#assuming they're not just masking steel

[coyotecreek]

We got some FUR today.

[fallenhunnyapple]

Some Baby Savior AU Expansion

This is an Adamsapple AU because I love them they have taken over my life. I'm sorry in advance because there's a lot going on and I'm bad at being succinct.

This AU works under the Assumption that Adam didn't Die to get into Heaven. He was Ascended while he was still alive as a 'reward' for staying 'good', having not eaten of the Fruit of Knowledge. But his children were still tainted because of their mother, and so while they were still young, the eldest still only being in their teens, he was taken away from them to stay safe in Heaven.

Also, there are yearly meetings held a week after Exterminations where Lucifer and Adam (and Lute) meet in order to discuss quotas, numbers, etc. They're mandatory as per the agreement.

So-

Lilith left Lucifer while Charlie was still just an infant and he had to raise her alone. It was Difficult and when Lucifer was Busy, Charlie spent a lot of time being watched by her Aunts and Uncles, the Sins. But he foolishly let himself trust the people of his ring once and they took advantage, an Overlord trying to vy for more influence hired someone to steal the Princess and hold her hostage. The night before the Extermination.

Lucifer is already overworked and stressed and now having his daughter kidnapped made him lose his mind and go on a full rampage, destroying part of Pentagram City in his blind rage and panic. Which, Great for the Exorcists as long as they keep out of his way because that means they can pick off all the freaked out and fleeing sinners.

And it's during this panicked frantic mess that Adam quite literally drops in on these shady sinners (through the ground because of Hell's shitty infrastructure) who try to Kill him. Surprise, Angelic Steel weapons are being manufactured and they can Hurt Angels. They're still no match for Adam, so he kills them, but not without getting nicked by a few bullets, his arm injured, his wing useless, and his mask a little shattered. And then he hears a fussy crying sound and finds a baby hidden in a nearby crate. Pale with cute red cheeks and golden hair. She reminds him of someone. And she reminds him of his youngest daughter the last time he saw her... Well, she's hellborne, so he wasn't going to kill her anyway. Maybe he'll just take her home with him and he can puppy dog eyes at Sera until she let him keep her!

But he can't fly with these injuries, so he needs to go to the Embassy where he knows Lute and his girls will be waiting for him. But the Embassy is really close to Lucifer's rampage zone. What's he being so insane about anyway? And after almost becoming collateral, and Adam Yelling at him, it clicks. Those red cheeks were familiar for a reason. She must be his kid. There go his plans for bringing her with him. And here he was picking out a name and everything : / He can't bring himself to hate her or to take her away from her dad when he's obviously so upset. It's Begrudgingly that he gets Lucifer's attention to give the baby back. He's attached to her now.

A week after the Extermination, there's a meeting. To discuss the use of Angelic Weapons in hell, to find out who and how they're being made and distributed and ending that production immediately. And Lucifer can't exactly trust anyone in Pride anymore so Charlie comes to the meeting. She's happy to see the weird Kitty again. Adam is Thrilled to see her and spends a good chunk of the meeting making silly faces to make her laugh.

This becomes Normal, Charlie coming to the meetings, too young to understand anything but excited to get to see Adam. She has very clearly gotten attached to him.

Many years pass (Charlie is over 200 years old, and I assume that means super slow aging so she's developmentally 6 years old) and Adam tells Lucifer to not bring Charlie to the meeting. Lucifer agrees and leaves her with Bee in Gluttony. At the meeting, Adam is there in person, pacing and stressed. Lucifer arrives to find him in that state and Adam breaks down, begging on his knees for Lucifer to keep him in Hell. He can't go back to Heaven. They're going to make him remarry Lilith and she's probably into pegging and he doesn't want to be pegged.

Lucifer tries to wrap his mind around the fact that Lilith is in Heaven. Adam feels a little guilty but what was he supposed to do? He couldn't force Lilith to go home and stop being a deadbeat Mom. Lucifer is Mad that Adam never told him Lilith was in Heaven, he knew how much of a struggle he was having without her. Adam tries to make excuses and reverts to begging again, saying they won't let him leave Heaven again if he goes back. And that hits a cord. Lucifer's angry about the thing with Lilith, but Charlie didn't know her mother. She knew Adam though, and he doesn't want her to go through the pain of losing someone important to her. Okay, he'll help keep Adam safe in Hell so Heaven can't get to him. And by that Point, Adam was reminded that there's a chance that Heaven might come after Charlie so actually he'd be staying regardless so he can keep an Eye on Charlie and keep her safe.

Unbeknownst to Adam though, Lucifer has a secret. He'd fallen in love with him. It's 100% because of seeing how good Adam is with Charlie. Charlie is Lucifer's Everything, she is the most important thing in his life and she likes and gets along with Adam and Adam clearly cares for her and that means more than anything else could. And he's in love because of it. But he doesn't tell Adam that.

Together Adam and Lucifer raise Charlie, they're Dad/Daddy and Dadam (Adam came up with it because actually being called a nickname for father reminded him too much of the kids he didn't get to see grow up). And when Charlie gets old enough to move out on her own, Empty Nest Syndrome kicks in. But in the "we're not raising a kid together anymore, we should go our separate ways" kinda way. Because the entire time Lucifer never said anything about his feelings so they'd been Platonically co-parenting for over a century while Lucifer pined.

Charlie finds out that Adam is thinking of moving out and panics because she thinks this means her dads are getting a divorce. She never knew they weren't married. She never knew they weren't even Together. Because they sure Seemed to love each other all those years! She tries to encourage her dad to tell Adam how he feels and he does. It doesn't go well. Adam doesn't believe it, he refuses. (And it's not because he doesn't love him, Adam has loved him consistently since Eden) But he just can't accept it and decides it's Definitely better to move out. Lucifer goes into a depressive isolated episode while Adam is out there going on week long Benders to try and cope. The Sins have to get involved once Charlie reaches out, worried about both of them because Lucifer is barely responsive and Adam is dismissive. Ozzie tries to find out what's going on with Lucifer and Bee is taking care of the doped up drunken depressed mess that is Adam, she knows how to deal with drunks.

The Sins and Charlie are going to help them sort out their shit so they can actually try to be happy together the way they should have been the whole time. That's about where the conversation's ended for now. Orz this is long

Gonna @ the people who seemed interested in more info @lordxsblog @fightinsoda

[werywrenniethoughts]

Help Wanted 2: Lets Talk About Sun (Spoilers for Help Wanted 2!)

Okay,

I've had some time to digest Help Wanted 2. What a freaking roller coaster. I'm assuming you all have played/watched/seen Help Wanted 2, so be advised if you haven't seen everything we have access to so far, I'll be bringing it up.

One thing I'll say upfront is its nice to know Sun and Moon ARE older like I theorized. They're tied to the Fall Festival which took place in 1970 per one of the prize collector posters and the fact they deal with the carousel. I think Steel Wool also tried to point out and confirm Moon is patient zero for....I guess I should say Vanny's influence in the PizzaPlex. He's definitely the favorite to be pitted against us. I'm STILL losing my mind over the Princess Quest Ending.

So, the DCA fandom has been all across the board, ranging from "I love sassy Sun" to "Sun is SO mean. This ruins my headcannon." I don't think it really does. At least, it doesn't have to.

Our first encounter with Sun in front of us is Arts and Crafts. This minigame is located in the world we eventually learn is AR. We also are clearly a new FazBear hire. Sun is definitely sassy, and let's face it, VERY critical of what he defines as a mistake. BUT the flip side of that coin is he is still nice when you do the art correctly. He calls you friend, he wants to help you. If the player eats the crafts, he loses his mind. It's because he's worrying for the player due to the effects eating the crafts will have on them, ie: "That is how you get ulcers!". (By far, MY FAVORITE line of Sun's btw. Kellen stated that line and the indigestion line were both improved btw- genius.) He still doesn't want Moon to get you, he doesn't want to get in trouble. The one threat is after you've been hitting him several times and you've outright pissed him off. (I personally, think the "I should turn off the lights myself" was a drama king being a drama king.) Then we take the mask off. We see everything destroyed and Sun acts like the Sun we've always known. "I'm perfectly fine where I am. It's better this way. It's safer this way." "Keep the generator on. Without it I won't be able to help you." He's the same as he's always been. We've just seen a new layer.

What we ultimately have to come to terms with, is that Sun is a control freak and a perfectionist. He thinks he "has" to be. He doesn't want you to move from your craft table so he can watch you like a hawk. Do the job you are assigned. Get in, get out. Do the art HIS way, and follow HIS rules. If you don't, bad things can happen. Bad things HAVE happened. Another explanation could also be that maybe he isn't as free of the glitch trap virus as we thought? He can be sassy, he can be brutally honest, he can be concerned for us, for children, and his own darkness can rear its head, all at the same time.

Steel Wool could also be trying to slam into our faces that Sun is incomplete. He is one-half of a whole. He has good intentions, he means well at his core, but he cannot stop, regroup, and act rather than react. He gets stressed, and can't cope and adjust. Instead, he demands control back when he feels like he's about to lose it. Moon is calm, calculating, and logical. It's why they need to be whole and why Sun is so grateful to Cassie when she fixes them to become Eclipse. As Eclipse, they both find the parts of themselves they've so desperately needed.

[defectivehero]

unrelenting

warnings: self-harm, attempted amputation, gore, kidnapping/captivity

Please heed the warnings!!!

The hero has been trapped in this bleak cell for months. They haven't been able to keep a true sense of time, but they've placed weak scratches into the wall each time they've woken. The scratches now cover the corner of the room. Perhaps it's even been years. They can't be sure.

All the hero knows is that they have a weapon, a means of escape. They found it while in a fit of frustration. They had angrily ripped at the thin, rigid mattress on the wire bed frame. And under the mattress, in the very center of the frame, was a dull knife.

The hero spends what they can only assume to be days sharpening it to a fine point. As they devote more attention to restoring the weapon, they realize it isn't just a regular knife—it's a Liston knife. The same kind of knife used by Robert Liston in his surgical amputations in the 18th century.

They've tried fruitlessly to cut through the chain around their ankle—the one keeping them tethered to this room. They've had no luck in that regard. As the hero stares down at the knife, they begin to realize that there's perhaps something... else... they can cut through.

After all, the Liston knife was designed for amputations. If the hero cut their foot off at the ankle, they would be free from their bonds and could escape. It's not a pleasant idea. But the hero feels as if they have no other choice. They've been trapped here for an immeasurable amount of time. No one has bothered to rescue them. They could very well be confined here for the rest of their life. If this sacrifice is what it takes for them to acquire freedom, well...

The hero takes a shuddering breath in, before sitting down on the ground with their back to the cell's iron bars. They take their shoe and sock off, before tugging experimentally at the chain. Indeed, it is expertly tightened to prevent them from escaping. There's no tangible keyhole on the cuff, and the knife hadn't managed to even dent the steel.

Their heart is racing as they trace the knife along the skin of their upper ankle, just barely grazing the top of the cuff. The hero pulls at the collar of their shirt and places it in their mouth. For a long moment, their hand shakes as the knife rests against their skin. It's horribly cold, sending goosebumps prickling along their arms.

Somehow, they manage to begin the incision. It hurts—more than the hero could have possibly fathomed. At some point, they begin to scream. Yet they can't stop themselves from pushing the knife in further, deeper. They need to escape. They can't stay here forever. They need to escape. They need to-

There's a harsh grip on their wrist, forcing the knife out of their grasp. The weapon clatters to the floor. The hero's blood-slicked hands are trembling as they look up into the eyes of their captor, the villain. The villain looks enraged—a stark contrast to the unfeeling mask they always seem to wear. There is no trace of that cruelty in the expression the villain has on their face.

"What the fuck are you doing?" They spit.

The hero can't find the words to answer. They can't seem to focus on anything except for the strangely warm, slippery feeling of their own blood coating their hands. The villain is still lurking, looming, towering over them. The hero waits to be shoved to the ground, waits for the villain to punch them into unconsciousness.

The blows never come. Instead, the villain shakes their head and walks away with the knife in hand. When they return moments later—in what feels like the blink of an eye to the hero—they have medical supplies in hand. The villain then crouches down until they're sitting on the floor with the hero.

"I knew you had it," they remark, tearing the hero from their frantic thoughts. The hero stares at them. "The knife." They nod at the corner of the ceiling, to a strange glint that must be the lens of a security camera. The hero's stomach turns. They hadn't realized. All this time... the villain was watching. They feel sick, all of a sudden. "I thought, 'Why the hell not?' I figured you'd try to stab me with it. I wouldn't let you, of course." The villain continues. The hero tries to bend their knee, move away from their enemy, but the villain quickly stops them with a hand on their knee.

"But this," they break off, seemingly entirely lost for words. "What the hell were you thinking? You've been acting weirdly lately, I should've fucking known you'd pull something like this." The villain shakes their head and then, to the hero's complete surprise, grabs the cloth and begins exerting pressure. For a while, there is nothing but quiet as their leg continues to bleed.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?" The villain hisses, beginning to bandage their ankle once the bleeding is more manageable. Their hands are surprisingly warm, a welcome change from the chill of the cement floor. "You could've easily contracted an infection and died... You're damn lucky you didn't lose your leg." The villain punctuates their last statement by finishing their bandaging. For a moment, the hero swears their touch lingers, but they put it down to their pain-addled mind.

"I'll be back soon enough," the villain declares as they get to their feet. They look over at the security camera, before staring at the hero once more. "Don't take those off." They order, their gaze briefly flitting to the bandages around the hero's ankle.

With that closing remark, the villain is gone. The hero is left to their own confusion and dismay, as they come to terms with the unshakeable fact that their enemy just patched them up. They're beginning to realize something: the longer they spend with the villain, the less the hero understands them. Their enemy is like a mirage—get close enough and they simply... fade. The villain is entirely contradictory at worst and utterly perplexing at best. The hero brings a hand down to the edge of their carefully-placed bandages, feeling a shiver roll down their spine.

They're not sure what they're supposed to do anymore. Should they try to escape? Should they accept their fate? And what of their enemy? Does the villain truly care about their wellbeing? Surely not. But what can explain the bandages, the furrow to their brows as they took in the scene before them? Is there a reasonable explanation for the minute flicker of their emotionless mask, the brief slip where the hero could see concern drawing their lips tight into a frown?

The hero inhales slowly. Their weapon was confiscated by the villain. Their enemy's previous admission is sticking in their mind. I knew you had it. The hero underestimated the villain's desire for entertainment. Then again, if they sought entertainment... what could be more entertaining than the hero bleeding out in their cell, from a wound of their own infliction?

The hero feels painfully aware of every minute movement they make, knowing that the villain is watching from somewhere. Yet they find their gaze drifting to the security camera anyway, almost daring for the villain to explain themselves. Unsurprisingly, the hero receives no elaboration. Taking a deep breath, they let their head fall back to the wall behind them as they close their eyes.

©2024, @defectivehero | @defectivevillain All Rights Reserved.

here's the inspo for this. it was first just a quick thing I was gonna post:

just thinking about the hero, kidnapped by the villain, chained up and left to rot in a cell. thinking about the hero somehow acquiring a weapon—maybe they filched it from the villain when they weren't looking, maybe they came in with it, maybe it was hidden in the wall—and attempting to cut their chains. they can hardly make a scratch on the chains, so they pivot to something else: their own limbs. thinking about the villain bursting in, seeing them hurt themselves to escape... thinking about the aftermath, the tense silence in the air as the villain carefully bandages the hero's wounds... thinking about the confusion, frustration, shame, guilt, rage, and vengeance all fighting for prominence in the hero's mind...

I love the idea of the villain just being so utterly contradictory and confusing to the hero. one moment, they're playful, flirty, almost caring... the next, they're cruel, vindictive, and spiteful. I equally love the idea of the villain just leaving the hero to their confusion. Sometimes, this would be an avenue for a writer to have the villain say something like "only I can kill you," but that feels both overplayed and also not as significant? I ended up keeping the villain's mystery, because it's fun to try to puzzle out their motivations.

not tagging the taglist for this one, just because it has some topics that can be pretty triggering.

[howlingday]

AU idea. Adam instead of being how he is actually wants out of the Fang so he goes to Beacon with Blake and becomes apart of JNPR so it's just JNAPR and his relationships eith the characters are just

Ruby: friends

Weiss: freinmies at first and then good friends

Blake: brother sister relationship

Yang: pun buds/Wingman for Yang to get Blake

Jaune: honestly with Jaune he thinks he is crazy for enrolling without Arua but gains a respect for Jaune

Pyrrha: Rivals

Ren: meditating buddies

Nora: eating buddies

He would also get rid of his Fang mask and train himself to fight blindfolded so if he ever gets blinded temporarily he still can throw dem hands without problems

I do like the premise, and I can see it happen, BUT I also think that a few things should be tweaked so it's not just rewriting Adam as an OC insert.

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

First of all, let's start with WHY Adam would leave the White Fang at all. For this, I suggest the same reason he attacks Beacon with them; Blake. As Blake attempts to leave the White Fang, what if Adam makes it over to where Blake is and demands she explains herself. Blake, steeling herself, tells Adam that she's done with the White Fang going on their murder spree, and if Adam thinks he can change her mind, then he should just kill her right now. Adam decides to humor Blake and leaves the White Fang with her. The two then flee to Beacon, the closest academy, and enroll to become students.

However, due to Adam's much more recognizable appearance, he decides to stay in the shadows of Vale while Blake attends Beacon. Assuming there's a primarily Faunus neighborhood in Vale, I'll assume this is where he's hiding out. But he still needs lien, so he calls on an old friend, a fellow deserter by the name of Tukson, and gets a job stocking books for him while keeping an eye and ear out for Blake.

During the events of the Volume 1 finale, I'd assume Blake runs back to Adam, who welcomes her with open arms, but the tender moment is broken by the arrival of Sun, who tries to convince her that not all humans are bad. Adam is about to argue when Tukson joins in. Adam swallows his pride, and some bile, and keeps his mouth shut, though he does get a kick out of the fact that Blake stood up to a Schnee.

During Volume 2, I can see Adam pitching in to help Team RWBY with their investigation of the White Fang. Adam keeps out of sight of Emerald and Mercury as Tukson is murdered. With nowhere else to hide, he flees for Beacon to warn Blake, where he meets Team RWBY. It's here that I'll discuss what their relationships would be like.

Ruby - I can see Ruby giving Adam a chance since he's a friend of Blake. She also doesn't really understand why there's so much animosity between Adam and Weiss, so she chalks it up to both parties having negative opinions of the other. To Adam, Ruby is just an ignorant child with no understanding of how the real world works.

Weiss - The two have a mutual distaste for one another. Weiss hates Adam because he's responsible for her turbulent home life and how he's suddenly forgiven just because he's "Blake's friend". He despises her because of the horrible atrocities committed by her father. At one point, their argument gets so heated that Adam reveals his scar, leaving Weiss stunned at her legacy branded across his face. This is where I feel like the two could start getting along better with Weiss apologizing for her company maiming him. Adam says it doesn't change all the horrible things that they did, but he does accept her apology, but only her and not the SDC. They're still hostile, but much less so than when they started.

Blake - I feel like Blake is caught between two worlds with her history in the White Fang and her friendships with Teams RWBY and JNPR. This also puts her in a great position to be a mediator between him and them, giving his side of the story to them and their side to him.

Yang - Yang TRIED to be friends for Blake, but the looks Adam gives her are the same she'd gotten from Raven growing up. To her, he sees her as an obstacle to what he wants, which is Blake. Since meeting, Yang's grown less friendly with him, but she can still put on a smile to keep Blake happy. And in her defense, she's not wrong for thinking something that's true.

JNPR - I'll summarize it into one section and say that Adam and Team JNPR are at opposite ends of indifference. Adam sees JNPR as a bunch of humans who will go on to support the SDC and subjugate more Faunus for the kingdoms, but takes Blake's word that they're nothing like that. Jaune doesn't know a thing about Adam or the White Fang, so he just trusts the judgement of his friends. Jaune does get a bit of brownie points when Adam hears that he stood up to Cardin for Velvet. Pyrrha knows about Adam and is especially cautious around the former White Fang member, mostly because he was at a higher rank than Blake, which means he's a lot stronger than her. Adam also knows about Pyrrha and just sees her as someone as bad as Weiss or Ruby; an ignorant human living blissfully unaware of the plights of Faunus around them. Nora and Ren don't really have much of an opinion on Adam, though they understand the danger of having a former White Fang member nearby. Adam doesn't have much to dislike about the two, other than the fact that they're both humans.

I'll finish this up by explaining how I think he'd be involved in the White Fang in Vale. I could see him swooping in during the events of Volume 2 and taking back the White Fang after Roman Torchwick is arrested. He'd offer them a place in his new White Fang, promising them a piece of the humans who tricked them into attacking like they did. The White Fang then cheer for Adam as he smiles and looks over Vale, plotting and scheming how best to bring Blake back to his side.

What do you think? Does this sound pretty good?

[urlocalwormtoday]

Fumes but only not poisonous

I remember seeing a post that I will link here, basically saying that Team Bolas uses the cosmetics slot for their gas masks, but when the toxic gas rolls in they have to actually put it in their secondary helmet slot which makes it hidden most of the time to the other players

And I can absolutely not agree more, but also,, I love to make headcannons

So what else am I going to do here other than find a reason why Team Bolas are immune to the gas??

I have another theory/headcannon involving the general aura of the island (healing Phil's wings, preventing code spread), and I know this sounds really weird or really cringe depending on how you look at it, but considering Phil, Jaiden, and Baghera are all bird hybrids/birds, Charlie is a slime demon or slime hybrid, and Carrie and Cellbit are often depicted as cats, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to assume that same aura would boost their instincts to hunt and flock together and just generally behave more like mobs

I MEANNNN, THE WATCHER LITERALLY CALLED THEM A PACK, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME????-

But anyways, remember how I mentioned the aura of the island was increasing their instinct to hunt and kill?

What if the gas is simply a physical representation of that, something that makes all that inhale it insane and full of bloodlust

But because everyone else (excluding all the other hybrids, maybe they do experience the same constant bloodlust just like Bolas but because they don't have a pack to encourage it it's more manageable) has never been exposed to this gas before and they're now being exposed to it all at once, it hurts their respiratory system because the change is so sudden

And because Bolas is constantly experiencing the closeness of a pack and the full force of the bloodlust and the survival instinct, the gas doesn't affect them as much

Albeit, it does sting their throats and their eyes and burn their lungs a little, the pain steels them towards whoever whatever their target is and helps keep them grounded

[honey-minded-hivemind]

Reader meets many strange people in that sleepy little town:

- Charles and Erik, an older couple who own the bed and breakfast Reader stays at. Charles apparently keeps bees as a hobby and keeps insisting Reader eat some honey. Both regularly praise Reader for all the help they do around the house and "that's its so nice to have someone youthful energy in the old place".

- Hank is the town doctor. For someone who looks like he can break steel beams, he's very polite and mild mannered. But he can get a little invasive when he gives Reader a check up. " How's you relationship with your parents?" " I saw your light was on late last night, you should get to bed at a more proper time. A good night's rest is important to growing bodies."

- Ororo is the one school teacher in town, though everyone calls her Storm. She teaches out of a tiny one room school house. Reader thinks she's lucky all the kids around the place are the same age. Storm regularly invites Reader for "girl's night" ( even if reader is not a girl, they are getting mani-pedis and face masks). Reader just wishes she would get not so strong alcohol, they always end up blacking out.

- Reader doesn't see Logan that often, but he comes to town regularly to check up on Charles, get a check up with Hank about his short-term memory loss, and have a beer. He doesn't seem to like Erik all that much, but he's nice to Reader. Apparently, he and his brother own a farm just out of town, which Reader is "allowed to visit whenever, kid". Charles says he's Laura's dad but she stays with Kurt and Rogue and their mom during the school week and goes home during the weekend, holidays, and summer.

- Rogue and Kurt are the goth girl and blue hair boy they met earlier. Apparently, they're siblings, but they don't look much alike. Their mom, Mystique, runs the mom-and-pop store and is always dressed impeccably. Rogue and Kurt's relationship with her is a little rough at best and they cling to Reader, asking for advice and attention.

- the other teens are similar. Evan, Scott, Jean and all of them. Reader may be older than them but still young enough to relate to their problems so they like to follow behind when they run errands for the Bed and Breakfast. They assume they think it's "cool" to hang out with the new, older stranger from out of town, so they try to be a goof example. They wonder where the rest of the parents are at, though.

Hahaha... I love it, @sugar-soda! I admit, I keep imaging Reader being somewhere between 15 to 19, but honestly, it works at any of those ages! I'll add a little to this, as a treat-!

• Reader doesn't quite remember how they ended up with Charles and Erik, but according to them, they found Reader passes out in the bushes outside, so they brought Reader in and helped make sure they were okay. They always compliment Reader on how polite they are, how strong they are when they lift heavy boxes or haul jars of honey-like liquid around, how sweet they are when Reader brings back some raspberries for them... They're nice, very nice, for people who supposedly found Reader drugged or passed out or dying in their bushes...

• Hank is okay! He just seems a bit obsessed with health and eating proper meals and the like. Old school doctor values, right? And Reader could probably stand to eat a bit more, or eat more consistent meals... He says he has a clinic outside of town too, which is funded by Charles and Erik, and has volunteers such as his friends, Logan and Victor... He also thinks honey is the best cure for everything, for some reason, and asks if Reader eats a bit every day...

• Reader likes Ororo! She's funny, and smart, and always on point with fashion! Plus she let's Reader try a sip or two of mead, which she says is good-! Of course, Reader can't remember anything after having their small sip... And they woke up in the field outside of town. Again. So maybe they should stop tasting the different honey stuff...

• Logan is gruff, from what Reader can tell. He seems to like the kids, including Reader, and he's checking up on Mr. Charles every weekend before he and Laura go back to their farm, so he seems pretty nice for a tough guy. Reader doesn't know why he invites Reader to visit, or why Laura likes them, but they let Reader eat pancakes with them at the diner and don't mind when Reader falls asleep, exhausted from a night of trying to figure out why they can't seem to find the way out of town...

• Reader doesn't mind offering advice to Kurt and Rogue, seeing them as the siblings they never had (all of the teens feel like siblings, in way, which confuses Reader for people people hardly know-). Whether it's how to make a new friend, what to wear in Winter, how to win at darts- It doesn't bother Reader to answer their questions or let them follow them around. Reader just hopes they don't get caught up in Reader's search for clues, in case it gets dangerous... Their mom, who seems cold and sharp, is oddly nice to them. Reader left her some wild roses they found, and now they get discounts on snacks or drinks when they come in her store

• Reader doesn't mind entertaining the kids. Really, they don't. For how they can't remember much, there are certain tricks and skills they have that seem to impress the teens. Be it winning at guessing games, knowing how to climb a stone wall, or being able to win over stray cats and bugs, they always seem to find Reader interesting. Sometimes they feel a little... freaked out... over having so many eyes on them. But these are just teens. Good ones, for the most part. What harm can they do?

• Reader keeps trying to find clues as to the odd symbol on their hand, or why the town is closed off from the outside world, and why Reader can't remember anything before waking up here... they keep digging, checking the old history museum and the woods beyond the last few houses, but whenever Reader feela they're getting too close- suddenly they're pulled off to something else. They're worried, for themself, for the others... but with each new puzzle piece they uncover... they can't help but start to think there's something hiding close enough to touch it...

• If only they could just reach it and not fall asleep again, waking up back in the field or in their bed, wondering why their dreams keep getting so strange and frightening...

[silviakundera]

Lust Love in the Desert, ep 7 liveblogging

Yunpei Lord calls FL in for a threesome but because the writers are WEAK ofc she doesn't bang him but makes an excuse

Because noooooo she must only sleep with the male lead or they're not allowed to end up together

Cowards!

However, definitely a bold move to just chill with the Special Scroll a few steps away from the fucking couple like they're not even there

As the fucking was clearly more of a powerplay, lure of power compels Yunpei Lord to pause the panting. He strolls over to pop quiz FL on her reading and tries to get glimpse behind her mask.

He thinks he's sooooo fucking special and smart that he both wants to be Too Jaded™ and presuming all his concubines are liars and ALSO he's weak for beautiful women calling him the 'sun'

"I'll wait until you open your heart to me." HOW CONVENIENT.

ML trying to get drunk over his crush threesomeing without him

Back to the wild spring break adventures of Princess 2. There's a fire. People menaced with knives. A nice roasted chicken. What more does a bandit want in life?

2FL is thrilled to be informed they're here to kill people.

I assume it's revenge against the group who helped our main couple bust up The Dead Zone.

He collects the remnants to rebuild his gang. All in a day's work.

This spoiled princess is drunkenly ranting and climbing in his lap and tbh @dangermousie has her dead to rights as that kind of cosetted & privileged young daughter running wild with an implicit belief that the world will open its doors for her. As unhinged as she can be, her character makes sense and is internally consistent.

Bandit leader has totally gone a bit soft for her and I actually thinks it's a kindness when he tries to ditch her this time (leaving her with MONEY). It's in his face when he looks at her. Acting!

"I don't care about money!" Yeah, not something a person raised in poverty would say lol

Yunpei Lord and FL are testing each other (though only FL realizes it's mutual). She thinks he's got juuuust the right amount of ego, ruthless ambition, and smarts to start uniting the desert (or at least enough to fuck up the North Lord for revenge).

Like our mysterious ML, he's intrigued by her brilliance and steel spine. But sadly for him, she's too clever to authentically fall for a dude this sleazy and pretentious.

lolololol ML doesn't even try to hide how hyped he is about FL not consummating her marriage

But then we get a lil flashback of mom being alive and mentoring FL and boyyyyyyy I just do not see how this works out for you.

hmmm so there are 5 parts of the Special Scroll, not 3. FL's family had 2 volumes, Herb and Architecture. With ALL ITS POWERS COMBINED, it can reveal a great secret

where does the twin fruit tree grow? Only the Desert Scroll knows.

wow mom was a real font of knowledge. It would be really too bad if someone shot her...

oh hi ML

he takes a break from stalking around the palace tunnels and tucks a blanket on his crush while she's dozing

I'll give the Yunpei Lord this: he's actually plotting w his faux-enunch to target the FL for her brains instead of as a bedmate

[sketchiefoxie]

Head to the purple light.

(Optional Soundtrack/Ambience)

April stayed frozen at the entrance, gripping the rim of the tunnel so tightly that her fingers were beginning to cramp. It was almost worse not knowing where the stranger was at anymore. Like, because she couldn't keep an eye on him anymore, she had no way to keep herself safe. While she was assuming he was where the yellow light was at, she didn't know for sure. It was just an assumption after all.

Looking out at the dark expanse, she shuddered. The wrecked subway was dark, and foreboding. Like anyone or rather anything could be lurking in there. Prowling around, silently... Watching her...

But she couldn't just keep standing here!! She'd get caught like this!! April paused to reflect on that, thinking to herself, caught by who? There wasn't anyone else around besides the yellow stranger, right? She didn't want that question answered.

April flicked her gaze up towards the purple light, watching as it flickered every so often, turning slightly different hues of colors. Like the light of a tv screen flickering through a cracked door. The longer she watched it, the more her anxiety spiked.

Everywhere in here seemed dangerous. Everywhere. But she had to pick somewhere to go, she couldn't just go back!! There was nothing for her back at the base of the ladder, and if she knew one thing, it was that April O' Neil wasn't going to die doing nothing!! Not dying at all would be the preferred option though.

Then a thought dawned on her. If this was an abandoned subway station, could the glowing purple behind the doors lead to a control panel of sorts? A place to watch the subway cars, or something. It could have surveillance cameras, or even a map!!

With a burst of sudden, and probably misguided hope, April took a deep, yet stilted breath, though her fear didn't really diminish. Not in the slightest. She had to move, she had to move forwards!! But what if something was in the dark?

She hadn't been being a baby about it before. She also hadn't known that they're were other folks down here with her...

April willed her hands to unclench from the tunnel rim, taking a moment to allow her digits to uncramp, then stooped down to pick up a fairly decent sized rock. It wouldn't protect her against her own gun, but it could smack the life out of any freaks who tried to rush her.

April cringed internally, hating her mind for conjuring up the scary imagery of a massive green figure, with void eyes, and a mouth that split open to a throat lined with teeth. Had she seen that particular monster in a game or something? A horror video on YouTube? She hated how clearly she could imagine the beast. Yeah that rock wasn't going to cut it if she ran into that thing.

Good thing it didn't exist!

Steeling herself, with her rock in hand, April began to creep forwards. Each step felt as loud as a gunshot, like the gunshot which would go through her chest and silence her if she got caught. Her hands shook and her legs felt weak. She hated this, she absolutely hated this so freaking much!!

Slowly but surely, April made it to the huge metal doors. There were sounds coming from inside the room. Peering around the door carefully, she snuck a glimpse inside. The first thing she noticed, was the smell. Rancid, like spoilt meat, and sick left to fester, all carried with the revolting undertone of sweat.

April nearly gagged when the smell assaulted her nose. It smelled like something had died in a puddle of vomit, which wasn't a smell April ever thought she'd smell. It was revolting!

While she pulled up her face bandana, grateful for the perfume she had sprayed into it before coming on this expedition, she noticed something else. Muttering.

April froze, listening to the voice. This voice was also familiar, if not even more familiar than the voice of the yellow stranger. Why was there already someone inside?

Carefully, she peeked around the corner again, mask in place to ward off the horrendous stench. The room itself was a mess. It looked like a laboratory, but everything had been ransacked. Barely illuminated by the strips of purple lighting along the ceiling (though more than half were burnt out, leaving large dark areas) April could see tables that had been over turned, objects shattered, and items that were strewn about. There were unique glowing stains and crusty patches all over the lab that glowed a... hue of rainbow?

Over on the left side wall, was a set up of many computers, and screens mounted on the walls. A cyber-addicts dream. Three massive computers rested on a table, along with a keyboard. Upon the wall were three huge screens, like tv's but clearly more advanced. Surveillance screens, all glitched out. The whole thing looked like either a streamer or a gamer setup. There was a pile of bowls on the ground, half eaten soup (or what April assumed was soup) spilling across the floor, mixed with more of that rainbow substance.

Then, the chair moved, and April's heart leapt, slamming against the inner cavern of her chest.

Someone was in the chair. The muttering hadn't just been the screens.

Against her better judgement, and fighting against her self preservation, April slipped through the door crack as it was just wide enough for her to fit through.

She knew this person... She knew the person in the chair didn't she?

April crept forwards, heart thudding in fear an anticipation. The few screens that weren't covered in static and glitchy fuzz, were playing the most random videos.

She froze in her tracks when the person in the seat, made a wet hacking sound, slumping forwards. "Nooooooooo... I hate all these... I don't wanna... Nooooo..."

April's eyes were absolutely huge as she took in the appearance of the person.

He, as it was clearly a he, judging from the vocal inflection, had dark green skin, a longer snout, purple stripes, and was wearing a pair of glowing cat ear headphones.

"Donnie?..." April breathed out in choked horror.

That was Donnie!! That was her brother, whom she hadn't seen in years!!

Without thinking, she stumbled forwards, heart hammering in her chest, as she held back tears of fear and confusion. What was Donnie doing here? Why hadn't she recognized his voice, o-or his lab, or even...

The hideout...

She was in the hideout... This was the abandoned subway that her brothers had called home. Why had she stopped visiting? What had happened? Why was it wrecked?

And... and why hadn't she thought of her family in years? It was like they hadn't existed...

April let out a choked sound, hovering before Donnie, taking in his form. He was wearing a purple hoodie, though it was hard to tell it was purple from all the stains it had on it. Rainbow stains, crusted dark black stains, greasy stains that spoke of food. He looked horrible. He was deathly skinny, cheekbones highlighted by the light of the computer screens, and the crappy purple LEDs.

Donnie gave her no reaction beyond a singular chuff, staying slumped over his keyboard, eyes dull.

April looked around, trying to see if she could find something, anything to help him out. Her attention snaped back down towards him when he rasped "S-S-Stupid c-com-computer..." She wasn't sure if he was even talking to her or not...

April glanced over to the computer, which was currently playing a decade old video about Steven Universe fusion theories.

Cautiously, April replied. "It's on... Did you want a different video or something?" She asked, trying to decode what he meant.

Donnie made another wet choking sound, and April briefly wondered if he was actually choking. She stepped back in surprise when he began to drool rainbow. It leaked out of his mouth, thick and viscous, dripping into the cracks of his keyboard. April's panic redoubled.

Was he dying?! What was that stuff? Had he eaten something he wasn't supposed to?! WHY WAS IT RAINBOW!?!

Donnie groaned, waving a hand at the computer directly Infront of himself, smacking the screen with the back of his hand. "I-Its not w-working..." He whined. "N-not working... I-I need it to woooork..."

"OK ok ok," April began, looking around the lab frantically, scared for her brother, not knowing what to do. "Donnie, I don't understand, what's going on!?"

Donnie's vacant stare, slid up, finally meeting her eyes, and April froze. His eyes were so wide, and dark, huge black pupils swallowing up the light. He looked like a corpse. They stared back and forth for a few moments before Donnie's gaze slid back down, and he began to make a repetitive clicking sound in the back of his throat in time with the static on the rest of the screens.

April didn't know what to do. A few ideas popped to mind, but she wasn't sure what would work.

Next ->

<- Previous

Masterpost

[blackjackkent]

OK, brain battle time! (I think.)

We now have a fun new button on our command bar labeled "Call Forth Allies" which opens a collection of abilities to summon in our hour of need.

Currently our only option is to call Voss and his dragon to blow a wall of fire down, which is pretty sick in itself. But we had a LOT of friends in our Gather Your Allies quest by the end so I'm assuming this bar is going to get pretty full.

Into High Hall!

The place has been completely shattered apart and it's pouring down rain which is very atmospheric. Part of it still stands, though, with a broken plaque labeled "Watch Citadel."

And inside are all of our friends! <3

-----

Florrick, it seems, has been good for her word. Having escaped prison, she rallied the city, gathered the Fist still loyal to the city, and many others as well. One of them, a broad-shouldered fellow with long hair, is giving a rousing speech to the motley crowd of allies.

"We have lost much already," he cries. "And we will lose more before the day is out. But even when the last soul falls, Baldur's Gate will stand! For Baldur's Gate is more than just a city. It is more than a place of opportunity for those of mercantile spirit, more than a place of refuge for those who are lost, more than a home for friends, loved ones, and adventuring souls. Baldur's Gate is a place where anyone can find what they need, if they're just willing to fight for it. Today, Baldur's Gate needs us. Today, we fight for--"

He trails off as the door slams open, revealing Hector and his companions, dripping wet from the rain.

"You're late, friend," the Fist says dryly, looking Hector up and down. "This is the one you spoke of?" he adds to a hooded figure in the corner.

It's Florrick; she looks out from under the hood and gives Hector a slight, sharp grin. "The very same. The champion we've been waiting for. The one who will save Baldur's Gate from ruin."

-----

Hector flushes with a nervous smile, unconsciously taking a step closer to Karlach. "When did I get such a reputation?" he mumbles under his breath.

"Well," she points out. "You did help an awful lot of people, Hec. I think maybe the hero bit goes with the territory at this point."

-----

Narrator: The Fist eyes your illithid ally with suspicion. He was not expecting the savior of Baldur's Gate to be accompanied by a mind flayer.

Hector debates how to explain Orpheus's presence but is interrupted by, of all people, Withers, who is standing a little ways into the room and eyeing the chaos with a sort of dispassionate amusement.

"Appearances may change," he intones, as cryptically as ever, "but they do not mask the one within. This one I know." He raises a finger dramatically. "Observe with whom it travelleth. Friends. This mind flayer will fight with thee. It will save thy city and thy lives."

Narrator: The Fist eyes your illithid ally with suspicion softening to curiosity - his hostility melting at the recognition that there's more beyond those eyes than malice.

Hector relaxes as the Fist raises his sword in a salute. "My steel is yours," the officer says gravely. "And I'm not alone."

And then the parade begins. Out of the crowd gathered in the room, voice after voice speaks up - friends Hector has made along his journey, those who he has helped and who have helped him.

Arabella pipes up first. "You helped me once. I figured it's time I paid you back - with magic."

Then Dammon, who grins sheepishly at Hector as he speaks.

"I'm better at crafting steel than wielding it. Your friend here is armored and potion-fueled and ready for battle."

The friend in question, it turns out, is Buddy, who has grown considerably in the last few months in camp and squawks with violent excitement at his new accoutrements:

Florrick herself, next: "I have marshalled the best the Flaming Fist has to offer. We will fight to the last."

Isobel, back from the outskirts of the city: "The Moonmaiden's silver light is a shield in dark times. Today it is mine to wield."

And Aylin, who would never have left her side. "And I hold her sword."

(A/N: I wrote a while back about the idea that Aylin and Isobel have been hanging out at Hector's monastery since they left camp, and that maybe when they came back for the final fight, Hector's abbot, Enric, would come along too. So consider him here as well. XD )

"Whatever strength I have to lend, I will lend it. I will make my city proud again."

"You can count on me, little rabbit. And your squiddy friend. I thirst for the hunt."

"I made some improvements to Ramazith's arcane artillery. Give the word, and the sky falls on any who stand in your way."

"I'm in the mood to crack some skulls after that fuckery in the Temple of Bhaal. The City Watch will be glad to oblige me."

"Not sure what I have to offer a mind flayer, if I'm honest. But I hope my words of encouragement and reassurance will strengthen your - ah - resolve!"

"The journey has been brutal, but I stand here a Hellrider once more, and I would die a proud man if I died this day."

(A/N: ZEVLOR!!!!!!! \o/ )

"I want my city back, and I've brought the toughest bastards from the Guild to get the job done."

"My people have never hunted a monster this large - they are eager to join the fray."

"All the strength of the lands we healed flows through me. And from me, to you. And whatever company you keep."

Eventually the flow of voices drifts to silence, and Hector realizes that all his hair is standing on end. He feels shocked to a sudden inner stillness by this direct display of everyone he has helped, everyone he has by his side, in this darkest moment of all their lives.

And he realizes, suddenly, that for the first time in a long time - certainly for the first time since this horrible day began - he is not afraid.

He was taught always at the monastery to be sufficient within himself, to stand alone and strong and controlled. But this is not the monastery, and so many times out in the real world that has not been enough. So many times in spite of his best efforts he has been terrified, has let his control slip, and if he has found strength again, it has been from his friends around him as much as within himself.

Today at the Morphic Pool he failed - because he stood alone and thought that his own inner control was enough to stand against such a monster, even after everything he has seen to the contrary. And it led to panic and defeat and loss. It almost doomed them all.

Here, in High Hall, he is not alone. And for better or for worse, he never will be again.

And that is where the true strength lies.

Selune, see me in this moment. I take the lesson to heart. I will not forget it again.

The Fist officer is watching him soberly. "Glad to have you with us," he says. "And not a moment too soon."

Narrator: The air is thick with anticipation. All eyes are on you. [INSIGHT] They're expecting a speech, something to stir their hearts and put fire in their bellies for the fight ahead.

Hector swallows nervously. He is no orator and never has been. His eyes flick to his friends questioningly.

Look to Jaheira. She'll know what the people wish to hear.

Jaheira catches his glance, draws a slow, thoughtful breath, her gaze traveling over the assembled warriors.

"Many of you know my name," she finally says. Her voice is strong, steady, showing no sign of fear. Perhaps she too already knows what it has taken Hector so many long painful months to learn - that they are strong because they are here together. "Few of you know my face. This is as it should be. I am not a hero. I am a servant - of nature, of balance, of *life*. At this moment, I serve all of you."

She draws a slow breath, lets it out between her teeth. "I buried my husband Khalid a hundred years ago. That wound still bleeds. While I draw breath - I will not let this *city* bleed!"

It's a mark of her strength of personality that the whole room bursts into cheers at once. Hector himself feels strengthened by the words. One day perhaps, I'll have to learn to do that too, he thinks ruefully. If we survive the day, that is.

"Well said," the Fist calls, and offers a salute to the room. "We'll prepare ourselves. We'll be ready when you call upon us. Balduran's grace be with you."

If you only knew, Hector reflects, how little interest I have in Balduran's grace specifically. But thank you, anyway.

[computerpeople]

what are ur dissociative/did HCs for shelby? :0

I HAVE. A LOT OF HEADCANONS. none of them are really "applicable" to canon yet, exactly, but they arevery very important to how I write them. I specifically interpret the Blot as an alter of theirs, the same way I interpret masky and hoodie to be alters of Brian and Tim (though I don't personally think Brian has DID, I do think Tim probably does, due to his background and childhood. I tend to stray away from hcing characters without abusive childhood backstorys with DID) but uhmmm. So I see Louse as something similar to Paul and petscop, if you've ever seen petscop? A fictionalized videogame retelling of real events that happened to Shelby. I think a lot of stuff is metaphorical in Louse and representative of what is happening to Shelby in real life, though yknow, it's not like I have enough canon proof to connect everything. But here are some of my favorite ideas/theories/headcanons

The Blot is very much a part of Shelby, and has taken up a lot of personality traits of theirs that they try not to act on. A lot of anger, a lot of resentment. I like the blot because it's written to be an actual feeling character instead of just an emotionless entity that wants the rot dead.

"Old friend" being the one who raised shelby, and also the one who gave shelby the Blot to me can be interpreted as passing down coping mechanisms. I love love to interpret it as the old friend showing Shelby his own coping mechanisms to deal with being part of the Rot, which feels like a parent teaching a child to dissociate and "steel" themselves in the face of trauma

And with both those things I like to interpret the Blot as an alter, a part of Shelby and something they can't function without. This is a bit of projecting but my own system really struggles to function without TWO alters at front, which is why I like the idea of Blot being around being the thing that stablizes shelby in the real world because it gives me the feeling of cohosting

I also think they canonically dissociate, like, a lot. The scene with the love of rot taking them and them losing conciousness but their body still functioning. The scene with them trying to "re-remember" sending their old friend off the mountain before the blot is like BOO THAT IS NOT WHAT FUCKING HAPPENED. The multiple times where they're having flashbacks and then "flinch" back into reality. They clearly have memory issues, and also lose periods of time. I don't think CANONICALLY they have DID, and I think a lot of the things I see as symptoms of DID in them can be attributed to them being the seed of rot attempting to literally be human and also have a whole seperate creature inside of them being like boo bitch fuck that rot. But I think that their symptoms are so similar that it doesn't really matter LOL it's the mindset I take when writing them.

I also think the blot can "front" by itself. I don't think the white/black frowny face is a coincidence that it looks very similar to many of the masks that Tim, Brian and whoe'ever Skully is don when their "alter egos" are controlling the body. I think that the Blot is not one creature, but many, that a lot of people may have. And I don't really agree with the fandoms idea of "being blotted" or anything, because I don't see Blot as an inherently bad force. Troy wagner tends to have one "BIG BAD" and then a billion lesser "bads" that are also against the big bad, and I tend to assume the "rot" is the big bad of eckvanet, where as the Blot, Andrew and Danielle are all antagonistic but have similar goals (think like how masky and hoodie are working against alex kralie, while also still being 'antagonists')

I'm currently rewatching MH right now because its been years so my headcanons might chance but. I DONT KNOW THIS FEELS LIKE INCOHERENT RAMBLING IM SORRY

[true-blue-sonic]

If Silver were to go to the dentist, would he need laughing gas so the person examining him won't be attacked? Under the influence of laughing gas, what would he do?

After their experiences with the doctor, Espio certainly reaches out to the dentist before visiting them to explain the situation as believably as he can (I figure most people will just assume Eggman is to blame for Silver's lacking health records and the fact he doesn't exist in any database). Taking Silver to the dentist's building is slightly less of an issue than the doctors' since Espio just introduces it as someone who "is going to be looking at your teeth to see if they're healthy", which amuses Silver to no small extent because it sounds very silly to him.

Aaaaaand then he is taken inside the dentists' building with its chemical smell and clean white-and-steel layout and promptly he freaks the heck out.

Espio is very glad he warned the dentists beforehand, because then he can pin Silver down (with all his might) while they slip that mask used to breathe in the laughing gas over his nose. Though I do think Silver, immediately realising they did not do that for no reason, is going to very stubbornly hold his breath or try to breathe through his mouth to not fall victim of it! Which does make everyone laugh because of how very concentrated he is focusing on that, which has as added bonus that it halts any psychic mayhem happening. But with some sweet-talking from Espio ("You won't fall asleep, you'll feel nice and calm, I'm here to protect you, everything will be alright") and perhaps some more forceful attempts to get him to breathe the stuff in, he eventually kind of has to. I don't think it is going to make him be very upbeat and giggly, he might still be too anxious for that despite the laughing gas, but it does at least make him a bit calmer and slightly more cooperative. Though I can also imagine it makes him all tingly and light-headed, which he does not like at all. But Espio is right beside him to answer most of the questions about Silver's dental works and probably giving Silv some scratches behind his ear and head pats to keep him calmer, so altogether it's not an awful experience. It helps that he's not in pain, and his mind is too sluggish to really freak out at all the instruments and tools they put in his mouth to clean his teeth. But I can imagine he comes out somewhat nauseous and with a headache once the effects wear off, and his limbs are all heavy and he can't stand how defenseless that all leaves him. Espio is absolutely going to get hissed at when he's carrying Silver home (all mumbled and slurred which does sound hilarious, even if Espio knows better than to laugh) for his Lies and Deceit and General Unhelpfulness, and Silver is gonna be even more peeved when the effects wear off in full during the trip and his mouth is hurting. But this is one of the things Espio does not budge on, because it is important for Silver's overall health. And Silver gets to pick out a really big ice cream once his nausea has diminished in the fresh air outside, so that helps with him forgiving Espio!

[yumiyue07]

The Dreaded 8

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9

The tension crackled between ChanShield and Scorpio as they faced off in the heart of the village square. The air hung heavy with the scent of smoke and dust, remnants of the destruction wreaked upon the once-peaceful village. Moonlight cast an eerie glow upon the scene, highlighting the jagged silhouettes of houses reduced to rubble. ChanShield stood tall in the center of the square, his broad shoulders radiating confidence. Scorpio, in contrast, crouched low amidst the debris, his posture tense and predatory. His gaze darted around momentarily, searching for any sign of an ambush, before locking back onto ChanShield with a chilling intensity.

"What are you grinning about?" Scorpio's voice was laced with suspicion, his eyes narrowing as he observed ChanShield's demeanor. He had broken through the shield time and time again. It had been moments of carelessness that had led to this, moments where ChanShield's focus had wavered.

ChanShield could feel their energy, the faint thrumming that connected him to his team. A flicker of relief washed over him. LeeFrost had reached HanHealer in time, AquaIN had warned ThunderBin, FelixBlaze was not seriously injured thanks to StormJin's intervention, and TerraMin had dodged the attack. His team and the villagers were safe, for now. He could concentrate fully on his fight and give the scorpion-idiot a good beating. He would finish this.

"What are you grinning about?" Scorpio repeated, his voice dripping with a venomous curiosity. "I just shattered your precious shield again. I wouldn't be so smug if I were you. You're weak. I expected more from you."

ChanShield met Scorpio's gaze head-on, a hint of concern for his team flickering briefly in his eyes before vanishing behind a mask of calm. "Just a moment of oversight," he replied calmly. "But my boys have taken care of your…men. They're safe now, and you're all alone."

Scorpio's face contorted in a snarl at the news. "Impossible! You are lying!" he spat, his voice rising in a mix of fury and disbelief. "You and your pathetic band of wannabe heroes could never defeat us warriors!"

ChanShield's grin widened, a glint of unwavering confidence shining in his eyes. "Believe what you want, Scorpio," he boomed, his voice echoing through the ruins. "But the truth is undeniable. Your reign of terror ends here and now!"

Enraged, Scorpio unleashed a bloodcurdling shriek as he assumed his fearsome hybrid form. A grotesque amalgamation of man and scorpion stood before ChanShield. Snapping bones echoed with a sickening crunch as his human torso, now grotesquely muscular, bristled with tension. His hands morphed into deadly pincers that glinted in the moonlight, and eight legs sprouted from his lower body, each tipped with a razor-sharp claw. The transformation culminated in a venomous stinger that pulsed with a sickly green light at the end of his tail. ChanShield, taken aback by the monstrous sight, knew he had to act swiftly. One mistake could cost him his life.

Summoning every ounce of his concentration, ChanShield erected a powerful protective shield. It wasn't a simple dome of energy but a swirling energy ball of shimmering blue light that encased him completely. It was a taxing feat, draining his strength with each passing moment. "I must finish this quickly," he resolved, steeling himself for the battle ahead.

Scorpio lunged with a snarl, his razor-sharp claws sparking against ChanShield's resilient barrier. Undeterred, Scorpio relentlessly assaulted the shield, his blows echoing with a metallic clang against the swirling energy ball. "How much longer can you hold out, little man?" Scorpio taunted, his voice dripping with malice.

As Scorpio changed tactics, aiming his poisonous spikes at the weaker points around the shield's edges, a flicker of panic crossed ChanShield's face. Doubt gnawed at him. Could he maintain the shield long enough to find a weakness? "Think, Chan. Think," he urged himself, desperately searching for a strategy.

Then, a glimmer of inspiration struck. With decisive action, ChanShield spread out the swirling ball of his shield, transforming it into a broad, shimmering plane. He propelled it forward like a battering ram, catching Scorpio entirely off guard. Blinded by the sudden assault of the expanded shield, Scorpio stumbled backward, allowing ChanShield to seize the opportunity. The hero channeled his superhuman strength, unleashing a barrage of blows upon Scorpio's exposed upper body. Each strike landed with bone-crushing force, driving the monstrous villain to the ground with a sickening thud.

Silence descended upon the ruined village square. Exhausted but resolute, ChanShield stood over the motionless Scorpio, his chest heaving with exertion. He knew the battle wasn't over. Scorpio wouldn't be defeated so easily. But for now, he had gained the upper hand. His mind raced, searching for a way to use this temporary advantage to secure a lasting victory.

As ChanShield paused to assess his foe, a faint rustling sound emerged from the rubble-strewn corner of the village square, catching his attention. A small figure, a young boy, emerged from the shadows, his eyes wide with fear. He clung to a tattered blanket, his small frame trembling. "Please," he whimpered, his voice barely audible, "help me." "Quick, come with me. I have to get you out of here!" ChanShield urged, moving to shield the boy from harm. "My sister, she's still inside." He pointed towards a collapsed house, his finger trembling.

A surge of compassion washed over ChanShield. "Don't worry," he reassured the boy, his voice gentle. "We'll get her out." He scanned the area for any sign of Scorpio, who was still lying motionless on the ground, knowing he had to act quickly.

Just as ChanShield was about to turn and face the collapsed house, a chilling transformation unfolded before his eyes. The boy's voice, once filled with terror, morphed into a sinister chuckle. "What's wrong with you?" ChanShield gasped. His eyes, once filled with fear, now glowed with an unnatural light. To his horror, the boy's form began to warp and shift, dissolving into darkness, the eerie laughter still audible.

With a blood-curdling screech, the vortex reformed, taking the shape of Scorpio, his eyes blazing with triumph. The illusion of the boy was shattered, revealing the monstrous truth.

"You fell for it," Scorpio taunted, his voice echoing with malicious glee. "Now, prepare to meet your end."

Realization dawned too late. With a sinister laugh, Scorpio revealed the trap, plunging his poison spike toward ChanShield.

To be continued...

♡

Author’s note:

✨Part 10 is out! 🛡️

Oh no, ChanShield fell for the trap 😥 Is he going to be all right?

Love, YumiYue 💖

(￣▽￣)

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[chancedarling]

"I don't understand it myself."

Chance just offers one of those bony shrugs. He does understand - about no-name pouring some kind of healing energy into him. He understands watching those mortal wounds close and knit back together as though it was some kind of weird special effect. But the pain he'd felt was real. The wounds he'd suffered had been real. The only reason Chance is still breathing right now is because he's real fucking -- l u c k y.

But he doesn't want this dumb chucklefuck doing something stupid because he thinks Chance has the capacity to heal... Even though it might be slightly amusing to inform him of the err in that assumption... After the fact of course.

"Guy with a face like a slapped arse. Mr No-name. He was there. Only thing I can think of is that he did it somehow."

Chance's voice is a slightly lower. More clipped version of his cheery usual upbeat self. And the questions pouring from Zaid that he couldn't actually answer were just adding to his annoyance. How, what... How the fuck should he know. A slight grind of teeth only steeling his determination to find out. He's not used to not having all the answers. Being on the back foot... Frustration bubbling just below the surface... But. But... He's ever the consumate professional. Keeps that mask pulled down and fixed tight... For the most part.

Holy hell - did this guy ever actually LISTEN? Probably not. He hears him prattle something about Una, but he's wrong. Again. If the subject didn't centre firmly around Zaid, Chance gets the impression that pretty much everything else was a wash.

"Una attacked someone in her uh... What did she say... Beast form. Not her animal form."

Chance corrects. He's subtle about it though. Never tell anyone outright that they're wrong. They tend to get overly defensive. Those guards go back up... They're less... Forthcoming.

"That's what she said at the meeting, right?"

But then he's off... Rambling and making statements with - as far as Chance can tell - no basis, fact or evidence for any of them. Just sweeping generalisations about what he assumes... Or... Maybe what he would like to believe.

Those hornets targeted this animal.

Did they? Or did the big cat take a swipe at the flying buzzing thing. Just like any house kitty might with a fly or a spider that was unfortunate enough to skitter across it's path.

They want to destroy it, yeah.

Do they? Or, like pretty much any real hornet or insect, are they simply acting out of defense. As far as Chance understands, things like this don't tend to sting or attack unless provoked. And... As Chance had not provoked them, he'd not been particularly bothered by them (other than the macabre images on the screens). And it sounds very much like Zaid is trying to convince himself more than anything.

Someone ordered them to do this, didn't they.

Did they? Who and why? If the cat thing is a creature of the Island, just as these hornets seem to be, maybe it just made the mistake of getting in the way of the wrong thing.

This isn't random, they don't gain anything from killing it except...

Isn't it? It's a natural defence mechanism. Undoubtedly the hornet telly things were NOT natural, but that wasn't to say the drive and the instinct weren't the same.

Chance is quick enough to turn his head. After glimpsing the quick and destructive emination displayed on the little monitor, the very same thing repeated right in front of him. Maybe the witchy-wolf-Una wasn't the most dangerous thing on the island... At least people had a chance of surviving one of her beast attacks. Chance can't see anyone walking away from being... Vapourised. And yet, Zaid had bitten his tongue. Like the true coward he is.

He's taken a few quick steps back at the intense light and heat. Those strange coloured blobs obscuring his vision for a moment at the sudden blindingly bright flash.

"Can they?"

Chance just returns. Voice calm and easy once more. He wants to know more. He will know more. About both Zaids capacity for destruction... And about these hornet bots. He just has to play it right...

"It looks like a construct. A creation. The monster wasn't to blame for Frankensteins ego. But it was the one to suffer."

Chance gives less of a fuck about whether the cat got away or not. He's blinking, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the low light. Watching as the remaining hornets swarm around the fallen one. Okay well, stupid did the truly stupid. For fucks sake. Goddamn moron. If they hadn't been in danger from the bots before... They sure as hell were now.

"Zaid."

This time, he's talking quietly. Because if those bots decide to take out the source...

"Head to the water. Quickly. Get your head under the waves and STAY THERE. For as long as you can hold your breath."

Chance's answer was as dire and pragmatic as they came. At first, it also was a surprise that it came from Chance at all. Zaid's general impression of Chance after all, was exactly what Chance intended: that the lanky Irishman was an affable, genuinely kind-hearted fellow with best interests; surely the type who cared about the welfare of all animals. Possibly a vegan (Zaid didn't judge).

But then the explanation came and Zaid's eyes widened in horror. He even took a step back, to give Chance a once-over. The bloke was in a state of artful 'careless-chic' partial-dress (which sharply reminded Zaid of Tej), enough for Zaid to look down to Chance's midsection to see...nothing. Not bandages or even scars - though a gutting wouldn't (couldn't! could it?) be healed by now.

"I don't understand," Zaid said, not wanting to accuse Chance of being melodramatic. "How...how did you survi-?" It was like one of the hornets heard (registered?) their chat, and immediately turned its attention to them - or rather, had something to show them. For Chance, a nightmarish replay from a completely different angle. For Zaid, a gruesome scene like a horror movie clip. Zaid covered his mouth with his curled hand at the sight.

"Flipping hell, mate. Was that real? How the fuck are you still alive." Zaid looked back at Chance's midsection, still incredibly confused, almost tempted to reach out and touch that unmarred midriff. Chance was so sure it wasn't a were-something.

"Una hurt someone in her animal form," Zaid pointed out, but he sounded willing to let that theory go. "Those hornets targeted this animal. They want to destroy it, yeah. Someone ordered them to do this, didn't they. This isn't random, they don't gain anything from killing it except..." Except what? Vengeance? Chance had no desire to stop the hornets, leaving this all up to fate.

One hornet crawled away from the pack, click-clacking delicately on the pointed ends of its six legs, its TV head twisting and tilting this way and that. When Zaid's hands glowed white, its TV face turned towards the pair, wings flittering in a specific way. Like a sound-pattern, a specific, repetitive chatter.

The TV depicted a scene of Zaid and Tej in the wilderness, Zaid shoving Tej away and ducking behind a thick tree. Bent over and heaving like he was going to be sick. And then: an explosion emanating from Zaid outwards, bathing everything in his diameter in a blinding white, oddly gooey light. When it died down, Zaid was still there, alive and on his knees in a charred circle.

Before the clip ended, Zaid raised his hands and blasted the hornet with that same viscous white-heat, near-melting its midsection as it collapsed backwards on its back. It whirred and spasmed, and the other hornets abandoned the tiger-beast to attend to their colleague. Buying the bloody beast enough to to crawl back into the trees, leaving a bloody streak on the ground.

The nausea in Zaid dissipated, and he lowered his now-normal, still slightly-smoking hands. "Well. It's done now. I'm sorry it tried to kill you, but it's just an animal, Chance. It can't help itself." Zaid stared at the hornets tending their own, trying to fly the molten wreckage away. "These things can."

[the-final-sif]

i love the way you characterize xd as both an incredibly powerful being and a glorified toddler, it's very good. anywyas, do you have any examples of xd trying to spoil michael, or maybe even trying to spoil some of dream's friends allies like the syndicate?

XD is very powerful, he's just also very unfamiliar with humans, and while he's willing to learn, he's also going to assume that he's constantly right. Which is not a good assumption.

XD rarely gets a chance to to spoil Michael, since he usually only shows up when he's called via the revive book. If he did get a shot at it, it would only be if Michael somehow got very lost and attempted to call XD via a prayer/offering.

Most likely, this would only occur if Michael somehow got mixed up with some magic or a glitch in the server that teleported him off. Or like, an Enderman got curious about him and Borrowed The Child but then Lost The Child.

If that happened, c!Dream did teach Michael how to send an offering to XD in case of an emergency (ie, only something to be used if there is no adult with him, and Michael cannot find an adult). Michael spends awhile trying to find an adult, then when he can't, he gets out a paper from his pocket and makes a little note with 0 real words (but the intention of words, which is what matters), then uses his flint and steel to light it on fire.

XD is notorious for ignoring offerings/prayers, the revive book is the only assured way to get in contact with him, but since meeting c!Dream, he pays special attention to any contacts from the SMP. Getting an offering from Michael means he straight up ditches another god to go respond personally. When he shows up, he's a bit disappointed that c!Dream isn't there, until he realizes that Michael is alone, and that means XD gets to Win Points by walking him back home.

Michael is willing to trust XD, because he does look just like his caretaker and has only ever helped them, so he gets scooped up and carried as the two of them slowly find their way back to the syndicate. On the walk, Michael absolutely gets to ask questions that he gets answers to (what is XD? Does XD also have wings like c!Dream? Can XD fly? Can XD grow flowers? Can Michael draw on XD's Mask too?"), he gets treats that XD summons for him when he gets hungry (because XD does not know that no, cake is not a full meal for a child), and he's basically allowed to do whatever he wants. This means their journey takes quite awhile since Michael feels safe enough to ask to stop to grab flowers, chase a fox, and investigate a cave. XD also absolutely gives Michael a sword without hesitation or remorse.

When they finally get back, everyone is relieved that Michael is home safely, and c!Dream is at least willing to invite XD into the cabin for a bit as a thanks for rescuing Michael. c!Tubbo and a now revived c!Ranboo are both pretty fucked up about a god just Being Here Now, but they get over it.

XD does have to leave fairly quickly though, since the thing he was meeting with the other god over was Actually Kinda Important and if he doesn't show up then they're going to come find him (again) and that would just be a problem for everyone involved. Still, he's happy he got to make a good first impression, and convince Michael to call him "Uncle XD" so that's a victory in his book (XD also finally gets a sign that's a name sign rather than his formal title, and that's delightful for him).

[like-rain-or-confetti]

I love henchwoman crushes so here's another. They're both in some apartment because they think the owner has something they need. While looking around crush says "I don't see anything bos-.... what the fuck? " while walking to the room. They go to see what she found and the room is plastered with Y/N photos from hiding (the owner of the apartment is a stalker). Y/N is clearly uncomfortable. 

Riddler, Scarecrow, MD, T-F, BM

It's assumed when breaking into someone's home that you are the threat. What if instead you have slipped into a trap?

The Riddler: That got his attention. He entered the room and was surprised to be faced with you...a lot of you. So much you. He snapped out of his daze before pushing you towards the door. "Out! Out!" He closed the door behind him. "And people say I'm the weird one." He said to himself as he looked around the room. He decided to leave things as his but left a note on the back of a photograph on the desk. "Don't look. Don't touch. Not yours. ?" If this individual was any decent at their hobby or even didn't live under a rock. They'd know who it's from. Secretly hopes they don't heed the warning. He's already making riddles. Is also very quick to get you out of there, not wanting you in there very long at all.

Scarecrow: This kind of thing is practically his playground. He's analysing the room almost immediately. "Stand outside." He said softly as he looked at the walls that were littered with Polaroids of your face. High-school pictures, graduations, birthdays. The subjects got worse as they had less context. Pictures through windows, pictures of you at work, sleeping. Close up shots of your face. It was bizarre to watch a sociopath be so immersed in a stalkers lair. You didn't know what freaked you out more. Jonathan finally turned to you. "I'll take care of this."

Mad Hatter: "My little bunny...I do not find this funny." Jervis clenched his jaw with a steel gaze. He feigned his usual cheery smile the moment you looked at him. "Not to worry, my sweet. I assure you this will be beat!" He has 'the other rabbits' destroy the room. Then he and two of his henchmen stayed behind, waiting for this stalker to return. The others are ordered to get you home. All the while, he his cheerful smile turned into a malicious grin.

Two-Face: "Well someone's a fan..." Two-Face said mostly to himself. He noticed how panic began to take hold of you and lightly touched your arm. "You don't have to worry." Harvey began. "We'll handle this." Harv' finished. "They've been taking my things, I thought I just misplaced and lost them." You shuddered. "Take 'em back. Put 'em in your bag." Two-Face replied. They'll be siz feet under by the end of the week and that's at the very latest. We'll have the boys take care of it."

Black Mask: He followed you into the room before stepping by you to get a closer look. Well he can't have this can he? He makes a pretty apparent statement by trashing the room. This individual has made their way up Roman's hit list. Oh will this individual suffer. He'll be back for this individual but his attention turns to you. You were clearly uncomfortable, not only that, you seemed scared. Roman didn't like that. "Hey. Look at me!" He roughly lifted your chin to meet his gaze. "You don't have to worry about this. I got it handled. Got it?" Roman Sionis the definition of being aggressive and trying to be comforting...you'll get used to it.