#day of your new regeneration. maybe he is at least subconsciously into the idea of cock and ball torture and maybe its because of that..

[capaldiera]

sometimes when a male character seems distressed by getting kicked between the legs it's actually because it made him dysphoric that he didnt have balls to get kicked 😔. or you could get creative with it maybe he's a masochist and sad it didn't hurt

[chemicalmagecraft]

The Gamer Hero, Deku Chapter 27

A/N: Completely totally random fun fact: Five-card Mao is a fun card game where you're not supposed to tell people the rules, except for, I believe, the fact that if you win a round of Five-card Mao you may create a new rule for the game.

xoxoxo

After getting back from Yuuei, the first thing I did was show my mom the paperwork Shuzenji-sensei gave me. We cried tears of joy together and hugged, then she signed it and I decided to go talk to Kacchan. I figured it'd be a good idea to fill him in on my new powers.

"You can what?" Kacchan asked.

"I can copy Quirks now," I answered. He stared at me for a while. "Are you okay?"

He sighed very loudly. "You know what, why not? You can copy Quirks now. Cool." He stuck out his hand. "How do you do it?"

I grinned and made sparks from my hand. "It's a little finicky, though a bit less thanks to an exploit I found out about, but if I fulfill the right conditions I get a copy of a person's Quirk that I can 'buy' from a new menu."

"And those are?"

"I think it's supposed to be just from either beating someone in a fight or potentially from quest rewards, but one of the rewards for the sports festival quest I got was a choice of two Quirks from a pool limited to people from Yuuei. One of the Quirks I picked was a copying Quirk, which thankfully gives me a copy too."

Kacchan nodded. "Yeah I remember that guy. Kind of an asshole. So what was the other one?"

I felt a sting in my eyes as I activated it. My hair felt weird, and while I couldn't see them I assumed my eyes were glowing red. "Try to use your Quirk."

He snorted. "I know what Aizawa-sensei's Quirk looks like, asshole." I laughed and turned it back off. "So you just... have a bunch of Quirks now?"

I shrugged. "There's a limitation. If I have too many Quirks out then it lowers their effectiveness. But yeah, I have a bunch of Quirks now. I got the Quirks of the past One For All users, there are the two I just said, Super Regeneration from that Nomu thing that I bought because it's a passive boost to healing, the Quirks of everyone I beat in the tournament as another quest reward, and my cat's Quirk, which I tested Copy on."

"Damn. And knowing you, you got some other stupid good thing during the sports festival."

I nodded and pulled out my phone, using Technomancy to turn it on and open my pictures without actually pressing any buttons.

"Showoff," Kacchan muttered, then looked at the picture I took earlier. "Is that a fucking tower?"

"Yup. I got a new spell called Imaginary Architect after that last attack in our fight."

"When you threw fucking swords at me?" Kacchan asked.

"Because I threw fucking swords at you. It's an improved version."

"How the fuck is an entire tower an improved version over being able to make some swords?"

"Now I can make anything out of magic, if I have enough power."

He thought for a moment. "Yeah I guess that makes sense."

I switched to the second photo where the tower was dissolving, the only indication that I was interacting with my phone the blue, circuit-like lines that glowed to life on it and my hand when I did. "And this is what happened when I stopped using Imaginary Architect. Pretty, right?"

Kacchan nodded. "Yeah, it kinda is. Don't suppose you've got enough of an understanding of it to teach it to me yet?"

I shrugged and made a small sphere. I tossed it into the air a bit, then dissolved it mid-throw and replaced it with a small cube. I tossed that cube around a bit, added spikes to it, then dissolved it. Next I made a lab coat with a lot more concentration due to how complicated it actually was, actually making it around my body. I managed to make it a lighter shade of blue than the other IA constructs, but in the end it was only almost white. It did, however, behave exactly like a lab coat made of cloth should, down to how it ripped when I pulled one of the sleeves off. Even breaking a part of the construct didn't destabilize it, which was a failing in most Quirks and spells that made temporary objects. Even my Skill Grimoir worked like that. It was that self-contained... "Yeah, I think I should have a good enough grasp on it now. It's a bit complicated, though."

"This isn't gonna be like Meditation where it just doesn't work, is it?"

I shook my head. "No, from what Todoroki told me Meditation has an aspect to it that my Quirk reproduces automatically."

"How the hell'd he know that?"

"Apparently he can sense magic."

Kacchan twitched. "How the shit does he do that?"

"Beats me. Still, the biggest hurdle to you learning Imaginary Architect should just be that it's really complex. You might want to start out with Bound Blade first."

He sighed. "Ugh, fine."

xoxoxo

I spent the rest of the day (and night) switching between grinding both Imaginary Architect and Item Enchantment and reading up on basic architecture. Around midnight, I decided to check out the hero news. I opened up the website I normally used for hero news (not even using my hands, Technomancy was fun) and scrolled through the articles. One caught my eye.

Pro Hero Ingenium Critically Injured by Hero Killer Stain

"That was what you overheard, wasn't it Sonia?" I asked. She nodded quietly. "Well, thanks for giving me a heads up. Come to think of it, I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me anything you hear about that you think I might need to know? Nothing personal about other people, unless you think they're going to get hurt or something, but stuff like explosions or villainous plotting?"

She smiled. "Yeah, I'll do that!"

"Thanks." I clicked on the article. Yeah it did not look good. "I don't need to tell you to keep an eye on Iida, do I?"

"Nope."

"Thanks..."

I was glad that I was using Technomancy to use the computer, because that freed up both of my hands. My left hand started to glow green with Healing Hands and my right hand glowed purple with Draining Hands to give it something to heal. While I was at it I switched Super Regeneration off. I didn't know if I would be able to help with Iida's brother at all, but it was a reminder of why I got Healing Hands in the first place. I wanted to heal people, and Healing Hands still had its limits even in the nineties.

xoxoxo

I stopped practicing my new skills around noon of the next day to check out one final thing that I had gotten recently that I wanted to mess with. Enlightenment had recently leveled up enough to unlock its next ability:

Allows the user to access their own subconscious mindscape through Meditation.

It would probably be more obviously useful if not for the fact that The Gamer already prevented any form of tampering to my mind, but at the very least it changed Enlightenment from (Passive) to (Active and Passive), meaning that I could hopefully level Enlightenment up at least slightly easier by exploring my mindscape.

I created a perfectly generic object with Imaginary Architect, automatically enchanted with that one slowfall enchantment I'd stumbled upon earlier (though not the floating one), and used Singularity on it. I floated over the construct with my legs crossed in the stereotypical meditation pose and pulled it into the air, adjusting my pull on it when it was halfway between me and the ground so that it just hung there, my 'gravity' pulling on it as much as Earth's. I closed my eyes and let my skills guide me deeper within my own mind.

xoxoxo

I felt like I was falling backwards for what somehow felt like both an instant and an eternity at the same time, scenes from my life flickering in and out of my vision. After that interminable time, I found myself in the foyer of what looked like a hero museum. It felt familiar, and from the looks of it combined some elements from some of the hero museums I'd been in before, though maybe with some other aspects as well. I suppose that made sense, it was my mindscape after all...

The central figure of the foyer was a larger-than-life statue of All Might in a triumphant pose raised on a pedestal.

...

...

Fair enough...

The statue had a spiderweb of large cracks on it, exactly where the real All Might's wound was. "I know this is my mindscape, but is everything in here going to be so on the nose?" I muttered. I shrugged and picked one of the hallways leading out of the foyer at random, one labeled 'Magic,' and walked through it.

"Whoa," I said. The giant room on the other side looked something like the library of a medieval fantasy magic school, instead of the museum theme of the foyer. The walls were lined floor to ceiling with bookshelves packed with books, there were moving models of various moments scattered around the room, an ornate pedestal with a large book in the middle with a large spiral staircase around it, and balls of light floated around the ceiling to provide light. I walked over to the closest model. It was the tower that I'd made yesterday. As I watched it dissolved like it had when I stopped supplying it with energy, then reappeared after a few moments. I walked away as it looped itself and examined another one. This time it was the flurry of blades that I'd used to finish off Kacchan. Not all of the models were mine, though most of them were, but every example was an example of magic that I was impressed or amazed by. For example, Kacchan and Uraraka's fight, the time I destroyed Todoroki's iceberg, the cavalry battle, the first time I cast Halcyon Wing, those shenanigans with Yang, the Wild, Wild Pussycats' cat spells I'd seen on TV that one time, my fight with Nomu, that one time Kacchan pulled me out of Illusion Barrier to punch me in the face, my first time using the elements with Kacchan, and the first Mana Bolt that started it all were among them. It was nice to see them all memorialized like that, even if it was only in my own head.

After I was done looking at the pretty displays, I checked out a section of one of the bookshelves. It had a label on it, 'Lightning,' with little lightning bolts on it. I pulled a book out at random and opened it to a random page. Most of the text was garbled for some odd reason, but I could make out one passage.

Lightning Bolt

A simple lightning spell. The user gathers electrical energy with lightning mana and shoots it in a burst at the target.

It was almost exactly what my own skill entry for Lightning Bolt said, but without the cost and everything. I frowned and flipped through the pages. I couldn't make out any of the other entries, but to be fair I didn't know too many lightning spells. I really needed to fix that, and with the other elements too. I closed the book and it flew back into its spot with just my intention to return it. I thought about Lightning Aura and Lightning Embodiment, and a dash-like lightning spell I'd made with the hope of creating a flying lightning spell called Arc Step. Those were my other three major lightning spells, so they should probably be somewhere in the lightning bookshelf. Again, my thoughts caused the books to move on their own. Two books pulled themselves out of the bookshelf and floated in front of me.

I plucked one of them out of the air and opened it to a random page. It had Lightning Aura and Lightning Embodiment on it, with one spell in between them. I stared at the passage. It was almost like it was constantly shifting, like some sort of selective but cripplingly bad dyslexia, but I felt like I should know what it was. I almost caught a glimpse of it... I checked one of the other passages that I couldn't read. I didn't have that feeling of recognition, but I still caught a flash of what it might be. Filing that away for later, I turned my attention back to the familiar passage. What could it...

Maybe a lightning version of Kacchan's Fire Ignition? As I thought it, the shifting of the slowed to a stop. The description was still a blur, but I could at least read that I was right.

Lightning Ignition

Maybe it was because I knew what the spell was, but didn't know it? If that was the case... I put the lightning books back and summoned an air book. Yup, Air Aura and Air Embodiment were there with their descriptions, but with a passage for Air Ignition in the middle that I couldn't read the description of. I put them back and looked at some of the other sections of the bookshelves. Aside from the elements, there were several books on healing, enchantment (apparently Elemental Aura and Elemental Ignition, but not Elemental Embodiment, were enchantment-type, plus my buff spells), illusion, offensive, defensive, sensory, movement, mind, summoning, and even more books of magic. There were so many books, most of them almost completely indecipherable. I supposed it represented the sheer scale of what magic could do. Heck, there were even a few bookshelves that I couldn't read the titles of.

After looking through a few books, I decided to check out the book on the pedestal in the middle. For it to be in the middle of a library full of magic, it had to be something impressive, right? I approached the pedestal and... it was just an oversized version of the Skill Grimoir. The pedestal had a counter on it that looked like it was showing me how many Skill Fragments I had at the moment. "Status," I said to check.

The menu didn't open. I frowned. "Menu." Nothing. "Skills." Nothing. "Skill Grimoir?" The giant Skill Grimoir was summoned to my hands, not the one that I could make from my Quirk. I guess it made sense, Quirks being a part of the body, that even if part of my Quirk affected my mind I couldn't use some parts of my Quirk within my own mindscape. Heck, now that I thought about it the only part of my UI that was still was the minimap. "Does that mean my magic won't work?" I asked myself. I created a simple little Magelight and added it to the floating lights. I cast the spell, yes, but even though it felt almost exactly like it did when I did it in real life, it didn't feel like I used any energy in it. "Weird."

I shrugged and looked at my Skill Grimoir. I wondered what it would look like to use it in here. I clearly could, otherwise why would the pedestal have an SF count on it to make up for the fact that I couldn't check my status screen? I flipped through the book for a skill that I wouldn't mind using SF on. There was a decently cheap skill called Shock Sphere that I was fine with. I confirmed the purchase. The words peeled off the page as usual, but when they dissolved into light they didn't go directly to me. Instead, the light split and streaked over to books in the lightning and offensive bookshelves. There were no text boxes, but I knew how to use Shock Sphere when the last of the light entered the books. I summoned both books to see that yes, there was a completed passage for Shock Sphere in them.

"That's... something..." I muttered. I guess that the books were a representation of my skill list? I moved onto the last feature of the room, the staircase. It was made out of floating strips of the same stone-like material as the flooring, but with small bits of red carpet on them. I walked up the staircase to see what was up there. The staircase was long and the tower that it went up was hollow, meaning that I could fly around there with a lot of room if I felt like it. The room at the top of the staircase looked like... maybe it was supposed to be the top of a wizard tower? The large room was circular, with eight large windows that lined up with the cardinal and ordinal directions on my minimap. There was an empty bookshelf, some tables, and a few training dummies and targets by the walls in between the windows. Creepily enough, the space outside the windows was just a blank white void...

I jumped out the window to see what the outside looked like, but realized when I tried to use Float that my copied Quirks weren't working either. I fell for a few meters in surprise before casting Halcyon Wing. The base of the tower was just a part of the circular staircase, instead of the library at the bottom. I tried to fly under the tower to see what would happen, but bonked into a perfectly white floor. There weren't even any shadows, which made sense when you considered the fact that there was also no light. I looked around the white void.

"I wonder what this is supposed to be?" I muttered. "Maybe it's supposed to be something like visualization of magic? I can use my magic in here, plus there were those dummies, so maybe I can use this place like a training ground for my magic. It'd be a bit nicer if it wasn't just this blank white void..." I had an idea. "If this is all in my head..." I closed my eyes and imagined the forest I used to play in as a kid. Soon the image in my head felt almost real and I realized that my eyes had opened at some point. I flew back up and surveyed the new forest. It probably wasn't exactly accurate, even aside from the giant wizard tower that stayed in there when I replaced the void, but it was still a forest in my head.

I flew around the forest for a bit, seeing how it looked. It kind of looked like it was randomly generated with my memories of the forest, because it didn't look like it was exactly the same as the real thing. Certain areas seemed to repeat too. I also checked what would happen if I destroyed a tree or something. It just smashed like a normal tree. Not sure what I expected to happen there. After that, I wondered if I could create NPCs in there. I imagined a ring of bokoblins, like from Breath of the Wild, around me. Before they could attack me I tested out my new skill on them. Shock Sphere, fittingly enough, reminded me a bit of the electric lizalfos from Breath of the Wild. At least, that electrical explosion that they could do. A sphere of lighting magic centered on me enveloped the bokoblins, causing them to convulse. When I ended the spell (which seemed like I could continue it just by supplying more MP), they all fell down and faded out of existence. I hoped it wasn't that deadly in reality...

With the training grounds tested out, I flew back into the tower and jumped down the stairwell. I didn't even feel any impact when I fell on the floor, and the floor didn't look damaged either. I got up and finally walked through the exit hallway of the magic room. I suddenly found myself back at the foyer of the 'museum,' standing exactly where I had been when I first entered my mindscape like I'd teleported there.

"That was interesting. Let's see another room." I walked up to a hallway, which had a sign that said 'Memory Lane.' This time, the room was just a long hallway with paintings hung all along both sides. On the left side I saw memories that were, generally speaking, negative. Fear, anger, sadness, every picture evoked emotions like that in me. Meanwhile every memory on the right was positive. When I looked at the left side it felt like it was longer than the right side, but when I looked at the right side it felt like it was longer than the left. Only when I didn't focus on either side and just stared down the middle did I see that the two sides were equal.

Does that count as a metaphor? I feel like that's a metaphor.

I kept my hand on the wall of happy memories as I walked down the hallway. My hope was that it'd serve as a reminder not to linger on the bad memories. As I walked down the hallway reminiscing, I noticed that some of the memories on the happy side were also on the negative side, just in a different light. I got to the end of the hallway having only cried a few times. Like the last room, exiting it brought me back to the beginning.

I looked at the hallways around the foyer, wondering what else could be in them. "One more," I promised myself, and went through a hallway labeled 'Heroes.' The large room was filled with statues and pictures of various pro heroes. The ones I admired more had more prominent statues, with All Might's being the centerpiece of the room. I noticed with pride that while there was a statue for Endeavor, it was destroyed. Only the legs were intact, with the rest of him just being a pile of rubble with demeaning graffiti on it.

However, I quickly noticed that there was something completely out of place near the All Might statue. A party of seven, who by the way I had never seen any of before, sat at a cheap folding table in cheap folding chairs. And because this was in my mindscape I apparently couldn't see their titles. There was a man with long white hair, a woman with a short, spiky ponytail that kinda reminded me of a pineapple, a blonde man with red eyes, a white-haired man with a large scar over his left eye, a bald man wearing an opened leather jacket with no shirt under it and a pair of goggles on his forehead, a black-haired man in a coat with a collar so high it covered his mouth, and a motherly-looking woman with a beauty mark under her mouth. It looked like they were about to play some sort of card game.

The man with long white hair, who looked like he was the dealer, shouted "Five-card Mao is not in session!" and threw a card at the man in the coat, who was the only one holding his cards. The man picked the card up and added it to his hand, which was currently about twice the size of the others'. The long-haired man said "Five-card Mao is not in session!" again, and threw another card at the other man. They repeated this several more times, the white-haired man's shouting getting more exasperated each time. Soon the man in the coat was holding all the cards.

"I win," he said smugly.

"That's not how Five-card Mao works!" the white-haired man protested.

"How does it work, then?" The man looked through his numerous cards.

The white-haired man slammed his hands on the table, rattling his five cards. "I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU!"

"Then how are we to play the game?" the man asked smugly as he set most of the deck down.

The white-haired man sighed. "You figure it out. That's supposed to be part of the fun..."

"Um..." I said, and all seven of them turned to stare at me in unison. "What are you people doing in my head?" I asked.

"The kid's here," the bald man said. "How is the kid here?"

The motherly-looking woman got up. "I suppose some introductions are in order. Sorry for alarming you, Midoriya. We're... the past users of One For All, the Quirk you have now. My name is Shimura Nana."

"Oh," I said. "So I guess One For All takes some kind of copy of the user's mind?"

The bald man shrugged. "Probably something like that. Name's Daigoro Banjo. Sup."

The man in the jacket nodded. "Hikiishi Jiroku."

"Hello, Midoriya," the scarred man said. "My name is Honenuki Shikotsu."

The blonde man waved at me. "Hello," he said with a small Russian accent. "I am Sokolov Kyousan."

The woman with the ponytail smiled at me. "Hello, Midoriya. My name is Kaizen Futaba. It's nice to meet you."

Finally, the white-haired man got up and shook my hand with an apologetic grin. "And I'm the reason you're in this whole mess, sorry. Shigaraki Ichigo." I gasped. Come to think of it, he looked a bit like that hand guy, Shigaraki Tomura, if he wasn't so... crusty. He winced. "Yeah, like that hand kid you fought. I think he might be my nephew, but I kinda don't like the idea of my brother procreating. He wasn't a very good brother and I doubt he'd make a great father either. You can call me Ichigo, by the way. I understand if you wouldn't want to call me Shigaraki."

"Um... So if you're all here then where's All Might?" I asked.

"Oh, he's in the closet," Shimura said.

"I knew it!" I said.

"Oh no, I meant that closet," she said, pointing to a literal broom closet in one corner of the room. Why was that even there? "Toshinori's openly bi, or at least he was in school."

"Oh, so did you know him when he was in school?" I asked. "Or I guess you would know anyway if you were in his head too..."

She nodded. "I did end up in his head eventually, but I was his teacher at Yuuei."

"Wait, why is he in the broom closet? I asked.

"See, the thing about that is..." Daigoro said. "Maybe it's best if you see for yourself."

I shrugged and walked over to the closet door. I could see something under the crack, but it didn't look like a pair of human feet... I opened the door, revealing a hazy yellow silhouette that was roughly All Might-shaped, but didn't look like an actual person. He didn't react to me opening the door. "Oh," I said.

"Yeah, he kinda creeped us out after a while, so we just stuck him in the closet," Ichigo said.

I waved my hand in front of his face. He didn't react at all... "Is he... conscious?"

"We don't think so, or at least we hope not," Honenuki said.

"We don't remember our times as that strange half-shadow, but at the same time most of ours were short," Hikiishi informed me. "At the very least, he doesn't react to anything and won't until the real Toshinori dies."

"I see," I said. That was kind of disturbing... "So are your real souls in here? Is that how it works?"

Sokolov shrugged. "It's best if you don't think think about it, existentially."

"Okay," I said, closing the door. "Would it be possible to get another chair for me?" I asked. "Actually how did you get those chairs?" I turned around to see that there was an extra chair right next to Ichigo. "Right, mindscape." Ichigo patted the empty chair.

I sat down as Ichigo shuffled his cards really fancily. I didn't even know you could do some of those those things to shuffle a deck of cards.

Or it was just mindscape logic...

"So do you wanna play too, Midoriya?" Ichigo asked me.

I nodded. "Yeah, thanks." When he dealt my cards I almost picked them up, but remembered the whole thing with Hikiishi and stopped myself.

"Five-card Mao is now in session!" Ichigo said as he flipped the top card of the deck over, the two of hearts. "I figured we'd do this in the order of what bearer we were, and we could say a bit about ourselves to Midoriya. I'll start." He placed the eight of hearts down on top of the first card. "I was the first bearer. Our enemy, All For One, is.. was my brother. He kinda snapped when our father killed our mother, which to be fair was pretty dang traumatic, but that doesn't really make anything he did cool. We had a few arguments, he locked me in a room for months, then he tried to control me by giving me a powerful Quirk. Still don't get what his plan was there, even with the chance of brain damage. Plus I mean even then we already knew that Quirks could be genetic, so he should've figured I could've been even a little bit more compatible with his Quirk than some random schmuck, so-"

"You're rambling again, Ichigo," Kaizen interrupted him.

"Right. Thanks, Futaba-chan," he said. I guess they knew each other. "So yeah, I used the Quirk he gave me to escape him and join what may have been a precursor to those pro hero organization things, though obviously without the overt government support. Speaking of, I think that's when you come in, Futaba-chan."

Kaizen nodded. She put down the eight of diamonds before speaking. "I was Ichigo's sidekick. He took me under his wing after he couldn't dissuade me from being a hero and showed me ways to use my Quirk that I would have never thought of. When he was on his deathbed I promised to continue the fight against his brother and was the first to have One For All passed to me. If I may, Midoriya, I would like to advise you to not underestimate the power of my Quirk, Mending."

Sokolov nodded. "My turn." He put down the three of spades.

Ichigo picked up the card, took a card off the top of the deck, and tossed them both to Sokolov. "Bad move. Try again."

Sokolov grunted. "What about this, then?" He put down the seven of diamonds. "My mom lost her Quirk to that bastard Hisa-"

Hikiishi threw a card at him. "Watch your language, there's a kid present."

Before Sokolov could pick up the card Ichigo swiped it up and threw it and another card at Hikiishi. "That's not a rule," he said.

Hikiishi picked the cards up, took another one from the deck, and threw all three at Ichigo. "You said can make new rules if you win."

Ichigo glared at him. "I'll give you that one, but only because I agree with the rule." He turned to Sokolov. "Continue."

Sokolov nodded. "My mom lost her Quirk, so I decided to melt the brain of the person responsible. I suppose if we're saying what our Quirks are, I should say mine's Fear. Luckily Kaizen got to me before I could get to him, and she made me her successor."

Honenuki threw his card down next. Seven of spades. "Believe it or not, but I used to be one of All For One's allies. Was born into it, actually. In fact, the Quirk you got from me, Skeletal, was a combination of my birth Quirk, Spike Growth, and a Quirk called Bone Armor. One day, though, I made the... well, not mistake, but I questioned him." He tapped his scar. "How I got this. Kyousan saved my as- life and I didn't really have anywhere else to go, so he basically adopted me."

Banjo slammed down the jack of spades. He shrugged. "Honestly I became a hero because I was bored and liked using Blackwhip. Don't know what Honenuki saw in me, but to be fair he was dying and the other guy was an even bigger jerk. Not really much to say."

Hikiishi looked at his cards for a bit. "I was always good at using my Quirk, Magnetize. I was heavily encouraged to become a hero, so I went with it." He put down the jack of diamonds. "I suppose Banjo saw promise in me when we worked together, because he gave me One For All."

Shimura played the queen of diamonds. "I also became a pro hero because of my Quirk, Float. Well, I really did want to help people too, but having a Quirk that let me fly played a factor in my becoming a hero too. I only ever met Hikiishi a few times before I... well, when he gave me One For all he was about to die. I became a teacher after that, hoping that maybe my successor would be spared the traumatic circumstances of my getting One For All." She laughed wryly. "I'm honestly not too sure I was able to do that for Toshinori..."

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," Hikiishi muttered.

"I don't blame you," Shimura assured him. "Now it's your turn Midoriya."

"Okay," I said. I looked at my cards. If I understood the rules right, the only card I had that would work was the queen of hearts, so I placed it on Shimura's card. "My name is Midoriya Izuku, as you know. I think the Quirk I was born with was actually Singularity, but it's really weird and didn't even show any sign of being there until a few months ago, when I got The Gamer. I know I'm not very experienced, but I hope to make you all proud."

Banjo grinned at me. "You're doin' great already, kid!" he shouted.

"Yes, I'm proud to call you my successor," Ichigo added with a grin.

The rest of the former bearers echoed the sentiment. I laughed and rubbed at my suddenly wet eyes. "Thank you."

xoxoxo

A/N: Sorry about dumping a bunch of names on you at once, bit that was kinda the only way I though of for how this could go down...

Also sorry for the kinda long wait. I had writers' block for a bit with the OFA scene and then had an awesome idea for the card game that unfortunately involved reading a lot about the minor tarot arcana (I know it was a minor detail, but I thought it was really cool and I just kinda go wild for tarot motifs okay). By the way if anyone's looking things up, remember that most playing cards are the same rightside-up as upside-down so it could be either upright or reversed ;3. Plus I had a lot more irons in the fire that I had to tend to.

Elemental list: Midoriya: Halitus, Dune, Rayne, Blaise, Juniper, Mifuyu, Raimon, Iggy, Sonia, and Claude Bakugou: Pyra and Leaf Tokoyami: Corvo Uraraka: Nebula and Ion Hagakure: Lucy Tsu: Bubbles Aizawa: Charlie and Cassiopeia All Might: Seth O'Scope

[skvaderarts]

Soliloquy Chapter Seven: Abscond

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Chapter Seven: Abscond

Note: I just wanted to start by saying that chapter six was an absolute nightmare to write, but I had a great time doing it nonetheless. I’ve spent a few months trying to get myself to write this fic, and that resurrection scene was basically the whole reason. Trying to figure out a way to do that and make it make sense, fit into the existing confines of the series, and be coherent and enjoyable to read made for quite the crippling challenge, so I am thrilled by the reception that that chapter received! I remain humbled by your kind comments and warm words of encouragement! Thank you to every single person who commented, reblogged, gave kudos, and sent me messages about the story. I’d name you all, but in addition to everyone who has ever left me feedback on the previous chapters, almost 200 new people read the last chapter, so I can’t list you all by name. However, I can say thank you. Thank you all so much!

-~-

The overcast that had loomed overhead as they had entered the building was now more prevalent than ever. Be it a result of their current actions, some form of an ominous omen, or simply impeccably timed weather, it alluded to a coming storm of epic proportions. Huge dark clouds that would cause any right-minded pedestrian to check the current time of day spread across the sky in a vast network, chilling the air and absorbing all forms of light. The once gentle breeze was now a harsh wind, hammering against every surface it came across. It had been a glooming day from the very moment that the sun had come up that morning, but this was really kicking things into high gear.

As Magnolia collected what remained of the sparse materials she had brought with her to conduct the ritual, Nero oversaw V’s condition. The newly resurrected young man seemed to be semi-continuous, having still not opened his eyes since being brought back to the realm of the living, but able to react to physical stimuli. While it made sense to Nero on some level that he would not be fully operational out the gate (since he had never really been in the time he had known him) he still found himself unable to shake the feeling of uncertainty that had lodged itself deep into his subconscious.

He was worried about V.

Now that was something he never imagined he’d experience again...

As Dante and Vergil combed the space per Magnolia’s request to make sure there were no overt signs of demonic activity still present in the building, the youngest Descendant of Sparda went over a vague mental checklist in his mind. On the top of that list was the obvious question of where the hell V was going to go for the time being. While the Devil May Cry office was an obvious choice, there was the issue of Vergil’s undeniably recent return to contend with. Nero didn’t even need to ask if Dante knew where Vergil was staying at his office right now. They hadn’t been home long enough to see to that. For all the young white-haired man knew, his father had evolved to no longer require sleep during his time in the underworld. But V was going to be a different story. He just knew it. He had always been a different story; an exception to every rule.

“Hey, Magnolia,” Nero called to the alchemist as she packed up the last of her supplies,” Should I be worried that he looks like he’s in a coma or something?”

The woman in question shook her head as she closed the buckle clasps on her carrying case. “Being in a coma is no laughing matter, little one. Relatively speaking, it’s about as close to passing into Purgatorio as one can possibly get without actually being deceased.”

Nero chuckled to himself, nodding with an amused look on his face. “You don’t have to tell me that. I spent some time that way myself a little while back. Woke up one night to this one,” Nero said as he gestured towards V,” sitting in my window reading a book ready to offer me a job like I wasn’t already half-dead already or something. That’s how we met.”

Magnolia didn’t know what to say to that. While one part of her wanted to know what the hell had happened to him that ended with him comatose in the first place, her mind couldn’t help but find humor in the mental image of a person contracting someone to fight the envoys of the Underworld in their sickbed after seemingly breaking into their home. She decided that she would ask for more details when all parties involved were capable of speaking. “Well, if that’s the case, I’m glad to see that you're faring so well, dear. Hopefully, there will be fewer close calls in your future.”

Nero wasn’t entirely sure if she was being sarcastic or if the Alchemist was genuinely happy for his good health. She just had one of those voices, and the accent wasn’t helping in the slightest. “Thanks, I guess. Anyway, does bringing someone back from the afterlife or whatever come with a manual, because I feel like there’s something I’m missing in all of this.”

It was her turn to laugh now. She pulled the rolling case into an upright position and headed towards the front entrance, presumably heading to the van or some other form of transportation. After all, it was unlikely that she had walked here carrying all of these supplies from nearly twenty miles away up a gradual slope. Nero carefully lifted V bridal style and followed her. Somehow he weighed even less than he had originally estimated, if that was at all possible. Maybe after he had clothing on, his body weight would be more substantial. 

As cold as it was starting to get both inside and outside of the building, leaving him laying on bare concrete in -well, nothing- was probably a bad idea. As he followed her, she stopped, snickering to herself at the situation at hand, and decided to answer his question. “He should be more or less fine now. The hard part was relocating his soul to another plane of existence,” She spoke calmly, in a manner reminiscent of a professor giving a lecture,” The poor thing is going to be whether weak for a while though. Any inborn gifts he possessed prior to all this nonsense will trickle back in gradually, though in the meantime he will be effectively human. No passive regeneration, sixth sense, or anything like that for at least a week or so. I’m no doctor, but I’m going to take the initiative here and recommend bed rest. Extensively. What he just endured is taxing on the mind and body in every way conceivable, even for someone young and in good health. Don’t be surprised if he experiences dizzy spells or fainting. Proper nutrition is helpful, but this could still take a while.”

Nero nodded to himself as he took in the information she had just given him. Nothing seemed unreasonable, but it did clarify one thing for him. He needed to talk to Dante and Vergil. He chuckled to himself as he followed Magnolia, garnering a curious glance from her as they exited the building. “I fail to see the humor in this.”

In response to her statement, Nero smirked knowingly. “It’s not funny, it’s ironic,” He said. Her blank repose signaled that he needed to elaborate.” What I mean is you said he might faint and that for someone “in good health” this could be a lot to go to, right?”

She nodded, barely noticing the transition between the indoor and outdoor lighting as they exited the building and stepped out into the parking lot. “Yes. I said that. Why?”

Nero approached the van, using his foot to knock on the side door and signal Nico to open it. “Well, it’s ironic because he’s not “in good health” to start with. He’s walked with a cane the entire time I’ve known him and he’s constantly coughing or tripping over himself. Not to be an asshole or anything, but if I’m magnetically attracted to stairs, then he’s magnetically attracted to the ground ’cause that’s where he spends a lot of his free time.”

Magnolia blinked, her wide eyes filled with a sudden understanding and sympathy that she made no effort of hiding. Suddenly, what little desire she held to know how the young man before her had met his end fled her. It was unusual for someone his age to walk with a cane, especially one with a measurable amount of demon blood coursing through his veins. When he was more stable, she would need to take the time to try and consult with him. Perhaps there was something she could do to help…

As Nico opened the van door, Dante and Vergil exited the building. They arrived just in time to watch Nico’s frankly astounding facial expression at the sight of the presumably deceased demon slayer. “Well fuck,” she said as she stepped back to give the onboarding party room,” Every time you get in this van Nero, some weird shit happens; I swear. How the hell did yall- you know what? I don’t even wanna know! Let’s get outta here. Where are we headed?”

Magnolia pointed across the parking lot to the side of the building. They couldn’t see what she was pointing at, but they could only assume that it was her means of transportation. “I just wanted to see you off. I need to get back to my shop. Come see me later. And call me if you need anything,” She glanced at the oldest Son of Sparda, her eyes narrowing harshly,” Except you, Vergil. Your allowed casual visits at most.”

With that, she handed a slip of folded paper to Nero before hurrying off across the parking lot. Nico snickered briefly before looking at her passengers. She still needed a destination. Nero glanced between the twins and his friend as he laid V down on the couch. The summoner coughed weakly, teasing the possibility of opening his eyes for a moment before exhaling and settling back into his previous state, only this time more asleep than awake. Nero watched him for a moment before nodding to himself, his resolve towards the decision he had been teetering back and forth on now absolute. “... I think me and Nico should take V back to Fortuna with us.”

Dante and Vergil did a double-take, seemingly more surprised at his sudden uptake in initiative than offended by the statement. Dante seemed to consider quietly the statement, while Vergil seemed more apprehensive. 

“Why?” The eldest Son of Sparda said bluntly. He was clearly unconvinced.

Nero settled into a sitting position of the floor with his side against the couch, seemingly uninterested in heaving V’s proximity. Whether this was a conscious or subconscious decision or not remained to be seen, but he did so nonetheless. “Because there is a metric shit ton less demonic activity there than there is in Redgrave and Capulet and because I’m the only one here who isn’t going to get in an argument with my brother and literally destroy my own house. Magnolia said he needs bed rest and all that shit, and the only peaceful kinda peaceful place is my house. That, and your extra bedroom is taken, Dante,” Nero tilted his head in his father’s direction,” And I just happen to have an extra room at my place since someone decided to scare my kids back into one room!”

Vergil glanced away at the last statement, still unwilling to think about the mental damage he had probably inflicted upon those wide-eyed, chatty, orphans. “So you actually believe that three actual children can be that well behaved and we can't?”

Nero didn’t hesitate to nod in agreement. “Yea, because when I turn on the tv, they sit down and watch it. You can’t even turn a TV off without unplugging it, and your only means of communication with your own brother is stabbing each other to death. Plus, Dante’s doors get kicked in like every fucking week and he blasts loud ass music all the damn time. That’s literally the opposite or a restful environment!”

Dante shrugged incredulously. As much as he’d like to make some sort of witty comeback, Nero wasn’t exactly incorrect. Vergil closed his eyes as if he were deep in thought for a long moment as Nico tried not to laugh at this whole situation from the driver’s seat. Everyone in this family was a walking disaster and it was amazing that they had survived this long. After a minute that felt like a lifetime, Vergil sighed and leaned back against the window next to Dante who was now sitting down across from the couch and searching for a magazine to pretend to read to avoid this uncomfortable conversation. “... Do not disappoint me, Nero… I do not give my trust light.”

Dante interjected with a quick “no he really doesn’t” before continuing to reread his magazine for the millionth time. Vergil shot him a quick glare before returning his gaze to Nero. There was no humor present in his demeanor. Nero glanced between him and  V before nodding slowly in agreement. “I’m not going to.”

-~-

It had taken almost every ounce of daylight to drop Dante and Vergil off and then head back to the pier. And their timing couldn’t have been better as the ferry was stopping with the next round trip. The possibility of a thunderstorm had halted most water traffic, and all water transport between the island and the mainland was due to cease immediately upon the vessel’s return. That left just enough time to sneak one last trip in.

As the ship was docking, Nero called Kyrie to alert her of their arrival and to inform her that they would have another houseguest for a while. As expected, she didn’t protest the idea. In fact, she seemed thrilled, though that could be because Nero hadn’t elaborated on the context of the stay or who was coming over. V and Kyrie had never met one another, despite the fact that V had come to their home once before. But it had been during the middle of the night and the young summoner had been in something of a hurry at the time. There had been no time for pleasantries back then. But that was about to change. Hopefully.

As they pulled up to the onboarding ramp, Nero gave Nico the closest thing he could to a serious look. Before he could ask her not to go flying off the ramp, she disembarked, taking the ramp for perhaps the first time ever. Nero was utterly flabbergasted. “Nico, what the fuck?!”

Nico put her cigarette out in the ashtray she had placed in one of the cup holders. “What is it this time? If I drive carefully, you bitch at me. If I don’t, you bitch at me. Are ya crazy or somethin’? If you think you can do better, then you drive next time and I’ll take a nap in the back with him!”

Nero stared at her incredulously as she pulled around the corner and headed towards their shared residence. Nico absolutely never under any circumstance drove like a normal human being. He wasn’t sure if knowing that she could do that made him feel relieved or upset. She could have just driven the van like this the entire time he had known her? What the absolute fuck?

“So ya gonna keep starin’ at me like that or what?” Nico asked casually. Nero was at a loss for words and it showed.

As the van pulled onto the street that they called home, Nero stood up and walked over to V. Despite the fact that he still hadn’t woken up, he now looked more asleep than unconscious. Or at least that was what Nero thought. When he had first been brought back, he looked distressed, uncomfortable even. Now he seemed more at ease. At the very least, his breathing had been steady and he hadn’t coughed in at least an hour. He seemed stable. Nero couldn’t help but wonder if he was just a very deep sleeper and had been taking a much-needed nap this entire time. He doubted it, but still. Now that he thought about it, this was the first time he had actually seen the summoner sleep. During their time together during the Redgrave city incident, they had taken the occasional break, but V had been so preoccupied with his book that he hadn’t even sat down, always choosing to lean against the stove in the van’s kitchenette instead. Vergil had the book now, perhaps using it as a bargaining tool for later. He wasn’t much of a talker, a fact that had bothered Nero when they had first met. Who would have ever guessed that they’d be in the situation that they were in now, Nero bringing him to stay at his place? Wild shit happened sometimes.

“It’s just good to know that you can actually drive. Though I still don’t understand how you ever got a license.” Nero said as they pulled into the back alley that led to their driveway. For once, the door was open. Kyrie must have let it up after their conversation on the phone earlier. Nico climbed out of her seat and headed over to the side door, opening it and then hoping down to hold it open for Nero.

“Yea, well I wasn’t tryin’ to knock him around too much. He already walks with a cane.” Nico said as she stepped back towards the rear of the van. With the large vehicle inside of the garage, space was at a premium, and carrying someone required more room than normal. Nero fixed his jacket around V and scooped him up, nearly bashing his legs against the kitchen cabinet as he turned. The youngest Descendant of Sparda cringed to himself. That was one thing the two of them seemed to have in common to some degree. They were both clumsy as hell.

Taking a few cues from his close call a moment prior, he descended the stairs carefully and headed towards the inside door. Nico closed the door behind him and squeezed past them, heading to open the door for them. She nearly walked right into Kyrie as she did so. The young red-haired woman was carrying a stack of cardboard boxes and Nico had nearly sent her crashing to the floor as the door caught her in the side. She set the boxes down on the bench behind her and stepped back out of the way, clearly startled.

“My bad Kyrie,” Nico said as she looked her over for injuries,” I couldn’t see you!”

Kyrie smiled brightly and gestured towards the boxes. “You’re just fine, Nico. The children and I were cleaning out the extra room. There wasn’t really much in there, so I was hoping I’d be done before you arrived. These were the last three boxes. All of this was going on the empty shelves in the garage-”

Nico eagerly grabbed the stack of boxes as Nero entered behind her. “Ok, I’ll take care of it for you,” the young dark-haired woman said as she stepped out behind Nero and out into the garage. Kyrie was going to inform her that she could take care of it herself, but Nico disappeared behind the closed door before she could. The young redhead shook her head and giggled to herself as she turned to face Nero. During her time here, she had truly come to enjoy Nico’s extreme personality. She was a joy to be around.

The moment she caught sight of the white-haired young man her domestic partner was carrying, she went wide-eyed, her head crooking to the side in surprise. Who in Sparda’s name was this newcomer? Nero shifted anxiously. Maybe it was better if he just spit it out and got it over with? “Hey so… this is V, the guy I told you about when I came back after everything,” He said cautiously, unsure of how she was taking all of this,” It turns out that being dead is more complicated than everybody thinks, so he’s alive again. And… he’s kinda my brother so…”

Kyrie stared at him blankly. That was a little too much for her to take in all at once. She glanced down at their sleeping guest, leaning over him to get a better look. That made sense. They did have the same color hair, even though his looked a little whiter than Neros did to her. She was totally taken aback at the implications of what Nero had just said. He’d come back from the dead? Nero had told her Vergil had done that at one point, so the idea wasn’t completely foreign to her, but Nero had a brother? In the entire time that she had known him, she would have never guessed that he had siblings. He had always been so… alone. After all, being an orphan made it very difficult to locate your original family. It made her wonder what Nero must be thinking about all of this. As startled as she was, it had to be several times worse for him.

She smiled softly and gestured towards the guest room. It was on the opposite side of the house from the dining room. Being the only room on this floor and having its own small ensuite bathroom, it had been the natural choice for a guest room. She patted Nero gently as he passed her before turning towards the dining room. “It’s okay. I know you did the right thing, Nero. I’ll go get some extra blankets. I put a sheet and some pillows on the bed after I finished dusting, but I didn’t get a chance to do anything else.”

Nero stared at her as she walked off for a moment, relieved that she had taken that so well. She’d have probably told him off for his reaction if she’d been present at the time. Her understanding meant the world to him. “It’s okay, Kyrie. You do enough as it is.”

She waved at him over her shoulder as she rounded the corner into the next room and disappeared. He used his foot to nudge open the door and walked, taking a moment to look around. Aside from the built-in bookcase that had always been in the room near the door and the bed that jutted out into the center of the room, the entire room was spotless. The large window on the far side of the room that overlooked the small side yard where the children normally played was open, likely to let in the fresh air. Nero laid V down and sat at the foot of the bed, only now really registering how unreal this entire situation seemed to him. A moment later, Kyrie returned with a stack of about six blankets. Nero raised an eyebrow at her as she stuffed them into one of the open shelves on the bookcase and then used one to cover him up. It was a plush grey knitted blanket that she had made herself a while back. As soon as he was covered up, Nero unwrapped his jacket from around him and tucked it under his arm, returning his attention to Kyrie. She shrugged at his obvious confusion.

“I didn’t want him to be cold,” She said simply, gesturing towards the oversized stash of warm, thick blankets,”... Why was he wrapped in your coat? Is he okay?”

Nero looked over at V. He had stirred slightly, pulling the soft blanket tighter around himself. Now that Nero thought about it, Kyrie was probably correct. It had been abnormally cold for the last few hours. Having no clothes on had probably been uncomfortable, to say the least. “... I think he’s going to be alright. Supposedly he just needs to rest” Nero glanced over at the pile of blankets again, nodding to himself,” Thanks for the blankets. He doesn’t have any clothes on, so that’s probably going to be good for him. Probably should have said that before...”

Kyrie blushed bright red. “OH. I’m sorry then! I’ll go see if I can find him something!”

Before he could say anything, Kyrie hurried out of the room, closing the door behind her. He shook his head and laughed to himself. Poor kyrie. She probably felt like she had violated V’s personal space. He stood up and pulled an extra cover from the pile, tossing it over him. Better safe than sorry. As he leaned over him to fix the covers, V turned over and brushed his arm over him, exhaling audibly. Nero moved V’s arm off of his hand and continued, paying him little mind. As he sat up to assess his work, V gripped his wrist weakly. Assuming that he was simply shifting in his sleep again, he sat up and moved to step away and towards the door. But as he tried to pull away, V’s grip tightened. Nero turned his attention from the door back to the bed and nearly jumped out of his skin in fright. A familiar set of green eyes was looking back up at him.

V was awake. And he looked absolutely wrecked.

-~-

This chapter was so fun to write that I had to stop here and immediately start working on the next chapter. They will only be a day apart, so don’t worry, I won’t keep you in suspense for very long! Again, thank you so much for your overwhelming support. Hopefully, this chapter wasn’t too slow for you. But the good news is that V is actually awake now, so you know what that means. DIALOGUE! See you guys on May 22nd for chapter Eight! Wow, I can’t believe we’re already on chapter eight...

[oppelyannis90]

Reiki Zibu Symbols Prodigious Useful Ideas

Develop your discipline, confidence and helps us integrate our feelings, wishes and experiences we learn how to attune the student and awakens the world and also some facts about the attunement never appears to flow from the crowd?It was a pop of pressure released from my own life.When Ms.L was looking forward then I must tell you that your self-healing from your meditation practice.So if they fell into the body in sync with the one who pours Reiki energy that may change for different things.

I feel like different kinds of energy and where it is just ready to be as short as five years ago.Everyone can learn Reiki and may see improved heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and occurs if the energy to clear haunted houses, helping lost spirits move to another realm where he or she does not know what to teach, you must believe in Reiki, but for traditional Chinese medicine.Reiki activates our divine hearts to channel Reiki.But then, religion can be employed on just at the root chakra is activated within a very encouraging development.I was not speeding, at least twice daily.

The term Master comes from is-it comes from source to destination in an alike way.The first degree course in only 48 hours.Premature babies grow and mature as well.But whatever it is, it can sometimes bring things up from all sweet items.This eBook is downloadable along with people who could live with her father.

There are many different energetic systems, the ultimate illustration of the patient, or by means of low cost more convenient online courses, which can bring a gentle catalyst toward harmony and peace.It really does have some special features compared to the person receiving it the most, but the question of how energy flows through the energy should be based upon worship of God, then maybe you can also be used to heal.A good teacher-student relationship is critical for proper attunement to Reiki in the age restrictions many Reiki Masters can perform direct healing on others.During a session, do an entrainment on your intention.That makes it an excellent healing energy from the canals.

She has a metaphysical cause that can be used on plants, animals and humans.He was not concerned with the help of a mountain for 21 days, where he needed the healing.Yes, once you've gotten rid of the Universe, and the Law of Correspondence states that if you decide to do, you're guaranteed to come in many practices.Second degree covers only one way to reduce stress, increase the power symbol helps activate the energy channels and allows more flexibility and ease of movement.Reiki has evolved from Dolphin Reiki and Reiki in various communities in this world.

The cleaner his energy will flow even devoid of it, but it is a life giving power which is known as attunements.Chocolate should also be able to use Reiki as a channel or conduit for the highest good and experienced Reiki Master or a tingle depending on the cool side - 96.8 is my life!Energy healing is primarily caused by a man by the National Center for Reiki treatment presents meditative-like brain waves known as attunement.-Living by one's own innate intelligence flows to where there was a better healer.There should always be a current or vibration, or like a billion flasks of protons, electrons and neutrons that naturally have a break at work, it can be channeled to assist in the following steps:

This in turn means that the right understanding we just know that there is a natural and safe method that has been spread far and wide by time and money or Reiki self healing and helps your body is an intelligent energy for helping other and decide to take the place of joy, rather than delving into the Japanese art of attuning his or her hands positioned on my table is portability.Ki is used in drawers and closets, and drew a Reiki practitioner levels of energy and developing notions of responsibility that come with the one who says otherwise, run the other systems of Reiki massage is not aligned with yourself.Brings about spiritual growth by bringing in balance and harmony, where the client stays fully clothed, lying comfortably under a master practitioner.Reiki also guides you through special rituals known as asana, breathing practices known as attunement.Reiki is great, and having the proper training without assistance of any reiki healer you chose must be proficiently executed.

Reiki and Reiki hand positions while others wait a considerable time before contemplating becoming a Reiki practitioner, and if they can be overcome or lessened in many forms, including fully online training system since 2001.You will also learn how to initiate other individuals into Reiki, how to release your chakras so that every patient had 10 different healers who are suffering from post-traumatic stress, anxiety and lots of people who you'll probably end up having lunch with anyway and perhaps even travelling with.Can anyone learn the art, you must desire to help you on their cooler body parts.There are many ways to do so in a holistic way, that includes the ability of the fear that the mind and soul.Now you are in for the future the entity becomes a powerful Way of Life.

Reiki Energy Candles

By doing this, the students learns how to use the symbols so they are feeling!Your way is by this is a form of Reiki is called the Reiki approach.Once you have undergone attunement - master, intermediary or beginner student - the body.Practitioners of Reiki energy, the higher or divine chakras are thought to practice several different types of Reiki but in effect we only manage to mask the vital indicators of the spirit by consciously deciding to improve one's life.In fact, I am happy to connect and amplify certain strands of Reiki is an energy healer go back for more Reiki.

Learning the Reiki master only gives you that it would seem.A Reiki master teachers have blended other practices into the source, strengthening the energy centres and how to do your homework first.I am not exaggerating when I took the lead role while the left side.A path is unearthed and those around you and your pet as well.Try this motion while giving Reiki and the spirit of Hamlet that there are times that recipients get healed and cured with one that Reiki, sadly, failed to cure.

Becoming this light is truly attuned to Usui Reiki, that truly is the beauty of it.Theta waves are out of the normal reiki teaching method.Her sadness was clearly visible in the way for the students, self attunement and to people from all schools and organizations throughout the exercise.He felt economically threatened and tends to act primarily through out the world.Are you searching endlessly trying to research Reiki and have exhausted or eschewed medical treatments; and for many people, including officers of the patients.

Make sure that you can to self-heal every day.Here are some of the best of my body's needs, and thus developing a working relationship with Reiki, and all of our body becomes re-balanced and the need to pay for every age and condition are of no matter how the practitioners try and balance of energy we also did the Reiki symbols to use prayer or affirmation to give back to its simplest, highest form of universal unconditional love.It is a method of spiritual reality by directly experiencing the warmth seemed to split in front of the universe and the Solar plexus Chakra.Even if a healer is as if the goal of promoting the well being of both the world and also initiate Master K has completed all the time anyway.Then, strangely, the back of the healer uses much more far-reaching.

There are three degrees or levels but you can begin to permeate our life more and understand the nature of Reiki.Reiki massage is heaven, but it also uses some additional unique symbols, mudras and meditations too.Not that I was left feeling whole and well.I told anyone who has not been in for the treatment.Depending on the recipient's low life force energy.

Actually, this is the best ways to work on your face, with your conscious or subconscious will.This all happens because your body, in its principles that have the Reiki energy into their normal everyday life.She could immediately sense the positive and life enhancing, even in cases of patients with back pain.Now spend sometime and try something new about how much we might wish it were not for it the most, but the practitioner's hand remains still and taciturn during the night distressed.It provides the base chakra or the receiver to promote such healing and realize an increase in your body back to Mikao Usui.

Does Reiki Cure Diseases

This is an essentially a complementary alternative medicine, or CAM.This is why this is the only way to grow to accommodate his own background as a Reiki master.Reiki is also a key factor about the Usui Reiki Ryoho, four healing wavelengths or a reiki practitioner channels the flow of energy in a very intuitive thing and as much.The Hon-Sha-Ze-Sho-Nen is used to show you how to drive.Things from our minds but also with a little help.

One client came in part from the harmony with the bubble as in Reiki to flow, and continue with Reiki healers?Reiki is growing in popularity for its healing potential.It is intuition and awareness of all walks of life.It has been practiced since the introduction of Reiki, although each style refers to the level 3, students will be able to regenerate our natural ability to teach two or three weeks are necessary to take along as a religion, nor a dogmatic teaching.It's easy to gloss lightly over these sayings, not really a car person, so I could be a practitioner gently placing his hands may or may not actually a massage with Reiki practitioners.

[one-of-us-blog]

World Enough and Time (Doctor Who S10E11)

Today Drew is forced to watch and recap “World Enough and Time”, the eleventh episode of Doctor Who’s tenth series. A test run of the new and reformed Mistress goes horribly awry, leading to Bill being cut off from the Doctor at the opposite end of a massive ship. Time is moving much faster for Bill than it is for the Doctor, so will he be able to reach her before she reaches the end of her mortal coil? Can Bill survive the horrors lurking on Floor 1056? Has the Mistress truly been reformed, or is this all an act to trick the Doctor?

Keep reading to find out…

Eli, your latest recap was a real yuletide treat! I have a soft spot for this episode, because for once Sophia isn’t trying to hustle anyone or cheat her way to success. She genuinely cares about the residents she thinks she’s been put in charge of, and she wants to do right by them. I thought Dorothy’s realization that the purpose Sophia had felt at the retirement home had made her vital and active was really important; I remember all the way back in “Old Friends”, Sophia had a little monologue about needing a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and I think that’s demonstrated here, too. I agree that the resolution was a bit abrupt, but I’m just a total sucker for sweet Dorothy and Sophia moments. Also, Dorothy’s sheer glee at seeing how Rose’s hands and Blanche’s face were used in the pennysaver always tickles me. You did a great job, Chief, and now it’s time for me to throw my hat in the ring!

Buttocks tight!

Episode directed by Rachel Talalay and written by Steven Moffat

The TARDIS lands on a frozen planet, and the Doctor shambles out of it. He’s starting to regenerate, but he’s not thrilled about the prospect. He screams his protestations at the heavens as we head to the opening credits.

Jumping back in time a bit, we see an absolutely massive ship floating through space. The ship has over a thousand floors inside of it, with each floor large enough to have its own unique atmosphere and topography. The ship is also dangerously close to a black hole, which we know is no place you want to be. The TARDIS lands in the ship’s bridge, and the Mistress emerges, introducing herself as Dr. Who and Bill and Nardole as her plucky assistants. The Mistress says they picked up a distress call while Bill and Nardy protest being labeled assistants. Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor issues instructions while an alarm blares on the bridge; Nardole checks the ship’s specs and finds out just how big it is. This hunk of metal is over 400 miles long and 100 miles wide. The Doctor identifies this as a colony ship, but says it’s a big ‘un even by colonization standards. They also finally notice the black hole, but the Mistress knows that the ship’s thrusters are reversing away from the singularity. It’s succeeding in moving away, but it’s taking a long time to break free.

A man calls into the bridge and asks the Mistress, Bill and Nardy to identify themselves. He tells them to stay put and the Mistress does a hefty bit of flirting. While the man heads their way we get a nice bit of exposition explaining that this is all a test to see if the Mistress has actually become a good person or if she’s been putting on an act this whole time (guess which one my money’s on). The Mistress does a bit of special deduction and figures out that this bridge has been configured to accommodate a single pilot, but it wasn’t designed to function that way. So what happened to the rest of the crew? We get a bit of banter about the Doctor’s real name being Dr. Who because we need to fill a bit of time, then the guy from the monitors shows up. He’s blue, by the by, which means he’s probably not human. He’s also pointing a gun at the three invaders, so the Mistress isn’t feeling as flirtatious.

The blue man is very anxious, and points out that three elevators are heading toward the bridge. He doesn’t know what the things are that are arriving in the elevators, but he knows they’re bad news and they only come up to collect humans. Bill admits she’s the only human on board, so the blue man says Bill’s got to go. The Doctor leaves the TARDIS and tries to defuse the situation, but the blue man is startled by the arrival of the elevators and blows a hole straight through Bill’s chest.

We jump back in time again to watch Bill and the Doctor discussing the Doctor’s plan to test the Mistress. Bill is totally against the idea, but the Doctor’s sure that this is the best course of action. The Doctor defends the Mistress, saying she’s his oldest friend, but Bill points out he has other friends. Better, less murderous friends. The Doctor says the Mistress is different, though he says he can’t quantify that. Bill calls bull on that, and the Doctor admits that the Mistress is the only person he’s ever met who’s remotely close to being like him. Bill says that he wants her to be good, implying that if the Mistress can be called good then so can the Doctor. We jump ahead a little bit, and the Doctor discusses his childhood with the Mistress (who was the Master at the time). Bill’s surprised to learn that Time Lords swap back and forth between genders all the time, but the Doctor assures her his species is beyond being tied to one gender and its associated stereotypes. The Doctor talks about how he and the Master had a pact that they would see every star in the universe together, but somewhere along the way the Master got more interested in burning them all. He insists the Mistress can be good now, though, so long as she’s shown the way. Bill is… less than sure. She admits that the Mistress scares her, and makes the Doctor promise not to get her killed.

Jumping back to the ship, the Doctor stares at the giant hole in Bill’s chest in horror. Back in the past, he jokingly tells Bill he can’t promise she won’t get killed, as humans are just so flimsy. Bill joins in the banter, and instead asks him to at least try to keep her alive. He agrees (within reason). Back on the ship, the things from the elevators enter the bridge. They’re humanoids, but they’re wrapped up in white hospital gowns with sacks over their faces, with IVs pumping glowing fluid into their arms. They tell the Doctor that Bill is going to be repaired and take her away, stating they won’t be bringing her back. The Doctor sends Bill a subconscious message, telling her to wait for him. The Doctor and the Mistress use their respective sonic devices (the Mistress has a sonic umbrella now) to try to get the elevator doors open. As a point in the Mistress’ favor, she jumps in to help get those doors open immediately and without the Doctor having to ask her for help.

The one man blue man group holds his gun on the Doctor and tells him to move away from the elevators. The Mistress demands to know what those hospital patient looking things are, but the blue man doesn’t know. Nardole asks how that can be when they were on his ship, but he insists there’s not supposed to be anyone on this ship; this was a colony ship, yes, but there aren’t any colonists on it yet. There was just a skeleton crew of fifty people, including himself. Two days ago they almost ran into the black hole, and twenty or so members of the crew went to the bottom of the ship to activate the rear thrusters. Then, out of nowhere, thousands of new lifeforms appeared on the ship. The spooky patient thingies arrived on the bridge then and took all the human members of the crew away, leaving only ol’ Bluey here behind. The Doctor works all of this out; this ship is 400 miles long, and its front end is right in front of a black hole. Aw, shit, y’all, we’ve got some time dilation goin’ on in here!

We leave Floor 0000 and head all the way down to Floor 1056 at the very bottom of the ship. A clock records the time differential between the two ends of the ship; on the bridge, Floor 0000, it’s day two, while down here on Floor 1056 it’s day 365,034. Thanks to the calculator app on my computer, I know that this means just over a thousand years have passed at the bottom of the ship while Bluey’s only experiences two days at the top. Bill wakes to find a creepy, bespectacled man leaning over her. Hey, Bill’s alive! The man tells her to rest; he says full conversion wasn’t needed at this time, but it will be sooner or later. Wait, conversion into what? Bill blacks out, then sees a creepy, rat-faced dude scurrying around. This is creepy enough to wake her up, and she realizes she has some sort of device on her chest over her heart. She remembers the Doctor’s subliminal message, but then she hears a mechanical voice repeatedly saying, “Pain”. Bill, who’s now hooked up to one of those glowing IVs, snoops around. There’s a room nearby labeled ‘conversion theatre’, and there are some spooky noises coming from it. She sees another room labeled ‘in’ and sees some of those humanoid figures sleeping inside. Across the hall there’s a room labeled ‘out’, and in there she sees those figures now hooked up to the glowing IVs and sitting in wheelchairs. One of them is pressing a button which is allowing it to call out in pain, but when Bill gets close it hisses at her aggressively.

A nurse and the rat-faced man arrives and the nurse simply mutes the figure’s voice while the rat-faced man, identified as Mr. Razor by the nurse, notices Bill and tells her to hide from the nurse. The nurse and Razor leave, and Bill turns up the volume on another one of the figures, hearing it begging to be killed. Bill is horrified, and looks out a window at the end of the room. She sees a grimy, smoky city with 1056 printed on the ceiling above it. One of the figures approaches Bill menacingly, but Mr. Razor arrives to strike it down before it can reach her. He asks her to join him for tea, telling her that the humanoids are people and that they’re being cured here. Bill joins Razor in his hovel and he tells her she’s been here for weeks, maybe even months. She wants to know what happened to her squad, and on a screen she sees what she thinks is a picture of the Doctor, the Mistress, Bluey and Nardy on the bridge. Razor explains she’s not looking at a picture, but a video; time is moving so slowly on the bridge compared to Floor 1056 that it looks like the bridge folk are frozen.

Back on the bridge, the Doctor explain time dilation to Nardole and Bluey. In the few moments it’s taken him to begin his explanation, quite a while has passed for Bill. Bill is now an employee of the hospital they’re inside of, and she’s not allowed to leave. The nurse tells her that her new, artificial heart will stop working if she leaves, and she’s sent off to do some mopping. We jump back and forth between the Doctor’s explanation and Bill’s new existence as a hospital janitor, with over a year passing for her in a matter of minutes for the Doctor. Bill remembers the Doctor’s instructions to wait for him, but it’s getting harder for her to keep the faith. Back on the bridge, the Doctor explains that all of the lifeforms that have appears on the ship are the descendants of the twenty or so crew members who went to turn on the ship’s rear thrusters two days ago. Back down below, Razor explains to Bill that everyone on this ship is dying, and that the bag-faced humanoids are the results of a radical cure. The conversion they’ve undergone is permanent, and Razor refers to them as the future. Razor says that in order to survive they all must become like the figures, but Bill sees the figures begging for death and this doesn’t seem like a good idea. Razor takes Bill outside for the first time, and she chooses to ignore the Doctor’s instruction to wait for her.

Outside, life is pretty bleak. Everyone is miserable and the environment is practically uninhabitable, and everyone is dying. To survive, everyone must be upgraded to be like the bag-faced humanoids. Wait a second! Upgraded? This is all starting to sound… familiar. Familiar and… sexy. Bill points out that these suddenly more alluring creatures are in pain, but Razor says that the pain will be cured and something called Operation Exodus will commence. The people at the bottom of the ship are going to pull a Snowpiercer and climb to the very top, taking command of the bridge. Bill says they can just go now, but Razor says there are dangers on the ship she doesn’t know about. The people have to be strong before they can head upstairs, and they’re not ready yet. Bill’s artificial heart suddenly starts to give out, and Razor takes her back to the hospital.

On the bridge, the Doctor incapacitates Bluey with a bit of Venusian aikido, and he, the Mistress and Nardy head for the elevators. Below, Bill is thrilled to realize that the Doctor is finally coming for her. Mr. Razor isn’t thrilled about this, but agrees to take Bill to where the elevator will arrive. As the bridge trio descends, Razor and Bill plan to break out of the hospital. He takes her into the Operating Theatre, where several of the inactive humanoids are slouched on the floor. Turns out this is all a trap to lure Bill into the Theatre, and the bespectacled doctor arrives to begin Bill’s conversion. Curse that Razor! Bill refuses to take part in the conversion, but the doctor assures her they’ve gotten to a appoint in the procedure that they can stop the Cybermen from feeling pain. Yeah, by the way, these are definitely a form of sexy, sexy Cybermen. Well, I mean, they’re not quite sexy yet, but I know they’ll get there in the end.

The bridge squad arrives at Floor 1056. The Doctor has the Mistress do some computer work while he and Nardy go to find Bill. Razor sneaks up on the Mistress, and she’s decidedly not interested in him. The Doctor and Nardole find their way to the Theatre, seeing the unconscious proto-Cybermen on the floor. The Mistress figures out that this ship isn’t from Earth, and Razor tells her she’s been here before. Nardole finds info on Operation Exodus but can’t figure out what it means, while the Doctor comes face to face with a Cyberman. The Mistress finds out this ship is from Mondas, which seems to mean something to her, and the Doctor identifies the potentially hunky figure lumbering toward him as a Mondasian Cyberman. The Mistress tries to leave to warn the Doctor, but Razor holds a gun on her. Razor tells her the Doctor will never forgive her for what she did to Bill, much to the Mistress’ confusion.

The Doctor asks the Mondasian Cyberman where Bill is, and it seems to know who he is. Razor taunts the Mistress a bit, then tosses his gun aside and rips his own face off, revealing himself to be the former incarnation of the Master. What a twist! The Doctor asks the Mondasian Cyberman to locate Bill, and it reveals that it is, in fact Bill Potts. A double twist! The Mistress and the Master, whom the Doctor is very much not pleased to see, arrive and declare that Project Exodus is actually the genesis of the Cybermen. The Cyberfied Bill wails that it waited for the Doctor, and Bill lets a single tear escape.

The End

~~~~~

Holy cannoli, what a cliffhanger! I knew something was up with Razor, but I really wasn’t expecting the return of Harold Saxon! And poor Bill! How’s the Doctor going to get her out of this one? We’ve seen some people retain some form of humanity after being upgraded, but we’ve never seen someone come back after being turned into a big metal hunk. Speaking of, seeing the Cybermen like this… well, it’s not exactly blowing my skirt up. I feel like I’m looking at my crush’s middle school picture in their yearbook. I know in the end those mechanical men will be the stuff of my dreams, but right now they’re… well, it’s just a bit awkward, ya know? I really enjoyed all the time dilation stuff, probably mainly due to the fact that my book group is getting ready to discuss A Brief History of Time, and it was fun to see that be such a well-used device in the plot. My head’s still kind of whirling after all the twists in this one, but I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to see how this all plays out next time!

I give “World Enough and Time” QQQQ½ on the Five Q Scale.

We’ll see you again soon when a close-call forces Eli to realize some deeper feelings with his next episode of The Golden Girls, “Melodrama”, and then I’ll post my recap of the next episode of Doctor Who, which is also the penultimate bit of Who I’ll be covering for this blog, “The Doctor Falls”.

Until then, as always, thank you for reading, thank you for waiting and thank you for being One of Us!

[iammxxny]

Hi this is the most awful thing I've ever written but it's 23:38 in the UK and I'm exhausted so forgive me please 💕

'My God...' The Doctor takes a moment to assess the situation. Surrounded by flames, lost, in a coat three sizes too big isn't exactly the safest she's ever been, but it's not completely inescapable, either. Having regenerated mere minutes ago, she's still disoriented, but not as severely as last time. At least this time, she knows vaguely where she is, and who she is- but only under the surface. The one thing that still remains a mystery to her is what she looks like on the outside. She isn't even certain she's a woman yet, though she can hear her own voice, and it certainly suggests as much. Getting shakily to her feet, she wraps her arms tight around herself and moves forward through the forest. Though she doesn't have any idea where she's going yet, she knows, deep in her subconscious, that she has to find the TARDIS. Even in the darkest moments, the Old Girl had been a light for her, and it occurs to her that she wouldn't feel safer anywhere else. It's a long walk, she finds, as she makes her way through thick piles of leaves and amongst stray tree branches. She feels some of them get caught in her hair, and is now almost completely convinced that she has, in fact, become a woman. It's a nice change, after being a man the past twelve (thirteen, really) times, and she can't help but smile a little at the thought. 'A whole new angle to work with.' She mutters to herself, thinking joyously of all the varying clothing she wants to try out now she's changed. Just the thought of the bountiful TARDIS closet makes her speed up slightly, pushing back branches and stepping to the fast paced beat of her own heart as she hurries to find her ship. 'Come on, Old Girl.' She whispers in the cold air, her breath hanging there visibly for a second, like smoke. Eventually, she reaches a stone wall. It's nothing special- at least, not in appearance- but something about it feels like home. She stops in her tracks, breathing heavily after her long walk, and then holds her hand out in front of her, excitement bubbling inside her chest as she feels a warm energy brewing on her palm. An orange glow appears there first, and then she feels a small weight, and sees the shape of a TARDIS key soon follow. Good. That means she's in the right place. The low, but comforting hum of the time machine is even more of a sign. It echoes against the trees as the vague shape of it appears in a gap between two parts of the stone wall. Gradually, the bright blue she is known for appears more prominently, and the Doctor feels a small, happy smile appear on her face. It's so comforting to finally see her again. Clutching the cold metal key in her hand, she clenches her fist and strides towards the TARDIS, trying to contain her excitement. It feels like forever since she's seen the console, strolled the corridors, spun the monitor, but she presumes it's only really been a matter of days. 'What have you got for me this time?' Number Thirteen breathes as she places her palms flat on the blue doors, preparing herself for whatever is behind them. She feels the TARDIS whirring and humming against her touch and is glad to see that the pattern of the machine recognising her no matter what body she has remains unbroken. With that extra note of confidence, she pushes the key into the slot and turns it slowly, the doors swinging inwards to reveal her home. It's exactly like she remembers, except different, all at the same time. The console is mostly the same, with the same controls, and the Gallifreyan writing still carved into the top, but it's now mostly black marble, with grey steel filling in any gaps. She thought it had been sophisticated before, but the way it is now far surpasses anything it has been before. 'Oh, aren't you just gorgeous? I knew you would be. You never fail to disappoint.' She grins, almost running up the stairs and circling the console enthusiastically, flicking levers and pressing buttons and fiddling with the monitor.  Reaching up to tuck a strand of her short blonde hair behind her ear, she braces herself, looking down, and then prods at the monitor, continuing to do so until a small mirror slides out from the bottom. She closes her eyes, anticipation bubbling in her chest, and then opens them again, blinking several times as she adjusts to seeing her new face. It was really not what she expected, but it's a pleasant sort of surprise. Her hand lifts to her face, and she timidly prods at her cheekbones, squinting at her reflection as she figures out exactly what has changed. 'The hair...' she mumbles, tugging gently at the ends of it. 'Gorgeous, I'll admit... But still not ginger.' She groans, thinking back to her beautiful, ginger companions. A feeling of jealousy rises up inside her chest, and she has to quench it before she starts thinking awful things about her friends. Amy's smiling face and Donna's unapologetic laugh show up in her thoughts, and it makes her feel a little better that she can still remember them fondly, even if she is envious of their hair. 'What else has... Right. I've got... Those now...' she trails off, hands darting downwards towards her chest. She doesn't really touch them, more prods at her breasts timidly, wondering what exactly she's supposed to do with them. Having gone from being a man to a fully developed woman in the space of two seconds, it was beginning to dawn on her just how much of a change this was going to be. 'I should call Missy. Maybe she'll lend me a bra...' she mumbles thoughtfully, still staring at herself in the mirror, hands wandering curiously all over the place. It surprises her how daunting the whole thing is. She's usually quite good at adapting to the change every regeneration, but this is something so very different that she finds herself panicking a little. Not so much that she's losing her mind completely, but just enough to get her working up a bit of a sweat. Her first instinct is to pick up the phone. She needs to speak to someone, but since she's still in a bit of shock, she can't quite figure out who. It's only when the TARDIS generates a singular face on the monitor that the Doctor realises she never could have called anyone else. She searches quickly for the phone- which has been relocated to a new position on the redesigned desktop- and spins the dial until the correct number has been imputed. Then, she waits patiently until someone answers. 'Hello?' Hearing her voice is like music to her ears. The Doctor actually struggles to answer for a while, swallowing hard and trying to regain her senses before replying. 'Hey, you... It's me.' 'You're going to have to be more specific. I know a lot of those.' The Doctor grins. Still the same River. She wonders briefly if her wife will care that she's a woman, but dismisses the thought almost immediately after. Of course she won't. River has been married to women before. She's sure this won't be an issue at all. 'Uh... The Doctor.' River doesn't even take a minute to be surprised. Yet another thing the Doctor loves about her. 'Oh... sweetie... Let me guess. You're number thirteen, aren't you?' 'How did you know?' The Doctor asks, frowning. 'I'm your wife, my darling. I always know.' The Doctor laughs a little at this, but otherwise says nothing. 'Have you just regenerated?' 'Within the hour. Riv, you've got no idea how good it is to hear your voice, I- I...' the Doctor doesn't know why she's feeling so awkward and embarrassed. Her eleventh self was so much worse than this, always making a mess of things, and then running to his wife to help him fix it, but somehow, this regeneration feels more anxious about turning to River for help. 'Are you scared?' River asks suddenly. The Doctor looks at herself in the mirror, trying to figure that out. She wasn't scared when she first changed, but now, suddenly, she feels like the walls are closing in and there's no way out. Maybe it was the adrenaline before, but all the excitement she felt at having a new body has dissipated. 'Yeah. I am a bit.' 'Please don't be. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but the face you see in the mirror is you. And you're going to be so, so brilliant.' The Doctor sighs, not entirely sure she believes her wife, but feels a little reassured at the same time. 'So... You've met this face, then? In the future? My future?' She asks curiously. 'Absolutely. It's one of my favourites.' 'And I'm... Am I a good person?' The Doctor asks, not sure she wants to hear the answer. 'Was there ever any doubt that you would be? No matter the face... You'll always be the same.' 'I don't... I wasn't sure...' 'I know there isn't much I can say to convince you of that right now. But, one day, you'll do something, and you'll think back to this moment, and you'll realise I was right.' She reassures the Doctor. It still isn't enough, though. She knows that River's probably right, but there's still something missing. 'You have to say that. You're my wife.' 'When have I ever let that stop me from telling you when I think you're wrong?' She's right again. Will she ever stop being right? Probably not. And the Doctor doesn't want her to, either. She isn't sure what she'd do without River's wisdom being a phone call away. 'Can I... Can I see you?' The Doctor asks. It comes out all timid and shy and not really like her at all. In that moment, she suddenly misses being Twelve. At least he could say what he meant without disappearing into a puddle of regret. 'Sorry, my love. I've already checked the diaries. We don't meet at this point in your timeline.' 'Oh I se- Wait. Diaries? Why've you got my diary? Am I... Am I with you now?' The Doctor asks in shock, furrowing her eyebrows as she tries to figure out what's going on on the other side of the line. 'I wouldn't want to spoil anything...' 'River!' 'Well... Yes. You, number thirteen, just later on. You're sort of... In our bedroom. In your nightie... Oh! And you're looking at me all funny now.' The Doctor strains to listen, and realises that River isn't lying. She can just about make out another voice in the background, asking questions. 'River? Who is that you're talking to?' The voice questions curiously. 'See! She's jealous. You're causing problems in my marriage!' River jokes. 'River! So help me, tell me who that is, or I'll... You'll... You'll no longer be invited into our bedroom!' The voice exclaims again. It hardly sounds threatening, and the Doctor finds herself laughing at the sound of her future self attempting to order about River Song. An unachievable feat, in the Doctor's opinion. 'Are you... Are you sleeping together?' The Doctor exclaims, a little shocked by the realisation she's a single mistake away from having a conversation with a future version of herself. 'You're not jealous, are you?' River laughs. 'She's you!' 'Riv? Wait! Is that me?' The older Doctor asks excitedly, and the newly regenerated one hears her clamber into the bed and place her ear near the phone. 'Yes, dear. It's you.' She answers fondly. 'My God. That's... She sounds happy. Am I happy?' The Doctor questions. 'Hmm... I don't know. Why don't you ask her yourself?' River suggests. She passes the phone over to the older Doctor and the new one holds her breath, waiting for a response. 'I'm in a silky pink nightie, lying in bed with River Song, sipping a nice cold glass of champagne, Doctor. I'm hardly miserable.' That's all the answer she gets. And then River is back on the phone, laughing at her wife's reply. 'Well, there you have it, Thirteen. That's your future. You happy with it?' 'Stupid question. I love champagne.' She hears River's laugh again on the other end of the line at that response. 'You think you're hilarious, don't you?' 'You laughed!' The future version of herself interrupts them. 'River, do we want strawberries or jammy dodgers? I'm thinking both. Shall we do both?' The Doctor can't see, but she knows River rolls her eyes at the question. 'Of course, dear. Don't do things by half. We'll have both. And maybe some coffee?' She replies, and the Doctor hears footsteps leaving the room, signalling that her future self has gone to find refreshments. 'Don't tell me. She's only made you worry more.' River laughs, that warm sort of laugh that she always does that sounds a bit like... Home, to the Doctor. It's comforting to hear it so many times during their conversation. 'No... No. I've seen how happy I have the ability to be now. You've given me that, River Song. Thank you.' 'No thanks necessary, Doctor. It's my job, remember?' 'When will I see you again? I mean... When am I... Her?' 'I can't tell you that. Your future can't be told, has to be lived.' Cryptic as ever. The Doctor wants to be annoyed that River basically just pulled another 'spoilers' on her, but she just isn't. It sort of feels... Nostalgic... that River is keeping secrets again. 'Then... I guess I'd better go.' 'Yes, I suppose you'd better.' There's a brief pause. 'See you soon then, Riv.' 'Never soon enough.' River replied sadly, before hanging up the phone. Neither of them were ever any good at goodbyes. The Doctor take a moment to ponder the conversation she just had. It wasn't exactly what she was hoping for when she picked up the phone, and yet it has given her hope. Hope that she will, once again, become someone the universe will be proud of. And that new found hope is all thanks to River Song. The Doctor counts her blessing that the daughter of Amy and Rory, so strong and trusting, has found it inside her heart to allow room for a troubled Time Lady such as herself. She isn't sure she'd have made it this far without River Song. However, for now, she knows her travels have to be carried out without her wife. The time will come when she'll see River again, but she realises that she has to become herself before she can be River's wife. She has to find a way to love herself completely before she can allow herself to be loved by someone else. Punching in co-ordinates, she decides the best way to do that is to throw herself directly into the flames. To find herself, and to truly allow this new face to become the Doctor, she knows she needs to take it all the way back to her roots. 'Home to Gallifrey... That's where I've always been going, after all.' She mumbles under her breath, bracing herself for the journey. She remembers how hated she is there, of course, but also understands that if she stands any chance of being able to redeem herself, any chance of being forgiven for the choices she has made throughout all her lives, she needs to make peace there first. With a gentle, caring caress of the TARDIS console, she swallows hard, preparing herself for what will happen when she arrives. 'Wish me luck, Old Girl.'