#don't get too attached

[observeroflaplace]

Part 6 - Origins Ever After

Proxy.  That’s what that thing said.

My mind races to the letters on my back that Shelke pointed out.  That she could only make out part of them.  That some were faded or obscured.

[…R O X Y  S A T Y P…]

I knew the name Roxy was nothing more than a make-do label.  I knew it wasn’t even a real name.  I knew I hadn’t so much as worn it for more than a few turns of the sun.

Still, it felt as though something within my heart shattered.  The glass dug into my soul, and from its wounds, I wept in place.  I screamed from the bottom of my diaphragm.

How did this thing know what I was?  Did it know my past?  Did I even possess one to begin with?  Deep down, as I asked these questions, in the pit of my stomach, in the core of my very being, I knew the truth.  A truth which on some level, I had been avoiding.

I was not born of this star, nor of its people.  I was no more than a golem shaped from the clay of this thing’s putrid flesh and cast into the world.

“It appears that you have successfully developed, archetype S.A. Type.  Partial core activation… How very familiar.  It appears then, that I was wrong to cast you out as a failure too soon.  Perhaps that is our fate…”

The thing slithered forwards into a leaning position above me to peer closer.  The shell of pearlescent metal simply thudded, lifeless, like a great coffin attempting to bury it.

“Undoubtedly you have questions of your creation…”

The thing’s back lurched and swole like a puss-filled cyst, expanding slowly until it grew to the size of the warped torso smirking at me.

“No?  But your core’s data would lack the knowledge of the project..  Or perhaps, you’ve simply realised on your own?  Still, I shall banish all of your doubts.”

The protrusion began to pulse, separately from “his” own heartbeat.

It eventually stopped, and from it dropped a lifeless body that fell to the floor with a distinct “thud”.  It lay there, motionless, save for slow, methodical breathing.  

I gazed upon it.

The strands of off-red hair.  Scarlet eyes.  The slender and middling build and height.

It was me.

“A piteous and jealous man once clamored after everything the former Legatus of the VIIth wielded.  Power, a family of followers… and the Ultima Weapon.  His early attempts at mockeries of that Allagan device lay beyond his reach, and he knew this.  He knew the limits of his intellect.  Thus it dawned upon him; if combat data could construct the strategies and performance of combatants, then surely one such Warmachina could simulate the great mind of a scientist who fell in the Ala Mhigan revolution.  Of my mind.”

I tried to glare at him.  I could only feel myself blink.

“Regrettably, this shell of mine was little more than a winged prison.  The pilot’s skills and the body’s mobility were at odds.  She crashed, and with it, almost doomed me before my birth.  We were abandoned shortly thereafter.  It appears my consciousness had not fully developed, even when my core, the Synthetic Auracite within me, began to stir.  It took moons for my brilliant mind to piece the fragments together, but piece them together it did.  I evolved, taking what I needed from her withering body.  If nothing else, she provided valuable nutrients before her time was up.”

So then, that was it.  Perhaps that is why this amalgam’s spawn appeared as it did.

“Know that despite the many fragmented cores left in my care for development, that you are in the presence of Aulus Mal Asina.  The pinnacle of Garlean minds, reborn.  But we can both agree that this vessel will hardly do; and so it is without question that I sought to transfer my core to a smaller, more mobile vessel.  Some functionality will of course be lost in a smaller core; you are testament to that.  No matter, Sas Aurum.  I shall yet iterate.”

“Sas Aurum”.  The name of a Tribunus.  One who fell in battle during the civil war, following the mad prince’s ascension.

Sviette Sas Aurum.  The Grey Jackal.

One whose eyes I gazed through.  Whose hands held her blade as she did.  Whose might and skill and equipment were bestowed unto me as memory.  As a mere fake.  A shadow on the wall, mistaken for a chosen one of the realm.

Was it a coincidence then?  Was the Viera I glimpsed in passing her?  Her name was similar, I think.  Was my first friendship simply the result of my crude emulation of another?

Rather than wail, I shouted, though my lips did not curl them into words.  They did, however, twist into a snarl.

“I alone understand your anguish, Sas Aurum.  We who are born from the shadows of others have no hope of escaping them.  Know that it is foolish to turn your fury to me, my puppet.  And know that by defying the odds and serving my rebirth, you have my gratitude… And my pride.”

I spit.  I twitch and I struggle.

“Thank you, for your services…”

Aulus lowers his gaze.  It is clear he isn’t willing to take any chances with my resistance, as a Vulcan cannon whirs to life, fighting against the rubble to open from a hatch.  Likely the only weapon which could be wielded at such close range that was not buried into the dirt.  Certainly enough for a stationary target, and a normal soldier at that.

“…a…stard..!”

Unfortunately for him, I doubt any of the artificial soldiers whose cores were left for him to raise were ordinary.  Her, not least.

Caught by surprise, he fires at me.  A translucent projection of Hoplites, resembling her - my original - stood firm against the spraying bullets.  They wouldn’t last forever; but neither would Aulus’ invisible shackles.

[…Initiating Oversoul.  Initialisation Complete.]

The phantom warriors fell and scattered into motes of so much aether, but not before one used her large build to hurl me into the air.  The Vulcan cannon whirred and spun, trying to chase me through the air as friction cost me speed.  Still, I had a plan.

I prayed and willed another phantom to life.  She shoved me forward, and herself back in game; covering me momentarily from the gunfire.  A tactic which, perhaps, would be foolhardy, even fatal if performed inadequately.

I was ready, however.  Ready, and with the luck of some devil from the void.

Her strength threw me up in the air, approaching the warmachina’s apex…

And then I began to fall.

Aulus smirks as I descend; seemingly not far enough to reach him, and without enough time to launch another cross-strike.

Instead, however, I surprise him with another technique of the Grey Jackal’s.

I thrust my blade forward, still wreathed in blue flames.  It was a long shot, as I knew not if his core remained in the lattice of flesh and steel within the cockpit, or had forced its way up through his protruding torso.

Still, the flames extended forth from my blade, in a concentrated Lance of flame and plasma, striking right through his heart, as I fell to the dirt.

Stunned, he gazed upon me.

“How dare you..!  A mere puppet..!”

A cacophony of voices rang out from his speakers.  I couldn’t make out what they said.  

[Critical error-] [Opal Weapon systems breached-] [Core Failure Immi-] [Initiate So-] [Error…]. […elf Destruct Sequence in…]

I had no chance to climb up the smooth armour of the Warmachina to reach him from here, nor did I have a chance to pierce its armour even with that technique.

The gun, unable to reach me this close, whirred to a stop.

I had little time to check if he was truly dead.

I willed more phantoms in my retreat, following the path I painstakingly must have plucked free to where I fell from.

The Phantoms aided my climb, and not a moment too soon.  I barely made it atop more of the rubble before I heard an almost deafening explosion.  Almost.  Perhaps my hearing felt unusually sensitive..?

The Phantoms aiding my climb began to fade as my strength failed me.  Despite everything, despite learning that I was nothing more than a puppet to a puppet, I didn’t want to die.

…and then a pair of hands gripped my own.  One which despite appearances, felt metal.  Mechanical.  Another, far shorter but no less strong, and adorned with black scales, pulled me up.

Two familiar faces smirked at me as I aly on solid dirt above ground at last. One winked at me with his only uncovered eye, nearly shoving me to the ground as he dusted off my shoulder.

"You still alive, Rox? Heh, don't worry, I hear medical leave's good."

I drew breath deeply and slowly, finally realising how tense I had been until that point.  Not simply in battle, not simply today.  While my answers were in some ways grim, I finally had them; and could finally unwind.

If things ended there, if my life could simply continue in that direction, perhaps things would have been better.  Perhaps I wouldn’t need to scrawl this all down so hastily.  If only.

[crazycatkatetrap]

"Your highness, I will not be here forever."

Something Solar wishes wasn't true. Especially about KT . . .

Kind a bland background and fricked up proportions, but I did this at 4am, so . . . .

[aza-trash-can]

3, 5,11, 16, 17, and 25 for Nebula!

Nebula! My baby boy!

Quick fun fact before answering the asks: He appears/is mentioned in two of my fics I'm re-writing! So if I get bit by the writing bug, hopefully we'll see him soon!

Okay, now onto the asks

3. What is your favorite childhood memory?

Hmm, I dunno. I'm still a cadet, y'know? So how can I have a favourite? But, if I had to pick, probably choosing my name. 67 was with me, we were in the library and I saw a picture of a nebula, and do you know how cool those are? They're epic! I wanna see those one day. I know I'm gonna, just gotta wait to grow up.

5. What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Spying on the CCs, heheh. They're awesome, and I wanna be like them one day. Did you know CTs can get onto command track? Cause I just learned that, like, 5 months ago. Anyways yeah, I like doing that. And talking to 67. He also spies on the CCs with me, so I get to talk to him and spy on them. Double win!

11. What is your favorite type of media (TV, movie, books, etc)?  Name some specific favorites (which shows, movies, books, etc do you like)!

What's a movie? Or TV? The Kaminoans don't let us have that stuff. Are they cool? Oooh, are there movies on nebulas? Oh, answer, right. Uh, books? Cause they're the only thing around besides all the videos for flash training. I love books on the galaxy, space is so cool! Right now, books are the closest I can get to seeing the stars and all that, so I guess that would make them my favourite.

16. Describe your perfect day.

Like, that I can have, or that I want? Perfect day that I can have is what I do every day, cause we do the same thing every day. Training, training, eating, free time to spy on and learn from CCs, more training, eating, and sleep. We don't really do a lot.

The perfect day that I want is to spend an entire day in space. I wanna just fly around in a ship and go places and see everything. I wanna see how close I can get to a star, and what it's like to fly through a nebula, I wanna see a supernova too. Just, spaaaaaaaace.

17. What makes you laugh?

Myself! I'm pretty funny, y'know. I tell good jokes, I know cause even 67 laughs at them, and it's really hard to get him to laugh. Plus, it's good to laugh at yourself if you mess up. Mess ups are funny, so just laugh instead of feeling bad. Do you know how many times I trip over my words and just make soudns instead of words? A lot. But I just laugh, and everything's better. So see, I'm pretty funny!

25.Freebie!  Come up with your own question for the character to answer!

What's your favourite thing to do with your brothers?

Well, I like spying on the CCs with 67. We're gonna get to command track one day, so we gotta learn, y'know? I like doing anything with 67, he's my favourite. Library, talking, whatever, I just like being around him.

I also like when we get breaks to play games. It doesn't happen a lot anymore, since we're getting older, but when we do get to play it's really fun!

[blazetbw-art]

I have some references I've been sitting on from the past few months but I'm not ready to post them yet for reasons, so here's this.

Some are obvious.

I hope to share them in the future.

[octoberschildrenpodcast]

1. Where The K-Mart Used To Be

CW: gore, loud noises, violence

Something goes terribly wrong for a pair of locals driving through the woods on Andronicus Hill Road. Ollie Masteron, Jeff Trembley, and Conrad Feilding welcome a newcomer to town at the local coffee shop Unhallowed Grounds. Renée Simard, sentenced to community service for a D.U.I., helps a confused and doomsaying Sophia Castellanos with chores. Ashley Slake receives a mysterious piece of mail.

Listen Now

Apple | Spotify

[neonscandal]

6 WTF Moments in Anime That Got Me Like 👇🏾

Spooky bitches, rise up. 👻 This month, I'm departing from the usual format to serve up blood and that which is unsettling. If you're looking for something gory and depraved, look no further. Expect a grab bag of the supernatural and/or explorations into the innate wickedness of man. In addition to including slightly longer recommendations than my normal lists, below specifically focuses on titles with a scene(s) that elicits genuine shock for the viewer regardless of whether the overall series was good or not.

Tokyo Ghoul (series)

Filed under: “That first episode tho 👀”

Humans won't always be at the top of the food chain and Tokyo Ghoul takes naive Ken Kaneki and exposes him to the dog-eat-dog world that writhes just below the surface of his everyday life.

The WTF moment? Let's just say, I hope you don't have a fear of bugs.

Sub/Dub | Funimation, Hulu, Crunchyroll

Another (series)

Suppose, at the edge of reason, you suspected that you or your loved ones were damned to die gruesomely because there was someone in your presence who simply refused to move on? When in the proximity of certain death, how far would you go to balance the scales to maintain your hold on life as you know it? Class 9-3 clings desperately to the hope that they'll survive the school year and stave off the Calamity but it doesn't take long for despair to bleed into mass hysteria.

The WTF moment? As tension mounts, all hell literally breaks loose in a crescendo of gore. This show makes the list for that WTF but also because I genuinely recommend it for anyone into horror thrillers. The rise in tension is very reminiscent of that of Battle Royale (another fave).

Sub | Crunchyroll

Akame Ga Kill (series)

Filed under: “I love the kind of woman that will actually just kill me.” “Don’t get too attached” and “That first episode tho 👀” and also included on this list.

Perhaps the best instances of horror are those that peel back the veneer of seemingly decent people and reveal how positively insidious they are. Monster themed scary movies never really compelled me as much as supernatural or plain and simple human antagonists because the latter always felt more possible than a werewolf or vampire.

The WTF moment? Akame Ga Kill accomplishes the above, if I recall, in the very first episode.

Sub/Dub | Hulu, HiDive, Crunchyroll

Attack on Titan (series + ovas)

Filed under: “I love the kind of woman that will actually just kill me.” “Don’t get too attached” and “That first episode tho 👀”

This is the main departure included on this list despite its long run, also, it's so popular, why include it? BECAUSE, the exposition of this story creates so many WTF moments. One, big human-like monsters eating life-size humans (who can sometimes be monsters).

The WTF moment? How to narrow down? The first episode, the introduction of Zachary's chair (the purpose for its inclusion was never satisfactorily explained except to highlight how twisted people can be), half of season 3 and half of season 4 like - just when you think you have the world figured out, there's another curveball. While most on this list are included for a singular moment within the series that grabbed and held my attention, AOT is a good watch for anyone interested in action, gore, or drama.

Sub/Dub | Netflix, Funimation, Hulu, Crunchyroll

I realize this is from the movie and not the series which is what my blurb below is about so I'm kind of cheating but... *gestures vaguely* aesthetic.✨

Ninja Scroll (series + movie)

In the Ninja Scroll series, Jubei went through it and mans really couldn't catch a break despite his ultimate goal really just being to take a nap. He remains unreasonably calm (and punny) despite his lack of rest and in the face of constant supernatural adversity. The design and body horror illustrated by the opponents he comes across are definitely a part of what makes this series so over the top as is the violence against a certain character which I found unnecessary and drives us to our WTF.

The WTF moment? Episode 7, that's a particularly unsettling way to pass a stone IMO.

Sub/Dub | Prime Video

Elfen Lied (series)

Filed under: “I love the kind of woman that will actually just kill me.”

Elfen Lied is definitely one of those series that shocked people at the time for its gratuitous blood and violence if only for the sake of gratuitous blood and violence. When you consider the premise of the plot, I suppose it's not without purpose per se but, I think there were a few things that were just included for the shock value.

The WTF moment? Amidst sprays of bloods and exploding bodies, the biggest WTF is actually not even shown and will linger with you regardless.

Sub/Dub | Prime Video

[massiveladycat]

the great war ocs

so i know i've been talking about my pjo ocs AND. lately i've been developing ideas. think of the titan war but on a higher scale that includes camp jupiter, and it's much longer and doesn't only take place at manhattan here are the ocs that are on sides!! TITAN ARMY OCS Greyson Rosenheim - combat medic, greek, son of Hypnos, he/him Dakota Sanderson - commander, daughter of Hecate, she/her Ryker Herring - wildcard, son of Hermes, he/him Chuck Arberin - tactician, son of Melpomene, he/him Brooklyn (???) - gun woman, daughter of Venus, legacy of Neptune, she/her Tristan Lake - literal teenage god, spawn of River Lethe, he/him Lucius (???) - cook and forgeman, son of Akhlys, he/him Unnamed Demigods, Coming Up Soon CAMP HALF-BLOOD OCS Hector Campbell - Son of Athena, he/him Harris Conway - Son of Poseidon, he/him Roman Conway - Son of Poseidon, he/him Victoria (???) - Daughter of Ares Violet (???) - Daughter of Lyssa Izabel Riddle - Daughter of Ariadne Margaret (???) - Daughter of Astraeus Matilda (???) - Daughter of Apollo Beatrice (???) - Daughter of Aphrodite Jakob (???) - Son of Hades Chris (???) - Son of Zeus William Canville - Son of Ares Dexter Newcombe - Son of Dionysus Alya Lachance - Daughter of Hades Peter Janson (if you know where this comes from i will literally marry you) - Son of Ares More Demigod OCs, Coming Up Soon CAMP JUPITER OCS Ainsley Riddle - Daughter of Bacchus Zelda (???) - Daughter of Vulcan Marcus Constantine - Grandson of Jupiter Celia (???) - Daughter of Apollo Phoebus ROGUE DEMIGOD OCS: Jessica "Jess" Laurens - Daughter of Psyche, Oracle Conrad Quick - Son of Eirene, Caretaker Dustin Rourke - Son of Tempesta, Weather Forecast (lmfao) Alexis "Alex" Joost - A Commander of Rogue Demigods, Daughter of Bia Isaiah Hilliard - The Son of Iris, Farmer More Unnamed Demigods, Coming Up Soon the rogue demigods are somewhat neutral but do lean towards helping the camps more camp jupiter and camp half-blood work together (even if it's killing them) im a sucker for lovers from opposite sides of a war so one boy from the titan army and one of the camp's girls are together, take a guess also a LOT of ocs in this will die or get gravely wounded THIS WAR IS CALLED 'THE GREAT WAR'!!!

[thevoidstaredback]

How To Balance Your Daytime and Nighttime Activities So That You Don't Burn Yourself Out More Than You Already Have

A knock on the door was not what Danny was expecting that evening. In the two weeks of observation and one week of actually staying with the man, Danny had figured that Dick, for as friendly as he is, did not have many friends. And if he did, they didn't visit him a lot, if at all. So, a knock on the door exactly thirty minutes before Nightwing was set to go out was a suspicious surprise.

He answered it anyway.

On the other side of the door was a kid about his age, an inch or two taller. He had dark hair, pale skin, bright blue eyes, and eyebags dark enough to rival Danny's own. He also smelled faintly of coffee.

"Um," Danny started dumbly. "Hello?"

"I'm looking for Richard Grayson." The kid's accent was stronger than Dick's, putting him as a born and raised Gotham resident. There was also a hint of something that reminded Danny of Sam's parents. This kid comes from money.

"And you are?"

Obviously upset about being stalled, he huffed, "Timothy Drake. Are you going to let me in now?"

How does someone sound so rude and so polite at the same time? Obviously a skill Danny needs to learn. "Why-"

"Who's at the door, Danny?" Dick called from the hallway, making his way closer. He was in his Nightwing costume, minus the mask, but had covered it with a hoodie and sweatpants.

"Tim Drake," Tim introduced himself again, pushing Danny out of the way and entering the apartment to greet Dick with a handshake. "You're Bruce's Wayne's kid, Richard 'Dick' Grayson."

"Yeah, that's-"

"You need to come back and be Robin again."

There was a moment of silence as Danny closed the door softly. Then, "Excuse me?" Dick's smile was strained and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"You need to come back and be Batman's Robin again. You don't have to don the suit, but he needs you." There was a hint of desperation in Tim's voice now. "He's been spiraling since Jason died, and he's starting to hit harder. Most of the guys he beats up end up in the emergency room! Some of them have even died from their injuries! Batman needs your help! He needs a Robin."

Dick was quiet for a moment. "No."

"What?"

"I won't- I can't go back to being Robin. I can't go back to being in that house."

"Why not?"

"I just can't. Now, I don't know how you found me or how you found out who I was, but you need to go back to Gotham, Tim."

"But-"

"Now, Tim. You're parent's are probably freaking out about where you are right now."

Tim didn't say anything for a long moment, he feet rooted in place. Just as Dick turned around to go to the fire escape, he spoke, "My parents don't care where I am." Louder, he said, "Bruce is going to start directly killing people if you don't go back there and help him."

"Why should I help him?" Dick demanded. "He didn't even tell me that my little brother had died! I didn't even get to go to his funeral! And then Bruce had the audacity to punch me in the face and blame me for not being there! I'm not going back to Gotham, I'm not putting on the Robin suit again, and I sure as hell am not going to help Batman. he made it clear that he works alone, so let him." With his peace said, Dick took his hoodie and sweatpants off, donned his domino and escrima sticks, and left through the window fifteen minutes early.

Neither Tim nor Danny said anything for a long few minutes, neither bothering to move. Too many thoughts in each of their heads with no way to properly form words.

Finally, after nearly seven minutes, Danny's voice broke through the air. "I'm sorry he yelled at you."

Tim, having forgotten Danny was there, jumped and turned to face him. "What?"

"He hasn't been the same since Jason died, not that I know what he was like before."

"What do you mean?"

Danny moved into the kitchen, pulling down two cups, filling them with water before offering one to Tim and leading him to sit down on the couch.

"I don't know a lot about the situation, I've only been here for three weeks now, but I know that Dick is still hurting. Nightmares, hallucinations, the works. He's been more violent recently, too, but obviously not as much as Batman has been."

"You, uh, you know?"

"Yeah. Kinda hard not to figure it out while living here, and you coming in today didn't help that." Tim blushed and sipped his water. "Though, like you, I showed up on Dick's doorstep already knowing he's Nightwing."

"Oh? And how well did that pan out for you?"

Danny shrugged. "I offered him help and refused to leave until he accepted it."

Tim laughed. "That's what I did to Bruce!"

They shared a smile. Danny lifted his cup as if to toast. "Here's to a couple of goblins with hero complexes." Tim lifted his cup to join Danny's toast and they both took a drink.

Giggling, the two finished their water in relative quiet, the air around them comfortable.

"Say," Tim asked, putting his cup down on the coffee table, "How old are you?"

"Fourteen. You?"

"Same."

"Cool."

"You're parents know where you are?"

"Nope. I would ask if yours do, but you already answered that."

"Yeah, they aren't really around much. I did tell Alfred I'd be gone, though, so he knows I'm not home."

"Yeah, but does he know you're here?"

"No."

"Hm." A beat. "Who's Alfred?"

Another laugh startled out of Tim. "Bruce's butler. Did Dick tell you nothing?"

Danny shrugged again. "I haven't pushed for answers about anything; I'm not a therapist. I'm just here because he's going to end up killing himself at the rate he's been working himself."

"So is Bruce," Tim admitted softly, "But he's going to end up taking Gotham down with him if no one stops him."

"So what are you going to do?"

He thought for a long minute, weighing options in his mind before saying, "I guess I'll have to be the help he needs me to be."

Danny tilted his head sideways like a dog. "What do you mean?"

Tim squared his shoulders, though he was still hesitant. "Batman needs a Robin, and if Dick isn't going to be that for him, then I guess I'll have to be."

Another beat. "But do you want to be a vigilante?"

"Does it matter if I want to be?" Tim asks, "If I don't then no one will." He took a deep, steadying breath. "Gotham is my home. I can't let Bruce destroy it in his grief."

"I understand." Danny nodded, "But what you want does matter. I know I can't stop you, so I'm not going to try, but I'm going to make you promise me something." He made sure to hold Tim's gaze. "You ask for help when you need it." He held out his hand and waited.

"What?"

"You're phone. Give it to me." Reluctantly, he did so. As soon as the flip phone was in his hand, Danny put his number in it before giving it back. 'You don't have to do this alone, okay, Tim? Promise that you'll call me when you need help, okay? Any time of day, I'll answer."

Tim stared at his now closed phone, the weight grounding him for a moment. "Are you going to be a vigilante to help Nightwing?"

"I already am."

"Huh?"

"It's why I'm here, It's why I know I can't stop you and why I'm making sure you know I'll be here to help you."

Nothing else was said between the boys. Nothing else needed to be said.

Part 7

Tag List: @flame-343 @ghestie93 @anarinette @aglmry @peachtreewriter @evix-syne666 @loudlypanickinginvenezolano @lumosfeather18581 @blueliac @talia-scar123 @cyber-geist @violet-foxe @currentfandomkick @jaguarthecat @moonchild0924 @tonicmii @bushbees @idekwutoput @justalittleghostkid

[waitineedaname]

not romantic or platonic but a secret third thing (bonded pair)

[tiredsurvivoronmain]

Kinda makes me sad that whenever Chris forms a bond/relationship or teams up with a guy he ends up losing them, Leon being the only one who hasn't died (possibly Wesker as well since it's apparent he's actually alive after re5)

[observeroflaplace]

PART 5 - TO THE DEPTHS

Though the Oronir - and thus, more specifically, Gansetseg and I had made headway against more of these [E!£o’s] Primals, it was the wicked and winged bird woman that became our undoing.  Even the Oronir joined could scarcely land magical blows amidst the raging storm winds which she called, deflecting arrow and bullet, as well as spellcaster and swordsman alike.

Only ice seemed fruitful to slow her down, and that was beyond even the tiny Xaela’s tremendous firey strength.  Time and time again we charged, and time and time again, the flames of her strikes and my own Terminus Est were snuffed like so many flickering candles.

Even our own bodies were hurled around like rag dolls, sometimes taking many ticks to surrender us even to gravity.  Worse still, with every time we gave ground, we grew farther from the tower we sought to seize with the resistance born of the Echo; and closer to the edge of a strange crater.  And it seemed the soulless beast knew as much; pushing back with every advantage she could eke, until I myself was flung to the edge of a fall to who-knows-where.

Gansetseg screams in desperation, reaching for my hand; though her narrow reach eludes her.  I catch onto her tail, as she buries her spear into the ground with what strength she could afford, though the shroud of flames she cloaked herself in to give herself physical might was continually snuffed out.

I felt my own grip weakening.  Garuda’s tempest refused to lessen.  I could feel surfeit scales shed from my tiny Xaela companion’s tail, even as she tried with all her might to curl it closer to herself through the pain.

For a moment I feared that by saving myself, I might tear it clean off.  I reconciled myself with the fact that it may not even save me, but doom us both.

She screams my name[..?] as I surrender my grip, allowing her to hurl herself forward inadvertently.  I don’t know what became of her as I was flung into an abyss of soil, of stone, and rubble.

The depths of this place, forgotten in the desolation of war and the machinations of the Telopheroi seemed to grab at the edges of my senses, clutching, boring into my skull.  I did not black out, nor did I feel nauseated; however I drifted in and out of consciousness; all the while climbing, digging tirelessly.

I hardly noticed when I clamoured to my feet.  I hardly noticed when my nails were cracked and my hands scratched from moving so much stone.  I hardly felt the dust and mud settle and crust on me until I was covered in grime; and a makeshift passage lay before me.

It appeared that some great, hulking Warmachina had buried itself inside a great chamber of ancient Ala Mhigan design; likely lost to time and buried from its crash.  Its hideous and twisted appearance in the darkness made me wonder at first if it was an Eikon spawned by the tower.  The slithering, wet sounds that crawled forth from a cyst which may have once been a cockpit entrance from its back did little to assuage those fears.

I drew my blade slowly, as though frozen in terror.  Indeed, I was gripped by fear, and every instinct told me to turn and run or charge forward and find something, *anything* soft to tear my blade into.

But it was not merely fear which held me in place; but something more profound.  My own voice, monotone, bereft of my feelings and thoughts, rang through my head louder than ever.

[Disengaging combat parameters.  Suspending autonomous motor function.]

Whatever figure crawled out of the ruined Warmachina’s back was much too large to be a man, much too discoloured; and it was clear that despite the shape of a midlander or Garlean’s torso, there was no distinction between clothing and skin.

It rose no further than upright; and the edges of the orifice of the machine appeared to pulse in tandem with oversized and aberrant veins.

Through a once-monocled eye, now divided into three sockets where lenses once were, the sharp and cunning mind of a surgeon, or perhaps scientist, bore into me.  Into my very soul.

I tried to yell out.  To scream for help.  To question just WHAT this abomination even was.

It was no use.  The air left my lungs but I could not shape them into words.

The thing peered down at me.

“It is good to see you return to me, proxy of Sas Aurum.”

[nelkcats]

Allies in unusual places

J'onn J'onzz didn't have much hope of receiving help after he was captured. He spent his nights locked up in those terrible laboratories, surrounded by selfish people who saw him as an experiment.

Still he did not give up, he continued to ask for help from the heroes he had heard about. Heroes who could save him and stop the future invasion. Many of those calls were futile, but there were times when he really felt that someone had heard him.

Perhaps it was because he was distracted that he didn't notice the fact that he wasn't the only "experiment" in the facility. It was only after he was moved that he noticed the teenager huddled in one of the containment units.

The boy looked exhausted, doing everything he could to make sure no one got to him, kicking and biting every time they tried to grab him; J'onn's heart broke. It was obvious that the boy wasn't human, he didn't look like a Martian either, but it was clear that he was a living being. A living being that was constantly being hurt by human greed.

The Martian was an adult, an adult who could endure pain, an adult who understood how horrible people could be, but that boy? He looked like a child, a child begging to be seen as a sentient being. J'onn hated it.

The days when he heard his sobs were the worst. That's why when the heroes came to "rescue" him, the first thing he did was set the boy free. Not caring about the looks he was getting, he wrapped the boy in a blanket and took him away (he was so scared, kicking and flailing, afraid he was going to get hurt again).

Even as they argued about the invasion, J'onn never left the boy's side. The same little boy who told them in a weak voice that he could help them, that he knew people who could help them.

Danny wanted to do something for the Martian who had helped him (and wasn't it amazing? there was a Martian in front of him! Someone who knew space!), and he thought that a couple of ghosts owed him some favors.

Unknown to the halfa, many of his former enemies were looking for him, desperate for the disappearance of the youngest of their own. The ghosts were furious, and perhaps an alien invasion could help them release their anger.

[sugar-seals]

Selkies are free and abstract magic of the sea and land... Though they aren't supposed to be a magnet for the stray pieces of spirit who have no place to go

[bungouchronicles]

I like my ships doomed by the narrative

[i-have-a-lot-of-ocs]

Tempted to write a replaced au twst fic where Yuu (or alternatively, I'll use my Yuu, Riyuu, who is basically who I'm writing this for) used to be the cutest girl around, the cheery one who's always around everyone, the one you can't seem to dislike even if your crush falls for her because she earnestly says sorry (even though it's not her fault) and will always help you out if you need her back in her old school. But one day, a new girl comes around and her whole reputation got destroyed. She helps the new girl adjust, tells her all the rumours and introduces her to all the popular kids. But the girl ends up backstabbing her, telling the popular girls rumours about how she intentionally plays up the act to steal their crushes to her, and lies to the boys, telling them she's just playing with their hearts and that she's a horrible person.

Yuu ends up alone and excluded, being seen as "annoying" and only having a few close friends who doesn't really interact with her in public in fear of their reputation being ruined. She ends up miserable at school, and wishes to not go anymore. But one day comes a saving grace, she gets whisked by a mysterious black carriage into Twisted Wonderland, or more specifically, Night Raven College. She doesn't mind working if it meant she doesn't have to deal with her old school, there was still 1 and a half years left of school and she doesn't want to deal with all ghe group projects to be assigned that will inevitably end with everyone not wanting to team up with her. Plus, as annoying Grim is, he's like the animal friend all of the anime and storybook protagonists she knows has, and she doesn't mind him too much.

Some things did change after she and Grim got officially enrolled, but she had no problem adapting to the social expectations of the world, part time jobs with Sam -- and occasionally the canteen -- paid enough to get her tools for cooking basic but delicious food, and new friends without the weight of her past helped her get settled comfortably.

The existence of Overblots stunned her for a bit, but a peek into Riddle and Leona's memories helped her understand the concept, even if just a little. However, things began to change eerily simlarly to her old school when a new girl comes, also in a similar position to her, getting transported to a new, unfamilliar world, and seemingly hailing from a similar world to the Earth she knows. She warmly welcomes her, eager to finally befriend another girl, but it seems that the girl does not share the same enthusiasm.

The girl only barely responds to Yuu's attempts at forming a friendship, and always seems to talk her in a condescending way, and often dismisses her, and especially so whenever there are any boys around.

Yuu will not deny any statements claiming she's an attention seeker or that she plays up her sweet innocent girl act, but she knows to never, ever sacrifice a bystander for it. But if someone insists on war with her... well that's another, different story. She's learnt her lesson of being overly optimistic, and she will not make the same mistake twice. She will not let her make her life a living hell more than it already is with Crowley's irresponsibleness.

Aaand thus begins the story. Or well, however you wanna continue it. I'm honestly in favour of most Housewardens (Kalim, Vil, and Idia in particular. I'll put my reasoning in a few paragraphs down) Adeuce, Tweels, and Ortho for team Yuu. Why?

Well, first of all, Adeuce. This is mostly because the duo is like. with Yuu since Day 1, as much of a bitch as Ace is, I think those two are the most likely to trust and know Yuu well enough to not believe the lies R (< Replacer) tells. Especially Deuce, he doesn't want to betray a friend he knew for quite a while, that would not be very honor student-like of him!! And she helped him out in a lot of situations too! He doesn't want to hurt you after all the trouble you go through to help him, and also knowing how horrible your living conditions are. Ace would most likely give in to peer pressure if the student body is overwhelmingly in favour of R, but as of now, he maybe enjoys your company just a bit more than R. Just a bit, promise.

Tweels I feel like is self-explanatory. Those two are perceptive as fuck istg it scares me. Jade especially. I feel like the two would just toy with R for a bit despite her facade and lies before dropping her after she bothers them for attention and favours one too many times.

(Ortho ties in with Idia so I'll explain him in Idia's paragraph)

Kalim is actually very emotionally intelligent. He can come off annoying and stupid, but from all the scenes I see of him, he's actually really good at dealing with people. Have you seen how he deals with the Scarabia residents after Jamil's OB??? The way he phrases his sentences?? He didn't force or even plead with them to forgive Jamil, he simply asks them to wait before making permanent judgements, and I think he's gonna be uncomfy with how condescendingly R talks to Yuu, and even if he's used to people going after him for money, I feel like R mostly eyeing him for money and how she "secretly" sighs in annoyance everytime she goes out of the party for a "bathroom break" will only solidify his dislike/discomfort, even if he doesn't show it.

Vil is also kind of self-explanatory if you read into his character and not just the shell the official English localization makes for him. (I could rant for hours about how the official tl portrays his character istg. He's hardworking and he actually didn't attempt to poison Neige out of pure jealousy, he did it because he felt like all his efforts to be beautiful will never be able to surpass Neige, who, in his eyes, always seemed to be innocent and naturally beautiful. He feels like the villain in Neige's story. He feels like he is reduced to what he often plays as, a snobbish, overconfident villain obsessed with overthrowing the hero. And because of it, it became a twisted self-fulfilling prophecy, pushing him to, in a fit of despair, be that same villain everyone sees him as.) I really don't think he will take well to R's condescension to Yuu, who genuinely wants to befriend R. (I actually have a whole thing in my head where Yuu and Vil occasionally have sleepovers where they do skincare together after the whole VDC thing happened. I feel like this is also a "vent sesh" of sorts for the both of them, just to air out their grievances without much seriousness, and I think Yuu would admit to wanting a fellow girl in the school that she could befriend, since no matter what, being the only girl can be exhausting.) Ik Vil's not a girl but he is such a girls' girl istg.

Idia... this mostly ties into Ortho and The STYX Incident, but like,, I think we can all agree on this one,, Idia is smart and capital V Very pessimistic. Would you rather trust the girl you've known for a while, who saw your memories, who helped you in awkward social situations when she can and is besties with your brother or some random new girl who trash talks said girl behind her back? The former, right? Plus, even if Yuu did only hang out with him and his brother because she likes to secretly laugh at him behind his back, there's mo guarantee R wouldn't do the same, given his experience. And he would rather have someone who actively helps him and his brother out than someone who wouldn't.

I didn't put Malleus in because of how canon him actually treats Yuu. I feel like the fandom kind of put on rose-tinted glasses on with his character, and kind of ignored some things like, idk... him just leaving them to fend for themselves homeless during Octavinelle... maybe he thought Crowley would offer them a place to stay but like... I'm still bothered by how didn't atleast offer a spare room in Diasomnia. He's a housewarden goddamnit. He's not as distant or scary as the rumours say but like. still rubbed me the wrong way.

Anyways I don't think my attention span will let me write it to completion so if anyone likes this and wants to write it feel free. Pls tag me if you do tho. I would love to read it :3

[stardestroyer81]

So, how about the Thousand Year Door remaster going by the game's Japanese translation, thereby confirming Vivian is canonically a trans woman?

This was such an exciting revelation to me personally that I decided to draw fanart of Vivian repping her trans pride... alongside a certain Koopa I haven't drawn in a little while! 💙🏳️‍⚧️💜