#comrads patty

[mydramasims]

My Life pt. 4

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tags: @havenroyals @budgie2budgie @ts4-poses @nightlifeseries @nightlifeseriescc @plut0sw0rld

@charey111 @tiallussims @igglemouse @enniewritesathing @ninawhims @maggiegepardyt @simsjerry

@unicorns-land @hausofmao @allrosenrot @thefabianworld @miss-may-i @weirdosalike @mysimsloveaffair @igglemouse

[parme-san]

becomes semi irrationally afraid that my irls can see me posting

[bighermie]

Trump Appears To Blame "Comrade Kamala Harris" and Dirty Media For Assassination Attempt Against Him: "Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying!" | The Gateway Pundit | by Patty McMurray

[thekingofwinterblog]

Thoughts on some future post canon scenario for the Soul Eater anime?

If i were to write a followup to the Anime, i would focus on 2 overarching conflicts, and use them as backdrops for the main cast's further development.

Those two conflicts would be the age old conflcit between death's side and the witches, and how recent developments would naturally lead to escalation, while the other conflict i would gice focus is the rise of a new kishin, one who's madness was not fear, as we have explored that as far as it can go.

The witches are the secondary conflict of soul eater, but we are never given focus on it as two sides, just individual witches like medusa and her sisters.

You can easily change that however, and use the fact the two sides did not make peace in the anime for a sequel story.

Especially because something has changed. Something that would lohically be the next step in escalation.

The death of Kishin Asura proved that not only could the great old ones be defeated... It also showed how. By hitting them with an embodiment of their opposite.

That completely changes the ballgame when the next shinigami rises to take his father's place, because following the death of asura, the witches under mabaa would probably be very, very interested in doing to him, what Maka did to Asura.

I would have them try to turn this concept into an art, using magical science and understanding into discovering the exact in-universe mechanics behind this, and how to sinplify the process... Or maybe even use it as the basis for successfully taking control over a great old one that witches through both the anime and manga kept trying to do with Asura.

Excalibur has always been a true joke character... But imagine his power under the control of an antagonistic witch.

That would be both terrifying... And also keeping in theme with what Asura said at the end.

Even if Maka defeated him, some new, great evil would arise. A second, an heir, a successor, whatever, someone would rise to fill his void.

That was a risk Maka understood and accepted as she crushed Asura. She just did not care, because she refused to live her life in fear. If it did, she would handle it when the day came.

It also would ahow that Shinigami wasnt exagerating when he described the conflict between witches and his side as one of eternal esxalation.

Of course, this new stage of an age old conflict, and the potential rise of a new great Kishin would mainly be there to serve as the backdrop for our main cast. I would also very distinctly be taking this story in a more romantic development for all of them, exporing the fact that as the series ended, any followup would certainly have them be young adults.

Obviously kid's story would be about actually having taken his father's place, and actually having to continue his father's conflicts... As well as how Patty and Liz would fit into it. Has he considered the fact that just like his father he would outlive every single one of his friends and comrades? How would he react to that? We know how his father reacted to fear... He ripped it out and made Asura. But Kid is a new shinigami, that will have to find his own way.

As for the sisters, what do they want? Are they content to live as Kid's guns until the day they die? And if so, will that be as friends, or do they want aomething more out of it?

Tsubaki and Black star would be very similar to the manga journey, but with the cqveat that Black Star in this universe did not kill Mizune... Im not exactly sure how i would have his overall journey change as a result, but i feel that this moment was a truly decisive one in his development, so having him take a different route should have consequences.

As for Tsubaki, i'll be real, out of all the weapons she is by far the one that NEEDED to take her relationship with her weapon to the next level if you want her to actually develop as a character, but she just doesnt have many other routes to take... And it's not as if her wanting to take the next step with Black Star is a bad next step for her.

And finally we have Maka, Soul and Crona.

Now there are two sides of these i would explore. The romance, and the non romance.

The non-romance part is exploring their family lives. Medusa isn't dead for one, so that is something that needs to be adressed, but it's hardly the only one.

Soul and Maka both have families they love, but have run away from for various reasons, and in different ways. With Maka i would have her and Crona talk about it, and have Maka begin to come to terms with the fact that her mother abandoned her... Leading to them tracking her down. Wheter or she comes back home with them or not, the main focus would be closure.

Maka and her mother reaffirming their love for each other, while also not sweeping the very real faults of mrs albarn and how she handled her divorce under the rug. Maybe with maka having the realisation that she simply does not understand her mother, or that her mother simply is not capable or doing what she did, and taking another leap of faith like she did after Crona betrayed her.

As for Soul I would absolutely have him having to interact with his family(after he becomes a death scythe) again, but exploring their issues from a different angle, namely that for all his feelings of inaduqasies, his family never really regarded him as lesser in any way, and quite on the contrary, are really proud of him for becoming a death scythe.

Having to confront the fact that everything you saw wrong with the world is a bitter pill to swallow... But absolutely great for a character arc. It's mundane, but also a great window into Soul's character.

Now with that in mind, i would also use Soul's development for something else.

Namely having his newfound courage to confront things he doesnt like or feel confident aboyt head on lead to conflict, as he now is willing to confront a reality staring him in the face head on.

That conflict being Maka and Crona.

Now it's pretty clear in both the Manga and the anime that soul does have feelings for Maka, with his genderbent self(which represents his ideal idea for a partner) in particular looking very similar to a maka who let her hair grow long...

But that is not the case for Maka, who's ideal partner is a spindly beanpole, with short hair, with an andragonous looking boy that could easily be labled as either gender.

Now while the main cast took this ideal sense to play up what they see as no changes, what this "Ideal" partner represents is actually pretty obvious.

Namely how Crona looked before leaving the school, and by extension going through puberty.

In regards to how i would use this for this sequen to the anime, i would have Soul having to confront the fact the girl he likes in love with someone else... One of his own friends, who the anime seems to suggest moved in with him and maka after the Kishin's defeat.

One who, lets be frank, returns ALL of Maka's feelings.

There is SO much much juicy potential for great character developments and moments especially within the context that there is a very real war going on around all of them, where Maka and Soul need to be at their very best.

Not to mention that this would probably be one topic that would bring out genuine passion in the introverted Crona, who's development with Maka being the most important thing In Crona's life, having the reality that Crona is not the only person who loves Maka could be a very real wakeup that leads to further development.

And of course there is Maka in the middle of it all, where you cpuld handle it from several different angles. She could be the sane man, who is trying to keep their team focused on the mission, who is completely blindsided that Crona and Maka choose NOW of all times to have this discussion... Or you could have her be completely blindsided by the fact that Soul has feelings for her, and chooses to bare them to her before a romantic relationship with Crona(who she likes) has actually taken hold.

There are a lot of ways to handle it, and the aftermath, and subsequent reconnection as the partners have to come to terms with it, and decide where they fo from here. Its rife for great drama, and rooted in the respective character flaws and developments... As opposed to Manga Maka's sudden and out of nowhere fear she is inaduquate compared to soul.

Good character development and drama is built on what is already there, not inventing things whole cloth.

As for the next Kishin, wheter they be an existing character twisted to the path like Crona, or an entierly new character, i would probably play up the fact that the Witches wants to control them, while Death's faction wants to exterminate them... But in the end, it's a friendship from either, or both sides that in the end convinces the Kishin to do what neither Asura or Manga Crona did.

Give up on the power of their own free will, in favor of their bonds with other people, rather than embrace a lonely existence as the strongest thing alive.

Im not sure if i would completely end the conflict between witches and Death like the manga did, but i would definitly lay the groundworks for some kind of lasting peace at the end of season 2, where the two sides are just... TIRED of endless war, back and forths, retalitions and counterstrikes.

I think an uncertain future, but still one where the protagonists choose to give this peace between them a try, similar to the end of the original anime after Asura's defeat, would probably work best.

[voraciousvore]

Bucky's (15/44)

***Contains soft vore and explicit fatal digestion/ gore***

Chapter 15: Revenge is a Dish

Patty was puzzled. Her foot was healing far faster than she could have ever dreamed of. She suspected the pills had something to do with this miracle. She didn’t know how the pills worked, since their qualities seemed almost magical by nature, but she noticed every time she took one her toe wounds healed more, and the pain reduced. Her theory was that the pills were some type of ultra-powerful steroid that regenerated tissue faster than it could be destroyed. She worried about the side effects of such a powerful drug, but she had no choice but to take them unless she wanted to be digested alive, a gruesome prospect. After the effects wore off, she always did feel tired, hungry, and oftentimes nauseous, though the last reaction may be the result of marinating in churning gastric juices for hours. Either way, she couldn’t deny that her foot was improving at a fantastical rate. She stopped wearing her bandages, since she didn’t seem to require them any longer, and she was forced to take them off every time she was added to a dish regardless. 

The days were beginning to blend together, with how repetitive the routine was. The humans never got a day off, since the restaurant was always open morning to night, breakfast to dinner. Humans disappeared to the horrific catastrophe that was fatal ingestion all too often, but new humans swelled the ranks just as quickly in the absence of their lost comrades. As usual, Patty had difficulty keeping straight all the names and faces, especially when they seemed to randomly disappear. Some were innocents who had been kidnapped and trafficked, while others were death row inmates or murderers. Most were only guilty of petty crimes, and had been tricked into a shorter lifespan rather than a shorter sentence, just like Patty. 

Patty found her life at Bucky’s, besides being terrifying and depressing, extremely boring. Bucky did not provide his human stock with any entertainment whatsoever. They had no books, games, paper or pens, or electronics. Patty wished she could write or call home to let her folks know what happened to her, but she had no means to do so. When the humans were in the tank on display, they had nothing to do except talk to each other, stare into space, or watch their comrades get eaten. Getting to know people too well was a hazard, since nobody knew who was going to get picked to die next, or when. 

Most days, Patty was chosen to be eaten at least once. She could never truly acclimate to the experience or get comfortable with it. No matter how many times she was eaten, how many mouths and gullets and viscera she toured, she was always afraid, particularly when she envisioned all the ways she could be hurt, or what could go wrong. A customer could accidentally bite into her or injure her. A customer could spontaneously change their mind and decide they wanted to try fatal ingestion. Additionally, it would be easy for a customer to dine and dash, and leave the restaurant with her still inside his stomach. The customers could be quickly found and hauled back, since the trackers telescoped their location, but the risk was real, and there was no guarantee that the human inside would be saved in time. 

The experience of being eaten was highly varied, with some Giants being worse, or even far worse, than others. Some were cruel and delighted in tormenting their prey. Others had rotting teeth or bad breath. Unruly Giants at the bar drank too much, and their insides reeked of alcohol enough to make the human inside feel drunk. Patty had one notably bad experience with a rowdy group of college-age Giants at the bar who were taking shots. She was ordered up in a drink, of all things, and imbibed in a single gulp. Regrettably for poor Patty, she was vomited up in a trash can not long after. The Giant who expelled her didn’t want to own up to his mistake, so Patty was trapped in the trash can, with walls too tall to climb, stewing in vomit for at least an hour. She got buried in trash, crying for help, until Bucky had to locate her with the tracker. 

Another time a couple madly in love had ordered a human on an ice cream sundae to share. Patty was the unlucky choice to be plopped onto a mountain of ice cream, covered in sprinkles, caramel, and whipped cream. She had to listen to the two gigantic lovebirds coo at each other sweet nothings, gagging to herself, until the Giantess picked her up with her spoon and sucked Patty into her mouth. Then, the Giantess was so overcome with lust she just had to make out with her lover, then and there, and Patty was disgusted to find herself in the middle of a passionate kissing session. She was swapped back and forth between the two cavernous mouths a few times, saturated with spit and disoriented by intertwining slimy tongues and lips. When she was finally swallowed, she wasn’t even sure whose belly she ended up in, until she identified distinctively masculine breathing and the bass rumble of a Giant man’s voice. 

One particularly memorable session involved a wealthy, corpulent Giant who came into the restaurant late one night for dinner, at a time when the human population in the tank was beginning to dwindle out. He claimed to be on a diet, and instead of ordering a plate of chicken wings he desired an entire plate full of human entrees covered in wing sauce. The waitress called Bucky over, flustered by the order, and at first Bucky thought the man was joking. Once he realized the fat Giant with an even fatter wallet was serious, and was willing to shell out the extra fees for additional human entrees, Bucky was dazzled by dollar signs and happily fulfilled his request.  

The Giant ended up cleaning out the entire crowd of humans in the tank onto his plate. He gobbled them all up, one by one, until his sizable stomach was stuffed. Patty had been among the group, and she recalled the distinctly unpleasant experience of being crammed into his big belly with too many other people. The Giant, of course, was delighted by all the shuffling and squirming in his belly, and slapped and bounced his jiggling gut with his chubby hands to rile up the humans more. Getting out had been tricky as well, since there were so many humans fighting over the rope. Patty was scared that somebody would be left behind by accident, but fortunately Bucky was meticulous about protecting his investments. 

Her worst incident, however, was scarred into her memory forever. The day had been fairly typical, with the usual lunch rush and a small lull before dinnertime. Patty hadn’t been chosen yet that day, and was awaiting her fate in the tank as usual, on edge. Cracker Jack was fated to be the next entrée, and Patty watched as he became nothing more than a squirming lump in a crunch wrap. A Giantess demolished the wrap with substantial bites, and Patty could only hope that her fellow prisoner wasn’t harmed as his body was enclosed into her mouth and swallowed. 

Bucky sauntered over to the tank, a sadistic sparkle in his gemstone eyes. A new human was yowling and wriggling in his fist. Fresh meat. He opened the lid and carelessly dropped the new arrival in with the rest of the humans, then slammed the lid shut and walked off. The new human was a short, thin, twiggy woman with a pretty face and long blonde hair, still damp from being rinsed off. She collected herself off the floor of the tank, dusting off her clothes and muttering obscenities under her breath. 

Patty’s eyes widened in shock. The woman’s nametag read “Pink Lady,” but that’s not how Patty knew her. Patty would recognize that odious woman anywhere. “Jenny!” she yelled, balling her hands into fists. 

The woman stiffened as she recognized Patty’s voice. “Why, Tanya!” she uttered, dripping with sarcasm. “Fancy seeing you here!” 

Patty was shaking with rage. “What the fuck, Jenny? How could you do this to me? And then—” She was so furious she could barely verbalize her thoughts. “And then show up here yourself?” 

Jenny rolled her eyes. “It was good riddance, as far as I was concerned,” she scoffed. “Too bad I happened to get caught with more drugs later.” 

“Goddammit Jenny!” Patty’s wrath boiled over. Before her rational mind could intervene, her temper got the better of her and she sprinted over and tackled Jenny, knocking her to the ground. She raised her fist and slugged her old roommate in the face, then cocked her arm back for another blow. All her despair and frustration and resentment over her terrible situation was loaded into that punch, and she wasn’t going to run out of ammo anytime soon. 

Their brawl was interrupted by the booming voice of a Giant right outside the glass, making both girls flinch. “I want those two!” Patty froze up, her fist still in a dynamic pose above her head, ready to slug Jenny in the face again. The women stared with wide eyes at the Giant face ogling them with glee. 

“Shit,” Jenny murmured. She trembled. 

“I was only going to eat one, but they’re so lively together! I bet they’ll feel so good squirming around in my gut!” The Giant straightened into a standing position, smacked his lips, and rubbed his belly eagerly. Patty glanced down at Jenny, whose face blanched with horror as the foreboding shadow of an enormous hand hovered over the unfortunate pair. She realized, in that instant, Jenny thought they were both about to die. 

The waitress’s hand snatched up both humans together, and Patty found herself pressed up against her former roommate, who was terrified. For an ugly moment, Patty was tempted to give in to her anger and omit the truth from Jenny. She was the one responsible for the hell Patty was in, after all. Patty thirsted for vengeance. She knew Jenny deserved her fate. She hated her with a violent passion. 

Yet, she shirked away from this bloodthirsty urge. Patty wasn’t a vindictive person by nature, and the idea curdled her insides. As much as she wanted Jenny to suffer, she knew it would not materially change her situation. She’d still be stuck here, at Bucky’s. With Jenny smashed up against her in the Giantess’s hand, she could feel the tension in her body, the uncontrollable shaking. Despite lashing out in an initial fit of rage, Patty had empathy, even for her enemy. She remembered how frightening her first day had been. 

“It’ll be okay, Jenny,” she said in what she hoped was a reassuring tone. She looked into her face, which was darkening with a purple bruise from her punch earlier. Jenny glared back with hatred. “We’ll be eaten, yes, but we’re not going to-” 

“Just shut up, Tanya!” Jenny shrieked. She started to cry. She was too distraught to listen. Patty supposed punching her in the face probably didn’t make her more receptive either. 

Patty opened her mouth to reason with her, but she was jostled about by the waitress and found herself trapped inside the hollow fist of Chef Cruor, cut off from Jenny. Next thing she knew, she was shoved into a gigantic sandwich, with a bed of deli meat and a blanket of cheese. Jenny was pushed into the same sandwich nearby, shouting and cursing at the chef. With just their teeny heads sticking out between the thick slices of bread, and their limbs pinned, Patty tried to talk to Jenny again. 

“Make sure you take the pill he gives you,” she urged. As if on cue, Chef Cruor offered Patty her pill and she obediently took it. He forced the pill into Jenny’s face next, who resisted, turning her face away. 

“Take it,” the chef commanded in a booming voice, tucking the pill into her mouth. Jenny spat it out. Chef Cruor’s eyebrows shifted down with irritation, but he seemed more gloomy and fatigued than anything else. “Damn humans,” he muttered, stuffing the pill into her mouth again with the pad of his massive finger. 

“Jenny, take it! You’ll die if you don’t!” Patty cried. 

“Yeah right! As if I’d believe or do anything that you or that monstrous ogre says!” Jenny retorted, expelling her pill a second time. 

“Fine. Do whatever you wish. See if I care,” Chef Cruor grumbled as he placed a piping hot batch of fresh fries alongside the colossal sandwich. He picked up the huge dinner plate and brought it over to the section for completed meals. “Order up!” 

“Jenny!” Patty pleaded. “The pill prevents you from getting digested! You can survive, but you have to take it!” A waitress came up and grabbed the plate, balancing it on her hand as she whisked it away to the table. 

“Fuck you, Tanya!” Jenny cursed. “I wouldn’t trust you any farther than I could throw you!” Patty felt a growing horror as she realized the implications of Jenny’s distrust and rash decision-making. They were going into the same stomach together. Jenny was going to die a grisly death, and Patty would be there to witness the whole ghastly process. She was powerless to do anything. Jenny wouldn’t listen to reason. She was grasping at straws to come up with a way to save Jenny. As much as she hated her former roommate, now current sandwich-mate and future stomach-mate, the thought of watching a person get digested alive was too horrific to bear. 

Patty was out of time, however, because the plate was already on the table, where the enormous Giant was waiting eagerly to devour them. He snatched up the sandwich in his hands and licked his lips. Jenny squealed with fright. As he raised the sandwich up to his mouth, opening it wide to expose the dripping red cavern within, Patty had one more desperate idea: a direct appeal to the Giant himself. 

“Wait, sir! Stop!” she shouted. She didn’t expect him to listen to her screams, but to her surprise the Giant blinked and paused, his mouth still open. His gigantic tongue curled inward slightly. Patty leapt at the chance. “Don’t eat that other girl! She didn’t take her pill, and she’ll die! Just eat me.”  

Internally, Patty grimaced. She couldn’t believe she was really choosing to be the sacrificial lamb for her sworn nemesis, yet here she was. She supposed she was going to be eaten either way. She glanced over at Jenny, who was gaping back at her in shock. The fact that Patty was actually telling the truth was beginning to dawn on her. There was no way Patty would keep up such a ruse by yelling at the Giant that was about to eat them both. 

The Giant hesitated for a moment, before deciding to eat his whole sandwich anyway. He didn’t care about the fate of the insignificant creatures inside. Jenny screamed as she disappeared into his jaws, the teeth closing all around her with terrible crushing force. Her cries were muffled inside his mouth as he chewed his meal, savoring the tremendous mouthful before swallowing it all down, including Jenny. 

He inserted Patty into his mouth next and bit down to cut her off from the rest of the sandwich. He shuffled her out of the bread with his tongue and processed the rest with his teeth while he tasted her. Patty felt a looming sense of dread as she was sloshed around in chewed-up food and saliva. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Jenny’s fate was somehow her fault. If she hadn’t lost her temper and attacked Jenny upon her arrival, Jenny may have been spared. Jenny may have been more receptive to her warning to take the pill, or maybe the Giant whose mouth she was in wouldn’t have noticed the pair and picked another victim instead. She didn’t have any more time to dwell on it before she slid headfirst into the hungry gullet and down the throat. 

When Patty dropped inside the cavernous stomach, she was greeted immediately by frantic screams and wails. Jenny didn’t know her tracker had a light, so the internal world was black as pitch. Patty floated dumbly in the acid, petrified to the spot and numb with despair. Just hearing Jenny’s agonizing screams stabbed her in the heart. She didn’t want the gory visuals to go with it. The universe had other plans, however, because Jenny’s thrashing triggered her tracker’s light to click on. Jenny let out a startled gasp and looked around at the hellscape of flesh trapping her inside. She shined the light in Patty’s face and held it there. 

“Patty! Help me!” she wailed. Her face was contorted with desperation and tears. 

“There’s nothing we can do,” Patty replied, shaking her head. “Trust me, I’ve tried many times before.” The stake in her heart embedded itself deeper, and she struggled to hold back tears. 

“No!” Jenny protested. “No, I refuse to give up!” She grimaced with pain as the acid began to dig into her skin. She coughed on the acrid fumes, turned around, and continued to beat on the stomach lining with her fists. Patty watched her sadly. This wasn’t how she wanted things to go at all. She had wanted Jenny to get her comeuppance, sure, but such a fate was too cruel. Jenny’s movements became more spastic and sluggish as the thin air began to starve her of oxygen. She stopped beating up the walls and slumped into the curve of the lining, facing Patty. 

“So, this is it then…” she admitted shakily, tears streaming down her face. The stomach grumbled around them like an earthquake and Jenny shivered. Her face twisted in discomfort as she looked down at her raw, red, stinging hands. Her skin was slowly being eaten up by the harsh chemicals. She surveyed the soggy chunks of bread and sandwich bits partially submerged in the digestive fluids, as they started to break down, with the knowledge that she would soon dissolve into nothing herself, to become absorbed by the gigantic living body around her. Her “Pink Lady” nametag disintegrated off her chest into a pulp. 

Patty didn’t know what to say. She didn’t have any words of comfort. There was no hope, nothing left to say. The two went silent, with only the rhythmic heartbeat, breathing, and obnoxious gurgling to fill the void. Jenny’s visage was red under the light and contorted with emotional and physical distress. She was hoping to fade out of awareness before experiencing severe pain. Her skin was bleeding and peeling off in chunks now, particularly on her legs and feet. She knew she didn’t have any time left. 

“Patty... I’m sorry. For everything,” she apologized through her tears. “I’m so sorry.” 

“It’s okay, Jenny,” Patty responded softly. “I forgive you.” Jenny, having made peace with her final words, smiled weakly before her vision blacked out and she lost consciousness. She collapsed into the acid facedown with a splash. Patty didn’t move. Before long, Jenny was gone, and Patty was alone with a lifeless corpse, churning in the boiling fluid. She stared numbly as the skin came apart, exposing the layers of fat, muscle, and bone underneath. The organs broke loose and floated in the muck like shiny, bulbous balloons of various shades of pink. Patty had nowhere to go, nothing to do except wait, watching the dead body get digested, until she could be hauled upward to salvation.  

Chapter 16

Chapter 1

[kairunatic]

Oh glob here we go again little heads up I lost a few brain cell and a little of my sanity after reading this ep

OK so Dyne and Gymons along with Bal, amorey and MC(Gaia) went to Azuterra requested by Rook Parents to go check up on him. They met the Azuterra peeps and they inform they can't find Rook and also Sigvaldi,

Also I gotta comment on there lair appart from having Dildos and Vibrators appearing. The lair also pops out Ginger cookies and other treats/ decorations you can find in a legit Christmas party. Lisa and Patty ate some cookies and Lisa was nonchalant that one of there comrades and client is missing and possibly dead by now lol

[oceansgaywaves]

Finalis Somnia

Celephais…!?

Azura shielded her eyes from the bright, burning light that rained down on the group like arrows of blinding power from the sky. It felt so familiar, that feeling of cowering in the face of an emergent, overwhelming power. She was so young back then, and now…

Azura stands in front of her loving, perfect family. The kingdom is whole, harmonious, and peaceful, but most importantly, everyone she loves is happy. Her brothers, her sisters, even the mother she never thought she would see again. Even her hope incarnate, standing in front of her with those tender, crimson eyes that bore into her with dazzling, furious, blazing light that ENCOMPASSES ALL WITH THE HOLY POWER OF DREAMS AND-

As the afterimages fade from her retinas, she finds herself standing next to Roy and Patty, far outside the village walls. What? How? What happened to us? Their wounds from the earlier fight seem even more apparent, drawn in stark contrast by the inky dark and radiant light. Shadows seep out of the ground around them, collecting into globs and ripping dead trees out of the ground. In the dark distance, she can hear a loud groaning that rises, rears its head, and writhes like a storm of faces and bodies. The core of the nightmares?

On the other hand, at the center of the village floats a beautiful woman who almost seems to tower over the buildings. Merely looking at her is difficult, and the aura surrounding her projects a torrent of nearly deafening noise like the songs of angels.

That song… her magic is similar to…! So that’s why the song works here. But if I use it that much… No, it's sing or die. Time to take the stage.

Azura casts Heal on Roy. 1d20 roll: 17 Good Heal! (+4HP) Roy’s HP: 11/12

“You are the ocean’s gray waves…!”

Just like when building the fence so many weeks ago, pale blue light flows out from Azura’s pendant like waves, wrapping around her arms and fingers in rivulets. With a sweeping motion, bubbles fly to Roy's injuries, patching and soothing them.

Roy, Patty, and Azura understand just what needs to be done. Other groups of their comrades brandish their weapons, begin incantations, and charge towards the walls of the village, and they follow suit. Together, alongside the monsters they once fought against, they would liberate this village and their friends from the twisted dream.

@lionsword @lockpicnic

[garythingsworld]

Trump Appears To Blame "Comrade Kamala Harris" and Dirty Media For Assassination Attempt Against Him: "Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying!" | The Gateway Pundit | by Patty McMurray

[hardcore-lonewolf]

🐁Little Mouse🐁

Plot: Mouse (Eva Nelson) got turned into an adorable little girl, it led to the Team babysitting her since Wonder Girl (Octavia Trevor) found her first and this adorable heroine got everybody wrapped around her tiny little fingers. Funny things and moments from our little baby mouse.

Mouse was fighting off Klarion at the Fountain of Youth and using her mana to shift Teekl back. The Witch Boy grew enraged and used his necromancy to strike the Lucky Girl hard into the chest. The ginger-haired heroine fell into the sacred waters of the fountain and didn't submerged from it until Klarion grabbed her out.

The Team was taking down Legerdomainians when Superboy heard a little toddler crying and instantly snapped his head to see Klarion backing away from a tiny bundle of joy out of fear, who's using the same mana powers as Mouse. Wonder Girl immediately struck the Witch Boy with some lightning and runs over to the young child. She froze to see that the toddler was not only wearing the Lucky Girl's suit and mask, but the signature ginger hair and green eyes are noticeable.

"Is that..." Wonder Girl asked breathlessly as the Team rushes over and they were shocked to see Mouse for the very first time as a little toddler.

Mouse slowly relaxes at the familiar psychic bond she senses close to her and the pink mana dome goes down around the toddler. The demigoddess carefully picks up the three year old girl and cradles her close. The young adult woman quietly coos at the tiny child and holds Mouse with motherly instincts.

"She seems to be calm for now," the Amazonian demigoddess said quietly to the Team.

Mouse's big green eyes slowly opened to see the Team looking at her in disbelief and awe. She was currently in Wonder Girl's arms, the Lucky Girl stares up at the demigoddess and smiles softly. She grabs the female demigod's pinky finger and giggles happily as the older heroine gently tickles her.

"Let's head back to the mountain," the demigoddess whispered to the Team and walks away from the Fountain of Youth with a content toddler in her arms.

("Eva literally got Tavia wrapped around her fingers,") the Boy Wonder said telepathically as him and his three teammates followed the heroines, who were very excited to be near a cute little girl.

"'It's been only a few seconds, come on...now she got M'gann and Artie following after her too." Kid Flash complained out loud, earning several "SHHH" noises and warning glares from his six comrades.

Mouse was peacefully sleeping in Miss Martian's arms as she snuggled up close to the Martian heroine's warmth and energy. Aqualad was telling the Justice League what happened while the three teenage girls cooed over the Lucky Girl and watched her stay fast asleep. Mouse was in a daydream of everlasting peace while Miss Martian gently brushes her short ginger hair and let the half-Anodite toddler nuzzle closer to the telepath's warmth.

"We're so blackmailing her with these pictures when she turns back to normal," the speedster nodded at Robin's statement in agreement and stares at Mouse with awe.

Kid Flash was taking pictures and watching the Lucky Girl interact with Artemis now. The assassin was playing a game of patty cake with Mouse, who was enjoying the game and couldn't stop giggling happily. Robin was recording the whole thing and saw Mouse looking up at him in curiosity when she caught the light.

"Hi Evie," she smiled up at the Boy Wonder and stood up on her two tiny feet.

She begun walking over to Robin and made the "grabbing hands" gesture to him. The Boy Wonder complied at her silent adorable motion, he picks her up and Mouse lays her head on his shoulder. Robin kisses her forehead and nuzzles his nose onto hers.

"I'm surprised Eva's well-behaved, is it an Anodite trait or something else M'gann?" Artemis asked Miss Martian, smiling and chuckling in amusement as Mouse tries to take Robin's mask off.

"No, though her parents stated that her brothers were wild when they were way younger. Eva was tamed and content like her baby sister with whoever she senses as a loved one." Mouse saw Wolf and got down out of Robin's arms. "And she's going for Wolf now."

She gently pets Wolf with a content look and he licks her in response. Mouse giggles and carefully climbs onto the white wolf's back. Wolf takes her away and she smiles joyfully.

"Aw man, Wolf sees her as a little pup now." Kid Flash mumbled while pouting and stops when Wolf came back without her several minutes later from Superboy's bedroom.

Superboy was staring at Mouse on his bed, who stares back at him and was a bit confused. He held up her stuffed animal Koneko to see if she remembers it and she does instantly by the happy noises she was making. Mouse makes grabbing hands at her beloved possession and smiled brightly when Superboy hands it over.

'No wonder the League was downright protective of her, she was a cute little girl.' Superboy thought as he picks her up and she cuddles into him.

Superboy walks out and went into the living room. Mouse was still playing with Koneko while Wonder Girl was filming and trying not to squeal out loud with Miss Martian. Kid Flash sees Mouse with the Boy of Steel and knew Superboy wanted to hold her.

"SB, she got you too?" Superboy nodded silently at Robin as he grins at a smiling Mouse, who nuzzles her cheek into his hand and hugs Koneko close to her.

Kid Flash went behind Mouse, who notices and let him hold her next. The speedster cradles the Lucky Girl as she pays full attention to her surroundings and others. Artemis watched Kid Flash smile down at Mouse, the toddler was now in his arms and was paying close attention to him.

"Even as a toddler, she's fully aware of her surroundings and who's holding her." Robin said, smiling softly as Mouse stares at the Team and continues giving Kid Flash her full attention.

Mouse was gently patting the speedster's cheeks and he gave her his fingers to play around for a bit. The Lucky Girl smiles up at Kid Flash and played with the digits while snuggling with the speedster. The ginger-haired heroine let Kid Flash cuddle her close to his chest as he took her to the kitchen and hands her different pieces of fruit Wonder Girl washed up a few minutes ago.

"This isn't that bad after all," the Boy Wonder said while smiling and watching Kid Flash feed her. "This is too easy."

The Lucky Girl opens her mouth and begun munching on the slices of fruit. Mouse blinks her doe eyes a bit after finishing her food and was enjoying the sweetness of the fruit she's been savoring. The ginger-haired toddler hums softly as she finishes it and Kid Flash gently wipes her mouth off with a napkin.

"They left us to babysit Evie," the demigoddess told her teammates and boyfriend after getting off the phone with Batman.

"Yes!" Kid Flash cheered happily, causing Mouse to giggle with joy. "I've been wanting to do this since I first met her! They've been hogging her all the time from us, it's our turn now!"

Mouse got along with the rest and was extremely well-behaved to the Team's amazement. She knew how to sign well, can understand yes and no, and doesn't misbehave like most toddlers. Mouse did glare right at Batman through the Supercomputer one time while the rest try not to laugh and break composure.

"Evie, I know you don't like Batman at all, but he's a good guy in his own way." Mouse stopped and turns to Wonder Girl with a cute little pout until she smiled softly when the demigoddess kissed her forehead. "There you go babygirl, you just wanted our attention...did you?"

Aqualad introduced her to the beach yesterday with the rest of the Team, Mouse found a pretty clam with a pearl inside the shell and some other seashells on the sand. She showed them to Wally, who was proud that she got a souvenir and gave her a piggyback ride. Artemis snapped a picture of the two redheads and smiled as Mouse ran back to give her the pearl as a gift...the Team got a sweet little girl with a heart of gold.

The Team heard Red Arrow's arrival a few hours later and quietly stood up. Mouse was already in Aqualad's arms during that time and was now resting since he never got a turn of holding her. He finally understood why Mouse felt protected and content...her psychic bonds she must've been imprinted on the Team and hasn't faded away at all.

The Lucky Girl dozes lightly while gripping onto her leader's shirt with her soft bare hands, she was gently wrapped in a big cozy blanket and listening to his heartbeat. Superboy fed her some fruit and yogurt without any problems, which made him relieved due to his fear of hurting her. Mouse was tired and still absorbing mana while she rests due to feeling exhausted.

"Where's Eva?" Red Arrow asked the Team in worry. "Is she okay?"

The Team shushed him in unison and glared at him while pointing at a sleeping Mouse within Aqualad's arms. Red Arrow was shocked to see Mouse as a little toddler and noticed how the Team immediately grew overprotective of her. The Lucky Girl felt another presence rubbing her hair and opened her big green eyes to see Red Arrow smiling down at her.

"Hey there kiddo," she nuzzled her cheek on his fingers in return and went back to sleep on Aqualad. "What did you guys fed Evie? She tends to get sleepy by eating fruit."

Kid Flash confirmed to him it was some fruit and Red Arrow replied with a silent chuckle. The older vigilante told him that fruit instantly puts Mouse to sleep and they realized that he was right. Mouse was dozed off and was using Aqualad as a teddy bear.

("This last for a week, though I wonder what happens when she gets mad.") Superboy told his teammates.

("Since she has magic, she'll either get a tantrum or a meltdown.") Wonder Girl replied while taking Mouse from her boyfriend's arms and heading to bed. ("I'm putting Evie to bed, if she yawns one more time, all of us are doomed like last night when we were watching a movie.")

Mouse was gently placed in her bed and was hugging her stuffed teddy bear. Wonder Girl kisses her forehead and turns on the nightlight before turning off the lamp. The demigoddess closed the door and makes sure she walks away from Mouse's room.

'One week down...one more left and that's it.' Wonder Girl thought.

The next few days was interesting and amusing at the same time. Mouse threw a cookbook at the Flash's back with a mana whip and the Team busted out laughing at the adult speedster. Superboy was holding her during that time, he ruffled the toddler's orange hair and tenderly kisses her forehead as a sign of praise for her stunt.

"Evie, why my uncle?" Kid Flash asked while laughing hard and holding his stomach.

"I think she was telling your uncle Wally..."You want something...you make it yourself", and threw a cookbook at him." Wonder Girl stated to Kid Flash while feeding Mouse some carrots and smiles at how obedient she was when it comes to healthy foods.

"Such a good girl," the Boy of Steel whispered to Mouse, who finishes eating her veggies without any problems.

Flash crawls over to Superman and the Man of Steel helps the metahuman up. He knows why Mouse tends to be very honest and the Justice League doesn't know that they're on her bad side. Mouse was peacefully drinking some strawberry-banana milk from a bottle, nuzzling into Superboy's chest and closing her eyes at how amazing the sweet nutritious liquid was to her.

Miss Martian and Artemis arrived back to the store with bright smiles on their faces. They saw Superboy smiling down at Mouse with a gentle look, who's glaring up at Batman with her big eyes and a pout on her face. Robin and Kid Flash was trying not to laugh at how the Lucky Girl's mood changed when the League came into the mountain.

"Eva," the Lucky Girl kept on glaring at the Dark Knight and keeping her spine strong before speaking for the very first time.

She crossed her arms in defiance when the League wanted to watch over her for the rest of the week and turns to Superboy. The Boy of Steel raises an amused eyebrow and gives her back her bottle. Mouse drinks it and went back to glaring at Batman.

("Ah snap...she's doing the Bat glare! Wally, what did she do this morning?") Artemis asked him.

("Never let her inside the kitchen, she hit my uncle with a cookbook.") Kid Flash answered, earning laughter and amusement from the Team.

"Eva, say you're sorry to your uncles." Mouse kept her ground and crossed her arms to her chest again when she finishes her milk.

["He called me short and fragile, I don't owe him anything."] The Team and Red Arrow silently oohed at the sassy remark from the Lucky Girl, who signed it with her hands.

"But why beat him up with it young lady?" Wonder Woman asked her.

["Aunt Diana, you don't want that answer neither does Wally. Besides...between the both of them, Wally's more funnier than Barry,"] Superboy smirked a bit in amusement and places Mouse down on the floor.

"You hit Flash with a book," the Lucky Girl kept her glare right at Batman and didn't regret anything.

["Yeah...a cookbook,"] the demigoddess begun silently laughing into Aqualad's left shoulder and hiding her face from the view of others.

Mouse walks up to Batman and held her ground. The Team were silently laughing in the mind link as they watched her glare straight up at the Dark Knight. Batman glares down at her, Red Arrow and the seven teens saw the Lucky Girl use her powers to go to the Dark Knight's level.

"Evelina," Batman warned her sternly.

"Uncle," she growled softly in response. ["How about you say sorry about doing those things to my godmother? You broke my innocent eyes years ago by leaving that door open, it's still tainted in my head from that day forward."]

Robin went wide-eyed with disbelief at Mouse's silent rebuttal in sign language. The Team moved quickly to block the Lucky Girl from the Dark Knight and let their leader pick up Mouse. Batman couldn't say anything and knew she remembered that day.

"Wait a minute, you -" the scarlet archer cuts herself off and drags the Team away with Mouse in their custody.

["Batman, you don't have a life...you'll be the only superhero I know who's most likely adopting more broken kids as we know it."] The male scarlet archer slowly slumped down on the floor with the female green assassin and male yellow speedster in laughter. ["Try grounding me, I'll tell your wife that Vicki Vale's been sliding in your DMs since Valentine's Day."]

Artemis, Kid Flash, and Robin oohed in the mind link at that threat, seeing Batman lose the battle with Mouse winning by ASL. Aqualad, Miss Martian, Superboy, Wonder Girl, and Red Arrow were wide-eyed in disbelief as Mouse kept her foot down and didn't know how she tends the higher ground. The JLA Founders couldn't interfere with this argument and knew this will break Batman into pieces.

["Matter of fact, I demand all of you to pay my friends up since they watched over me and made sure I was fine. Something y'all old people can't even do. If you don't pay, each hit I give y'all with my bare hands will be worth a penny."] Mouse signed.

The Team instinctively steps back from the Lucky Girl and Red Arrow picks her up from Aqualad's arms. The Justice League knew Mouse was threatening them and will warn people if they don't do something right. Joker paid that price by a pair of metal tongs and a silver bullet cutting his penis off.

"You win...for now," the Lucky Girl takes out something in her pocket and points the the gun that she'd used on Joker at Batman with a raised eyebrow.

{"Once I get back to normal, the Team will never stop pestering me again. Either let me scare the clown,"} Batman complied and took her from the Team. {"Or I can do the same scenario on you, which one do you prefer old man?"}

Batman gave up and took Mouse to see the Joker. He was smirking a bit while the rest of the League left with them and the Team busted out laughing at how Mouse won a petty argument. Wonder Girl calms down with Aqualad and Miss Martian while dragging Superboy down to the ground beside them.

"So...are we getting paid for watching over you Evie?" Mouse hummed and thought about it before nodding with a tiny smirk. "Ooh baby girl, I love you so much."

Few minutes went by, Mouse was getting all of her memories back every night this week and was still letting the Team watch over her. The Lucky Girl was meditating inside her bedroom and was within her astral projection state. Mouse gets up and changes into something that will stretch to her real age by a magic spell.

Mouse was holding a camera while tearing up a bit and frowning sadly, she does remember every single moment they shared with her and wanted one last photo. She walks out of her room and sees the Team after calming herself down. They saw her looking depressed and knew why...they have three minutes left.

The toddler puts down the camera before running over to Robin and hugging him tight. The Boy Wonder feels Mouse's tears on his shirt and picks her up. The rest of the Team noticed her silently crying and shaking her head no with a tiny frown.

Red Arrow takes the device from the table for the picture, all eight teenage heroes smiled down at Mouse who grinned and was held by the red archer. Once the photo was taken, the spell wore right off and Mouse was back to normal. The Team sees her without her mask and suit for the very first time...in something that can describe the Lucky Girl...beautiful and kind.

"Eva?" Red Arrow called her name in concern and anticipation.

"Hi guys," they froze to hear Eva's voice for the first time...clear and bright.

Artemis hugs Mouse tight and the Lucky Girl hugs the female green archer back. The two girls pulled away as the blond-haired heroine sees the same necklace the Team found and got back for the thief. Mouse blushed softly while smiling and begun giggling underneath her breath at the memories.

Wonder Girl, Superboy, Aqualad, and Miss Martian could see the pearly whites shining like diamonds and her eyes glowing brighter than a green apple. Kid Flash quickly hoists her over his shoulder when Robin tries to shoot his shot and ran with a squealing Mouse holding onto him. The Boy Wonder was offended as Artemis pats his shoulder and snickers.

"Yoink!" Kid Flash hollered out while Robin gawks and put his hand on his heart with a hurt look on his face.

"Why Wally, why?!!" The rest chuckled in amusement and knew where Kid Flash was taking the Lucky Girl back to her door except for Robin.

Mouse walks back into her bedroom when Kid Flash puts her down and he went to the Super Computer for a moment. The speedster sees the pictures of last week and smiled at each of them before printing them all out when he saw Mouse wrote down what she'll do to them. The Lucky Girl finds her profile right on her laptop, she hacks into the system and types down her brand new alias called "Catgirl"...she would get used to being nicknamed "Little Kitten" or "Lil Kitty".

The ginger-haired girl found her sketchbook and begun sketching out her suit with her gadgets. She must ask Catwoman for them and to put her old suit in the mantle shelf. The Lucky Girl nods and heads back to her bedroom for her kit.

'Here we go,' the Lucky Girl thought before sewing and stitching up materials for her suit.

The ginger-haired girl attached new features and built a brand new upgraded mask from her visor goggles. The Lucky Girl hums softly as she builds her new utility belt, her very first whip, and her sharp feline claws with diamonds and tungsten to many indestructible matter. Once she was done, the ginger-haired heroine smiles at the suit on her human-sized figurine that can adjust its everything based on the wearer's DNA sample.

"Catgirl...strangely original and yet peculiarly unique. Suits me well," she said before putting the brand new suit on and taking her short hair down from its ponytail. 'This fits me right...a black and purple suit. Will will probably call me and Richie...strawberry jam and grape jelly. Wally's a yellow lemon and Artemis is a green lime. Better than the traffic light system, those three were called ketchup, mustard, relish, and I was mayonnaise. I hope they love this new look...Selina let me change for the better and start out fresh.'

Catgirl left her bedroom after updating her designation number and head back to the Supercomputer. She froze to see the Team grinning at pictures of her as a toddler and turned rose pink as strawberry milk. The Lucky Girl went invisible when they turned around and she silently threw her nanotech bullwhip at Robin's direction close, taking the remote quicker than a speedster and got his attention.

"Huh?!!" Catgirl pounces onto the ceiling and slowly walks on it thanks to her alien heritage giving her abilities like this.

The Lucky Girl makes herself visible when she gives back the remote control by dropping it into Red Arrow's hands and the Boy Wonder froze with the rest of the Team to see Eva as Catgirl with brand new look. Kitten slowly takes off her mask and smirks playfully down at her eight loved ones. The ginger-haired girl continues walking upside down without losing her footing and does a corkscrew backflip down onto all fours like a black cat.

"Mouse?" She shook her head no while smirking and purring out her confidence by stating her new hero name.

"It's Catgirl now," she told everyone proudly.

"Nice changes you made...Lil Kitty," the Lucky Girl glared at Wonder Girl as she wraps the Amazonian demigoddess in a pink mana whip and throw her across Aqualad, who caught her. "Hey! We raised you better than that!"

Catgirl stuck out her tongue playfully before she ran away from a furious Wonder Girl and went inside her hidden tunnels with a glamour technique. The Amazonian demigoddess shook her head with an irritated look and her right eye twitches in annoyance when the Lucky Girl stole their snacks. The rest of the Team gawked in disbelief as Catgirl waves it upside down and the Team including Red Arrow begun running after her when she threw a fake salute to them.

"EVA!!" Catgirl giggled before turning invisible and running to the library...she was the newly approved Eva Nelson.

[semperardens-juli]

What is the task? To compose a work that communicates on several levels, as in a parable, devoid of the stain of cleverness. [...]

What is the dream? To write something fine, that would be better than I am, and that would justify my trials and indiscretions. To offer proof, through a scramble of words, that God exists. [...]

Why do I write? My finger, as a stylus, traces the question in the blank air. A familiar riddle posed since youth, withdrawing from play, comrades and the valley of love, girded with words, a beat outside. [...]

Why do we write? A chorus erupts. [...]

Because we cannot simply live.

Devotion, Patti Smith (x)

[jhviscomms]

W6: Case Research (17) (01/03/23)

February 16: In a second tape recording, Patty asks her parents to "stop acting like I'm dead." DeFreeze says that the S.L.A. is looking for "a good faith gesture." Hearst is trapped in a "catch-22" by his daughter's statement, "whatever you come up with is basically okay."

March 9: In a fourth tape, Patty Hearst is heard to criticize her parents, saying, "I don't believe that you're doing anything at all."

April 24: In a sixth audio tape, Patty offers evidence of her full participation in the bank robbery -- at no time did her comrades have a gun pointed at her. She refers to her family as the "pig Hearsts" and to Steven Weed, her fiancé, as "an ageist, sexist pig." She says the idea of her being brainwashed is ridiculous.

1975

April 21: Four members of the S.L.A. hold up the Crocker Bank in Carmichael, California. A bystander, Myrna Opsahl, a 42-year-old mother of two who is there to deposit church collection money, is shot and killed.

September 22: Sara Jane Moore, bookkeeper for the P.I.N. food distribution and an admitted FBI informer -- a white suburban matron described by friends as obsessed by Patty/Tania - attempts to shoot President Gerald Ford in San Francisco.

Some potential useful information from a more detailed chronology

[lightningblade1994-blog]

Sonic the Hedgehog/Kung Fu Panda Mash-Up 2 (For KatarinaTheCat)

Lancelot: Where's the blue furball?

Patty: How do you know you're not looking at her?

{Lancelot chuckles]

Lancelot: You think I'm a fool? I know you're not the protectors of Ebon. in fact, none of you are!

[Patty hesitates, her bluff foiled. Her comrades exchange quick, worried looks. Lancelot walks along the rope without effort.]

Lancelot: I've heard he once fell from the sky through a rift from a portal... that he is unlike anything Ebon has ever seen.

Bill: ...He's talking about "Sonic", right?

Lancelot: So, that's his name... "Sonic the Hedgehog". Finally... a worth opponent. Our battle will be legendary!

[Patty lunges at him. The battle begins. Patty and Lancelot exchange blows as they hang from the bridge. Patty puts up a very good fight, but soon Lancelot begins getting the upper hand.]

Bill: We've got this-- Help her!

[Griffin and Viola Ruma hand over their ropes; Lancelot flungs Patty, sending her slamming through dozens of board before stopping. While she is stunned, Lancelot grabs the robes and twists them. The ropes close on Patty's throat and she chokes. At that moment, Viola lunges at Lancelot, which causes him to let go of the ropes. Patty is freed, but plummets down into the gorge... but Griffin manages to catch her. Viola wraps the noose around Lancelot's waist and wrist and whack him repeatedly with his own foot. Lancelot manages to get a hand around one of Viola's 'quills'.

Viola Ruma:[in pain] Billy--!

Genai: Go!

[Bill hands over his rope and joins the battle, leaving Genai to hold up the bridge and its occupants all by himself.]

Genai: Yah! The heck was I thinking??

[Bill leaps into action, whacking Lancelot in the chest away from Viola and sending him crashing onto the slats. Genai groans as he fights to keep a hold of the ropes. Lancelot gets back to his feet and starts running back to them, switching between ropes. Griffin flies up with Patty dangling onto his back.]

Patty: Genai!

[Genai whips his end of the rope, sending a sine wave shooting toward Lancelot. The rope whips Lancelot in the face and he gets stunned. The group see their chance.]

Patty: Now!

[Working as a team, the gang kick lancelot's butt every which way. Then Griffin wraps lancelot in one of the ropes, and Patty finally slashes the last rope holding him up. He plummets down... down... disappearing into the mist. A distant crunch implies that he has crashed into the far mountain. Genai whips his end of the rope, returning his buddies safely to the mountain. The gang look breathless, but relieved. But the relief is short-lived... patty notices that the other end of the bridge is circling the far mountain peak. Her eyes go wide with dread. The rope whips up. But Lancelot isn't there. With a crash, he suddenly appears behind the Five. They whirl around, startled.]

Lancelot: Brother Andrew has taught you well--

[Lancelot whacks Bill at the crotch, who instantly flinches and collapses. The gang gasp in horror.]

Lancelot: --But he didn't teach you everythihg

[Lancelot lunges toward the rest...]

[parme-san]

sandwiches without vegetables should not exist

[andrewmoocow]

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 4: Brain Brawl (originally published on April 4, 2022)

AN: Looks like things are finally starting to heat up! After writing for Dalmatian Jasper & Zoisite and loving how much I made them play off each other, I got a good feeling about the rest of Cinnabar's team. For this chapter, we shall focus on Bloodstone, the Ronaldo-like chief scientist and conspiracy theorist who, much like Ronaldo, is found incredibly annoying by tons of people for acting so damn insane. But unlike Ronaldo, there may be more to Bloodstone than her insane ramblings may imply.

Synopsis: IQ competes against the genius conspiracy theorist Bloodstone for the entertainment of a species that prides intelligence.

Cast:

Deedee-Magno Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Michaela Dietz as Unlucky Amethysts

Corey Burton as Intellgia Emissary

Mike Pollock, Cissy Jones & Ben Diskin as Intelliga High Council

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Featuring Jonathan Hyde as Supreme Intelligent One

--

The Intelliga, quite possibly one of the most highly advanced and intelligent races to exist throughout the galaxy. Having survived for eons through their beyond genius intellect and machinery, they pride themselves on reviewing the intelligence of other races and pitting them against each other in what they dub a Brain Brawl, a competition they hold to see who is vastly more intelligent. On their futuristic home planet of Teslein, some of the Intelliga's high council were busy reviewing future Brain Brawl contestants across the stars.

"Hm, such a bright young lady for an Earthling." The leader of the high council observed as he and his comrades observed Connie Maheswaran preparing for college via a universal surveillance system. "But I fear even her brain might not be able to comprehend our way of life."

"Let us move on." A female member responded as their surveillance turned to Peridot teaching her class how to pronounce photosynthesis. "A Peridot, eh? She could be promising."

"But I was expecting a Peridot to be building weapons of war or performing experiments for their masters, not teaching at a school." A third council member stated before they happened upon Pearl reading a childcare book. "My word, a Pearl?! But they were meant to be common slaves, and this one seems to be reading!"

"How curious." A fourth council member replied, stroking his goatee while deep in thought. "Let us see what else Earth has to offer." The council then began spying on Black Rutile hiding in a cave, working on a device while wearing a holographic welding mask. "I've heard of this Rutile before. Isn't she a wanted criminal?"

"That would get the Diamonds on our tail." The second council member muttered. "Let's try something that won't get us in trouble." Finally, the screen seemed to settle on two Gems simultaneously. One was Bloodstone, who was hard at work on a new weapon while doing some calculations on a holographic board. The other was IQ, busy doing maintenance on the Servant with help from Púrén. "What about these two?"

"Another Pearl!" the fourth member exclaimed in shock. "And that Bloodstone over there is quite intelligent as well!"

"Well, this shall certainly be an interesting Brain Brawl." The leader of the Intelliga declared. "So, are we all in agreement, ladies and gentlemen?"

"AYE!" the rest of the high council answered.

"Motion carried." The leader responded before turning to an emissary. "Track down these Gems at once and extend our invitation to them."

"I shall do as you command, Supreme Intelligent One!" the emissary saluted proudly as he tapped on a smartwatch that made him teleport away.

--

"Just need to make some last finishing touches here." Bloodstone mumbled to herself as she worked on her latest weapon. "This machine is capable of not just shattering a Gem, but also completely disintegrating the gemstone and leaving nothing behind. And I picked you two to be my lucky test subjects."

"This won't go wrong like the last few tests, right?" one of the Amethysts that Bloodstone forced to volunteer for her experiments. The Amethyst's question would soon be answered as Bloodstone presented her device, a giant laser cannon she had to carry around like a mini-gun, and fired at the Amethyst's gem. Quickly realizing what might happen to her, the Amethyst began panicking while the cannon hit her in her gem before she exploded in a flash of light. Just as Bloodstone predicted, there was nothing left of the Amethyst.

"EUREKA!" Bloodstone yelled excitedly. "I have a breakthrough! What do you think about that?!"

"I think you need to consider why not many people like you, Bloodstone!" the surviving Amethyst yelled. "You're just an insane crackpot whose experiments always get Gems hurt!"

"Uh, hello? I'm a mad scientist in service to a terrorist working for an even bigger terrorist." Bloodstone replied. "It comes with the territory!"

"Yeah, but even before you joined Cinnabar, you always were a loose cannon!" the Amethyst added. "Your theories made you a total laughingstock!"

--

"I urge you to believe me, my Diamonds!" Bloodstone said to Yellow and Blue Diamond thousands of years ago during the Rebellion, while also surrounded by dozens of other Gems as she presented her latest theory. "This rebellion was all built on lies, a complete waste of our time even! Pink Diamond had all this staged out of boredom and sadism, and she must be stopped! Please, my fellow Gems, we must come together to end this war and stop this shared enemy!"

However, none of the Gems responded for a few precious seconds. Then, they all started to point and laugh at Bloodstone for her outlandish claims. Even the Diamonds let out a few snickers before they silenced their subjects so they could speak.

"I admire your passion Bloodstone, but I find it hard to believe that Pink Diamond would've faked her own shattering out of total boredom!" Yellow Diamond declared. "She may be a pain in the neck at times, but I don't think she'd go that far."

"And a shared enemy, too?" Blue Diamond raised an eyebrow while bringing a finger to her lips. "Clearly, she's gone mad. But then again, she's always been eccentric, right?"

"ECCENTRIC, ECCENTRIC, ECCENTRIC!" the Gems jeered Bloodstone out of the audience chamber as she walked out with her hands in her coat pockets and a scowl on her face. "ECCENTRIC, ECCENTRIC, ECCENTRIC!"

"Oh, mock me all you want, but you'll all see I'm right." Bloodstone snarled at the mocking Gems. "YOU'LL ALL SEE, I TELLS YA!"

"No, we won't!" a voice called out to the scientist amidst the continued mocking, which continued even after she left.

--

A few hours later, at her lab, Bloodstone decided to vent her frustrations on bullying by doing what she does best, designing new weapons for use in war. However, this weapon would be different from the others Bloodstone had built. "I'm sure White Diamond would love to use one like this." Bloodstone muttered after running a few calculations. "One zap of this, and I'll be good as perfect."

Though Bloodstone didn't look like it, she came out with a few imperfections herself upon creation that made her mind unlike other Gems that shared her intellect. Once she pulls the trigger, those imperfections will be blown away like the wind. Before she could finish the job, however, the door behind Bloodstone opened, and in walked Pyrite.

"Oh, Bloodstone, my darling, how are you?!" Pyrite exclaimed as she skipped into Bloodstone's lab when she noticed what Bloodstone was about to do. "Oh, making yourself a guinea pig again? I swear, you have got to put a stop to that. It's really unhealthy, sweetie pie."

"I know; it's just, I got laughed at for one of my crazy theories again." Bloodstone stated while putting down the weapon. "I had told everyone that I thought Pink Diamond was behind this whole war because she was a total sociopath that was getting bored with how things work here."

"Bored sociopath? That's a little far-fetched if I do say so myself." Pyrite commented, causing Bloodstone to glare at her. "But besides the point, I got a big order coming up, and I need you to help me!" she commanded the scientist. "We got some Prasiolites wanting some of your tools, and we don't have all the time in the world, so chop chop!"

"OK, Pyrite." Bloodstone obeyed the business-Gem's orders before throwing her imperfection remover away and working on some new kinds of weapons. This cycle would continue on for the next couple thousand years during and since the Rebellion, but there would soon come a day when Bloodstone would finally be vindicated.

--

"So guess what, I was right all along!" Bloodstone declared as she sat across from another Gem in a dark room. "This was all built upon Pink Diamond being a psychotic brat who only wanted to see everything that isn't her suffer! Because of her, we left all those innocent soldiers to be corrupted, and our resources were nearly bled dry!" she began ranting. "And I don't think her little boy will make anything better! He's probably pretending to be all nice and sweet and stuff to hide the fact that he's basically enslaved us all! And did anyone still believe what I had to say?! No!"

"I can see that recent events have stressed you, Bloodstone." Black Rutile said while leaning into the light. "I can definitely relate, as can many other Gems. How would you like to join me and finally be proven right?"

"Yes, that would mean so much to me!" Bloodstone eagerly accepted the Rutile's offer. "Oh, it would be my honor to work alongside such a tactical genius like the Striking Shadow of the Rebellion and be surrounded by Gems that won't ruthlessly pick on me for being annoying!"

"Someone's eager." Black Rutile smiled at the scientist.

--

In the present day, Bloodstone strolled down a long hallway to her quarters, where she intended to hide herself away in shame of how nothing has changed about her lifestyle since joining the Rutile Rebels. "What's the use in this anymore?" she moped while locking the door behind her. "I want to fight for justice and peace for all, I'm fighting for a legitimately good cause, yet still no one will treat me right! If only someone would give me a sign that I can be of use!"

"Hey yo, Bloodstone, come out of there!" Kyanite called for the scientist while pounding on the door. "Someone's calling for you!"

"Hmph, what a coincidence." Bloodstone muttered and opened the door to reveal Kyanite and Cinnabar on the other side. "Anything you need?"

"An emissary of the Intelliga wishes to speak with you." Cinnabar replied, motioning for a blue-skinned, floating humanoid with a medium-sized cranium to appear. "I believe our friend Bloodstone is the one you're looking for."

"A pleasure to meet you, Bloodstone." The emissary said as he shook Bloodstone's hand. "I am an emissary of the Intelliga, and they wish to invite you to their world for a little Brain Brawl against an equally intelligent Gem."

"A Brain Brawl, invited, me?!" Bloodstone stuttered excitedly before she descended into excited squealing. "EEEEEEE, THIS HAS BEEN MY LIFELONG DREAM, EEEEEEE!"

"Yes, we are very happy for you, Bloodstone." Cinnabar snarked while covering her ears. "Now, can you please shut up and behave yourself?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." Bloodstone immediately did as she was told before turning back to the emissary. "So, when can we start?"

"We shall begin as soon as your opponent is brought to Teslein." The emissary explained. "But let us bring you to the arena in the meantime." Tapping on his smartwatch again, the emissary teleported away with Bloodstone, Cinnabar, and Kyanite accompanying him.

--

Meanwhile, on the Servant, IQ worked hard on new weapons for the Brigade in her laboratory, hoping that they'd be strong enough to assist them in their battles. "Hopefully, with these, we won't get captured again like what happened with Dalmatian Jasper and Zoisite." She muttered to herself. "It's funny, really. We've only known each other for a few weeks, but we've grown quite a bit as a team since Yellow Diamond found us. I'm always there to supply the team with useful information, Cap always calls the shots with ease, Pony is a handy number two, Braids is one of the strongest Gems I know, and when she's given enough motivation, Tails knows how to be a team player."

Just then, Púrén suddenly appeared behind IQ, giving the genius Pearl a scare as she didn't expect the AI to appear. "My apologies." Púrén said calmly. "It's just that Cap has a message for you."

"Just play it back for me." IQ requested the AI, who quickly transformed into Cap to replay her message.

"IQ, we got a job." Cap's message stated. "An emissary of the Intelliga wants to speak with you about participating in a Brain Brawl. Please stop what you're doing and report to my quarters."

"Wait, the Intelliga want to enter me in a Brain Brawl?!" IQ gasped in excitement. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any sentient being with an advanced intelligence!" She then put down her tools and burst from her lab to meet the emissary. "DON'T WAIT UP!"

Kicking down the door to Cap's quarters, IQ locked eyes with the rest of the Brigade and the emissary standing together before the latter hovered towards Pearl. "Ah, this must be IQ. Quite a fitting name, I must say."

"It is an honor to meet a member of the Intelliga." IQ said as the two geniuses shook hands. "You said you wanted me to enter one of your Brain Brawls?"

"Indeed." The emissary replied. "We have been monitoring the smartest beings in the universe for eons to select them as contestants, and you just happen to be one of the latest. We were also pondering selecting other Gems to enter, but you seemed to be a good fit for this."

"So, where shall we have this battle?" Braids asked.

"This Brain Brawl, as do all Brain Brawls, shall take place on our home planet of Teslein, and the winner shall be dubbed one of the smartest to have ever lived." The emissary declared. "We shall arrive there posthaste with my teleportation watch."

"No need. Allow us to bring you home with our ship." Cap stated. "Púrén, set a course for Teslein!"

"Affirmative." Púrén obliged and began routing the ship towards the Intelliga's home planet. "And good luck on the Brain Brawl, IQ."

"Thanks." IQ grinned.

--

The Servant touched down on Teslein, a grand and advanced planet that seemed to be colored primarily in cold blues, grays, and blacks. The capital city of Chiteki was particularly in Brain Brawl fever, with billboards all over the place advertising the upcoming bout between IQ and Bloodstone.

"Welcome to Chiteki, Pearls." The emissary proclaimed as he and the Brigade disembarked. "Follow me to the High Council Headquarters now. We haven't all the time in the world."

"So, this is Teslein." Braids nodded while taking in the Pearls' new surroundings, watching the citizens of the Intelliga's home planet gaze at them with amazement and fear. Some refused to acknowledge their crystalline visitors as anything but conquerors, but others were eager to see Gems in real life. "Hm, pretty glorious, I must say."

"Excuse me, Pearls, could I perhaps take a picture with you for a research project I'm working on?" a young Intelligan asked the five Gems as he floated up to them.

"We're a little short on time, but I suppose we can make room for at least one photo." Pony replied as the Pearls struck a pose for a picture. As soon as the Intelligan took the photo, he was off like a light while the six continued on their way.

"I can only assume that boy will probably show that photo off to his friends." Pony muttered before they finally reached the high council's tower and entered the nearest elevator. "At least he wasn't recoiling in fear of us."

"I guess some people have more trouble adjusting to the Diamonds changing their ways more than others." IQ replied while the elevator kept creeping up the tower. "So, who is our opponent supposed to be?"

"Oh, it's someone who is very eager to see you." The emissary answered cheerfully when the Pearls heard a ding. "Oh, speak of the devil; we're right on time." As the doors opened, the Brigade began gaping in shock as they realized that IQ's opponent in the upcoming Brain Brawl was accompanied by someone they never thought they'd see.

"CINNABAR?!" the Pearls yelled at the former general, who turned to them with a cold glare as she stood with Bloodstone and Kyanite.

"Ah, the Black Pearl Brigade." Cinnabar scowled at the mercenaries. "I never thought today would be the day we'd meet each other in person for the first time." Though she secretly wanted to shatter them all on the spot and have Bloodstone be declared the victor by default, Cinnabar kept herself restrained as she politely greeted the Gems that had already outwitted three of her top lieutenants and stuck out her hand. "May the best genius win."

"Good to see you being a team player." IQ replied and shook with Cinnabar, sounding just as restrained as their archenemy.

"If we win, we get to destroy them, right?" Kyanite asked bluntly, forcing Cinnabar to hold her mouth shut as the Supreme Intelligent One made his grand entrance.

"Welcome Gems to Chiteki, the capital city of Teslein!" the Supreme Intelligent One bombastically declared while descending upon his visitors. "You may refer to me as the Supreme Intelligent One, and I welcome all of you to this latest Brain Brawl. Now, what is a Brain Brawl, you may ask?"

"We didn't ask anything." Braids replied cluelessly.

"Well, to put it simply, a Brain Brawl is when we select two individuals from across the stars to compete on our homeworld for the ultimate prize of being dubbed the smartest ever to exist." The Supreme Intelligent One continued, ignoring Braids' literal reply. "The contest will be held in a series of three challenges. First, the contestants face off in a trivia challenge themed around a certain topic. In your case, the questions shall be based around the Gem race."

"Interesting." Cinnabar commented.

"The second challenge will test skill and ingenuity by building androids and pitting them against each other." The Supreme Intelligent One proclaimed. "And finally, the third challenge will test your emotional intelligence by testing how well you know your comrades in a series of true or false questions based on data telepathically gathered and submitted to us by the audience."

"Wow, that's a Brain Brawl?" Pony wondered out loud. "I kind of expected things to be a bit more complicated than that."

"Oh, don't underestimate us, Pearl." The emissary declared. "Many have been tested through Brain Brawls for eons, and let me tell you, the losers left completely ashamed of themselves. So I advise you all get ready because the stakes have never been higher."

"He is indeed right." The leader of the Intelliga agreed. "Let the Brain Brawl begin!"

--

As the Brain Brawl got off to a roaring start, IQ and Bloodstone stood face to face on a set resembling that of a game show while the Supreme Intelligent One stood by with a microphone in hand. "Welcome one and all to this edition of Brain Brawl! I am your host and esteemed leader, the Supreme Intelligent One. For this contest, we have gained the participation of two Gems currently in the stands. Please, introduce yourselves, ladies."

"My name is Bloodstone, and I shall compete on behalf of the mighty Black Rutile and Cinnabar!" Bloodstone passionately declared while snatching the mic from the Intelligent One's hand. "Once the Crystal Gems are no more, and this universe is ours to control, you all shall be among the planets that will fall to our unlimited power!"

"Yeah, you go, girl!" Kyanite whooped from the audience.

"My my, someone's excited." The Gems' super genius host grinned while beckoning his microphone back to his hand. "And what about you, dear Pearl?"

"You may refer to me as IQ." IQ introduced herself to the audience. "I am part of an elite mercenary squad in service to Yellow Diamond, tasked with terminating the other rebels who have pledged allegiance to Black Rutile, Cinnabar chief among them."

"Very nice, ladies." The host stated. "Now, without further ado, let the Brain Brawl begin!" The audience began cheering wildly as the contest commenced and then immediately calmed down to allow their leader to reveal the first challenge. "Now, as stated earlier, the first challenge shall be in the form of a trivia contest based on the contestants' lives. In this case, the questions shall be based around the Gem empire and its dominion over many planets. First question, how much of the universe did the Diamonds rule over before Era 3?"

IQ pressed the buzzer first. "They claimed at least 63.7% of all known planets in the universe. The rest are property of the Universal Lords."

"Correct!" the Supreme Intelligent One exclaimed. "Second question. How many years ago did Pink Diamond quote-unquote "shatter" herself?"

Bloodstone was quick to answer. "Approximately 5,052 years ago."

"That is also correct." The Supreme Intelligent One stated. "Now for the third question."

The two Gems were eager to press the buzzer again as the next question was read. "Approximately how many Gems were created by the height of the Rebellion?"

Before IQ could buzz in, she quickly froze. She was only a few weeks old. How could she possibly know how many Gems were created at that period? While the Pearl began to space out from sheer anxiety, Bloodstone confidently answered. "Around 15,616,700,250,340,800 Gems."

"That is correct." The Supreme Intelligent One declared.

"Wait, THAT many?!" Braids declared, utterly flabbergasted at the massive number she just heard. "I simply wasn't aware of such a number."

"Yeah, me neither." Pony replied, just as stunned before she noticed IQ still staring in shock. "Uh, is IQ gonna be OK?"

"Question #4, which was the first planet to be colonized at the start of Era 1?" the Supreme Intelligent One continued. Since IQ was still frozen in shock, Bloodstone again took the answer. "Bloodstone?"

"That would be Sigmas-17," Bloodstone stated. "It is where some of our earliest technology comes from."

"Correct again, Bloodstone." The host responded before turning back to IQ. "IQ, darling, best try to catch up for this last question. Which is, what was the operation's name that led to the creation of the Pearl facility on Titan?"

"It was Project Nacre!" IQ frantically shoved her opponent's hand out of the way and pushed the buzzer before her. "Project Nacre was named for a Gem known as Nacre, dubbed the Mother of Pearls because she served as a prototype for the modern Pearl!"

"You are correct, Pearl, but unfortunately, you didn't answer all the questions." The Supreme Intelligent One said glumly. "Which is why this victory shall go to Bloodstone."

"As expected." Cinnabar grinned smugly in response.

"WHOO, GO BLOODSTONE, YOU'RE NUMBER ONE!" Kyanite screamed excitedly at her teammate's triumph.

"Yes, yes, I am so amazing," Bloodstone smirked before turning to IQ. "Just goes to show how experience can save your life once in a while. Now, good luck on the next challenge." As the scientist laughed callously while walking backstage, IQ got up and sulked back to her teammates in the audience, who were shocked at their machinist's loss.

"What happened there, IQ?" Cap asked. "You had that first question in the bag, but then you just froze up at the big numbers!"

"I'm sorry girls, but there are some things that even I don't know." IQ said, trying her hardest not to cry over her loss. "I mean, I'm supposed to be the smart one of the gang! If I'm not the smart one, then who am I?!"

"It doesn't matter what kind of Pearl you are; you're still our friend regardless." Pony proclaimed to comfort IQ. "So, what's the next trial again?"

"I believe robot building." Braids answered. "I believe that might be more your style, IQ."

"Yeah, it doesn't matter whether you're the smart one or not. Just do what you think suits you best." Tails repeated what Pony said earlier. "Now then, let's get building."

--

Meanwhile, Bloodstone was busy reveling in her victory to her master, and was having an utter blast doing so. "You should've seen the look on her face! The Pearl looked like she had seen a ghost or something, and when we left, it seemed like she was going to cry!"

"Don't get too cocky, Bloodstone." Cinnabar declared, cutting Bloodstone's reverie short. "Just like Pyrite and Dalmatian Jasper & Zoisite before you, your pride will undoubtedly be your downfall. Remember to keep that in mind or else."

"And good luck on the robot building too!" Kyanite added happily.

--

"Let us begin the second round!" the Supreme Intelligent One announced the next challenge of the Brain Brawl. "For this challenge, our contestants shall build mechanical lifeforms to battle to the finish, in which only one shall remain standing to declare their creator the winner!"

"This is it; let's go." IQ said while the Pearls stood around a silver human skeleton with menacing red eyes and a cannon in place of a left arm. "Sculder, you are free to go."

Before marching into the arena, Sculder gave no verbal response, only a quiet nod. On the other side of the battlefield, Bloodstone confidently stood with her arms crossed beside a much brawnier, bulkier machine with red & gold plating and circular lights on its chest and palms. The two robots just stood there, intensely glaring at each other, before the referee made his entrance.

"Are you ready for some mechanical melee?!" the referee boomed, causing the audience to cheer excitedly. "Well, that's all I need to hear because it's robot-fighting time!"

"ROBOTS ACTIVATE." A mechanical voice declared, signifying the beginning of the match as Bloodstone's android made the first move, tackling IQ's robot to the ground and pressing one of his palms against its opponent's face, the heat causing the other machine's cheek to melt a little. Luckily, Sculder retaliated by using its arm cannon to propel itself off the ground, knocking the other machine down before it was gunned down.

"GO, SCULDER, GO!" IQ cheered for her creation before the red and gold robot formed an energy shield to deflect Sculder's cannon blasts.

"You can do it, uh….." Kyanite exclaimed when she realized that Bloodstone may not have given her machine a name. "Hey Bloodstone, what did you call your bot?"

"I did not bother with a name because that means I'll get attached." Bloodstone responded. "But if it's any consolation, I think the Pearl-verizer would suffice."

"And I don't think you bothered giving it good defenses either." Cinnabar proclaimed, taking her scientist by the shoulder and pointing at the arena. "Look, IQ's skeleton has found a way to break through the shield!"

Cinnabar was right, as Sculder just kept ramming at the shield projected by its opponent, causing it to crack more and more until finally, the shield was broken. In desperation, the Pearl-verizer prepared to throw the fight by running away, but Sculder extended its hands like tentacles to grab the Pearl-verizer's ankles and toss it into the air.

"Did you even think straight while building that thing?!" Cinnabar shouted, clearly on the verge of losing her cool as the Pearl-verizer was on the edge of defeat.

"To be fair, I was indeed blinded by arrogance as you predicted." Bloodstone bluntly replied. "My apologies."

Meanwhile, Sculder prepared to land the finishing blow by supercharging its cannon arm and fired. The Pearl-verizer was about to fight back by slapping the energy blast back, but it was too late. Instead, the robot was blown to pieces, leaving several pieces remaining for Sculder to gather up and walk towards IQ, whose wrist it grabbed to declare its creator the winner.

"The robot has spoken. IQ wins the challenge!" the referee exclaimed, much to IQ's delight.

"Oh stars, I actually did it!" IQ squealed in delight and gave the metallic fruit of her labor a big hug. "Thank you so much for proving that I am still worth something after all!" Sculder replied by gently stroking the Pearl's hair before dropping the pieces on the ground. "What's that boy? Do you want an upgrade? I'll be sure to get to it once we leave."

"GLORIOUS!" Tails roared excitedly as the Pearls raised IQ to the air in celebration. "Three cheers for IQ! Hip hip!"

"Hooray!" the other Pearls cheered.

"Don't celebrate just yet, Pearls!" Bloodstone interrupted the Brigade's celebration. "There's still only one challenge left, and you can be sure that I'll win fair and square!"

"Someone is getting too cocky." Tails frowned at the conspiracy theorist. "Just admit that you lost, OK?!"

"NEVER!" Bloodstone started screaming. "I have eyes, you know! They're under my eyebrows, telling me that I will win this and prove myself the smartest in the universe!"

"See what I mean about pride being your downfall?" Bloodstone said to Kyanite as they watched Bloodstone have a meltdown of egotism. "Don't let the same happen to you when your time comes, Kyanite."

"I won't fail you, Cinnabar!" Kyanite obediently stated. "Now, which one of us will calm her down so we can think of a plan for the final challenge? I think cheating looks pretty good right now."

--

As soon as Bloodstone started to relax, the final challenge of the Brain Brawl was about to begin. Returning to the game show set, IQ and Bloodstone were ready to accept whatever challenges would come their way while the Supreme Intelligent One cleared his throat. "For this final round of the Brain Brawl, we asked our audience to submit questions based on the thoughts of our contestants and telepathically transfer them to me."

"But isn't that an invasion of our privacy?" IQ asked with a raise of her hand.

"Don't think too hard about it." The Supreme Intelligent One tried to justify his actions before moving on. "Now, you will be given a series of true or false questions based upon the experiences shared by you and your comrades. Answer them correctly, and you will win the Brawl. Are you two ready?"

"We're ready." The two Gems declared.

"Very well, let's begin with the first question." The Supreme Intelligent One stated. "True or false? Pyrite originally served as an arms dealer who sold weapons to both Crystal and Homeworld Gems during the Rebellion."

"True." Bloodstone nodded. "I should know, I made some of those weapons."

"Interesting to know." The Intelligent One replied. "True or false? Dalmatian Jasper was initially believed to be defective upon emerging in a Kindergarten due to her gem being in the place of a hand, but she quickly proved her worth against a squad of Crystal Gems."

"False?" IQ answered, showing how little she knew about Dalmatian Jasper. "I mean, she did take us by surprise when we met her and Zoisite."

"I apologize, but the answer is true." The host stated. "True or false? When Shell was rediscovered by Black Rutile, she put it to work on generating five dozen Pearls per minute."

"That one is true." IQ said, causing Bloodstone to scoff since, of course, a Pearl created by Shell would know about this. "Not so high and mighty now, aren't you, Bloodstone?"

"You just got one question right, who gave you permission to act all smug?!" Bloodstone yelled in frustration.

"I got permission because I realized that I don't have to be uber-perfect," IQ responded confidently. "Did anyone ever give you the same lesson?"

"I'm already perfect; I am one of the Gems' greatest minds ever created!" Bloodstone boasted. "And once I win, I shall be one of the smartest in the entire universe too!"

"OK, ladies, enough bickering now, for these shall be the last few questions." The Supreme Intelligent One interrupted as he proceeded with the game. "True or false? Black Rutile went by many names in her time fighting for Homeworld in the Rebellion, but one that sticks out is her title of the Striking Shadow of the Rebellion."

"TRUE!" both Gems cried out in unison before glaring at one another.

"I answered first!" IQ yelled.

"Well, I'm louder!" Bloodstone responded while the Pearls and Sculder watched.

"We're getting nowhere." Cap groaned as the two kept bickering. "Half the time, they're just arguing with each other."

"Buckle in, girls. We're gonna be here a while." Tails snarked when she discovered something. "Hey, wait for a second; something doesn't seem right."

"What are you talking about?" Braids asked Tails, who took her by the shoulder and pointed to the other side of the soundstage, where Cinnabar was standing next to a machine that seemed to be hacking into the Intelligans' thoughts, giving them questions only Bloodstone would answer. "Of course Bloodstone would try to cheat."

"We have to warn IQ before it's too late!" Cap stated. "Or maybe she'll find out herself. Either way, Bloodstone has to be stopped."

As IQ and Bloodstone kept arguing with the Supreme Intelligent One watched with bemusement, IQ noticed something behind Bloodstone. It was the same machine that her fellow Pearls discovered, pumping vital information into the minds of the Intelliga to ensure her victory. With a confident smile, IQ asked her own question. "True or false Bloodstone. Are you cheating your way to victory here with that machine over there?"

"False! What machine?!" Bloodstone panicked, desperately trying to hide her duplicity before Sculder fired its cannon arm at the stage, exposing the machine as it shut down. The audience gasped in alarm while Cinnabar facepalmed in disgust.

"This can only end so well." Cinnabar groaned.

"A literal cheating device, I see." The Supreme Intelligent One observed, floating over to examine the remains of the device. "This was a pretty close match, but ultimately, Bloodstone is disqualified from the proceedings, and thus, IQ is the winner. Not just for doing so well, but for seeing what the others couldn't."

"We saw it first; everything was just a coincidence!" Braids shouted as the Pearls rushed over to congratulate IQ on the victory.

"Yes, we did it!" Pony declared happily.

"Indeed, well done." The Supreme Intelligent One added. "Congratulations IQ on becoming the smartest in the universe. If you and your compatriots hadn't noticed the machine, who knows what could've happened."

"Good, now let's get on out of here." Tails said. "I feel like things ended a little too abruptly."

"Ha, who's laughing now?!" IQ jeered smugly at the aghast Bloodstone, who just kept staring at the Pearls as the Supreme High Intelligence allowed them and Sculder to leave.

"You may win this round, Pearls, but we will most certainly meet again." Bloodstone declared coldly as she turned to Bloodstone. "And as for you."

"You're going to lock me up for my failures, aren't you?" Bloodstone wondered aloud. "Go ahead. I'm sure Pyrite, DJ, and Zee could use the company."

"Actually, no." Cinnabar corrected her scientist. "Regardless of the loss, I still believe you have some use left in you. Kyanite?"

"Right here, boss!" Kyanite eagerly said as she handed over some blueprints Cinnabar showed to Bloodstone.

"What are these?" Bloodstone asked, gazing at the strange golems with large gems in their chests.

"I call this Project Concrete." Cinnabar explained while the three Gems began walking. "They are a breed of super soldiers I've been planning for a while now, and I feel you might be the Gem best suited for supervising development. Would you be willing to do so?"

Eager to prove herself once more, Bloodstone had on a sadistic smile. "Sure, my Cinnabar."

--

Tails was right, that did end a little abruptly. I guess that's what happens when you don't have existing episodes of a show to work from and have to come up with your own. You know, maybe at some point, I should take a little break once Season 1 finishes so I can re-center myself, focus on other stories, and not rush myself so much when I get back to it. But on a lighter subject, next up is Kyanite's time to shine! Hopefully it won't be as awkwardly written. See you then, pardners!

[1-800-stop-patti]

why do we need to stop patti? /gen

she ate a whole raw potato right in front of me on the train one time and in that moment I decided she’s cancelled

Join the crusade, comrade

[gofancyninjaworld]

OPM Manga Chapter 147 Review:  Toxic

Story: Preview to a catastrophe

I’m going to do something a little unusual.  Rather than give a summary of what happened, I’m going to save everything else that happens that for the meta and focus the story itself on just one thing.  Garou’s return.

For a guy of many many words, Garou here is wordless, a creature of instinct, rage, and an unstoppable desire to put down any hero he encounters. Social niceties be damned.

no, Fubuki, you don’t belong in this battle

Bomb realises very quickly that this isn’t going to be a fight that he can afford to not engage fully with.  He wastes no time unleashing his trademark long-range offensive move, although he’s no slouch in close- up fighting either.  I love how the panel below superimposes several snapshots in time in a single image, as if the cameraman hasn’t enough time to separate the action into individual frames. It sells the speed and fury of the fight better than many blurry images.  Also Murata is flexing on us with regards to his portrayal of fight choreography, he’s allowed. :)

For his own part, Garou flows effortlessly from conventional to unconventional in his fighting, bending improbably out of the way one moment, parrying in an orthodox manner the next.  Eventually the seeming balance between the two breaks inexorably in Garou’s favour, leaving Bomb marvelling at the former’s incredible evolution.

Nothing for it, there’s no choice but to kill Garou if possible. Bomb hides a hand behind his back as he readies his iron-cutting fist one last time.  It’s unfortunate that Garou has long since intuited how to do the same when he faced off against the Monster King, half a day ago ( I know, it’s been years for us), and does exactly the same, matching up timing and intensity perfectly with Bomb’s, thus cancelling it out.

Bang finally catches up to where the two are fighting to find his elder brother defeated.

Just as at the end of chapter 83, master and disciple face off.  But the atmosphere between the two could not be more different, and the stakes are about as high as they could possibly get.

What new awakening will come from the next fight?  Portents are dire.

Meta: Elsewhere

What doesn’t kill me has made a tactical mistake

For a story whose big schtick is that surviving what should have killed one makes one stronger,  it’s surprising the amount and variety of mileage it gets out of that idea.

Making light of the idea, we have Genos literally rocketing back to his feet and casually dusting himself off after being smashed into a hole in the ground by Black Sperm.  After being thrown into or through so many bits of masonry and earth, getting up with elan is nothing to him.  Damn, he’s become tough! Awesome.

On the opposite side, making dark of the idea, we have Fuhrer Ugly, whose strength of hatred and rage is such that he keeps continuously reforming despite being continually digested by Gums’ digestive fluids... and has turned that into a new ability, able to melt anyone who touches him, kill with his spit, and reform after being cut.  Terrifying.

And on the other other side, a perfect hypotenuse of awesome and terrifying, we have Garou.  He has disinterred himself from the remains of the Monster Association base and while apparently fighting more by instinct than reason, his moves reprise everything he’s learned to date through his life-and-death fights with incredible fluency.

And of course, there’s Tank Top Master whose tank top seems to have magically preserved his life.  I wonder what Fubuki has in mind for Pig God to do to help her help Tank Top Master.

Anyway, talking about serious injury...

Let’s talk about gore, baby

I’ve said before that I’m tired of all injuries accruing to either Genos or Zombieman and wanted some flesh-and-blood to be mangled.  I don’t take that back: share the pain, baby!

But even for my evil heart, hoo, the brutal suddenness with which Fuhrer Ugly ended Zambai’s life was yikes!  Heroes may never die, but those next to them have no such protection.  I’m sorry man.  You paid the highest price for supporting a hero.

Heroes may never die but that doesn’t mean they can’t suffer horribly.  If Tank Top Master being turned into a human patty wasn’t grisly enough, finding out that SuperAlloy’s famously resistant shine isn’t chemically resistant is enough to give one a shudder of horror/disgust:  his hands have been defleshed down to tendon and bone.

Never mind fear; it’s going to be a while before  SuperAlloy *can* fight at all. And with his chest being burned as well, I think that he will be lucky not to come away with disfiguring scars.  He might start wearing a shirt after this...

  ONE, have some mercy for your heroes or half of them will never work again. But not too much mercy, they’ve had it too easy for too long.

There’s more to help than rescue

If you’d told me that this day would see Genos earning the trust and respect of the heroes he has called the bitch and the witch respectively, and that feeling would be mutual, I’d have told you to stop fantasising.   I’ve spent enough words talking about the unexpected compassion he showed to Fubuki when the latter was beside herself with worry for her sister.

Tatsumaki has internalised the advice Blast gave her so thoroughly that she’s come to think herself as being beyond help.  But there’s more to help than haplessly accepting rescue.   Help can also be someone intervening only when you most need it, respecting that you can generally take care of yourself.  Help can be sharing the burden, enabling you to achieve more, more easily.  Help can be having your back so you can fight without fear of ambush.  All of these forms of help Genos has provided to Tatsumaki from the moment the battle pitched high into the sky.  And she’s had his back too.  Seeing her consciously acknowledge that and lean into it was an amazing gift I didn’t know I needed. 

from allies in name only to comrades-in-arms, what a fearsome pair!  Gambatte!

Of course it can get worse

The heroes’ situation seems to be getting worse and worse.  Their number is being whittled down to size: Tank Top Master is out for the count, Bang is tied up, Superalloy Darkshine is maimed, Atomic is out of his main weapon, Child Emperor is lost somewhere and Puri Puri is looking for him, Zombieman and Amai Mask are still pulling themselves together, and Tatsumaki and Genos are standing more by spite than strength. 

On the other hand, the monsters aren’t out of monster by any means.  There’s still lots of Black Sperm, Evil Natural Water is surely sloshing around somewhere,  Vomited Furher Ugly is a pungent threat, and Homeless Emperor is watching proceedings with an amused eye.  I called the monsters the sundew monsters for a reason -- they waste heroes by outlasting their efforts.

The standing heroes are going to need respite, or a diversion, or reinforcements pretty soon or they’re going to all die for real.   Preferably all three.  We’ll take two out of three.

Further notes:  The Cyborg is Listening

The first thing Kuseno says to Genos when the latter comes back after a bruising encounter with a monster is ‘are you alright?’  That we know.  The second thing has to be ‘did you bring me good data?’  Everything that happens to Genos, everything he touches, everything he sees, everything he hears, all that information is recorded for later recall and distillation into useable data.   We’ve been admiring how capable and tough this new upgrade has proven to be.  It’s all hard-won insights, built one on the other.    Does that mean I’m discounting what Genos does?  Hell no.  It’s his extreme courage and willingness to step into the most hopeless situations that has enabled this valuable data to be gathered in the first place.  And it’s his using these wonderful upgrades to push as hard as he can despite the risk that makes it worth Kuseno’s while to stay up late to craft them.  Now I’m super-interested in finding out what new insights the pair will glean from today’s fighting.

...polite engineer for ‘fuck you’

Sure, like many serious things in One-Punch Man, it initially appears as a gag,  but if you’ve not been paying attention to date, hear this: good data is like gold dust in this world.   And people will kill for it.   As we watch the dissipating contrails where Drive Knight was as he carries his precious samples home, don’t way you weren’t warned.