#enantiodromia

[candyopals]

[Discord Curse AU]

This is not an infection au per se, but, it follows similar guidelines so I'm going to tag it as such. Differences are; minimized gore, existing-story relevancy, & the end result is not death.

x

Enantiodromia

Unable to resolve their missing Elements problem, the Mane 6 went home from the Discord Labyrinth to figure out how to continue life in Ponyville - which was fully intact, albeit still a little strange. It still rained chocolate now & then. There were extra laws to physics that broke themselves daily.

Discord's true curse, at first, was unnoticeable.

Cagey guarding of one special item from Rarity ['She gets tense at work, it's understandable.'], forgotten plans from Rainbow Dash ['She's so active, everyone forgets things, right?']. Occasionally, a fib would slip out of Applejack, but she'd shake her head, correct herself, & say it was a mistake.

Even the physical changes went mostly unnoticed ; to ponies who saw each other every day, they weren't significant enough in their gradual takeover to raise suspicion.

Nobody thought much of it until Pinkie Pie missed a pony's birthday ['She's been hiding herself away a lot lately, I wonder why?'] & one of Twilight's teleport spells failed. Not to mention the . . . unicorn horn? growing from Applejack.

Fluttershy was the first to go missing.

['I hope she's safe.' - The Lost Spark]

x

[firefly-creepy]

"Catharses 35” & “Catharses 36” by Catharses (solo exhibition, ENANTIODROMIA)

[fieriframes]

[Enantiodromia.]

[rchetypal]

"Unfortunately, the good thing, the high thing, the virtue, is always an accomplishment, always a summit, and the summit leads no farther. Only when you are down below can you rise, as only after the summit can you descend."

— C.G. Jung, 18 January 1939

[kimkimberhelen]

Withered Throne - Enantiodromia (Full Album Stream 2022)

[divine-enantiodromia]

There is a new legend being spread by people of varying walks of life. From adventurers to merchants to guards to criminals and even some curious immortals, they say that amongst the sacred woods of Eden, hidden in the depths of ancient tulip poplars, there is an inn with infinite lodgings that always greets you with open arms. Its two hosts were so kind and so gracious that they gave you whatever dish or drink you request and listened to whatever tale you felt you had to get of your chest.

While it is true that some gods have entered this inn, they left no less bewildered than the mortals have been. Not all of them have found the inn though, no matter how much they searched and some have even refused to have a look, dismissing the rumors as nothing more than another new myth.

"Surely those two hosts are some sort of gods?" People thought. "But how old do you think they are?" "Maybe even as ancient as the sacred sovereigns?"

That last thought alone caused most to suffer from chills. Gods have always been feared, often out of necessity. Even after they've fallen, reborn mortal and lacking their millennia worth of memories, their powers could easily bring armies to their knees if supplied with enough fuel from people's faith and beliefs. Some deities, however, have more passive abilities and are considered less threatening because of them. Despite that sentiment, it is one of these 'non-threatening' beings that have managed to breach the borders of her universe; all in a desperate escape from her current boredom and loneliness.

She didn't know that though. She didn't know she had any powers to boast of, and much less that she had achieved immortality in her past life. In Gabriel's perspective, her staring into the night sky as she tries to extend her consciousness to the stars and beyond was no more special than all her other sudden bouts of existentialism. In fact just last week, when her brother had business to do outside of the forest, the young woman was sitting on the same roof she sat on now as she talked for hours on end with the silver eye that is their moon.

Gabriel did not mind the isolation. It's not like her brother was neglectful, far from it actually. However, she still couldn't wrap her head around why he's been been single handedly serving as the bartender for their inn. Normally they'd exchange shifts around the day, but for the past month or so, Vivianus always insisted to be the man behind the bar. Sometimes he would even shoo her out of the room for an hour or two for no apparent reason, tonight being one of those times. Gab had tried asking the patrons for any clue as to what the fuck was going on but, judging from all the weird and varying conspiracy theories, they knew as much as she did.

So now there she was, sitting on the roof and staring into the night sky, occasionally trying to get a quick glance of her brother through the diamond-shaped ceiling window. She could sometimes make out the figure of Vivianus talking to a hooded stranger she could've sworn she's seen around the inn before, but anytime she stared for too long, her brother would always stare back until she'd finally look away.

After a few more hours, she would suddenly jump and aim her knife at whoever had suddenly touched her shoulder, only to be laughed at, again.

"Vivi!" Gabriel yelled.

"Sorry, sorry." He said, flashing that charming smile that always made their patrons smile back.

"How do you even sneak up on me like that? EVERY TIME!" She flailed her arms to emphasize her dismay.

"I dunno." The man simply shrugged. "Also you can come inside now."

"And you still won't tell me why I couldn't in the first place?"

"Yep! Don't worry, he won't be coming back anyway."

"Who won't be coming back?"

He opened his mouth, but for a moment paused. "..I dunno."

She knows he can lie so much better than this. "Okay now you're just taunting me."

'And who knows if that was even true. It could a red herring for all I know.' She thought.

"Look, maybe when you're a bit older-"

"That's what you always say! Also I'm literally 23 now."

"And I will keep on saying it until you're old enough." And with that he immediately disappeared from her sight.

Gabriel sighed and opened the diamond window, jumping back down into the inn, oblivious to your universe's first contact with hers. The ceiling window automatically closed behind her.

[xenosagaepisodeone]

you happen upon an ex-tumblr power poster who now lives on twitter. he is 30 (or nearing so), stripped of the eccentricities which illuminated his net presence when he was 19 but none of the grievances. he speaks of his hobbies, which remain unchanged from the previous decade, but with only dim enthusiasm- "was this series always this janky, or am I just noticing it now?" and so on. his vent tweets about work, relationships, friends and money punctuate his timeline in place of what would have been a joke or keen observation a decade ago. the world is confusing and frustrating to him now. things didn't work out like he thought they would. his way of living is calcifying and he worries he's losing the ability to see beyond himself. he comes close to reminiscing sometimes, about his youth, about old internet, about tumblr, before recoiling with embarrassment and disgust. and yet, with similar machinations to that of jungian enantiodromia, by attempting to live the inverse of his past, he becomes testament to it. a 30 year old man who navigates life as a 19 year old boy. he feels old, and seeing him makes you almost feel old too. but you know better. you can live forever. you can live forever if you keep posting on tumblr.

[yellow-yarrow]

#what's the futurism link?

how did i get here? well

https://www.loebclassics.com/view/heraclitus-doctrine/2016/pb_LCL526.137.xml

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiodromia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_Types

http://www.tavenerguide.com/palintropos

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Patmos

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_churches_of_Asia

no im not writing an essay, im thinking about a video game

[horse-cdc]

Welcome to the Horse Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Equestria's leading group of infectiologists, pathologists, and curse researchers. Please find enclosed below an excerpt of our extensive case files on various infectious diseases that can be found around the country.

GENERAL ADMISSIONS

Rainbow Factory Infection

Moondust

Sleepwalker Infection

Chaos Infection

Chronic Wasting Disease

Variant Chronic Wasting Disease

Ruinous Vine Epidemic

Chronic Wasting Files

Everfree Infection

Magic Fever

Rainbow Rabies

Equinedemic

Uncanny Valley

my little paranoia

my little toothache

my little apocalypse

my little corruption

stuck-in-ponyville

mlpgr0undzer0

yumkandie

kingzombear

eggmilky

pinkarmadillodesigns

phoenixdoesartstuff

sundaebite

ruusukultakruunu

lagoartzs-blog

firbolgfriend

rubykingua

pina-repsi

shado-cant-sleep

shyface1004

bunnyrebzx

windywhistler

azaani-art

wyyrmwood

cosmic-nopedog

BIOLOGICAL INFECTIONS

Bubblegum Virus

Olden Virus

Dream Fever

Polychanging Virus

Blood Loss

Dreadbite Syndrome

Inanis Folliculi Syndrome

Everfree Fever

Mutated Rabies

Summer Night Mare

my little fortress

dabbingintoart

decrepitdeer

finnstati0n

mxnt-ie

PARASITES

Smile Worms

Pinkie's Senses

Banyan Parasite

Head Loss

My Little Worms

lilgoatgal

BOTANY

Rigor Root Rot

Chaos Virus

Florial Infection

Blue Flu

Rainbow Blossoms

Marrow Bloom Infection

Condren Contagion

Toxic Joke

Wandering Tree Swamp Fever

Divine Swamp Fever

Audle Posk

Variant Swamp Fever

Swamp Fever

mouschiii

ruttama-art

scarlet-wish-draws

lily-iguess

vitiligorakebaby

afishwithmanylegs

MYCOLOGY

Rainbow Cordyceps

eclipsedoodler

hardlylaced

vultureart

flitterjitters

lonelyponee

MAGIC AND CURSES

Mutant Imposter Infection

Nightmare Virus

Infection Of More

Enantiodromia

Ultionem Lunae

Night's Curse

Parabite Virus

Magic Rot

Changeling Virus

Doll Virus

Nopony Curse

Rot

Voidmatter Virus

cubecrow

CUTIE MARK DISORDERS

Mystic Corruption

Cutie Mark Contagion

Cutie Pox

Variant Cutie Pox

Cutie Fade

bootoon

CRYSTALLOLOGY

Geode Disorder

Cockatrice Disease

Crystal Contagion

Crystallovirus

swiggyswoon00

[candyopals]

x

Fellas is it cringe to vent art with your mlp infection au

top is Applejack & Discord, bottom is [redacted]

[tindomizel]

Trinimac, Creator of Death

In light of Douglas Goodall's new lore text, The Soft Doctrines of Magnus the Invisible, I have a new theory to propose: Trinimac, by killing Lorkhan, created death, and by extension Arkay. Hear me out. 

“Only the shape-taker's respiration emptied the arc for the thief's eye” 

This is a quote from Enantiodromia, the second part of the four-part text. The shape-taker is obviously Trinimac, who is known as such because of the Boethiah incident, and the thief's eye is referring to Arkay, who is associated with the Thief constellation. To me, this quote is implying that the former made room for the latter to exist (made it possible for Arkay to exist). Expanding on this, before Mundus death did not exist, the et'Ada were infinite and without limitations, which is why Lorkhan created Mundus; to teach their progeny, through the application of limit, how to become without limit. I believe that, when Trinimac killed Lorkhan at the behest of Auri-El, the concept was created. I find it highly likely that Lorkhan always intended for death to be invented, but I'm undecided on whether he planned for it to be created by Trinimac killing him. It does fit nicely into the theory that Lorkhan always intended for his heart to be ripped out– this heart is the heart of the world. Regardless, the first death was a murder.

That quote also somewhat evokes an elven ballad from ESO, Folly of Man, which laments the rise of mankind: “You'll learn what the Corpse-God wrought. Even Trinimac didn’t know, with his final blow, just how badly he'd been caught”. If Trinimac did indeed create death, based on everything we know about him, it's unlikely that he did so intentionally. 

‘Enantiodromia’ itself is defined as the tendency for things to change into their opposites. Is that not what eventually happened to Trinimac?

On Orkey and Trinimalarkay

Orkey is the Nordic god of death, considered a fusion of Arkay+Malacath by many, and is most known for “stealing the Atmorans’ years”, or shortening their lifespans, which is exactly what Trinimac would have done to every mortal by creating death. On top of this, in Nordic legend, Orkey summoned Alduin who “ate almost every Nord down to six years old”. This is interesting because Alduin is, of course, connected to Akatosh/Auri-El, who ordered Trinimac to kill Lorkhan. Trinimac and Auri-El are both responsible for the death of Lorkhan, and both Orkey and Alduin have stolen years away from the Nords/Atmorans. 

So who is Orkey? Is he Trinimac? Isn't Tsun Trinimac? Yes and no. For a long time people have tried to equate Trinimac/Malacath with Arkay through Orkey, and while I don't believe they're the same being, it does seem likely that they're connected. Arkay was created unintentionally by Trinimac through the murder of Lorkhan, and their relationship is somewhat similar to Peryite and Akatosh or Lorkhan and Namira. They are connected but Arkay is still ultimately a separate being. The Nords combined Arkay (‘death’) with his creator in an attempt to explain how he came into existence. This would explain how Tsun (who is theorised to be the Nordic equivalent of Trinimac) is present in the Nordic pantheon alongside Orkey, and how Trinimac is present in the Altmeri pantheon alongside Xarxes (who is theorised to be the Altmeri equivalent of Arkay). 

And finally, tri-nymic and Arkay, Zenithar and Stendarr.

“Trinimac is probably one of the least understood underpinnings of the whole pantheon. I like him that way, but I would study Mithras if you really want to find out more” -Michael Kirkbride

To summarise, Mithras was a Greco-Roman god, inspired by Mithra, the Iranian god of the sun, justice, contract, and war. Mithra was part of the Ahuric Triad, along with Ahura Mazda (the creator deity, god of the sky), and Apam Napat (god of water). Although this may be boring, I believe tri-nymic is simply a reference to the Ahuric Triad. The Ahuric Triad reminds me of Padomay, Anu and Nir as well. Padomay is, of course, Lorkhan and Anu is Auri-El. What if Trinimac is Nir (the catalyst, the first possipoint)? 

Finally, I am a big fan of @ayem's theory that Trinimac was always padomaic. Trinimac pretended to be anuic– and tried to be anuic– so that he could serve Auri-El, but ultimately he could only be Mauloch. The Roads seems to be about how one can only be what they are, which is a recurring theme in The Elder Scrolls.

“Hue is governed by momentum. As much as manifold Meridia loves the Blind, even orphans cannot change their color.”

This quote is obviously about Meridia, but I think it also applies to Trinimac. There are also countless parallels between Meridia and Trinimac: they were both champions of more powerful gods, they both tried (and failed) to be something else, and, in my opinion, Meridia assumed Trinimac's role as ‘warden’ of Nirn after his ‘death’.

Narratively, I think Trinimac accidentally creating death is a very important moment in his story. It's the moment that proves to him, without a doubt, that he will never be able to escape or erase what he is. He tried to be something static, unchanging, and yet he created death– the final destination, the unavoidable end. What is death if not the ultimate transition? No matter how hard you try, you cannot escape your nature.

Some more random thoughts:

In Nordic legend, Alduin/Orkey's curse is thrown onto the orcs by Ysmir Wulfharth, who is believed to be a Shezarrine. I feel like this could be a reference to how the orcs were also transformed/suffered when Trinimac was defeated by Boethiah (who hoped to avenge Lorkhan).

Additionally, Malacath's realm is the ashpit and ashes are associated with death.

[katsona-the-katsequel]

Being honest, of all people and Persona users in the series, I think Nyarlathotep would hate Makoto and Kotone the most. To such ungodly level that, by jungian "pyshics" (enantiodromia), turns back to respect. That's because they reached the answer to life's greatest question; they are "living, breathing" affirmations of life's potential to become whole and individuated, incarnations of the archetype of the Self, the meaning of life that Nyarlathotep always tries to deny (he is chaos in the absurdist sense, after all).

Though I agree he would lost interest on them after a while, despite the Great Seal showing him wrong into a fundamental level. I also agree with his interest for the PT. Just like Yaldabaoth, Maruki, Enlil, Salmael... and, really, a long list of deities show, good intentions can easily turn into catatstrophes for humanity.

You raise some good points. Maybe if Nyarly bothered to see what they were about beyond "fighting to stop Nyx", Minato/Kotone would become his new hyperfixation. I like to believe Nyarly (if he's still around by P3) began to gain an interest in SEES beyond seeing them as another ones' puppets after Ikutsuki's betrayal. This interest would grow as Minato/Kotone began to formulate their own beliefs and stand out more as the true leaders even outside the field, and peaked in the fight against the Avatar.

If Minato/Kotone had survived the fight (Nyarly probably realized they would die by Seal anyway) then they would have reached Tatsuya-levels of interest. A Great Seal doesn't provide much for philosophical conversation and they're impossible to try to corrupt. Its a Seal. This is probably a good thing, since Nyarly would have gone for the "let's traumatize them until I break them" route. Nyarly, in all his stupid glory, probably went "it doesn't count because they died in the end. So there. I win and everyone is doomed no matter what", completely missing (or ignoring) the point.

[butterclaw]

Enantiodromia

[kagrenacs]

Analysis of The Soft Doctrines of Magnus Invisible

Recently Douglas Goodall released a follow up to his lore text The Soft Doctrines of Magnus invisible, this is an attempt to analyze the text. You can read it here

I: The Source and the Serpent

It's clear this section is about Auri-el and Lorkhan creating the worlds, mentioning Auri-el as creating the 'twelve' presumably the twelve worlds of creation. Lorkhan creates the 'twenty-two', which brings us to thirty-four. The next paragraph mentions the 'Thirty-six and The Hoard That Never Rests. These numbers don't add up, however thirty six is likely a reference to Lorkhan, the Scarab, as mentioned in Sermon 29.

The Thirty-Six are still Eight and One, twice removed, even if man and mer no longer recognize the quarters.

This line seems to link the 12 worlds to the nine divines, indicating their creation by proxy of Auri-el and Lorkhan.

An additional thing I find interesting is the mention of the twelve and twenty-two existing under a starless sky, as the stars haven't formed yet. This seems to indicate to me that this current Kalpa (or series of them) may be different, actively binding the spirits to Nirn rather than allowing them to move freely, otherwise the Magne-Ge wouldn't have fled yet. This idea is further supported by this line:

We are slaves to the star-clock, which beats faster in every age. Only the drummer can stop the beat.

Indicating the beat of time seems to be moving faster.

II: Enantiodromia

This section is about the enantiomorph, with roles of power switching between two people.

Every hero is an image, a reflection, a tone played on the tightest string between the ur-mirrors of sky and sea. False heroes are the shattered reflections of the jailed jailer; a three-headed beast gnashing its own throats.

This line may be about Shezzarines. False heroes as shattered reflections of the jailed jailer- Lorkhan and the incarnations of his souls. A three-headed beast gnashing at it's own throats seems to be Talos.

Mer came down from the sky. Men rose up from the mountain. The god of mer climbed to the stars. The god of men descended into the ground.

This discusses the schism between the gods of men and mer. Anui-el ascends, leaving behind the Aldmer. Lorkhan descends, dying like his subjects and leaving his heart within Red Mountain.

Only the shape-taker's respiration emptied the arc for the thief's eye.

UESP labels shape-taker as Trinimac and the thief's eye as Arkay. Together these two gods contribute to the Nordic god Orkey, the god who reduced the lifespan of the Nords by six years. Taken literally this line seems to indicate Trinimac's exhale allowed for Arkay to steal time from Lorkhan and his people. @tindomizel gave a really interesting idea that Lorkhan's murder allowed for the creation of death, that I quite like, and perhaps carried over to his people.

Magnus and Sithis are tears to the prior world and the next. When they meet the prisoner, the story ends.

Taken with the subject of this section, Magnus and Sithis are presented as two sides of the enantiomorph. My interpretation is Magnus represents energy and creation, while Sithis is the necessary death of things.

The Magna-Ge expand as the Earth Bones diminish.

This line is incredibly eerie. My only thoughts here are Earth Bones are diminishing as people manipulate them, or the towers. But what this has to do with the Magna-Ge I'm not sure.

III: The Roads

In my interpretation, this discusses the roads individuals follow as they live their lives. The first paragraph here discusses a road of violence, fire and swings, that pilgrims and children walk. It seems to be living a simple, peaceful but difficult life/

The second road is shorter, filled with dishonest labour, paved with gold, trodden by the feet of giants and glued by the slime of forked tongues. It's destination is despair. This road seems to be the road that kings and lords walk, trodding on others, enslaving others, living as a large presence.

The road of beauty never reveals the grey veil to it's followers. This is a road of living entranced by the lie, and not seeing reality for what it truly is. Interestingly it is said to be unwalked by heroes, who perhaps have a better semblance of what the world really is.

The longest road is filled with pestilence and disease. This seems to be the road of a natural life, living and then dying by failing health.

The final road is not walked. The wretched gather up their ghosts and go. This seems to me to be the road of life after death.

The doors are stuck, the curtains drawn, the constellations firm, the planets unerring in their courses. Twelve and One have an illusion of movement. Twenty-Two and One have an illusion of choice. Only the Serpent slides.

The numerology changes here, with twelve worlds and one (referring to the constellations), and Twenty-Two and one. Bringing us up to 36, the number of Vivec's lessons.

The doors are stuck, the curtains drawn, the constellations firm, the planets unerring in their courses. Twelve and One have an illusion of movement. Twenty-Two and One have an illusion of choice. Only the Serpent slides.

The Twelve and One are the stars, giving the illusion of movement in the sky. The Twenty-Two and one are possibly Lorkhan's spawn, indicating his children live predestined lives as mortals. Only the Serpent is free to move through time and fate with ease.

Hue is governed by momentum. As much as manifold Meridia loves the Blind, even orphans cannot change their color.

This seems to further confirm my belief that Meridia is one of the Star Orphans. Leaving her ultimately still a daughter of Magnus, even if she is a Daedric Prince.

IV The Tower

The Tower is the first word, spoken by the second. Indicating Lorkhan's observation that the tower forms the letter 'I'.

All who find The Tower are infected with tyranny. Some succumb. All who find The Tower are condemned to transcendence. Some succumb.

This line seems to indicate the dominance a person must possess to speak the word 'I' and recognize oneself as ruler of the world, without equal. Yet doing so allows one to recognize the power of CHIM and alter the course of the world irrevocably.

V: _

This section is a cipher, when deciphered, it discusses things one ought not to worship. Not to look at the moons, the towers, the wheel and the grey, or the jailer. Instead look to the invisible, who is earlier mentioned as Magnus, despite his flawed love. Which ultimately wraps this up as a text intended to worship Magnus.

[redrockbluerock]

thinking about the snippet from End of an Era going around talking about the concept of enantiodromia and it actually helps define why I keep having it so that Reala is the one who ultimately leads to Wizeman’s fall from power.

in devoting himself so blindly to Wizeman’s cause once he’s thrown aside for good he ends up using that devotion to tear down the God of Nightmares.

[sketchy-rosewitch]

Enantiodromia: Murph Connors x gn!afab!reader

Part 1

Warnings: Police, Nick O’Brien, choking, kidnapping, drugs, Reader does not have a filter, starvation, mentions of foster care system, allusions of abuse.

A/N: This is going to be a mini series cause fuck it.

Taggies: @bosinclairz @visceravalentines @blurrymango

A sting comes across your face and you bolt awake, gasping for air. Your body sweats as you look around, taking in your surroundings.

The room smells like alcohol, sex, and weed and you’re surrounded by five men and some prostitutes.

You go to rub your face but see your hands cuffed to two end tables near you. A groan escapes your lips.

“Who the hell are you?” You sneer, looking between all of the men.

“Nick O’Brien. Leader of the Regulators. I practically run the sheriff’s department.” A brown haired man says.

Fucking cops.

You look up at the ceiling and sigh before your head falls back down.

How the hell could you be so stupid? You had one job and that was to not get caught. Now you’re here. Getting caught. Except, you’re not in an interrogation room. You’re in a hotel room and everyone is doing hard drugs and drinking.

Oh which means these men are worse than cops. Even better.

“Did I do something wrong Sheriff?” The question comes out as snarky as you can make it with the pounding headache you have.

“Not if you tell us where a couple of your friends are.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” You shrug your shoulders and look away. Yeah like you’re admitting practically where your house is and snitching on what is about to go down, risking your life when no one is even going to get hurt.

“Sure you do, we aren’t stupid.”

You snort still not making eye contact with any of them. “I’m not tellin’ you shit. I have no reason to.”

You notice O’Brien get up, he’s out of your site so you look at the rest of the men, two have their guns out and are wiping them down. This makes you roll your eyes. “Are you actually trying to intimidate me right now? Cause I’m not afraid to die.”

With that a sudden pressure is put on your throat and you gasp. Face turning red and lungs already burning. Your face hurts but you don’t let up, instead letting your eyes roll back to get some type of relief. You couldn’t even try and get him to let go even if you wanted to be.

Eventually his hold loosens and you take in a loud deep breath.

“Pussy.” You mumble then feel a hit to your head making you cringe. “I’m not sayin shit. You’re wasting your time and mine too. Just let me go already.” You growl.

“We don’t plan on releasing you until you do say shit. We need to know where Kennedy and Quinn Abrams are!”

“The fuck is in it for me then? Cause right now I’m not hearing shit, only getting threatened and choked out! Which means I ain’t saying shit!” You shout, the leader looks at the other cops as they have a very silent discussion, then he turns to you and sits on the coffee table.

“Won’t go to jail.”

Your eyes roll back. “That’s not good enough.”

You hands tap nervously in the arms of the chair you sat in.

Kennedy and Quinn provided you a home. You don’t wanna be out on the streets like you were after you got out of juvy. You can’t go back to that.

“I need a place to stay. Somewhere they can’t find me cause if I go back there I’m dead and I’m not dying by their hands, you will not throw me in jail and you will help me find a job. There’s no work around with this either. This is the deal or shit ain’t coming out about the Abrams.” You explain, tongue poking the inside of your cheeks. You aren’t going to let the same treatment of Kennedy and Quinn happen again. You can’t be left with nothing.

“Fine.”

You sigh. “They’ll be at those warehouses on Kings Street. Buncha cars there cause they were trying to see which one was best for me. They have other people working for them too I don’t know their names. I just know they’re making all the guns and shit. Big robbery next week. Hostage situation. All that. It’s all I can tell you.”

Your hands are shaking now as you reside in a limbo of whether or not you walk out with a roof over your head or sleeping on the sidewalk by a street lamp.

“Murph you get to watch over them. Tomorrow afternoon we meet to discuss our next moves.” O’Brien stands up and uncuffs your wrists and you rub them gently.

A man with greying sandy hair stands up, putting his gun in his pants. He pulls out some money and gives it to the stripper that was playing with his hair during most of the interrogation. Then he pulls out his car keys and that’s when you assume that he is Murph. So you stand up after him.

“Checking out early Connors?” Another one of the men seem to tease him.

“Yep. I’ll see you guys tomorrow though. C’mon kiddo.”

Your brows furrow at the nickname before you follow Murph walking around all of the other men and out the hotel door. The halls are quiet, only echoing your foot steps and his.

You notice the way he’s dressed. He’s much older than you are but his fashion sense is similar to that of a high school boy.

You snort but look away when he looks down at you.

“What?” He says, walking over to press the button for the elevator.

You shrug and wait for the door to open before you two step inside. He presses the garage button.

“So are your wife and kids gonna be okay with me staying with you?” You ask leaning against the railing.

“Don’t have either.” His voice sounds slightly bitter but you ignore it.

“Not surprised.” The elevator dings and the doors open, he steps out and you follow after him.

“The hell is that supposed to mean?”

He unlocks his truck and the two of you get in. The truck smells of cologne causing your nose to tickle. You rub it, the answer.

“Well, I’m sure wifey wouldn’t be happy her husband is cheating with a sexy young babe in a hotel room with a bunch of your guy friends. Sure your kids would end up hating you too.”

Murph sighs and starts his truck driving out of the parking garage and to his house.

The drive is quite other than the soft rock playing on the radio and you look out at the city lights passing by and slowly disappearing as the truck heads into a suburban part of LA.

It’s close to four in the morning when the truck parks in a drive way. Murph gets out and you follow after him. You can’t see much in the dark but the silhouette of the house is huge. You smirk and watch as he unlocks the door.

“Cameras and motion detectors are at the front back and side entrances. I turn on security when I leave the house and go to bed. You’ll be safest here. Until we arrest Kennedy and Quinn you’ll be under my watch, even when I leave this house. Understand?”

You toe off the shoes and nod your head. “You got any food?” You’re already making your way to the kitchen which is honest to god HUGE.

You head right towards the fridge and open it rummaging through to find something good to eat. You find left over wings and some juice so you grab them and shut the fridge with your foot.

“Can’t just waltz into someone else’s house and take their food without asking.” Murph crosses his arms and leans against the counter, you put your food on a paper plate and shove it into the microwave.

“Wasn’t taught manners in the foster care system or in juvy. My bad.” You say, nonchalantly making your way around the kitchen to find a cup.

“How old are you anyways.”

“Shouldn’t you know that? You’re a cop, I mean my shit is in the system after all.”

“Well I don’t. So just tell me.” Murph rolls his eyes and rubs his face. He’s clearly getting fed up with you and it makes you feel better about himself.

“23.”

The microwave beeps and you go to pull out your food. You sit down at the marble island and start to eat.

“Got huge attitude problems for being 23.” Murph walks to the plastic container and throws it in the sink to wash later.

“Again, foster care system, juvy, also Kennedy and Quinn.” You take another bite and wiggle a little in your seat. “Man, I haven’t eaten in days! Shit is delicious!”

“Thanks. When you’re done I’ll show you your room. Tomorrow when I get back we’ll go shopping for some clothes alright?”

You give him a thumbs up and watch as he types on his phone while you eat.

It doesn’t take long for you to finish and throw out the paper plate and scraps, you down your juice and Murph starts walking towards the stairs.

The upstairs holds a loft with four doors and a closet. You take a second to look around as he gets out towels, blankets and sheets. It’s a game room, there’s a pool table, shelves of board games, card games, and video games. A couch and loveseat, and a flatscreen TV, the TV stand holds even more video games and consoles from all the way back in the 90’s to now.

You wanna touch it all.

“Come on, can show you everything some other time.” Murph tilts his head towards a small hall and taking you to a large guest bedroom.

“Bathroom is the door by the pool table. My bedroom is down that way. If you need me” He points out your door and across the loft to another small hall and door. He looks at you up and down, you wear a tight tank top, jacket, and loose blue jeans,“I have an old shirt you can use for tonight, uh and shorts too.”

Murph leaves your room and goes into his, you take a chance and look around, feeling how soft the bed is you smile.

Finally no more couch.

There’s a tv in the guest room which surprised you. The closet was empty and all that sat on the bedside tables were lamps. The room was a beautiful light blue.

You swear this man could’ve done interior design as a side job if he wanted to.

You snort to yourself and start to take off your socks chucking them in a corner.

You realize you’ll need more than just clothes tomorrow.

Murph comes back and hands you the shirt and shorts.

“Goodnight.”

“Night.. uh thanks.” You say, the older man raises a brow at you crossing his arms.

“You didn’t have to take me in, I mean honestly I expected to be brought to a homeless shelter. Just, thank you.” Your hands sweat, something that only happens when you know Quinn was going to get pissed at you for some random shit.

“It’s not a problem. We need to keep an eye on you anyways you’re our only witness after all.” You feel the room get tense so with a tight lipped smile you nod your head.

“Goodnight Murph.”

He nods back at you and shuts the door behind him.

You take off your clothes hastily.

Of course you were being used again, they weren’t going to keep their damn promise, why the hell would they? They solve a case and move on, not caring who gets hurt along the way. You were a witness, evidence of Kennedy and Quinn. Nothing more nothing less, in a month you’d be back on the streets, no job, no money, and you know damn well if you came into that Sheriffs Department bitching these bastards would act like they didn’t know who you were. Well fuck them, fuck Kennedy and Quinn, and fuck your parents for conceiving you.

Everyone will have hell to pay when this case is done.