#anyway enjoy this first part

[keeperthemultiversemom]

how did you meet Stitcher?

Peacekeeper looks away, her face showing deep regrets and inner turmoil.

"I should've handled things better"

🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡

[ Part 1 : Fix them ] 

It all started when Frank became...weird. 

He stopped calling.

He stopped coming over everyday to play.

He wouldn't even tell her about bugs anymore. 

Frank used to be fearless, but suddenly...he became stressed, paranoid even. Julie knew something was up, but Frank wouldn't talk to her, not at all... 

"Hey Frank, what game should we play today ?

- Not today Julie... I can't....I just can't.

- Huh ?" 

And Frank hang up the phone. That was the last time they spoke. After that, Frank was gone. And wherever she searched, the woods, every house, every nook and crany, she couldn't find him. Frank was gone... 

And the other neighbours didn't seem to notice. Even though his house was still there.

"Maybe he went on a vacation ?" 

They'd say.

But Julie wasn't having it, surely something happen. He wouldn't leave her just like that, without a word, would he ? Aren't they best friends ? Surely he would have told her if he left...

With those thoughts came the worry that perhaps, he wasn't alive anymore. That thought scared her, saddened her, so she tried not to think too much about it. 

And then, everything turned for the worse. The world started collapsing on itself ! Cracks in the very walls of their reality, the buildings crumbling like gingerbread houses. Everything was dangerous, and would attempt to kill Julie and her friends. They would all take refuge in Home, Wally let them in. Poppy, Sally, Barnaby, Eddie, Howdy, Wally and Julie, they thought it'd be alright. Home would protect them, right ? But Home ended up collapsing too. And whoever, or whatever home was, panicked. The group would start to see hands appearing from nowhere, trying to grab them, dismember them. There was blinding lights, there was shouting, there was screaming, and more lights and shadows, a frantic dance of pain and danger. Soon, Julie, the most agile and quick on her feet, was the only one still standing, although her leg was severely injured, cotton pouring out with each move.

Just as suddenly as it started, everything quieten. It was as if time itself stopped. Julie looked around her, the shadowy hands floating in the air, the breaks and cracks in Home, her friends, reduced to mere bloody corpses. Wait...no...not corpses. Isn't blood supposed to be red...? Julie looked at her own wound. It looked more like a rip in a fabric. White stuffing was coming out of it... Julie looked around, her expression distorting to that of pure horror as she realized that her friends and herself never were beings of flesh, but mere...plushes ? Puppets ?

Her gaze drifted to Poppy's body. The terrified bird, in a desperate surge of courage, had attempted to protect Wally and Sally... And thus suffered the most damages. Julie carefully approached her three friends, and would noticed one's chest slowly moving. Wally is alive ! 

"Wally ? Wally !!"

Julie picked up her friend from under Poppy's wing, which made her body crumble on the ground, and would drag him to a spot without any shadow hands despite her injured leg. Wally was unconscious, both his arms ripped appart. Aboundant stuffing would come out of the wounds at any attempt to move. 

"It's going to be okay Wally !" 

Julie said, but she was crying. All her friends were dying, dying for what, for who ? For no reason. Wally and her were the only survivors here... As Julie sat down, she felt something near her leg. Her gaze fell on Poppy's eye, that had rolled over here when her corpse collapsed. Freaky, but by that point Julie already had seen worse. 

Julie picked up the eye, tears rolling down her face. She tried to joke to comfort herself : 

"Heh, keepin' an eye on me, Poppy...? Even glasses wouldn't fix...this...? Oh ?"

Julie got an idea. If they were made of stuffing and fabrics, if they were puppets... Then maybe, just maybe, if she fixed her friends, they'd come back to her. 

This was a silly idea, really, but an idea anyway. Julie got up, the pain in her leg felt far, so far from her. So far that she could probably run right now, despite the stuffing coming out. And running she did. She ran to Poppy's house, to grab a sewing kit. 

Julie was in pain, shocked beyond words, horrified, to a point that the state of her world collapsing, distorting to grotesque visuals as shadows would attempt to take it all appart before time stopped; all of this wouldn't do much worse to her current mental state. Her pain felt unbarable, yet she ran on the way back to Home still. 

As soon as she came back, she got to work, starting with the one that was still with her, Wally. Taking out threads and needles, she would attempt to stitch back together everything she could...but soon she comes to find she was missing a few pieces of fabrics... 

Julie was out of breath, her mind fogged by the pain she was still feeling. As far as the pain felt, it was still there, clawing at her leg as if to prevent her from doing what she had to in order to save her friend. Her gaze slowly turned to the closest corps. Barnaby... Barnaby had enough fabric already... He probably wouldn't mind if she gave some to his best friend, right ? 

Julie grabbed the dog's arm, which was already cut from his body. Carefully, with little scissors, she would undo all the seams that where already there, got out the stuffing, so she'd have a bit of fabric to use to patch Wally's body. And as she did all that, she would pray. Pray to god, or satan, or whoever would hear her now, that her idea would work, that she could save him. 

But by the time she had tied the last knot of thread... Wally wasn't breathing anymore. 

"Wally...? Hey...there...I fixed you up... Please wake up..."

Wally slowly opened his eyes, for Julie's greatest joy. She was crying again. She did it ! She saved him ! He was alive ! Thanks to her... She fixed him nicely, although she couldn't give him back his arms, but it still worked ! 

Wally's eyes would have no shine in them. He wasn't talking, just staring at her blankly with his eyes that looked dead. A blink. Two blink... Then tears. Some sort of black, goopy tears. 

"Aw, are you happy that I saved you ? Well, I am happy too, I fixed you !" 

Wally made a noise... Was he going to talk ?

"...aegh....hu...Ju...li..e...no...hu...rt...ugh.." 

"Yes, it doesn't hurt anymore, does it ? Hold on, I'll fix everyone too ! They'll wake up, and we'll all leave together... Everything will be fine Wally" 

"...p...l..ea..se...no..." 

But Julie wasn't listening, she had moved on to fix the others already, while Wally could only look at her with a horrified gleam in his eyes. Barnaby, then Eddie, then Sally, then Howdy, then Poppy. Each of them would wake up and cry as they did. "Cry of Joy, Cry of Life", Julie would chant. It was no such thing, however. 

As she was fixing Poppy and her eyes, Julie suddenly heard a loud crash. The shadow hands would be moving again, the chaos started anew, only more destructive as it would now try to attack itself. The cracks of void would open and close, hands fighting themselves. As the chaos spread, the cracks of void would become bigger and bigger, the ground was trembling. Julie screamed, hiding in Poppy's wings. She had just managed to save her friends, but she ran out of time... 

Suddenly, she felt a movement. Poppy had risen, standing up with Julie in her wings. The other stood up as well. They'd all come around Julie, as if to protect her, and hug one last time. Julie cried.

"No, no, don't do that, you all woke up, let's leave, let's get out, let's -" 

The ground shook again, and they'd all lose balance, tumbling in a mess of puppets. At the last minute, Poppy would cry the goopy black tears too. Instead of horror in her gaze, and that dead look the others had, Julie could only see...compassion. But Julie didn't understood compassion here. She didn't understand anything, actually, as Poppy threw her in one if the cracks of void. Julie saw her friends, all looking at her as she was ejected out. The world around them would crumble more, and soon would implose, all cracks closing at once. The crack in which Julie was would close too, just as she was about to get out. Julie wiggled, crawled out of the crack, and arrived in a sort of white void. But, well, she wasn't quick enough in getting out if the crack, for it suddenly closed on her leg, cutting it clean. Julie screamed in pain, her voice echoing in the void. Too much, this was too much... She passed out as a strange mist would start surrounding her... 

🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡

[ Part 2 : Keeper ] 

Julie woke up in a comfy bed. She sat up, and looked around her, still feeling pretty sleepy. Her surroundings were nothing but pinkish clouds, on every side, the ground and even the ceiling. Her whole body was aching, but more importantly, one of her legs was missing. Tears would immediatly stream down her face, as the previous events came back to her mind in a flash. Everything, she lost everything. Everyone, they were...

The rainbow monster sobbed for a while, mourning her family and friends. She had managed to fix her friends ! But it was all for nothing, as her world still ended up destroyed... And her siblings ??  What happened to them ? Julie cried her heart out, for she was truly alone now... Well, not quite alone actually. 

Feeling something warm on her remaining leg, she would stop crying for a moment to look at the other side of the bed. Someone was watching her ?

The little star person flinched when Julie looked up at her. This puppet looked vaguely like her friend Sally, although this little one seemed made out of pur energy, somehow, and even emitted warmth ! The little Sally made a friendly smile and waved, before running away at an extreme speed, leaving Julie in stunned silence and puzzled. Later, the Sally came back, tugging on the ribbons of a giant being. This entity looked like Poppy ! Although, her colors where all faded pastels, and her eyes were nothing but a black void... 

"Filante, please be careful when tugging on my ribbons...

- But, but ! The Julie woke up !" 

The Poppy looked down at Julie, her expression was kind and reassuring despite her eyes being made of void. Some ribbons came to gently wipe away Julie's tears. 

"Hello little one. I am Peacekeeper, but you may call me Keeper... and this little ball of sunshine is Filante.

- You can call me Speed too ! Because I go fast ! " 

As if to demonstrate, Filante would do some acrobatic flying in the air at great speed within the confines of the cloud room, flying around Keeper with a few giggles. Keeper would then bend down to have her head at Julie's level, speaking softly. 

"I found you passed out after your world got destroyed... I am so sorry..." 

She would say. Julie couldn't help but start sobbing again at the mention of her world. Yes, everything was gone... But that being seemed friendly enough...

It would take a while for Julie to get used to the idea of a "multiverse". Keeper herself would seem unsure about many things, as she only opened her own pocket dimension recently. During her stay in the peaceful world, Julie would only meet few other multiversers, such as Filante and a Shopkeeper Howdy. The rest were other rescues, brought by Keeper's mist to her space so they would recover from atrocious events similar to Julie's. 

It was a lot of new friends to make, which Julie would generally love, but after what happened, she stayed closed off for the most part. She couldn't forget her old friends, that were gone despite her fixing them. On that thought ,she mindlessly searched in her pockets as if to find one of her games in there to comfort herself. However, the rainbow monster would instead find something else. There was the sewing kit and... Poppy's eye. The only thing left from her world. Julie decided to keep them preciously. 

One day, a new multiverser came. This one looked like Wally, but with inverted colors, and seemed so grumpy ! Julie heard Keeper call him "Observer"... Was he the one in charge ? He seemed to be so, as he was complaining that the refugees in Keeper's space might be a problem, rambling about scripts and corruption, while Keeper was reassuring him that it would be fine. 

Nonetheless, this Observer guy would intrigue Julie. If he was in charge, maybe he knew what happened to her world...and perhaps he knew how she could get it back ? Maybe it wasn't truly gone... but it would be worth a try to ask.

So, after the conversation he had with Peacekeeper, she would follow him. Julie wasn't sure how she managed to get from one dimension to another, but she did it ! She was now floating around in a void filled with TVs and tapes... She made sure to stay as silent as possible, it seems Observer hadn't noticed her for now... And then, Julie found it. 

A tape. She didn't know what it was for, or even why, but one particular tape, among the many others, she felt like it was calling her. Like it belonged to her. 

It was in rough shape, looking like it had gone through a beating and was almost destroyed ! But she felt like it should be hers. 

Then, a noise. Observer was coming this way ! Taken by a sudden panic, as the multiverser would likely take the tape away from her, Julie quickly tried to get away, as much as she could. She didn't really know why, she didn't exactly to anything wrong, but something about being discovered here didn't seem like an ideal situation, and in the panic, running away seemed like the best option. Somehow, she managed to teleport from a dimension to an other again, and came back to Keeper's world as she heard someone yell behind her. 

After crumbling on the white cloudy floor of Keeper's space, Julie would now feel safe enough to take a better look at the tape in her hand. Did she...just steal something ? That wasn't good, no good at all. The Wally would be so mad... But... This tape was hers, wasn't it ? She could feel it ! 

The rainbow monster would inspect the tape now. It was in very bad condition, almost completely destroyed actually... But it was still emitting this strange energy that she felt called to. But why was it in such rough shape ? Was he the one who destroyed it ? 

There was a sound again, and someone yelling . 

"WHERE IS SHE ?!" 

Julie started panicking. Oh, she was in for a beating if he sounded that mad. Putting the tape in her pocket didn't seem safe, it would be taken back too quickly. And Julie felt like she needed it. 

So she did the next logical thing to do, as she looked down at the thigh that was stitched back to prevent the stuffing from pourring out. 

Opening the sewing kit, and then with little scissors, Julie would gently rip the seams, and placed the tape in her thigh, before quickly sewing it back up. It wasn't a seamless job, but it would do the trick just fine. And then she put the kit back in her pocket and tried to find a way out. 

But with only one leg, she wasn't that quick. Keeper soon found her.

"Julie ? What are you doing here instead of resti-... What have you done ? 

- N-nothing ! 

- You are feeling guilty about something, I can tell... Are you the reason why Observer is searching my space up and down in anger ...? "

- I did nothing wrong ! 

- Please, let me be the judge of that... What did you do ? I am certain that there is a way to do this peacefu- 

- I-I didn't steal anything ! Leave me alone, I want to go !" 

Peacekeeper looked suprised. She could feel that Julie was stressed, panicking even, but couldn't exactly tell why and Observer would soon come around that part of the space. 

"Go ? To where ? Julie, please be reasonable, stay calm, everything will be fine ...

-NO" 

Julie was starting to actually panic now, for a reason she couldn't actually explain. She felt like she would get destroyed along with the tape if he did come close. A very irrational fear, as Keeper would likely not let Observer do any harm, but right now this wasn't a question of reason, for Julie's mind was racing with worse case scenarios, only adding to her current stressed mental state. Julie was now trying to crawl away from Keeper.

"Please, please let me go..." 

Keeper sighed, and would attempt to catch Julie with her ribbons. The pink ribbons gently wrapped around Julie's limbs, preventing her from moving further, while Keeper got closer again, ready to take the variant in her wings to comfort her. But Julie reacted quickly, way to quickly, and being held back only made the panick worse, as it would remind her of the shadow hands that once dismembered her friends. Julie felt trapped, in danger, and there was no way out of this. 

"Keeper... please...PLEASE " 

The rainbow monster looked at Peacekeeper, as the ribbons wrapped around her arm. What would be a little pain compared to freedom ? 

Julie looked back at Keeper, tears rolling down her face. 

"I said, LEAVE ME ALONE" 

And then... Julie pulled, ripping her own arm appart to escape. A few second later, and Julie teleported away, crawling in an other dimension far from here to escape, while Keeper screamed in surprise and horror. 

@stitchedragdoll

[panthermouthh]

“You doubtless recollect these papers. Here they are. Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin… the minutest description of my odious and loathesome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible. I sickened as I read.”

[ruporas]

kisses of affirmation (ID in alt)

[arcanegifs]

God, I'm (yet again) exhausted. What a show. I will say, flaws and all, it's still one of the best animated series I've watched. Ever. No, I don't think it deserves the vitriol it's getting on social media.

I have a LOT of emotions right now. I don't think I'm even thinking straight after watching through everything once. It definitely needs to be re-watched multiple times. No, I'm not offering any kind of insights or anything like that. I think I'm just too emotional seeing my favorite show end.

I really wanna thank the writers, directors, artists, animators, producers, and everyone else who worked on this show for this work of art. It was beautiful, and it's why I love making gifs of this show.

And just because this show has ended, doesn't mean I'll stop making things. There's two whole seasons to work with now. I hope I can have enough free time to post regularly. I still need to make some 8k wallpapers and a ton of gifs haha.

I'll take a break and sleep for now. I'll see what I can make when I wake up tomorrow. I have so many things I want to do, but I also feel like crap and I too, have a life LMAO.

Oh, and I'm still looking forward to the next stories that they tell us! Runeterra truly has amazing lore. Excited to see what's next!

Thank you for all the likes, reblogs, and support you guys give to my lil sideblog! I appreciate you guys so much <3

[katabay]

PAGLUIB

way back in like. march?? I took a stab at writing some kind of kabitserye type of story but it was a mess: it kept veering off into murder mystery drama territory because I was reading a lot of murder mystery novels around then and it Wasn't Good because I hadn't tried writing mysteries, let alone murder mysteries, before lmao

I did write a handful of short mystery stories since then, so next year I might take a stab at this idea again now that I'm no longer jumping head first into a genre pool I don't know how to swim in :)

[welcometogrouchland]

(ID in alt) hi sorry for back to back marvel fanart I swear I still have dc stuff lmao. However I did recently read X-Men: first class and got a bit carried away doodling this after Lmao

[za1ka]

Good Omens x The Great Mouse Detective redraws part... 2! featuring Adam and Dog 🐭🔍🐶

[hephaestuscrew]

I'm sure Minkowski never forgot that Cutter was the first person ever to call her Commander. After recruiting her in Once in A Lifetime, he starts to call her Lieutenant, then breaks into laughter, before correcting himself: "What am I saying? Commander Minkowski." He draws attention to himself granting that title, stressing its significance. By initially calling her by a lower ranking, then conspicuously correcting himself, Cutter emphasises that he's the one granting her that title. Right at the beginning of Minkowski's employment with Goddard Futuristics, Cutter plants the seed for his line in the finale: "People cared about you because of what I made you: A soldier. A leader. A commander. I gave you that, and now? I taketh away."

And he does take it away. Cutter makes a point of calling her Commander in that first meeting, but he hardly ever calls Minkowski Commander after that. He almost always calls her Renée. He makes the point in that first interaction that he has the authority to grant her that title, and then in every subsequent interaction he tries to make the point that she doesn't have command over him. Having called her Commander once makes every time he doesn't call her by her title seem more deliberate. It's not that he never uses titles - it's that he uses them selectively. He gives her a taste of that sense of authority, but he doesn't want her to feel worthy of it.

In the liveshow, he cuts her off by shouting "I AM SPEAKING, LIEUTENANT!". Minkowski is the Commander of the Hephaestus in official terms at this point and Cutter even refers to her as "a mission commander" later in the same episode. So there is a deliberate malice to Cutter calling Minkowski Lieutenant here. Not only does it emphasise the use of authority structures as a means for control and the abandonment of first-name-basis false friendliness, calling her by another title makes his choice not to call her Commander even more explicit, denying her that authority.

Apart from when he recruits her, the only other time I can think of when Cutter directly calls Minkowski Commander is in Ep60, when he lays out his offer to let Minkowski leave on the Sol: "How does that sound to you, Commander?" Again, calling her Commander is a kind of power play, an attempt at manipulation, highlighting the sense of responsibility that motivates so many of Minkowski's actions. Cutter is prompting her to ask the question she would be asking herself anyway: what choice would a good Commander make? Just as he did when he recruited her, Cutter offers Minkowski something she desperately wants, and the use of her title here only draws attention to the idea that Cutter is the one with the power, choosing what to give her.

[spiderin-space]

Spoiling my own next fic a tiny bit

(Feat. @the-one-who-lambs Lamb in the 8th doodle)

[pitchcom]

carcar survivor au, 2.2k

When Oscar received his new tribe buff, he knew that this was a chance for a fresh start.

The last vote had been…messy, to say the least. Daniel had approached him and Zhou with an idol and a plan to take out Pierre before he and Yuki could reach the merge and gain more control over the game. Oscar wasn’t naive enough to think that this meant any sort of alliance between them, but he had promised his sisters that he would do anything to try and win.

Yuki stood resolutely away from the rest of the tribe on the boat ride over. Oscar catches a glimpse of his hands, knuckles clenching white against the boat railing. He feels Daniel push past him, towards Yuki and raises an eyebrow at him questioningly.

Daniel turns back towards him. “Yuki’s scared of sharks.” he offers, as if they all hadn’t caused his face to crumple a couple nights ago as Pierre’s name was read over and over.

Oscar watches him walk next to Yuki, slinging an arm over his shoulder. Too soft, he thinks as he watches Yuki loosen his grip on the railing and lean into Daniel’s hold. He looks away towards the horizon as they travel to their new beach.

——

Oscar quickly finds himself escaping to the water well less than an hour after arriving on the new beach.

Strategically, he knows he should be at camp with everyone else. Should be talking to everyone, scouting out tribe dynamics, making first impressions that aren’t a stilted introduction before disappearing. But Oscar was never quite a social butterfly; still awkward at office parties despite working there for 2 years by now, never mind trying to ingratiate himself with 10 other strangers he had just seen briefly at challenges.

A voice interrupts his thoughts. “Huh. I guess you really were getting water. I bet George half a coconut that you were out idol searching already.”

Oscar startles and whirls around to come face to face with a shorter man with curly hair, crooked grin stuck on his face from tribe 1. Ah. He vaguely remembers him from the last challenge.

“Oh. Um. You’re the guy who kept falling off the balance beam, right?” Oscar kicked himself mentally. For all that first impressions mattered in the game, Oscar was failing miserably at them so far.

Balance Beam Guy’s mouth falls into a pout. “Alex already made fun of me for that at camp for three days! I thought that people would be over it by now.” he grumbles, moving next to Oscar to grab the water ladle from him.

“Sorry.” Oscar says, not particularly sorry. “I didn’t have a name for you, so.”

Balance Beam Guy sniffs. “It's Lando, so get that memory out of your head. I don’t need reminders that all of America saw me fail to walk in a straight line. You came over from tribe 3, right? Any deets on alliances, idols, advantages?”

Oscar shakes his head. “Nah, we’re kind of a mess. Daniel burned our idol at the last tribal, so if anyone was able to find it before we got on the boat I wouldn’t know. I’m uh, actually looking for some potential connections here.” And maybe it's a little desperate, a little shameless, but Oscar needed some kind of lifeline. So, even if he had to reveal his hand a little earlier then he would’ve liked, he was hoping the information would be interesting enough to make him worth keeping.

Luckily, Lando’s face breaks into a wide grin as he finishes filling his canteen. “Well, you’re in luck! Don’t tell anyone, but-“ Lando ducks closer, voice dropping to a whisper. “I do happen to be a part of quite a strong alliance with George and Alex. We’re trying to keep it on the downlow for now, but we’re looking for a solid fourth to help us swing a majority. You want in, um-?” Lando trails off, hand reaching out.

“Oscar,” he finishes as he takes Lando’s hand. “And I’d be happy to work with you.”

Lando’s grin slides back into its crooked default. “Great! I’ll tell them about it, and in a little bit we’ll go down to the water and chat. See you back at camp, Osc!”

Oscar’s face twitches a little at the nickname, but he doesn’t say anything as Lando walks away. We’re not friends, he wants to call after Lando. It's just strategy.

Oscar waits 5 minutes after Lando leaves before returning to camp. He gives an awkward half smile when Lando winks at him. Possible strategic liability, he notes to himself.

——

Oscar already considered himself particularly lucky to have fumbled his way through the premerge after losing Logan, not to mention Lando choosing to approach him with the offer of an alliance. In all honesty, he was waiting for the other shoe to drop and hoping it wouldn’t affect his game too badly.

That should’ve been warning already when Carlos decided to approach him on the beach.

Oscar was stretched across the sand, letting the suns rays lull him into a sleep. Half the tribe was out getting a reward (Lando included) leaving the rest of them to sulk around camp and try not to think of all the food the others were eating. Oscar chose to ignore the gnawing disappointment by getting some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, Carlos had other ideas.

“Oscar.” Carlos called from across the sand

Oscar squeezed his eyes closed. Maybe, he reasoned, if he pretended to be asleep already Carlos would get the hint and leave him alone.

“Oscar! Hello?” The voice got closer.

Oscar groaned internally before rolling back over and opening his eyes. He was immediately met with an extreme close up of Carlos, frown painted on his face.

“Why are you sleeping in the sun? Your skin, it will burn no?” were the first words Carlos spoke to him, voice too loud and face still too close.

Oscar blinked at him. “What?”

Carlos’ frown deepens. “Your skin. You will not tan, like this.”

“Well, sorry that not all of us were born with perfect genetics.” Oscar wants to drown this guy and his stupid island beauty in the ocean. “Why are you here anyways? Aren’t you supposed to be plotting the next vote with Max or something?”

Carlos’ face lights up. “Ah! That is what I have come to talk to you about!” He says, ignoring the obvious dismissal as he takes a seat next to Oscar on the sand. “You see, I have noticed that you sit alone at camp quite a lot. So, I assume that you do not have an alliance yet!”

Oscar raises an eyebrow. “And what if I have a secret alliance with somebody else? Like Daniel, or Zhou?”

Carlos laughs, a cackle that sounds almost painful. “I have already talked to both of them, and they both say they have no tribe loyalty.”

“They might be lying, you know. Trying to lull you into a false sense of security and all that.”

Carlos grins, a big dopey thing. “Between you and them I think I believe them more. No offense, Oscar.”

Oscar wills back the growing irritation beneath his skin. He’s dealt with annoying over-confident and underestimating assholes before. He knows how to play this game. “You got me. Totally friendless and ally-less on this island. Probably the most boring castaway ever.” He drones, almost completely monotone.

Carlos frowns. “Do not say that, Oscar.” Ozz-car. “I am sure you are a very wonderful person. If you were not, I would not be here asking you to join my alliance.”

“You’re here to ask me to join your alliance?”

Carlos blinks, then snaps his fingers. “Ah! Yes! I have come here to ask you to join me, Charles, and Max at the next vote!” Carlos looks at Oscar eagerly, as if he should be jumping at his generous offer. “Since you have said yourself that you have no allies, we could help carry you farther in the game. It is a mutually beneficial partnership, no?”

Oscar snorts internally. “Beneficial for you, yes. For me? What happens when it comes down to me or Charles? Me or Max? Mate, I’m not stupid. I know there are hierarchies in alliances, and I’d be at the bottom. I don’t want to be just some fucking sheep you bring with you until the time is right.”

Carlos looks a little lost at this. Clearly, his plan to swoop in and grab a vote didn’t go as smoothly as he thought. Serves him right, Oscar thinks bitterly. It’d probably be the first time his stupid cow eyes and smooth accent didn’t get him what he wanted.

Oscar watches him wiggle his jaw for a couple of seconds, lost in thought. He sighs internally, before turning back over and closing his eyes again. “Look mate, I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got my own alliance. Find somebody else to be your number.”

Oscar doesn’t hear anything for a moment, then feels sand being kicked against his skin as Carlos gets up. “Fine. But I will not be so nice later after Tribal Council, when my alliance controls the vote. See you later, Oscar.”

Fuck that guy, Oscar thinks. He ends up staying out on the sand to spite him. He ignores the smirk Carlos gives him later as Lando laughs and pokes at his sunburned back.

——

Later, after Max wins the immunity challenge, George asks him who he’s thinking of voting tonight.

“I dunno, but I think Carlos is a good choice. Breaking up that alliance before they get a foothold in the game is probably a good idea. “ Oscar says, feigning nonchalance. It’s purely strategic, he tells himself.

George nods. “And you’re sure you can get Daniel and Zhou to vote with us?”

“Course he can!” Alex says, laying an arm around Oscars shoulder with an easy smile. “And even if he can’t, I think we’ll survive to another day. I mean, nobody even knows we’re allied. There's no way they think that a bunch of lanky and short guys are bigger threats than someone like Valterri or Fernando.”

Oscar nods along, a smile growing despite himself as he watches Lando shove Alex for calling him short. This is my endgame, he thinks to himself.

——

George is trembling on the way back from tribal. From rage or shock, Oscar doesn’t know. Lando is silent for once, white-knuckled grip on his pack and lips pursed into a sharp line.

Alex going home tonight was not part of the plan. They were supposed to have the numbers, with Lewis, Valterri, Zhou, and Daniel voting with them. I guess they found their number, Oscar thought bitterly and he watched Daniel and Max whisper to each other up ahead.

It was a good move. If Oscar were at home watching, he would be applauding them for identifying the threat within the tribe and dealing a significant blow to them. But now, as he was forced to trudge back to camp minus Alex, Oscar just feels a sort of sourness in his stomach.

This feeling is only amplified when they arrive back at camp, and Carlos turns to him with a big smile on his face. Oscar doesn’t think it's dopey anymore.

“I told you, Oscar!” Carlos sings to him as Oscar is trying to dig for his jacket in his pack. “I told you we would control the vote. Are you rethinking my offer now? Though, I think we are less in need of ‘sheep’ now.”

Oscar rethinks every post he’s ever made on Twitter calling out contestants for being butthurt for being on the wrong side of the vote. Tries to school his expression, tries to steady his breathing and refrain himself from punching Carlos straight in the face.

“Fuck off.” Is what he settles for instead, a shove that barely makes Carlos stumble. Oscar can hear his cackling laugh echo through the night air as he stomps down to the beach to meet with George and Lando.

“What the fuck just happened.” George starts. “We were supposed to be safe- We were not supposed to be the targets! It was supposed to be Fernando, or Valterri, or even fucking Lewis-“

”I just don’t understand how they knew,” Lando stresses, hand pulling through his curls. “We were keeping it a secret and everything!”

Oscar doesn’t say anything, because the sour feeling in his stomach has just curdled. Nobody said anything about an alliance, he realises, except for him. Except for that stupid throwaway line to Carlos on the beach. A throwaway line that he then latched onto, analyzed, and deduced a potential member from.

The guilt eats at him, in the silence. Nobody speaks for a bit. Oscar is about to open his mouth and apologize when Lando says “Franco.”

They both turn to look at him. ”Franco was in our old tribe, he voted with them tonight. He must’ve figured it out.” Lando continues.

And it’s an out. An easy way to avoid blame, to explain away the sudden target of Alex. Oscar only feels slightly bad when he nods along. After all, it makes perfect sense.

They talk for a little more, discuss further plans of action. But there is only one fact repeating in Oscars head by the time they get back to camp:

Carlos Sainz is bad for his game.

[kelocitta]

There is currently a rather large discussion ongoing about the RW fandom behavior, drama, etc. I am not going to talk about the specifics of whats happened for a number of reasons. But what I do want to say is that if at any point you've harassed people over it, whether that be through anon asks or public posts- you did nothing but damage the ability for people to correctly process what is happening. You contributed nothing but harm to an already delicate situation. It does not matter what "side" you were on and I will not tolerate further interaction with me or my work if I found out you did such. If you let your personal hate for anyone boil over into threats, wishes for long term harm and petty comments meant to contribute nothing but slander or mental distress for the individuals involved who were already distressed (or acting irrationally) you did nothing but make it harder for people to process their emotions, thoughts and behaviors constructively. Regardless of who you think was in the right, who fucked up, whatever. It doesn't matter if they deserved it, or earned it, or if its an eye for an eye. Its difficult enough as it is to think clearly when presented with any kind of stressful situation and heckling people does nothing but make it worse and harder for them to explain themself in any capacity. I don't want you anywhere near me if you think that is an acceptable way to act.

[chugging-antiseptic-dye]

✧ the cards are never in your favour ✧

(joshua x tarot! reader) part one

part : 1 I 2 I 3

joshua never thought that one day he would put his trust into the mystical. here's how it all started:

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩

and the next day:

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩

(a/n: i know there is technically no romance. but think of it as prequel to their story!!)

[kaitontenchu]

First Date - part 1

part 2

[littleliterarylesbian]

James didn't mean for it to end up like this. Honest! At first it was more of a caution thing. Sirius said he was worried about Regulus while tipsy, borderline drunk, and James, being the good friend he is, decided to look into it.

It started small. He would follow the name with the map at night until it eventually stayed in the dorms, until one night he saw the name start up again after only about an hour of being stationary. It couldn't be going to the Astronomy Tower, the first years were still in class, and he wanted to make sure Regulus was safe.

So after a few seconds of contemplation he grabbed the cloak and snuck out, using the map to guide him until he caught sight of pale freckled skin.

James remembers his breath catching for the first time at the sight in front of him, how the moon seemed to light up his skin, highlighting the curls in his black hair, showing off the stark white streak, and the jewelry that he adorns himself with.

There was something inside him that realized that this sight, the sight of Regulus star gazing in a small alcove with a book open but not being read, was all his own. The openness within silver eyes so different compared to the apathy that is usually shown.

James could feel his neck constrict as suddenly the urge to take filled him. But he couldn't. That's... that's wrong. But he can't leave now, Regulus would hear his steps, know that someone was here with him without his consent.

At least that's the excuse he gave himself at the time. He doesn't know how long he stayed there, watching with his fists clenched at his sides. He hadn't noticed before, but the streak of blond goes all the way to Regulus' lashes. It's mesmerizing. Connecting the freckles into the stars and patterns that the other is watching.

He feels so guilty the day after, he doesn't look anyone in the eye and just the sight of Regulus in the great hall is enough to heat his face to the point that he feels lightheaded. He's lucky that it's hard to tell. He doesn't plan to do it again. It makes him a bit sick to think that he did that in the first place, that he just couldn't help himself like the usual sick excuse people give when they're caught like that.

But he does. He does do it again. He can't help it. The image stays stuck inside his mind, and it warps his fantasies. Green eyes turn grey as the curtains around his bed are spelled shut, pale skin that loses its rosy undertone as he closes his eyes tight to lose himself in his imagination.

He needed to see it again.

It was months of the same thing over and over again. Promises that he won't go again, that he won't do anything again, that he'll give back the small collection of rings that don't fit his own fingers and fess up. He doesn't. He can't. He aches to be close. To feel soft skin against his own.

He knows if he's caught now it would be disastrous. Regulus wouldn't want anything to do with him. So he just has to keep their hidden moments together to himself. He doesn't even think he feels guilt anymore, just the stress of keeping it to himself. Not being able to brag about how he's seen every inch of Regulus, sneaking in when his roommates are out or when Quidditch games are over just to watch.

Not when it would leave him with a label that, while probably accurate, feels dirty. He's just looking. Admiring can't be that much of a crime, could it?

That doesn't mean he doesn't daydream about Regulus finding out, though. Mainly, it's about more improbable outcomes. How Regulus' eyes would go wide and coax him into the shadows like he hasn't already been the reason that James will be dragged to hell when he dies. But he's thought about the more realistic ones, and those are things he just can't let happen. He can't let Regulus look upon him with disgust and disdain, not when Regulus only just started to look at him at all.

So he'll keep it to himself until he's unable to. Keep their hidden moments together close to his chest. They're just for him. No one else.

companion piece :]

[haveihitanerve]

My Sun And Stars

“Nausea is a feeling of discomfort or sickness in the stomach, often described as an urge to vomit. It can also feel like an unsettled stomach or queasiness.”

“Thank Siri.” Stephanie Brown grumbled, arms cradling the toilet bowl as she lay crumpled in the corner of her bathroom. She totally wanted the textbook definition of what nausea was and not what caused it.

But before she could snark this totally useless comment to her inanimate device, a new wave smashed into her and she bent back over the bowl, hurling up her breakfast, and probably last nights dinner, and then all of her internal organs. Or at least, that's what it felt like.

She stayed there for a few minutes, just heaving until nothing came out anymore, and let herself fully collapse to the floor.

After about five minutes when she was sure her body wasn’t going to immediately kill her if she tried to stand, she wobbled to her feet and flushed, washing her hands and her mouth in the sink before stumbling to her bed.

It seemed there was no more denying the test at the bottom of her trashcan. Siri, after giving her about seven different ways to say she felt like her insides were being stretched like a rubber band and basketball-ed out through her throat, it had, in fact, given her a list of reasons as to why she was feeling nauseous. And, unfortunately, pregnancy was decently high up.

She curled onto her side, dragging her comforter over her shoulders as she tugged out her phone. Her fingers hovered over her contact list, lip caught between her teeth. It wasn't that she didn't have people to call. It was just… who.

Her thumb moved to the pinned number, only a heart as the name. Steph sighed, switching off the phone and dropping it on the bed next to her.

Tim… He would… she didn't know, actually. There was no doubt he would care for her if she told him. He had taken care of her when the child hadn’t been his. But that had also been… obligation free. When she hadn’t known who he was. When the kid hadn't been his.

Her hand reached down, cupping her stomach. Last time… she didn't have a particularly good memory or fondness of being pregnant. She hadn't wanted it, the father hadn't been around, and she had been young. So young.

Steph sighed, dropping her hand as she sat up. There wasn't any way to actually keep the pregnancy hidden, not from the worlds greatest detective and not from Bruce either. It wasn't like she saw them on a daily basis or anything.

She dropped her head into her hands, taking deep, measured breaths. She was due for a date with Tim later, at seven. He’d said he’d come to pick her up. Steph glanced at the clock. It was twelve.

She let out a soft whimper groan, getting to her feet and grabbed her coat. There was no point in delaying the inevitable.

The walk to Wayne Manor was long, but Steph didn't mind. The cold air gave her something else to focus on, like the numbness of her hands, totally a symptom of the wind and not her anxiousness, and the fact that she was inhaling Gotham air.

She had to smile at that thought, though. It was one of Tim’s biggest gripes. How she and Jason and Bruce all relished breathing the city in deeply, how unbalanced they felt outside of Gotham, how rejuvenated the toxic air made them feel, while it made him gag.

Her smile dropped as she neared the Wayne gates, bypassing them with ease. With her keys. She knew it would set off alarms, she never used the gate the normal way. None of them did, save Alfred. But she honestly was too tired to care.

Bruce, surprisingly, opened the door. “Tim isn’t here. He and Cass are out right now.” Steph nodded, the numbness spreading slightly. She had wanted to put off the reveal, but now that she was here she just wanted to get it over with.

“Steph?” Bruce asked gently, and she realized he’d been speaking. He stepped aside, gesturing at the foyer. “Would you like to come in?” For about the first time, Steph realized she very much did.

She nodded, stumbling into the entrance as Bruce closed the door behind her, still so gentle. So careful. He reached for her jacket, but Steph leaned away. She needed the comfort of something thick around her.

“Would you like a blanket?” Bruce asked quietly, because of course he knew. Of course he saw. He always saw. Saw all of her. Too much.

Steph nodded, allowing him to slip the jacket off her shoulders, ignoring the tender way in which his fingers brushed against the nape of her neck, so warm, so familiar, so comforting.

She marched into the den instead, away from him, away from his eyes, away from his knowing. But of course he followed, he always followed, and a big, heavy, comforting black blanket was wrapped around her shoulders, a purple bat stamped on the back. Her blanket. Because he’d made one for her. For all of them. His past Robins, Batgirls, his children who had found such comfort in curling under his cape that he had made them blankets of it.

“Is everything alright Stephanie?” He asked gently. Steph shook her head, sinking onto the couch. She knew he wanted to push. It was just how Bruce functioned. But he held back, nodded. Brought her a plate of food, a glass of water, and let her sit. Quiet.

Steph nibbled at the warm cookies, freshly baked, and watched the door. He didn’t come, not for a while, long enough that Steph stood, muttering about using the bathroom to Bruce, who only nodded and returned to his book.

She headed up the stairs, stumbling into the annoyingly lavish bathroom, and leaned against the sink. She wasn't feeling nauseous, thank Diana, but she still felt unsteady.

“Steph?” A knock on the door. Steph breathed shakily, realizing belatedly that her eyes were stinging with tears. “Steph?” Jason knocked again, more insistent. “I saw you go in there Brown. You good?” He sounded so worried. So… so much like he cared about her. He did, of course. She knew that.

“No.” she choked out, and it was all he needed, picking the lock and opening the door.

“Steph…” he breathed, closing the door behind her. “What do you need?” Straight to the point. She appreciated it. No questions she didn't want to answer. No useless comforting words that didn't help.

“A hug.” She gasped out, and Jason moved, enveloping her in his arms, cradling her as they sank to the floor, Jason’s back thumping against the door.

It wasn’t until she spotted the wet spots on his jacket that Steph realized she was crying. She hadn't cried. Not when the pregnancy test had come out. Not when nausea had crippled her to bed for three days, not when Bruce had been so gentle.

But now… hot, fat tears streamed down her cheeks, and Jason didn't comment, holding her close, his arms warm and strong and protective, blocking her from the world, from words, from things she didn't want to talk about, from herself.

She didn't know how long they sat there, Jason rubbing soothing circles on her back, but at some point Bruce had come up, knocked, asked quietly if she was okay. Jason had answered and he had left again.

Steph hiccuped, tears finally empty. “I got you.” Jason murmured, lifting her without strain, setting her on the counter and grabbed some towels, wiping her cheeks free, and handing her a few tissues.

“Steph?” Bruce’s voice. Outside the door. So he hadn't left entirely. “Tim is here.” Steph nodded, and Jason called out a thank you to him.

“You okay? What’s Timmy done?” Jason asked, hands resting on either side of her legs as he looked up at her face.

Steph shook her head. “Nothing I didn't want.” She mumbled. Jason raised an eyebrow and she realized how bad the words sounded. She let out a slight hiccupy laugh, shaking her head. “I’m pregnant.” The words blurted out before Steph could reconsider, and Jason stared at her, mouth actually dropping. She laughed again, shaking her head as she used the tissues to wipe at her eyes.

“You're- so- this. Tim-” Jason stumbled backwards, grabbing his head. He shook himself, pulling himself together, most endearingly. “So um,” He gestured to her, to the mound of tissues, to the tear stains on his jacket. “Were these uh, happy tears or…?”

Steph shrugged. “I don't. Know. Emotions?” She guessed and Jason nodded.

“Okay. You’re telling Tim?” She nodded. “How long have you known?”

Steph twisted the towel in her hands, looking away. “I took a pregnancy test a few weeks ago. I got sick last week. I wasn't sure, but um… for about a week now?” She didn’t specify “a few” meant six.

But Jason undoubtedly knew she wasn't telling the full truth. Honesty, but withholding information was basically the family's motto. Bruce was lucky they were at least all honest. Not fully, but honest nonetheless.

Jason helped her off the sink, brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear and helping to wipe away the last few residues of crying. “You good?” He asked quietly, and Steph almost laughed. His resemblance to Bruce was almost scary.

“I'm good. Gotta get it over with.” She shrugged, reaching for the doorhandle, but Jason caught her, wrapping her in a tight hug.

“You know that no matter what Timmy says, you’ve got a home here. With us. B won’t let you leave once he learns he’s a grandfather.” He pulled back, looking her in the eyes. “And you’ll always have a place in my apartment. You know that yeah?”

Steph nodded, pushing his shoulder. “You’ll make me cry again you jerk.” Jason laughed, opening the door.

“Good. Now, I feel a little bad, so just know that Tim won’t deny you. He’s not like that. I promise. And if he is…” Steph snorted, leaving the bathroom and heading down the stairs.

“I know. I know. Thanks Jason.” He stayed at the top of the stairs, saluting.

“Of course. Dead Robins gotta stay together y'know?” He smirked, smile turning softer. “Need me?”

Steph shook her head. “No. Thanks. I've got to do this alone.” Jason nodded.

“I know he’s my brother, but you’re my sister too, Steph. I’ll beat him up.” Steph laughed, waving over her shoulder.

“Bye Jason.” He sighed, but let her leave.

Tim was in the den, waiting for her, if his nervous tapping was any indication. He looked up the second she walked in, eyes scanning her carefully as he walked over, hands automatically settling on her arms.

“Hey, you okay? You've been crying.” His eyes were worried, hands careful as he tugged her to the couch. Bruce nodded to them and stood, giving them privacy.

“I’m… fine.” Steph murmured, sinking onto the couch next to him, folding her legs under her body as she tugged Bruce’s blanket to her.

Tim was watching her, leg bouncing. “You’re scaring me Steph. What's up?” Steph sighed, fiddling with the blanket on her shoulders.

“I’ve uh, been sick recently. Nauseous and um, I’ve been craving these awful pickle hotdogs.” Tim wrinkled his nose, but she could tell his mind was whirring, cycling through why she thought this was relevant information to share.

As much as she liked to talk, most of it had a purpose, and he had been one of the first few people to notice it. “Pickle hotdogs again?” He murmured, slight teasing in his tone. “You haven't wanted those since-”

Steph saw the exact moment he realized what she meant. His gaze darted up, scanning her again, as if she’d already be showing.

“You- you’re pregnant.” It wasn’t a question, but a carefully stated fact. Steph nodded, waiting for his reaction. He didn’t withdraw, and he didn't yell, but he didn't react positively either. In fact, he didn't react at all.

“Okay.” Tim said softly. “You’re pregnant. Still in the first trimester, so you have time. Bruce has money, I have money, hell we could even do it in the cave here if you want, Alfred knows how, I think, he was a doctor, and of course we have enough medicine to keep you unconscious and free of pain, you won't feel a thing-”

“Tim, what are you talking about?” Steph interrupted his fast paced ramble, and he paused, looking up at her.

“What?” Steph’s arms curled around her waist.

“I want to keep it.”

And she knew it was true. Before, abortion hadn't been an option. Not just because there would have been no one who could have provided it for her, but also because it had been too late when she’d discovered it, and much too late when she had a discussion with herself on whether or not she wanted to keep it. It hadn't mattered what she wanted, anyway. She wouldn't have been given one.

But this time… this time she had a choice. This time she was older, this time she could handle a child. This time she wanted a child. And Tim… Tim was the father. She wanted him to be the father. But if he didn't want to- Steph looked at him, but Tim’s eyes were glowing.

“You want to keep it?” He breathed. Steph nodded slowly, unsure. Before she could ask what he wanted, she was pressed into the couch, Tim’s arms wrapped around her in a tackle hug.

“I love you I love you I love you I love you.”

Tim chanted into her neck, arms squeezing tighter, and Steph laughed, lifting his head between her hands. “You.. you want to have a kid?”

Tim’s smile was blinding. “Are you kidding? With you? Yes. I- I always wanted kids.” He admitted quietly. “When I became Robin, and then Red Robin, it… the dream became just that. A dream. But then I met you, and you were pregnant, and then we dated, and now…” He sighed. “I thought you’d never want kids after what happened. And i was fine with it. I am fine with it. But if you want it. If you are… then yes. Yes.”

Steph leaned up and kissed him, and his hands dug into her sides, kissing back like he’d never stop, like he’d never let go, like he’d never leave her. Steph knew he wouldn't.

“You are the father, by the way.” She murmured a half hour later, Tim’s head on her chest, his hand drawing lazy circles on her stomach as her hands glided through his hair. “Just in case you wanted it from me. We can do a blood test, of course, I know you’ll want that. But you are. Its only you. Its only ever going to be you.”

Tim propped himself up on his elbow, leaning down to kiss her again. “Its only you for me too Steph. Spoiler and Robin. Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown. The dead robins. Forever.” Steph smiled, running her hands through his chest.

“That sounds pretty perfect Wonder Boy.” Tim grinned, hand tightening on her hip. “Perfect.” Steph laughed, and they sat up together, slowly, leaning against each other.

“Two imperfect people. How perfect.” Tim laughed, and Steph couldn’t help it. She kissed him again. 

[skyward-floored]

Swapped

Part one of the Incredibles au power swap fic lets gooooo

I don’t know how many parts this is going to be total, maybe four..? I tried to keep it short, but that... didn’t work, heh. This is set after movie stuff at some point, don’t know exactly when, not too long... but supers are legal at least.

But anyway, enjoy part one!

Part two

————————————————————

Wind woke up slowly, his ears ringing in his skull.

A dull pulse of pain rippled through his middle, and he winced, putting a hand on his chest and rubbing it as he tried to think through what had happened. He remembered a voice talking, and something about intruders being free test subjects...

Oh. Right.

And a big explosion that had sent them all flying.

Ow...

Wind rubbed his eyes, wincing. He supposed a weird explosion shouldn’t be that surprising, since they were trying to break into a crazy-secure science lab. They’d gotten some information on all sorts of illegal experiments going on here, with supers allegedly involved, and they’d all suited up and stormed the place.

Nobody had realized they were expected.

Wind sighed, and sat up with another wince, grateful his supersuit was so sturdy. If he’d been in his civilian clothes, he’d probably be a smear on the wall right now. Or at least dealing with some broken ribs instead of just the weird soreness he had.

He shook his head, trying to disperse the ringing in his ears, and looked around, wondering why it was so quiet. Something about the air seemed weird, like something was missing from it.

A frown settled on Wind’s face and he reached for some wind, trying to listen and see if there was anything moving nearby. Then he froze.

He couldn’t do it.

Wind thrust his hand out, twirling it in the motion he always used when he directed the winds, but nothing happened, no matter how he moved his hands, no matter how hard he tried.

Something was wrong with his powers.

Wind breathed in shakily, and looked down at his hands, trying not to get swamped with panic. He was fine, he was fine except for the aches and lack of powers, he was fine. He probably just... needed to recover a little more from being unconscious. Yeah.

That had to be it.

Wind swallowed and looked around, suddenly zeroing in on Legend lying nearby. He wasn’t moving, and Wind shakily got to his feet, stumbling over and crouching at his side.

“Legend?” Wind asked, and gave his brother a light shake.

Legend didn’t move, not one inch, and the sight of his brother so still made something lurch in Wind’s stomach.

He paused in trying to wake him, and turned his attention to the rest of the room. He’d been separated from the others in the explosion, and the only other person besides Legend and himself in the hallway was Warriors. And Warriors looked like he was beginning to stir, a groan coming from his direction.

Wind stood up again, the absence of his wind all the more noticeable when he tried to draw on it for assistance. He swallowed and kept going, and knelt by Warriors’ side as his eyes flickered open.

“Warriors?” he asked in a shaky voice, and his uncle groaned, pressing his hands to his ears.

“Not so loud...” he bit out in a whisper, face screwed up in a wince. “...why is it so loud?”

“...I’m the only one making any noise,” Wind said in confusion, and when Warriors winced, he switched to a whisper as well. “...Sorry. It’s not loud at all Warriors, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t... know?” Warriors bit out, trying to sit up. “Ugh... I feel like I got hit by a truck...”

“Did you hit your head?” Wind asked anxiously, and Warriors slowly shook it, still wincing.

“No... everything is just... loud.”

Wind waited a moment for him to wake up a little more, and Warriors breathed out, slowly sitting up. Pain still showed in the way his face was creased though, and Wind felt the bubble of anxiety in his chest get a little bigger.

“That was a weird thing they hit us with... are you sure you’re okay?” Wind said as he helped Warriors sit up, glancing worriedly at the rubble separating them from the others.

“Yeah...” Warriors mumbled. “You okay, Wind?”

Wind swallowed.

“I... I don’t know,” he said honestly, wishing his voice wouldn’t shake. “I only woke up a bit ago. I found Legend too, he’s still unconscious, but Wars there’s— there’s something wrong with my powers.”

“What?”

Wind bit his lip. “I can’t get them to work. Ever since I woke up I haven’t been able to feel any wind or anything, there’s something wrong.”

Warriors’ face creased in concern, but then he paused, and held out his hand with his palm outstretched.

Nothing.

He tried again, a little more frantically, but still nothing happened, and he exhaled, looking down at his hands.

“Looks like mine are on the fritz too,” he said worriedly, then gave Wind’s shoulder a squeeze. “We’ll... we’ll figure this out. There’s probably something blocking them, I’ve seen this before. We just need to find the device.”

“You’re sure?” Wind said shakily, and Warriors nodded, giving his hair a quick ruffle.

“Yeah. It’ll be fine, kiddo.”

Wind gave him a small smile, then decided to check on Legend again since he still hadn’t moved. His brother’s face was still pale and blank, and while he didn’t look injured, Wind knew stuff could be hurt on the inside where they couldn’t see it.

Warriors joined him a few moments later, still wincing, and got to a knee beside Legend. He began looking him over, brushing dusty bangs from his face, and Wind watched in silence from beside him.

“Warriors, what do we do now?” Wind asked quietly, and his uncle hesitated, flinching when a sound rang out in the distance.

“I... don’t know just yet. Let’s recuperate for a bit, see if we can wake Legend up. Maybe try and contact the others. Then... I guess keep going. Somebody has to stop this scientist guy.

“And that somebody is us.”

“Right-o,” Warriors smiled. Then he stiffened, ears pricking as he looked down the hallway. “Someone’s coming.”

“I don’t hear anything,” Wind said in confusion, and Warriors shook his head, gathering Legend up into his arms.

“I can, there’s someone coming, trust me. We need to—”

Footsteps clattered towards them, and Warriors flinched, quickly tugging Wind and Legend behind a piece of rubble. A handful of guards came around the corner, and Wind crouched down further, watching them nervously.

Normally four guards would be nothing, but without powers and Warriors in a questionable state... Wind wasn’t sure they could handle them.

“Wars?” he whispered, and Warriors put a finger to his lips.

The guards drew nearer, spreading out and looking around the rubble. One came closer and closer to where Warriors and Wind were, and suddenly looked behind the rubble, spotting them.

“Hey!”

He grabbed for his gun, and Warriors shoved Wind behind him, launching himself at the guard with a snarl. The man shouted as he fell backwards, and despite the pain on Warriors’ face, he managed to wrestle the gun away from him.

The other guards heard him though, and Wind’s stomach lurched as they surrounded Warriors, unsure if he should go help or stay where he was and defend Legend. Warriors was hurting, but Legend wasn’t even awake, what was he supposed to do?

Two guards split off and went for Wind, and he yelped in panic, backing up so he could better protect Legend. The guards both reached in the nook Wind and Legend were tucked in, trying to grab them, but Wind avoided their hands and kicked at their arms.

Warriors was still struggling with the other two guards, but when he heard Wind’s yelp, his head shot up, eyes going wide when he saw one of them pull out a gun.

“Get away from them!” he shouted, eyes glowing, and was suddenly doused in shadows.

A familiar noise hummed through the air, and Wind and the guards stared in shock as the shadows dispersed, leaving a grayish-blue and white wolf on the ground where Warriors had been.

The wolf looked utterly shellshocked, and Wind felt much the same as he stared at it.

What.

Wind suddenly realized the guards were all distracted by the abrupt appearance of a wolf, and he shoved his shock to the back of his mind. He pushed the two that were trying to grab him, knocking them both over, then darted out and grabbed a piece of metal that had fallen on the ground.

He slammed it into one of the guard’s heads, sending him to the floor, but by then the others had snapped out of their daze.

But Warriors had too, and it didn’t take long for him and Wind to take out the other three guards. All four lay unconscious in short order, and Wind panted heavily as he wiped his face.

Then he stared back at the wolf, who was staring at his paws with his ears back.

“Um... what?” Wind spluttered, disbelief coming back. “Warriors that— how?”

The Warriors-wolf whined, his eyes wide, and he paced around in an anxious circle, nose twitching and ears flicking.

“How did you do that?!” Wind repeated, and Warriors flinched at his raised voice, ears folding back again. “...sorry. But why do you have Twilight’s powers?!”

Warriors repeated his whine, tail between his legs, and suddenly the shadows whirled around him again, blocking him from view. When they dispersed, Warriors was back to normal, sitting on the ground and looking somewhat nauseous.

“...Warriors?” Wind asked, and Warriors slowly sank down and laid on his back, then put a hand over his eyes.

“Gimme a sec,” he croaked.

Wind went quiet, and for a minute the only sound in the room was Warriors’ somewhat-shaky breathing.

While his uncle got a hold of himself, Wind gently tugged Legend out from the hiding spot, setting his head in his lap as he sat down. He ran a hand over Legend’s hair while he watched Warriors, and finally his uncle exhaled, and took the hand off his eyes.

“I think I know what the problem with our powers is,” he murmured. “Somehow... they switched.”

“But how?” Wind said as he stared at his uncle, and Warriors sighed, slowly sitting up and setting his hands over his ears again.

“I don’t know. But... I think it has to do with that weird energy pulse. I’d guess somehow it switched our powers.”

Wind stared at him in shock, and Warriors grimaced as something made a sound in the distance.

“How... is that even possible?”

“I have no earthly clue.”

Wind petted Legend on the head again, trying to wrap his brain around the idea of powers somehow swapping. Their powers were a literal part of them, how could anything switch them around?

“So... so you somehow have Twilight’s powers,” Wind said, and Warriors nodded. “Does that mean Twilight has yours?”

“I don’t know. But based on the whole wolf thing and the fact that I can hear so much as a pin drop, I definitely switched with Twilight,” Warriors said, then winced again. “Eugh. How does he deal with being able to smell everything? Or hear people breathing?”

Wind shrugged. “So... what was it like being a wolf?” he asked curiously.

“...Weird. We should get moving before the guards wake up,” Warriors said, dodging the question, and Wind sighed and nodded. Obviously Warriors didn’t want to talk about it.

...he’d get it out of him eventually though.

Wind looked down at his hands as Warriors moved to pick up Legend, flexing his fingers, and wondered suddenly if the same thing had happened to him.

Had he just gotten his powers blocked, or had he switched with somebody too? Was that why he couldn’t feel his winds?

Wind focused on himself for a second, trying to remember back to when he was smaller, and accessing his powers was more difficult. Normally there was a sense of the winds around him that he drew on, a thrum in his heart that moved in time with them, and he could usually draw on it with little to no effort.

That feeling wasn’t there anymore, but as Wind focused, he realized there was a different thrum inside of him now, one that felt blindingly strong.

Wind cautiously drew on it, but it was like turning on a firehose, and a flood of whatever power he had now came rushing at him, startling a yelp from his throat.

Warriors called his name, but Wind barely heard him, focused on the power rushing through his middle, spreading to his limbs and stretching out along his face. It was nearly overwhelming, but Wind held on against it, gritting his teeth as power buzzed all over throughout his skin.

The rush ebbed finally, enough that Wind could open his eyes, and the first thing he noticed was that the floor seemed a lot further away then it had before.

Also Warriors staring at him in shock.

“What?” Wind asked, then startled at the way his voice echoed.

“You... you also swapped,” Warriors said in a somewhat strangled voice.

Wind blinked, then looked at his hands, feeling the current of power run through him, feeling so powerful that he could probably punch his way through the walls if he had to.

Which meant...

“I got Dad’s, didn’t I?” Wind said.

Warriors sat back down.

“...Yep.”