see more of that soon.

Has Iris had to put on a brave face and push her feelings aside before? Absolutely. Which you’re right, isn’t fair, but, like I’ve said before, it’s kind of part of the nature of being in a human/superhuman relationship. Again, I can’t really speak to what you’re saying about Clark and Lois, and if we’re talking strickly DCTV wise, I don’t think we really can compare them until we’ve actually seen the show that they will be leading in.

But also this doesn’t mean it’s not a flaw of Barry’s to put her in these positions (leaving her at the end of season 3 with no warning, telling her she had to be strong with crisis coming ect.). But to me these read as a human trying to balance being a human and being a superhero and it not always being perfect. Which is what we should expect. If Barry always made the right, methodically thought out decision in every situation, it would take away the part of him that is human.

Also in terms of godspeed, we can’t speak to this because this episode literally hasn’t aired yet (nor the one prior). Making assumptions about what’s going to happen on that front is just pointless right now.

[emeraldtawny]

Drug Dealer!AU Sirius, Ray & Fenrir (ft. Seth): An Innocent’s Plea

MORE DRUG TIMES! ...that sounds wrong goerbdger

Now we take a look at the less fortunate side, of those a liiiiiiittle less than happy about being involved in this whole ordeal uwu~ As always, the outlining of this AU is here if you haven’t read it already. Otherwise, enjoy~ ^w^

He could remember everything so vividly.

He remembered the feel of the asphalt beneath him, could feel its rough surface graze the surface of his skin and burn through to the flesh beneath. He remembered the taste of blood defiling his taste buds as he bit his tongue to hold back his pained shouts, his body already screaming from the sharp kicks impacting against his stomach, his head, his back.

“You think you’re such a hotshot, huh? Just ‘cause you’re all buddy-buddy with the nightclub owner?!”

He remembered their words, weaved with envy and laced with venom. So shallow that he could see the ripple of deceit just below the surface. 

He remembered every sensation; every fibre and nerve in his body in agony so excruciatingly hot that it almost felt numb; the poignant, gripping pain as his head was tugged back from the road beneath him, his neck twisting to an almost unnatural curve. 

He remembered his mouth being forced open, the feeling of something being shoved into his open mouth and how its bitter palette melded with the metallic tang of his blood.

But he can’t remember swallowing what he was forced to ingest, nor can he remember the terrifying feeling of his body losing all feeling and control whilst his mind could still register everything around him - a cognitive mind without the comfort of control.

Perhaps, it’s for the best he doesn’t remember. For better or worse.

…

Clouds hang low in the sky as the rumbled purring of a motorcycle comes to a halt. Kicking the stand down whilst still remaining in his seat, the helmet of the vehicle’s rider is removed and he gives his head a cursory shake, his multiple piercings an eye-catching silver against his brown hair. He casts a sidelong glance at the building across the road from him, completely dead in the late morning yet still grandiose in its presence. 

With a sigh, Sirius stands and hops off his motorcycle, placing the helmet on the seat. He removes the keys from the ignition and meanders towards the entrance, his keys twirling with his finger as he spins it around and around. The metallic clanging of the keys colliding with each other as they spin does nothing to distract Sirius from his goal at hand, his amethyst eyes hardening as he envisions every possible scenario he can in his head, ready to expect the worst.

A foreboding creak of the door welcomes him to Cat’s Cradle, the electricity in the air dull but not forgotten, as if its party atmosphere could never be dissipated. Catching the spinning keys in his palm and pocketing them in his black straight jeans, Sirius scans the abandoned dance floor with healthy scepticism, waiting for his “gracious host” to appear.

“Mr Oswald.”

The playful tenor he was expecting is instead a honeyed alto, the man he spins around to face standing with an eyebrow quirked, his soft blue locks secured in a loose low side ponytail.

“Ah, you’re the bodyguard.”

Said man smiles wide, apparently unoffended by Sirius’ offhand comment, “Mr Godspeed is out the back, though I doubt you’ll receive a warm welcome from this unexpected visit.”

“He knew of the conditions we promised him so I’m afraid he doesn’t get a say in this.” Sirius pauses, appraising the younger man’s apparel with slight curiosity, “But you’re not staying? I thought you never leave his side.”

He simply laughs in response, the sound as light and sweet as a twittering birdsong, “I do have a life outside of work as I’m sure you do, Mr Oswald. I have my own plans today that I’m already running dreadfully late for. Now, if you’ll excuse me~♡”

Parting with a playful wink, he breezes past Sirius and out the door, the older man watching him go with a mix of doubt and curiosity.

(Glad to know my gut feeling hasn’t changed. There’s just something...off about him.)

While he could dwell on it for longer, Sirius shelves the thought away for later and makes his way to the back, his heeled ankle boots echoing just that little bit too loud to make him feel an edge of unease.

In the quiet space, Sirius follows the vague echoes of what he assumes are voices, his senses on high alert despite his outwardly calm demeanour. When his eyes catch the edge of magenta, his shoulders relax but they quickly tense back up again at the other sight he bears witness to.

On a long modern leather couch stretching out against the back wall in the nightclub’s VIP area, the young club owner sits next to another man, his form clad in a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and his eyes unmoving from the floor. Sirius seems to pause as he assesses the scene before him and the concerned - almost sympathetic - look on Fenrir’s face.

(A cocky young brat like you knows how to feel sorry for someone? That’s something I never thought I’d see.)

As if he could hear Sirius’ thoughts, Fenrir’s gaze suddenly flits up to him, the soft edge behind his eyes hardening in an instant. Sirius strolls up casually to stand before the two younger men, his own eyes focused and analytically cold.

“Geez, could you have had any worse timing, old man?” Fenrir mutters under his breath before craning his neck up to meet the other man’s gaze, “Well, what are ya doing here? Come to check that I’m not givin’ everything away like free candy?”

He doesn’t respond, only moving his eyes to appraise the other man next to him, his messy black hair attempting to mask the pallor of his skin and his sunken, hollow emerald eyes.

“There better be a good reason why there’s someone uninvolved with our agreement here, and especially why you seem quite comfortable discussing these private affairs in front of him.”

The clear threat in his weaponised words sends a shudder through the other man and Sirius catches how his pupils shrink despite remaining unmoving from the floor. Fenrir’s hand moves to grab the other man’s shoulder, his touch concerned and comforting in equal measure while his eyes are all business as they meet Sirius’.

“Leave him outta this. He hasn’t done anything.”

“If he hasn’t done anything, then why the hell is he here?”

“‘Cause he’s got nowhere else to go.”

“So that means you had to tell him about our arrangement? An arrangement - mind you - that I highlighted every single thing that would happen to you if you didn’t uphold your end of the deal?”

Both men hold their ground; Fenrir unyielding from Sirius’ dangerous threats and Sirius unswayed by Fenrir’s earnest conviction.

“Wait…”

The tension is relieved - if only slightly - as both men turn their attention to the meek yet determined voice. The man rests his elbows on his knees, his fingers steepled together as they hang in the air between his spread legs.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

A squeeze to his shoulder. “Ray, wait. You don’t--”

“It’s alright, Fenrir-” 

The man named Ray turns his head and offers Fenrir a barely-there smile, one that Sirius can see the years of long-strengthened friendship behind.

“-It’s the least I can do for the trouble I’ve clearly caused you.” 

Emerald hues move to meet its contrasting purple counterpart, both gazes mingling together with odd understanding, both men sensing each other’s honest intentions. After what feels like an eternity, Ray’s steepled fingers tighten their grasp on his hands.

“I’ll tell you why I’m here and why I know about everything you and Fenrir are doing. But, there’s one thing I want in exchange.”

“Depends what it is.” Sirius replies, the edge of venom in his words softer than before, a silent relief to the man under his scrutinising presence.

His eyes are clear with conviction despite the dark circles surrounding his eyes and his hands shake despite his firm grip; eyes that Sirius realises are sunken not from fatigue, but from bruising, and hands that shake from frailty, not fear. An imperceptible shake to Ray’s words emphasises the silent, desperate plea he makes to a man he has never met and never wanted to meet if it meant getting swept into this raging storm,

“Please get whatever is inside of me out.”

[lovingsiriusoswald]

“Fragile, But Not Weak”

Part 7 - Her POV

Summary and Notes, Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight

Pairing: Fenrir Godspeed and Delinquent!Alice

Word count: 2710 words

Tagging: @christmaswarlock @midnightcradle @pianoperson @wishiwasfictionaltoo​ @plumpblueberry @bumbleberry-jamboree @forenah-gaijin @the-cashewpeia and @5-of-spades​ i’m so sorry this was a week late, i got into art a lil too much and i deadass forgot about this AAAAAA as usual, thanks again so much for the lovely comments you left on the previous one (´⌣`ʃƪ)♡

⊱ ──── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ──── ⊰

I was offered a lovely room, its interiors astonishingly decorated by the single bright, beautiful flower growing amongst the smelly, messy army men. Seth had a big smile on his face as I took in the sight. "Seth! This room is so beautiful!"

"It is, isn't it? I put my all in making it perfect just for you~" He sings as he smiles brightly at me. He places my bags down by the closet and turns back at me. "After all, a woman's safe haven is her room! Its the only place where she'd be comfortable."

He then walked towards me and gently holds my hands. "I know its overwhelming to stay in a place filled with brute men, but I can assure you that you can come to me whenever you need help. I'm the Big Sis of this ruckus of an army, and I'd be more than glad to help you, Alice."

"Big..Sis?" I asked very softly, unsure of what he was talking about.

"Oh, please don't get the wrong idea, I'm a man through and through!"

"I'm sorry for taking it the wrong way." I apologize as I start to look away from him.

"Its alright, Alice." He puts his finger underneath my chin and gently pulls my face upwards. Our eyes were fixated on each other for a moment and I felt like I was being pulled in a trance. "Come on now, I'm pretty sure that you're starved! You need to eat as much as you can~" He starts dragging me out of the room.

When Seth opened the doors to the kitchen, I was astounded by the huge amount of food placed on the long dining table. There was so much food, my stomach started to growl and my mouth drooled . "Come on Alice! Its time to eat!" Godspeed calls me over.

"What's happening? Why is there so much food?" I ask as I walk towards him. He had the biggest grin on his face as Ray holds his shoulder.

"We're having a welcome party for you." Ray answers and gives me a soft smile.

"A party?" My mouth drops open. I blinked several times, Why would they throw a party for me?

"You're officially part of the Black Army now, Alice!" Godspeed puts his arm around me and ruffles my hair with his other hand.

"W-wait wait, hold on, I didn't say anything about taking a side in this war." I remove his hand from my shoulder and grip his wrist tightly. He winces a little and looks at me worriedly.

"You aren't taking any sides, Alice. Don't worry." Sirius's calm voice "Just because you're here doesn't mean you have to fight. We promised to protect you, like family." His smile grows as he says the last word.

Why are you so nice?

"Now, enough with this war talk! You said you were starving, let's eat!" Seth pulls me to a chair beside where Luka sat. Cheers erupted in the dining area and I scanned the faces of these soldiers. They vowed to protect and keep me safe, even if they don't know who I am.

It felt surreal and overwhelming, I'm not dreaming, right? Unbridled emotions swelled in my chest and for the first time, it wasn't from fear nor regret. What good have I done? Do I deserve this kindness?

"What's wrong, Alice?" Luka asks softly.

"Oh! Nothing! I was just.. overwhelmed." I quickly plaster a smile on my face when I turned to look at him. Hunger got the best of me so I didn´t waste another second and indulged the savory and aromatic meals in front of me. "This is so good!" I say through my full mouth, unable to hide my amazement.

"I'm so glad you like it." Luka smiles at me. The fatigue that I was feeling  seemed to dissipate at each bite, recharging my energy and I've never felt so content.

"Woah, you really have such an amazing smile!" Godspeed exclaims out of the blue, making me almost choke on my own breath.

"Excuse me, what?" A chuckle erupts from my throat as I look up at him. He was seated across from me and had a goofy grin on his face. "Where did that come from?"

"Please don't think I lied, it was an honest compliment." He winks. A loud laugh slips from his lips and it was infectious. I stopped myself from laughing, but I couldn't help but grin. How dare he use my card against me. "Did that get ya?" He smirks at me as he wipes off the stray sauce from his upper lip with his thumb.

"Off guard, yes. Romantically, try again next time." It was my turn to wink and smirk at him, then we laughed at each other.

"Alice," Seth calls and I turn to him. "If it's okay, we'd like to know more about you." He has a soft smile on his face as he eats a spoonful.

"Well," I start. "In the Land of Reason, I work at a confectionery because I really like sugary food." I chuckle. "So when I decided to reside here, I wanted to continue my career."

"Other than being the sweet confectionery girl, what else do you do here in Cradle?" Sirius asks.

"Um, well, mess around in disguise?" I shyly answered, feeling my cheeks burn. "B-but I only do so because some soldiers slack off during their patrols!"

"Hey!" The man I'd thrown eggs at two nights ago reacts. I sink further down in the chair, suddenly ashamed of myself. Without my mask, I felt so vulnerable. "We don't slack off!"

"Yeah, I'd love to talk to the lady you were hogging off at the market about your duty." My mouth spits out the words without me thinking. My hands immediately cover my mouth and I glance over at the man, his cheeks flushed and his mouth agape.

"Your reaction to her statement proved that she was telling the truth." Sirius looks over at the man who sat back down to his chair. "We'll talk later."

"I'm sorry." I whispered to no one.

"You're not yourself without your mask, huh?" I hear Godspeed say as he places his elbow by the table and leans his chin on it. He had a smug smile on his face, he watched me as I try to sit properly. I hate how you read through me that quick, dammit.

"I'm too exposed to do anything stupid, my image would be ruined." I pout and reach for a glass of water.

"Have you always been a delinquent?" He asks, his tone serious but a smile still apparent on his face.

"Well, I guess, but not to the extent that I've become a criminal whatsoever." I breathe in. "Me and my friends were characterized as chaotic good, meaning, we have good intentions, but we do it differently and usually in a not so good way." A smile creeps on my face as I remembered the good days when everything was okay. "We do have rules though; we only mess with people, not hurt them. We replace things, not steal them. We usually do these things if we see something that isn’t right, or if we just want to have fun.”

"So you throwing that egg was something that you thought you did for the good?" Ray chuckles.

"Yeah, I'd like to think so. It was a bit rude that someone started shooting me for it." I eye Godspeed, who raises an eyebrow at me.

"Hey, I didn't know why you did it and you insulted my men. It was on instinct!" He exclaims defensively.

"Sure, you gun-shooting maniac." Seth rolls his eyes and Godspeed frowns at him.

"You wanna go?" He rolls his sleeve and clenches his fist.

"That looks like fun." I smile through the fork on my lips and watch them bicker back and forth, resulting in an arm wrestling match in seconds. The soldiers started to cheer and take sides, betting on who would win.

"Winner gets to be with Alice for a day!" Godspeed chips and Seth smiles, his feminine demeanor vanishing.

"If that's the case, you won't last a second!" Seth rolls his sleeve and places his elbow on the table, right in front of him.

"Hey now, I'm not a prize." I stood from my seat. "..but I'd love to see how this would turn out." I walk near them and witness their fight.

"Who's side are you on?" Sirius asks.

"I'd like to say Godspeed, but Seth is the 10 of Spades for a reason." I say as I look up at the taller man. Ray was beside him, cheering on his best buddy.

"That's good thinking, little lady." He pats my head and we watch the two fight, Godspeed's arms were slightly leaning down, but he's fighting as strong as he can. Through gritted teeth, I could see their amusement and willpower.

"Hear that Fenrir? Alice is on my side, give up now!" I could see Seth flex his muscles harder, making Godspeed struggle.

"Not fair! Ahh dammit. Another win for Seth!" Godspeed admits his defeat as Seth pushes his arm down. He immediately skips towards me and holds my hands.

"We're going shopping tomorrow Alice, its coincidentally my day off! It must be fate~" He hugs me and I giggle, memories of my old friends resonate to my heart and it aches with joy. I've missed this feeling.

"That sounds lovely! I can't wait!"

"You seem like you're used to being around men, do you have brothers?" Sirius asks as we walk to the lounge.

"I don't. I have a sister though, but we have a lot of guy friends — most of my friends are, actually." I smile at him and put my arms underneath my chest.

"When did you learn how to fight?" Godspeed asks as he stretches the arm he used to wrestle with Seth. "You kicked those Magic Disciples' asses with your bare hands!"

"My friends taught me how to defend myself, there were a lot of similar encounters back in my world. Minus the magic, though." I plop down the sofa and Luka hands me a strawberry and cream cake slice.

"I hope its as good as your expectations." He smiles sweetly at me and my heart nearly felt like it was gonna burst.

The men of the Black Army weren't a ruckus as Kyle had described them as. They're super sweet and generous, hospitable and very fun to be with. I actually felt at home and it's only been two hours since I got here. Do I really deserve this? Or is something gonna take this feeling away the moment I start to relish in it?

I took a bite from the cake and felt the sweet delicacy, balanced with the strawberry flavors and creamy texture, exactly how I like my cakes. "Luka! This cake is amazing!" I can feel my smile growing wider as I kept on taking another bite, my sweet tooth craving for more of the treat.

"Aww Luka's all red and blushing!" Seth teases him and I see him look away from me with a pout on his face. For a moment, he really did look like the Queen of Hearts. He tries to say something but he stutters, deciding to leave us in the lounge and went to what I assume was the kitchen.

"Is he gonna be okay?" I ask as I place the plate down by the nearby table.

"Yeah, he usually doesn't like being around too many people. He'll come around." Godspeed says confidently, beaming up at me.

After a few more hours of eating, I excused myself to go outside to breathe for a moment.

A gust of cool wind flutters the ends of my dress a little, inviting me to bask in the afternoon light. I pondered on the sweet emotions that grew in my chest, feeling my cheeks hurt from constantly smiling so much. Times like this had been very rare — almost like a luxury — ever since the fire. I wonder if I can make this feel a little longer, Maybe I should take Kyle's advice.

"Need some company, lady?"

On second thought, nevermind.

"Not really, but I don't mind." I look up at Godspeed as he sits beside me on the stairs to the courtyard.

"Did ya drink your medicine?" A small smile grows on his face.

"Oh shoot, I forgot." I gasp and I immediately got up, but I was stopped when he grabs my arm. He shows my pill bottle and a bottle of water. "Aww thanks." I smile at him and reach for it, but as I was gonna grab for it, he pulls them away.

"But first — answer me something." His expression turns serious all of a sudden, startling me. "You're too comfortable around Seth and the others, wouldn't Kyle be mad if he found out?"

Wait, what?

"Ha..?" I could barely even form a proper reaction. What was he talking about?

"You and Kyle are together right? I won't consent you to cheating— " He says this with a straight face and it was almost laughable.

"WAIT ONE SECOND GODSPEED." I almost scream as laughter erupts from my throat. "Me? And Kyle? Together? What made you think of such a thing?" More laughter rose from my chest and I had to sit down to clutch on to my aching stomach.

"Wait what?" It was his turn to be confused now. "You two aren't together?" Something in his tone changed, but I ignored it. I kept laughing until there was no longer any sound coming out of my mouth.

"No! He's my doctor and I'm his patient. That's all there is." I wipe away the tears that leaked from my eyes. "Plus, neither of us are interested in having a love affair whatsoever." I start to calm down and take deep breaths to cool myself down.

"Ah geez, I got really worried about that." He chuckles and he finally gives me my medicine. I check its label to see if it was the correct one, before taking one pill out and tossing it into my mouth. I take a few gulps of water and close the bottle cap.

"That was something I never knew I would hear, you really are an idiot." I giggle as I hand Godspeed my pill bottle.

"Hey!" He pouts at me.

"It was a joke!" I reached my hand out to his head and started messing it terribly.

"Hey stop!" He holds both of my wrists, leaning close to my face with a dissatisfied look and I laughed in response. "What's that for, lady? Geez!" He lets go of one hand and desperately tried to fix his hair in vain.

"For messing with mine, dimwit." I pointed at the stray away locks on my head and stuck my tongue out at him. He rolls his eyes and pulls away, shoving the pill bottle in his inner jacket pocket and a grin was painted on his face. "Thanks for reminding me about that."

"No worries. I did promise to keep you well."

"Why are you guys so nice?" I asked hesitantly. The grin on my face almost felt natural again and I couldn't stop anymore.

"Well if it meant we could see you smile that brightly, we'd spoil you rotten with kindness." He chuckles as he watches the sun slowly start to set. The way his eyes shone against the last orange rays of the sun was just as enchanting as a magic crystal glimmering underneath the moonlight. He almost looked like he was glowing with the sun just by his side, outlining him like he was from a painting. His magenta hair swayed lightly against the wind and he looked amazing. There's no point in hiding how breathtakingly attractive he is — now I can see why the noble women that often visited the confectionery gush so much about him.

"We should head back inside, dinner will be ready soon and if you want the best meals, better be there early!" He then grabs my hand again and pulls me back, a fit of giggles erupting from me.

[redderanddeader]

Happenings over the last couple weeks:

Did I tell you I killed the St Denis cat? 

I killed the St Denis cat

I was trying to show my roommate the cat, but accidentally switched to first person view

I don’t know what the fuck I pressed but I kicked the cat?

It die T_T

I picked up the cat in a panicked effort to revive it

a man yelled at me and so I went to put it down but YEETED IT

Someone saw and accused me of animal cruelty. 

A WITNESS. He called cops and TWO came running

I shot at both of them but don’t remember if they died. 

Literally was running through the plantations north of st Denis and MORE COPS were like ITS YOU 

IT WAS A CAT. I’VE KILLED 25 PEOPLE AND UR MAD OVER THIS

Anyway that’s how I got my biggest bounty. a whole dollar and 5c

OVER A CAT

I’m sorry cat 

T_T

Last night I was playing some older quests and got “love and honor”. A real rascally lookin dude gets matched in my group, and immediately starts mumbling and cussing on his mic. “Fuckin hurry the fuck up” this and ‘fuckin bitch’ that. Its mostly cut scene at this point, so i couldn’t mute him. 

As his type usually does, he runs in, guns blazing once we get to Twin Rocks. Just bangety bang bang. Real macho man. We get inside and the guy asks us to help. Mr Rascal says :

“Aww we gotta help these kids here”. And proceeds to do so. u_u. Wholesome edgelord.  

And then this weekend (or Monday, who the fuck knows anymore), I’m at my camp by the Dakota river, and was just wandering around, looking for animals for Cripps. See someone approaching, but seemingly like they’re floating on an invisible horse. Dude approached with surprising speed, So I waved and hoped that he wouldn’t kill me. 

He asked how I was and I was like, yeah I’m good, you? and he says (in an Australian accent): 

“Well, congrats, you just met God”. And my friends, he was riding THE TINY DONKEY from the farm up there on Bards crossing! 

I was like “is that the guy from up yonder farm?” and he says “yeeeeah little buggers are FAST TOO” and he zoomed around my camp, asking who Cripps was and stuff (”Whos this bloke? Ah its just Cripps”). He’s like “Look how fast he is!” and then did a couple loops around, proceeding to run me the fuck over. (He apologized). When I came to, he said he was really sorry, and that he was heading out to show off his ass in Valentine. 

 Godspeed little ass man u_u

[masterserris]

FUNERAL FOR A MAGICIAN     Pt. 8 Home

Terrax vs Neo!

Characters: Neo Mysterio (Quentin Beck), Doc Ock (Otto Octavius), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Alexandria Beck (Alex), Maria Beck, Sandman (Flint Marko), Chameleon, Electro, Rhino, Terrax the Tamer, various Avengers (TU)

TU = Terrax Universe

THIS CHAPTER IS GRAPHIC IN NATURE AS PER THE WARNINGS BELOW

Warnings: Explicit gore and death, violence, mentions of past abuse, mental illness, physical illness

^These warnings are here for the story as a whole. If you get invested by reading a less graphic chapter, then be prepared for the warnings above in other parts!!

Captain America: “So, we got a fake magician? Where’s Strange?!”

Iron Man: “He’s fending off Dormammu or demons or whatever the hell he does in the magical realms! He’s been at it for a day and a half now! Maybe YOU should listen more as well, Cap!”

Terrax: “YOUR PETTY SQUABBLES ARE AMUSING, MORTALS. BUT IT WILL NOT SAVE YOU ON THIS DAY. FOR TERRAX KNOWS NO MERCY!”

Terrax swung his cosmic ax, sending a massive arc of plasma hurtling towards the Avengers, but just as they were about to be obliterated, they disappeared completely in a puff of green smoke.

Terrax: “WHA- WHAT TRICKERY IS THIS?!”

Neo Mysterio: “You call me a fake. You call me a sham. You’re about to learn why you should never turn your back on the great and powerful Mysterio!!”

Neo had teleported them several blocks away, for they were in no shape to keep fighting. No, they would only get in the way at this point. Mysterio’s hands glowed with green plasma.

Terrax: “DELAY THE INEVITABLE ALL YOU WISH, HUMAN. THE RESULT WILL BE THE SAME.”

Neo Mysterio: “I’m sorry, Doc. I know this wasn’t part of the plan, but unless someone takes down Terrax, neither me nor Spider-Man will be returning. This world will burn, and billions may die. I just... can’t let that happen.”

Doc Ock: “...I understand,” he said through the comm link.

Neo Mysterio: “Do me a favor and record all of this through my helmet cam. I.... think I want my sister to know what I did here. Why I had to. Show anyone this recording all you want, I won’t care in the end....”

Doc Ock: “Right... Godspeed, Beck. We’re all behind you in this.”

Across town, Spider-Man heaved a steel girder, looking for survivors, when he was greeted with a familiar face. Perhaps faces. Ant-Man and the Wasp were doing their best to find people trapped, going into the crevices that no one else could reach. Growing to massive size, Lang could then shift the heavy debris safely. On this day, the bugs would be the ones people would thank for saving their loved ones.

That was until a deafening screech rung out from across the battered city.

Unleashing the full might of Neo Mysterio’s sonic weapons was very dangerous. Originally, they were meant only to suppress foes, maybe even deafen them. However, when cranked to fully capacity, the sonic blast could level nearby buildings. 

Luckily, on this day, everyone in the vicinity had been evacuated. Unfortunately, this barely made Terrax flinch.

Switching strategies, Beck knew he couldn’t fight Terrax one to one, not without Terrax crushing the life out of him. Cloaking was useless, for with the power cosmic, Terrax could sense his very life essence. Illusions, Beck’s specialty, would be completely worthless against him. This was incredibly unfair, Mysterio grumbled to himself as he dodged a rock being hurled at the speed of sound.

Thankfully, his own flight systems were hyper sonic, but to a herald of Galactus, it was dreadfully, woefully inadequate. The Silver Surfer could cross a galaxy at blistering speeds, Terrax could possibly be on a similar level. It just seemed that he was unwilling to actually exert himself on such weaklings today.

This could be exploited.

Beck teleported away, out of sight. This seemed to be the one thing Terrax could not see through, could not counter directly. Perhaps, Beck could at least buy a few seconds of time...

Immediately, Mysterio’s robots appeared surrounding Terrax, all launching towards him, striking for the kill. Even though these machines are each strong enough to take down Iron Man, created from solid carbonadium, Terrax shattered two of them with a single blow. 

Terrax: “YOU ARE A FOOL TO ASSUME THESE TOYS COULD HARM ME!”

The goal, however, was not entirely to hurt Terrax. Yes, Beck wanted to know how tough his rocky skin was against carbonadium claws, but that was not all. Two more of the robots leaped onto Terrax’s back. It did nothing to really slow him down, it was only an annoyance. As Terrax obliterated three more with his ax, the final few closed in.

In the confusion, one of the machines achieved it’s purpose and managed to shove a fear gas grenade into Terrax’s face, exploding the specialty toxin.

This was no ordinary fear gas. It was the high volume, high potency blend. One drop of the serum could cover all of Manhattan, causing mass hysteria and hallucinations. It was now detonated in a way that did not produce the usual cloud of smoke, but rather it stuck to Terrax’s flesh; who now had it coating his face, lungs, and eyes, it was just enough to sap his strength and focus.��

He easily battered the rest of the robots away, completely smashing them apart. For the first time, Terrax staggered, coughing, and failing to see straight. 

Terrax: “COWARD, YOU WOULD DARE TO POISON TERRAX? THIS WILL NOT VANQUISH ME, MORTAL! SHOW YOURSELF AND FACE ME IN WORTHY COMBAT!!”

He swung his cosmic ax wildly around, threatening to tear the city apart if his foe did not emerge. Beck had no intentions of wasting this opportunity, however.

Beck hurtled at Terrax at the speed of sound, blasting him with a bolt of plasma before closing the distance and throwing a massive sucker punch to the gut. In his weakened state, the power cosmic disrupted by the fear toxin, Terrax actually lurched in pain. Perhaps there was yet hope.

The Avengers witnessed this from a few blocks away, their strength rallying.

TU Iron Man: “Up and at ‘em Cap. Shake off that paper cut, this is our chance! He’s buying us time to come up with a counter strike!”

With Stark helping him to his feet, Steve Rogers surveyed the battle from afar. He noted that Beck was using a Wakandan fighting style, not unlike the Panther’s... He was able to land several hits while avoiding the titanic blows from the disorientated Terrax. It still was not enough. All of the attacks landed amounted to little more than scuffs and scratches.

All it took Terrax were two swift blows to the gut then head to send Beck flying, helmet smashed open and armor horribly dented.

TU Captain America: “Right, everyone, fall in position seven! Stark, reroute Rhodey to position twelve! We need to be ready for an assist!”

While the Avengers mobilized, Beck groaned in pain, coughing up blood from his broken ribs. Through all the beatings he’s faced in his short life, this was by far the worst so far, and it was dealt out in only two hits. He was lucky he wasn’t dead. Perhaps that was soon to be amended.

Slowly, Terrax was recovering. If he was going to be defeated, it would be now. Marching forward, Terrax’s ax gleamed a malicious golden orange in the light cast by the buildings smoldering in the distance. Beck picked himself up, wheezing as he felt his bones cracked and innards pulverized. 

As Beck was gaining his composure, something unexpected happened.

Terrax was lit up from two different angles as Iron Man and War Machine unloaded the last of their weapons upon him. Bringing the rain. 

Captain America rushed to Beck’s side with his leg still slashed open while Terrax was distracted, getting them both back to cover.

TU Captain America: “What’s the plan, soldier? You got a way to defeat him?”

Neo Mysterio: “M-maybe.. but I’ll need to get close to him again...”

As he explains his plan, Steve goes quiet.

TU Captain America: “That’s a suicide run... Are you sure about this?”

Neo Mysterio: “It’s the only way I can think of...”

Beck turned his head to the fight, trailing off. Iron Man was at his breaking point, soon the both of them would be torn apart. Steve matched his gaze.

TU Captain America: “Do what you need to, kid. And before you go...” He took Mysterio’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes. “Thank you.”

Beck turned his gaze away after a second, nodding sullenly. He leaped out from behind the rubble as Steve hurled his shield at Terrax, slamming the hunk of vibranium into the side of his head, throwing him off balance.

Unsheathing his blade, Beck flew at Terrax, managing to bury it into his side and pushing the both of them hurtling skywards, away from the city.

With an animalistic bellow, Terrax grabbed Mysterio’s arm, wrenching, breaking, and removing it from his side. The antarctic vibranium gleaming with his cosmic blood.

Terrax: “INSECT! NOW YOU DIE!!”

Terrax, still with a firm grip on Neo’s arm, buried the business end of his massive ax into Beck’s chest, completely impaling him upon its cruel blade. Quentin gasped as the cold cosmic steel sliced into him. He struggled for a moment, grasping in futility at the hilt. Terrax pulled Neo off of his weapon, gloating at Beck’s dying face as they continued to rise into the heavens.

Terrax: “ALL OF HUMANITY WILL KNOW YOUR FAILURE.”

Weakly, Quentin pulled at something behind his cloak. He managed at last to speak, stammering out some of his last words.

Quentin Beck: “T-they sure will.. My world.. and t-this one... heh...”

Terrax: “YOUR WORLD...? YOU LAUGH IN THE FACE OF DEATH!?”

Quentin Beck: “Nah.. just a-at you...”

Beck grit his teeth into a snarl and spat at Terrax with all of his spite.

Quentin Beck: “I’LL JUST BE SEEING YOU IN HELL.”

And with that, Beck wrenched his good arm around and shoved his teleportation device into the wound he put in Terrax’s side.

BEEP BEEP

Terrax momentarily released him, stunned by the sudden movement. He grasped at his side, unable to pull out the beeping device.

BEEP BEEP

Terrax: “WHAT DID YOU DO?!” WHAT DID YO--”

BEEP BEEEEE---

With a horrible flash of greenish white light, Terrax collapsed upon himself, completely imploding as the teleporter utterly wiped him from existence. 

Terrax was no more.

Mysterio plummeted towards Earth, mortally wounded.

Iron Man gently caught him and brought him to the ground safely; to home.

Doc Ock sat at his desk, a universe away. All he could do was sigh. The receiver was completed by this point. It was all just... Much too late.