#but anyways. deviser <33< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[s-ccaam-era-crepe]

I love deviser so much btw <33

[kymsys]

hiii i'm obsessed with your merman au!! if it's okay i totally let it take over my brain for a hot minute so ummm here's a little gift if you will accept it 👉👈 sorry to bother, i just HAD to write something dkfdl;fjg. your art is so gorgeous btw <33

--

After weeks of secretly housing Satoru in his private garden, Suguru had devised a way to safely return him to the ocean without being caught. He'd even relayed all the information about the kingdom's fishing system so Satoru would be able to steal the occasional fish without getting caught in the nets himself. He had to admit, he would miss having his little secret around. But he knew he couldn't keep Satoru cooped up forever. Satoru was a creature of adventure. He was probably tired of Suguru anway.

After a few attempts, Suguru successfully scooped Satoru up in his arms, Satoru wrapping his tail around his waist to stay up. His skin was cold to the touch. He teased Suguru as he clumsily navigated the path in the dark, even though he'd already walked it alone several times, and Suguru hated the way his heart stuttered at the siren's breath on his ear.

Really, Suguru should've done this much sooner. He should've released Satoru as soon as he realized he was falling for the creature. It was hard not to when it was in Satoru's nature to be enticing. Suguru let himself spend far too much time with him in the garden, let Satoru flutter his fingertips over his collarbones, let him beckon him closer and nibble on his ear playfully, let him lick the blood off his wrist when he got scratched up. He was never sure if Satoru was threatening him or flirting with him, never sure if it was all a game or if there was actually part of him that was interested in Suguru.

Suguru willed his mind to stop racing as he knelt down on the rocks and lowered Satoru into the water. Satoru immediately swam away and back, did a few turns and flips, gleefully splashing in his newfound freedom. Suguru smiled, heart tugging in his chest as Satoru slowly moved farther away. He was about to turn around when Satoru came back up to the edge of the rocks, resting his forearms on them and beaming up at Suguru.

"Care to join me?" He teased with a sharp grin. Suguru huffed out a laugh and shook his head.

"What, you're not dying to get away from me?" Suguru shot back, trying to keep his smile light even though it felt heavy on his face. Satoru pawed at his ankle and Suguru obliged without thinking, sitting and dipping his feet in the water, Satoru folding his arms atop his thighs.

"If you could breathe underwater, I'd drag you in here with me." His eyes practically glowed in the moonlight, a deceptively innocent smile curling at the corners of his perfect lips.

"You'd do that regardless." Suguru let himself give into the urge to push Satoru's hair off his forehead. It would probably be the last time anyway. Satoru's smile dropped the slightest bit.

"No." He reached up to touch Suguru's cheek, lightly stroking his cheekbone down to his jaw. "Not to you."

MANGO HOW DARE YOU WRITE SMTH SO BEAUTIFUL 😭😭😭 its amazing i love it so much HNGGGGG. THANK YOU?! thank you so much, i cant believe ppl love my merman au so much, thanks for this sweet gift and thanks for indulging with me 🥺 funnily enough @kingdomofred had also written that suguru took gojo out of the ocean into a pond. ARE WE ALL VIBING TOGETHER? it seems to be a thing for sure xD okay i have to dive a bit deeper into why i love your writing so much: the way that suguru isnt sure if gojo actually likes him or he is just acting accordingly to his siren behaviour?? it breaks my heart, its so bittersweet but yet i love it so much !! it fits so perfectly and i love the resolve at the end that yes ofc gojo likes him ; u ; ♥ . the image you described of suguru carrying gojo and the way gojos tail would lay around sugurus waist?? THAT IS SO FUCKING NICE?! definitely gonna put that on my to draw list !! and gojo nibbling on sugurus ears and licking his wounds and blood....fuck thats hot. i have no other words left. truely. THANK YOU MANGO IM IN LOVE 🥰(made my day)

[atmilliways]

Wrong On The Money (33)

part 33 of ?? | 1085 words | Teen+

Blackmail fic on Ao3 | on tumblr

Summary:

“It’s not like you have to leave or make yourself scarce or anything,” Eddie had said, obviously trying to cushion the harsh truth. “You live here too, man.” Right. Like Eddie is going to want someone like him around all his older Hellfire buddies.

Just so y'all know, I have written up through part 40 and I do not think I will be able to wrap up the story by 42, as my heart of hearts wishes I could.

Anyway, cheers to Steve being so insecure that he kind of doesn't notice Eddie defending him with flowery prose.

33.

“It’s not like you have to leave or make yourself scarce or anything,” Eddie had said, obviously trying to cushion the harsh truth. “You live here too, man.”

Right. Like Eddie is going to want someone like him around all his older Hellfire buddies. These aren’t the kids. They have no reason to like him, and he doesn’t even understand the game; Steve has no right to butt in.  

But he doesn’t have a shift today, and Robin is hanging out with Vickie, and he doesn’t feel like going anywhere. He wakes up early out of sheer restlessness and tries to recreate the technique for cooking bacon that Mrs. Wheeler had shown him over Spring Break. So much had been going on then, but it had been good bacon, and the first hearty breakfast he’d had in a while. Every time he’d said so she’d beamed and flipped another fresh-off-the-griddle pancake onto his plate; after a while he’d asked for the recipe out of habit.

At least he hadn't gone into the Upside Down on an empty stomach. 

He makes breakfast, doing okay on the bacon. (He’ll have to keep practicing.) Wayne eats with him before his shift at the plant—part time these days, with the government money to help things along, and all day shifts now. There’s no pressure for small talk, and Steve appreciates that. He keeps his eyes down, sipping his coffee and bringing the fork to his mouth until his plate is empty. Before heading out Wayne claps a hand on his shoulder, leaving him buzzing with an unfamiliar feeling of approval.

So he wraps the leftovers in tin foil so they’ll still be warm-ish for when Eddie wakes up, and bakes cookies, too. Why the hell not? There’s a bag of chocolate chips in one of the cupboards and the recipe is right there on the bag. Steve follows it to the letter; he’s good at following instructions. 

The cookies are out of the oven and cooling by the time that Eddie shuffles in, and Steve. . . . God, Steve should not feel as gooey on the inside as he does over the guy’s epic bed head. He wants to run his fingers through it until all the tangles are gone and the curls spill across Eddie’s shoulders instead of frizzing out in complete defiance of gravity.

He passes Eddie a clean mug for coffee—the Garfield one that Steve knows is his favorite—and escapes the kitchen without a word. 

Steve doesn’t know if they’re playing D&D or what, but whatever they’re doing out there is loud. Eddie had mentioned that two of them were coming back to town for this. . . . Maybe they have a lot of catching up to do, so as a courtesy Steve doesn’t put music on to drown them out. Instead, he pulls out a deck of cards and starts playing.

It’s been a while. He used to do this a lot as a kid, when his parents were home throwing a grown up party where they didn’t want him underfoot, or alone and shouting at each other. Steve had never learned how to shuffle a deck the right way, first because his hands were too small and later because he’d devised his own ways. He plays the way farmers rotate their crops, going from solitaire games that put the suits together in numerical order to 52 card pickup to playing both sides of a game of War to randomize the deck again. Just killing time.

Because this house isn’t like the one Steve grew up in. It’s one story and there aren’t half as many extra rooms to soak up and hollow out sounds, so he hears every arrival and most of the exclamations over the cookies he'd never put away. (Which is fine, he bakes when he knows people will be around to eat the results.)

But he can’t make out actual words, not until he reaches the point where he can’t ignore his bladder any longer. With a mental middle finger flipped at his past self for drinking so much coffee earlier, Steve slips out of his room in time to hear—

“So what’s with Steve living with you, man?” 

He’s pretty sure that’s what’s-his-name. . . . Not Gary. . . . Gareth? That sounds right. 

“Yeah,” someone else pipes up through a mouthful of cookie . Steve doesn’t remember his name, but it’s not Gareth or Jeff. (He wonders if Eddie bothered to mention who made them.) “I mean, talk about your typical douchebag jock. That guy was the king of ‘em, why’d you even let him in the door?”

Someone else, the only girl at this little reunion of nerds, scoffs. “For fuck’s sake, you idiots are so stuck in high school.”

“I concur, Margaret.” That’s Eddie, and he sounds annoyed. “That’s a rude fucking question, Gare-bear. Do you know of him doing anything downright objectionable in the past year since he graduated? Granted, I only recently escaped the hallowed halls of our mutually beloathed—”

“Not a word,” several people object at once, like it's an inside joke.

“—Our mutually beloathed Hawkins High,” Eddie says, loud and powering through, “but it comes with different social structures and adaptation requirements. It is, if you’ll excuse the phrase, a whole different ball game—”

“Fuck, the exposure is already getting to him.”

And yeah, Steve is pretty sure he’s said something like that in the past week or so. It was about getting the kids to listen during emergency Upside Down situations versus normal times, but still. Oops. 

“I said pardon the phrase, Frank.”

“Eddie’s right,” Margaret cuts in. “Popularity, or freakhood, doesn’t transfer directly from high school to college. It’s a social reset, like going from being the oldest kids at middle school to bottom of the barrel freshman in high school. From high school to working can’t be that much different.”

“So you’re saying that King Steve is at the bottom of the barrel?” Gareth asks, audibly skeptical. 

“Nope, pretty sure that’s still me,” Eddie replies, with a brightness so fake it sets Steve’s teeth on edge. There’s something raw to it that he can’t begin to understand. Maybe Robin was right, and there is something bothering Eddie. 

Maybe something like . . . a housemate who listens in on his conversations?

There’s no way he could know, but Steve still winces and hurries to the bathroom. Sticking around for a possible debate about his worth to society or whatever wouldn’t be all that great a time, no matter which way it goes.

[wackymaci]

thank u all for your bulletpoint approval<33 Here is….

the ENTIRE Early Events section timeline copypasted beneath the cut :3

Maci and Tory meet - OoC - circa. 2009

Maci and Tory become codependent best friends (platonically - promise), and they begin to spend every minute together all the time. Eventually for funsies, Maci takes Tory to her home in the Underworld for the first time, where -

Tory and Maci accidentally run into Hypnos, but also Thanatos, villain extraordinaire - very awkward, and Thanatos is such a dick during this run-in, but Tory has no idea about Maci and Thanatos' full history. Thanatos sweetly promises not to rat them out to Maci's dad Hades.

After that whole extremely weird encounter ends, at the Phlegethon River Tory realizes for the first time that he's in love with Maci. Thinking she's way out of his league, Tory decides to keep it a secret from her. Maci is also completely in love with him by this point, but hasn't clued into her own emotions yet, let alone Tory's.

Unbeknownst to Maci and Tory, on his end Thanatos says nothing to Hades but beelines straight to Melinoe (her OrigiMel incarnation, AKA other villain extraordinare) and rats them out to her. OrigiMel devises a scheme to make Maci's life miserable, using Tory as a pawn.

Thanatos, at OrigiMel's direction, attacks Tory with glee. He tells Tory during the assault that this attack comes by order of Hades, "to keep Tory away from his daughter." This is a complete lie but Tory has no idea, and hides the event from Maci, lying by omission to her about how he received his injuries.

Reluctantly, Tory distances himself discreetly from Maci for her own protection, fearing her father could retaliate against her, though they continue to regularly talk by phone.

OrigiMel creates a ghoul in the shape of Maci's mom Seph to attack Tory with, and, now that Maci is not glued to Tory's side, she sets this creature loose after him.

Tory is physically and sexually assaulted by this phantom wearing Seph's face. Though it vanishes after the attack, it leaves Tory half-dead and believing Maci's own mother had attacked him. Afraid of upsetting Maci by exposing the crimes of her parents to her, Tory instead calls his mortal friend Jesse for help.

After several days of Tory in bad shape refusing to talk to anyone, Jesse steals Tory’s phone to track down Maci, the only other friend he knew Tory had. Jesse tells her something horrible had happened and that he’s worried about Tory; concerned, Maci promptly teleports over just as Tory realizes who Jesse was talking to -

- and she arrives just in time for the tail-end of Tory's panicked rage, accidentally overhearing him reveal exactly what "Hades" and "Persephone" had done. The world stops. Everyone collapses. Tory breaks down and leaves, but Maci follows.

Tory tearfully confesses that he's in love with Maci, after she tearfully asks him why he hadn't told her who had hurt him. Tory's confession causes it to finally, finally click for Maci that she loves him, too and always has.

Tory doesn't believe her when she says it - Not until they share their first kiss.

Maci and Tory officially become a couple.

Furious at the (alleged) actions of her parents, Maci refuses to return to the Underworld, dropping off the grid by staying at Tory's side in the mortal world for the next few months.

Eventually, Maci realizes she's homesick despite it all. She and Tory together sneak into the main palace of the Underworld, hiding in her bedroom to avoid running into the King or Queen.

Seph, the real one, innocently finds them anyway. She's shocked and confused at the eruptions of rage from Maci and Tory together, having literally no idea what they're accusing her of. Seph hears her alleged crime and swears a Styx oath that she had nothing to do with it.

Blindsided by Seph's innocence, the partially healed wound re-opens. Maci, Tory, and Seph together try to figure out who actually could have done it, retracing through the scene step by step. They realize OrigiMel-Melinoe was behind the attack.

Seph leaves to hunt OrigiMel down.

Shaken, Maci and Tory move to the first time to the Elysium palace for safety - and they never, ever leave. 💖

LOTS OF TIME PASSES! Things that happen during this duration:

Maci and Tory sleep together for the first time and... many, many more times.

Tory meets Pasi (and Hypnos again - also, a surprise reveal that Pasi is pregnant with Icy!).

Tory and Maci meet Glaukos.

A still-mortal Jesse is invited to spend time in the palace and starts hanging out in the Underworld, too.

Maci and Tory have their first ever threesome - with Glaukos; their second ever threesome is with Jesse.

Glaukos meets Oiolyka, they start dating and she makes friends with Maci and Tory... leading, obviously, into their first ever foursome of course.

Finally eventually! Seph does find OrigiMel and hauls her off to Tartartus, telling Hades she'd attacked a "random mortal" and framed her for it.

Thanatos innocently mentions to Hades that he'd seen Maci with that very random mortal long ago... huh, so weird.

Hades summons Maci to ask her more about it. Maci goes ballistic, accusing Hades of playing dumb in front of everyone, yelling at him that course they both knew Hades had sent Thanatos after Tory months ago just because he hated the thought of Maci dating a mortal.

RECORD SCRATCH “—You're WHAT?!” Oops! Maci realizes Thanatos is, as always, a fucking liar. The good news: Thanatos had never told Hades about Tory. The bad news: that meant Thanatos was after him himself; the worse news? Hades knew about Tory now. Hades... does not react well.

Filling Tory in on the catastrophic turn of events, Maci at last tells him the full story about her past with Thanatos. The reality of Tory's mortality finally dawns on Maci and begins to haunt her.

Maci asks Tory to think about choosing to become a god for her, maybe even getting married. The answer is obviously duh yes; Tory returns topside to tie up some loose ends.

While Tory is topside, Hades finds Tory, drags him to hell and tries to kill him. Maci calls Seph first, gives up and goes after Hades herself - Seph interrupts and does save the day! Tory formally asks/agrees to marry Maci (literally with Hades and Seph arguing in the background).

Maci and Tory proceed to have THE MOST OBNOXIOUS, BIGGEST EVER WEDDING - and Tory becomes a god! - OoC - circa. 2010 - Also, this marks an informal “end” to the Taci saga; everything else following from here on out starts to become events around Maci and Tory, as our cast grows.

Maci and Tory meet Laphi; then Eury and Epi.

Thanatos, sore loser, fumes that OrigiMel's plans all failed and Tory is now immortal, of all things. He goes after Maci to target and fuck with Tory, and attacks her badly, leaving her in a three day coma.

Now a deity himself, Tory goes after Thanatos and finally beats the absolute shit out of him, including snapping his spine and limbs - retaliation for all that Thanatos has ever done. This act of revenge triggers Tory's rise to power as the God of Grudges & Blood Feuds. Maci gets her injuries supernaturally healed and adds the event to her endless compartmentalized backlog of un-dealt-with trauma.

OrigiMel walks straight out of Tartarus once she hears what Tory had done to Thanatos. She ascends to the mortal world and kills 1,001 mortals in a single night bloodbath, murdering each in the exact method of injury Tory had done to Thanatos. The very last mortal is Tory's own mother, killed directly in front of him.

Tory goes after OrigiMel. In a fit of rage and grief, he retaliates against her by physically tearing her heart out of her chest and leaving her imprisoned in a cage over the Phelegethon.

Maci and Epi locate and retrieve OrigiMel, erasing her memory to release her collection of shades and free the soul of Tory's mom. OrigiMel reverts to blank slate Melinoe, the evil half of her losing its hold at last.

Epi takes Melinoe home with him as his and Eury's adopted daughter in a split second decision at the banks of the Phelegethon.

Thanatos is forced into swearing a Styx oath to leave the palace alone in exchange for his injuries being healed.

The blank slate Melinoe under Eury and Epi's care is overtaken at last by her good half. Melinoe officially becomes Meli, embracing Eury and Epi as her parents.

phew the end!!! FOR NOW….. I will absolutely post The Next Section just like this when it’s done!! Sneak preview of THAT-

eee!!! EEEEEE GASP,, lmao why am I even making a wiki when I could probably accomplish the same goal w this extended timeline thing (because I cannot shut up that’s why)

[apricusapollo]

predictably so i would love to hear about fbi agent reg / troublemaker harry <33

that one is so my baby (I haven't opened it for over a week) and because its you linds, I'll give you both a summary and a small snippet because ily

okay so it's white collar (the TV show) bartylus / jegulus (? very complicated ?) au where regulus is leading the white collar devision in the FBI (he's peter variant) and is married to barty (who is, in some way, elizabeth variant). harry is a con man / ex-criminal who now works for the FBI in exchange of so called "freedom" (he's neal variant). james is ex-cop who was accused of murder when harry was 3-4 years old and no, he didn't commit that murder but he did ran away to live in hiding for ummm lets say lots of years (he's neal's father variant whose name is, ironically, james). sirius is also ex-cop who retired and started collecting evidence that james was framed for murder and the system is corrupted (he's helen variant,,, yeah like THE variant,,,).

basically, it's like a brief twist and turn of last few episodes of season 4 and it's angst with bittersweet ending??? kind of??? define Bittersweet and I'll give you an answer,,,,

ANYWAYS, here's a snippet mwah

the game thingy

[percontaion-points]

Gate Crashers chapters 33 & 34

Click here for the rest of the series!

Click to see the rest of the snark & image descriptions

Chapter 33

The EM pulse cannon was one of the most feared and effective weapons yet devised, which in its case didn’t refer to electromagnetic, but emotional maturity. It worked by manipulating the bioelectrical fields present in any carbon-based species with a centralized nervous system. Anyone caught in its area of effect immediately recognized any common ground they shared with their foes, threw down their weapons, and found a more constructive way to solve their problems. This usually involved a lot of hugging and offkey singing. It was devastating to troop morale, and its use was outlawed in much of known space. 

I think I would prefer to see Maggie and the other ship being completely blown to pieces by this alien ship. 

I know that I complain a lot about how tired that the tropes are in the books that I read. But in the case of this book, I would welcome it. If only because these characters are whiny and without purpose. 

And mainly because then the book would mercifully FUCKING END. 

“Mr. D’armic, shall I presume that was your best shot?”

 “Yes, it would appear so. Before you destroy my vessel, may I request that a short personal note be forwarded to my family?” 

The book says that humans were immune to the emotional blast… But honestly? The crew of the two human ships was immune because they didn’t fucking do anything. Allison was literally trying to tell this asshole about this, but he shot at her anyway. Regardless of the fact that it’s an “emotional maturity” weapon or not, he still fucking shot at her. 

“May I introduce my first officer, Commander Marcel Gruber.” 

Gruber nodded and extended his hand. “An honor, sir.” 

Allison continued down the line. “My chief engineer, Steven Billings.” 

“Mornin.’” 

“My flight ops officer, Lieutenant Jacqueline Dorsett.” 

Jacqueline shook hands with D’armic nervously. “Um, hello.”

 “Captain Maximus Tiberius of the AEUS Bucephalus.”

I’d like to remind readers that, although there is quite a long list of characters in this novel… Name off literally one personal struggle that any one of them had to overcome in the course of this book. 

If you can’t think of any, then it’s because there isn’t one. The plot revolves around technology, and holds no bearing on character growth. 

And I’m not saying that it’s not an interesting plot. 

But my problem is that so much time has been spent with these characters. We’re literally in chapter 33, for fuck’s sake! Yet all of them are about as dimensional as a flat piece of printer paper. 

“Should have stayed in the cave, my little Lividite.”

Chapter 33 summary: As mentioned, D’armic’s weapon was one of emotions rather than physical damage. The humans were immune. After a while, they invited D’armic onto Maggie, where he looked through their logs. After doing this, he determined that their current technology was not enough to have destroyed the planet. 

He then starts to explain about the experiment being done on the planet. That although they are observing the human communications coming from their planet, they were getting mixed results due to their media. He also explains that the human preserve area is a warning for other aliens to keep away, not for the humans to keep out. Allison says that their only goal is basically to talk to the leaders and establish communication between the aliens and the people of earth. 

He also explains about the dead planet below them currently. Unless this comes back around and is actually relevant, I don’t give a shit. 

D’armic goes back to his own ship, and starts to review the data he’d collected. The human ships leave, but then the evil aliens show up. They’re ready to cause more destruction, and are frustrated that D’armic is there. They then start to set him up to make it look like he’d committed the geocide. 

Chapter 34

Harris wasted no time. “Bucephalus, Harris. Break out the good china. We’ve got company.”

Chapter 34 summary: The humans land on another planet to look around. As they’re doing that, the evil aliens come up behind them. The aliens are confused because the planet only contains, as I quote “rotting resorts and vacation homes”. It doesn’t take long for the humans to figure this out as well. 

However, as the humans are debating their next move, they sense the alien ship in orbit above the planet. 

[god-whispers]

may 24

don't go all wobbly on me now

"in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the scriptures." 2 pet 3:16

it was in 1990 that margaret thatcher uttered that phrase to president george bush as a battle was about to begin.  she was often referred to as the "iron maiden" because of her uncompromising stance and leadership.

i was in prayer this morning and i started to evaluate my life.  it didn't seem to add up to much in my eyes.  i'm probably like a lot of you, trying my best to walk with Jesus over the years but failing miserably at times.  i had made Jesus my Savior, but i hadn't made Him my Lord.

now as my end draws near (perhaps near to each of us), my heart has desired the intimacy that Jesus longed for all along.  "take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." matt 11:29  perhaps that is why i never found the "rest" i longed for.  i had refused to accept His yoke.

anyway, while i was in prayer, the tears were flowing, as usual.  i looked up and said, "tell me again Lord that no one is able to snatch me out of your hands."  if i don't move and no one is able to snatch me, that means i am going to make it.  it means we're all going to make it if we just won't let go of the hope set before us.

indeed these are the times that try men's soul as thomas paine once uttered so eloquently.  the Holy Spirit brilliantly described these "trying times."  "but know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." 2 tim 3:1-4

this is the time we all have to muster up all the endurance we can.  we have to be "iron maidens," uncompromising on the truth of His word and be a leader for those seeking guidance.  it doesn't matter how little you may feel you know, there are always those who know less and need guidance.  now, as false doctrines are rampant and "itching ears" are seeking them, we must remain stalwart keepers of the truth.  "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." matt 11:12

"yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 2 tim 3:12  persecutions will come.  much of the world now endures them, and soon, will our america join its ranks?  ridicule under the devise of "wokeism" will seek to silence whom they might.  they must not silence us.  remember, "whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." matt 10:33

we must fan our flame to keep it burning.  a lot of us have allowed our flame to die down to coals alone.  we see evil seemingly prosper but the scriptures alert us to remember their end is sure.  this is no time to wax cold.  this is no time to go wobbly.  "the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." 1 pet 4:7  we will have no judas' around here and remember, "and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." john 10:28  let us comfort one another with these words.

[blackhakumen]

Mini Fanfic #1007: Breakfast Meal For the Birthday Bro (Persona 5)

9:33 a.m. at Niijima's Apartment's Dining Room.......

Ryuji: (Happily Chewing Down on Fix Stacks of Pancakes Makoto Made For Him) ('Munch') ('Munch') Ah man. ('Mmm') ('Munch') (Points at his Food in Front of Him) These. ('Munch') ('Munch') These has to be the best damn stacks of pancakes I've ever tasted right here. ('Mmmm') ('Munch') And your coffee's as good as ever, Coffee Bro!

Ren: (Places his Hand on his Chin) "Coffee Bro", huh?........(Starts Smirking a Bit) Has a nice ring to it.

Makoto: (Smiles Softly) We're glad you're enjoying your birthday breakfast, Ryiji, but could you try not to talk woth your mouth full? You're starting to make a mess on the table.

Ryuji: (Stops Eating For a Second) Oh...right. (Swallows his Food Before Smiling a Bit Sheepishly) Sorry 'bout that. But anyways, I'm thinking we should bring everyone from the Smash here, show 'em around the place, shop, eat out somewhere that less expensive, after that, we head on down to the theater and watch the movie of my choosing of course.

Ren: Hey, as long as we're not watching that new Minions movie, I'm more than welcome to watch whatever. Getting tired of these little twerps already.

Ryuji: (Rolls his Eyes) Don't we all.... But rest assured, my fellow party goers,the movie I'll be choosing will wayyy more awesome than that one!.....Hopefully. And the meantime, once all of that's over with, we head over to the mansion and some good old fashioned Mario Party all night long. (Starts Smirking Evilly While Rubbing his Habds Together) Which will give me all the time in the world to come up with a perfect, devise plan to fially beat DP in his own, cheap game.

Makoto: You're really dead set on getting him back this time, aren't you?

Ryuji: Hell yeah I am! The guy's been constantly screwing me over since the day we first started play. Ain't no way in hell I'm letting it slide any longer, especially on the celebration of my birth for crying out loud! I just hope whatever plan and strategy I do come up with, works out in my favor....(Turns to His Bro) You think you could help me out this, Ren?

Ren: And let you potentially bully my angel brother throughout the remainder of the night? (Smirks as Well) Count me in.

Ryuji: (Grins Happily While Hi-Fiving Ren) Hell yeah! Operation Screwing Dark Angel Boi Over is indefinite go! (Turns to Makoto) Wanna tag along, Queen?~

Makoto: (Sighs While Shrugging a Bit) I might as well....(Smiles a Little) It wouldn't hurt him to go down a peg for once.

Ryuji: Exactly! Add a few more pegs down and we'll be golden! (Starts Taking a Few More Bites Off his Pancakes and Finish Drinking his Coffee Before Sighing and Slowly Looking Away) Soooooo....anyways, I've been thinking......

Ren/Makoto: (Raises an Eyebrow at the Birthday Boy) Abooouut?.......

Ryuji: You know.....the plans for my future and junk.

Ren: (Eyes Widened a Bit in Genuine Surprise) Oh wow, really?

Ryuji: Yeah, man. (Takes Another Bite of his Pancakes) I mean, at first, I thought about taking up being an up 'n coming track athlete, but now.....I think I might wanna give this whole......P.E. Teacher gig a shot someday.

Makoto: (Eyes Begins to Widened in Genuine Surprise as Well) For real?

Ryuji: (Chuckles Lightly) Yeah. I mean, I know it'll be a hassle and all, but....(Shrugs a Bit) I dunno. I...guess I wanna make more of an impact in my life than just trying win all the fame and glory that'll probably won't last a lifetime. Plus....(Smiles Softly) I think having some of your students look up to you could be a pretty cool feeling, you know? If I have what it takes obviously....

Makoto: (Gives Ryuji a Supportive Smile) I think you have what it takes.

Ren: (Smiles at Ryuji as Well) Me too. (Smirks Again) Just try not to let those kids make you pull your hair out too much and you'll Ave yourself smooth sailing from here.

Ryuji: ('Scoffs') You're kidding? (Points at Himself) You're speaking to the most easy-going person in the planet here. There's no way I'm gonna crack that easily.

Ren: (Immediately Gives Ryuji a Deadpinned Look on his Face Along With his Girlfriend) Really? You. Ryuji Sakamoto. An Easy-Going person.

Makoto: (Crosses her Arms) The same easy-going person who gets easily provoked whenever someone hurts and insult himself, his friends, and family?

Ren: The same easy-going person who Blurts Out every cuss words in existence except for the F-word....somehow?

Makoto: The same easy-going person who constantly butt-heads with an alley cat for a mascot.

Ren: Ooh! And how about the very same easy-going fellow who cries every time he gets played in Mario-

Ryuji: Alright, alright, alright, I get it. ('Sighs in Defeat') So maybe I'm not always the most easy-going person here.

Ren/Makoto: (Teasingly Raises Their Eyebrows) Maybe?

Ryuji: (Glares at his Friends in Front of Him) YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, DAMNIT! (Takes a Deep Breath Before Putting on a Serious Look on his Face) But I'm really serious about wanting to do this kind of thing down the road. So if I have to settle my happy ass down and get into more shape to do it, then I'll step up to the plate and do it. That's a promise and a half.

Ren: (Happily Nodded) Spoken like a true P.E. Teacher. You'll do great out there, man.

Makoto: (Smiles Softly Again) And we'll always love and believe in you no matter what happens.

Ryuji: (Heart Begins to Melt as He Begins Smile Brightly) Many thanks, guys. I'll always love and believe in you crazy people too. That being saiiid....Would you say that you two love enough to give some birthday cash?~ (Blinks his Eyes in a Soty of Cute Fashion)

Ren: Take it down a notch, Skull Boy. We're not that generous.

Ryuji: Damnit.

Makoto: Buuuuut we could give you something that could suffice~

Ryuji: Liiiike?

Ren/Makoto: Your Birthday Kisses!~

As the Joker and Queen went by and give their respective kisses on both of his cheeks, Ryuji's eyes widens for a few seconds before he starts snickering and letting out a snort as he finally begins to burst out laughing, much to his friends' sight amusement.

Ryuji: Ohhoho my God, you guys! Birthday Kisses? Are you for real right now!? (Continues Laughing Nefore Wiping a Tear From his Eyea) I swear, you two are gonna end up being the dorkiest parents towards your own future kids if you keep this up.

Ren: ('Scoffs') You kidding? I'll be the coolest parent my future kids will ever have!....Can't say the same for Makoto unfortunately.

Makoto: (Gasps Before Pouting at her Boyfriend Right Next to Her) Excuuuse you!? I could be just as much as a cool parent as you could be! I can ride motorcycles, I am a black belt in the Arts if Aikido Karate, as well as a proud leader of the Bunchimaru-Kun's Fan Club.

Ren: You're also a goody two-shoes, was almost every teachers' pet throughout high school, not to mention that you're also known as The Mom of each of our groups of friends. (Puts on a Teasing Smirk on his Face) Need I say more? Cause I can go on all day.

Makoto: (Crosses her Arms) I don't know, Ren-Ren. (Gives Ren the Cold Niijima Glare) Do you want your cuddle sessions to be revoked for the rest of month?

Ren: (Cowers a Bit in Fear) No, ma'am.

Ryuji: Ha! Whipped!

Ren: Don't start.

Happy Late Birthday, Skull Boy!!

@keyenuta

@princekirijo

@26shann

@cyber-wildcat

@caleb13frede

@theweebmaster31

@albion-93

[evil-m0nk]

SHOUTOUT TO THE TWO PEOPLE WHO

ASKED FOR THIS; YOU KNOW WHO YOU

ARE ♡

LET'S BE HONEST, I WAS GONNA POST THIS ANYWAY

BUT NOW I HAVE A REASON LOL

JIROUSHI HEADCANONS.

IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THE POST THAT

INSPIRED THIS, CLICK HERE

FOR CONTEXT!

gay gay homosexual gay

DISCLAIMER BUDDY IS BACK WITH

ANOTHER MESSAGE FOR YOU

TO READ BEFORE YOU CONTINUE ON!

!!!Please note!!! All of the things stated in this blog are my own personal opinions and not meant to imply canon. My purpose is spilling out some headcanons for a crack ship cause it makes me happy. If you don't like this ship, feel free to ignore this post! Thank you and enjoy :)

*And if you guys wanna add onto this with your own headcanons for them, I would love that so much <33

///

These are in no particular order, just whatever comes to mind! I'll try to keep somewhat of a timeline in the beginning, but a fully-fleshed out, AO3 fanfic style timeline is a whole post by itself. (I'll gladly type that out too if you think you'll enjoy it 🥴) Creds to my friend for helping me out with some of this!!!

So without further adieu,

let's get into these headcanons!

///

RANDOM HEADCANONS ;

*Short and sweet, no particular order.

• They both love My Chemical Romance; Jiro's favorite album is Danger Days and Jyushi's is Welcome To The Black Parade. (another shoutout to my MCR fans.)

• Jiro plays MCR songs on his guitar for Jyushi to cheer him up.

• Jiro tried to teach Jyushi to play soccer, but he cried went he got mud on his boots and Jiro decided it would be better if Jyushi just watched instead.

• They read Junji Itō together on rainy days, usually accompanied by a blanket and tea that Ichiro made for them.

• They both have AO3 & Wattpad accounts for the sake of reading all the horrible fanfictions and giggling over them.

• Despite really enjoying each other's company, they still bicker like they did when they fake dated.

• Ichiro is proud of his brother for finally finding someone who he can spend time wish, while Kuko is completely disgusted by the fact Jyushi has a date. ( /lh ) Parents.

• Jiro once texted Ichiro, verbatim, "Can u tell your boyfriend's emo friend to text me back" and Ichiro left him on read.

• They once went on a double date with Ichiro and Kuko and I'm sure everyone can imagine how horrible and awkward that turned out.

• They are avid Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution players and usually have competitions to see who can score higher.

• Jyushi gave Jiro a wolf stuffed animal to match with Amanda and Jiro falls asleep with it in arms reach every night.

• Jyushi is a vegetarian and Jiro always remembers to get him something meat-free when they go out to eat.

TIMELINE HEADCANONS ;

• Jiro and Jyushi originally didn't like each other very much; Jiro thought Jyushi might be as stuck-up as everyone says he was, and Jyushi assumed that Jiro thought that. They didn't avoid one another, but they definitely didn't go out of their ways to interact.

• They were in a fake relationship for a few weeks, just because they were tired of being teased for constantly being alone. It happened at a high school dance, when Jiro went to sit on the bleachers and saw Jyushi sitting there too. He decided to sit next to him and it caused them to bicker back and forth for a while, then it dissolved into them devising a plan to "fake date". (If y'all want that extended timeline post...)

cont. : When they were around other people, like walking down the hallway, they would very begrudgingly hold hands. Jiro comments about how cold Jyushi's hands are and Jyushi snaps back with something like, "Well, your hands are clammy- s-so. . . Shut up!" This would inevitably lead to them bickering, shushing each other, smiling awkwardly at the people around them, shared glare, and repeat.

• They only really started to like each other's company when they realized that they had none in common than they thought. In canon, Jiro loves manga and Jyushi likes alternative fashion (visual kei), so naturally one of the things they had in common was owning Junji Itō mangas. They also share similar music taste, My Chemical Romance being the main one. ;)) This was found out when Jyushi went to Jiro's place for the first time. It was necessarily planned, but in a moment of worry they made plans to hang out within earshot of the other students. Jyushi didn't really pick up on the fact it was just a show and showed up at Jiro's place later that day.

• Their first official date happened partly because they realized they may actually have feelings for one another, and because the questions about how long they'd been together, how many dates they'd been on, how they met from their classmates became unavoidable. Since both of them are pretty terrible liars, they decided the only way to get out of this was an actual date. . . Were they lowkey flirting then? Absolutely.

• Because they're both teenagers with not much in the way of an income other than their rap groups, their first date was at a foodcart. The place was too crowded and loud for Jyushi's liking, and Jiro being the natural gentleman he is offered to buy their meals so Jyushi could get away from the noise.

cont. // slight writing bonus : Jyushi sits on a stairway away from the foodcarts, looking at the bright lights of the Shinjuku division. It doesn't take long for Jiro to return with their food--burgers. Jiro digs around in the paper bag containing their food awkwardly for a moment before pulling one out and handing it to Jyushi.

Jyushi hesitates as well, but eventually takes it from Jiro, who only then sits down next to him on the stairwell. He sits closer than Jyushi would have expected. Jyushi huffes, pulling back the wrapping of the burger, he turns to Jiro with a slightly annoyed expression, opening his mouth to speak;

"You know, I'm vegetarian. . . -"

"I know. It-it's a veggie burger."

Jyushi closes his mouth again and a small blush creeps over his face. His and Jiro's eyes meet for a moment,

"Oh. . . Well, thank you. . ."

and then he looks away before taking a quick bite of the burger in order to hide his face.

It seemed silly. . . though, no one had ever been that observant or caring toward him.

HEYYYY......I'M SO GLAD YOU MADE IT TO THE END BECAUSE I AM CURRENTLY FINISHING THIS @ 3AM <33

THESE ARE SOSOSOSO FUN TO DO,, ESPECIALLY THAT STORY WRITING BIT AT THE END--I'M 100% DOWN TO POST A MINI FIC,, + MORE DETAIL AS WELL 👀👀👀

I'M A CLOUT-CHASER SO IF YOU GUYS WANNA LIKE/REBLOG/FOLLOW, I'LL LOVE YA TO DEATH,,, 💖

[tiramisiyu]

【未定事件簿】Tears of Themis: Main Story 5-29 Translation

--

Translated parts: Chapter 5 – Sounds of Falling Snow (Part 1, 2, 3): 5-1 / 5-3 / 5-5 / 5-7 / 5-9 / 5-11 / 5-13 ♦️ ♦️  5-14 / 5-16 / 5-18 / 5-20 / 5-22 / 5-24 / 5-26 / 5-28 ♦️ ♦️ 5-29 / 5-31 / 5-33 / 5-35 / 5-37 / 5-39 / 5-40 / 5-42 / 5-43

  Translation Masterlist: here

Video: (0:01) https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV15a4y1j7CW?

Stellis City Police Station

Tuesday morning, 7AM, Stellis City Police Station.

10 hours had already passed since the laboratory Heirson built at Rainbow River Village caught fire.

I could no longer remember how I was able to get through these past 10 hours.

The pictures in my mind were like stained glass that the sun couldn’t shine through. The colours were sharp, but they were blurred out of clarity.

Xia Yan: You must be tired. I’ll send you home first.

A thin and light blanket wrapped on my body. Unable to control myself, I toppled towards Xia Yan’s shoulder.

I was indeed very tired, from my heart to my body. Fatigue had chipped away my ability to think. For now, I just wanted to follow my instincts and find something I could rely on.

MC: Was there really nothing left in that laboratory?

Xia Yan: I’m sorry. I couldn’t bring out that bottle of samples.

MC: Xia Yan, I’m not talking about that bottle of samples. You being able to run out from the fire, safe and unharmed, is already the biggest comfort to me.

MC: Not to mention that you were able to catch Wang Han, who set the fire.

MC: I just think it’s a pity that some fire could actually burn that laboratory so thoroughly, leaving not a single bit of worthwhile information.

Xia Yan: It is true that Wang Han appeared outside the laboratory, but I think he was actually just finding out about our movements.

Xia Yan: With Wang Han’s ability, devising a plan on the spot to set some fire shouldn’t be enough to burn everything so thoroughly.

Xia Yan: This laboratory just might have a self-destruction mechanism. The fire might be an internal, self-starting installation.

MC: Either way, Wang Han has already been brought to the city police station. No matter what suspicious points there are, we’ll wait until we can ask him.

MC: We also don’t have to pretend to deal with him with sincerity. We can uncover all his lies in front of him. 

Xia Yan: Right, what’s up with Sun Heping? Why did he follow us to the city police station?

MC: He came to be an eyewitness. I really need to thank Grandpa Sun well, he helped me a lot.

--

[Flashback]

In the warlike turmoil and chaos, I finally finished the whole process of calling the police.

I took up my phone and kept dialing Xia Yan’s number, mechanically and repeating, just like a programmed robot.

MC: Xia Yan, pick up the phone… hurry and pick up, I’m begging you.

MC: Let me hear your sound - even just replying with a number is enough. 

All my attention was set on my phone, so I naturally wasn’t aware of the gradually-nearing danger behind me.

Sun Heping: Little brat, get smacked!

???: Ow!

The cry of pain coming from behind me startled me to consciousness.

I turned around, pulled out the lipstick tranquillizer gun that Xia Yan had given me from my pocket, shooting towards the man who was holding his leg and collapsed on the ground.

Just as Xia Yan said, within 30 seconds, that man lost consciousness.

Sun Heping: Whoa, the young woman brought a self-defense weapon. Not bad, not bad.

MC: Grandpa Sun, what are you doing here?

I looked carefully at the man lying down. It was an unfamiliar face.

MC: Who is this person? He snuck into the yard, wanting to… assault me?

Zhao Yuncui’s agritourism guest house was one floor, connected to the little yard outside. The yard perimeter was surrounded by plants. A grown man could’ve easily gotten past them.

The push-pull door connecting the house and the yard was wide open. It would have been as easy was blowing away dust for this man to intrude in…

Sun Heping: He’s Wang Han’s son, just called back from the city by his father.

Sun Heping: Your phone is right there, so call the police. I’ll go be a witness for you.

[Flashback end]

--

Xia Yan: So it was like this…

I thought that Xia Yan would be very angry after listening, but his expression was very calm – it was just that his tone when talking…

This expression of his looked extremely like the calm before a storm. He must not be thinking about personally teaching a lesson to Wang Han’s son!

MC: Xia Yan, you… though Wang Han’s son is pretty hateful, he didn’t manage to do anything…

MC: We live in a lawful society, so please don’t act rashly.

From when we were small to now, Xia Yan’s always been the person who is most defensive of me, but…

MC: Think about it - if you hit him and got taken into custody, that wouldn’t be worth it at all.

I suddenly had an “idea”, and what escaped from my mouth sounded as if it were missing something.

MC: If you got detained, then Peanut*, that one bird, will starve to death at home.

Xia Yan: …

MC: (What am I saying…)

Xia Yan: I didn’t think that if I got detained, then the one you would be worried about wouldn’t actually be me – it would be Peanut!

Peanut was a myna bird that Xia Yan raised. After going through professional training, it was very smart.

I thought it strange, why Xia Yan would raise a defense animal like a myna bird.

Thinking about his agent identity now, it must be some special reason having to do with that.

MC: You really have gotten more and more “mature” - splitting hairs with a bird.

Xia Yan: Alright, I know you’re teasing me.

Xia Yan: Don’t worry, I won’t directly do anything to Wang Han’s son.

Xia Yan: My mission is to protect the order and maintain the safety of society. How could I do illegal things?

Xia Yan: But…

He leaned close to my ear. The hot breath brushed over my ear, tickling it.

Xia Yan: I’ll definitely give him a taste of suffering and blow off steam for you.

MC: Okay, then I’ll look forward to it.

Just like in years of youth, how children will often mutually “shelter” little secrets about mischievous actions – this was Xia Yan’s and my secret.

Xia Yan: I should send you home. You really need rest.

MC: There’s no issue, I’m still fine…

Sun Heping: Didn’t you two say that you specifically planned to go to the village to find me?

Sun Heping: Why is it that I’ve been troubled for a day and a night, yet I still haven’t seen you ask me anything?

I hadn’t finished speaking when Sun Heping appeared from who knows what place. “Disappearing and appearing randomly” really is an apt description for him…

MC: (Grandpa Sun… it was clearly you who refused to talk, alright…)

MC: Your willingness to provide help really is great. How about we find a quiet place to slowly talk about it?

Sun Heping: No need, here is fine. This old man is open and candid. I’ve got nothing that I need to hide from people.

MC: (I just wanted to ensure that the investigation wouldn’t leak…)

Xia Yan: I just greeted Leader Yan. This office won’t have anyone come in for now, don’t worry.

MC: Okay, then let’s talk here.

INTERROGATION START

Sun Heping’s whereabouts that day

MC: Last year on September 12, did you not know Kong Moli was coming?

Sun Heping: No, I don’t really use cellphones, and I didn’t keep any ways of getting in contact with Moli.

Sun Heping: Originally, I thought that either way, I wasn’t going out of the village, so she’d be able to find me anyways. Who would’ve thought… ah.

Sun Heping: That day, my home suffered a thievery. I caught the little thief and went to the police station to create a record.

Sun Heping: Who would have thought that the thief wouldn’t admit it no matter what. We spent a good half of the day at the police station. Moli couldn’t wait, so she left first.

Xia Yan: Is the thief you are talking about Qiu Heng?

On the return road to the city, I told Xia Yan about the information from Zuo Ran’s investigation yesterday.

Sun Heping: It was indeed him. He even said that he thought that the mutated Rainbow heart fish was worth money, so he went to steal it, hah hah – you could clearly tell it’s a lie from listening to it.

MC: He even had the face to say this kind of reason…

MC: Do you know the reason Kong Moli left in a rush?

Sun Heping: I heard from Wang Han that it was for someone’s birthday. It should be the birthday of the child she adopted.

Kong Moli’s reason for coming

MC: On September 12, what was Kong Moli’s reason for visiting you?

Sun Heping: She wanted the mutated Rainbow heart fish I had raised.

Xia Yan: Mutated? What kind of mutations are you talking about – could you explain in detail?

Sun Heping: Mutated was actually just what Moli called it. From my perspective, those fish were just smaller than typical Rainbow heart fish, and were unable to grow large.

Sun Heping: Moli had taken pictures of the mutated Rainbow heart fish before, but according to her, those photos were stolen by people, so she needed the living fish as physical evidence.

MC: Stolen?

The stolen pictures made me think of Kong Moli’s notebook that had two pages ripped out.

Up to now, we still didn’t know exactly what the notebook was missing.

Sun Heping: Before that lawsuit of Moli’s, the paper mill was closed. Heirson also stopped operations. Both sides weren’t able to collect water samples.

Sun Heping: Without any way to examine again, the fish I raised was the only proof.

Youyou’s origin

MC: You know Youyou? That is, Mu Ziyou.

Sun Heping: I don’t quite remember the name. I just know it’s a boy.

Sun Heping: Kong Moli met that child the first time she went to the laboratory.

Sun Heping: No one knew who or where the child’s parents were. When we asked if he ran out of the laboratory, he also didn’t say.

Sun Heping: The only people from outside in Rainbow River Village were those from the paper mill and the laboratory.

Sun Heping: If it was a child lost on vacation, he would’ve been found much earlier.

Sun Heping: Thinking about it, that child most likely ran out of the laboratory.

Noticing Kong Moli’s death

MC: Do you know how Kong Moli’s accident was discovered?

Sun Heping: It was me who noticed it. It was also me who called the police.

MC: Weren’t you unable meet with her that day?

Sun Heping: It was because I didn’t find her, and I knew that she urgently needed those fish, that I thought about sending it to her in the city.

Sun Heping: I drove the house’s tractor to the passenger terminal at the bottom of the mountain. Halfway, I saw Moli’s car stuck on the guardrails.

Sun Heping: I didn’t see her, so I called police.

Xia Yan: At the scene of the accident, did you notice anything abnormal?

Sun Heping: No. I also didn’t dare to touch anything at the scene, fearing that I would end up causing trouble to the police.

[Got Sun Heping’s Testimony!]

Household situation

MC: We heard that you live alone. Your family members aren’t with you?

Sun Heping: …

Seeming to not expect that we would ask this, Sun Heping froze.

Sun Heping: The situation in my house doesn’t have any relation to this case. You two, don’t ask without grounds.

Looking at it, there really is no need to investigate Sun Heping’s family situation. I just asked casually. If he’s not willing to talk about it, then we’ll just forget it. 

INTERROGATION END

Sun Heping: I’m finished being a witness for the police, and you’ve finished asking the questions you need to ask, so I’ll return to the village.

Xia Yan: Grandpa Sun, I’ll send you.

Sun Heping: No need. If you have time, you should accompany your little girlfriend instead.

Xia Yan: …

MC: …

Sun Heping headed off, while Xia Yan and I had more, harder questions to solve.

Xia Yan: Combined with my investigation at the laboratory, I can basically guess where Mu Ziyou came from.

--

TL notes:

* “Peanut” in Chinese also sounds nearly identical to the Chinese for “Watson” (both are “huasheng”).

[smolbeandrabbles]

Common Threads - An Orson Krennic AU (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

@wltz-bby​ @happyskywhale​

This will be a short series set across a number of parts.

Author’s Note: All credit, and I mean ALL credit, to Harry & Rob @ Stop Making Sense Podcast. They’re real ones!  REAL ones. Thank you both for letting me write such a genius idea!

Basically this all started here on Instagram. And if you want to see where it’s going you’ll want 54:33-61:20 of this! Also please support these guys, they’re so great and so funny! Highly recommended!  While we’ll have no central romance, we know how Krennic is so... there’ll be fleeting mentions of goings on.

Also it wouldn’t be my writing if I didn’t almost lose half of it due to microsoft word complications, would it?

Disclaimer: Star Wars & Rogue One characters places etc all not mine / There’s some call backs to Catalyst but they’re rather small / The idea certainly isn’t mine either in this case / lyrics not mine / I did bring my OCs into this.

Premise: When Krennic is attacked by a band of rebel insurgents and they get away with vital information, the Empire devise a rather unusual punishment...

Words: 3547

Warnings: Slight sexual references / Please don’t look at the timelines too closely / AU

_____ I know what I want And I'ma go and get it, I'm a number one, I know you won't forget it Keep my eyes on the prize, no surprise that I'm lit I be cruisin', you be snoozin' That's why you losin', I'm oozin' Confidence is boomin', boomin'

I ain't worried 'bout nada 'Less it Gucci, 'less it Prada 'Less it Dolce and Gabbana 'Less a trip to the Bahamas I wanna feel like I'm way up Stay lit every single day I wake up I ain't worried 'bout shit, you a parody Ain't no wonder why they all so scared of me I'm a rarity, I got clarity

---

Part 1: Stitched Up. 

The communications device rumbled across the table again, begging to be picked up. This time it annoyed her; she’d managed to ignore it up to now but if it interrupted the meeting one more time she was in danger of being thrown out. She pulled it from the table, glaring. The person on the other end of the line, who clearly needed her desperately, could have only been one of two people – and due to the frequency, she could easily narrow it down to one. Krennic. And if it was her boss, she’d find that highly ironic, considering he’d been the one to tell her how imperative it was she took note of every little thing said here. ‘I don’t want a single detail missed Lieutenant; do you understand me!?’   It continued to buzz on and off feebly in her lap as she listened to the group of commanders drone on and on… but at least it wasn’t disturbing anyone but her anymore. Upon exiting the meeting it rang again, probably for the billionth time, and she answered: “Director.” He seemed a little taken aback that she knew it was definitely him, “What took you so long to pick up!?” “I was in a briefing you told me to go to! And yes, before you ask, I made all your notes. I’ll send you a copy of them right away.” “Well forget about that, I have something far more urgent for you to attend to!” “Sir?” She stilled in the corridor, ready to run in whichever direction he commanded. Krennic’s voice lowered to a hiss, “This is very embarrassing Lieutenant, and I would prefer you kept it discreet. Can you get yourself to my place?” “Yes, Sir.” She waited for a further instruction, yet upon receiving none but “Good, and make it quick, Suraya.” and the click of a terminated communication, she supposed that the only thing to do was board a shuttle to his apartment and pray that his version of urgent was not ‘I need a suit for a ball tonight, and your help to pick one!’ …again. ***

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary when she stepped off the ship, smoothing out her uniform as she did so. Krennic was waiting for her by the door and ushered her in quickly – what could this have been about? Suraya’s question was answered before he’d even closed the door, “Oh… my…” Her eyes traced slowly from floor to wall to ceiling, but there wasn’t a part of his apartment that wasn’t ransacked. “…word.” She finished, not able to think of something better to say. Krennic stepped forward into the room, arms crossed and staring hard at everything before turning to her. “Rebels!” “…Rebels?” Suraya immediately questioned, “In your house? ON Coruscant?” That didn’t make any sense, “They wouldn’t dare!” “Well they did!” He indicated around, then waved her forward, implying she should join him. “How?” “That’s what you’re here for.” “I’m hardly a detective, Director… where were you?” His blue eyes lowered to the floor and he chewed his lip, face a little flushed – she could bet from embarrassment and anger. Therefore his answer was a little mumbled, “Not conscious.” Suraya couldn’t help stifle a laugh which turned his steely gaze on her, “The rebels knocked you out?” She scanned the room again, “Well did they break in, there’s no broken glass or forced entry?” “...No.” Krennic was hesitant, and the lieutenant knew she’d missed something, turning in a complete circle on the balls of her feet, she stopped as she eyed the bed. Bed sheets rumpled and his clothes strewn nonchalantly around, there was no evidence that he’d been with anyone, but Suraya knew better. “Where’s the woman?” “What woman!?” Although there was hesitation in Krennic’s voice again. She quirked an eyebrow as she looked back at him; there wasn’t a planet in the Galaxy that didn’t know about his reputation. Her look was enough to get him to confess. “She was here when I was blindsided, when I came to, nothing!” She doubted this account by the fact that, although Krennic looked fairly unscathed, there was a mark above his eye. He’d likely let them in and would never admit it. He grumbled again, “What kind of woman would just answer the door to the rebellion!?” Or maybe that was it, but Suraya doubted Krennic would have just let anyone else answer his door for him without express permission or command. “Did it occur to you she was a rebel?” The Director nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation, then composed himself. “Nah. I would have known. Anyway, why would she?!” Suraya let her eyes linger on him a little longer than she perhaps ought to; “I dunno, if I got the opportunity to say I’d slept with you, I would. Your reputation does precede you, Director Krennic. Why not take the opportunity to see if the rumours are true?” Krennic flushed but automatically dismissed it, “No. There’s no way. Self-respecting rebels would never-! And I---” She kept her mouth shut for now, and pushed a scoff and a taunt back down where they belonged. “---No. No.” As he began walking across the floor, musing to himself, Suraya traced his footsteps. “Well, what did they take?” “Hm?” “If they’ve overturned everything here, then they were looking for something Director, what have they found? What was here?” “Most of my research is back with Galen at the Eadu facility. I suppose there are a few data packs… but that’s general Weapons Division stuff. And-” Krennic turned quickly, trying to figure out where he’d last seen his personal data pad. He wasn’t about to outwardly look flustered about this though, he’d been in little mishaps before and he’d always come out of them on the right side of things. This was just another one of those, Krennic told himself he had nothing to worry about. Something else was pressing on the lieutenant’s mind as she watched him move around, and Suraya wasn’t thinking as she interrupted him to voice it. “Where’s your cape?” Suraya wasn’t sure he wore it all the time. Did he wear it when he relaxed? There weren’t so many times she’d seen Krennic in civvies or ever had a reason to come over here, unless it was for an early morning pre-meeting briefing; by which time he was usually up and dressed. But he was certainly in his uniform right now – so, where was the most iconic piece of it? Then Krennic really did go red and in his attempt to stutter through a sentence, couldn’t, and had to sit down, running his hands over his face. Then it all clicked; this was what was so urgent. It wasn’t that the rebels had come here, upturned his place, perhaps stolen documents – Krennic was annoyed about that but he wasn’t bothered by it. The information he was about to impart to her was his top concern. “It’s gone.” He managed, muffled slightly behind his hands. Okay, but he had more, right? Krennic wasn’t the type of man to keep one copy of a uniform around, especially when he was so picky about tailoring. Those poor imperial tailors were yelled at if there was even so much as a stitch wrong. She was pretty sure that he’d even stood over their shoulders to watch them remake it after he’d sent it back. “There’s more than just one, isn’t there?” If there wasn’t, he at least had a rainwear version he could substitute until they made him another. Krennic just shook his head, but still wasn’t looking up. Suraya crossed to his wardrobe, pulling it open and immediately seeing the problem. She stepped back with a gasp. By ‘it’s gone’ Krennic didn’t just mean the cape, he meant his entire closet was empty. No uniforms, no finely tailored suits (that he spent who knows how many credits on just so he was on trend), nothing. There was a single note stuck to the inside of the door, which upon reading Suraya found was indeed from the rebellion – but also fairly unrepeatable. She untacked it and walked back to him. “…Well, that’s a story you’ll have to tell Uniform.” “They’ll make my life hell.” He protested, suddenly regretting all the times he’d had them redo his clothing over one stitch, finally taking his head out of his hands and looking up at her, “I can’t leave my house like this!” “At least you have a uniform, Sir.” Was the best she could do, and by the looks of it Krennic also had whatever he’d been wearing last night, so not all was lost. Still, Suraya knew why she’d been called here, “I’ll put an expedited request in for you.” He nodded, and opened his mouth to verbally agree, when there was another sharp knock at his door that demanded both of their attention. “Director Krennic! Open this door at once!” Her heart dropped and Krennic groaned, “This is just what I need!” He stood, turning back to his assistant, “I TOLD you not to say anything.” “I didn’t! It’s not like I knew this had anything to do with the rebels before I got here-!” Suraya would have hit him with her data pad if she thought it would get her anywhere. Krennic swivelled from the door to her and then back to the door, “Then how the hell does Tarkin know!?” Forced to play defensive she held her hands up, and said her next sentence almost hopefully, “We don’t know he does, maybe that’s not what he’s here for!” ***  Krennic took the deepest of deep breaths as he cracked the door open, leaving Suraya to stand to attention on one side of the room, data pad behind her back keeping it dead straight, a trick she’d learned was pretty useful as a cadet. “Governor Tarkin, how may I assist you?” “Let us in, Director, my day is very busy and I don’t have time for this, particularly.” Tarkin was curt as ever, it didn’t help Orson’s mood. “Time for what?” Clearly Krennic’s feign of ignorance wasn’t making him friends. “Oh, out of the way, Krennic! We spotted some Rebel insurgents leaving atmosphere and on breaking down the contrails of their craft and fuel particles in the atmosphere, it appears they came from your apartment. Now I don’t wish to accuse you of treason, but if you want to confess it might make things easier.” The lieutenant found herself suddenly wishing Krennic hadn’t dragged her into this first, so she could be saved from watching these two argue again. The Director scowled as he was forced to open his door wider on the chaos of his apartment.  “Oh dear!” Although as Tarkin waltzed in it was clearly only said as a formality, and the sharp smile on his face let Suraya know he was about to lord this over her boss. He was followed in by no less than five other imperials, all young looking protégés, eager to survey the scene for themselves. She would suppose even if they found forensic evidence, Krennic wasn’t about to be told of it, and it also didn’t look like they were about to be too careful with his remaining things. Once Tarkin had acknowledged her presence at the scene and turned back to Krennic, still scowling, Suraya made her way quickly across the room to kick Krennic’s discarded clothing under the bed. Maybe the kids wouldn’t put two and two together, but Tarkin certainly would. Rebels were scandals themselves without a potential sleeping-with-the-enemy situation. “It seems to be a bit of a mess you find yourself in, Director.” “It’s hardly of my own doing.” Krennic straightened, defensive, “There were far more of them than I, I fought back but was unfortunately blindsided.” “I see no evidence of force entry.” Suraya shook her head subtly as Krennic’s eyes flicked momentarily to her; if he wanted to go that way, he probably should have opened a window or the balcony doors or… something. “Well, no, as it turns out I let them in.” She couldn’t see Tarkin’s face, but his movement and the freeze of the others in the room said everything. Krennic’s eyes momentarily flickered in panic but he controlled it, “I expected to see my assistant returning to de-brief me on the meeting I sent her to this morning.” Suraya did everything in her power not to look pissed that he’d just thrown her to the wolves instead, with Tarkin immediately turning, but it was not her he addressed, “I believe I know the briefing the lieutenant attended, which you also therefore would have known did not finish until after the incident took place. Why would you expect her so early?” Krennic shrugged coolly, “Sometimes they end early.” This wasn’t untrue, of course, but it was a big bluff. It didn’t explain why Krennic wouldn’t have checked who was knocking. Also if Tarkin had the inclination to check the call log, it would show that the Director also began his tirade of calls after the rebels had left. Krennic, having become suddenly useless, was dismissed, for Tarkin to turn back to her. “Lieutenant. When you arrived did you notice anything out of the ordinary?” Suraya could see Krennic gesturing out of the corner of her eye but ignored him. “Besides the whole place being over turned, nothing Sir.” Although she tilted her head, before pausing, immediately thinking better of it. “Lieutenant?” It didn’t get passed Tarkin. “I just don’t understand why they would take the Director’s wardrobe, Sir.” The word ‘take’ obviously alerted Tarkin to something else, and his eyes darted around the room again, Krennic walked forward, clearly bumping Tarkin’s arm on purpose as he strolled to the closet to present evidence. You watched the Governor’s little smile widen in amusement, before he became serious again, “Well, well, Director. You better check they’ve not stolen anything important. Especially with the project you’re working on.” “Anything of significance is with Galen.” Krennic disliked how quick he was to address that point, he didn’t want Tarkin to know how irked he was. “Still, it would be best to check. I believe that your personal data pad will have been here along with some files. Something as significant as those would not have escaped the rebels notice.” Krennic’s teeth gritted, as he indicated back to the closet; “My WARDROBE is gone!!” Suraya was right, that was the most important thing to him. Tarkin’s eyes flicked to hers, and they shared the same exchange of exasperation, unable to quite comprehend why clothing was at the forefront of Krennic’s mind. “As I was saying…” She almost chuckled as Tarkin made it clear on what he perceived as important and it was not Krennic’s lack of uniform, “There’ll be consequences if anything is missing, Director! This is already a dire security breach.” Ironically Krennic thought that was a little dramatic, but simply grumbled to himself as Tarkin took his forensics team back and exited the apartment. The Director was just glad to get them out of his hair. “Security breach.” He muttered, “You’d think I handed them the whole damn Project Stardust!” Suraya sighed gently as she made her way back over to him, “For now, Sir, I believe we should figure out exactly what data has been taken. And report it up the chain as soon as possible, less Tarkin find a reason to return. Then we can get your uniform re-ordered.” He turned those blue eyes back on her, at least a little brighter at that idea than they had looked when she arrived, “Yes. Let’s… let’s do that.” *** It took a couple of days to overturn the damage that the rebels had done and take stock of what was actually missing. Krennic had retrieved his personal data pad, and they hadn’t managed to gain access to the most important discs in his desk. Nor his own weapon, thankfully. That didn’t mean data packs and other things of value weren’t looted. Krennic had to go through the ordeal of cancelling a lot of his access pips and cards – but they arrived fairly quickly from the Intelligence Bureau, reset. Suraya remained with him to assist the clean-up operation and order his uniform; this took a little longer to arrive and by the end of the second day Krennic was starting to get antsy. “What takes them so long!?” “Well you do have very exacting standards, Sir!” “Exactly! So they should know how to do it by now. Did I not specify clearly enough!?” She wasn’t about to answer that question. If his previous interactions with them were anything to go by the urgent note she’d placed on it was being wholly ignored and the Director would be constantly bumped to the back of the queue. She couldn’t say she’d blame them, either. On the morning of the third day, as they both anxiously awaited the results of their carefully worded email detailing exactly what documentation the rebels had stolen, Krennic received another knock at the door. “If this is Tarkin-” Suraya wasn’t about to tell him to keep a level head, but she did give him a look to tell him not to blow up. He opened the door to a woman dressed in civilian clothing, even though it appeared that she possessed rank pins. She had bright pink hair and light eyes and as she moved her hair flew as if she was starring in some kind of commercial. “Director Krennic? My name is Kora, I’m here about your uniform.” “About time it turned up!” He took a pace back in order for her to walk in, “Are you from Uniform? Next time you ought to tell them that when I say urgent, I mean same day-” Kora wasn’t done talking, and she turned back to him, saying rather bluntly, “Request denied. For letting the rebellion enter and steal documentation of the upmost importance to the Empire, YOU are going to star in a documentary about Empire approved businesses.” There was silence in the room for a moment and Krennic wore a half smile as he tried to work out if she was serious. Kora simply stared him down, and as the Director’s face fell, Suraya once again wished she wasn’t in the room. “No.” Suraya couldn’t tell if that was Krennic refusing or his own disbelief. Kora knew which way she was taking it. “Well it better be a yes before I go back, Director, or you’ll be in hot lava.” Krennic’s eyes widened and no one was under any illusions as to what he was thinking; “Not Mustafar again-!” There had to be a way out, he wasn’t about to waste his time on this! “This documentary will be of the upmost importance Director. Lord Vader and the Governor only hope that you will take it seriously.” Suraya couldn’t help giggling behind her hand at this. It wasn’t the being in front of a camera, it wasn’t the thought of doing a documentary on business – or fashion - it was that Krennic was being forced into this by a man he hated. Krennic cleared his throat, once more folding his arms as he looked back to Kora, giving her a single nod. “Very well, but there is nothing in my wardrobe that isn’t tailored to within an inch of its life and most of it is from high end shops, some of which are on Lexrul.” Krennic was a very big advocate of his home planet after all, so he’d expect at least one part of this documentary to take place there, “So you better have budget!” Instead of agreeing Kora simply smiled, in the same way that Tarkin had a habit of, “Oh no, Director, we’re highlighting small businesses that scrape by for a living, right here on Coruscant, to show our support and cater to all audiences.” Suraya thought that his face fell even faster than it had with Tarkin around, and she also didn’t think that livid covered it. “WHAT!?” “That’s the deal Director.” “It’s not much of a DEAL!” “It’s the one I’m giving you, I can take it elsewhere… and I’m sure that Lord Vader and Governor Tarkin would love to hear why you couldn’t do it.” The Director looked desperately to Suraya, but she wasn’t sure what she could say. How could, at her position, she possibly rescue him from what Tarkin wanted?

Realising indeed that his assistant wouldn’t be much aid to him, Krennic’s eyes fell back to Kora and he swallowed hard, smile feigning confidence - but also a little nervous. “Well then, I suppose I will accept your offer.” This time Kora’s returned smile was warm and sweet, “That’s great news, Director Krennic.” She took a step forward and extended her hand to him, “Well, as series producer and director, I’m very much looking forward to working with you. Welcome to the team.” Suraya bit her lip as she watched him step down to shake Kora’s hand, hoping he wasn’t crossing his fingers behind his back: this could be huge for Krennic if he used this opportunity wisely. Things were about to get interesting around here...

---

Thank you for reading! 😘😘

I really am SO excited to bring you the rest of this

[byakuyasdarling]

Please feel free to share your happiness with us!! I can assure you that it doesn't annoy anyone!! To be honest, it makes me really happy to see that you are having fun! I genuinely love hearing about your selfship, the dynamic is truly wonderfull! Besides, I know how nice it feels to talk freely about someone or something you love,, So please don't think you are annoying anybody by doing what you like!! ♡♡♡ I wish you the best, you are so awesome and valid!! ^_^💕

You are literally the sweetest oh my gosh 💙💙 right back at you!! I always enjoy reading all your posts about your ship, I am just really bad at communicating how much it makes me happy to see! Sdididjdjeej You’re so nice it genuinely warms my heart 💙💙 you’re incredible.

Anyway, I’m gonna slide my incoherent happy ramblings here ^///^

———————————————————————

As a side note: I wrote this yesterday but THEN I FELL ASLEEP WHILE WRITING IT,,, which is a pretty good indicator I was happy while writing it ^o^

Literally my whole day in class today was basically just thinking about him, which is pretty uncommon since I normally focus a lot on my work, but today my head was ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Sjskrfhhtr precious <<<3333 (keep it composed, Freya, keep it composed)

Anyway, so naturally I have a few things to say about my bastard man.

Admittedly I’ve been thinking about the fact he’s fluent in French for a solid 24 hours now and I have tried to devise some pet names or phrases he generally says to S/I. I either published it in a post, or in one of my drafts that he does occasionally drop a few sentences in French to S/I if he’s tired enough to just revert his mother’s first language (explained in another post).

That’s a pretty rare occurrence, however, I do think he’d also say a few things to her in French that are a bit more touchy-feely. He’s more comfortable to be that way as she can’t understand much of what he’s saying, while also clearly expressing love for her.

Perhaps something like:

“Prenez mieux soin de vous, ma chérie.” -> (very roughly: “Take better care of yourself, my dear.”)

“Tu es belle, ma chérie.” -> “You’re/ You look beautiful, my darling.”

“Tu es si belle, chérie, si douce.” -> “You are so beautiful, so delicate/ sweet” I like to think he says this one after he kisses her <<33 sdjdosjeje n e way

Outside of those being rather rough and basic: I was thinking about nicknames. He sticks very closely to the classics. He enjoys the sense of intimacy he has calling her by a pet name, though.

His favourite is definitely “darling” / “my darling”. He uses that one a l o t. “Dear” and “love” also give off very much the same vibe. He does use “sweetheart” but not nearly as much as the others. Same goes for “ma belle” (my beautiful — but sometimes translation seem to say “my pretty girl”, depends who you ask) and “ma chérie” (close to “my darling”), he uses them a lot less compared to the others.

He???? Calling me pretty??? >///< <<333 I would like that, ahahaha. Again I have gone very stupid with love sudidjjdkrjr

A few smaller side things that have definitely been living rent-free in my thoughts to end my little ramble off:

He tends to correct her posture a lot when he walks past her or is sitting with her

S/I tried to show him a few shows she watched as a kid (we’re talking about Pokémon everyone lmao), and he just r e f u s e s to watch it. He’ll end up just reading a book next to her while she tears up a little at all the inspirational moments (and obviously sad ones — don’t even mention Bye Bye Butterfree to me, I WILL CRY). If she is tearing up though, he’ll squeeze her hand a little to try and offer his comfort.

He warms her hands when they’re cold >///< (hesjsidj hand kisses >///<,, just kidding, just kidding... unless?)

Thank you so much, Octo!! You are so amazing and kind <<<333 have a wonderful day!!

[az3422]

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PeppersGhost's Proposal, I guess.

K/O Failure Scenario Hub » SPC-001 » PeppersGhost's Proposal, I guess.

rating: +263+–X

You are now connected.

[13:04] Topic is "Fuck credentials, fuck passwords, fuck secrecy, fuck everything. Just, fuck in general. Fuck like it's the end of the world, because it is. Fuck me, please oh lord im so alone | Welcome! If you're still alive to read this, good luck finding someone to talk to."

[13:04] DrTsega: Hello? Anyone here?

[19:32] DrTsega: I'll take that as a no, then.

[22:48] DrTsega: I can't be the only one left.

[22:49] DrTsega: Hey Queg, are you still running?

[22:49] Queg: Hello, DrTsega. What can I do for you?

[22:49] DrTsega: thank god

[22:50] DrTsega: !backscroll 10

[22:50] Queg: [04:33] SgtYitay: I've looked through the entire building

[22:50] Queg: [04:33] SgtYitay: Everyone is dead

[22:50] Queg: [04:33] AgentCaleb: No shit

[22:50] Queg: [04:33] AgentCaleb: I know nobody uses this thing anyway but DAMN it's been EMPTY

[22:50] Queg: [04:34] AgentCaleb: You think it's just the two of us?

[22:50] Queg: [04:37] AgentCaleb: You still there

[22:50] Queg: [04:39] AgentCaleb: Saaarrrrge

[22:50] Queg: [04:50] SgtYitay has been disconnected (Ping timeout)

[22:50] Queg: [18:22] AgentCaleb: oooookay well i think im gonna call it quits then. If anyone sees this tell my husband I love him

[22:50] Queg: [18:22] AgentCaleb: lol jk i'll see that dogfaced whore in hell 👍🕶👍

[22:51] DrTsega: hmm

[22:52] DrTsega: !seen Agent Caleb

[22:52] Queg: AgentCaleb was last seen 8 days ago saying: lol jk i'll see that dogfaced whore in hell 👍🕶👍

[22:52] DrTsega: shit

[22:53] DrTsega: shitballs

[22:53] DrTsega: shitmonkeys

[22:55] DrTsega: shit the nail on the head

[22:55] DrTsega: okay

[11:16] DrTsega: Good morning. If anyone sees this just ping me, I'll stay around as long as I can.

[09:48] DrTsega: I'm still here

[14:26] DrTsega: !quote CaptSumner

[14:26] Queg: CaptSumner: I may be shitting out of my pee parts but FUCK YOU I will WALK IT OFF

[14:26] DrTsega: haha what

[14:27] DrTsega: Good times, good times.

[14:28] DrTsega: I wish Sumner wasn't lying dead in the bathroom

[14:29] DrTsega: or anywhere, for that matter

[14:33] DrTsega: but especially the bathroom

[08:01] DrTsega: I'm still here

[12:55] DrTsega: Man, if anyone sees this later I'm going to look really pitiful

[05:51] DrTsega: okay I can't sleep so I guess I might as well do this

[05:52] DrTsega: !settopic Check the backscroll. Look for "Start here"

[05:52] Topic is "Check the backscroll. Look for "Start here""

[05:52] DrTsega: Start here

[05:53] DrTsega: If you're still alive to read this, congratulations. You survived.

[05:54] DrTsega: You also have access to working internet and enough knowledge about shadow governments to visit a (previously) private communications channel, so, hey, good on you.

[05:55] DrTsega: As a reward for being such a cool and alive person, I'm going to tell you the story of how we ended the world.

[05:55] DrTsega: For context, though, you'll probably want to start by reading a certain document…

[05:56] DrTsega: Actually, you can probably just skim it. A lot of this won't make sense to you anyway, so who cares?

[05:57] DrTsega: Anyway. I'll go find the link. If memory serves, they declassified everything when they realized we were all gonna die.

[06:13] DrTsega: How are these servers even still up? Isn't that just the craziest thing

[08:22] DrTsega: Found it.

NOTICE FROM THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATION

AND PROJECTS OPERATION COMMAND OFFICE

There is nothing new to report regarding SPC-001 at this time.

Test subject displaying the results of his exposure to SPC-001.

Project #: SPC-001

Selachian Pugnātorial Capabilities: Individuals enhanced with SPC-001 display a dramatic improvement in pugilistic prowess and have consistently proven capable of easily dispatching 90% of squaloid entities in simulations, even with no prior training. Furthermore, SPC-001 subjects have reported a radical elevation in coastal requiescence position retention, even when under assault from extragranular sedimentary weaponry.

Project Components: SPC-001 is a manmade chemical substance which augments the biological strength and dexterity of human beings. After initial exposure to SPC-001, subjects will undergo a steady increase in muscle mass over the following 72 hours, accompanied by heightened energy levels and adroit perception of their surroundings. Increased lung capacity and resistance to deep-sea hydrostatic pressure are common side effects.

Following the DREAD PORPOISE COMMUNION and the subsequent activation of the ALL HANDS ON DECK PROTOCOL, SPC agents embedded in the food industry began introducing discreet amounts of SPC-001 into numerous products intended for public consumption. Centre researchers have projected a full global saturation of SPC-001 to be achieved by the year ████. In the event that the DREAD PORPOISE COMMUNION ends before global saturation can be achieved, more aggressive means of SPC-001 dispersal may be undertaken to prevent a complete End-of-World K/O Failure Scenario.

Nascency Impetus: On May 16, ████, all observed selachian entities across the globe simultaneously demanifested, including those in SPC captivity. No selachian entities or evidence of the continued presence of selachian entities have been observed since. A Maximum State of Emergency was declared soon after by the Executive Pugilist Assembly and the phenomenon was codified as the DREAD PORPOISE COMMUNION. It is the belief of the Assembly that the selachians are congregating in preparation for the FINAL CONFLICT, an event foretold by Elder Pugilord Azmanititas in the Centre's original constitutional documents in 1451.

[08:23] DrTsega: Did you get all that?

[08:23] DrTsega: No? Okay, I'll break it down for you.

[08:26] DrTsega: I was part of a group known as the Selachian Punching Centre. An organization dedicated to fighting the menace that plagued our oceans. "We punch underwater so you can live on the land." That's what we used to say.

[08:27] DrTsega: I know what you're thinking.

[08:29] DrTsega: Yes. It was us keeping you safe the entire time. The Centre safeguarded mankind for centuries. Civilization as we knew it wouldn't have been possible if we weren't around. Our influence was unparalleled, extending to every level of every government, changing the course of world events, yet remaining a complete secret from everybody, which was really quite tricky.

Then, one day, the selachian menace disappeared. Our immediate reaction was one of disbelief, followed by euphoria, followed by raucous celebration. We danced. We drank ourselves stupid. We sang the songs of our forefathers. The orgies weren't officially sanctioned, of course, but boy howdy-doo were they tremendous.

Sadly, our revelry wasn't meant to last.

"DREAD PORPOISE COMMUNION", the Assembly called it. The prophesied gathering of every selachian, big or small. Every sharp, slimy, putrid horror that haunted our dreams, coming together in one place to bring about the end of all other life on our beautiful, green planet.

"But fear not," said our trusted Assembly. They told us that the human race would fight back. They said that when the selachians returned with their armies and squaloid murder-drones, we would be ready.

And they were right. We were ready. Thanks to SPC-001, we managed to get the entire human race fighting fit. At first people were alarmed when everyone started getting super ripped for no apparent reason, but then they realized it was awesome and the panic died down. Within a few months, every man, woman, and child was a lean, mean, punching machine. Even babies had abs you could wash your clothes on. It seemed like everything was going fine.

And that's how it went for the first couple of years: fine. Sure, boxing had to be outlawed once folks could punch with the same Newtonian force as your average car crash, and there were a few riots now and then over tank top shortages, but for the most part everything felt normal.

Year three, people started getting antsy. We had kept ourselves busy at the Centre by devising new weapons for selachian warfare, but every innovation felt hollow with a lack of anything to use them on. We grew listless. Surely the assault would begin any day, right?

Year four. There was an aura of dread hanging over the whole organization. I remember sitting in the Site-71 cafeteria, eating pickled cabbage and creamed corn salads with my comrades, when I finally heard someone ask aloud what we'd all wondered in the dark corners of our heads.

"What if they don't come back?"

It was Simmons who said that, of course. Of course. I kicked him in the face—a punch would have really hurt him—but the damage was done. It's a scary thought, losing your purpose in life. Faced with that kind of existential ennui, it's no wonder that everyone responded by flipping their shit. Hersberger screamed and started smearing her salad all over her face. Gertzler stabbed his fork tines into his cheek with no visible emotion. Bühler just broke down and cried until his tears turned to blood.

But Schwartzentruber was downright fuming. Started shouting all sorts of obscenities. Said he'd shove his fist down Simmons' throat and rip out his toenails from the inside. And Simmons was all defensive, "you all were thinking it" and that kind of stuff. The two kept going at it. We shouldn't have just sat there and watched, but no one thought fists would ever get involved. How could we have known?

I remember the entire cafeteria going silent. One moment, the two colleagues had been arguing. Next thing we knew, Schwartzentruber was wearing Simmons' face around his arm like a bracelet. Fist went straight through. Nobody knew what to say. Hersberger just picked the brain matter from her hair. There was no finishing our dinner after something like that.

We all tried to write it off as an isolated incident, an unhinged employee who forgot his own strength in a moment of pure emotion. That illusion was shattered when reports started coming in from the other sites. Similar incidents were happening all over the world, and within a few weeks it wasn't just limited to SPC personnel. These arms were made for punching, and that's just what they did.

As time went on, it became harder for us to fight the itch. Punching bags were laughable at that point, so instead we invented punching blocks out of a titanium-concrete composite. Even fashioned them into the shape of selachians to help take the pain away, but it still wasn’t enough. Whenever we came close to a cure, someone would end up atomizing the equipment with a flick of the wrist and we'd have to start over.

Eventually, one day I walked into the cafeteria and found the floor covered in what must have been two inches of blood. I thought maybe a pipe had burst until I saw Bühler sitting on a table in the corner. Guy was slathered in viscera from top to bottom, and he was wearing human heads around his arms like they were snap bracelets. I asked if he wanted to talk, but he didn't answer. He just stared at his fists and trembled. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was dead, hole in his beefy chest so big I coulda driven my Grampy's Volvo through it.

That was what broke me, I think. I had never seen someone self-pugilate before. I didn't know how many people were still alive in Site-71, but I knew that I would not perpetuate the carnage. I gathered some medical supplies from the surgical augmentations lab and tied a tourniquet around my burgeoning, well-defined bicep. Carefully, I injected myself with the nearest substance that resembled an anesthetic and bid my guns goodbye.

Screaming, writhing, I hacked off my arm using only a pair of rusty toenail clippers. Needless to say, I was dizzy from pain, blood loss, and the 5 CCs of green apple daiquiri I'd injected myself with, but somehow I managed to drag myself back to the cafeteria to cauterize my stump in the kitchen's oven. Barely clinging to consciousness, I set the oven to preheat, wrapped my stump in a tent of foil, and stuck it inside, turning regularly to promote an even cauter and applying a light baste to keep it moist.

When the bleeding stopped, I went back and repeated the process with my other arm. The second time was harder, I think. With no free hands remaining, I was forced to grip the toenail clippers with my teeth. I also ran out of baste. It was the most agonizing experience I could ever possibly fathom, but here I am. Alive. My cannonball deltoids still ripple with pugilistic vigor now and then, but the stubs are too short to be lethal.

And that's it. That's my story. That's how I ended up here, barricaded alone in an underground facility, typing on a keyboard with my tongue. I haven't been able to get in touch with any other Centre sites, and I can't leave the building. Every day I lose a little more hope. My personal hygiene has suffered, too—partly because I can't look at a pair of clippers without bursting into tears. My toenails are getting really long now. I'll probably have to use a pair of scissors or something. I could even use that electric carving knife I got for my birthday. Hell, I think there's a chainsaw in the supply closet. No shortage of options, really.

Even if I'm alive now, there's no telling how long that will last. Sometimes I hear people punching on the reinforced doors, desperate to break in and claim another victim to slake their drunken punchlust. Someday they may succeed. There's enough food left around to keep me going a while, though just for a while. I've kept my mind occupied and my spirits up by watching Dr. Cavender's Walking Dead box sets, but I can feel that post-Season-Six quality drop looming just around the corner.

Maybe this was their plan all along. Maybe they just left the planet, knowing full well we'd destroy ourselves. Maybe when the last human has passed their final breath, the selachians will return from wherever they went and feast on our tight, sculpted corpses. Or maybe they're happier where they are now. Maybe they're not coming back. I hope that's not the case. As much as it pains me to say it: I miss them.

I miss sharks.

[23:19] DrTsega: With all the squats I've been doing, I could probably pop their heads between my fucking thighs.

[23:20] DrTsega: pop 'em just like cherries. hell yeah

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[chiefnooniensingh]

I Won’t Hesitate (for you) Chapter 12

Chapter 12: What is lost will be found (when the truth hunts you down)

In this chapter: The truth.

A/n:  Oh my god guys. Here we are. I'm so nervous about this chapter because I am equally excited and nervous about your reaction to it! After this, there's only an epilogue left. Enjoy, and please let me know what you thought of it!

As always, a special thanks to Aileen (@acomebackstory), Callie (@callieramics), @hm-arn, @royalshadowhunter, @ladymajavader and May (@merlinss) over on Tumblr for their continued support and cheerleading. I don't know if I would've finished it without you guys!

@hmd23 guessed it, last week's chapter title was from Third Eye Blind again. Congratulations!

Can anyone guess this week's?

Also on: ao3

other chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

January, 1934

Liz Ortecho, now 23 and wise beyond her years, entered the little cabin she had rented, a newspaper clutched in her hand. They were living just outside of New York, trailing a ghost that refused to be found.

They’d travelled all across the country; starting from New Mexico, they went to San Diego, Sacramento and Seattle, travelling north past the Canadian border, even going so far as Calgary, before returning to the States to follow even the smallest hints of Rosa’s killed.

Five years they’d searched. Five years of barely any food, finding work wherever they could, and constant disappointment. They’d built up a steady network of informants, through a mix of bribery, good Samaritanism and flirting, but apparently Rosa’s murderer instilled fear in the hearts of men. Not many were willing to sell him out. Those who were, quickly dropped off the radar after that.

Liz knew she was being watched. She’d seen the shadows in the corner of her eye, the unremarkable cars in her rear-view mirror. She knew, if she ever got truly close, she’d probably end up dead. But she was determined and so were her travel companions. Rosa’s killer needed to be unmasked, taken off the board, or he’d kill again.

“I have news and you’re not going to like it!” Liz announced as she entered the tiny living room. The other two women immediately joined her at the table. Liz smacked down the paper, pointing at a small article, accompanied by a picture.

The immigrant man Sheriff Valenti had had to let go because of lack of proof. Looking fancy and happy, standing next to an absolutely gorgeous blonde young woman. “That’s him,” her friend said, her voice shaking, “that’s Rosa’s killer.”

“I’m pretty sure, too, yes. Sheriff Valenti was never able to get any proof, but…he’s the only suspect we have. Either we cross him off the list or we get the bastard. Either way, we need to find him.” Liz looked at the picture, her face hardening. “And he just made it extremely easy.”

The headline read:  Oil Mogul Noah Bracken (33) and noted event planner Isobel Evans (25) tie the knot in Malibu.

Liz looked up at her companions, who looked back with the same determination on their face. “Alright, call everybody. Michael, Kyle, my dad…” She felt her lips pull into a sardonic smile. “We’re going to plan a murder.”

Maria and Mimi DeLuca nodded, heading off to pack up their stuff and call the cavalry. Maria had grown up with Rosa, had been her best friend for as long as she could remember. Mimi had taken care of Rosa, and Liz when she came along, for years. When news reached them of Rosa’s disappearance, Mimi had wanted to return immediately. Mr DeLuca’s illness prevented that. When Michael called another few weeks later to tell them Rosa’s body had been found, just days after Mr DeLuca’s own passing…something broke in Mrs DeLuca, and she was never the same again.

Both were extremely determined to hunt down and kill the monster who killed that little girl.

Present day, 22nd of October, 9PM

Alex was standing in front of the passengers that had occupied so much of his mind for the past three days. He looked over all of them, and he wondered why he hadn’t seen it before, why he’d missed all the little things that could’ve tipped him off. He wondered if he was getting rusty.

They were all sitting in the dining carriage, their chairs moved to face Alex, who was standing with his back to door. He had always been able to command a room with just his silence, and now, too, people were waiting for him to speak.

“Thank you for coming,” Alex began, his eyes locking with each of them in turn. Isobel Evans, Max Evans, Beth and Arthur Otto, Kyle Vale, Maria and Mimi DeLuca and…Michael Guerin. All of them liars. All of them trying to hide themselves from him. But the jig was up, the curtain had fallen, and Alex could see clearly now. He continued. “I have a decision to make. I need to decide what to tell the police when we arrive in Paris tomorrow. And I was hoping you all could help me.” He saw the surprise on Michael’s face, and most of them exchanged worried and confused looks.

“We all know there was a murder here on this train. I have been working relentlessly to find out who did it, and after three days of hard searching I have narrowed it down to two theories. I will lay out these two theories before you now.”

Several people shifted in their seats, others smoothed down their clothes. Alex couldn’t help a small, half-smile that played around his lips. “My first theory is as follows. In 1920, Noah Bracken kidnapped and killed Rosa Ortecho in revenge over a workplace dispute with her father, Arturo Ortecho.” Alex let his gaze fall on Mr Otto, who blushed and lowered his eyes. “Rosa was loved by many, and her death instilled a rage in the hearts of those who loved her, none more than in the heart of her sister, Liz Ortecho.” His eyes moved over to Beth, whose eyes were already filled with tears. “So, presumably when she turns 18, Liz sets out to find her sister’s murderer, aided by her sister’s best friend Maria, and the latter’s mother and the Ortechos’ former house maid Mimi DeLuca.” Beth, Maria and Mimi all looked at each other uneasily. “Somehow they find out who Rosa’s killer is. Maybe they saw him on a train. Maybe they read about him in a newspaper. It doesn’t really matter how; they find him anyway. So they bring in the cavalry; Rosa’s father, still grieving for his eldest daughter; Kyle Valenti – ” Kyle shifted in his seat but kept his eyes steadily on Alex, though Alex could see the tears forming in them. “ – the son of the Sheriff who tried to find Rosa’s killer and failed, killing himself with shame of it – ”

Alex took a deep breath and turned his eyes on Michael, who looked at him with clear eyes and an expression of love and acceptance on his face. “ – and finally, Michael Guerin, the boy who took care of the Ortecho sisters when he couldn’t take care of himself. Six people, who all loved and adored Rosa, who all wanted to see justice for her death, a justice the system would never give them.”

“Rosa was the brightest star on this planet,” Liz burst out, tears falling freely down her face now. “She was happy when things got tough, when dad had to work long hours, when mom died. She loved and laughed and lived and that monster took her away from this world.”

Alex merely acknowledged this outbreak with a simple bow of his head, then continued. “So they devise a plan. A plan that would bring them justice for Rosa, that would – if carried out properly – help them get away with murder. It soon becomes clear they can’t get close to him. Noah Bracken has transformed himself from illegal immigrant to an oil mogul; rich, powerful and, in almost every sense of the word, untouchable. So they approach his wife. Isobel Bracken, née Evans, who may have already figured out who her husband really is…”

“He had a box,” Isobel whispered, her voice hoarse, her eyes hard and filled with disgust. “A box filled with newspaper clippings and writing. He boasted about killing that poor girl. Kept track of what the police knew. Disappeared when he needed to. I had unknowingly married a monster.” Max put a hand on hers, and she trailed off again.

Alex continued again, as if he had never been interrupted. “Isobel, having figured out who her husband really is, realizes nobody will believe her. Noah Bracken is rich and powerful, surely he would never harm a child? So when Rosa Ortecho’s loved ones show up with half a plan, she knows the only way out is through; she has to kill her husband. She knows someone in the police department of Roswell, someone with access and credibility and skills. Her own brother Max. This is also presumably how the two siblings find their long, lost brother; by planning a murder.”

“I couldn’t believe it when we suddenly were face to face,” Max muttered, glancing towards his brother. “After searching for so long, to find him in the middle of this awful tragedy.”

“So now the group is 8, and they need a plan. A plan that can help them get away with murder. A plan so intricate that even the most brilliant minds would have a hard time finding the truth.”

“Such modesty,” Michael muttered with a small smile, and despite everything, the group chuckled.

Alex smiled, too, but continued. “And then, a window of opportunity. Noah Bracken has a meeting in Istanbul with other big oil companies, and Isobel manages to convince him that they should make this a little holiday. Fly to Istanbul, spend a few days there, and taking the scenic route back; the Orient Express. A little…second honeymoon, as it were. What reason would Noah Bracken have to doubt his loving wife? She’s an exceptional actress and has not once slipped up in her façade of loving him, though she has known, at that point, for a long time. So, they come together to plan the perfect murder.”

Alex started pacing slowly up and down the dining carriage, his leg already twinging, but biting through the pain, nonetheless. He needed to get through it, he needed to know their reactions to his theory. “Isobel has her own income from her business, so she buys out an entire car on the Orient Express, two for her and her husband, and 6 for the remaining group. Michael gets a job at the Compagnie, getting himself stationed aboard the Istanbul-Paris line. There needs to be a minimum appearance of foul play. Coincidences is where they hope to confuse and befuddle anyone who tries to look closer. Simply coincidence that Isobel’s brother is on the train. Simply coincidence that the Ortechos’ house maid and her daughter are on board. Coincidences hide facts more completely than people think. This group of avengers realize this.” Alex looked at all of them in turn. Liz was still silently crying, with her head on her father’s shoulder, who in his turn looked stricken, almost sick. Mimi and Maria were sitting straight-backed, staring right at him, almost challenging him to continue. Kyle stared at his hands. Michael merely looked at Alex, an expression of pure wonder and awe on his face.

It almost made Alex falter.

“They needed a weapon that would also be a coincidence. The knife Michael always carried with him, because it reminded him of his first great love.” They locked eyes and for the first time, a single tear escaped Michael’s eyes. Alex’s heart ached. “And so they plan, first finding the perfect time to commit the murder. Kyle has medical training, and he knows that cold decreases body temperature faster than usual. So the time of death needs to be when the train passes through the coldest regions; the Alps. The decreased body temperature will not only throw off the time of death to a time that coincides with a brief stop and will provide alibis for them all. For who is awake at 3 the morning? Isobel starts taking sleep medication, weeks, maybe even months in advance, complaining of insomnia to her doctor who is fooled – again, she is a terrific actress – so that she cannot be the murderer; she was asleep, heavily medicated, so how could she possibly have killed her husband?”

Alex stopped for a moment to prop himself up on a table, unable to take the twinge in his leg any longer. “And so, on the morning of the 19th of October, 6 seemingly random people board the Orient Express, pretending not to know each other, knowing they are stepping into a closed environment with a murderer. In the evening, either Isobel or Michael put a sedative in Noah Bracken’s evening tea.”

“I did that,” Isobel said, her voice strong. She looked hardened and sure of herself, a stark comparison to the shocked and traumatized girl Alex had seen that first morning. “Michael brought the tea, but I put the Barbital in his drink. I knew if he woke up at any point, he would be able to fight back and win. He was a terrifying man, Mr Manes.”

Alex inclined his head. “At 4AM that night, everybody sneaks towards the Brackens’ cabin. Every one of these people has a reason to want Noah Bracken dead. So instead of just one person committing this murder, the knife Michael brought exchanges hands. This has the added benefit of thoroughly confusing any coroner examining the body, because not one of the stab wounds has the same depth and patterns. So every single one of the hurt and grieving people takes a stab at Noah Bracken’s chest, ending his life like he ended Rosa’s, justice finally done, Rosa’s spirit finally at peace.” Alex took a breath, examining the faces of the people in front of him. Liz and Arturo were quietly sobbing, Max holding Liz’s hand tightly. Michael’s face was wet as well, but a small smile played around his lips, too. Kyle was white as a sheet, his face taut with emotion. Maria and Mimi were holding each other’s hands tightly, their knuckles turning white. Isobel just stared at Alex, an open challenge. Alex let them all absorb the information he had laid out so far.

After a minute or two, he cleared his throat. “Now there was one thing none of them counted on. Passenger number nine. The unknown variable. I believe they tried to fill it with someone they trusted, a Miss Cameron. But she never showed up, so the cabin was given to a man who had already tried to get a ticket to Paris, but failed. Me. When the group realized a renowned private detective had somehow gotten aboard the train and straight into their meticulously planned out murder, I believe they panicked. Maybe they tried to blow the whole plan off, to try again at a later date. But they knew this was their one shot. So they went through with the plan. I think Michael was supposed to be my distraction, an actual coincidence that we had known each other in a previous life. He’d always been rather good at that, and maybe he was supposed to be that again. And it worked. For a while.”

“In the end, it was you who distracted me,” Michael said, with a shrug. “Long enough to understand that you are more important to me than anything in this world.”

Alex’s heart twisted in the best way, but he ignored it and continued on. “The group tried everything to throw sand in my face. The fake identification papers were a stroke of brilliance. The broken timeclock. Even stabbing Liz. I presume that was your doing, doctor Valenti.” Kyle inclined his head. “I still don’t understand the placement of the half-burned newspaper clipping, though – ”

“ – that was Noah’s doing,” Isobel interrupted, shrugging. “When he realized you were on board, he burned all his memorabilia he always carried with him, so you couldn’t inadvertently catch him. You scared him, Mr Manes. And my husband didn’t scare easy.” She gave him an impressed smile.

Alex inclined his head towards her slightly. “In the end, I realized I should’ve seen it before. Should’ve realized who each and every one of you was. I think Michael’s distraction worked beautifully. If only it had worked a little longer.” He let a silence fall, the group digesting Alex’s words slowly. Michael reached over and squeezed Alex’s hand. Alex squeezed back.

The silence stretched between them all, as each tried to compose themselves. After a few minutes, when even Kyle had lifted his head to look Alex in the eye again, Alex pushed himself off the table and went back to the middle of the room, facing all of them. “It’s the most plausible theory I have, it is true. But it is not bulletproof. While I have uncovered every identity, I have not a single shred of proof.”

“You said you had another theory?” Michael said, sharpest of them all, the love of his life, and Alex smiled.

“I do. After I lay out this theory, each and every one of us is going to have to make a choice. A choice that we will have to live with, one way or another.”

“Share it with us, Alex,’ Liz said, wiping her nose on her sleeve and looking up at him, trust in her eyes. She trusted him still, after all this.

Alex inclined his head. “Noah Bracken was murdered at 3AM when we were stopped in Vinkovci. An unknown assassin slipped on board this train while the conductor was making his scheduled telephone call, killed Noah Bracken in his sleep and locked the door to incriminate his sleeping wife. Then he slipped out through the window, which he left open, and disappeared into the night.”

A stunned silence fell in the dining carriage. Everyone was staring at Alex, then at each other and then back at Alex. Alex knew it was the simplest theory of all the ones he’d run through his head, and the one that had the least chance of ever being proven wrong. “Are you…are you serious?” Isobel said, leaning forward and staring up at Alex. “That’s…that’s your other theory? After you spend 20 minutes explaining your first one?”

“The simplest theories are often the truest, Ms Evans,” Alex said with a small smile that made Michael chuckle. “Every investigator knows this.”

“But in this case…” Liz started, but Alex held up a hand.

“In this case, I am faced with a choice. A choice of what I will tell the French police that will be waiting for me in Paris. If I choose option 1, you will all go to trial for murder. You may get off, since the theory I have is merely a theory. But your lives as you know it will be over. I will have to live with putting the man I love and good people to whom bad things have happened, behind bars.” Alex swallowed thickly. “If I choose option 2, you all walk away from this, and we will all have to live the rest of our lives knowing the truth. You will have to live with blood on your hands. And I will have to live with letting murderers walk free.”

Alex put his hands in his pockets as he looked at all of them. They were all looking at him, scared, afraid of his judgement, of his choice. But Alex shook his head. “I cannot make this decision alone. This is going to affect all of us. So we are all going to make a choice. And whatever we decide, that decision will haunt us for the rest of our lives.”

A stunned silence followed that. Alex looked at them all in turn, ending on Michael’s face which was filled with love and hurt and fear, mixed with just a tiny hint of pride.

“So,” Alex said, “what’s it going to be?”

[f4liveblogarchives]

Fantastic Four Vol 1 #183

Thur Aug 22 2019 [12:05 AM] Wack'd: Or, as it exists in my notes, "the one with five fucking writers for some reason" [12:05 AM] Bocaj: It takes a village to fantas a four sometimes [12:06 AM] Wack'd: Only Bill Mantlo has a writers credit on the title page but the letters column clears things up

[12:08 AM] Wack'd: So back to the story at hand [12:08 AM] Bocaj: Actual Giant Jim Shooter [12:08 AM] Wack'd: Thundra, Greer, and Impy witness Sue's fall from grace and also the Baxter and 2/3 superbeings decide they need to save her [12:08 AM] Wack'd: Impy is not thrilled

[12:09 AM] Bocaj: Good god Impy [12:09 AM] Bocaj: Thats [12:09 AM] Bocaj: something [12:09 AM] maxwellelvis: I thought he already figured out that humans can't change like he can? [12:09 AM] Wack'd: In fairness I don't think he understands the ramifications here but he probably should after watching enough television [12:09 AM] Wack'd: Man if Impy likes passively observing so much he should apply for Uatu's job [12:10 AM] Wack'd: See! He figures it out. Also I have no idea what appendage he's grabbing her with and I'd rather not find out

[12:11 AM] Wack'd: Counter-Reed realizes the jig is now officially "up" and starts setting up booby traps in the Baxter Building [12:11 AM] Bocaj: MENTOK THE MIND TAKER [12:11 AM] Bocaj: weeeEEEE oooOOOOO [12:11 AM] Wack'd: Hahahahahahaah [12:12 AM] Bocaj: "Crikey, your old pal the Brute has been rumbled, boys and girls" [12:12 AM] Wack'd: Oh my fucking god [12:12 AM] Wack'd: So the android Mad Thinker is using now isn't just the robot from #69 [12:13 AM] Wack'd: He's also the bat-thing from the 1968 annual [12:13 AM] Wack'd: Annihilus took him in and mutated him and now Mad Thinker has taken him back [12:14 AM] Wack'd: This third change in appearance comes courtesy of the Cosmic Control Rod, which I guess is also an evolutionary stone, now [12:14 AM] Bocaj: Thunder Stone? [12:14 AM] Wack'd: Sure [12:15 AM] maxwellelvis: HE NOT LIKE THE THUNDER STONE! [12:15 AM] Wack'd: So Reed, upon figuring out the Mad Thinker's android is just that, reasons Mad Thinker probably isn't in the Negative Zone [12:15 AM] Bocaj: Pikachu one day you must grow up [12:15 AM] Bocaj: And pay taxes [12:15 AM] maxwellelvis: If only I could find that dumb thing now. [12:16 AM] Wack'd: And makes Annihilus a deal--if they can bum a lift back to the Positive Zone, they'll kick Mad Thinker's ass for him [12:16 AM] Bocaj: Evolution is the solution if you're going to win deductibles from your medical claims [12:16 AM] Wack'd: Sue, Thundra and Greer high-tail it back up to the Negative Zone observation room [12:17 AM] Wack'd: Impy stays behind because he's bored [12:17 AM] Wack'd: Me when a fight scene happens

[12:17 AM] Bocaj: Hah [12:18 AM] Bocaj: good reaction image [12:18 AM] Wack'd: Thundra: more of a latch person, persomally

[12:19 AM] Wack'd: There are more roadblocks to come--Thundra sadly does not have strong opinions on lasers-- [12:19 AM] Wack'd: But meanwhile, the Thinker's Android has found the door to the Positive Zone [12:20 AM] Wack'd: And, for want of something else to do, decides to start wailing on Counter-Reed [12:21 AM] Wack'd: Sue manages to force-field-block the lasers, while Tigra jumps through a maze of mechanical arms [12:21 AM] Wack'd: This definitely feels kind of like a "job for Aquaman" situation Counter-Reed's devised here, honestly [12:22 AM] Wack'd: By the time the ladies get to Counter-Reed he is down for the count and so they decide to wail on the Thinker's Android [12:22 AM] Wack'd: And then Reed, Johnny, and Ben come through the portal and now everyone's just walloping on this thing [12:23 AM] maxwellelvis: WHY?! Why was I programmed to feel pain? [12:23 AM] Wack'd: Counter-Reed feels a bit guilty about trying to murder a man who would jump into the fray with no superpowers, basically starving and still in his undies, all to protect the people he cares about [12:24 AM] Wack'd: AND THEN THE MAD THINKER SHOWS UP TO CONQUER THE BAXTER BUILDING [12:24 AM] Bocaj: As ya do [12:24 AM] Wack'd: "oh wait there's like six combatants in here that i calculated would be absent, so, uh" [12:24 AM] Wack'd: AND THEN THE MAD THINKER BEATS A HASTY RETREAT [12:24 AM] maxwellelvis: *STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL [12:25 AM] Wack'd: seriously, literally what happens, it's wonderful

[12:26 AM] Bocaj: X-Factors are always the Mad Thinker's greatest downfall [12:26 AM] Bocaj: so its weird that he never fought the X-Factor team [12:26 AM] Bocaj: Marvel is just dumber than me with my big genius brain [12:26 AM] Wack'd: Anyway, Ben manages to retrieve the Cosmic Control Rod, and is about to crush it [12:26 AM] Wack'd: But Reed points out he promised he'd give it back to Annihilus [12:27 AM] Wack'd: And is about to go back to the Negative Zone to RETURN A SUPERWEAPON TO A SUPERVILLAIN BECAUSE HE MADE A PROMISE [12:27 AM] Wack'd: (more heroes should do stupid baby word games on stuff like this, honestly) [12:27 AM] Wack'd: When Counter-Reed is like "oh, uh, the concussion what made me evil has worn off and I feel just awful about all of this, I'll handle that for you, byyyyye" [12:28 AM] Wack'd: Grabs the Rod, hops into the Negative Zone portal, and vanishes [12:28 AM] Wack'd: But first he destroys the Negative Zone portal controls so no one can ever use them again until next time someone uses them [12:29 AM] Wack'd: And so this saga ends [12:30 AM] Wack'd: You can, uh, clearly tell that with Thomas gone everyone was kind of at a loss and wanted out of this story as quick as possible [12:30 AM] Wack'd: No wonder it took five guys over burger and fries to figure out how to get that done in two issues [12:31 AM] Bocaj: Huh [12:32 AM] Wack'd: On the letters page: readers are a big fan of the uptick in humor and one calls Sue his favorite team member! So a good day in the bullpen [12:33 AM] KarkatTheDalek: I haven’t really been paying attention, what’s Sue been doing lately? [12:33 AM] Wack'd: Puzzling out that her husband is a doppleganger, mostly [12:34 AM] KarkatTheDalek: Ah [12:34 AM] KarkatTheDalek: Good, I suppose? [12:34 AM] Wack'd: It was alright [12:34 AM] Wack'd: This whole saga had way too many moving parts for my liking [12:34 AM] Bocaj: Seems like it could have used one fewer [12:35 AM] Wack'd: We still haven't resolved why kidnappers kidnapped Agatha who kidnapped Franklin so we're probably back to that in [12:35 AM] Wack'd: FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 1 #184

[mrq1123]

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU COULD USE SOME SAGE ADVICE…

1. “It’s vital to remember who you really are. It’s very important. It isn’t a good idea to rely on other people or things to do it for you, you see. They always get it wrong.” (Sourcery)

2. “Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.” (I Shall Wear Midnight)

3. “If you don’t turn your life into a story, you just become a part of someone else’s story.” (The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents)

4. “Look, that’s why there’s rules, understand? So that you think before you break ’em.” (Thief of Time)

5. “If you trust in yourself…and believe in your dreams…and follow your star…you’ll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren’t so lazy.” (The Wee Free Men)

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF THE HOLIDAYS SEEM TO PASS BY FASTER EVERY YEAR…

6. “Time is a drug. Too much of it kills you.” (Small Gods)

7. “The whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it’s as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues.” (Moving Pictures)

8. “Coffee is a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to your older self.” (Thud!)

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU’RE GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL…

9. “His philosophy was a mixture of three famous schools—the Cynics, the Stoics and the Epicureans—and summed up all three of them in his famous phrase, ‘You can’t trust any bugger further than you can throw him, and there’s nothing you can do about it, so let’s have a drink.’” (Small Gods)

10. “The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.” (Diggers)

11. “Getting an education was a bit like a communicable sexual disease. It made you unsuitable for a lot of jobs and then you had the urge to pass it on.” (Hogfather)

12. “It’s still magic even if you know how it’s done.” (A Hat Full of Sky)

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU’RE HAVING AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS…

13. “God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won’t tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time.” (Good Omens)

14. “In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.” (Lords and Ladies)

15. “What have I always believed? That on the whole, and by and large, if a man lived properly, not according to what any priests said, but according to what seemed decent and honest inside, then it would, at the end, more or less, turn out all right.” (Small Gods)

16. “Seeing, contrary to popular wisdom, isn’t believing. It’s where belief stops, because it isn’t needed any more.” (Pyramids)

17. “Goodness is about what you do. Not who you pray to.” (Snuff)

18. “THAT’S MORTALS FOR YOU, Death continued. THEY’VE ONLY GOT A FEW YEARS IN THIS WORLD AND THEY SPEND THEM ALL IN MAKING THINGS COMPLICATED FOR THEMSELVES. FASCINATING.” (Mort)

19. “Nanny’s philosophy of life was to do what seemed like a good idea at the time, and do it as hard as possible. It had never let her down.” (Maskerade)

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU’RE IN A GOOD MOOD AND NO ONE CAN STOP YOU…

20. “Joy is to fun what the deep sea is to a puddle. It’s a feeling inside that can hardly be contained.” (A Hat Full of Sky)

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU’RE FEELING HOPELESS AND NEED ENCOURAGEMENT…

21. “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” (A Hat Full of Sky)

22. “There have been times, lately, when I dearly wished that I could change the past. Well, I can’t, but I can change the present, so that when it becomes the past it will turn out to be a past worth having.” (I Shall Wear Midnight)

23. “Sometimes glass glitters more than diamonds because it has more to prove.” (The Truth)

24. “There’s always a story. It’s all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything’s got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.” (A Hat Full of Sky)

25. “The worst thing you can do is nothing.” (Snuff)

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU’VE FALLEN IN LOVE AND CAN’T SNAP OUT OF IT…

26. “A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear that only the other one snores.” (The Fifth Elephant)

27. “And what would humans be without love?”

RARE, said Death.” (Sourcery)

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU’RE CONTEMPLATING MORTALITY…

28. “It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.” (The Last Continent)

29. “He’d been wrong, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and it was a flamethrower.” (Mort)

30. “Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?” (Going Postal)

31. “Anyway, if you stop tellin’ people it’s all sorted out afer they’re dead, they might try sorting it all out while they’re alive. ” (Good Omens)

32. “We who think we are about to die will laugh at anything.” (Night Watch)

FUNNY TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU COULD JUST USE A LAUGH…

33. “All tapes left in a car for more than about a fortnight metamorphose into Best of Queen albums.” (Good Omens)

34. “Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying ‘End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH’, the paint wouldn’t even have time to dry.” (Thief of Time)

35. “The entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks.” (Equal Rites)

36. “Give a man a fire and he’s warm for a day, but set fire to him and he’s warm for the rest of his life.” (Jingo)

37. “It was sad, like those businessmen who came to work in serious clothes but wore colorful ties in a mad, desperate attempt to show there was a free spirit in there somewhere.” (Making Money)

38. “Five exclamation marks, the sure sign of an insane mind.” (Reaper Man)

TERRY PRATCHETT QUOTES IF YOU HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CAT…

39. “If cats looked like frogs we’d realize what nasty, cruel little bastards they are. Style. That’s what people remember.” (Lords and Ladies)

40. “I meant,” said Ipslore bitterly, “what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?”

Death thought about it.

CATS, he said eventually. CATS ARE NICE.” (Sourcery)