#did I forget to put details on his antennas??? yes yes I did but we don’t talk about that

[grimlyink-but-creative]

SHE FOUND HER BELOVED!💕

But he’s now worm on string…🪱

Lil’ fella gotta handle being in the pocket for a bit -

[dangerouscommiesubversive]

fought on your side long before you were born

Fandom: Kamen Rider, Batman, Kamen Rider W Characters: Hongo Takeshi, Tachibana Tobei, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Hidari Shoutaro, Philip, Damian Wayne Song: "Father to Son," Queen (playlist here)

1977

Tachibana’s got a shop now, something he can use to support his family now that he isn’t traveling, and the first thing that greets Takeshi as he walks in is the thick smell of motor oil. There’s a bike in pieces at one end of the shop floor around which several young men are clustered, arguing cheerfully. Another young man is sitting in a corner near them, inexplicably playing acoustic guitar and responding briefly whenever he’s addressed. It’s new, but it feels like home, and Takeshi can feel his shoulders instinctively relaxing.

“Hongo!” Tachibana himself emerges from the shop office, beaming. “When’d you get back to Japan?”

“Just now, I came right here.”

“Damn right you did.” There’s some hugging and back-slapping and general affectionate ribbing, and then Tachibana says, “So what do you think? Nice place, right?”

“It’s wonderful. How’s your son?”

“Healthy as a horse, running me and Mari ragged.” Tachibana gestures to the huddle of young men at the other end of the room. “Plenty of help around here, though.”

Takeshi grins. “I can see that. Who’s the one with the guitar?”

“Oh, him? American kid. Funny story, really, I’m closing up one day when this young guy just materializes—no, not literally, he’s just real quiet—and asks, am I Tachibana Tobei? Only Dr. Jin in Madrid says I’m the best in the world and will I teach him about motorcycles! And he hands me a letter of introduction from Keisuke!” Tachibana sounds like he’s holding back laughter. “So he’s renting our spare room at the house and working here for a few months. Quick study, too. Shiro taught him guitar, he’s in town for a bit and they hit it off. Here, come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

They head over to the disassembled motorcycle, and the young men fall all over themselves to be introduced, which Takeshi bears with good cheer. They’re young, of course they’re enthusiasts.

The American boy is last, and Takeshi is shocked to realize that he is a boy, no more than eighteen or nineteen, a pale youth with blue eyes and a lonely look that reminds Takeshi of Shiro. No wonder they get along. He sets his guitar aside and bows, stiff and solemn, and says, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hongo. Mr. Tachibana talks about you a lot.”

“That I do! Hongo, this is Bruce Wayne, he’s the summer guest I was telling you about.”

“Good to meet you, Wayne. Your accent is excellent.” The boy’s got a firm handshake. “What brings you to Japan?”

“Study, sir,” but the boy’s tone says that’s not all of it. “I’m trying to learn all I can. Maybe I could ask you a few things later, if you don’t mind.”

Takeshi blinks. “Not sure what you’d want to ask, but I don’t see why not.”

--

He eats dinner at Tachibana’s house that evening, because of course Tachibana isn’t going to let him get away unfed his first night back in town. Mari greets him at the door, Joji in her arms, beaming.

He’s intially surprised to see that the American boy is there too, until he remembers, of course he is—Wayne’s renting the spare room. And he’s barely noticeable for most of the meal, silent, although he’s clearly listening to everything that’s said. After dinner he also helps Mari with the dishes, entirely unprompted, which Takeshi approves of, and then spends some time gently entertaining the toddler.

Later, Tachibana and Mari step away for a moment to get their son to bed, and Takeshi looks at the silent young man sitting in the corner and says, “So. Wayne.”

“Yes, Mr. Hongo?”

“You said you had something you wanted to ask me, and we’ve got a few minutes now. What can I help you with?”

Wayne remains quiet for a long moment, and then fixes those piercing eyes on Takeshi and says, “Mr. Tachibana says you’re the strongest person he knows. What does it mean to be strong?”

Not what Takeshi had been expecting. Granted, what he wasexpecting, he doesn’t know, but…not that. He thinks about it, frowning. “I’d say…kindness.”

Wayne’s forehead wrinkles. “What do you mean?”

“Look, Wayne, you can get as powerful as you want in life, but it’s only strength if you can use it to be kind. Otherwise it’s just tyranny.” Takeshi leans forward and holds out his hand, as if to shake. “Anyone, any fool on Earth can take their hand and make it into a fist. To reach out to someone when they need help, that’s strength.”

Slow nodding, and Wayne reaches out to him in return, clasps his hand for a brief moment, and says, “Thank you. That’s a valuable insight.”

Takeshi nods. “Ask Tachibana that question, too, and Shiro. It’s a good thing to ask. Tells you a lot about the person answering.” He considers it for a moment. “Of course, there will always be some people you won’t be able to help, we share this world with monsters. But you must always try to be kind. That’s strength.”

--

2017

Bruce checks his watch as he walks up to the restaurant, satisfied to be a precise fifteen minutes early, and then looks up and is surprised to realize that for once Dick’s beaten him there. Not only is he there, too, he’s talking to someone Bruce doesn’t recognize.

The stranger seems to be about Dick’s own age, a man in a black fedora and slightly old-fashioned dress clothes from a minor Japanese fashion label. His tone suggests an awkward tourist, but his stance says he’s a fighter, and the way he watches his surroundings indicates that he’s memorizing as many details as possible. He’s got a guidebook in one hand, and a notebook sticking out of his pocket, and he’s speaking Japanese, which is not one of Dick’s stronger languages. Bruce steps forward, thinking he might need to translate, but Dick replies to the other man in English, which is met with a thoughtful nod. So—they’re about the same level in each other’s languages. Better at hearing than speaking. Convenient for them.

“—so if you’re looking for something in his field, the natural history museum is great. If you want somewhere more romantic,though, the Thorndike is amazing, and there’s this restaurant right near it, I forget the name—oh, hey, Bruce! You’re here! What’s the name of that restaurant across the street from the Thorndike Museum?”

“San Sebastian Jatetxe.”

“That’s the one! Thank you!” Dick beams at him, then turns to his companion. “I’ll write it down for you.”

“<Thank you, I’d appreciate that.>”

“Of course! This is my foster father, by the way, Shoutaro-san.Bruce Wayne. Bruce, this is Shoutaro Hidari, he’s visting Gotham for a couple of weeks.” To Shoutaro again, “Bruce’s Japanese is much better than mine.”

Bruce nods. “<What brings you to Gotham, Mr. Hidari?>”

Shoutaro relaxes visibly at the question; it’s likely the only new voice he’s heard speaking his mother tongue in days. “<My partner is attending a conference here, so we decided we’d make it a vacation.>”

“<Aha. Curators and archivists?>”

“<How did you guess?>”

“<A friend of Dick’s and mine is also attending, she mentioned that international registrations are up significantly this year.>” Bruce pauses. “<If you’re looking for date spots, the Thorndike is excellent, as Dick said, but the Botanical Gardens are also very nice this time of year.>”

Shoutaro blushes warmly. “<Thank you very much for the recommendation.>”

--

He doesn’t think much more about Dick’s tourist friend until that night, when he and Damian are out on patrol. It’s a quiet night, so they’re stopping a mugging as gently as possible when the mugger—a repeat offender and sometime informant, Bruce makes a note to check in on him at home out of suit—says, “So, uh, Bats. Who’s the new guy?”

Bruce frowns. No one new should be operating here.“Which one?”

“You know, the bug guy. My buddy texted about him, said he was speaking some other language. Well, he said it was a bug ninja who spoke Japanese, but he watches a lotta anime and he gets real excited, so I ain’t sure he’s right.”

“A bug. What color?”

“Oh, it changes, it’s cool as hell.” He shows Bruce and Damian a picture on his phone. “He a friend��a yours?”

“Yes. He’s visiting.” Bruce peers at the photo and then hands his informant two hundred dollars. “Buy dinner and go home, Nathan. Tell your aunt I say hello.”

“Yo, sure thing. Thanks, Bats!”

They’ve only been searching a few minutes when their earpieces crackle and Babs says, “Roof of GPL Central Branch. Someone I don’t recognize, they just took out some Joker goons who were robbing a jewelry store at the corner of High and 26th. Dick’s on his way too.”

They touch down at one end of the Gotham Public Library’s roof as Dick’s landing at the other and survey their guest, who’s looking between the three of them with something that’s likely surprise, although given that their face is entirely concealed it’s not certain. The insectoid red eyes and sharp antennae on the helmet and the white scarf drifting in the air from the back of the right shoulder send a shock of recognition down Bruce’s spine. He considers speaking first, but then nods to Dick instead. For better or for worse, Dick is good at putting people at ease.

“Hi there.” Dick waves to the stranger, tone cheery but guarded. “We haven’t seen you around before, mind telling us what you’re doing in Gotham?”

The stranger cocks their head to the left for a moment before saying, haltingly, “We. Ah. We are…tourists? We did not mean to…um…” The left eye of the helmet flashes as they’re speaking. A beat, and then the righteye begins to flash, and they say, in an entirely different voice that’s noticeably accented but much more fluent, “I’ll handle this part if you don’t mind, partner. Good evening, we’re Kamen Rider W. Our apologies, we didn’t mean to intrude on your territory. Are we addressing the famed Batman and his companions?”

Bruce says, slowly, “That’s correct. You’re a Rider?”

“Oh, you’re familiar with the term! That’s wonderful. Yes, that’s correct. We’ve been in operation as such since late 2008, although of course primarily in Japan.”

“Tt.” Damian scowls. “<If you mostly work in Japan, what are you doing running around here?>”

The left eye on the helmet begins to flash again as W responds in the first voice, in Japanese now. “<It wasn’t exactly the plan, a man in clown makeup waved a gun at me and tried to take my wallet and once I’d knocked him out I noticed that there were about five more clowns breaking into a jewelry store down the street. I couldn’t just leave them to it.>”

Dick is also frowning now. “I—have we met before? I recognize your voice. The, uh, left-hand one.”

“<I don’t think so?>” says the left-hand voice, and then the right-hand one breaks in with, “Actually, based on his memory of your speech patterns, I believe you and my partner met earlier today, you recommended a couple of date locations and a Basque restaurant I’m eager to visit.”

Bruce can see Dick’s eyes going wide from halfway across the roof. He’s visibly biting back the urge to address their guest by name, which would be discourteous, to say the least, with everyone in costume, so Bruce cuts in with, “Is my understanding correct that we’re speaking to two people currently?”

“That’s correct!” says the right-hand voice, sounding delighted. “We two are a single Kamen Rider.”

Dick blinks. “Is this like a Firestorm thing? Are you fused?”

“Not unlike, but no. My physical body is currently unconscious in our hotel room, which is certainly much more comfortable than some of the other places in which I’ve passed out. Although as my partner wasoriginally going out to get us something to eat when he was accosted, I ambecoming concerned about my caloric intake.” And the left-hand voice says, “<Yeah, I was thinking I’d be able to get us something decent at the Seven-Eleven, but the ones here are different from the ones at home.>”

“I think,” Bruce says, “this conversation would be better continued elsewhere.”

--

Twenty minutes later they’re all out of suit and seated around a table at an all-night diner, and Shoutaro’s partner, introduced only as Philip, is inspecting the menu with interest. “This is intimidatingly lengthy, do you have recommendations?”

Dick grins. “Get one of the meat-lovers omelettes. And then if you still have room get some baklava, the owner’s mother makes it and it’s amazing.”

Bruce, meanwhile, is turning Shoutaro’s business card over in his hands. “<You’re a detective?>”

“<I am! Mostly lost pets and infidelity, but sometimes there’s an interesting case. Philip works with me, although he’s pretty busy with the museum nowadays.>”

“<I’ve heard of the Fuuto Museum, they hosted an intriguing exhibit on Mesopotamian artifacts last year.>”

“<You heard about Nitoh’s exhibit here? That’s amazing, I’ll have to let him know.>”

“<Please tell him I was very impressed with his thesis.>”

Damian’s been scowling silently into his milkshake, but suddenly he slaps the table and everyone jumps. “I knew I recognized that name!” Then, to Shoutaro, “<I read your novel.>”

“<I—you did? Really? It hasn’t had any translations, how did you hear about it?>”

“<My, uh.>” Damian shifts awkwardly. “<My mother gave it to me, I like detective stories. I enjoyed it. Although that copy was lost.>”

“<Oh, I’ll send you a new one if you like, I don’t imagine it’d be easy to get here.>”

The waitress comes by, and her eyebrows slowly rise as everyone orders, presumably at the quantity of food on request. When she’s left again, Philip turns to Bruce and says, brightly, “I also take it that you’re the sponsor Ms. Gordon mentioned, we had a very stimulating chat at the conference earlier today.”

“Somehow I’m not surprised to hear that you met her.”

“Coincidence and fate figure largely in our lives, Mr. Wayne.” Philip smiles like a cat; it’s oddly charming. “We’re superheroes, after all. Here,” to Damian, “Dick mentioned to me that you like animals, would you like to see a picture of my cat? He used to be a supervillain.”

After they consume a truly astonishing amount of diner food it’s time to part ways, and Bruce shakes hands with Shoutaro and Philip and says, “<It was good to meet you both.>”

Philip beams. “<Likewise, thank you, it’s been a pleasure. And I’m looking forward to seeing more of Gotham.>”

Shoutaro looks up at him for a moment. “<It’s been good talking to you, Mr. Wayne. You…remind me of someone I used to know.>”

“<I could say the same of the two of you.>” Bruce turns to go, but then turns back. “<I have one last question for both of you.>”

They nod, precisely in sync, and Philip says, “<Yes?>”

“<What does it mean to be strong?>”

Silence for a moment, Shoutaro and Philip glancing at each other while Dick and Damian wait in puzzled silence, and then Shoutaro says, “<Kindness,>” and Philip says, “<Love.>” Another shared glance before Shoutaro continues. “<Anyone can hurt someone else. Helping them, that’s strength.>”

Bruce nods. ���<Somehow that’s what I knew you’d say.>”

[allzelemonz]

The Commanding General: Commander Cody X NSG Reader

NSG= No Specified Gender

Part 1/?

The sun was setting and your troops were in danger. Commander Bright was injured and the moral of the other clones was dwindling. The plan was to meet General Kenobi’s troops at a halfway point, but at this rate it wasn’t going to happen. Looking upon your troops you saw their fallen faces and broken blasters that were hopeless to repair. The weight of your lightsaber on your belt became heavier as you  realized just how few weapons you had left.

“General?” 

You turned away from the troops and nodded at your Commander to continue. He was broken. Arm in a sling and no helmet left to wear. He was lucky to be alive after a blast impact like the one he had.

“The only way to General Kenobi’s unit is blocked, but scouts may have found another passage.”

“There are no other passages?” You looked at him with a furrowed brow. “Explain.”

“We believe it’s a secret passage, sir.” He pointed to the West. “Just over there, possible man-made by the native tribes.”

You nodded as he spoke, a plan slowly forming in your head. “Do we know where exactly it leads?”

“Scouts are on it now, General.”

“Keep me informed, Commander.”

“Yes, sir.” The clone attempted a salute only to flinch at the pain in his torso.

“Careful, Bright.” You rested a hand on his arm. “I’m not losing you today.”

“In all fairness, sir, I don’t think I’ll make it.”

“Quiet, Commander. You’re staying with me” You patted his arm. “That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir.” He chuckled lightly.

You made your way to the other clones. Some of them asleep, some cleaning weapons, and some tending to their wounded brothers. It was a sad sight to see a few honorable soldiers slumped against a rock, never to fight again. You straightened your posture and kept walking through, hands behind your back in a professional manner. At the edge of camp was a lookout post. Two new clones added to your unit. There used to be a lot more, they were the only ones left. Their demeanor was dark and you could sense the hurt feelings they hid under their helmets. The whole camp shared those feelings. But, every clone around you knew that they’d make the clankers pay for killing their brothers.

Over the horizon you could see the faint outlines of Separatist ships. The day you never had that feeling of dread was the day you’d be happy. After making your rounds and assuring what clones you could you returned to the other edge of camp. As you arrived you found Bright talking with two other clones. They had scout markings on their armor, Lean and Brake. You approached the trio of clones only to be greeted with grim news.

“The droid army already found the entrance to our shortcut.” Brake reported.

“It’s always bad news from you.” Bright looked to see you approach.

“How much of the droids are around that entrance as opposed to the main canyon?”

“Not as many, by far.” Brake looked to Lean.

“Probably a hundred.” Lean added.

“That is a fighting chance.” You looked to Bright. “Better than a thousand.”

“Still a slim chance, General.”

“It’s a chance we’ll have to take.” You sighed. “Alert the men, we move at sunrise.”

The clones moved quickly. Broken blasters were made into blunt weapons and broken clones were situated to be protected. You watched the sun peak from the misty horizon and readied your men. Together you marched to the passageway. Lean leading the way through with Brake at the back to ensure no one was lost. Your Commander stayed at the back with the wounded, their last line of defense. You saw the light of day at the end of the passage and pulled Lean back. At a run you exited the cave and came face to face with a camp of droids.

Igniting your lightsaber you began to take them out. Behind you the clone came out. Blasters started to fire and a battle had begun once again. You ran into the heart of the camp and took out any droids that came near, the clone defended their wounded and held the line at the cave. Things were looking up, no casualties on your side, no unexpected reinforcements to the enemy, and no advanced weapons in sight. The battle was nearly won.

The camp was defeated. Your clones trickled out of the cave and formed back up to continue on. Everyone accounted for and as able as they’d been when you first left.

“Let’s get distance between us and the other droids.” You commanded. 

The long march to meet up with Kenobi began. The sun beat down on your troops. But you pressed on. With the sanctuary of another clone camp in sight you smiled and picked up the pace, the clones behind you just as eager. But then your heart sank.

A large blast caused screams within your ranks. Behind you a Separatist tank approached from a canyon. You ran to protect you men as those with blasters began to fire.

“Lean, Brake, get help!” Bright ordered the scouts.

You ran into the fight, saber in hand. You cut the tank's blaster and jumped up to attack the pilots. Behind the tank were hundreds of droids. That’s when it sunk in. They let you go. They knew about the passageway. They wanted you to lead them to Kenobi. It was all a trap.

“Retreat!” You jumped down from the tank and ran back to your men. “There’s too many, retreat!” You blocked blasts as the clones made for the camp. You followed behind.

In the camp Commander Cody ordered the wounded to be treated. General Kenobi waited for you as you came within the bounds.

“Quite the party you’ve brought us.” He looked out to the amassing droids.

“I thought we’d found a way around them, but they knew.” You met the other Jedi’s eyes. “Sorry, Master Kenobi.”

“It’s quite alright.” He looked to Cody. “Nothing we can’t handle together.”

“Clankers won’t know what him ‘em” Cody reported next to Kenobi with blaster in hand.

“Thank you, Commander.” You took a deep breath. “A majority of my are battle ready and at your disposal.”

“I’ll get the men in shape, Generals.” Cody stepped off and began to direct the men.

“Quite the clone.” You noted to the General.

“Very much.” Kenobi gave you a knowing look that you didn’t catch. “Let’s join the men.”

Kenobi led you to where Cody had disappeared to. You watched the yellow clad Commander bark orders and ensure men were supplied. It didn’t take him long to report completion status to Kenobi. Without another word the troops set out. Kenobi and yourself at the front, lightsaber at the ready.

The droids barely stood a chance. Standard battle casualties and injuries. That is until you saw a distracted Cody about to be shot, point blank in the head. You sprang in front of the droid, deflecting the blast back into it. The Commander turned around and realized what you’d done.

“Thank you, General.” He seemed awed. “You didn’t have to do that for me.”

“Of course I did.” You smirked at the clone. “My own Commander was injured.” You blocked another blast. “Can’t let another go out of commission.”

Cody watched as you deflected blasts and talked to him. It took him a moment to bring his focus back to the battle at hand. You ran off to take out a destroyer and he watched you go. The emotionless gaze of his helmet following you for a moment before he focused back on the advancing droids.

The droids were defeated. All except a few strays that had been at the back. You took your time and deflected their blasts as they got closer. With a few swings of your blade the droids dropped to pieces. You disengaged the lightsaber and clipped it back to your belt. The injured clones were collected and brought back into the camp. 

Kenobi brought you to a map. Cody and Bright sat studying it. You sat across from the clones with Kenobi at your side. The four of you began to discuss the best course of action. Bright suggested an attack on the next droid camp you knew about, but Cody insisted that the wounded need to be evacuated. But, that required getting to a drop point.

“It would be a long trek for that many wounded clones.” Kenobi stroked his beard in thought.

“Not if we took the Grand Pass.” You pointed to the canyon that the droids had come from.

“We could run into clankers.” Cody noted.

“It’s that or sit here waiting for more droids anyway.” You traced your finger along the canyon. “It’s far shorter than going around.”

“(She’s/He’s/They’re) right.” Kenobi stood up. “We’ll leave as soon as we can arrange the wounded in the morning. ‘

“Agreed.” You nodded. The rest of you stood up.

“I’ll see you all in the morning, don’t forget watch, Cody.” Kenobi stretched his arms above his head and left the area.

“Goodnight, General.” Bright walked past you and over to the sleeping area.

“I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow, Commander?” You nodded to Cody.

“Oh, uh, yes, sir.” He stumbled.

“Goodnight then, Cody.” 

You walked out into the open of the camp, looking around for a nice spot to rest. You settled on an area away from most of the others. You lounged against a rocky wall and closed your eyes, trying to sleep. It was harder than it usually was. You found your empty mind filling up with images of Commander Cody. The image of him in battle and commanding his troops. You opened your eyes. To the dark night. You tried again, to sleep. But, nothing worked.

You stood up and took a walk around camp. At the very edge sat a clone, helmet off. Watching the distance for any sign of danger. It took a second glance for you to realize that the clone was Cody. In the dark the only recognizable feature being the raised crop of buzzed hair and the outline of his shoulder antenna. You made your way over to him and sat beside him. He made a mood to put his helmet on, as was protocol.

“No need.” You said softly. He returned his hand to his knee, where it had rested previously.

“Everything all right, General?” He glanced over at you.

For the first time he was looking at you with his own eyes. No visor in the way. His glance lingered and stayed. Your gaze off into the distance gave him the opportunity to look at your face. He studied its details and slowly looked you up and down.

‘Perfectly fine.” You answered. You gaze moving to meet his as he moved quickly to look up.

“Ah, good.”

“Your feeling betrays your reflex, Commander.”

Cody’s face flushed slightly. He cleared his throat and fiddled his fingers around nervously.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, General.”

“I’m a Jedi, Cody.” You let your hand rest on his to stop him from moving it so much. His gaze was now focused on the fact that the only thing between your hand and his thigh was his own hand.

“I-I know, I’m sorry.” His voice wavered. “I didn’t- I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s fine, Commander.” You rested your other hand on his arm. 

As you were about to speak again an echo from the darkness caught your attention. You looked out into the distance and Cody followed your gaze. You stood up and squinted, trying to see father out. A small outline of what you could distinguish as a commando droid. You looked back to Cody and he nodded.

He left and came back with a handful of clones. Two stayed back to keep the perimeter while you and Cody took the others out to investigate. Each clone held a light stick that allowed them to see a few feet in front of them. Once you were out to the point you’d seen the droid you ignited your lightsaber. The calming hum was the only sound around you aside from the footsteps of the troopers behind you.

“General.”

You turned around to see one of the troopers pointing to a small ridge. You nodded for him to approach. Not even ten steps towards the rock and three commando droids sprung up. They fired blasters and you jumped in front of your clones to deflect. Cody took a shot and brought one down. The other clones fired at the droids, but one managed to jump on the trooper that had walked ahead. You lunged to help him and sliced the droid in half.

“Thanks, General.” The trooper looked up at you. You offered him a hand up and he took it.

“They know we’re still here.” You looked around. “We need to get out of here as soon as the sun is up.”

“Yes, sir.” Cody nodded.

The commander’s gaze was on you. The light of your lightsaber illuminating your figure. You signaled everyone to return. You walked back to camp with the clones. You and Cody stopped at the edge while the others went on to sleep.

“You should rest, Cody.”

“So should you, sir.”

“You can’t stay here all night.” You sat next to him. ‘At least take your helmet off and act like you’re resting.”

Cody hesitated, but lifted his hand to his helmet. You looked over at the clone as his features were revealed. Cody set his helmet down.

“It doesn’t have to be this awkward, Cody.”

“You’re a Jedi.”

“Yes.”

“I’m a clone, I shouldn’t be feeling this way.” Cody kept his gaze out into the distance.

“No one can tell you how you should and shouldn’t feel except yourself.” Leaned back and supported yourself with your hand. “If you feel a certain way, act on it. As long as that feeling doesn’t cause you to lose focus.” You glanced over to the clone.

Cody’s posture was slumped. He was staring at the rocks below him in thought. His hand slowly left his helmet where it had rested. You sat back, watching him think until you saw him turn back to you. 

The gleam in his eyes revealed his thoughts. The burning feeling you could sense in him was infectious. You sat up to be closer to him. Your faces not a foot apart. Cody slowly moved closer to you. His forehead rested against yours as you looked into each other's eyes. His hand moved up to cup your cheek and he closed the space. His lips met yours. You rested a hand on his knee as he moved his hand from your cheek to the side of your neck. 

Moments later you parted. Cody’s feeling was light. A feeling you’d sense from any clone during the celebration after a victorious battle. But, this feeling covered you as well. You rested your hand on Cody’s cheek and moved his face so you could meet his eyes. You simply smiled at him and he returned it. You kissed him again. His hand now finding your midsection and resting there. You parted once more and moved his hands from you. You leaned in and kissed his cheek before standing.

“A long day tomorrow, Commander.” You smiled. “Rest.”

He nodded. You walked back to your resting spot and sat, leaning against the rock. This time as you closed your eyes you felt a warm buzz with every image of Cody. This time it helped you sleep.

[roswelldetails]

RNM 2x05 - I'll Stand By You

So just a little note from me, the person behind the season 2 detailing.  I am trying really really hard to keep emotion out of these posts...which is really really hard for me because I'm an inherently emotional person. I'm a glass case of emotion, ready to shatter at any given moment. (#dramatic)  But I want to be true to the intent of this blog and keep my feelings, biases, and, you know, shipping out of this blog.

It was really really hard to do with this episode. Because I straight up ugly cried for like, 45 of the 60 minutes. 😂

So I guess, the point is, I'm proud of myself and sticking to the details here. My regular blog is where I'm doing the emotional flip out thing! 😂

EPISODE SUMMARY:

ACCEPTING REALITY — The discovery of some complications with Max’s (Nathan Dean) pod forces Liz (Jeanine Mason), Michael (Michael Vlamis) and Isobel (Lily Cowles) to confront the possibility that they may not be able to save him. Elsewhere, Maria (Heather Hemmens) and Alex (Tyler Blackburn) make amends. Kimberly McCullough directed the episode written by Alanna Bennett & Jason Gavin (#205). Original airdate 4/13/2020. 

DETAILS:

Max/Isobel/Michael reunite at age 11 according to what Michael tells Alex in 1x10.  So that would make the opening of this episode set in 2002ish.

Michael tells Max and Isobel, "I remember you. I don't know you."

"After nobody adopted me for a year they just stuck me with the name of that trucker who found us."

"I didn't ask you for anything."

This is like the thesis statement of Michael's whole history with Max in the flashbacks.

"Don't pay more than you collect, kid. Passing credit back and forth is a good way to get stuck with somebody forever."

Rosa's art. 

What I can see says: "...what they all told me, but I didn't listen" and "Stand the shelter".

Rosa on her dreams

"I have not had any freaky dreams in weeks. Okay, Max is probably off haunting Isobel now that they're strong enough for their psychic twincest weirdness."

"How long has that been happening?"

"Um, I don't know. It's an old boom box."

"Rosa, have electrical appliances been malfunctioning around you?"

"I really thought it was just a side effect of the handprint."

"If being in the pod introduced a new protein into your system it could have altered your DNA too. You could be developing abilities."

"Liz, look. The handprint is changing.  It's smaller."

"It's fading."

"Tell me this is a good thing."

"I don't think so."

Michael and Liz theorizing on why the pod shorted out:

"The pod's got a charge. It's like a battery powering the preservation process. This one's gone dead."

"Did the generator blow the electromagnetic threshold?"

"I think a surge came from the pod itself. But that pod has lasted almost a century. It shouldn't glitch out."

"Okay, well, then, this one did."

"All right, stop. It doesn't matter why the pod is broken. It just is. So how long does Max have?"

"My theory is that being tethered to Rosa through the mark is what kept Max from going brain-dead, and in turn the stasis process is what kept the mark from fading. So he could be gone by tonight."

"Okay, well, we have three more pods. So let's just put him into another pod."

"No. He's just gonna do it again. I haven't told you everything. I didn't want to scare you. I didn't want to be the one that took the hope away."

"Talk now, Rosa. Right now."

"I was seeing Max in my nightmares months before I told you about it, and he was begging me to stop you. He said that he was in a lot of pain in there."

"That's Noah's pod. Noah told us it was broken. It wasn't keeping him in stasis. He could feel time passing. None of us thought of that."

"We've been doing everything we can to make Max stronger. He pulled his own plug."

Note...as far as we know Isobel was the only one who knew about Noah's pod being broken.  In 1x12 it was before Liz arrived at the house that he told them about the broken pod, so only Max and Isobel heard that part of the story.

Alex on his training. "NSA intelligence cryptology training".

Monitor screen in the secret lab:

Noah's heart is still too weak to transplant. Kyle says it needs at least eight more weeks

"I wrote a paper for a bioethics class on patients in vegetative states who feel pain. Sometimes it's all they feel."

As a non sciencey person, I was wondering if bioethics class was a real thing. Tonight I saw an interview on the news with a UC Berkeley bioethics professor on COVID. So yes, it's a thing.

Alex on Michael that summer post-Rosa's death:

Starting fights with jocks

Broke into the drugstore

Not going to UNM

Hasn't hung out with Max all summer

Got busted for stealing hubcaps (Kyle's hubcaps, we learn later) 

Became a walking bar fight

Was in jail when Alex left to enlist

Michael on Max in 2008:

"It's more than that. And it's less than that. We were friends when we were kids, but now Max reminds me of a bunch of stuff that I'd rather forget. The only thing that we have in common anymore is Isobel."

Max's yearbook had a pencil stuck in the page with Liz and Max's photo in it. (The one we first saw in 1x03).

"Biology Club. Max hated science. He was in that club for four years just to watch your sister chew on the end of her pencil."

Max's mindscape:

First just desert, clouds, and then lightning strikes (destructive energy?)

Liz's antennae -- they disappear from Isobel's hands

Rosa describes it as broken

Crashdown special is Max's favorite "Little Green Man milkshake".

The Crashdown counter is kind of merged with biology lab equipment. 

The juke box is there

The Crashdown booths

Jeep

Neon Crashdown sign

One of those claw drop game machines (from the Crashdown) but it's filled with baked good displays.

The yearbook

Later, everything else is gone except the one Crashdown booth, the Jeep, and the neon sign.

The distorted music they follow to find Max is the Cactus Groove song in the music list...just, messed around with. See @angsty-nerd's post here:

"I'm the hothead. You are the hero. It's always been that way."

"You stole the hubcaps off Kyle Valenti's graduation present. Both his parents are cops. Do you want to end up in jail tonight?". 

👀 Tonight, specifically. 

Michael seemed excited about the job at Foster's Ranch until he found out that Max set it up for him.  Max found out about it from his dad (only like the 2nd or 3rd mention of his dad in the series so far).

"When I got back in town I asked Max why you and your brilliant mind hadn't changed the world yet. He said you didn't care about the world enough to bother changing it. He believed you could."

Max and Isobel in the mindscape:

"You're okay. I could feel something was wrong with you.  Everything felt…"

"Cold. I know."

"You can't be here. It's finally ending.  I can feel it. But I don't know what happens if you're in my head when I die."

"So it's true? You want this?"

"I could feel my connection to the outside world getting stronger, so I snapped. I couldn't take it anymore. I released a surge. You have to let me go, Iz."

"I can't take it anymore."

"Okay."

"I am so sorry."

"I just want to memorize this."

"Okay. Okay.  I need you to tell Liz something."

"You can tell her yourself.  She and Kyle are prepping for surgery.  They're going to use the faulty heart. She just wants to talk to you before you die."

"No. No."

"You won't be suffering. They're just gonna bring you back and then let you go."

"No you have to stop this.  You cannot bring me back under any circumstances."

"Max? What is really going on?"

"I am dangerous.  Whatever Liz is bringing back is not me. It's just some broken shell."

Maria on her mom's computer 

"Her nurse said that for the two weeks before she went missing, when she wasn't trying to escape, she was talking to someone online."

The 21st birthday flashback

Isobel gets Michael to help move Max after getting drunk on tequila.  He passed out in front of the tattoo parlor. It's the same tattoo parlor Michael goes to at the end of the episode.

Max's weird drunken statement.

"The thing is, there has to be there. Okay? There's always three. Until the very end.  I'll show you...What it means is you should be here…'cause it's all broken without three. So we'll figure it out.  You'll find your way back."

👀 Until the very end. Interesting.

On Max becoming a deputy:

"You know he did the whole police academy thing because of you, right? He thinks you're gonna get into the kind of trouble you can't get out of if you don't know someone."

Back in the mindscape:

"I figured it all out. She, there's an energy to suffering, there's an energy to death, and when I heal people, I absorb that energy. So when I resurrected Rosa, I took in ten years of emptiness. So if you resurrect me, you will be bringing back an infection. Don't want… I don't want to come back as a monster. I don't want to hurt anyone that I care about."

"That's what this is about? We've been hurting, Max. We don't work without you."

"You will! You will. You are stronger now than when I died. All of you are. You, Michael, Liz, you will survive this. The three of you. No, you need to stop them, Iz. Now."

"Okay. I love you."

"You too." Isobel disappears.

Max is using pretty similar wording to his drunken rambles in the 21st birthday flashback

We don't see that Max is chained down until this next exchange with Rosa. Isobel didn't see that detail as far as we know.  Didn't hear the chains clanking when they stood and hugged. Only after Isobel left.

"I'm sorry this is happening."

"Isobel is lying. She is buying time.  You know she'll never let me go. But you can feel the darkness too, right? That's why you don't like being in my head. Because you know it's real."

"I didn't want that to be true, but yes."

"I know my sister and I know your sister and they'll never give up. So you have to be the one to stop this surgery, okay? Or I will destroy everything that we love. You have to stop them to save them. Now go.  Please, Rosa. Go."

Isobel explaining to Liz

"When he saved Rosa he absorbed all of that dark energy. He's gonna have to expel it."

"And he's afraid he's gonna kill someone when he does."

"Yeah. So we just need someone stronger than Max to take that hit...if he thinks he needs to protect us he obviously doesn't know how capable we are. Bring him back, Liz. I'll handle the rest."

"I get it now. It's gotta be the three of us."

"He would never pull his plug to end his own suffering. Unless he thought he was saving us from something. And I'm a little sick of his heroic martyr crap."

In case you missed it, Michael did not know that.  At the beginning of the hospital sequence Isobel is telling Liz what she learned in Max's mindscape and says that she hasn't been able to get ahold of Michael.  Michael figured it out on his own. He finally "got it".

The pacemaker:

Isobel with Max at the end… everything is gone except the Jeep. And Bright Eyes playing (the song he and Liz danced to on their first date back in 2008). And then his eyes close and Bright Eyes fades away.

“First thing I remember is the three of us. We woke up terrified and lost. But together. And then all of the sudden I was alone. I got real good at being alone. I had given up on people entirely. And then you found me again. Hell of hero move. You showed up just in time. When you are a kid who nobody loves, kindness is a currency. Friendship doesn’t means jack. Family just lies, and hurts, and leaves. I’ve only ever known love to be temporary. So yeah, I push people away. Every time someone threatens to care about me I test their love until they have to leave. Connection is conditional. Everybody eventually gives up on the guy who refuses to be rescued. But you were the only one who I couldn’t run off. You never believed me when I tried to be something I wasn’t. So this thing in your chest, it might give your heart a pretty solid kick every once in a while. Consider it payback. It’s my hero move, Max. If you wake up, you consider us even, okay? If you wake up, we can be a family.”

Good visual parallels during Michael's speech. Alex and Kyle drinking together during the "and then you found me again". Maria walking up on "the guy who refuses to be rescued"

Max is in the coma for three weeks.  Wakes up at the secret lab (instead of his house, which is where he was previously.  I'm guessing it was a planned wake up because he's no longer plugged into all of the IVs and whatnot.

"I begged you to understand."

"Max, it's gonna be fine."

"No… I told you to let me go. I can feel it inside me."

"It's...it's symmetry, okay? It's just energy for energy.  We can deal with that. Fight it, Max. This isn't you."

"I don't want to hurt you. I need to get out. I need to get away from you, from everyone."

"I can't let you do that."

Max shoves Isobel and runs. When he shoves her there's a slight ringing like the sound they use when the aliens use their powers.  Isobel follows and stops him with her powers.

"I made a promise that if you came back and you weren't Max, and you were actually going to hurt people that I would kill you. I figure, hey, you got to play God. Make life and death decisions all on your own. Well it's my turn now."

MUSIC:

1. Letters To Cleo "Here and Now"

2. Lady Antebellum "Love Don't Live Here"

3. Cactus Groove "Fallin"

4. James Talley "Big Thunder"

8. Ross Copperman "Stars Are On Your Side"

5. Lindsey Ray "Keep You Safe"

6. Tommee Profitt feat. Sam Tinnesz "With you Til The End"

7. Bright Eyes "First Day Of My Life"

The Cactus Groove song is the first song this season that I haven’t been able to find on Spotify… let me know if any of y’all had any luck with it!

[tjkiahgb]

Episode Recap: 3.18, “Something to Talk A-Boot”

I got sent this almost immediately after people were able to stream the episode last night:

First of all, thank you, anon, for thinking of me.

But also, honestly? This entire episode feels like it was written specifically for me. TJ Kippen being a hashtag good boi? Check. A bunch of Tyrus scenes? Check. A couple of random, nonsense plots that I could make jokes about for days? Check and check!

The episode starts with Andi, Jonah, and Cyrus hanging out, waiting for Buffy.

Andi is dressed like she just walked out of a punk show in 1970s London for some reason.

Cyrus says Buffy’s on her way. She’s coming from an appointment. Andi’s like, but she’s not doing her hair until next week and Cyrus notes that she just had her teeth cleaned.

Jonah notes how they seem to know everything about Buffy and they’re like, yeah, we do.

And then Buffy comes hobbling over on crutches and with her foot in a boot and Andi and Cyrus look around in confusion.

So it’s that level of closeness where you know someone’s entire schedule but don’t pay attention to them complaining about their foot pain for weeks or notice them badly limping around places.

They ask her questions about this mystery injury. Buffy explains it’s a stress fracture she got because she tried to run a marathon on a dare.

Jonah asks her if she’s going to be able to still play basketball and Buffy’s like, yes...

And Jonah’s like, “Oh you know what I meant.”

At school the next day, Buffy walks the long way through the football field to class, when TJ shows up in a golf cart like an angel sent from the country club.

Buffy wants to know what he’s doing. He tells her he’s there to give her a ride to class, since apparently Jefferson offers no assistance to injured students.

“Can we offer a way to help incapacitated students get around the campus easier?” asks one of the teachers. “So they don’t risk further injury?”

“No, sorry,” says Metcalf, staring at rows and rows of hundreds of white rabbits locked in cages, each one labelled with the name of a student currently attending Jefferson. “There’s just no room in the budget.”

Buffy tells him how it stinks she hurt herself right before the last game of the season and now she can barely get around. So, he tells her, get in the golf cart already so he can get her to class. She does.

Making sure she uses a seatbelt on a vehicle that’s going no more than four miles per hour? I mean, talk about good behavior.

Later at the Spoon, Buffy talks about how far TJ has come. He used to be the worst but now he’s the best and, really, that’s like as far as you can go. That’s the whole span.

Cyrus is like, lemme just take this modeling pose...

...and put another point up on the scoreboard for the ol’ C-dog.

Behind them, Amber comes and dumps some girl’s food on the counter.

Andi notices and says it seems like Amber’s still struggling because she’s being a terrible waitress, but not in the normal way that she’s a terrible waitress.

Jonah’s like, you think this is my fault? Buffy’s like, I don’t think it’s an existential crisis. Jonah’s like, huh?

Well, sure, it could be that, but, if you’re not feeling artistic, it could also just be locking yourself in a dark room for several hours and crying. It could manifest a lot of different ways! Don’t limit your existential crises.

Amber comes over and asks to talk to Jonah.

Jonah apologizes for doing a bad job of breaking up but Amber doesn’t want to go back over all of that. She just wants one thing from Jonah: for him to leave. Don’t come to The Spoon because it makes her sad to see him.

And now it’s costing her money!

Jonah says he’ll go then. Amber says he won’t have to be gone for long, but also can’t really put a time frame on when he can come back.

I wonder how the owners of The Spoon are going to feel when they learn one of their waitresses banned a frequent customer from eating at their establishment.

Jonah tells the GHC that Amber needs some space, so he gathers his things and heads out into the cold.

At Bex’s, Bex and Bowie watch something funny on a really old TV.

It looks like one of those old microwave-sized boxy TVs with antennas and dials and everything from like the 1960s. One of these things:

The kind that’s technically a color TV, but only like four colors, and most of them have a brown tint. The kind that’s so grainy it looks like you’re watching everything through a coffee filter. The kind that emits the constant low-hum of radiation to let you know it’s working.

Where did they even find something like this? It’s older than they are. And how does it still work? I want to say this is the kind of thing you only find at your grandma’s house, but even grandmas got rid of this outdated scrap 30 years ago.

Also, why?!

I’m not exaggerating when I say nowadays there are literally thousands of better options for entertainment than stacking a bunch of tray tables on top of one another and putting a 10 inch screen, piece of junk on top. What point are they trying to prove?

Anyway, Andi’s upset, and not just because she lives with a couple of weirdos. She finished her application to SAVA but she doesn’t know if she’s going to submit it. She’s worried she might not be one of the small group who gets accepted. She asks Bex what she thinks.

Andi’s like, EXCUSE ME?!

Andi wanted her to say that she was talented and that she believed in her. Bex is like, of course I believe that! Haven’t I said that to you like hundreds of times? Andi’s like, well, you didn’t say it in the last thirty seconds so do you really??

Andi gets up to leave. Bex is like, hey, if they don’t accept you, it’s because they’re wrong and dumb! Andi’s like, OH SO YOU DON’T THINK THEY’RE GOING TO ACCEPT ME!?

Bex is taking a beating like a boxer on the ropes here. It’s like, why is everything I’m saying wrong?! PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO SAY SO YOU DON’T GET MAD AT ME!

Bex says she wasn’t saying Andi wouldn’t get in.

Andi leaves.

Bowie’s gotta be sitting there going, “Boy, I made the right decision to just not say anything.”

He asks Bex why she didn’t just tell Andi she’ll get in.

It’s a tough line to toe. You want to be realistic with your children, and not set them up for an emotionally crushing blow by telling them “Get all your hopes up! Nothing can hurt you!” but you also don’t want to damage their self-esteem. You can see Bex battling with the nuance of the issue.

Or, as Andi would’ve heard it:

At school the next day, Cyrus finds TJ out on the bleachers. TJ’s been summoned to Student Court, which is where a group of students figure out your punishment for a wrongdoing.

Mr. Bag is forcing TJ to go because TJ took his beverage transportation machine.

Cyrus is like, but you were just being a hashtag good boi! And TJ’s like, I know! And now I’m being hashtag persecuted for it!

Cyrus, seeing an injustice, decides he’s going to be TJ’s lawyer. TJ tries to tell him that’s not a thing, but Cyrus is like, too late! Train’s already left the station! I’m off to steam my lawyer suit. And he leaves.

TJ watches him like, “Uh oh, maybe I gave him too much confidence.”

Andi, meanwhile, debates with herself as she stares at the SAVA website.

Okay, I mean, in fairness to Bex, Andi’s awards are first place at a “Sew and Show”(?) and an honorable mention at the County Fair, so, you know, I wouldn’t say she’s a lock to get in.

Also, I like SAVA’s go big or go home attitude. There’s no save progress button. Submit your application or delete the entire thing and get out. Don’t waste our time with half-measures!

Jonah stops by to terrify Andi.

For old times’ sake.

She slams her laptop closed. He asks her what she was working on but she doesn’t want to say yet. She just says she has to make a decision.

Jonah’s like, don’t say the d-word around me. You know I hate that word.

Andi explains how she doesn’t want to say what it is because it might not happen, and she doesn’t want to open up to people about something personal like this, something that she’s so unsure about. And then she’s like, but I guess you couldn’t possibly have any idea what I’m talking about, JONAH BECK.

Jonah’s like, actually, that’s been my life for three years now so...

Andi’s like, okay, without me telling you any details, what should I do?

Jonah says this is making her tense and nervous, so forget about it.

Andi’s like, really? Jonah’s like, yeah, don’t do anything you have trepidation about. Andi’s like, sounds good to me.

Lemme just warn you, kids, following this advice is going to severely confine how you’re able to move through the real world. The real world is nothing but things that stress you out.

Andi thanks Jonah for helping her out and tells him to go.

Jonah’s whole storyline this episode is about people telling him to leave places.

Jonah heads off. Andi opens up her laptop and finds...

...that conversation was all for naught. Honestly, this is what you get for asking Jonah for advice.

Buffy meets with Kaitlin. Kaitlin sees her broken foot and goes, welp, guess that’s it then. We have no chance to win our last game, which she sees as a shame because they were getting so close.

Question: where is she getting this hope from? Last time we saw the team, they were in such shambles that Andi had to play and they lost so badly, they had to resort to celebrating just being alive. Good for her though, for keeping the faith.

Buffy says they still have a shot, that the team is light years better than it was before. I guess that happened off-screen. Either that, or I guess it’s like saying you’re light years better now at driving a car than when you were a newborn. When you start at the bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up.

Plus, Buffy adds, she made a playbook.

Like, yeah, she’s been trying to teach them plays for months and they just kept running into each other, but now that it’s in graph form? How could they not succeed?

Kaitlin’s not feeling it. She doesn’t understand all these complicated dots and arrows and it won’t matter because it’ll never replace having Buffy on the court anyway.

At the trial of TJ Kippen, Gus calls the court to order.

I have to know, how in the world did Gus end up a judge? Who looked at Gus and thought, “There’s a guy who’s got his stuff in order, let’s put him in a position of power.”

Cyrus comes running to the stage, pulling several boxes of files behind him. TJ asks him what all of that is and Cyrus says evidence, but then he’s like...

Where do you even get phone books, plural, in 2019? There’s gotta be a store in Shadyside that’s just called Retro Junk and it sells things like 1960s TVs and phone books and only the characters on this show are keeping them in business.

Cyrus says it doesn’t matter because it’s an intimidation tactic anyway. He’s come to fight to make sure TJ’s not kicked off the basketball team.

Cyrus announces himself as TJ’s defense council. Gus is like, is that a thing? Let me consult with my voiceless co-judges.

Gus’s co-judges voicelessly agree to allow it. Gus says TJ is here to answer for his crime of “Grand Theft Golf Cart.”

Gus asks him to explain himself, so TJ and Cyrus launch into his defense, which boils down to this: he saw someone in need and he did something hashtag good because that’s who he is as a person, and, really, isn’t the real crime here that the school was going to punish an injured child for not being able to drag herself across campus in an unreasonable amount of time? How could any morally conscious person just sit idly by and let that happen?

Gus feels he and his co-judges have heard everything they needed to hear, but Cyrus disagrees. He thinks they all need to hear from a key witness: Cyrus Goodman. Cyrus grills himself.

Gus asks him to speed it up but TJ’s like, I think we have to let this play out.

Then, as his defense attorney continues to argue with himself, TJ tries to come to peace with the fact he’s going to jail.

At Buffy’s house, Buffy hangs out in her room when there’s a knock at the door.

It’s the entire girls’ basketball team.

They were wandering the neighborhood together and wanted to celebrate a season of losing all their games before they lose their last game and then don’t want to celebrate losing all their games anymore. I know that sounds like nonsense but I just described the line of thinking perfectly.

Buffy doesn’t like that attitude as the team’s captain, but as a human being, sitting in the room with baked goods mere inches from her, she agrees to the party.

At Bex’s, Bowie tells Bex he found a postcard from SAVA in the mail.

They both get excited that she applied and she’s going after her dreams. Bex also thinks it’s great that she didn’t accidentally crush Andi’s hopes for the future.

They realize Andi didn’t tell them because she didn’t want them to know she applied, so Bex makes Bowie put the postcard back in the mailbox.

Back at Buffy’s, Kaitlin brings her computer by and asks who wants to watch videos of their old games. She says they’re hilarious. I don’t know about that. Entertaining maybe, in the way that videos of building implosions are entertaining.

They agree to watch the videos. Kaitlin pulls one up of her shooting a free throw in which she legit closes her eyes for a full two minutes before shooting.

Kaitlin’s like, ugh, I’m so terrible and I DON’T KNOW WHY!

Buffy, using all the knowledge and experience she’s picked up from her time as both a basketball player and coach, says hold on, I think I know what the problem is.

She makes her go back and look at the footage again.

OH?! YOU THINK?! COULD THAT POSSIBLY BE IT?! YOU CAN’T PLAY BASKETBALL WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED?!?!?

I’m screaming. This isn’t some subtle thing only a master of the sport would notice like, oh, you’re not lining your feet up right or you’re letting go with your guiding hand too early.

She shut her eyes!

For a long time! Like she’s trying to will herself to sleep.

She shut them before she even looked at the basket to aim for it! What did she think was going on?! When things went pitch black?!

“Okay, so, I’m holding the ball and want to shoot it into the basket. Then things go dark and when the lights come back, I’ve missed the shot. Just what in the world is going on here? Who keeps turning out the lights on me?”

How has this gone on the entire season? Better question, how is Kaitlin able to feed herself? How is she functioning in every day society? There are plants with better problem-solving skills.

Buffy guarantees Kaitlin if she just OPENS HER EYES TO PLAY BASKETBALL, her game will improve.

Then she tells Maria that she’s great at getting open, but that she never calls out to her teammates to let them know.

Buffy’s like, you have to use your voice, Maria.

And Maria’s like...

Lesson learned.

Buffy tells the girls they are better than they think. They can win if they fight for it.

Also, if they don’t shut their eyes for the majority of the game. Fight and keep your eyes open. 1a and 1b.

The girls agree and Buffy hands out her playbooks.

At the game, Buffy pumps up the team.

Armed with confidence and the newfound knowledge that being able to see what you’re doing vastly improves your chances at successfully doing it, the Spikes put up a fight.

Buffy coaches from the sidelines.

You know, I appreciate the wordplay of the “See you in court” sign that that girl is holding, and how it plays into the other storyline of the episode, but, honestly, who is that sign for? Which team wants that? Is that pro-Spikes or pro-Spartans or just... pro-basketball? Pro-wordplay? Does she just want one of the players on the court to see the sign and go, “Huh.” and give her a polite nod or something? What was the goal here?

Buffy continues to coach.

I’d say that’s over-coaching, but there’s a decent chance Kaitlin forgot between the sleepover and the game what the problem was.

The game nears to a close. Maria gets open and does some clapping, but doesn’t really call out to her teammates like Buffy told her to.

Half-credit, I guess. Light years improvement.

Speaking of credit, let’s give some to this loyal group of Spartan fans behind Maria, who show up to every game and sit in their same lucky seats, and wear their same lucky exact outfits.

Because they were there for the last Spartans/Spikes game, too.

You know what, if I had a cool shirt that just said “Weird” on it, I’d probably wear it all the time. I get it.

Anyway, Maria gets the pass and Buffy delivers her best bit of coaching advice yet.

Again, I don’t know that that’s over-coaching. That might be the exact right level of coaching for this team.

Maria’s shot goes in and the Spikes finally win a game. They all celebrate with Buffy.

Then Buffy’s friends storm the court and celebrate with her.

And credit to the girl who’s still waving the pro-Spartans sign even though the game ended several minutes ago. Keep up the spirit.

TJ’s phone buzzes. The court reached a verdict, so he and Cyrus run off to the theater.

Gus has TJ stand so he can read the verdict, and what he and his co-judges have verdicted is:

Cyrus doesn’t take it well.

Or, in other words, this is a KANGAROO COURT!

TJ tells Cyrus to stop fighting. He tells Cyrus he did his best, which... ehhh...

He kept his eyes open at least.

Gus sentences TJ to the harshest punishment allowed by Student Court:

TJ and Cyrus are surprised, but Gus explains they have very little actual authority.

So, wait, if they don’t really have the ability to hand out any kind of actual punishment, why even bother? If you can’t accomplish anything, then let him walk, otherwise you guys are just being jerks and ruining TJ’s lunch.

TJ grabs Cyrus’s shoulder.

I... think that was just supposed to be a joke about prison but... my God that got gay in a hurry.

Gus says court is adjourned and he and the other judges head off to return their robes to the choir while TJ and Cyrus hug.

This whole plot was silly. So so silly.

And I loved every second of it.

Jonah waits for Amber outside The Spoon. Amber spots him and she’s like, I thought I said to get! Scram! He’s like wait, don’t pepper spray me! I just want to tell you something. His dad got a new job and his parents rented a new apartment, which they’re moving into next week.

Amber says that’s great and she’s really glad for him.

Jonah says she really helped him through this tough time. She says he was there for her, too. Before he leaves, Amber offers to get him a milkshake. Not an invite back into The Spoon, mind you. Just a milkshake to go. The Spoon is still off-limits.

Back at school, Cyrus walks out when TJ shows up with another stolen golf cart like a demon sent from the country club.

Cyrus is like, did you learn nothing from your trial? TJ says he lives on the edge. Cyrus says he lives in the middle.

Cyrus gets in and he and TJ drive around the school with gay abandon.

I can’t believe I’m watching a gay teen romcom on the Disney Channel.

At Bex’s, Bex and Bowie spot Andi coming home, so they get in position to play it cool by turning on the TV and putting on one of their weird shows.

“It’s hideous!”

They ask Andi how her day was, hoping to hear about SAVA, but then Andi only tells them about the Spikes game and walks off.

Bex is shaken. Bowie tells her that’s okay. It’s the way it is. Kids don’t tell their parents everything.

Bex is like, yeah, I guess I just thought we were different.

The episode ends with Bex dealing with her greatest fear: she’s becoming her mother.

[emberbent]

Book 1: Fire | Chapter 6: The Dragon

What little resolve Shinza had managed to muster after the test had washed away with the rain. The memory of Chief Mongkut leaving her hanging was still fresh, and each time it replayed in her mind, it made her more uneasy. In an attempt to calm herself, she’d brought a pot of jasmine tea to the covered rooftop of the little villa she’d called home for the past ten months. Cradling the hot ceramic cup in her hands, she focused on the sound of fat raindrops on stone, on dirt, on the canvas canopy above her; through the downpour, she saw the village through a gray filter, watching vendors closing up shop, adults running for cover, and children splashing in the puddles along the main path.

She had no idea what to expect when she first came here, and she was a little surprised to find she wasn’t homesick. Not for Republic City itself, anyway: she preferred the quietude of the village and the friendliness of its people, even if she couldn’t escape the smog of the mainland’s industrial endeavors. 

Nero crossed her mind often. Shinza should have written her a letter a long time ago; it would have been the least she could do, after her the shock of seeing her friend essentially dragged away. They’d never even gotten to say goodbye, and the guilt she felt for not having written to Nero was palpable. But a small part of her had been anxious to extricate herself from her life in the city, and from the people she knew, with the hope that whatever came next would lead her to what she’d always felt was missing.

Another memory that stuck to the forefront of her mind was her mother calling to her down the hallway after she’d come to say goodbye: We love you, Shinza. No matter what. She knew that, though, and she’d never questioned it. What she’d needed to hear was that they were proud of her. Would they be proud of her now that she was a firebender? Did they respect her now because she was the Avatar?

She didn’t know, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. 

Taking in the fragrant steam of her tea, she took the first hot sip and rested the cup on the table, turning on the little radio in front of her and tuning in to Republic City’s main station. The signal was choppy at best, but if she pointed the antenna east, she could make out the announcer’s familiar voice: “...And if you’re tuning in just now, thank you for joining us. Republic City officials today have confirmed the identity of the new Avatar.  Supporters, devotees, and fans alike have awaited this announcement for almost three decades; after the tragic, untimely death of the child Avatar Yeong, the world rejoices at this new emergence. Officials are withholding the new Avatar’s identity in the midst of protests by The Organization, taking place in the city this week.”

A fresh wave of anxiety rolled over her, in time with a heavy sheet of rain that battered the uncovered portion of the rooftop patio. She turned the dial in search of something less troublesome and settled on the crooning of a familiar artist - famous for having gone from working at a dingy lower-ring club in Ba Sing Se to overnight sensation - who sang about the troubles of her neighborhood and her real-life addiction to opium. Shinza listened for a while, and then sang along, harmonizing in her silvery, resonant lilt, until the song came to its doleful conclusion.

“Hey,” said a voice behind her. Shinza leaped out of her seat, finding Amrit standing in the doorway, hands up in submission. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I knocked, but I don’t think you heard me over the rain.”

Shinza waved it off and gestured to the seat across from her. “It’s about time you came around. Want some tea?”

Amrit came to sit and watched as she gracefully poured him a cup. He took it with gratitude and waited for it to cool down, feeling Shinza’s eyes on him, no doubt wondering why he’d chosen this moment to come over.  

Looking deeply proud and gravely serious, he said, “You passed.”

The color drained from Shinza’s face. She set her cup down and scrubbed her hand over her mouth, taking in the news and swallowing her rising emotions. “Okay.”

“The council sent word to the Eastern Air Temple. They’ll be expecting you.”

She nodded slowly, thoughtfully. Then she asked, “Why did it take so long for them to make a decision?”

Amrit took a deep breath and released it. “Chief Mongkut didn’t want to pass you at first. He thought you were too hesitant. But the rest of us vouched for you. You defend yourself well, your technical execution is flawless, and you display an exceptional understanding of the origins of fire. It took him a day or two to think about it, but he came around.”

Shinza quietly took that in and stared down at the table, as if scanning some invisible book.

“Hey. What’s on your mind?” he inquired, leaning forward. He knew her to be reserved, but in a circumstance like this, it worried him to see her simply not react. “You don’t have to keep it all in.”

“Yes, I do,” she blurted, puzzled at why she’d said it. She felt it was true, but she couldn’t put her finger on why. 

She sighed. “Okay, fine. I’m ecstatic that I passed, but I’m disappointed it wasn’t with flying colors. I’m terrified and excited at what comes next. I’m devastated because I’m going to have to leave you, and because if I move on and I learn how to airbend, then there’s no turning back. There will have been no case of mistaken identity, and I’ll have to shrug off this denial I’ve been living in. And I’ll have to face the fact that there are people who want me dead.”

Amrit took that in. He wished he had some sage advice to give, but all he could do was chew the inside of his cheek. “That’s rough, buddy,” he said in defeat.

Shinza scoffed. “Helpful.”

“Can I have this?” Amrit gestured at her hand. 

“Yeah.”

He took her hand in his, studying the taut skin of her elegant fingers and the thick scars over her knuckles. No part of her hands were unmarked. “I think you’re going to be an incredible Avatar,” he said, finally looking up and pinning her with his night-sky gaze. 

“How can you be sure?” 

“Because you care so much.”

Shinza squeezed his hand, feeling flooded with warmth. People in the city didn’t care about each other like this; no one made eye contact or spoke to anyone else unless it was to shout at them to get out of the way. In a place populated by millions of people, she hadn’t realized how alone she’d been. 

“I believe in you,” Amrit murmured, sandwiching her hand between his. “I wish you’d believe in yourself.”

She gave him a little half-smile. “I’m working on it.”

A familiar, comfortable silence fell over them; the rain stopped and the storm clouds rolled by to reveal the sun, which summoned back the fallen rain in the form of an oppressive steam.

“I didn’t know you could sing like that,” Amrit noted, trying his hand at being casual, although he couldn’t stop a coy smile from breaking over his face. He’d never forget the sound of her voice.

Shinza gave her own fond smile. “Yeah. You know, at one point, I wanted to be in a metal band.”

“I can see that.”

“Actually, that’s what I was doing just before all of this happened - performing. My friend and I were playing at this empty tea house. No one was even listening, except for one person, bless him. At the time, I thought that was what my life would amount to, but now I can’t imagine going back to such a simple time.”

Amrit nodded lazily. “No Avatar ever led a simple life.”

_________

The next morning, Shinza made her way up the cliff that overlooked the beach - the place Amrit had asked her to meet him before he saw her off to the Eastern Air Temple. The sun rose in the east, awakening the island with gentle, rosy clouds. With a small pack filled with the few belongings she’d accumulated on the island, she reached the summit, finding him waiting for her.

“Morning, sunshine,” he greeted her, handing her some water. Gratefully, she took the cup and gulped it down. The sun glinted off the clean-shaven sides of his head; the edges where his long, black hair started were sharp and perfectly symmetrical, cut into a cat-eye shape that started at the crown of his head and ended somewhere just above his neck. A gentle wind roused his ponytail. She’d never gotten over the urge to punch him for being so handsome.

“Morning. How do I look?”

Shinza gestured at herself. She wore the traditional airbender clothes the temple had sent over by courier: brown pants, the hems of which were tucked into knee-high, fur-trimmed boots; a turmeric-colored band of fabric wound around her chest, and an orange sash draped diagonally over one shoulder, held in place at the waist by a leather cord. Shinza happened to know that each piece of the outfit derived from animals had been painstakingly and reverently garnered from the bodies of already deceased creatures. Noting the fine stitching when she’d first received the clothes, she’d gushed for half an hour at the craftsmanship. The clothing suited her long, lean form, accentuating her musculature and her gentle curves.

Amrit gave her a once-over, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe she was real. “Incredible. Like an airbender.”

He approached her, furrowing his thick brows as his eyes narrowed at the crown of her head. “Did you grow?”

She grinned. “I think I’m just standing a little straighter these days. I can see the top of your head. Oh! I have something for you.”

Shinza shrugged off her backpack, untying the knot at the top and gingerly removing what looked to be a piece of wood from it. She turned it around and presented it to Amrit: it was a woodburning, displaying him in a full-body pose - the way she remembered seeing him the day of her test in all his regalia - and a three-quarter profile of him at the bottom right, donning his famous dazzling smile. The fine detail was impossibly intricate, and its likeness to him was astonishing. 

“Shinza,” he breathed. “You did this?”

“With firebending. Yes. I wanted to make you something to show my appreciation.”

“This…” he hugged the piece against his chest, careful not to warp the wood. His eyes glimmered with the suggestion of tears. “This is my favorite thing in the whole world. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Amrit,” she replied. “You helped me find my flame, and you stuck with me all the way through. Even on the very first day, when you didn’t even know me yet, you showed me more kindness and patience than I even knew was possible. I’ll always be grateful to you.”

Amrit looked at her, biting the inside of his cheek, and then stared for a few more seconds at the piece before bringing it close to his heart again. “I have something for you too,” he said. “It’s a parting gift, but also kind of an early birthday present.”

Shinza’s brow twitched as she realized how much time had passed, and that she would be twenty-eight in a few months. “Okay.”

He stuck his thumb and forefinger in his mouth, emitting a long, loud, high-pitched whistle into the sky. A few moments passed, and nothing happened. “Come on…”

Just as Shinza started to speak, a dragon came ribboning out from the clouds, small and far away at first, but rapidly gaining immense size as it approached. Speechless, she leapt back as the enormous creature finally came to land on the clifftop. If the sheer size of it was difficult to comprehend, its beauty was impossible. It locked onto Shinza immediately, pacing several feet with its snake-like body. Its talons gouged the rock beneath them with each step. Shinza could see her whole face, awe-stricken, in the reflection of the dragon’s golden eyes.

“Hi, beautiful,” she breathed. Even the small action of the beast’s breathing was startlingly loud. The air around them rippled with heat. It inched closer, slowly enough not to scare Shinza, who, after a moment, realized it was asking to be touched.

She carefully outstretched her hand, planting her palm between the dragon’s eyes. On a whim, she knew, it could exhale a devastating blaze of fire. The creature blinked slowly.

Shinza turned carefully to Amrit. “You got me a dragon?”

“Well, she’s not a pet,” he answered. “More like a friend. I’ve been working with her since she hatched, so she’s tame. She’ll take you wherever you need to go. Just know that dragons move on their own time.”

“What’s her name?” Shinza murmured, entranced by the iridescent scarlet scales that adorned the dragon’s skin.

“I don’t know,” Amrit replied. “She hasn’t told me. Why don’t you try asking her?”

She did. The dragon inched even closer, placing one prehensile whisker in the center of Shinza’s forehead. Immediately, she understood the beast’s name and felt a sense of warmth and love. 

“Xia,” Shinza translated breathlessly. “Her name is Xia. Because she loves the pink clouds of sunrise.”

Xia encircled the two of them and constricted herself so that Amrit and Shinza were forced to stand closer to each other.

“I hope she reminds you of your heritage,” he said. “And the origin of firebending.” And I hope she reminds you of me, he thought.

Shinza slid her arms around him in a fierce embrace, finding herself ensnared in his own strong grip. Each time she squeezed him tighter, he squeezed back all the more fervently. 

“Hey,” she whispered. “Are you crying?”

“Yeah, fuck off,” he sniffed. 

Shinza pulled away just enough to wipe the tears off his cinnamon skin. “I miss you already. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

“We’ll see each other again,” he promised. Then he released her with reluctance. “Good luck. And be careful.”

Xia nudged Shinza’s shoulder with her snout. She climbed onto Xia’s back, hooking her feet just below the elegant, fleshy spikes that shrouded the dragon’s ears. Her heart raced as she suddenly realized she’d be bulleting through the air, gripping Xia for her life, in a matter of seconds. “Be gentle,” she implored her new friend, who seemed to understand perfectly. The dragon took a couple easy steps back and then started at a smooth, loping gait before hurtling off the cliff, catching the wind and making one generous loop back around for momentum before rocketing off toward the sun.

Shinza closed her eyes until the movement evened out, too stricken by exhilaration to even scream. Then she chanced a careful glance behind her, finding Amrit was bowing to them as they disappeared into the clouds.

[bevioletskies]

bring it on home to me [5/5]

summary: The fight of everyone’s lives may be over, but for Nebula, Peter, and the rest of the Guardians, the search for the person they love most has just begun.

a/n: MAJOR spoiler warning for Avengers: Endgame, though I am a little vague about the events of what happened. Regardless, please don’t let me spoil it for you!

Fic title is, of course, from the song Bring It On Home To Me by Sam Cooke.

word count: 6.8k | ao3 | tag

Gamora woke in a shallow body of water that seemed to stretch onward and forever, for as far as the eye could see. Though she was lying flat on her back, the water level was so low she could see the tips of her toes breaking its surface. She was also fully clothed, the weight of the leather and metal growing even heavier by the second, and she struggled to get herself up into a seated position to look at her surroundings.

The water seemed to be settled over an endless sand dune that curved up and down in graceful, fluid shapes. Colors were made more vibrant by the sharp orange glow of an immortal sunset, casting everything in warm, harsh tones. There was a cliff in the distance whose peak disappeared far beyond the clouds, but there were no other structures, man-made or otherwise, to be seen. Her blood ran cold in the realization of where she was, what had happened the last time she was here, but when she lifted both her hands and opened her clenched fists, they were empty.

She got to her feet, patting her pockets and her utility belt to check that all her weapons were still on her. Once she was certain, she set off in the direction of the cliff. She wasn’t sure how she was going to get to the top, but she knew she’d be damned if she didn’t try.

It wasn’t long before she felt something shift, like a staccato twinge growing insistently in her belly, only she wasn’t hungry, injured, or sore. If anything, it didn’t really disturb her at all, though it did vaguely feel like someone was tapping on her organs, which in itself was a disturbing thought. Another body modification? she thought. Then, that can’t be right. I escaped Thanos nine years ago. Another pause. Nine years?

Her heart beat just a little bit faster in her chest, and she stopped moving to think, to really think. Nine years, four years, maybe never...it wasn’t about where she was, it was about when she was, wasn’t it? Or something like that, anyway.

She started walking again, her footsteps dragging through the sand. Her gear knocked persistently against her hips as if to remind her it was there, though she saw no foe - or friend - of any kind. A minute passed, then five, then another ten, and she stopped to turn, over and over again, realizing she was no closer than before. She let out a cry of frustration, a noise that was instantly swallowed up by the still atmosphere, but she kept going. Twenty, thirty, forty minutes, all in a numbing silence that made her brain feel fuzzy. There was no wind, no humidity, no nothing, just the vastness of a space that was all too familiar to her, one that she never wanted to be in again.

“What do you think you’ll find up there, my love?”

Gamora froze at the sound of a voice she hadn’t heard in years, years that she could no longer count. She drew her switchblade and turned, finding herself staring at a face that she sometimes couldn’t remember. “Mother?”

“In a way.” She smiled, bittersweet. Her mother looked as if she hadn’t aged a day, looking far closer to Gamora’s age than she had any right to be, wearing the clothes she had been on the day she’d died. “What do you think is at the top of the cliff?”

“The solution...to a problem I can’t identify.” She returned her mother’s placating smile with a wan one of her own. Her blade went back into its holster, though she couldn’t help but keep her hand hovering over its hilt. She wouldn’t put it past Thanos or any number of her enemies for planting a cruel illusion in her head. “I know what happened to me, and I know why it happened. I...must have been brought back here somehow, resurrected and restored. But I don’t belong in this place. I belong with my friends, my family. And if they’re up there, I need to get to them.”

“I don’t imagine you’ll be here for too long,” her mother replied, taking a step closer to brush a loose strand of hair out of her face. “They’re calling for you, darling. They’re waiting for you to come back. But there’s a longing in you to talk to someone, and I’m here to listen.”

She sucked in a breath. “How much time do we have?”

Her mother cupped her jaw. The warmth of her fingers was the first thing Gamora could really, truly feel. “As long as you need.”

______

The Sovereign’s medical ward was so blindingly gold that Peter was certain his own father would have wept at the sight of it, though he knew he was in no position to complain about its ostentatiousness. The High Priestess had been hostile at first, as expected, nearly shooting the Benatar right out of the atmosphere before they could even come close to landing, and then looked down at them both figuratively and literally as they knelt in front of her throne, heads bowed, humbling themselves until it pleased her. After long, arduous minutes of grovelling, she granted them subpar food and barely-satisfactory quarters, then called for her best doctors and scientists to prepare Gamora for her procedure. “Their knowledge of the mind, body, and soul comes from my abilities, and my abilities alone. You’ll find they’re unlike anything else you can find on any other world,” she had simpered. The Guardians didn’t care much for the details of how her so-called “spirit restoration” powers worked, only that they would.

“What’s it called?” Peter had asked. They had all been standing around the operating table, which only irritated the head surgeon further. Peter had been bombarding the experts with questions about the effects, the consequences, anything that could possibly go wrong. The others were simply watching Gamora in silent support, hoping they didn’t look as nervous as they felt.

“The Paragon Program,” Ayesha had replied, smiling in a wicked way that made them shiver. “To ensure our people are as perfect as can be. Seeing as your Gamora was the only one who cared to show me any sort of respect during our first encounter, I will grant her with our highest honor, and treat her as one of our own. She will come back more perfect than you could ever imagine.”

Peter had turned to look at Gamora, lying perfectly still on the table in her medical gown. There was a crease of worry between her browbones, but her mouth was set in a hard, straight line of determination. He had smiled in a sort of melancholic manner. “She was already perfect.”

Now, Gamora was alone in the operating room, hooked up to a few machines that the doctors claimed were monitoring her vitals, but looked about as ornate and useless as every other decorative statue on their self-indulgent planet. She took a soft breath in, then out. The first part of the procedure was over - “taking a glimpse into her brain”, as the High Priestess had called it, to make sure she was physically and mentally able to handle what was about to happen. They were giving her a few minutes to herself before continuing with the second part, which they assured her was perfectly safe and had been done dozens of times before, but didn’t make her feel any less wary.

It had become clear to Gamora quite quickly that these Guardians, this apparent team of hers, was more than just her team - they were her family. Nebula had briefly touched on what her relationships with them had been like, but it was also made evident in person. Last night, they had an uncomfortable dinner with the High Priestess who made snide remarks about some incident she knew nothing about, apparently resulting in her people pursuing them on Peter’s father’s planet.

“And here I thought you were the cleverest of your little group, but clearly, you fell in with them for a reason,” Ayesha had said, very well knowing that Gamora had no memory of the event. “Perhaps it wasn’t your knowledge that took your life, but karma. Retribution for your many sins.”

The others had shot out of their chairs immediately. “You take that back, lady!” Rocket had snarled, immediately drawing one of his guns. A few guards flocked to Ayesha’s side, but she merely waved them off with a condescending chuckle.

“Don’t forget, I’m doing all of you the favor of a lifetime,” she had replied. “I suggest you put your weapons down.”

“I am a weapon,” Mantis had shot back, her voice unusually low, her antennae glowing dangerously. “Do not talk badly about Gamora, or it will end badly for you.”

“You’re adorable,” Ayesha had drawled. “Did Quill feed you that line?”

“Do not waste another breath,” Nebula had interjected, looking to the others and meeting their hardened gazes. Slowly, they all sat back down, though Rocket and Peter still had their trigger fingers ready. “We can take comfort in the fact that my sister is, and will always be, a person worth saving.” Nebula narrowed her eyes at Ayesha. “I do not know if the same can be said of you.”

After dinner, the Guardians had gone to linger in a small sitting room, too restless to sleep at a reasonable hour before Gamora’s big day. She had sat by the fireplace, eavesdropping on bits and pieces of conversation happening behind her. She was unable to keep up with the inside jokes and the acerbic banter, but secretly enjoyed the dynamic all the same.

Drax had stopped by briefly to hand her a warm drink. “You seem nervous,” he had observed. “If the High Priestess’s scientists are to be believed, you have a minimal chance of dying.”

Gamora had chuckled, accepting the mug with a grateful smile. “It is no longer death that I’m afraid of. It’s the fear of disappointing all of you. As I’ve been told...as I’ve witnessed...your Gamora was loved.”

“We will be disappointed if it doesn’t work, yes,” Drax had nodded thoughtfully. “But you, as you are, would not disappoint us. You are our friend...despite whatever shortcomings you may have.”

“A heartwarming sentiment,” she had deadpanned, shaking her head amusedly when he continued nodding in blasé agreement before walking away. She had turned back to look at the fire, into its crackling flames, and took a sip of her drink.

Before going to bed, Peter had lingered outside her door, wanting to speak with her in private one last time. She had emerged from the bathroom, caught off-guard by his presence. “Quill?”

“I, uh, I just wanted to thank you again,” he had said. He had sounded rushed, like he was trying to get everything he was thinking out at once. “Couldn’t’ve been an easy decision to make.”

“No, I think it was,” she had said softly. “As I told you on Knowhere, this universe is not my own. This universe was always hers. She saved the galaxy, and the galaxy saved her in return. My purpose is to restore her in the place she belongs, among the people she loves, the people she saves. It’s of no consequence to my existence.”

He had laughed. “You’re more like her than you think, y’know.”

“I hope so.” She had opened the door to her room, her hand lingering on the doorknob, and she turned to look at him. His expression had been impossibly soft, fond, reserved just for her. She had smiled in return. “Goodnight...Peter.”

The head surgeon approached her, drawing her out of her thoughts, looking her up and down rather derisively. “Are you ready for part two?”

Gamora slowly laid back on the table, squeezing her eyes shut so she wasn’t blinded by the overhead lights. She thought of the Guardians, of her sister, of her parents - her real parents, and her rapidly beating heart slowed down to a gentle, steady pulse. “Yes.” ______

“You implied you weren’t my mother,” Gamora commented after they’d been walking in companionable silence for some time. Only now did it seem like they were making progress, with the cliff steadily growing closer and closer. “And I doubt you’re her spirit or her soul, either.”

“Clever girl,” her mother said, smiling. “You’re correct. I am none of them. I am, however, part of your soul. A projection, if you will. One you’ve called upon to keep you company on your way back. And...it seems you have some unfinished business to attend to.”

Gamora frowned. “I have no debts, monetary or otherwise. No promises, no vows - ”

“To yourself, my love,” she corrected with a gentle laugh. “There is conflict in you. I don’t think there’s a single person in the entire universe that doesn’t.”

“I’ve made no secret of my feelings about myself,” she said, suddenly finding it hard to look her mother in the eye. “But I’ve also come to accept that not all of my burdens are meant to be borne forever, and they are not meant to burden me, and me alone. What I’ve done, who I’ve become...they’re all a part of me that I have to live with.” She then glanced down at her hands as if she were seeing them for the first time, turning them over and splaying her fingers wide. “And there are memories...they aren’t mine. This body belonged to someone else.”

“I see you’re catching on.” Her mother gestured to a flat rock that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. “Why don’t we sit for a moment? We’re in no rush.”

They both settled down with their legs tucked beneath them, hands folded in their laps in a near-identical manner. The orange glow of the invisible sun wasn’t as blinding by now, having simmered down to something more pleasant to the eye. Gamora could see her mother’s face better this way, and though she knew it wasn’t truly her mother, her heart still ached at the sight of how young she looked. It seemed unjust that she had no wrinkles, no laugh lines, no sunspots, nothing that indicated a life well lived. Her father had been older than her mother by a few years, and had begun forming semi-permanent creases in the corners of his eyes from how much he liked to laugh. His hands had been a little rougher, his joints a little stiffer, but still, he would come home from a long day’s work and sweep Gamora off her feet and onto his shoulders, moving like a man who was ten years younger.

“Do you like yourself, Gamora?”

Her head turned sharply, startled. “Wh...what?”

“Do you find it difficult to answer?” Her mother’s identical dark eyes fixated on her intently. “You seemed certain once that your answer was ‘no’. Have you changed your mind?”

Gamora looked back down at her lap, fiddling with the rings that adorned her fingers. “I hated myself. I hated my life.” Her left hand lacked the scar across her knuckle that she’d gotten during a mission that ended with her and Peter chained together and left dangling over a pit of snarling Vrellnexians. It burned far less than the permanent teeth marks on her thigh from one of Thanos’s training sessions gone wrong (or perhaps entirely right, from his perspective). “I find that that’s no longer the case.”

“That isn’t what I asked,” she said patiently. “Be honest, now. The only one listening is you.”

Gamora smiled to herself. “I...I do like myself. More than I thought I ever would. I have no aspirations of being perfect, but if I put my best effort forward, I feel no need to hold myself to an impossible standard set by me or anyone else.”

“That’s quite a long-winded way of saying ‘yes’,” she remarked dryly. “So you’ve found peace...but you still have regrets.”

“I would think far less of myself if I didn’t regret all the things I did when I was with Thanos.” Gamora shivered reflexively; his name had become a curse. “I’ve done things I’ve regretted even after leaving him...said things I wish I could take back. But there’s no use in punishing myself after I’ve already atoned for my failures. I am no less deserving because of them.”

“Deserving of what, my love?”

Gamora let out an exhale of quiet disbelief. Even her own subconscious couldn’t help but ask the questions she never wanted to be asked, in a time when she wanted nothing more than to finally rest. “Redemption, forgiveness...companionship. My family. I’ve earned every last one...haven’t I?”

“I’ve never known you to be so hesitant, Gamora. Say it.” She took both of Gamora’s hands in hers, leaning in closer and closer until Gamora could count all the colors in her eyes. “Say it like you mean it.”

Gamora laughed wetly; she had never felt so ridiculous in her life. She closed her eyes, lifted her chin, and smiled. “I deserve to be happy.”

And just like that, she felt a warmth in her chest, a weight off her shoulders, a soft breeze whistling through her hair. It was like all the cliches in the world had come to life, ones that she thought only existed in the fantasies of others, having long abandoned entertaining such ideas so long ago. There was no magical epiphany or glorious music, exactly, but an ease in her body, a comfort in her mind, that made it known it wasn’t over for her, not even in death.

She opened her eyes; her mother’s smile was radiant, more than the invisible sun could ever hope to be. “Are you ready?”

Gamora’s face fell somewhat. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to return to a life without you. But yes...I’m ready.”

Her mother’s smile turned into something a little sadder, more than a little bit full of longing, and pulled Gamora into a warm embrace. She smelled of sweet medicine and freshly-cut flowers, her hair tickling Gamora’s nose. Gamora squeezed her eyes shut, harder this time, and let out a contented sigh. She needed just one more minute before letting go. ______

Three days came and went, and to everyone’s dismay, Gamora remained asleep in her preservation pod with no sign of waking up. Even the Sovereign experts were beginning to fret, though they tried not to let it outwardly show, given how volatile the Guardians could be. They were already starting to pick fights with each other as if they were to blame. Peter and Drax yelled at each other often and at length, while Rocket threatened to shoot them both with the Hadron Enforcer if they didn’t shut up. Mantis worried more loudly than everyone else, having unfortunately taken on the brunt of their heightened emotions that now seared through her brain like the worst imaginable migraine one could have. What little optimism Nebula had left was slowly dwindling away, leaving her snapping at everyone in sight and stomping around like a child.

“With respect, High Priestess, we ask for a closer look at her records,” Peter had said on the morning of the fourth day, kneeling in front of her throne. The others were knelt beside him; there was no room for temper tantrums or snark this time.

“My medics insist upon complete doctor-patient privilege,” she had replied. “But...if you wish to see her heart rate and brain activity, I see no harm in granting you permission. I’m warning you now, Guardians...you may not like what you see.”

Everyone kept watch by Gamora’s side, rotating in paired shifts so they could attempt to get some restless sleep. Conversation was kept to a minimum, no one daring to voice their worries out loud, risking the start of yet another argument. The Sovereign were being unusually generous for the time being, promising that there would be no debt for food, shelter, or medical treatment otherwise, but they had the feeling that could change at any moment.

On the evening of the fifth day, as the sun was setting and everyone was pleasantly full from the usual lush Sovereign dinner, Peter was scrolling through the Zune’s catalogue but not really paying attention to any song that popped up on the screen. Nebula was sat beside him with her arms folded across her chest, watching her sister’s face through the glass of the preservation pod unblinkingly.

“I became a Guardian in your absence.” The suddenness of her voice caused Peter to fumble with the Zune, nearly dropping it on the golden tile floor. “Otherwise...Rocket would have had no one. Like me.”

“He grows on you, don’t he?” Peter remarked. He sounded oddly fond considering he and Rocket had a spat about Ayesha’s true intentions just two hours ago, and had resorted to glowering at each other across the dining table in seething silence.

“My point, Quill…” she said through gritted teeth, “...is that I became a Guardian out of necessity. Now, it is merely a choice I have to make.” She turned to look him dead in the eye. “Whether my sister returns as she was or as she is or...not at all...my choice remains the same.”

“Oh.” He blinked. “Oh!”

“God, you’re an idiot,” she sighed, though there wasn’t any real heat behind her words.

Peter merely grinned in a sort of endearing way that incited Nebula’s usual urge of wanting to punch him, or at the very least elbow him in the gut so he’d stop. She begrudgingly found herself unable to do so since he looked happier than he had in days. “I’m not even gonna bother responding to that. But I was right - you’re a Guardian, through and through.”

“Of my own choice, not of your volition,” she sneered. She was already starting to regret saying anything.

“And she’s gonna come back,” he continued. “Gamora don’t give up so easy.”

“I believe it’s a matter of ‘if’, not ‘when’.” Nebula’s gaze returned to her sister’s face, the only thing she could see through the small glass window. Her expression remained the same - a semi-relaxed posture, her eyes comfortably shut, her mouth in a sort of half-smile. She looked like she was dreaming about something pleasant, something she didn’t want to leave behind.

“It’s gonna be ‘when’,” Peter insisted, frowning. “C’mon, Nebula, don’t think like that.”

“I have spent my whole life thinking like that,” she murmured. “You and I both saw her vital readings, her bloodwork. The chances of her returning to us are minimal, returning to us in a restored state even less so.”

He laughed in disbelief. “You never know when to quit, do you? You’re always about the worst-case scenario, and the murderin’, and, and the attitude, god, it’s the worst! Woulda thought you’d’ve changed at least a little in five years.”

“Coming from a man who still insists he can talk his way out of any situation and refuses to mature past his idealized childhood,” she shot back. “You’re an imbecile, Quill. It’s no wonder your ‘friends’ are seeking a real leader.”

“And you’re a piece of work,” he snapped, shooting to his feet. “What was I thinkin’, wanting you to be a Guardian when we can’t even have a nice moment for two damn minutes? Maybe I don’t wanna think about the fact that we might’ve just killed another Gamora!”

Nebula recoiled like she’d been slapped clean across the face, though Peter hadn’t made any sort of move towards her aside from the blazing anger in his eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, not daring to move a muscle. Then, there was a quiet, yet distinctive cough.

“You haven’t killed me yet. But if you continue to argue - ”

“Gamora,” Peter breathed. He immediately ran to the control screen, his fingers trembling as he clumsily navigated his way through several menus before finding what he was looking for. The pod opened with a soft hiss; Nebula could feel her heartbeat pounding in her ears, drowning out the sound of Peter’s poorly-concealed sniffles.

Her initial footsteps were wobbly, her knees knocking together as if she’d never learned how to walk. Peter was by her side in an instant, threading his arm underneath her armpits to keep her upright, guiding her over to a medical bed so she could sit down. Her breath was ragged from the limited oxygen, and she was blinking drowsily into the blindingly golden light, but she was undoubtedly, undeniably alive.

“Sister,” Nebula said quietly. “Do you know us?”

Gamora glanced between them. Her voice was hoarse when she spoke. “Yes.” An odd expression then crossed her face, as if she were just now realizing where she was and what had happened. “My mother...I saw my mother.”

“How is that...possible?” Peter said slowly, kneeling beside her. He tentatively reached out to cup her face, letting out a relieved sigh when she leaned into the touch. “What happened, Gamora? You’ve been asleep for five days.”

“I think...I was in my own realm of the Soul Dimension. Before I went under, I thought of all the people I loved. Maybe that’s why my mother appeared to me. We talked for a while, though not enough.” The corners of Gamora’s mouth tugged upwards, though it seemed reluctant. “I didn’t want to leave her. Not when we had all the time in the universe.”

“So that’s why you didn’t wake up right away,” he reasoned. When she opened her mouth to protest, he took her face in both hands, holding her gently. “Hey, no, it’s okay. Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just...if I saw my mom...I dunno if I’d even have the strength to come back at all. But you did. You always did.”

Gamora placed her hands over his, warm to the touch. He laughed wetly, sinking back further on his heels until his chin was practically resting right on her lap. “I knew I couldn’t stay forever, but it’s alright. I got what I wanted, I said what I needed to say, and now, I feel...peaceful.”

“You were sleeping for a really long time,” he teased, wiping hastily at the tears streaking down his face as he got to his feet. “I’ll get you some water. I should call the doctors in here - hell, our friends, too - ”

“Wait.” Gamora stood as well, steadier this time, and carefully made her way over to Nebula, coming to a stop right in front of her. She was stiff, frozen in place, her eyes following her sister’s every move. “I have memories that don’t belong to me, pieces of conversations that were had with my other self. This must be another’s body, then.”

“Yes.” Nebula hesitated. “Do you remember what I said to your other self while I was held prisoner on Sanctuary?”

Gamora nodded; her eyes were wet now, too. “That we became friends. Sisters.”

Without warning, Nebula suddenly stepped forward and threw her arms around Gamora, pulling her into the tightest hug she’d ever received. Nebula’s elbows were locked tight, her feet an awkward distance away from Gamora’s, but her face was buried in Gamora’s hair, her shoulders trembling from her half-hearted attempt at suppressing her emotional exhaustion. Gamora laughed, wrapping her arms around Nebula’s shoulders in return, her tears falling freely down her cheeks. Peter smiled privately in silent victory, then quietly slipped out of the room to get the others while Gamora and Nebula sank into each other's embrace like they belonged there all along. ______

Gamora walked down the landing ramp of the Benatar with a loud exhale, glad to be free of its odorous atmosphere (Rocket had done some experimental tests with the pipes, damaging the air filtration system as a result). After leaving Sovereign, the Guardians had made a brief stopover on the newly-rebuilt Xandar to speak with Nova Prime, and then left for a three-day-long journey for another planet that remained a mystery to Gamora. All she knew was that it wasn’t for their first mission since her return, but rather a place for rehabilitation until everyone got their bearings back.

Her reunion with everyone else had been overwhelmingly emotional as expected, a complete onslaught of sloppy hugs and messy tears and nonsensical elation, and they’d barely left her alone ever since. Aside from Peter’s relief at being able to share a bed with her again, she never had a meal to herself or even a moment to herself. She couldn’t argue, though, thinking back to the handful of times that one of them had been injured or sick, and she would hover and fuss until they were more frustrated with her than whatever was actually ailing them.

“Over there,” Peter called from behind her. She turned to see him gesturing off into the distance at something, and she followed his eye line to see what it was. The planet seemed amiable, with fresh air and clear skies, green grass beneath her boots and trees that swayed in the mild winds. It was all so...normal, so quiet and gentle and calm. They were in an empty field that stretched on for quite a while before it was interrupted by a tall metal fence. Beyond that was the remains of a building, and what looked to be the beginning of construction for its replacement. It almost seemed familiar, like something her other self knew of but hadn’t remembered very well.

Gamora had grown used to the idea of her other self, a little piece of her soul that had nestled itself neatly in her brain. The Guardians had been keeping a close eye on her to make sure she wasn’t exhibiting any strange behaviors or voicing any worrying thoughts. It seemed, though, that the other Gamora simply existed with no interference or intention. It also meant that she remembered everything Peter and Nebula had said to her, relieving them of the burden of having to say it all over again. Peter seemed intent on retelling his stories anyway as he was oft to do, but Nebula went about it awkwardly, uncertain of how to express any sort of sentiment or affection aside from a stiff pat on the shoulder when they passed by each other on the ship.

“I still don’t understand why we’ve returned to here, of all places,” Nebula complained, kicking a nearby rock out of spite. “This is no idyllic paradise. It’s the remains of a battlefield.”

Gamora paused. “Was this where we fought Thanos?”

Nebula shuddered. “Yes. This is where he died.”

“Peter...this is your home planet. This is Terra,” Gamora said slowly. “You said you never wanted to come back.”

“Yeah, well, I say a lot of things,” Peter shrugged, jogging up beside her and holding out his hand. She took it automatically, interlacing their fingers together, and they began walking with the others following suit. “We’ve got allies here who can keep us safe, and I figured we’d want a little peace and quiet before going back to saving the galaxy.”

“Are you kiddin’? This planet’s never gonna have peace and quiet again,” Rocket snorted. “Everyone in the whole d’ast galaxy is talking about what happened here. Believe me, some other big baddie is gonna get some ideas about comin’ to play.”

“Way to think positive, dude,” Peter snarked, shaking his head.

“Rocket may have a point. Terra is inevitably doomed,” Drax added unhelpfully.

“Don’t agree with me, man, it’s weird,” Rocket complained.

“I am Groot,” Groot said, nearly stumbling over his own feet due to his refusal to look up from his video game screen. He’d been lovingly attentive to Gamora for about two days before she lectured him about eating junk food, and had since gone back to being as sullen as ever.

“So...this is our home for now, then?” Gamora asked. She inhaled another lungful of air; it wasn’t perfect, but it was far better than anything she’d ever experienced on the ship.

“For now.” Peter squeezed her hand. She squeezed back, momentarily reassured.

Their temporary home was a guesthouse with a deck that went out over a lake, far enough from the construction site that the forest obscured the sound of the workers and machinery. Nebula had vaguely explained to her who the guesthouse belonged to and Peter had mentioned they’d been invited to dinner, but truthfully, all she wanted to do was collapse into a bed that didn’t feel like it was made of rock and sleep for a good twelve hours.

Gamora slept for a few hours before waking up, somewhat groggy but alert enough to hear the sounds of the others milling around in the shared living space, chatting quietly. She sat on the edge of the bed, facing the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows of her and Peter’s bedroom, smiling at the sight of birds flitting past the glass, skimming the surface of the lake and disappearing among the trees. She basked in a minute or two of warm silence before there was a knock at the door. “Gamora?”

“Come in,” she called. Mantis stepped in with a bright smile a moment later, her antennae giving off a pleasing glow. “Are we leaving for dinner soon?”

“Not yet. I just wanted to talk to you, I suppose,” Mantis admitted. “Is that okay?”

“Of course.” Gamora softened, patting the spot beside her for Mantis to sit down. “Is something wrong?”

Mantis turned to look her straight on; it was slightly unsettling given the enormity of her eyes. “Did you really speak to your mother?”

“Yes.” Gamora swallowed thickly. “It was...enlightening.”

“May I?” Mantis held out her hand, hovering it mere inches above Gamora’s. At her wordless nod, she gently wrapped her fingers around Gamora’s wrist, then inhaled sharply, her eyes fluttering shut. “You feel...calm. There is some uncertainty about what our future is going to be, but you seem very peaceful. Happy.” Her eyes opened, gazing at Gamora curiously. “What did you talk to her about?”

“It wasn’t...her, exactly.” Gamora hesitated. “But it helped to think of it as her. Like she was guiding me from the afterlife.”

Mantis removed her hand, a melancholic smile crossing her face. “I do not know anything about my parents. Their names, their faces...or if they are still alive. You are very lucky to have seen her again, even if it was not really her.”

“There are still so many unanswered questions for almost all of us,” Gamora mused. “While Drax has a clear understanding of his heritage, and Peter’s solved the terrible truth of his father, Groot has no connection to his history aside from his old memories, Rocket has yet to confront his creator, and you - ”

“ - do not even know what planet I am from,” Mantis said mournfully. “I do not know where my powers came from, either.”

“Then that can be our next mission,” Gamora suggested. “We have supplemental pay from the Nova Corps, enough to give us the time to learn more about ourselves. You deserve to know. We all deserve to know who we are.”

Mantis’s returning grin was almost blinding. “I would like that very much,” she said, beaming. “I think we are all very tired of fighting wars. Being here on Peter’s planet to just relax is so nice. There is so much...room!”

Gamora couldn’t help but chuckle at Mantis’s childlike wonder, the stars in her eyes. There was a time when she would have thought her too idealistic, too immature, but now, her joy was infectious, absolutely radiant in its triumph. She got to her feet, gesturing for Mantis to follow. “We should go ask the others what they think. I doubt any of them are desperate to jump into another battle any time soon, though you never know with Rocket and Drax especially.”

“Oh, I almost forgot - Peter wanted to talk to you before we go to dinner,” Mantis said mysteriously. “He is out on the deck.”

Mantis and Gamora walked out into the living room, smiling at the sight of Groot, Drax, and Nebula gathered around the television, playing some sort of video game where they appeared to be racing spaceships. Rocket was stood on the armrest of the couch, shouting instructions at Groot and profanities at the others; Nebula occasionally lifted one hand from her controller to flip him off without looking back. Gamora walked over to watch for a moment, reaching down to briefly squeeze her sister’s shoulder. Nebula instinctively shivered, then patted Gamora’s hand in return, once, twice, and pulled away.

Gamora found Peter leaning against the railing of the deck, much like he had on Knowhere when her other self had first found him. Instead of empty bottles, his Zune sat at his feet, playing a familiar song. He was notably more put-together than he had been in months, his facial hair neatly trimmed and his clothes not quite as unruly as before. “Peter?”

He turned immediately at the sound of her voice. “Hey, you sleep okay?”

“Really well, actually. The beds here are far nicer than the mattresses on the Benatar,” she replied, walking up to join him. “Mantis said you wanted to talk to me about something.”

“I could talk to you about a lot of things,” he chuckled. “Honestly, I still can’t believe it worked. That you’re here, for real this time. I...we almost lost you, Gamora.” He chewed his bottom lip worryingly. “Is, uh...is the other one still in your head?”

“Yes, but it’s not as invasive as it seems,” she reassured him. “Mantis and I were talking about our next potential mission. We were thinking about how she, Rocket, and Groot know so little about their origins, how they deserve to know.”

“Yeah, well, we met my dad and we all know how that turned out,” Peter muttered, his expression souring.

“I don’t think it’ll always be like your father. Maybe Mantis’s parents will be more like mine.” She smiled. “Only...alive.”

He laughed, startled by the somewhat dark joke, and leaned into her, their shoulders brushing together. “I mean, if it’s what you guys want, I’m not gonna fight it. Think it’s about time we acknowledge who the real leader of this team is - you.”

“It can be both of us,” she insisted, frowning. “Nebula and I spent years resenting each other because we were forced to compete. But you and I, we have a choice. Let’s not make the wrong one.”

Peter fully turned to face her, slipping his hands in hers and bringing them down between them. He lowered his head, their foreheads meeting in the middle, and closed his eyes. He almost looked agonized. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do it.”

“Do wh...oh, Peter.” She released one of his hands so she could cup his cheek. “You kept your promise. Everything that happened afterwards...I would’ve liked to have been the one to kill him. I’m sure Nebula feels the same way. But what matters, what really matters, is that we all made it in the end, and the rest of our lives belong to us. Not to a madman, not to a myth, but just...us. As it should be.”

With a tilt of her chin, her mouth met his, and he melted beneath her touch, all the tension in his shoulders slipping away. He deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist so he could pull her impossibly close. After a quiet moment passed, only punctuated by the sounds of the birds and the Zune, she stepped back to meet his soft gaze. “I love you,” he murmured.

Her words came easy. “I love you, too.” She took another step back as if to turn and make her way back inside, but he kept a firm grip on her hands. “Peter, we have to get ready for dinner.”

“Dance with me.” She shivered; the cadence of his voice was the same as every other time he’d ever asked. “C’mon, one minute and we’ll head back.”

“Fine,” she sighed, moving closer once more. With his hands at the small of her back, Peter guided them step-by-step across the deck, the heels of their boots clicking in synchronicity as they did. Gamora closed her eyes and splayed her palms across his chest, drank in the sunlight that washed over her face, took in the muffled sounds of her friends yelling at each other inside, embraced the feeling of Peter’s heart beating beneath her fingers. She wasn’t thinking about the next mission or payment, the next argument or victory. It was just her, the ones she loved, and a perfect little piece of clarity.

Bring it to me, bring your sweet loving...bring  it on home to me... ______

a/n: And so ends another fic conclusion in which I've doubled the usual word count and gone full-on sentimental! I honestly could have gone on forever and ever with the reunions and conversations, but then I think it would get a little too repetitive. There was a scene I cut in which Peter and Rocket talked about how Rocket dealt with all the Guardians being gone and Peter's guilt about Titan, but I wanted this chapter to be focused on Gamora. If I were to continue on from here, the Guardians would be on their way to look for Rocket's creator, but not before making a stop in Missouri to visit Peter's mother's grave.

In case anyone happens to read my fic regularly, I'm taking a tiny break from Peter/Gamora (including across the universe) to finish up some Scott/Hope fics I've had sitting around for quite some time (a post-Endgame fic and a multi-part AU, in case anyone's interested). I'll come back to them eventually, I promise! I may also open fic prompts again since it's been a while.

Thanks so much for reading, likes and reblogs would be much appreciated, and I hope you enjoyed my self-indulgent journey through my Endgame feelings :)

[rpchive]

Eighty Third Encounter-- More Than Demonstrated

concluding the Firefly Lore and also...some surprises! this one’s not really part of the god arc, but it’s Really Important

The IT remains in transit from its previous send off; Rio remaining in the console room to watch over the console. Fawkes stands up from his spot near the console and approaches the others. "Welcome back! Was the Forest just as inviting as ev- Firefly? Are you alright? What happened?" Firefly: It's...look, just...I already got Collin hurt; I really don't need this getting us into any more trouble. I shouldn't bring it up again. Collin: That really wasn't your fault, you know. Besides, I've taken worse than a tree trunk before. Firefly: ...I still could've helped. I could've done something...but I just...I couldn't even look at them... Collin: It's fine, really. Look, if you really don't want to talk about this right now, that's fine, but this sorta seems like something you should get off your chest if it's bothering you. We can take this to your room or somewhere else if you want. Firefly: I just don't want this being some big, open thing. Nobody was even supposed to find out... Fawkes: Find out what? What happened out there? Firefly: When we...found the crystal for the god in the Twilight Forest; his last trial ended in...a little bit of a mess...and I didn't help at all because I was too busy talking to Asmodon...because a long time ago; after the god went missing...everyone just sort of decided we should have a replacement...but you can't just...get a god...so instead... Fawkes: .... I think I'm beginning to understand. Would you like to go somewhere more private before we continue? Firefly: ...Yeah... Fawkes quietly leads the group back to Firefly's room. As the others step inside, Sanglied comes to an awkward stop at the door, tapping one foot on the ground as they rub the back of their head. "Should we uh, catch up with you guys later?" Firefly: It's...what you want to do. I understand if you're uncomfortable... Sanglied: I mean, if you've got something you want to say to Brambles, we can stick around. If you'd rather not have us in your hair for this, we understand that too. Firefly: I don't think there's anything left to say. I'm pretty sure they understand... Sanglied: Alright, we'll see you later. They close the door and head off down the hallway, leaving the others back in the room.

Fawkes: Should we find a place to sit first? Firefly: Sit where you want. I don't mind. Collin and Tori find a place to sit down. Fawkes approaches an empty seat but stops for a moment as he starts to turn to sit before sitting down on the floor in front of it. "On second thought, I might be a little too heavy for the furniture." Taking a seat in the chair at her desk, Firefly wipes at her eyes before addressing everyone. "I guess you've got questions..." Fawkes: Indeed. I suppose I should start since I'm the most behind. So the creatures of the Forest tried to make you into a god? Firefly: Since I was the oldest living Firefly; yes. It was the reason I became a god tier, and the reason I had the Script... Collin: About that... we'll get to the Script in a minute, but how did you even get wrapped up in all that SBURB stuff anyway? Firefly: Some of the Players were mentioning quitting something in order to play it instead; so I asked to join them on orders. Fawkes: Orders? Firefly: The guardians of the Forest asked me to become a god; but seeing as how I was apprenticing to one, I answered to the lich first.

alienrabitt: The...lich of necromancy? The one that cursed your body so it would eventually fail you? He set you up to be a god? Yeah, no; that doesn't add up. He definitely wanted something else. Collin: What about the Script? How does that play into this? Firefly: Well, a god tier doesn't have complete control over their aspect; it's more like, well, Hermes in comparison to Zeus. Fawkes: So, you had to find the Script to supplement your powers and be closer to the god the lich wanted? Firefly: I needed the Script to give me anything that becoming a god tier wouldn't provide since we didn't know the details yet. Collin: I... guess that's fair, but that still doesn't explain why the lich cursed you to die. alienrabitt: He's a necromancer; he couldn't become a god himself. Collin: You're telling me he was going to kill you so he could have a zombified god as his puppet? Firefly: ...I...guess he was. I didn't even know... Fawkes: Did any of the other guardians of the Forest know about this? Firefly: No; they were just...sincerely trying to do the best they could for the forest. That's what Asmodon and I were talking about; I wanted to call it off, and he agreed once he saw Brambles. Fawkes: He did? Firefly: What was the point in making a new god? The Forest wasn't in danger after we stopped Red; humans stopped coming; there weren't any more Players...we didn't need a replacement.

if he had the Script why didn’t he just write himself into being a god? or make his own god?

this lich is a terrible villain

Fawkes: That makes sense. So what will you do now, then? Firefly: I...don't know. I devoted my entire being to the Forest, and I only got halfway through the process of...whatever the lich was hoping for. Now I'm just...unfinished. Not purposeless; just...not whole, either. Unnecessarily extra... Fawkes: I don't think that's true at all. It's hard to put into words, but... If you truly feel like there's something more that you need, I understand. But I don't think whatever path the lich had for you was your only option to "complete" yourself. There are far better paths than what he had in store. And regardless of any of that, you're not "extra" to me, or to any of us. You're Firefly, and we don't need anything more than that. Firefly: ...Yeah. You're right. I'm good enough for me; and that's what really matters. Fawkes: Good. I'm glad to hear you say that. Are you feeling any better? Firefly: Much; thank you... Fawkes pushes himself back up onto his feet. "Excellent! Uh..."

He reaches out to her to pat her on the head, then hesitates and starts moving for a shoulder clap instead. He stops once more, his hand fidgeting in the air slightly. "I'm... not sure what to do at this point, actually. Do people high five, or...?" alienrabitt: Uhh...hugs are supportive? High fives are more celebratory. Fawkes thinks for a moment, complimented by a blinking ellipses on his visor, and then opens his arms out in front of her. "Well then, would you like a hug?" Laughing a little bit, Firefly stands up and hugs Fawkes. "Yeah, that's just fine." Fawkes wraps his arms around her, giving the space where her bug form actually is a very wide berth.

Collin: Man, sometimes I forget just how tall Fawkes is... alienrabitt: Firefly just looks tall because of the antenna; trust me. Collin: I'm pretty sure that just proves my point further... alienrabitt: Right, well; we'll give y'all some space. Getting up, Tori heads out into the hall. Fawkes starts to let go of Firefly. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Collin: No no, you guys are fine. I should probably head out too though, I need to take it easy for a bit after all that. Taking a tree to the chest is not very fun. Firefly: ...Yeah, you should. Maybe you should see XL...? Collin: Yeah, probably. Talk to you two later.

Collin follows Tori out into the hall and closes the door behind him.

those two are really sweet with each other

Demo is seated in the hallway with her back to Nydins' door, head buried in her arms, which are hugging her knees at the time. Tori is awkwardly standing nearby, unsure of what to do. Collin: Oh hell... Collin quietly steps over to the pair. "... Still nothing, huh?" Demo: ...I just want her to answer me. If I did something wrong; if I said something wrong; if somebody hurt her; I just want her to answer me!!

Taking slow, heavy breaths, Demo finally looks up. "But she won't. She won't talk to me, or let me in, or anything."

alienrabitt: She's not really answering anybody right now--

Demo: BUT I'M DIFFERENT! I'M NOT LIKE YOU! I'M...I'm my own fucking person; I'm special to her; I'm important to her; but you? You...

She shoves herself off the floor. "...It doesn't matter how many times you mess up. You're always more important." Collin: Demo, come on, don't be like that. Look, just hang on a second.

He steps up to Nydins' door and gives it a few solid whacks with his fist. "Nydins, I don't know what you think you're accomplishing in there, but it's time to stop. Do you not hear how you're tearing Demo apart? Just say something for crying out loud." There's a long moment of silence before Nydins simply, yet quietly, responds with "Go away." from the other side of the door.

Staring in disbelief, Demo breathes heavily once more as she looks between the door and Tori only to immediately run off down the hall into her room. The door doesn't close all the way in her attempt to close it behind herself; yet she makes no attempt to backtrack to close it properly. Collin: Oh son of a... Demo, hang on! Hiding in your room is just gonna put you in Nydins' boat!

He follows after her and opens the door to her room.

There is absolutely nothing in Demo's room besides herself; not even visible walls or a floor to speak of; only a dark void stretching endlessly in all directions save for the light that the door provides. Demo herself is seated on the floor, crying into her hands with her back towards Collin. Collin: .... Demo, what the hell is this? There's a strange noise as she presumably gasps upon realizing the door is open, and she immediately sits up and turns to look at Collin. "Wh-what are you...?? Why would you follow me?! Why would any of you...??" Collin: I'm trying to help you. Have you seriously not gotten that yet?

Demo: ...Why the hell would I need /your/ help? Don't you think you've done enough?! Collin: What is that supposed to mean? Demo: ...I get it. I get that you don't understand. I mean, it doesn't make sense to anyone else; but since I came from the same place; since I was made alongside Tori; he and I...he's my brother above all else. I couldn't do anything the first time around; I was forced to fight him until the day he killed me; but somehow I thought this time would be different. But you found him first. He was made for you; and even after he saved me; even though, this time, we're legitimately incapable of functioning properly as separate halves...he's still choosing you over me...

Slowly, Demo gets up off the floor.

"...And there was nobody else like me in the world...not for a very, very long time. But once you were in the picture, there was. A broken Trickster, just like me. And he got out; just like me. And then you killed him. How many times...just how many more times are you going to take everything away from me?!"

Her breathing gets abnormal as her colorscheme and outfit flickers into something else occasionally. Something that looks more like a proper Trickster; pink and blue, with a rock candy theme instead of just a soda tab.

"How many more times?! HOW MANY MORE TIMES ARE YOU GONNA GET AWAY WITH IT?!"

this whole monologue of hers breaks my heart to read, honestly

she just can’t stop feeling like Collin’s taking away everything that matters to her, and that’s why she’s still so spiteful and bitter towards him, and in this moment, her true feelings pour out in a breakdown and she finally snaps under the pressure

Demo is incredibly dishonest with her feelings; and she refuses to try to come to terms with the truth, even when she knows it. she never lets go of the way she feels about something, even to the point of trying to force those feelings on things that don’t want them, like how she cares about Nydins even after getting rejected

She tries to summon the Candy Cane; but it flickers into a more mace-like, blue stick of rock candy as she stabilizes her true Trickster form and races towards Collin. Though she swings, and though it connects, it does not physically hit or harm Collin.

Something does, however, hit the wall behind him; making a heavy sound, as if it's something large.

Whatever the Rock Candy Club has produced surprises Demo so much she reverts back to her proper form, taking a few steps backwards as she watches in stunned silence, her weapon dismissing. Collin instinctively flinches and moves his hand toward the place where her mace connects, then looks between himself and Demo a couple of times in confusion before turning to face the noise. "Demo, what the hell did you just do?" Lying behind him in the hallway is a familiar doppelganger; though he is significantly less mechanical than the last time he was seen. Still halfway down the hall, Tori is standing with his hands over his amulet and his back to the wall, eyes as wide as saucers as he glances from Collin to the person on the floor. The figure leans back and puts his head against the wall, one hand moving up to cover his face as he groans for a second. "Well... That's one way to make an entrance... or maybe exit? I'm not sure which applies..."

Collin: ... Demo, did you just do what I think you've done? Demo: ...Ha...I...I didn't even know that could happen... Daedalus: Well, looks like we're all surprised here, huh?

He uncovers his face and opens his eyes, glancing at the trio around him. His eyes are no longer two different colors, but instead are both a blend of red and yellow. "Kind of a shame, I thought the soda can actually wanted me around with the way she was talking, but it sounds like this was all a big, happy accident, huh?"

...but unfortunately, this big reveal derails that conversation, and Collin never tells Demo what he thinks about her feelings

on a less serious note I totally understand how Columbia felt when Eddie burst out of the freezer on a motorcycle now

Demo: ...Just because I wasn't trying to doesn't mean I don't want you here... Daedalus: Oh? What, you want a hug or something?

He pushes himself up from the floor, although he keeps his back leaned against the wall for the moment. Demo: ...You're welcome. Daedalus: Hm, I guess you did bring me back from the dead, sorta, even if you did chuck me into a wall immediately after it.

He glances over at Tori. "Hey, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost or something."

alienrabitt: ...Wh-why are you...why are you...? Tori's voice trails off; incapable of properly getting out what he wants to say. Daedalus: Hey, it's not like this was my idea. Take that up with your other half.... the literal one, not the other me one. Demo: ...To be fair, I've never seen anything like this happen before. ...Not like I go swinging my weapons around at everybody I see...! Collin: Yeah, just at the people who're trying to help you smooth things out with your girlfriend or whatever you two are. Demo: Hey, it got you to quit asking me questions, didn't it? Collin: I only have more questions after this!

Daedalus: Oh wow, the comraderie here is really something. You can just feel the love from each person radiating into the atmosphere. Demo: Hey, it could be a lot worse. I mean, he hasn't even tried to hurt anybody yet! Daedalus: Oh, right, speaking of that.

He suddenly shoves himself off the wall and clocks Collin in the jaw with a solid right hook, sending him stumbling away. "That's for deepfrying my old body like tin foil in a microwave, asshole!"

Demo clasps her hands to her mouth suppressing a noise between a squeak and, perhaps, the start of a giggle as she watches Collin hit the floor. Meanwhile, Tori is already filling the hall with spears preemptively as he also gets away from the wall. Daedalus starts to move after him but glances in Tori's direction and seems to decide against it. "Alright, fine. I get this one, though. You did sorta literally kill me, after all."

Collin looks up from the floor, nursing his cheek. "You had everyone trapped in a room so they could watch you torture me!"

Daedalus: I know, I know, it's a little theatrical, in hindsight. In my defense, I wasn't entirely altogether by that point anyway. Demo has since stepped out into the hall and closed her door, though she's still trying to stop herself from laughing a little bit. Tori  is unsure of whether to be insulted or confused, giving her a look like he wishes he could light her on fire with a gaze. Daedalus: Although I suppose that's one good thing about dying and coming back around. Got to leave all those goddamn modifications behind. Those things were not fun, let me tell you. Dispelling most of his spears, Tori glances Daedalus over apprehensively. "So what, you're just...here now?" Daedalus: I mean, unless you can find a way to cram me back inside your boyfriend. Is that a problem? alienrabitt: ...After everything that you did? Daedalus: Wow, harsh. You're not even that mean to Demo, and she took your arm off. alienrabitt: ...How do you know that? Daedalus: I... It's hard to describe. I think my brain's trying to do some residual catch-up after being yanked out of Collin's... soul or whatever by the business end of a mace. Hell, even my memories before I died are still a little fuzzy, although that might've been because of all the circuitry hooked into my head by that point. Thanks for that, by the way. The remainder of the spears vanish as Tori glances away uncomfortably. Even Demo has stopped trying to laugh this off. Daedalus: Look, as much as I would love to get even with you idiots for what happened to me, I'm pretty much as basic as Collin used to be before he turned into some kind of Thor knock-off. Maybe I just haven't settled into this body or something, but right now starting a fight would just have little miss spear chucker turn me into a proverbial pin cushion... Although I may sneak in another punch or two later, haven't decided yet. Demo: Maybe don't start a fight if you're on the ship. There's a few more people now, and some things have changed...but maybe you already know that? Oooor just don't start a fight because the ship could register that as an attack and turn on the emergencies; which may or may not shoot you into space. Daedalus: Ugh, this place is already giving me a headache... Demo: Could just be the mace.

alienrabitt: Well, whatever; he's not in a pair of goggles, so unfortunately we can't just stuff him out of sight. Eventually someone else is gonna find him...

Nydins' bedroom door slowly opens behind Tori. "...I was really hoping that this wouldn't happen if I just stayed away from you. I realize now that this was a fixed point..." Collin: ... Wait, this is why you were hiding all this time? Nydins: Well, that and...something else; but uhh...d-don't worry about that!! Um...!! Th-the point is, uh...h-he probably won't have any...um...even if he's here; this doesn't mean anything irreversibly; unstoppably despairing will happen. Even if the event itself causes conflict; ultimately this is...um...not bad... Collin: Nydins, we've been over this whole "hiding potential future events" thing already... Nydins: W-would you have really believed me if I'd told you Daedalus was going to come back but not to-- okay, well he did hurt somebody, but--!! Daedalus: Wow, for a fortune teller, you really don't have much confidence. Nydins quietly stands there for a moment. "Alright, here; let me show you exactly what would have happened."

She closes the door, waits a moment, then dramatically throws it open as she barrels into the hallway. "Oh no! Demo is going to bring Daedalus back to life!"

She rushes over to Demo and shoves Tori towards her, making a stabbing motion with her arm as she does a poor imitation of Tori's voice. "'I always knew you were a bad guy! I should've never trusted you!'"

alienrabitt: I...don't sound like the Monopoly man... Daedalus: Wow, an incredible fortune teller and a talented actress to boot. You sure are blessed to have such talented allies. Nydins: Oh really; the flame didn't catch you off guard? I guess I can just walk out into the console room and--

On cue, her shirt burns up, though her chest is covered with a wrap underneath, allowing the eye to be entirely unobscured. "Oh, would you look at that!! Gosh; golly; gee! How embarrassing, right?!"

Demo: WHAT IN THE FUCKING HELL IS THAT?!

Nydins: Yeah, that's about right. Daedalus suddenly scrambles behind Demo and holds her out in front of him like a shield. "Hey, watch where you point that damn thing! Geez, what is with you and flashing yourself at people anyway?!" Nydins: It's just an eye! I...think? I haven't actually tried to do anything with it... She glances down at the eye, which is staring into the crowd of people in front of her. "...But I've never seen it try to look at anybody...that's new."

in this moment Nydins is my favorite character

also! the eye stares at things that are destined to cause chaos; destruction; despair; and grief! so it might not always be staring at the biggest threat; it could also be staring at the greatest loss!

Daedalus: The thing burns through clothes! I don't wanna know what it does to people! Nydins: ...Oh, well, it only burned up my shirt because it was in the way; I don't think it can hurt anybody.

Demo: S-so you're okay?

Nydins: Physically. I've been seeing a lot of things; I already knew about Firefly before you even came back. But it's all so short term; I haven't seen anything before I could prevent it; only as it becomes a problem. Daedalus peers over Demo's shoulder. "Withholding comment..." Demo: ...Would you let go? Daedalus: Sure thing. He shoves Demo straight into Nydins and dusts off his hands. Nydins carefully grabs Demo and spins her around to be behind herself; though the eye continues to stare at the remaining trio even as Nydins turns back to face Daedalus. "Oh, really, we're playing that game now?" Daedalus: God, can you please put a shirt on? That thing's focus is unnerving as hell. Rolling her own eyes, Nydins recreates the shirt she had on previously and pulls it back on as she approaches the trio. Placing her hand on Daedalus' shoulder, she locks eyes with him and smiles sweetly. "Don't do that again." He suddenly seems to break out in a cold sweat and smacks Nydins' hand away before bolting down the hallway toward the engine room. alienrabitt: Wh-what did you just do...??

Nydins: The only thing I can. You should follow him; if he breaks the glass around the core; we'll die. Collin: I'm... not sure that was his goal there, but we can check. Tori gives Nydins a nervous look as he heads towards the engine room, though Nydins just seems to be staring right past him as she watches him pass by. Collin follows after him. As they get further away, he whispers quietly. "Is Nydins being a little creepy suddenly, or is that just me?" alienrabitt: I didn't even know she looked like that...I don't know what happened... Collin: I knew about the eye thing, but... I don't know, maybe she's just putting up a front for Daedalus or something. alienrabitt: I guess so. I've never seen her get so...that... Collin: Yeah, not sure I like it either... Descending into the engine room, Tori looks around for Daedalus; the dim, yellow glow of his injured arm adding very little to the green light the core gives off. Daedalus is standing with his back to the door, one hand resting on the housing for the green sun. He seems to be looking straight down at the floor, hardly moving a muscle. Stopping halfway down the stairs, Tori is hesitant to call out to him, but still breaks the silence anyway: "...You don't have to run..." Daedalus: ... Against someone who does that as a casual threat? I'm inclined to disagree. alienrabitt: ...Okay, well, you didn't have to hide; but I have no idea what she just did. I didn't see anything happen; you just...ran away looking really scared or something... Daedalus: Yeah, well, when someone starts forcing you to relive having your teeth swapped out, you can let me know how you handle that situation. Gripping the railing to the point where his injured arm starts to make it redden with heat, Tori somehow manages to maintain his cool. "I don't blame you. I wasn't aware she could do that now. I won't let it happen again." Daedalus: ... That's more sympathy than I expected from you, frankly. alienrabitt: ...I've spent enough time on metal tables to understand that nobody else deserves to know what that feels like; especially several times over. Daedalus: Even someone that stuck you on a metal table? alienrabitt: Yeah, well; at least you didn't try to eat any part of me. A moment of dead silence passes before he turns and looks over his shoulder at him. "... What the hell kind of people do you deal with, anyway?" alienrabitt: ...Everything. Aliens; dragons; gods; demons; robots; the list goes on. I've been bodyjacked; tortured; cannibalized; weaponized; mind controlled; buried alive after-- you get the point. Daedalus: Well, make sure she doesn't grab you either, then. She's lucky I'm basically human now, otherwise that arm probably would've come off. alienrabitt: Oh, she could grab me; she probably wouldn't even be in the same dimension after; but she could grab me. Collin: Listen, I know Nydins crossed a line, but can we not get so conspiratorial? alienrabitt: I'm pretty sure that'd be an involuntary response. Then again, I haven't been able to make a gate without Demo...I don't even know if I can without a lot of magic. Collin: Questions for another time, I suppose. alienrabitt: ...Point is; you can't just hide down here. Despite everything; if everyone can give Demo a chance, they can give you one too. If you want. If not, we can always drop you off somewhere, if you really just want to start fresh. Maybe not everyone trusts you, but...I think you're worth a shot. Daedalus: Seriously? Why? alienrabitt: Because I know what it's like to be forced to act and function a certain way for most of your life. I mean, I was shoved in a box in the back of a puppet for thousands of years. Daedalus: ... Alright, fine. But you put me next to Nydins' room, I'm walking. alienrabitt: Hey, if a door shows up by her room, all you have to blame is that shitty, green rock behind you. But realistically; you'll probably be by XL. Daedalus: ... She's... the fish, right? alienrabitt: Nah, that's Silky; XL's on fire. Daedalus: Dammit. Can't wait for this stupid fog to clear... Look, just lead me to my room for now. I'll play catch-up with the other misfits later. Nodding, Tori heads back up the stairs, leaving the railing to finally cool. Daedalus: Geez, high-fiving her must be rough, huh?

Collin: Him. And actually it's not usually like that.

Daedalus: Oh... When did- Bah, nevermind.

The pair leave and follow after Tori. Standing in the hallway, Tori curiously looks around, wondering if anyone heard them shouting in the hallway as he internally debates just flat out telling everyone. Collin: Something on your mind? alienrabitt: ...Well, if anyone heard us shouting and you getting punched to the floor; people might get the wrong assumption when they see Daedalus again; but if we just go to the console room and play it casual, then maybe...

He quietly debates with himself in circles for a moment, entirely indecisive.

Collin: We could find a pair of goggles to stuff him in for a few months if we wanna try that route again. alienrabitt: Something tells me he'd be even less enthused about the contents of my sock drawer. Daedalus: Yeah, hard pass on that one, thanks. Plus I'm not digital anymore, so good luck trying. Look, why don't we just get this over with? Assuming I live, at least it won't be a nasty surprise for anyone. alienrabitt: ...Yeah, I guess you're right. You two wait in the console room then; I'll get everybody else. Collin: Hoo boy, this is gonna be a thing. Just don't punch anyone else and you've got like, a 30% chance of not dying.

Daedalus: Your words inspire confidence in my newly organic heart.

The pair head for the console room ahead of Tori. Rio continues to wait at the console; boredly spinning in her chair before she stops to look at Collin. "We're still not-- wh-?! You have a twin?! That's so cool; why didn't you ever tell me?! When did he get here? Was that what that noise was?"

Collin: Uh, not exactly. Daedalus is-

Daedalus: Oh yes, it's true. He keeps me locked in the engine room because he doesn't want anyone knowing about his long-lost-

Collin sharply elbows him in the ribs. "Ow, god, fine! Let's just say I'm to Collin what Demo is to Tori." Rio: But isn't Demo...well, wasn't she a bad guy? Daedalus: Oh wow, she really has no idea, huh?

Collin: I mean, she did come on with us after everything was said and done. Probably for the best, really. Rio: So...is he...? Collin: That's... well...

Daedalus: It seems like a matter of personal opinion so far.

Collin: Don't worry though. He's pretty much powerless, so it's not like he could do anything even if he wanted to. Tori comes back into the console room with everybody else following behind him. Though Demo and Nydins don't make a scene; Firefly and Silky immediately start shouting upon recognizing Daedalus.

Firefly: IT'S YOU!!

Silky: YOU STUCK ME TO A MAGNET!! He casually raises his hands up in the air by his head and glances at Rio.     "See what I mean?" As XL joins the pair in shouting for him to "get away from them" and the like, Demo and Tori attempt to argue with them about how Daedalus is entirely harmless, only to be met with "bullshit" and "why would I trust that from you?!" Daedalus: Hey, don't I get a turn in all of this? XL: After everything you did; why should any of us try to hear you out?! Why hasn't anybody tried to shoot you into space yet?! Daedalus: Mostly because no one knew I was here yet, probably. Now listen, this is just as weird for me as it is for you guys. I didn't exactly expect to come back from the fuckin' dead after all. But seriously, I'm no better off than Collin was fresh out of Aperture. I'm about as much of a threat as the iron maiden over there at the console. Rio: ...Iron maidens are actually very dangerous on the inside...

oh my god sweety please

Silky: What, we're just supposed to believe that? Demo warped an entire part of the IT when she showed up!

Demo: Yeah, as a ghost. He's just a human. I think... Daedalus shrugs. "I've got about as much of a clue as you do on that one. I get it though, you don't really have much of a reason to trust me. At the end of it all, I hardly felt like myself. I... I can't say that I "regret" what I did, but the memory is... conflicting now. I don't really know what's wrong with me, and frankly I'm too busy trying to sort it out to even think about messing with you guys. Though bitter, XL and Silky back down, while Firefly remains cautiously suspicious. Nydins, on the other hand, is quietly looking around for something else.

Daedalus lowers his hands as he feels the tension die down slightly and glances at Nydins.    "Something on your mind there?"

Nydins: There's still a few people that haven't seen you yet. Why isn't Fawkes here; and where is...hm...whoever they are now... As if on cue, Fawkes ducks through the doorway into the console room behind the others, with Tellus following in behind him.

Fawkes: Sorry I'm late, now what's all the commotion abou- ... Is that...?

Daedalus raises his hands back up and mutters quietly. “No missiles no missiles no missiles no missiles..." Demo: If he fired a missile in here; he'd destroy the console. Just don't taze him. Fawkes: What is he doing- How did- I don't have enough threads to process all of these questions!

Tellus: I'm... confused. Collin's memories never mentioned a twin. Rio: It's okay, I made the same mistake too. He's actually like Demo; but I guess he's human now, so uhh...Demo Minor....? Tellus: But where did he come from? Demo: Are you asking how he came into existence in general, or why is he on the IT? Tellus: The second one. I'm sure Ezorius will want to bug you for the details later. Demo: Long story short, I may or may not have hit Collin with a magical weapon in a fit of blind rage. Fawkes and Tellus turn to face her at the same time.

Tellus: You did what?

Fawkes: And when you hit him... Demo: ...When I hit him, it went through him, but Daedalus kinds fell out like he was a piñata. Tellus sort of gawks at Demo for a moment before suddenly turning into Ezorius, who grabs Demo by the collar and shakes her back and forth. "Are you telling me you just yanked a part of our avatar's soul out of his body?!" Demo: Whoa!! Whoa, whoa, whoa; if Daedalus was a part of Collin's soul; you guys have bigger problems!! He and I are totally separate people from Tori and Collin!! Ezorius: But... you pulled him from him. There's no telling what sort of effect this might have on either of them!

Daedalus: Hey uh, who's the panicky shapeshifter?

Collin: Um... I guess the easy answer is "a bunch of magical gods all sharing the same body".

Daedalus: ... Right, and I'm the new Pope. Demo: Listen; I seriously doubt I wound up hurting Collin; and even if I have, the damage is done, pal! There's no putting this cat back in the bag; it's a tiger now, and you only have a grocery bag. Daedalus: Stick to swinging weapons at your friends, babe. Metaphors aren't your strong suit. Demo: ...Whatever!! They get the point! Ezorius: Stars above, we walk away for not even an hour...

Daedalus: Hey, anyone wanna fill me in on that "avatar" nonsense she was talking about a second ago? Did Collin seriously double-dip in that stupid pool? Demo: What can I say, he just can't stop drawing short straws. Collin: It wasn't by choice! This crazy thaumaturge tried to use me as part of a ritual to bind one of the gods to her will, but it backfired and they all got tied to me instead. So now I'm sort of... a demi-god or something? I'm still figuring this all out, honestly.

Daedalus: ... Seriously? Is that what those weird markings on your arm are about? I thought you just got into tattoos while I was dead. Demo: Oh no, he's just really unlucky. Collin: I mean, at least I got magic superpowers out of it?

Daedalus: Oh yeah, because shooting lightning from your damn fingertips wasn't enough, huh? Demo: I mean, in comparison to Tori, maybe not. He's pretty extra. Daedalus: Truly a match made in overcompensation heaven. So, what's the verdict? Are you guys throwing me out into the cold, dark vacuum of space so I can die a second time? Nydins: Oh, absolutely not. Even if they wanted to; it would seriously bite them in the ass a lot faster than they'd like to admit. I can't tell exactly what it is that you're supposed to be doing, but the weight around you is practically suffocating. Daedalus: ... Are you calling me fat? Nydins: I'm calling you important. Daedalus: Aw shucks, that's so nice coming from the person who dredged up my worst memories for some quick payback. Nydins: ...I...what? No, I...I definitely got mad, but...I didn't actually...did I...? Daedalus: Oh yes you did. Burning your shirt off as a power move was pretty inspired though, I'll give you credit where it's due. XL: I'm...sorry? What?

Silky: Now that you mention it, she does have a little fire over her horns. When did that get there?

Firefly: So you're what messed up the bathroom! But...looking at that thing...you have a completely different reaction to people, don't you? Why didn't you just say something?

Nydins: And...and do that again?! I didn't even realize I did it on "purpose" this time! I just...

Firefly: You got scared. You've had practice, but you still don't know how it works. I've seen it a thousand times; be prepared for more incidents. Daedalus: Oh joy, I can't wait to see what other memories she'll dig up for funsies. Nydins: It wasn't...! I didn't actually do it on purpose!! I don't know what happened; I didn't want to do it, but...

Firefly: You thought about it; so it happened. Daedalus: Ah, everyone is still a mess with no idea how to control themselves. Some things never change on this old soda machine, do they? alienrabitt: Historically speaking? You're one to talk. His expression flattens out again. "Right, well, this has been fun, but I guess I'll go see myself out into the void now." Demo: Fuck's sake; you really do find a way to ruin everything I want to care about, don't you? Why don't you step outside, huh?

alienrabitt: What, me? Oh sure; let me take CB Vader out on a long walk with me; ha ha! (Kssh!) Ha ha ha! (Kshh!)

Rolling his eyes, he crosses his arms as he looks to Demo. "What, did you seriously think I wasn't going to be sour about him? I mean, yeah, I wanna give him a second chance; but don't think he's off the hook for what he did."

Demo: Oh, oh, we're making those jokes, are we? Well, it's probably gonna cost you an arm and a leg; but let's fuck this boxing match right.

this is the dialogue that happens when I have to write for Jay and Demo

Fawkes steps beside them and pushes them apart with either hand. "Woah, back off now, both of you." Demo: I didn't have to pull you out of the ground!! I could've left you buried there thousands of years ago like you deserved, you useless fucking--!!

Nydins: Whoa, that's a little far; maybe you should-

Demo: Oh no; oh god no; I haven't even started! You son of a bitch! You don't even make healthy selfish decisions! At least my one-sided relationship won't get me killed in a hundred years! Why couldn't you have picked a wish that mattered?! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LEAVING ME BEHIND AGAIN?! Don't you understand?! This whole time I chased you like an animal because you were so damn scared of being abandoned; but the only thing I could ever think of; the first thing I ever felt when I got out of that fucking box, was how I needed you above all else! What the hell do you even think the word 'demo' means?! I'm incomplete; I'm just a fraction; I can't do anything without you; and despite everything; you're still only thinking about YOURSELF!! alienrabitt: ...Demo; I...

Breathing heavily; visibly on the brink of tears, Demo laughs slightly. "You...? ...I don't have anything left to say to you..." Turning away, she leaves the room, shoving through the small crowd blocking the hall. Daedalus: ... Wow. That was, uh... intense. Rio: ...Well...on the bright side; Tori won't yell at you anymore...? Daedalus: I think being chewed out is the least of my worries right now... Tori just quietly stares at the floor for a long time. In the awkward silence, Rio and Nydins exchange nervous glances as the two attempt to silently decide who will try to comfort him first. In the end, however, Tori simply walks away. Collin: Shit, this is bad... Daedalus: ... We're gonna have to do something, aren't we? Nydins: You...could. If you wanted to. He'll...okay, he probably won't get over it, but... Daedalus: Yeah, yeah, I already see what's up. Guess I'll take the red one then. I've got some things to say to her anyway. Nydins: That works out. Good luck... Daedalus approaches Demo's door and gives it two solid knocks. Demo waits what feels like an absurdly long time before opening the door a little bit, relaxing a lot more once she realizes it isn't Tori or Collin. "Oh, the only other person with any sense on this ship; it really is my lucky day."

Daedalus: Hon, if you're looking for good judgement from me, I've got some bad news for you. Demo: ...Get in line, pal. Anyway...

She steps aside, though this time her room looks like an actual bedroom. The vast majority of it seems to be stuffed with seemingly miscellaneous objects: random socks or toys; clothing that is comically too small; a chair made entirely out of fabric that vaguely resembles a cartoon cat. The walls are covered in framed pictures of possibly hundreds of entirely unrecognizable people; however there are a few animals in the mix as well. Crossing the room; Demo sits in a papasan chair with a large, faded, green cushion in it that is ridiculously oversized in comparison to her. The cushion is covered in various pillows in varying cases that should probably be on a bed with matching sheets, but have instead been arranged to fit comfortably in the chair. Daedalus: Oh thank God, I was afraid you actually just sulked in that weird void all day. That would've been creepy as hell.

He casually steps inside. "Although I gotta say, your taste is sorta... all over the place." Demo: Oh, absolutely none of this is mine. This room is full of everything Tori ever lost or gave up on. Maybe someday I won't be able to come here anymore. Daedalus: ... Jesus, do you fart rainbows too? Demo: Jokes aside; he'd probably kill to have half this stuff back; so I guess the real joke's on him. But anyway! You probably didn't come here to just make fun of me... Daedalus: Well, no. It's about what you said back there when you were arguing with Tori. You kept saying you were "incomplete" without her- him, shit. Still getting used to that. Well, you know that's a load of shit, right? Demo: ...I mean, my power is literally to unlock things; and his is to make gates. He can't do anything without me; and I'm only half functional without him. Though it kind of helps that I can still do other things; but as you...are? I guess? You uhh, kinda know how that goes. Daedalus: Bah, Collin and I are hardly two halves of a whole. Hell, I don't know what either of us are right now, but that's not relevant right now. You two aren't just your powers, morons. Tori's gonna have to learn his own tricks if he wants to make it in the long run; you two aren't always going to be near each other when you need to be, after all. Demo: Yeah, 'cause everyone in this stupid box is gonna die before I do. Funny thing about having a selfish wish. Daedalus: ... Wish? Demo: Oh yeah; you don't know about that mess. He and I are something called 'kleivenn;' more specifically, he's a hermes, and I'm...TBD. Former house for a fallen god; now I'm just...me, but with sand birds... Daedalus: ... I'm going to pretend that made sense. So wishes are important to you or something? Demo: We're born from the wishes of other people; or, at least, the...genus? We're from? Is? I guess? Well, no; saa is a species; but we're a different branch of saa; so...more like a B-side.. Daedalus: Your grasp of biology is heartbreaking, but I think I'm keeping up. Demo: Anyway, he's basically just a rock but not really; and I...have no idea. Nobody's stupid enough to try to touch me; but I'm pretty sure whatever I actually am is also detached from my physical person; whatever it is. Daedalus: ... Your soul is tied to something outside your body and you don't know what it is? Demo: Well, that's just a theory. I mean; in practice, once Tori lost his heart; amulet; whatever; he just...peetered out like a lit match in the rain after it was gone long enough, but that doesn't happen with me. I've gotten just as far away from this ship and Tori as everyone else, but nothing ever happened; so I'm guessing it's something that's far away, or something that I can't see. Daedalus: That's... incredibly questionable, but you still haven't answered my original question. What do you mean by "selfish wish"? Demo: Oh; when Tori came back from the dead; he made some worthless wish so that he literally couldn't live without Collin; meanwhile, as soon as he saved my life and I got the chance to, well, live; all I wished for was...eternity. To be able to travel forever; see everything I wanted to; live how I deserved. I wished for myself; so my powers...are mine. On top of whatever I can do as a species; my own specific ability is to get anything that I want by any means. So to unlock any lock; physical or otherwise. That's how I got you here; not because of the mace, but because I...didn't want Collin to be the one I was talking to. I guess in that regard, I'm also pretty selfish...

as someone who spent years analyzing god tier titles, please allow me to say that her ability of “personal freedom” to “get anything I want by any means” is incredibly broad. her abilities are weak in exchange for an incredible power; so anything she wants, she’ll get, but that doesn’t always mean she’ll get it under the circumstances she’s hoping for

and right now, she wants Jay to stop sharing his mortality with Collin so he can go back to being immortal with Demo...take that how you’d like

Daedalus: ... Well, that explains the other thing that you said back in the console room then. I'm... at a loss for words, actually. Demo: ...Now that's a first. What, getting sentimental on me? Daedalus: Look, I just came back from the dead, had a PTSD episode thanks to your girlfriend, and had some big confrontation with everyone on the ship within the span of about twenty minutes. Frankly, it's a miracle I can still speak coherent English at this point. Demo: She's...not actually my girlfriend. After all this time, she never let go of her feelings for Tori, even if I'm the one that actually cares. We are pretty close, though, but unfortunately, really one-sided. Daedalus: Wait, seriously? After all this time she still hasn't thought, "Gee, maybe this thing they have going is permanent and I should try literally anything else"? Demo: Seriously; you'd think she'd let him go after everything. But she just...won't. It really is incredible how he can just take everything away from me without even trying. Daedalus: I get your frustration, but is holding it against him really going to get you much in return? I mean, that's not even really his fault this time. If you ask me, it's just holding you back. Demo: Maybe so. But hey; even if I'm bitter; at least it's my choice. Despite how weird it is to be...whatever I am, at least I'm finally free. Can't say the same for Tori. Daedalus: What do you mean by that? Demo: You have no idea how many times I've wanted to just shoot that stupid amulet out into space and just get things over with. He's so obnoxious; 'oh no; I don't know how to not be a magic sponge; now I'm gonna hurt somebody!' I should've taken a lot more than his damn arm off... Daedalus: Oh sure, because that would've gone over so well with Collin. Don't get me wrong, Tori's pity parties are frustrating as hell, but murder probably isn't your best option. Demo: Like I care what he thinks. He doesn't even know what I am; he couldn't kill me. And with both of us gone, there's no way in hell the IT would function properly. I'd be willing to bet this whole thing would change. Daedalus: Huh, that's an interesting thought... Demo: ...Think no further, pal; just getting us off the ship wouldn't do it. Daedalus: As if I actually planned on killing you or something, or even could. It's just an interesting question of what happens to this thing if you're both gone. Look, we're getting sidetracked. I just came here to talk to you. I don't want to see you trying to tie yourself to your counterpart or anything like that. Demo: ...I just...wish I hadn't started caring about him. Things were easier when I didn't have to think about what he's going through. Now I just feel guilty half the time. Whatever; I'll get over him eventually...I just wish he'd...I don't know; value himself a little. Even out of the box, he's still dedicating his life to being a meatshield. Daedalus: You could always try whacking him over the head until he stops being such a wimp. Demo: Yeah; maybe all he really needs is just a good punch in the face, heh. Daedalus: Hey, won't know unless you try it. Demo: ...Well, unless you have more to ask, I think we're good here. Daedalus: Nah, just wanted to make sure you didn't follow in my footsteps or something. I'll leave you alone now. Demo: See you around, then. Just try not to punch Collin again; even if he probably deserves it. Daedalus: I make no promises.

He leaves for the door, waving back over his shoulder as he exits back out into the hall. [Meanwhile...]

Collin quietly approaches the door to their room and carefully knocks a few times. "Tori? Can I come in?"

The door opens, but whatever opened it from inside the room vanishes after doing so.

Tori is sitting in the bed with his back up against the wall; his arms around his legs; and his head on his knees. He doesn't look up at Collin. Collin steps inside and glances around confusedly for a second before closing the door behind him. He approaches the bed and sits down on the opposite end from Tori. "So uh... that happened, huh?" alienrabitt: ...Yeah... Collin: I wish I knew what to say, but honestly you and Demo's relationship has always seemed sorta weird for me. It's like she cares about you but can never seem to actually express that in any way. alienrabitt: ...I guess? I don't know... Collin: For what it's worth, I don't think you're selfish in the slightest. You can get a bit harsh sometimes, but that doesn't make you a bad person. alienrabitt: ...It's just...

Tori leans back up against the wall properly, wiping at his eyes. "...She made me feel like I really just...messed everything up on a grand scale. Like, I get that we're a package deal or whatever, but...even if she apparently actually cares about me, I just...really can't see myself wanting to spend eternity with someone like her." Collin: That makes sense, in a way. Her personality was designed to be the opposite of yours after all, and you two are magical wish creatures, not magnets. alienrabitt: It's just that I...really don't know what to do about her. I feel guilty about forcing her to exist the way that she did, but I can't just do whatever she wants either. Collin: Maybe you two just need to find your own ways to be more independent of each other? I feel like that'd help take some of the strain off your relationship since it wouldn't be a "we have to be together" type of deal. alienrabitt: Yeah, well, that's...a little hard to do when your abilities compliment so strongly. We're still a team, even if we don't want anything to do with each other most of the time. Collin: Yeesh, this really is sort of a mess, huh? alienrabitt: ...It is. I just wish I hadn't messed things up for her so badly. Collin: I guess this just might be one of those things where you two'll have to learn to get along with each other better? I mean, regretting what you did isn't going to fix anything now after all. alienrabitt: I guess not...I don't know. I can't give her what she's asking, but I can trust her a little more, I guess. Collin: It'd be a start, at least.  I'm sorry that I can't really give you any better advice. Honestly, I really didn't know what to say about all this, but I figured you probably didn't want to be alone after all that. alienrabitt: ...What about you? How are you handling uhh...your surprise twin, I guess... Collin: ... I really don't know what to think about it. On one hand, the worst he's done so far is punch me in the face which, considering the fact that I killed him myself, is actually surprisingly tame. But no one, including himself, knows what he's capable of now. I mean, what if he actually does wind up with powers like mine? There's no telling how much havoc he could cause for me, you, or anyone else on the ship.

Collin and I discussed this OOC; but even if Daedalus has no magical/technological prowess, he’s still a broken Trickster like Demo, which allows him Roger Rabbit-esque reality manipulation in that he can pretty much change or do anything so long as it’s not in the focus/attention of something else. he can’t turn a teacup into a dinosaur but he could turn his chair into a throne; turn an apple into a pie slice; stuff like that

alienrabitt: I...seriously doubt they'd be on the same level, or even the same branch as yours. Granted that once Demo got her body, she got it through a deal with the kleivenn equivalent of the devil, but from that point on our powersets just kept diverging. Even if he does wind up having similar abilities; honestly? This kind of thing is really like a very dangerous trust fall. Like falling off the grand canyon and expecting nobody to drop the net before you land. I mean, yeah, theoretically he could hurt us, but Demo could've also done a lot worse than take off my arm, y'know?

I like how, in both conversations that take place at the same time with two totally different sets of people, both unaware of each other’s conversations, Jay and Demo both mention how Demo could’ve just fucking killed Jay or something

Collin: I... guess so. He does seem very different from the way he was back in Aperture, at least. Probably helps that he's not at least sixty percent machinery anymore. alienrabitt: ...Y-yeah... Collin: Now that I think about it, a lot of the reasons that he hated me so much were rooted in Aperture. I wonder if being rid of the place will help him... mellow out, I guess would be the word? alienrabitt: ...Yeah, hopefully. From my...vague understanding; if he's anything like Demo, the fact that he's no longer bound to any sort of code is seriously going to give him a different kind of perception. Funny how suddenly having free will changes a person. Collin: Go figure. "Hardcoding personalities into real people actually a bad idea: more at eleven." alienrabitt: Hey, at least they're the only ones of their kind. Collin: I hope so. The last thing we need is some kind of Noah's ark situation but with evil clones of everyone on the damn ship. alienrabitt: I'd argue those two are more questionably neutral than evil now; but I'm guessing only time'll really tell with Daedalus.

Chaotic Neutral and borderline NE/CN

Collin: I know, I was just referring to how they originally were. But I guess to answer your original question, the jury's out on him right now. I'm definitely making sure our door is locked for a while, though. alienrabitt: ...Yeah, I guess I can't really blame you there. On the bright side, he doesn't seem to know what I am now? Or if he does, he didn't try to do anything. Collin: ... Oh God, I hadn't even considered that yet, shit. alienrabitt: ...Well, I mean, he was never the type to go grabbing at people's shirts; s-so I'm pretty sure he won't...figure it out...! Collin: God I hope so. It seems like everyone in the multiverse has a nasty habit of stealing that thing off of you out the gate though. alienrabitt: Yeah, well, at least he hasn't so far? Doing it around everybody else would probably be a bad idea if he's actually just a normal human now anyway. Collin: True. I'd just feel better if I knew what the heck he can do, if anything. alienrabitt: You and me both...but I'm sure he's equally curious after the fuss Ezorius made. Probably not the smartest move. Collin: She's.... a little jumpy when she gets worked up. She likes to pretend like she's the level-headed type, but you can break that mask pretty easily if you push the right buttons. alienrabitt: Still a bad move. He probably wouldn't have even tried to find out if he had any serious powers or anything if she hadn't said anything. But maybe he'd have some Spider Man accident or something where something just kinda...became apparent eventually, at which point there'd be more questions. Loaded mistake, I guess. Collin: Well, the cat's out of the bag, so I guess we'll see what happens. Who knows, he might not get magic at all. I don't feel any weaker than I have been, so maybe that's a good sign? alienrabitt: Yeah, I guess? Everything right now is sort of a big waiting game anyway... Collin: No kidding. I'll be glad when I'm all put back together again. So, feeling any better? alienrabitt: ...Yeah. Thanks. Collin: Good. He slides over on the bed and pulls Tori into a hug, resting his chin over his shoulder.

Letting out a contented sigh, Tori hugs Collin back as well.

okay, next time I think we actually end the god arc stuff!

[flipping-voltron-imagines]

Wedding Bells

A/N: So I wrote this a while ago and totally forgot about it. Oops. Hope you enjoy it.

Summary: Reader and Keith go to a restaurant and forget money. In order to get their meal for free, they must go to desperate measures.

“And please remember,” Allura said, finishing her briefing on the alien planet below, “that this species, the Picarians, takes promises very seriously, and I know that this probably won’t be a problem, but I just want to emphasize that whatever you do, do not propose.” She put her arms to her side and stood up strait.

Lance leapt to his feet and stretched his arms over his head. “Great. Can we go now?”

Allura gave him a hard look and sighed. “Yes. But please remember what I told you! Manners and promises!” It was too late. Lance had already gone, and Hunk was following close behind. Shiro and Pidge stood, said goodbye to their friends, and left.

“Where should we go, Y/N?” Keith asked, looking at the map of the planet below.

You shrugged and scanned the map, your attention going to the mountainous, forested areas. “Do you think they have grass?” you asked. “I miss the grass.”

Keith grabbed your hand and pulled you up as he stood. “I don’t know,” he said, “but let’s go find out.”

You and Keith had been good friends since the day they met, trying to make an escape on the back of his motorcycle along with Hunk, Pidge, and Lance. Whenever they were allowed to take a break on an alien planet, you were together exploring. When Keith found out he was part Galra, you weren’t bothered for long. Sure, it was weird that your best friend wasn’t entirely human, but it was cool, and he was still the same Keith you had adored.

When the two of you got to the surface, you immediately began to walk towards the forested area. The closer you got, the more excited you became. “Those trees look like the ones on earth!” You squealed, jumping up and grabbing the sleeve of Keith’s jacket. “Look, Keith! Are you looking?” You took off running in your flip flops, but soon became annoyed. You took them off and continued sprinting to the trees. By the time you reached them, your feet had several cuts, and your big toes were bleeding a little. You didn’t care. You was seeing trees.

But where were the bushes? And grass? You saw flowers, gigantic neon flowers, but no other type of greenery around. Disappointment settled like a rock in your belly.

“There’s no grass,” you whispered, shoulders slumping. “Keith. There’s no grass.”

“I can see that.” He walked up to you and took one of your hands. Keith began to tug you in the direction of the city. “Come on. Allura mentioned something about a popular restaurant that sells food similar to food on earth. Let’s go check it out.”

The two of you walked side by side, looking at the world around them and sneaking glances at each other. There were creatures similar to butterflies, but they were the size of cats and had horns in place of antennae. Their bodies were covered in long, thin, black hairs. You were reminded of Keith’s hair because it was similar in color to that on the giant butterfly’s body.

“I think this is it,” Keith said. You stopped in front of a fancy restaurant. He noticed a sign that said, “Free meals with proposal” in several languages. His stomach did little flips as he glanced at you, hoping you didn’t notice it.

“Let’s go, then.” Your stomach rumbled as the smell of sweet steak wafted through the air.

The two of you took your seats at a table, ordered food (“Whatever the most popular item on the menu is, we’ll take two,” Keith said.) and began talking. You never had trouble talking to each other. You was always very open and could ramble on for hours about nothing and never pushed Keith to talk if he didn’t feel like it.

Keith felt bad for you. You loved the nature on earth more than anything. You missed trees and plants from earth, but she never complained. That part of you Keith admired.

As their food arrived, Keith realized one critical detail: neither of you had any money.

Keith stared at his food. It was grilled pomoi, and looked like a steak. His face felt hot as he realized what he needed to do. Suddenly, he hoped you had seen the sign at the door. He got off of his chair and knelt in front of you.

“Keith, what are you-”

“Give me your hand.”

“Why? What are you doing?”

Keith groaned mentally. He whispered, “In trying to propose, so give me your hand!”

Annie glanced at the sign at the door. “I was hoping you hadn’t seen it.”

“Y/F/N,” he began more loudly, “we’ve been dating for two years now, and today, as we got to this planet, I began to think about doing this. I just couldn’t wait!” He laughed nervously, looking to make sure the waiters had noticed what he was doing. “You’re the nicest, most patient woman I’ve ever met and I was wondering if you’d marry me.”

Keith held his breath. Say yes. Say yes. Say. Yes!

“Okay,” you answered in a hushed voice.

You both smiled. You were in the clear.

The restaurant around you erupted into cheering and screaming. The noise was so loud that you thought your eardrums would explode.

“Congratulations!” shouted their waiter. “Come, Y/F/N! We must get you ready!” The alien grabbed you by the shoulders and brought you to your feet.

“For what?” You asked.

“You’re getting married today!”

As you was being pushed to the back of the restaurant, you looked back at Keith, who watched her with a small smile. You then realized you loved him. Maybe not as a romantic partner just yet, but you could make it work. You knew Keith felt the same.

Before you knew in, you were both back with your friends, journeying away from the planet. You laughed at your friends’ reactions to being told the big news. Lance just sat down with a blank, unbelieving expression. Hunk, Pidge, and Shiro were happy for them. Coran was jumping with joy, having his own private celebration. Allura pinched the bridge of her nose.

“You do realize you can’t divorce, right?” she asked. “No lawyer in the universe will let you divorce under Picarian marriage.”

You and Keith looked at each other and shrugged. You didn’t cared very much. Your fingers intertwined with his as Keith brought them up and examined them.

“We need rings,” you murmured.

“Yeah.”

[filosofablogger]

Welcome back to the first Jolly Monday of the new year.  I hope you’ve all had great holidays, and that you have now had your fill of parties, shopping, cooking, wrapping, baking, over-eating and over-whatever-else you overdid.  I bet you are all just chomping at the bit to get back to work, settle back into your routines, and start working on those diets that seem to be a part of everyone’s new year resolutions.  So let’s start this first week of the new year out right, with some chuckles and laughs, shall we? And by the way … you get leftovers today, for I am too tired to bake this morning!

Where did I leave that darned car?

Did you ever go someplace, say a mall or office complex, then come out and forget quite where you parked your car?  It happens to me all the time, and it is not unusual to see me walking up and down the aisles of a parking lot, hitting the ‘lock’ button on the keypad of the car, trying to listen for the ‘meep meep’ sound it makes.  Back in the day, I used to have a long CB antenna that I put a mickey mouse ball on, so my car was much easier to find than it is now.

This German man, whose name I do not know, took parking lot forgetfulness to a whole new level.  He parked his car in a lot in 1997, and when he came out, he looked all over but could not find it.  Eventually he contacted the police, assuming the car, a Volkswagen, had been stolen.

Fast forward to November 2017, when crews are preparing to demolish an old industrial building in Frankfurt, but are stymied by the lone car sitting in the otherwise empty parking lot.  Police were called and eventually traced the owner, the now 76-year-old man who had believed for 20 years that his car was stolen.  No word on whether the car still ran or not.

Was it a traffic signal … or a monkey’s butt?

Fact: Sometimes, certain baboons and other monkeys have quite red butts.  I will not go into the details on this post, but for more than everything you ever wanted to know about monkey butts, you can visit Animal Facts Encyclopedia   Some cool info there, but for today I have another purpose.

In Zunyi City, Guizhou Province, China, a woman was driving down a busy street, when she came to a busy intersection, glanced up at the overhead pole, and saw a flash of red.  She did what any of us … well, most of us … would do and applied her breaks, thinking the light was red. And was promptly rear-ended by the driver behind her.

Turns out that the ‘red light’ the woman saw was actually the rear end of a golden monkey that had escaped from a nearby circus!  The circus manager has agreed to pay for all damages.

A worthy fight?

I have a bit of a temper … no comments from friends or family members, please … and though, like a fine wine, I have mellowed wih age, I am still not beneath taking a punch at an inanimate object, such as a wall, refrigerator or fuel pump from time to time.  But I’ve never had to punch an ATM, for in my experience, they always give me precisely the amount of cash I asked for, and in that way we get on quite well.

So picture 23-year-old Michael Joseph Oleksik, who stopped at the Cocoa, Florida Wells Fargo ATM to get out a bit of cash.  He was apparently in a hurry to get to work, but the machine gave him … no, not too little cash, but too much cash!  Mr. Oleksik was frustrated and not sure what to do, so … he got out of the car and beat the heck out of the ATM machine!  Yes, you heard right … he caused more than $5,000 worth of damage to the machine!  Of course, the incident, including his license plate, was recorded by security cameras.

Mr. Oleksik called the bank a short time later, apologizing for the damage he caused, but nonetheless the bank is pressing charges.  Now, I am not defending nor condoning his assault on the poor machine, but I think the man should be commended for his honesty.  First, he did not just pocket the extra money, as many would have done.  Second, he called and ‘fessed up”.  But instead, Wells Fargo pressed charges and poor Mr. Oleksik was arrested on felony criminal mischief charges.

He didn’t know when to ‘clam’ up …

Nelson Agosto went out to a restaurant in Stuart, Florida, hoping to enjoy a nice steamed clam dinner.  There was his first mistake … shrimp or scallops are much nicer.  Anyway, the dinner came and apparently there weren’t enough clams to suit Mr. Agosto, so what did he do?  He dialed 9-1-1 and proceeded to tell the dispatcher of his dissatisfaction with the size of his meal.

The dispatcher repeatedly tells he man he will need to call the ‘non-emergency’ number, but he insists that he needs an officer to come.  After he called 9-1-1 a second time, Mr. Agosto got his wish … an officer did arrive … and issued Mr. Agosto a summons for misuse of 9-1-1!

Turn that thermostat down!!!

I’ve had some high electric bills in my day, and when I retired in 2008, we went on the budget billing plan so that we pay a fixed amount … just over $200 per month, and then have one ‘catch up’ month at the end of the year.  Every year but one, we have gotten lucky and actually used less than we had paid.  But my highest ever bill was probably somewhere in the ballpark of $300.  I can only imagine the shock Mary Horomanski of Erie, Pennsylvania, must have felt when she opened her latest electric bill and saw …

That’s right, folks … Mary must have kids who cannot remember to close the door or turn out a light, for she found herself owing more than $284 billion!!!  I thought it was nice that Penelec gave them a whole year to pay, don’t you?

Mary said at first she counted the decimal places, then took her glasses off, blinked several times, then put them back on.  But there were still all those zeros! Then she hit on another possibility …

“We had put up Christmas lights and I wondered if we had put them up wrong!”

Fortunately, it turned out to be an error in decimal positioning, and the matter was cleared up once Ms. Horomanski reported the matter to Penelec.  Penelec representative Marc Durbin said, “I can’t recall ever seeing a bill for billions of dollars. We appreciate the customer’s willingness to reach out to us about the mistake.”  What, Marc, did you think perhaps she might have just gone ahead and paid the bill???

Now, folks, since you all have this one last day off, get out there and enjoy it!  Don, Hortie and Gronda are probably going to spend it lying on the sunny Florida beaches, while Hugh and I are freezing our patooties off!  But however you spend this last day of the holiday season, keep safe and enjoy life, okay?  Remember to share those beautiful smiles with everybody you see today, for they cost you nothing and mean so much to somebody else.  A short personal story … one of my favourite checkout dudes at my local grocery happened to be on duty when I went last week, and as I finally got to the front of he line, I said my usual, “Hey, how are you doing today?”, to which he responded, “A whole lot better now, ‘cause you’re one of my favourite customers!”  Do you know … can you even imagine how that melted my heart and made me smile for the rest of the day?  Remember, my friends … it’s the little things like that that mean so much to us all.  Keep safe and warm … Love and Hugs to you ALL!!!

  First Jolly Monday of 2018!!!! Welcome back to the first Jolly Monday of the new year.  I hope you’ve all had great holidays, and that you have now had your fill of parties, shopping, cooking, wrapping, baking, over-eating and over-whatever-else you overdid. 

[inallhonesty13]

A Tribute to a Kind, Funny Co-worker and Friend

Barely more than four years ago, I began a new position with a company who had previously employed me. As always, I was nervous to begin an unfamiliar role despite knowing a number of the people in the building.

I began my job with a supervisor who I’d met a handful of times and a 62 year-old co-worker with a welcoming smile and a goofy, yet endearing, sense of humor.  I had a small amount of experience with the system I needed to use, and was grateful that a colleague from my previous role had lobbied for me to get that experience.

Despite my small amount of knowledge, I felt lost.  My supervisor was constantly on the move and I had no idea how I was going to remember everything she’d shown me.  And then there was Rick, my older teammate with the sense of humor.  I didn’t know the extent of his humor at that time, but he was kind and he took me under his wing without hesitation.

After a short time, Rick took a genuine interest in who I was outside of work.  He asked me questions about myself, my background, activities I enjoyed, my boyfriend (who I can now proudly call my husband).

I learned that he was a veteran, he loved karaoke, and more than anything, he loved his children and his grandchildren.  Pictures of his grandchildren constantly decorated his cubicle, and he never hesitated to brag about his kids.

At times, my supervisor and I would walk into work to find random trinkets on our desks, purely because Rick thought we’d enjoy them.  The LED snowflake was a favorite of mine.

Did I mention that Rick had a goofy sense of humor?  

When things got too serious, he’d snap us out of it, flinging paperclips in our direction. Yes, more than a handful of paperclips landed on my desk at times when he observed my intensity, and I’m pretty sure a few landings stuck into the cracks of my keyboard.

One of my favorites was the day he came up with the idea to wrap our supervisor’s desk in caution tape. No, I’m not sure from where it was procured, and I live in blissful ignorance of this detail.

I can’t say he didn’t warn me.  St. Patrick’s Day rolled around, and I entered my cubicle to find Rick with a green bowtie, a green bowler hat, and a dyed green beard.  Yes, he did warn me that this was his tradition, but it was just one of those things I had to see in person.  Green and white beads had been placed on my desk along with a headband that had shamrock antennas.  Our small team indulged in dinner at Red Lobster that evening…wearing our St. Patrick’s celebration accessories.

And then, of course, there was our Facebook friendship.  Rick loved tagging people in Facebook posts, and as strange as it may sound, he put a lot of thought into those tags.  Some were funny and some were simply there to brighten our days.  (Just recently, my “on this day” reminder showed me a video of a young deer jumping through a small pond, enjoying the water.  It was innocent and beautiful, and it made me cry because Rick tagged me in that video simply to remind me to “take time to play.”)

Then one day at work, while we bantered back and forth, Rick told me that I was a talented writer.  Say what?  I sat there, completely mystified, pondering how he could possibly know anything about my writing skills.  And that’s when I realized that he’d read my blog.  My pathetic excuse for a blog, I must add.  

I’m not a consistent blogger.  I’m not even a semi-regular blogger.  I started a blog five and a half years ago because I like to write, posted a few random thoughts, and stopped, giving in to the mental exhaustion that came with the end of my workday.  It’s easy to forget the things you enjoy when you’re focused on what pays the bills.  

I’d written a total of two posts, only one of which I was proud.  And I was truly stunned because, prior to his statement, I hadn’t known someone, family excluded, who was interested enough to read what I wrote.

This was Rick.  Rick was a people-person in the purest sense of the word.  He didn’t just want to be near people.  He wanted to know a person.  He looked for what made you tick, and he never hesitated to let you know when something made him think about you.  

Rick was a breath of fresh air in a tense office environment, and through health problems and neuropathy, he continued to make efforts to brighten someone else’s day.

It has been mere days since his passing, and my heart breaks at the world’s loss of this man.  I am truly grateful to have known him, and though he is gone, I expect that his loving, thoughtful, and humorous spirit will live on in the beautiful family, who he cherished and loved with his entire heart.

Rest peacefully, Rick.  And thank you for teaching me to take the time to play.

[jswdmb1]

Centerfield

“Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today Look at me, I can be centerfield”

- John Fogerty

The official midpoint of the summer is here as the All-Star Game is Tuesday.  It’s always hard for me once the baseball season hits the 81-game mark knowing that in a few short months it, along with summer, will be gone. This year, I vow not to take the rest of the season for granted and try to enjoy as much of it as possible.  This is despite a season that is basically over for my White Sox on the South Side.  But winning isn’t the only reason to enjoy a baseball season.  With the Sox, there is the promise of the future and some exciting young players on the horizon.  There are also the memories that each game brings – really like no other sport – that you never know will pop back into your head years later.  That happened to me recently with two games that each occurred a very long time ago.  With the help of the magic of the internet (which is a treasure trove of baseball documentation), I was able to look up the details of each.

The first game was, well, my first game.  It was the summer of 1976 and my Dad introduced me to the team that the next year would become the Southside Hit Men.  We would watch the games together on a 10-inch black-and-white TV together that my Mom won at bingo (it had a better antenna than the big Zenith which didn’t get UHF and the games were on channel 44).  I’d listen to Harry Carry (yes, he was with the Sox first) and Jimmy Peirsall call the games and boy did it look fun at Comiskey Park.  Finally, one day, my Dad came home and said he got some tickets for a night game and we were going with his buddy Bill Huska and his son.  There were going to be post-game fireworks and everything.  I couldn’t wait.

For years, I wanted to find the details of this game.  I always remembered it was a hot night, they were playing the Twins, there were no home runs (I was disappointed I couldn’t see the scoreboard explode), and they lost (of course).  The other big clue was the post-game fireworks, which meant the game was on a Friday (it was a big promotion at the time to have fireworks post-game every Friday). Then, I found baseball-reference.com which has box scores for every game ever played.  Went to the White Sox 1976 season and found my game.  July 23 to be exact.   Jim Hughes on the mound for the Twins and Francisco Barrios for the Sox.  The game featured a future Hall-of-Famer (Rod Carew) who got two hits on the way to a Twins 7 to 2 victory.  All the items in the box score confirmed my memory – no home runs, only Friday game of the year against the Twins, the Sox lost.  I finally found my game.  And while my Dad and I probably saw hundreds of Sox games together after that one, it felt great to finally circle back and get all the details of that very first one that has always meant the most to me.  

This got me into thinking of finding out about another average, routine day in baseball that has always had a special place in my memory.  This was in 1979 and it was about a month after the infamous disco demolition night. For those that don’t know about that, there is plenty out there to explain the details (along with an exhibit now at the Elmhurst Historical Society through the end of the summer), but my memory of the incident is more about the aftermath.  The whole thing really left the team at a very low point. The stadium was in bad shape, the grass in the outfield was burned out, the team was in last place, and they could barely draw 5,000 fans to a game.  All that gave me an idea, however, as my Dad’s birthday was coming up.  I would take him to a Sox game and take advantage of the situation with some low-priced $2 general admission tickets, which is about what I had in my piggy bank.  I floated the idea past him, he went for it, and we planned a Sunday game right around his birthday.

This put me back to the internet.  I definitely knew it was a Sunday and they played the Blue Jays.  My Dad’s birthday was in August, so that narrows the month down. Plus, it was a double header.  I specifically remember that because I made my Dad stay for both games.  He was a good sport as the Sox were terrible and the Blue Jays were a recent expansion team. That’s 18 innings of some pretty bad baseball, but we made the best of it.  The lack of fans meant our $2 tickets were a seat virtually anywhere in the park.  We sat in center field bleachers, then the upper deck, then behind home plate, and finally right behind the Sox dugout.  For a nine-year old kid, it was quite a treat.  Anyway, I went back to baseball-reference.com and found my game(s). And, it turned out that not only were the games around my Dad’s birthday, but they were right on them (August 12th).  Even better, the Sox took a win in game one 7-0 behind a two-hit shutout from Ross Baumgarten. Also got to see my home run finally by one Jim Morrison (not the Doors singer…or was it?).  Another home run in the second game (Junior Moore!), but the Sox dropped that one 7-5. All in all, though, a great day with a shutout, a couple of home runs, and if I remember right, the old man put down a couple of cold Buds.  Sounds like an okay birthday present to me – especially for four bucks.

Unfortunately, I never got around to asking my Dad if he enjoyed that day, or even remembered it. I don’t think it matters though because that is the beauty of baseball.  One person’s ho-hum game is another person’s memory of a lifetime.  I tried to keep that in mind a few weeks ago when I was at Sox Park (no, I don’t use that stupid new name) with Adam.  There was a rainout the night before so a quick double header was scheduled for a Saturday.  We went down, bought ourselves a couple of cheap tickets and settled into 18 innings of fun.  We repeated the act from 1979 and wandered all over the park trying different seats. We ended up behind the Sox dugout in the 6th inning of the 2nd game when there were about a 1,000 people left. The Sox were down a bunch, but mounted a furious ninth inning rally.  They came up short, but the excitement of the whole thing was something I don’t think either of us will forget.

I am going to try and keep doing this for the rest of the games that I go to this season.  I also think this is a good metaphor for life.  It goes too fast and stopping to enjoy the moment is something I need to do more.  It is easier said than done, but when things start moving at a pace I can’t keep up with, I’ll just remember these three baseball games and slow it down. I hope you are all having a great summer, but if not, play some hooky from work, chores, or whatever, head to a baseball game, and play the build-a-memory game.  I guarantee in thirty years you’ll be as grateful as I am right now.

Cheers,

 Jim