#giant steel robot save me

[chiprewington]

eleven foot seven

[saxandviolins77]

what are your favorite episodes of g1 featuring the constructicons?

Can I make a rank? I'm gonna make a rank!

Only episodes where the Constructicons are absolutely essential to the plot, if they are only in the background or only have a throwaway line it doesn't count!

From worst to best:

7.Secret of Omega Supreme

I know, I know, controversial! This episode is truly more about the titular character than the Constructicons and it introduces my least favorite origin for them. Not a bad episode and it has some cool scenes involving my boy Devastator, but eh... Don't care!

6.The Autobot Run

This episode has a laughably bad premise, even for G1! But dare I say, the character interactions and quips save this from total oblivion, and the Constructicons aren't an exception to that! So many great interactions and lines (Long Haul saying "Finally! We're gonna make little Autobots out of big ones AHAHAHA!" and "at last, conflict!", how can you not love it?). Devastator also has a great fighting sequence! You know, great as in stupidly fun, like him hitting the Autobots as if they were bowling pins. I remember rewatching the scene where they de-combined Devastator over and over again, for some reason I was obsessed with the delivery there.

5.The Core

This episode is shit from the ass in terms of plot, like... We already have a better episode... With the same "plan of the week". I just wish this one focused more on the "Devastator is now an Autobot weapon" side of the plot and was better paced.

That being said, I still adore the Constructicons here! Their interactions are awesome and I love how this established them as friends, like... Waow... I also adore how big of a focus Devy has, he even gets to save the day!

4.City of Steel

The episode where the Constructicons shit-talk each other, make an alligator, and Devastator does King Kong. Perfect.

Not only do I love their banter but this episode has my favorite Scrapper scene: him forgetting the word "damage" for no reason... Like WHY? Love my ADHD king. This is also the episode where Mixy has a stutter... More than perfect.

3.Heavy Metal War

Introduction episode, what can I say?

Despite them being the secondary plot, I very much adore them here. This episode establishes Scrapper as their leader AND introduces the Dinobots as one of their rivals (their superior rivals if I say so myself.) I also love how Devastator comes in as a surprise, like WOW they combine into a big robot, how novel, I'll buy a toy! I also adore how they defeat Devy by making him shit his pants in fear of another combiner... Girl, you're so pathetic...

2.Triple takeover

My favorite G1 episode... And it just so happens to have the Constructicons there! What a joy!

I absolutely love traitorous Constructicons as a concept, these guys do not care about Megatron at all ahahah.

This is also one of the episodes where we have Scrapper building a THRONE out of near-dead Autobots and sitting on it... You're awesome, Scrappy...

Of course, the best part is the Constructicons busting in on Blitzwing and demanding him to own his part of the deal... And the fucking idiot curses off the six guys who turn into a giant robot... Great stuff.

Also... How did Megatron defeat Devastator? Is he that pathetic? My big loser is actually a loser?

1.The Master Builders

THE PERFECT CONSTRUCTICON-FOCUSED EPISODE! If you're going to watch something with them, watch this one.

I love moody Grapple and reserved Hoist, such a cute duo of characters already AND THEN you put the Constructicons with them? Perfect!

This is also the episode where the Constructicons are shown to be two-faced bastards who change on the turn of a dime, and well, I find this better than brain-washing, sue me. I also love their personalities here, cheery Scrapper casually convincing Grapple to let them work on his project, and then acting the same after they decide to betray Grapple on Megatron's command... Wtf is your problem.

I also adore the Constructicons making Grapple do their work for them, ahahah. They remind me of older engineers/technicians messing with the new guy at work for kicks and giggles.

I also love how much of fuckups the Constructicons are... Good job on conspiring behind Megatron's back then immediately getting caught red-handed and making up a fucking lie on the spot, you're terrible.

Devastator is also at his peak here. This is the episode that inspired my characterization of him... He just messes with the Autobots and is outsmarted by them and defeated by the Constructicons' own work... The irony... Is rich. Like, how much of a jerk can he be?? He laughs at Optimus Prime, he dismisses Cliffjumper and he SMIRKS when he falls on the ground and somehow grabs warpath.

I need him dead. Immediately.

[kessyathena]

Kessy's Recommendations

A little while ago a friend who's into Little Witch Academia asked for recommendations and I immediately suggested Magic User's Club. It's one of my go to's and a great show, but it's pretty obscure these days. That got me to thinking about all the other great OVA's I've seen that everyone's forgotten. So here's a selection of my favorites from the golden age of OVA's (1980's -2000's). If you're looking for a thread that connects these, my personal tastes run to character driven stories. I've tried to emphasize titles that are easy to access, mostly ones that are free on Youtube.

Assemble Insert: 1989, 2 eps.

comedy, superhero, idol, mad scientist, police

The city is being overrun by a mad scientist and his mecha equipped gang, so what's the overworked underpaid police force to do? Obviously, hold a competition for the next big idol! Err, I mean superhero to save the city. Wait, is there a difference? Maron really wants to know, since she's the (un?)fortunate winner of the competition.

All Purpose Cultural Catgirl Nuku Nuku (Bannou Bunka Neko-Musume): 1992, 6 eps.

comedy, catgirl (sort of), android, superpower, evil corporation

Ryuunosuke just wanted a pet, so when the minions of his overbearing mother accidentally kill the stray kitten he'd picked up his father does the only sensible thing: transplant the cat's brain into the experimental android body he's got in the back seat of the car. Ryuunosuke's new "big sister" is cheerful, energetic, able to bend steel beams with her bare hands, and overly fond of fish and sunbeams.

Nuku Nuku got a TV reboot and a second unrelated OVA called Nuku Nuku Dash, but the original OVA is definitely the best version.

Dragon Half: 1993, 2 eps.

comedy, fantasy world, WTF am I watching?, dragon girl

Mink is the child of a dragon mother and a human father. (Don't think about it too much.) Her father was formerly the champion of the evil king, who still bears a grudge. So there are evil minions, a guy named Dick Saucer who can't decide if he's a singer or a swordsman, a princess who's half slime, the finger water squirter of DOOM, and Beethoven! Don't wait for it to make sense, just enjoy the ride.

Plastic Little: 1994, 1 ep.

action, scifi, space opera, fanservice, yuri subtext

Tita and her galant crew make a living in the pet shop trade, capturing exotic animals in their planet's ocean of clouds for export. One day Tita runs into a beautiful young woman being pursued by a group of uniformed goons. Impulsively deciding to help the stranger, Tita and her crew are drawn into a military conspiracy to wreak havoc on the colony. Naturally, there's a caped villain, high speed chases, battleships, and ridiculously unsafe walkways over a vast chasm.

Elf Princess Rane (Yousei Hime Ren): 1995, 2 eps.

comedy, WTF am I watching?, magic, yuri subtext, idiot protagonist

Well, there is a plot to this one, but describing it would take too long, make no sense, and miss the point. Rane is a frenetically paced, gag after gag wild romp into hilarity and the absurd. There are fairies from another dimension who only speak an unintelligible language, a scheming corporation, a large group of identical sisters, and a protagonist so obsessed with treasure hunting he sees it everywhere to the point of being oblivious to what's in front of his nose.

Magic User's Club (Mahoutsukai Tai!): 1996, 6 eps.

comedy, romance, school life, alien invaders, magic, unrequited love, yaoi

The Earth has been invaded by aliens! However, the aliens are content to sit in their giant spaceship while observing humanity with robotic probes. So when Sawanoguchi Sae joins her school's club of neophyte magic users and the club president declares that they're going to defeat the aliens with magic, she's nothing but enthusiastic. And a massive klutz. What hope do they have considering that the rest of the club consists of Sae's best friend who only joined for Sae's sake, a vice president whose main interest is his crush on the president, and a freshman who frequently skips club activities to go on dates?

There is also a very good 13 episode TV series which is a direct continuation of the OVA featuring the same cast and hijinks but with a change in tone, not the least because the aliens are gone.

Birdy the Mighty (Tetsuwan Birdy): 1996, 4 eps.

action, school life, undercover aliens, conspiracy, gender bender, body sharing

Tsutomu is your average school kid out for a stroll one evening when he runs into a man running for his life from… something. The man turns out to be an alien in disguise and the something, well let's just say it radically changes Tsutomu's life as he's drawn into a conspiracy involving interplanetary criminals. A Federation Officer named Birdy Cephon shows up, but due to reasons he winds up having to share his body with her.

The series got a TV reboot called Birdy the Mighty: Decode. In my opinion, the original OVA is better.

R.O.D: Read or Die: 2001, 3 eps.

action, superpowers, secret agent, yuri subtext

Yomiko Readman is your average substitute teacher… Okay, no she isn't. She's absolutely obsessed with reading: her home is filled with stacks of books. She also has the ability to manipulate paper in any way she wishes, turning ordinary stationary into shields, weapons, giant flying paper airplanes, and so on. And she has a side job as a secret agent. So when a group of superpowered villains threatens the world, agent "The Paper" swings into action. Immediately after one of the bad guys steals her book!

ROD also has a TV series that has the same setting but completely new characters and plotline. The connections to the original OVA only gradually become apparent.

Murder Princess: 2007, 6 eps.

action, fantasy world, action girl, body swap, yuri subtext, lost technology

Alita and Faris are from such different backgrounds that you'd never expect them to meet. Alita is the princess of the kingdom of Forland and has lived a sheltered life in the capital. Faris is from a tragic background and survives on her wits and her skill with a sword as a bounty hunter. However, one night there is a palace coup and Alita is forced to flee for her life into the dark and dangerous Ellend forest, where Faris is hunting monsters for the price on their heads. The two literally run into each other and straight off a cliff. During the fall, the shared near death experience causes them to switch bodies. They're forced to reluctantly team up to defeat the coup and uncover the forces behind it.

Electromagnetic Girlfriend (Denpa-teki na Kanojo): 2009, 2 eps.

drama, mystery, romance

(Note: "Denpa" literally means "electromagnetic wave," but is colloquially used to mean "crazy" in much the same sense as "tin foil hat.")

Juuzawa Juu is a high school delinquent. One day a girl he's never met comes up to him and declares that he is a reincarnated king and she is his servant and knight. Despite Juu's best efforts to get rid of her, she continually follows him around. As if this wasn't enough, there's a serial killer stalking the town, and Juu suddenly finds himself caught up in the case when he's the one to find the body of the latest victim: one of his own classmates.

[romancomicsblog]

My Adventures with Superman brings Hope back to the Man of Steel - REVIEW Ep 1 & 2

*Spoilers for the first two episodes, now streaming on Max!*

Growing up, Superman always came off to me as a very nothing character. White bread. Good for the sake of good. Not funny like Spider-Man, not dark and cool like Batman, and too powerful to be in any real danger.

He was just there as the original cape and tights. He was important because he did it first, but that didn't make him interesting.

As I got older, and I read and saw him in more media, I realized the fun of Superman comes from the kindness. The hope he brings to those around him and that stable positive force is essential to the world and the Justice League. While he is the most powerful person in the room, because of who Clark is and his values, he's the person you fear the least.

He's gonna save your cat, he's gonna stop that burning building, and he's gonna get the bad guy, as unharmed as possible.

This is where the DCEU lost me, and where I think most Superman content does. That hope, that kindness, the gentle giant that Clark is has somehow been lost in translation.

While Henry Cavill is a great actor and can play the hopeful side, setting the tone of the movies as so dark and serious drained Superman of his charm.

Superman and Lois has done a good job bringing Clark's hopefulness back in moments, but the Zack Snyder DCEU feel coupled with the CW drama still keeps Superman and Lois pretty dark and dire.

While Hoechlin is a fantastic Superman, the world he inhabits has kept me wanting a true representation of the character I love.

Which is why My Adventures with Superman is such a breath of fresh air.

Let's start with Jack Quaid. Using such a pure sounding soul like Quaid to embody Clark was a stroke of genius. While he is known for playing good-ish characters like Hughie in The Boys and Peter Parker/ The Lizard in Across the Spider-Verse, Quaid does not coast on his past charms for Clark.

This character equally feels fresh, different from Quaid's past characters, and like a kid who is transitioning into the Man of Steel.

Whether he is struggling to flirt, scold Lois for lying, or fight a robot, Clark feels genuine, kind, and strong.

As Superman, Clark does not change into a scary, super powered god. Instead, he is trying to help the bad guy, clean up the messes, and rescue kittens from trees. While we only get a glimpse of his true Superman form at the end of episode 2, it is enough for me to get so excited that I'm typing this all out. This is the Superman I've been waiting for!

Rounding out the cast are Alice Lee and Ishmel Sahid as Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.

Lee has a quality not always perfectly emulated for Lois in my opinion, which is spunk. Moxie. She is so clearly the leader of the team for the Daily Planet. Couple that with her comedy timing and clear chemistry with Quaid, this may be the blueprint for Clark and Lois in the future.

While usually Lois is a made journalist by the time Clark shows up, starting them at equal footing is an interesting development. I'm hoping they use this to show just how quickly Lois Lane can rise the ranks against others.

While Sahid is utilized the least so far, conspiracy theorist comic relief Jimmy is equally charismatic and likable. He is a character I think the DCEU and CW didn't quite understand the value of, but this show clearly does. My hope is this character goes on to go on as wacky adventures as he does in the comics.

The chemistry between the three characters is very strong for the first couple of episodes. So much so I don't know if I'm more excited for more Lois and Clark romance, Clark and Jimmy bafoonery, or Lois and Jimmy investigating.

While the villains leave something to be desired in the first two episodes, the inclusion of overarching villains Deathstroke, Amanda Waller and General Lane lead me to believe they hope to build out this universe, at the very least into Batman.

If that is true, I am so in.

I can see a world where we have 3-4 different anime shows introducing key members of the Justice League, all leading up to an anime style movie where they fight Brainiac, with Jack Quaid's Superman at the center of it.

But perhaps I am getting way ahead of myself.

All in all, My Adventures with Superman has me excited for Fridays to come. It has heart, it has comedy, and it seems to understand the Last Son of Krypton better than most pieces of media.

This should be the blueprint for Superman Legacy.

A Superman who brings donuts for all his coworkers.

If you'd like to support me you can follow me on my socials here!

[eriexplosion]

FINISHING OUT SEASON ONE WITH KAMINO LOST, TIME TO CRY.

Lugging Crosshair around Kamino like a sack of sad potatoes. The way he gets to wake up pinned underneath a fucking steel beam like fucking congrats you tried to kill yourself one way so how do you feel about this significantly worse impending doom?

The voice work on the clone reporting that Kamino is destroyed is fantastic, that poor fucking clone.

GREETINGS CT-9904! YOU SURVIVED THE AERIAL BOMBARDMENT BUT ARE NOW MOMENTS AWAY FROM DROWNING!

Azi is so fucking funny like it's obviously terrible to experience this but imagine doing it with this chipper robot narrating your oncoming demise for you

I have a headcanon that Crosshair has a fear of drowning, because his reactions to possible death elsewhere are nothing like here where he sees the water and starts Immediately trying to actually survive.

Getting Hunter to shoot him? Fine, he'll take that. But do NOT let this fucking planet drown him after all this time.

"WHAT have you DONE" Crosshair do you really think this is THEIR FAULT? You knew the Empire was going to bomb the place!

IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE AND DIE THAT'S YOUR CALL sometimes you need to lay it out clearly for someone that is intent on throwing a giant tantrum.

The entire tower of pods being submerged fucks me up so much

God but if there's one thing they're good at doing it's animating absolutely devastating destruction in intense detail.

Never noticed before that Echo nearly falls and has to grab onto Crosshair because everything was always moving SO FAST.

Crosshair genuinely standing there looking like he's thinking about just staying there and dying but thinking better of it when he realizes dying here means drowning specifically.

ENDING UP BACK IN THE BARRACKS.

Literally they are safe for like 3 minutes tops and Crosshair plans to spend all of them complaining.

We made a choice, and so did you. Goddddd the betrayal and hurt layered in there. Just. A lot changed when Crosshair said that the chip was out and didn't bother to clarify when. And no one here knows the chip was enhanced to be even stronger. (Except maybe AZI?) Just Crosshair really feels like he admitted he totally tried to kill them under his own power.

"We need to go back" BACK TO W H E R E CROSSHAIR?

Tech's assessment that basically diagnoses Crosshair as Insanely and Incredibly Stubborn. I dub thee an unbearable bitch, but I understand you.

THIS OUTCOME IS SATISFACTORY! while they all look utterly traumatized by the experience.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET A KID CALL THE SHOTS Crosshair I swear to god. Your plan was to stand there and die so like, I think u need to ease up a bit.

Literally might be dead in a few hours but he WILL dedicate those last few hours entirely to registering numerous complaints and insulting a 12 year old. I love him.

"THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM HUNTER, YOU TAKE THINGS TOO PERSONALLY." This is single handedly the funniest line in the show no intentional humor can beat Crosshair accusing other people of taking things too personally like he doesn't take every single action utterly personally to a pathological degree.

Omega trying very very hard to bond with Crosshair who is blocking her attempts to know him with the skill of an elite goalie.

You know my headcanon is still that AZI took Crosshair's chip out to save his life and that's why Crosshair was the one to say that the droid could do it. Nothing has actively shut this down either and with AZI possibly being the only one to know Crosshair's chip was enhanced I would LOVE for this to come back up.

I understand why Omega has to be in her own tube for plot related reasons but it is SO fucking funny that Echo and Tech are doubled up and SO ARE HUNTER AND CROSSHAIR instead of Hunter being in Omega's tube.

Our Get Along Tube

The sequence of AZI guiding the tubes is actually legit beautiful the GRACE of juggling all of them and the light of AZI's eyes in the dark

Genuinely the way they used AZI at the end of season 2 does not make up for how genuinely devastating AZI falling into the depths i- wait a fucking moment. Why is this so reminiscent of Tech's slow mo fall into the clouds?

Omega watching someone she loves slowly fall away from her. Will she try to save Tech in some way and need to get rescued herself? Hm. Much to think about.

I feel like people do overstate the moment of everyone aiming guns at Crosshair because like it is definitely mentally traumatic to Crosshair but they absolutely had their stun on. Sometimes I see people act like they were going to kill him lol.

Everyone looking at the ruins of Tipoca City because no matter how they felt about it, it was the only home they ever had. Seeing it just utterly in ruins like that, my HEART.

God they tried to give Crosshair a chance to come with them and he's just not READY YET. Well he'll have a lot of time to think about it here on Kamino. Lots of time.

Ughhhhh this is such a heartbreaking ending I need season 3 to end on a high note because this is SO DEPRESSING.

I understand why they wanted to put the Mt Tantiss hook in at the end but godddd does it throw off the pacing, Crosshair watching them fly away is like the perfect final shot.

[sonicasura]

Transformers Prime/ Pokémon

Saved By A Kid And Their Creatures

Frontier: Hoopa where are we?

Frontier was very confused by their current location. Halls of dark steel went on for miles and the halls themselves were absolutely huge. Like they were made too accommodate giants.

Hoopa: Well maybe I should have been more precise when I tossed out the ring and thought of a ship.

Hoopa looked over at Hoopa before a big grin spread across the Djinn Pokémon's face as she shrugged

Hoopa: Oops!

Frontier face fall at that. They asked Hoopa too take them over too Virbank City so they could get too Pokestar Studios early and buy tickets for opening night of one of the most anticipated Movies. Pokemon Champions Power Of All.

Frontier just let out a sigh as they got up from the floor rubbing their head as they did so.

Frontier: Hoopa next time be a it more focused on where you're teleporting us. Speaking of which, where did you teleport us?

Hoopa and Frontier looked around trying too find anything on the walls that could tell them where they were.

Hoopa: I'm not sure. Maybe some sort of-

CLANK*

A loud clanking sound cut Hoopa off as both Frontier and Hoopa turned too look at sound the direction came from. Only too see 2 GIANT robots walking there way. Frontier and Hoopa scrambled too hide behind the crevices in the wall as the 2 robots walked by not noticing the stowaways.

Both human and Pokémon looked out from there hiding spot too see the robots disappear and look at each other.

Hoopa: Completely new Universe

Well this was certainly not how Frontier though there day would go

Frontier should have gone back too there own world, but they were curious as too what place they even found themselves. So Frontier and Hoopa had taken too roaming the halls for a bit, Eventually there roaming brought them towards large door. The door was sensor activated and the opened too reveal what looked like a ship's bridge. Where there was another giant robot standing in front of a panel. The sound of the door seemed too alert the robot and acting quickly Frontier and Hoopa dived behind another console just in time.

Starscream: Hmm the senor must have reacted too a passing Soldier or maybe the ship just has few bugs. But that doesn't matter.

A few seconds later the console behind Starscream blinked and a voice rang out.

Vehicon: Commander Starscream, where bringing up the Autobot too you know.

A malicious smirk grew upon Starscream's face

Starscream: Good. Bring the Autobot prisoner up too me.

Frontier and Hoopa who had been listening behind the console got a bad feeling about what was about too happen. Frontier brought quietly brought out one of there Pokémon, their friend Grimmsnarl as quietly as possible just in case they immediately need his help.

Soon enough 2 Vehicons came up on the bridges elevator holding a badly beaten robot. The 2 Vehicons dragged the robot forward too what seemed too be their leader too the trio behind the console.

Starscream: Well if it isn't the Autobot Cliffjumper. Look at you beaten and dragged before me. Because of you we lost all of that Energon, it's useless too us now.

Starscream's look turned more angry as Frontier told Grimmsnarl too prepare a Dark Pulse just in case.

Cliffjumper: Scream it's been awhile * Coughs* so where's your Master?

That seemed too infuriate Starscream more as he reeled back his clawed hand in a move too strike

Starscream: I am my ow-

" Dark Pulse"

A cry echoed out as stream of Dark energy shoot out striking the space between Starscream and Cliffjumper

Starscream: What in the world?!?!?!

Another Dark Pulse Shoot out hitting one of the Vehicons holding Ciffjumper causing the other too let go his grip on the Autobot. A figure who looked too be covered in hair jumped between Starscream and Cliffjumper and immediately went straight towards Cliffjumper. Cliffjumper soon felt himself being carried as the creature pulled him away from Starscream and the Vehicon. Cliffjumper was not one too waste an opportunity and got his own blaster out ready too strike Starscream.

Starscream let out a loud scream and hid behind the Vehicon too act his shield as Cliffjumper fired upon him.

Frontier: Grimmsnarl come on! It's time we blew this Popsicle Stand.

Frontier was next too Hoopa who had set up a wring too Frontier's home

Cliffjumper did not stop his hail of fire even as they past through the ring. He only stopped when the ring had completely closed.

As for Starscream and the Vehicon who had a couple scorch marks now both looked at where the ring used too be as Starscream let out a panicked shout.

Starscream: BY THE ALL SPARK WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!?

Even Hoopa would have a bit of trouble with their rings every once and awhile. At least this incident saved a life than just accidentally introduce a new universe. Starscream having no answer for what the hell happened while Cliffjumper ain't looking a gift horse in the mouth, lol.

If only they knew this was the start.

[eternallibrary]

Officer Log 2 - Lars Rorschach

Name: Lars Rorschach Callsign: Iterator Manufacturing Location: Planet 4, Gamma Star Field Belt. DOB: August 5 Height: 189 cm Ability: 'lovebug.exe'

Ability Description: Iterator can separate his coding, and to some extent his 'spirit from his physical form. His coding is extremely prolific, easily able to overtake digital devices within the span of an hour despite firewall protection.

To a lesser degree, he is also able to do the same with people. Though signs of resistance are detected more often, and the destructive after-effects make it unsuitable to use often.

Source code has been copied and studied. No further testing is required.

Maintenance Protocol: His robotic body is to be examined and repaired quarterly; or after extreme activity. In the case of damage to his outer panels, they are to be replaced by medium carbon steel, following the specifications of the panels that need to be replaced.

( Personal Notes are below, as I have said before you can spare yourself melodramatic second-hand embarrassment )

8/3/1001.

I first met Lars on his doomed homeworld. We were not nearly quick enough back then, so we could only scavenge the remains of Planet 4 in the Gamma Star Field.

From a tertiary scan, I found out that everyone on his planet perished. All except him.

The last remaining sentient consciousness, and the last remaining paragon of that world. Everyone and everything had turned to ash around him save for some concrete and metal that was crumbling under its own weight. I learned this later to be his ‘body’ of sorts.

Everything was gone, yet he was there. Stationary, unmoving, but there. His drivers seemed damaged. Any sort of movement he would want to make would be impossible; so he was just standing there, smiling.

The mental logs from that day suggested he was under immense mental turmoil. But lacking any way to display such a thing left him locked in his own body. I was given the order to transport him onto my ship. Despite most of him being paralyzed, he managed to make his displeasure quite known.

Even then I thought this guy was annoying. He was utterly unresponsive to any questioning, dragging what was supposed to be the first day of diagnostics on him until weeks. Threats of violence spurred him on more, and any promises I made were met with suspicion. He claimed that he knew what we were; he said we were the invaders looking to either finish him off or give him use after sparing him.

Looking back at it, I’m not sure if he was all that wrong.

Eventually with my persistence and some ‘adjustments’ to his circuitry I managed to start the first step of maintenance after 182 hours.

He was an artificial lifeform of his planet known as an ‘iterator’. His body being a small component of a giant supercomputer structure that was the building around him. His right ocular sensor was damaged, his right arm was crushed, and his left leg turned non-functioning.

Those were simple enough fixes, so I told him what my plans were for maintenance and repair of his body. He told me not to bother.

He wanted to be left to rot, since he was yet to be terminated. While I understood where he was coming from – As I’m sure I wouldn’t want to continue being without the people I hold dearly. Still, it was not my job to be nice, it was my job to fix him.

While I would like to think he understood, I’m sure he still loathes me for something as selfish as that.

The damage on his components was severe, so I had to run tests on the remaining circuity that still functioned. I figured out quite quickly which part of him controlled motor function, as that was the one that needed to be replaced entirely.

I could fix that last, having a subject who couldn’t run away was useful if they initially failed to comply.

Using his other arm as a reference, I managed to build a crude replacement from metal sheets. I have since then been able to figure out how to fully replicate the nanobots that compose his body, but he insists on keeping the plated one.

His left leg was an easier endeavor, the invaders only seemed to have twisted it until the visible wiring snapped. Turning it back undid the tension and gave partial function to that area. I probably should have disabled the connection to that limb too, seeing as he proceeded to kick me in the face after finding out he could move his leg.

I informed him that the operation was almost complete, the only thing left was to replace his eye. He had so far accepted what happened to him now, though I expected some resistance at this stage. But he did not cry, he did not even glare at me like he always has.

Instead, I found him smiling back at me, still strapped to the chair, still having that ‘annoying white light’ shining in his face. My own words fail to describe such a scene, so I will instead provide a transcript for what proceeded to follow.

[ Location: Beta Star Field Maintenance Center ]

L: Ha! So, that’s it, huh?

A: …I’m not sure what you mean.

L: Of course you don’t know what I mean. You’re an evil man. Has anyone ever told you that, Ayn?

[ Ayn sighs, proceeding to take one of his tools from a tray. ]

A: You’re not the first one to tell me that, and you’re not going to be the last.

L: Well, you can ignore me – Honestly, I’m just laughing at my own expense right now.

L: You probably already have a file on me, so you know what I am, right?

A: An Iterator, an artificial lifeform.

L: A robot. Now imagine this – I get built for one purpose. I go into life, crunching numbers, toiling day after day –

L: Then suddenly, whatever good I was working for vanishes into thin air. I don’t have a purpose anymore, I don’t serve any sort of person. And I am left to rot.

L: I get brought to a place, the lair of the very same people that took away everything I had.

L: I get ‘fixed’ to be repurposed, and to serve under my new masters like a prize well earned.

L: I can’t even find a way to self-terminate. I have no choice but to go on like this.

L: And so, I’m awaiting whatever you’ll do to me. Consider this my concession. I don’t think I have enough strength left to resist anyway.

A: …

A: The others have called for you because they think you might be useful in expansion.

A: While you loathe the idea of your sole purpose now being an attack dog for us.

A: I think I could give you a new purpose. Today is the day of your rebirth, if you think about it.

L: Then what do you think of yourself? My god?

A: No, just someone willing to ‘help’.

[ Ayn grasps onto Lars’ chin, the other visibly attempts to struggle. ]

A: Whatever anyone says to you outside of this room. Know that my command supersedes them all.

A: You will live for me to work on. And you will not cease until I am done with you. Do you understand?

[ Lars stops struggling, staying completely still and silent until 5 minutes pass. ]

L: I can accept that.

[ END TRANSCRIPT ]

It is now that day.

I’ll get him something, it’s the least I could do.

[blueeyesking]

They escort you and Mokuba off of the jet, robotic men with firearms, leading you both onto an aircraft carrier and

knocking you out.

Not that Seto could truly be aware of being knocked out- one doesn't usually realize they've lost consciousness until they wake up, and Seto doesn't wake up in any situation that would give him the impression he was knocked out manually.

No, this time, Seto wakes up to a familiar alarm, in an uncomfortably stiff position, from a light and fitful sleep that didn't last nearly long enough and never has. Hobson knocks at his door, perfectly on schedule as always, after just long enough for Seto to have made his own bed and gotten dressed for the day's studies; he's brought the boy black tea and a simple breakfast, which Seto takes with a quiet expression of gratitude. He doesn't have time to sit and eat at a proper breakfast table, at a reasonable hour, with his brother and adopted father like a real family- no, today, like every day since Seto and Mokuba were adopted by Kaiba Gouzaburo, Seto will spend studying, taking notes, and being lectured by his guardian about the intricacies of international business and how to run a multi-billion dollar corporation.

This day in particular has Gouzaburo greeting him with a smack to the face and a variety of colorful insults. It's not unusual, but rare enough that Seto doesn't expect the abuse, and the boy loses his grip on the breakfast tray from the shock of the blow. "YOU COULD NEVER DESERVE TO BE CALLED A KAIBA! YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED ME LIKE THIS- YOU MAY AS WELL STILL BE ■■■■■ SETO!"

Gouzaburo screaming at his downturned, stinging face, however, is not nearly as uncommon as being physically struck. The boy holds his cheek for a moment as the shock settles on his nerves, steeling himself anew for the day's tribulations, until he's certain he can kneel and clean up his mess without letting an ounce of feeling show on his features. He can't let Gouzaburo see that he's affecting him- if he sees it, then Seto loses today's battle of wills, and if one loses, they might as well be dead. 

Seto can't allow himself to lose.

The rest of the day passes before Seto really has time to process the encounter, lunch and dinner both eaten in haste around his studies or entirely skipped, until it is his inability to read and comprehend a sentence that finally drives Kaiba Seto to retire back to his bedroom for a few, fitful hours of rest.

The day replays itself in his dreams, Gouzaburo's abuses becoming louder and more scathing each time. "FAILURE! YOU WILL NEVER BE MY SON!"

"YOU CHILDREN WOULD STILL BE ROTTING IN THAT ORPHANAGE, IF NOT FOR ME, AND SO HELP ME I WILL RETURN YOU TO IT!"

"MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SO USELESS, SO WEAK! YOU ARE NOTHING!"

Until one day, something changes. This time, Gouzaburo encourages Mokuba into the room and forces him to watch Seto clean up his mess. "You see this, boy? Your brother will never be anything greater than what you are now: a sniveling, worthless mistake. But you…" Gouzaburo's hand grips Mokuba's shoulder in a manner that should be painfully tight. Both appear to be giants to Seto, looming over him, making him feel as weak as Gouzaburo claims. "You could be so much more, Mokuba."

Seto seethes, shaking gently, and imagines instead throwing the mess he is cleaning into Gouzaburo's horrible face. Instead, he holds himself back, swallowing hard. Gouzaburo laughs at the young man.

"You see now? He trembles with fear; he knows his place will never be by my side, but that yours could be. Consider it, Mokuba."

When next Seto wakes, he is older- more experienced, unafraid, ruthless. He has been working on something that will ruin Kaiba Gouzaburo's life, forever: Seto and the Big Five, together, own 49% of Kaiba Corporation. A hostile takeover. Kaiba Seto will own KaibaCorp and finally save the world from Gouzaburo's lust for wealth and power. It doesn't matter that there was a leak; it doesn't matter that he hurt his brother yesterday, only that Gouzaburo will try and use him to turn the coup back on Seto… and Mokuba will betray him, giving the majority stake in the company to their side. 

Kaiba Gouzaburo will finally lose the game they've been playing since he adopted Seto and Mokuba.

Everything according to plan, Seto and the Big Five confront Gouzaburo in the board room with their ploy. Predictably, Gouzaburo believes that Mokuba's 2% stake in the company is still his, and their takeover is meaningless… Then declares bankruptcy on behalf of Kaiba Corporation. 

Of course he would. Seto calculated all of this into his plan.

Gouzaburo launches into an explanation of the stakes: "With your stock holdings worthless under this bankruptcy, you will have no choice but to mortgage your life to me, Seto! You will be in debt for eternity!! You LOSE!"

Seto and the Big Five stand in what appears to be shock, but Seto is simply

waiting. A beat passes. Something is wrong.

Mokuba hasn't shown up.

There are no young footsteps running down the hall, ready to burst into the room and side with Seto, completing the coup.

Gouzaburo raises a dangerous eyebrow and barks, "WORTHLESS! ALL OF YOUR SCHEMING, YOUR DISDAIN FOR OTHERS, IT MEANS NOTHING IN REAL LIFE! YOU ARE NOTHING, SETO!"

Seto falls to his knees, all bravado and confidence sapped from him, leaving a cold pit in his stomach. In trying to prove his adoptive father wrong, in trying to enact meaningful change for the world, Seto only proved Gouzaburo right. 

He's lost everything.

The boy stares blankly at the floor, in true shock, trembling in true fear.

This isn't how it was supposed to go.

This isn't right.

[cavefilllingcorporation]

Summer Quarterly Financial Report 2024

Welcome to our first Quarterly Financial report. This report will not be wordy like the Export Logs, and instead will focus on cold hard statistics and percentages. This report is slightly off as we did not keep track of our exports for our investors until late April, but next report will keep track of the entire financial quarter. We hope this will be the first of many similar reports like this.

Significant Statistics

Exported Crates: 3912

Significant Absence sales (in terms of Crates): 1355.5

Dragons acquired: 4

Crates of Stone used in Cave Filling: 118

Worlds identified as potential additions: 15

New Additions to company territory: 0

Identifications to possible territory additions were not announced, and it is unlikely that they will be announced in the future.

Significant Client Sales:

Automatons {Helldivers 2}:

30 Crates of Steel

2 Crates of Quartz

1 Crate of Cobalt

12 Crates of Silica Sand

{If anybody has any other faction they would like the CFC to sell to, let me know!}

Heroes League engagements:

Solar Isles - Completed, Looted, and extracted from.

Completion Percentages:

MazeRun Percentage: 3.76% -> 6.72%

Shattered Isles Percentage: 5% -> 11%

Storytime Dimension Percentage: 6% -> 5%

C8H Percentage: 0% -> 1.44%

Default Percentage: 0% -> 0%

Inferno Project: 0% -> 1.2%

Unfortunately, we had to decrease the Storytime Dimension's percentage as there was a survey error. This should not happen again, and next report the percentages should go up. Next time, we will also highlight percentage increases, instead of having them buried in the Export Logs like the Great Tree one. To this end, we will make major percentage increases their own announcement once again, instead of lumping them with Export Logs.

Also we have completed surveys on C8H and Default to prepare for this report. They will never be as exact as the others, but hopefully they will be decent to show progress. That being said, while we hope that Default will continue at a fast rate, and we will be more than happy to show the progress in the weekly export logs, the same cannot be said for C8H. Due to the nature of C8H work, there are a ton of areas that need to be explored and addressed, and it is almost impossible to compartmentalize them in a way to make completion of an area immediately recognizable. As such, surveys will be taken near quarterly reports, and progress will be shown there. Major announcements will be made for major things (Like all Caves being filled or something), but the chances of that happening soon are unlikely. To be fair, Default suffers from some of the same issues, but not nearly as much as C8H, and immediate recognition of cleared areas is possible. (Also, apologies for the wordiness in the report, we will avoid doing this in the future)

Side Projects:

Art commissions - Ongoing

Archeology - Ongoing

Alien Invasion defense - Completed

Restaurant Investments - Completed, but financial failure (saved employees though)

Magnus Project- Completed, but a waste of resources

Atmospheric Clearing - 0% -> 25%

Prehistoric warfare - Completed with lots of loot

Breakfast and Utility company investment - Destroyed due to warfare, managed to get some return.

Giant-fighting super soldier program - Ongoing

Hotel Investments - Ongoing

Factory Robots Part 1 - 0% -> 31.25%

Other Significant Projects/Plans

Inferno Project - Corporation with Tomorrow Corporation to distribute goods and gain lots of absence resources

Loading Goods - Completed

Catalog 1

Catalog 2

Catalog 3

Catalog 4

Catalog 5

Catalog 6

Catalog 7

Anti Project Plan - Finish Solar isles Campaign, Inferno Project, and Default Project to free up time and resources

Load Inferno Project Goods - Completed

Completing Solar Isles Loading - Completed

Finish Cave Filling - Completed

Get goods to C8H - Completed

Process Side Project Loot - Ongoing

Process Solar Isles Loot - On hold

Process Inferno Catalog 1 - On hold

Process Inferno Catalog 2 - On hold

Process Inferno Catalog 3 - On hold

Process Inferno Catalog 4 - On hold

Process Inferno Catalog 5 - On hold

Process Inferno Catalog 6 - On hold

Process Inferno Catalog 7 - On hold

Finish Default Project - Ongoing

[inkykeiji]

i can take you there but baby you won’t make it back

character: dabi | todoroki touya

notes: stepcest (kind of—ur parents aren’t married yet) with dabi-as-touya x a very naïve and inexperienced reader, normal!AU (no quirks, dabi also has tattoos over his scarred + fully healed skin), university!reader, implied yakuza!dabi, excessive use of the words niichan and good, praise kink, fingering, face fucking, title credit = save that shit by lil peep lmao  uhhhh yeah i hc dabi as a very intelligent and perceptive individual soooo i feel like he’d be a master at reading a person & their emotions and then adapting his manipulation techniques

warnings: 18+, pseudo-incest (stepcest), noncon/dubcon, slight somnophilia, emotional manipulation, toxic relationship, size difference, slight degradation, mentions of drug use

words: 7.1k

part 2.1 | part 2.2

synopsis:

“You want to be good for me, don’t you, sweetheart?”

“Of course,” you respond instantly. Later, when you lay awake in your bed, you’ll feel ashamed by your actions, by how readily captivated you were with him, by how easily he was able to manipulate you with those sapphire eyes and that rough voice—

But in that moment, you’ll do anything to pull that little smile from him, anything to hear him tell you you’re good. You just want to be good.

Something dark and primal flashes in those gorgeous eyes as they gaze down at you, a small grin spreading across his face. “Of course,” he repeats softly.

        ✰          ✰          ✰          ✰          ✰          ✰          ✰          

Your dad’s been dating Rei for a while—nearly a year, now—when things begin to get serious, and he proposes to her.

She accepts, so it’s not exactly a surprise when she suggests you guys move in with her—she’s got more than enough space, she tells you, it’s just her and her son in that big old house—and your dad seems pretty thrilled about it. This was the next step before marriage, after all.

You like Rei well enough, she’s always been nothing but sweet to you, and anyway, your father’s relationship really isn’t any of your business or concern.

It isn’t that you don’t want to move in with her—her house is in a better part of the neighborhood, a standard detached upper-middle class home, and just a short walk from a bus stop that’ll take you directly to university, which you start in a week.

It’s just…You’re a little apprehensive.

You know she has kids. She mentions them in passing every once in a while, but you can’t for the life of you remember their names, or their ages, or how many of them there are. You know they don’t all live with her, that her relationship with her ex-husband is complicated and rocky at best.

But you’re still surprised to hear that only one of them, her eldest, lives with her. She tells you he’s five years older than you are, that he’s a clever, smart boy, going off on a tangent about how disappointed she is that he didn’t go to university, because ‘he would’ve done so well—he could’ve shone so brightly.’ Something about the way she says that, the way her voice sounds almost sad, makes anxiety turn to lead in your stomach. She talks about him as if he’s already a lost cause, but he’s only in his mid-twenties, isn’t he?

You understand the moment you see him. The man standing in front of you as you shift from foot to foot unsurely in the foyer of this unfamiliar house is about as far from what you anticipated as he could possibly be.

He’s tall, skin pale as moonlight, with jet black hair and the most stunning blue eyes you’ve ever seen. But that isn’t what captivates you. It isn’t the lip ring curled around his bottom lip snuggly, and it isn’t the tongue piercing you’re about to find out he’s hiding in his mouth, either.

Every inch of the exposed skin of his arms is covered in intricate, seamlessly flowing tattoos—or, for a moment, you thought it was tattoos, plural. Upon closer inspection, you realize that each arm is actually covered in one giant tattoo, giving a new definition to the term ‘sleeve’. It’s all black ink, not a splash of colour anywhere, depicting an extremely detailed and anatomically correct mechanical arm, complete with what would’ve been joints, ligaments and bones in the form of wires and steel.

The tattoos extend onto the tops of his hands, made to look as if surgical staples are peeling his skin back to reveal the robot beneath. This same tattoo continues up his neck, along his jaw and onto his cheeks, all the way to his bottom lip, spreading across his entire face and disappearing into his hairline and onto his ears. Finally, there’s a small portion of the tattoo underneath his eyes, the surgical staples lining the edges of the face tattoos, too.

It startles you—you’re not necessarily scared, you just…weren’t expecting that. But there’s no denying the rush of breath that involuntarily escapes your lips as your eyes search his face, raking over his body in a brazen way that should make you feel shameful, travelling back up to find him smirking smugly at you, raising an eyebrow as your eyes meet again.

The look in his eyes tells you he knows, knows what you’re thinking about, knows how undeniably attracted you are to him, and scalding heat floods your cheeks.

He chuckles a little, which does nothing but add insult to injury, and sharp anger slices through your chest at the way that you stomach absolutely drops at his gravelly voice. You can’t believe yourself, can’t believe your body is reacting and responding so readily to this man—this stranger.

He introduces himself as Touya, in that rough, deep voice that forces a jolt of electricity to run through your veins. You idly wonder what your name would sound like on his tongue, how it might sound if his voice dropped to a growl, find yourself stuck thinking about this for the rest of the night.

✰          ✰          ✰          

To your disappointment, and as much as you are unabashedly interested in him, you don’t interact much with Touya for your first few weeks in the house—in fact, you barely see him at all.

This only piques your curiosity about him more, finding that you’re unable to tear your eyes from him on the rare occasion that you are in a room together. He catches you staring every single time, and he has the audacity to chuckle to himself and shake his head when his gaze meets yours, your eyes quickly darting away and cheeks burning at his laugh.

You begin gathering little tidbits of information about him, purely sourced from interactions you witness in the house, desperately praying for something that’ll give you an opportunity to start a conversation with him.

Your efforts prove fruitless when, almost a month and a half since you moved in, you’ve still only spoken a handful of words to him. You do learn a bit about him through observing, though.

You discover that he’s a smoker, which really doesn’t come as a shock at all. Marlboro’s are his favourite, and he’s always got a pack in his back pocket or rolled up in the short sleeve of his t-shirt. He must have them imported—Marlboro’s are incredibly rare to find all the way in Japan.

Touya must have a lot of things imported.

You find out that every other Thursday, Touya discreetly stuffs an absurdly large wad of cash—all composed of ten-thousand-yen bills—into his mom’s hands, forcing her fingers to curl around it. She fights him on it, every time, but he’s firm and adamant that she take it. It always ends with Rei giving him a small, watery smile, Touya pressing a kiss against the side of her head and murmuring that he loves her.

After you witness this interaction for the first time, you begin to notice that, while the house looks relatively normal on the outside, it is stuffed full of luxury on the inside. Flat-screen TVs each complete with full entertainment systems, state of the art appliances that are somehow up to date with all of the latest trends (including a smart fridge—absolutely ridiculous), custom made furniture, ornate rugs, a housekeeper that drops by every Sunday…

You have no idea what he does for work, but you think you’ve got at least some sort of idea when you catch him one night, just past 2AM, exiting his room and using a thumb to brush excess white powder off his nose. His eyes catch yours, pupils blown and shining in the low light, and he smiles darkly at you, winking once as he walks away.

You don’t ask—no one ever does.

You don’t ask about the crimson splattered on the toe of his boot, or why he sometimes smells metallic, like copper, the strong scent wafting after him and invading the halls as he stalks leisurely toward the bathroom. You don’t ask why he leaves the house at odd hours in the night, and you definitely don’t ask about the soft clinking and clicking you hear through the thin walls every so often while he cleans his gun at 3AM.

You’re not sure if it’s really any of your business, anyway. So you stay quiet, and continue to wait.

The opportunity finally comes one Wednesday in October, two weeks before Halloween, when you’re in the kitchen after school busy fixing yourself an afternoon snack. Touya comes home uncharacteristically early—you rarely see him before 10PM, so his entrance scares you, and you jump a little.

“Sorry,” he murmurs as he passes by behind you, just an inch too close, just enough so you can feel his body heat radiating off of him.

“It’s fine,” you say quietly, shaking your head a little and trying in vain to stop your hands from trembling as you spread peanut butter across a piece of bread.

You can feel his eyes on you, and it makes you nervous, makes your skin crawl in a way you’ve never felt before. He laughs a little at your struggling, leaning against the counter next to you and crossing his arms over his chest.

“You don’t have to be so nervous around me, y’know,” he says with a smirk, eyes glittering at the way your lips part in surprise, your breath stuttering a little. “I’m your niichan after all, aren’t I?”

You hadn’t even considered using the honorific until he himself uses it.

Your hands freeze, hovering over your plate, and you look over at him slowly. “You…Want me to call you that?”

“You can, if you’d like,” he says smoothly, nonchalantly, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. It makes no difference to him, he tells you, but when he finally looks back at you, you think you can see it in his eyes—a sharp, small glimmer of…of something. Something that makes your stomach twist in a way you can’t decide if you like or not.

But this is it, you think, this is your opening to finally begin talking to him.

So you do. And the smirk he gives you the first time you address him by the honorific, voice quivering slightly as you ask him where Rei normally keeps the blender, is nothing short of predatory.

“It’s on the top shelf. It’s too high for you, though,” he says, voice so sickly sweet it almost sounds mocking. “Let niichan get it for you,”

It isn’t, but you let him get it for you anyway.

And he knows—knows he’s got you the moment you gasp at the honorific leaving his lips, trying to hide it behind your hand, nodding quickly and squeaking out a thank you.

It starts after that. He begins playing with you; a sick, perverse game of cat and mouse, hunter and hunted, and you play your part perfectly.

You’d be lying if you said you didn’t love it, if you said it didn’t send wicked sparks of excitement shooting up your spine and an intense fluttering in your stomach.

And it starts slow. It starts with gentle pet names—honey, sweetheart, princess—and fingertips trailing down your arm as he passes you. It starts with a large hand placed on the small of your back, guiding you—out of the house and into his car, out of the kitchen and into the living room, out of the hallway and into his bedroom—and with little pecks on your lips stolen when no one’s watching, quick kisses that leave you feeling exhilarated despite their chastity.

Suddenly, he’s home a hell of a lot more. He’s sitting too close to you on the couch while you curl up with a textbook, his thigh pressed against you and flesh burning hot through his black jeans. He’s joining the family dinner a few times a week, idly hooking and unhooking his ankle with yours beneath the table while smirking at you from across it.

Suddenly, he’s asking you if you need a ride to school, or if you need someone to pick you up. You don’t, you tell him, the bus is just fine, but he insists. It’s what niichans do, he says. He wants to take care of you, he says.

Who are you to deny him that, really?

✰          ✰          ✰          

The first time you experience Touya angry is about a month after the inciting incident, when he catches you walking home with a few of your university friends.

He had texted you earlier that day, telling you that he—very regretfully, he said—would be unable to pick you up from school this afternoon because ‘something had come up’.

You didn’t question what it was—you knew he’d lie even if you did. So you accepted it obediently, reassured him that it was fine, that you’d find another way home.

You’re pretty sure if you had told him that you didn’t have any extra change on you for the bus suddenly whatever important thing that had ‘come up’ which so desperately needed his attention wouldn’t be so urgent anymore. But you didn’t want to be a bother, or inconvenience him, so you say nothing.

Two friends decide they’ll accompany you on your walk home, so you aren’t lonely, they claim. Normally, the walk from campus to your house is about thirty minutes, but that day it takes you nearly an hour, wasting time goofing around and walking slowly as you talk idly.

Touya’s already pissed that it’s taken you so long to arrive home, that you’ve ignored all of his extremely considerate texts asking if you’re alright, but when he sees you squished between two boys, giggling as the three of you stumble up your driveway—he’s fucking fuming.

“Where the fuck have you been?” he asks, voice calm and monotonous, leaning casually against the doorframe.

Your head snaps up—you swear he wasn’t there just a second ago—blood running cold.

His stance is relaxed, arms crossed loosely over his chest, lazily raising an eyebrow as your wide eyes meet his. Technically, the only indication that he’s furious is the blazing blue fire in his eyes, but your friends can read the tension in the air surrounding him, shuffling a little closer to you. This minuscule action does not go unnoticed by Touya, sharp jaw clenching once.

“You had niichan worried,”

You’re frozen a few feet away from the porch, unable to find your voice, to move your legs, to breathe at all.

“I didn’t know you had an older brother,”

Your eyes do not leave Touya’s as you speak, the words hoarse. “Oh, we’re—”

“Yeah,” Touya bites, irritation finally bleeding into his voice. “She does,” his eyes float back to yours. “Come here, princess,”

Your body snaps into action, moving automatically before you can even comprehend it, allowing Touya to tuck you into his side the moment you reach him.

Your hands are shaking, but you have no control over them as your fingers curl in his white t-shirt, clinging to him. To your surprise, the arm around your shoulders hugs you closer in response, thumb caressing you.

“Thanks for making sure she got home safely,” he tosses over his shoulder, managing to make the simple sentence sound like an insult, tone bordering on patronizing, while he turns on his heel, marching you both inside.

“I-I’m so sorry,” you’re rushing to say the moment the front door shuts behind you two, Touya’s arm still wrapped firmly around you.

He looks down at you coldly. “Don’t you dare pull shit like that again,” he tells you, eerily calm voice forcing spikes of icy dread up your spine. He pauses for a moment, letting his words sink in as his eyes bore into yours. “You had me worried sick,” he breathes out then, squeezing you again. You’re surprised in the sudden change of tone, feeling your chest swell at the thought of him fretting over you, a small smile gracing your lips.

“I…I did?”

Touya’s eyebrows furrow, as if he’s offended at your questioning, mood morphing in the span of a second. “Of course you fucking did,” he spits like you’re stupid, arm dropping. “Do you ever check your phone?”

“Wh-What?”

Touya rolls his eyes. “Check your phone,” he calls out airily as he begins walking into the kitchen, shaking his head a little, disappointment rolling off him in waves.

Hastily fishing your phone out of your bag, you’re astonished to see eight texts from him and three missed calls. You scroll through the texts quickly, each one making you feel more nauseous than the next. ‘Is everything okay? You should’ve been home by now’; ‘Please answer me, princess, you’re making your niichan nervous’; ‘Where are you? Answer my fucking calls already’. Guilt turns sour in your mouth and you hurry after him.

“I-I really am s-so sorry,” you force the words out, unsure as to why there are suddenly tears stinging your eyes. He isn’t even doing anything—his back is facing you as he nonchalantly begins brewing a pot of coffee.

But the thought of him being upset with you, of losing his approval, sends a sharp pain searing through your chest.

“Are you?” he asks, and although his voice holds no malice in it, it causes your whole body to stutter with a harsh breath.

“Yes,” you whimper out, latching onto his arm and tugging in an attempt to draw his eyes to yours, to see how regretful you are, the remorse written across your face. “I should’ve…That was so careless and inconsiderate of me,”

“It was,” he agrees simply, voice still light, as if he’s discussing something as mundane as the weather. “But you’ll never do it again, right?”

“Right,” you agree readily, breathing out the word before you even realize what you’re agreeing to.

“Tell niichan you’ll never worry him like that again,” he finally looks over at you.

“I-I’ll never worry you like that again, niichan, I pr-promise,”

His eyes hold yours for what feels like eons, before he finally twists his arm out of your grasp, instead wrapping it around you and tugging you against his body. You stay staring up at him, eyes wide and obedient, breath bated as you wait for your next order, so pliant and ready to serve him.

“Good,” he whispers, eyes finally softening, and you feel like you can breathe properly again. His free hand cups your face, thumb running along your lips, then your chin, then your jaw. “You want to be good for me, don’t you, sweetheart?”

“Of course,” you respond instantly. Later, you’ll lay awake in your bed, feeling ashamed by your actions, by how readily captivated you were with him, by how easily he was able to manipulate you with those sapphire eyes and that rough voice—

But in that moment, you’ll do anything to pull that little smile from him, anything to hear him tell you you’re good. You just want to be good.

Something dark and primal flashes in those gorgeous eyes as they gaze down at you, a small grin spreading across his face. “Of course,” he repeats softly.

  ✰          ✰          ✰          

He begins to trust you more. You meet his friends, each one terrifying in their own right. Jin is alright, although his brain is fried from drugs, and he talks to and contradicts himself a lot, earning the nickname Twice from Tomura.

Tomura horrifies you to your very core—a tall, lanky man with sunken red eyes and sickly pale skin who looks like he’s one bad day away from death—and Touya tells you very sternly to stay away from him.

A university student not unlike yourself, Keigo is your favourite. Keigo is the most normal, with his wild blonde hair and enticing gold eyes that always look like they’re playfully holding the secrets of the universe just out of your grasp.

Keigo’s brain is always going a hundred miles a minute, although you’d never guess it with his trademark lazy drawl, speaking as if he hasn’t got a care in the world. But he can always keep a conversation going, knows exactly what to say to avoid awkward silences or lulls in the discussion, and you appreciate that. You think he’s so cool—he has so much knowledge about the oddest things, everything and anything, ‘a walking encyclopedia’, Tomura calls it, and it fascinates you to no end.

It’s the speed, Touya tells you one night while you’re laying on the couch, your body on top of his, the pads of his fingers dragging down your back in rhythmic strokes. Speed is Keigo’s drug of choice, you find out. Speed is the reason why Keigo knows as much as he does.

“Sometimes he doesn’t sleep for days,” Touya says. “That’s how he has all the time to memorize everything he knows—though that big overactive brain of his plays a part in it, too,”

The thought inexplicably makes your heart sink in your chest, and you don’t say anything else. If Touya notices your shift in mood, he doesn’t mention it. You idly wonder what Touya’s drug of choice is, but you’re too scared of the answer to ask.

  ✰          ✰          ✰          

It’s only a few nights later when you wake with a violent jolt, breathing laboured as you absentmindedly press your palm to your chest, trying in vain to calm your racing heart.

A nightmare.

You sit in silence for a moment, listening to the sound of your own harsh breaths echoing off the walls and debating what to do next. A minute later, you swing your legs over the side of the bed, wincing when your bare feet touch the cold hardwood, and pad down the hallway.

You try to trick yourself into believing that you aren’t using this purely as an excuse to spend the night with him. It really was so scary, you reason with yourself, it really has made you all shaken up…

Who are you kidding? You didn’t even attempt to go back to sleep.

You’ve been in his room plenty of times now—sitting daintily on his bed as he introduces you to new music, new movies, new books. Stuff that reminds him of you, he says, stuff that he thought you might be interested in. You’re grateful for it; there are so many things you’ve learned in the short time you’ve known him.

That isn’t all, though. There’s no denying the warmth that spreads through your body, that tiny excited flutter in your chest, when he calls your name and interlaces your fingers, leading you toward his room and telling you he’s got something to show you.

Yes, you’ve been in his room plenty of times now. But this is the first time you spend the night in his bed.

He’s still up, soft golden light leaking from under his closed bedroom door. Your hand quivers a little as you lift it to rap your knuckles against the wood. He appears in the doorway a moment later, leaning against the frame in a black t-shirt that looks like it’s a size or two too small for him, riding up to reveal a teasing sliver of milky skin, tips of his hipbones jutting out from the waistband of his plaid pajama pants.

“Princess? What is it?”

You didn’t realize you were staring, and you jump a little at his gravelly voice.

“Oh. I, um—Well, I just…had a nightmare a-and I can’t sleep,”

You can barely look him in the eyes as you say it, your cheeks burning. You both know it’s a lie.

But he plays along.

“Aw, baby,” he coos, drawing you into his arms, into his room, into his bed.

“You’re trembling,” he murmurs as he turns on his side to face you, propping his head up with a hand. “Poor thing. Was it a bad one?”

Your mouth feels like its been stuffed with cotton, rendering you incapable of speech, tongue dry and sluggish. You nod in response, heat seeping into your cheeks again at just how loudly your heart is thumping while you roll onto your side. There’s only a few inches of space between your bodies now, his hot breath fanning across your face as he speaks again.

“Do you want niichan to help you forget about it?”

The question hangs heavy in the air, and you suck your bottom lip into your mouth, eyes searching his. Your thighs squeeze together at the way his voice has dropped an octave, low and husky, familiar heat pooling in the depths of your belly. He waits patiently, lifting a hand to caress your cheek, then runs his fingertips down your bare arm, goosebumps following.

Finally, you nod. You think you see the corners of his lips quirk up into the slightest hint of a smirk, but you blink, and it’s gone.

“Here,” he whispers, hooking an arm around your waist and pulling you against him. Hand cupping your jaw, he tilts your face up and slots his mouth against yours.

You’ve kissed before, of course—in his bed, in yours, on the living room couch, on the kitchen counter with his hips shoved between your thighs—but this…this feels different.

These are kisses with intent, with purpose, with a goal in mind. These are kisses that keep you distracted—slow, soft, messy with saliva—as his hand slips down your body and between your thighs.

Your gasp breaks the kiss, wide eyes blinking up at him then fluttering shut as he brushes a knuckle against your clit. He hushes you, nimble fingers spreading your folds before he drags them up your slit, huffing out a laugh at how wet you already are.

“Were you thinking about something naughty before?” he gasps mockingly, sliding the pads of his fingers back down as he speaks.

His hand withdraws from your shorts and he orders you to lift your hips, tugging the waistband down your thighs. You squirm a little, forcing them further down your legs until you free yourself of them completely, eyes gazing up at him again, awaiting your next command.

Legs part dutifully as his hand travels back down to the apex of your thighs, pushing a finger into your soaking pussy.

It’s slow at first, thrusting leisurely with his middle finger a few times and loosening you up a little before adding his ring finger. Sapphire eyes watch his motions, captivated by how your eager little cunt sucks his fingers in selfishly.

“Look at that, huh?” he breathes, looking down at you. “Such a pretty little pussy you’ve got,”

You open your bleary eyes to peer at yourself, mesmerized by the way his fingers are pumping in and out of you, glistening in the dim light of his bedroom. He curls his fingers and you inhale sharply, hips twitching toward his palm.

“Oh?” he chuckles darkly, knuckles nudging the spot again. “Did niichan find something, baby?”

You don’t know, you’re not sure, you try to tell him, but all you can seem to manage is pathetic little whines while you nod your head.

“Have you ever touched yourself?” he’s asking as the pads of his fingers tap against that spot, your entire body jolting.

“Y-Yes,” you whimper out, a little breathlessly. “But it’s never felt like this,”

“Aw, baby,” he coos, and it’s so condescending. “Then you weren’t doing it right, sweetheart,”

He quickens his pace, chuckles at the way you try to desperately fuck yourself on his fingers at such an awkward angle.

“Poor little thing, can’t even get herself off properly,” he tsks. “You need your niichan to do it for you, don’t you?”

Soft whines spill from your throat as you nod eagerly, your stomach coiling tightly.

“One day,” he breathes, curling his fingers with a vengeance this time, your hips rolling up off the mattress. “When we have the time, I’ll teach you how to make yourself feel so good,”  

He’s talking too much. You want to tell him this, tell him to shut the hell up, but every time you try to speak he presses the heel of his palm to your clit and grinds against it, effectively scattering all of your thoughts, soft mewls of niichan the only sound escaping your lips.

Can’t deny his voice is fucking hot though, a form of foreplay all on its own.

And he knows this, can read you like a goddamn book, especially when he’s got his fingers two knuckles deep inside of you. He can feel it, he tells you. You don’t even need to speak; he can feel your thoughts when his voice drops an octave and your cute little hole flutters, when he chuckles and your pussy clenches around his fingers—a slut for his voice, aren’t you?

“Pretty baby, you can’t do anything but nod dumbly, can you? Been fucked stupid by my fingers alone, huh?”

Your head barely moves, lost all control of your body by this point, only able to whimper in response.

“Gonna come all over my fingers, pretty girl?” the knuckle of his thumb begins grazing your clit in quick strokes. “C’mon, make a mess for niichan,”

And it’s pathetic, how quickly your body obeys. Your pussy squeezes once, twice, three times and you’re gushing all over his fingers, juices collecting in his palm, running down his wrist. You’re embarrassed—you’ve never cum that much before, have you?

Breathing still ragged, you nuzzle into his sheets, partially hiding your face from him. Nothing could hide the involuntary grin that forms on your lips, though. Arms snake under your boneless body, tugging a bit.

“Oh no, baby, we aren’t done yet,” Touya’s saying while he hoists you up, letting you lean heavily against him.

Head tilting in confusion, your glazed eyes find his. “Wh-What?”

He looks down at his lap and your gaze follows, a tiny whimper slipping past your lips at the bulge straining against his pants. “Doesn’t niichan deserve a nice reward for helping you forget that scary dream?”

Eyes darting back to his, you nod slowly, whispering out, “Yes. But—But…” But you’re hesitant; you’ve never done anything like this before. Shaking hands reach for the waistband of his pants, beginning to pull them down but freezing when the head of his cock peeks out.

Touya sighs. “Come on, you wanna be a good girl for niichan, don’t you?”

Of course. Of courses you do.

Then he wants you to touch him, he says. He’ll help you; he promises.

“But you gotta get it wet first,”

You ask how, and he laughs at you. “With your tongue, stupid,” he tells you.

He instructs you to kneel on the floor and you comply immediately, trembling legs folding beneath your body as you situate yourself between his knees. He inches forward on the bed a little, shuffling himself to the edge and caging you between his thighs. Bringing his cock close to your mouth, he taps the head against your closed lips.

They part instantly, obediently, his eyes flashing with something sinister as you take the head into your mouth and suck hesitantly, big eyes staring up at him waiting for approval.

He curses, his hips twitching ever so slightly, skin stretched taut over bony knuckles as a hand forms a fist in the sheets. Starting with kitten licks at first, the tip of your tongue barely touches him, tracing veins, then begins to gain more confidence as he groans a little, telling you what to you, that you’re doing good, so good for him.

Watching him through thick lashes, you have the audacity to look bashful as your tongue laves around the shaft, drenching it in saliva. A hand tangles in your hair and yanks, pulling you off his cock when he decides it’s sufficiently wet enough. Long fingers encircle your wrist, bringing your hand to form a fist around him.

“Like this,” he says, jerking your hand up and down.

You’re terrible at it, movements awkward and uncoordinated, but in that moment he doesn’t really care. He’s irritated a little, wondering out loud how anyone can be bad at handjobs while a large hand wraps around yours and forces you to speed up. Bad? Your heart sinks at the small three letter word, a hard lump forming in your throat, looking as though you may start crying.

But he cums quickly after that, ropes of searing hot white painting your cheeks and face. You watch him the entire time, panting a little, lips parted slightly and your tongue darts out to lick them, tasting him.

He laughs at your bitter reaction, and it’s such a patronizing sound.

“Don’t worry,” he says, collecting the cum off your face and forcing his fingers into your mouth. “Someday I’ll stuff your throat full of it.”

  ✰          ✰          ✰          

You can no longer mention needing—no, wanting—anything around him anymore, because within the next few days it’s sitting pretty and perfect on your bed, propped up against your lace trimmed pillows.

He’s so good to you; you should be grateful you have such a generous niichan, one who eats you out and spoils you with gifts. You’re so spoiled.

And he tells you this, in the dead of night when you wake to find him shoving his cock into you, snarling a little at your soft whines of protest.

“Don’t be a brat,” he warns. Just be a good girl and take his cock. He does so much for you, can’t you be good for him?

Yes, yes, you want to be good for him, you want to be the best for him.

By this point you’ve lost count of how many times you’ve woken up in the middle of the night with his head between your thighs, prepping you to take him.

“Stay sleeping, baby,” he’ll tell you, words whispered into your hair as his cockhead nudges against your hole.

As if you could ever stay sleeping when only a few minutes later he’s pounding you into oblivion, large hand clasped over your mouth so tightly his blunt nails are digging into your cheek, so hard that it’s yanking your head back, neck beginning to ache.

He tells you to be quiet, “You don’t want anyone to hear, do you? Then we’d have to stop, and you don’t want that, right, sweetheart?”

You don’t, you whimper. Of course you don’t—you want whatever he wants, you want to be his perfect little baby, you want to be told how good you take his cock, the praise mumbled against your skin in a low, strained voice right before he fills you with cum.

  ✰          ✰          ✰          

He disappears for a few days near the end of December. You have no idea where, Touya answering your curious texts with playful quips at first before he grows tired of it and tells you to stop fucking asking.

But eventually, he returns.

The front door slams shut and your body flinches with a jolt of excitement. Adrenaline spikes your blood when you hear his heavy boots colliding with the hardwood, getting louder, louder, louder…

He passes right by you, not glancing at you at all. Moments later, the sound of water hitting the tiled shower wall echoes down the hallway.

And you wait. Patiently, you wait, like the good little girl you are, not daring to move a muscle. Eventually he re-emerges, hair still damp, a few strands sticking to his neck.

With a groan, he collapses on the couch next to you, flopping his head into your lap and gazing up at you with glazed, blown sapphire eyes.

“You’re high,” you say softly, not accusatory, just an observation. He giggles a little.

“So what if I am?”

“What did you take?”

“Oh,” he gasps mockingly. “Oh no, baby, I can’t tell you that,”

Why? The question is burning on the tip of your tongue, and you can tell that he’s anticipating that to be your next response, but you bite down on your bottom lip, holding it in. You know his answer already, can practically hear his patronizing voice—Because good baby sisters aren’t supposed to know about stuff like this.

“Can I try some?” you ask instead.

All of the mirth fades from his eyes in an instant, and he moves in a flash despite his inebriated state, so quick you can barely tell what’s happening. His large hand wraps around your bicep in a bruising grasp, pulling you towards him as he sits up, his face an inch away from yours.

“Absolutely fucking not,” he spits, cobalt eyes blazing and voice rumbling against your chest. “And if I so much as catch wind that you’re using, have a mere feeling that you’ve tried it—even just once—I’ll slaughter you and the fucker you got it from. Do you understand me?”

Surprised tears spring into your eyes and you nod jerkily, body beginning to tremble as your breath gets caught in your throat. You want to tell him that you didn’t mean it, honest, you promise!; that you were just kidding around, you swear!, but you can’t, voice mangling itself with the hitched little breaths on the back of your tongue.

He growls at your silence, his grip around your arm tightening and you cry out, terrified that he might actually crush the bone with his bare hand.

“Say, yes Touya, I understand,”

“Y-Yes Touya, I understand,” you manage to stutter out, voice returning only at the command of a direct order, tears spilling over and rolling down your cheeks in pairs. His eyes search your face for a moment, his features contorted in fury, before he sneers at you, squeezing your arm once then roughly letting go, shoving you away from him.

You fall backward against the arm of the couch, heart thumping so vigorously you’re sure he can hear it. He groans, throwing his head back and closing his eyes, exasperated.

“Fuck,” he sighs, eyes opening to glare at the ceiling. “You’ve ruined my high,”

You stare at him, breath coming out in uneven huffs, clinging to the couch.

“I-I’m sorry,” you whisper, terrified to move lest you upset him more.

He’s silent for a moment, still staring up, until he lolls his head to the side, glancing at you through the corner of his eye. A small smirk spreads across his face.

“C’mere,” he says, nodding his head a little in indication.

“Wh-What?”

“C’mere,” he repeats. “Come make it up to me,”

Your body’s moving before you’ve given it permission to, crawling into his lap obediently, thighs on either side of his hips. His smirk widens, and you love it—you love how much control he has over you without even trying, you love the way a quiet whimper slips through your lips as his large hands begin kneading your flesh, running up your legs and grabbing your ass.

Lips trail up the column of your neck, and you tilt your head back, a silent plea for more. You can feel the way his lips curl into a grin against your skin, nipping at it a second later.

“So, how you gonna make it up to me? Huh?” he shifts his hips under you, pressing his hard cock into your clothed core. You whine a little, grinding against him.

“I’ve got a few ideas,” you breathe out while sharp teeth mar your collarbone.

“The hell you waiting for? Show me,”

You begin sliding down his body and he pushes on your shoulders, forcing you to your knees between his spread thighs. He watches you through half-lidded eyes, gaping pupils outlined by a thin ring of blue.

Holding his gaze, you lean forward with your pretty little tongue hanging out and begin licking along the straining bulge, tracing it slowly, the denim rough against your sensitive muscle. You relent though, lapping at his clothed cock in slow, long strokes, and his jeans are just thin enough for you to feel him pulse in response.

A giggle bubbles up past your lips, muffled by the denim, already beginning to feel heady as you pull simple reactions from him. Your mouth forms a cute little ‘o’ and you suck on him the best you can through his jeans, drooling all over his lap and soaking through the material.

The hand in your hair tightens into a fist, yanking hard and pulling your mouth away. “Stop fucking teasing,” he warns, a hint of something ominous in his voice.

You obey, because you always obey, tiny fingers working to quickly unbuckle his belt, pop the button, yank down the zipper. He aids you, lifting his hips and allowing you to tug his jeans down his thighs enough for his cock to spring out.

His own hand wraps around the shaft, you pausing mid-action as you reach for it.

“Open,” he demands, your dutiful lips parting immediately, letting him push his cock into the warm, wet cavern.

He sets a brutal, punishing pace from the start, refusing to give you a single moment to adjust. His other hand fists in your hair, forcing you to stay still as he rams his cock down your throat.

Reflexive tears burn your eyes, blurring your vision. You blink quickly to clear them, desperate to watch him, to catalogue all of his micro-expressions and the sound of his voice as he grunts out your name, to burn it into your mind, etch it into your very soul.

Touya’s head falls back against the couch, Adams apple bobbling with his rough whimpers, long neck and sharp collarbone on full display. If your mouth wasn’t otherwise occupied, you’d love to lick up his smooth skin, to trace the dips of his collarbone with your tongue and sign your name in brilliant splotches of blue and purple.

You’re gagging around his cock now, starting to feel lightheaded and struggling to inhale enough oxygen. The ache in your jaw is beginning to spread, but you ignore it, stretching your mouth open wider, to take more, to be good for him, to make him proud. It’s worth it for the hoarse, throaty moans you’re pulling from him, to hear your name shuddered out, followed by a breathy, “Fuck,”

He forces hot cum down your throat a moment later, and you choke on it, sputtering around his cock, throat spasming as it tries to force the foreign object out. He won’t let it, though. He holds your head in place, nose pressed against his pubic bone, and you can do nothing but take it, like a good little girl, like he tells you to.

But it’s all worth it. It’s all worth it, to hear his broken whines like that, to have him look down at you and pull your hair and tell you you’re good, so good for him.

And you’re sobbing by the end of it, gasping for air the moment he lets go of you, wheezing violently as your head collapses against his thigh.

“Did I—” you cough, voice raspy from having your throat fucked raw, “—Did I make it up to you, niichan?” you gaze up at him, eyelashes spiky with residual water. You’re the perfect picture of obedience, strands of hair stuck to your face where your salty tears have dried and swollen lips gleaming with saliva as you watch him with glittering eyes, waiting desperately for his praise.

He looks down at you, eyes devious and diabolical, chest heaving a little. “Of course you did,” he tells you, corners of his lips tugging up into a sharp smirk as you melt into him. “You always do, don’t you?”

[fallinglikemagic]

Penny Polendina alludes to Astro Boy - and how this allusion foreshadows Penny’s eventual resurrection

Some of you may remember my first post in which I compared Penny and Astro Boy, with a specific focus on the version of Astro from the 2009 3D animated film (if not, you can read it here, but I'll be repeating everything stated there anyway). In the month or two since I first made that post, more and more parallels have start to pop up, with one of those parallels matching one of our most popular theories and foreshadowing Penny's upcoming resurrection.

In order to write this, I went through and watched the entire film, taking notes as I went. I'm not going to include every single detail that I noticed, only the things that seem the most relevant and can be put together in a single post in a comprehensive manner. Believe me when I say that I've thought about this a lot, and the sheer amount of parallels and connections (and the fact that I'm not the only one to notice these connections) has lead me to believe that this has been done intentionally. 

With that being said, I'm only going to focus on the Astro Boy film from 2009 - the Astro Boy franchise is massive, going back to the first manga coming out in 1952 with a few different adaptations and reboots with different versions of the story, and I just don't have the time to go through all of those. As such, I'm going to be focusing on the movie, due to the fact that it has the highest amount of parallels to both Penny specifically, and RWBY as a whole.

So, let's get into this.

Worldbuilding

Metro City and the Surface - Atlas and Mantle

One of the reasons I've decided to focus on the film in particular is due to the nature of the film's setting. Astro Boy (2009) takes place in two locations - Metro City, and the Surface.

According to the opening of the film, Metro City was created when the people who would become the founders of the city noticed the world changing for the worse, and responded by taking part of the land and lifting it into the sky, creating a floating city - the opening voiceover refers to it as "an oasis, a floating paradise". Everybody else is left behind on what is referred to as the Surface, left to fend for themselves while the people of Metro City largely ignore their existence.

The parallels to Atlas and Mantle are crystal clear. Atlas and Metro City are both set up as a beautiful city above the clouds, meant to serve as an inspiration for the rest of the world. In reality, it's a place where the rich and privileged can live in comfort while shunning the poor. Meanwhile, down in Mantle/on the Surface, people are suffering and struggling to get by. Additionally, both 'surface' and 'mantle' are words that are associated with the ground.

The Blue Core (and the Red Core) - Penny's soul and Maiden powers.

Another concept that is (as far as my research shows at least) unique to the film is the Blue Core and the Red Core.

The Blue Core is a small sphere that is filled with pure positive energy, referred to as Blue Core Energy. It was created by Dr. Elefun, made from the fragments of a star that no longer exists - meaning that the Blue Core is all that's left, and cannot be recreated. This is reminiscent of how Pietro has no more aura left to spare, and thus is unable to give any more of his soul to Penny like he did the first time she died. In this allusion, the Blue Core is representative of Penny's soul and the power of the Winter Maiden.

When the Blue Core was created, there was also a byproduct - the Red Core. Essentially, it's the same thing as the Blue Core, but with negative energy instead of positive. If the Blue Core and the Red Core make contact, they both die - this is relevant later.

You could compare the Red Core to Watts’ virus, due to the way that it causes a robot to have red eyes and that it coming into contact with the Blue Core destroys them both.

Character Parallels

Before I get into this properly, I wanna give a quick side note. While Astro matches up to Penny perfectly, things get a little bit messier with the others in that we have a case of characters taking on multiple roles. However, this is far from unheard of in RWBY - let's not forget about how Blake represents both Belle and the Beast, Yang is sometimes the Beast to Blake's Belle, and Adam is an amalgamation of every antagonistic force in Beauty and the Beast. It's far from uncommon for a character to allude to multiple characters from the same allusion, or vice versa, which is what we see with some of the characters in this allusion as well.

Astro - Penny Polendina

Unsurprisingly, Astro himself is our parallel to Penny.

After the death of his son Toby, Dr. Tenma rebuilds his son as a robot, using the Blue Core as his energy source. The Blue Core is stated to be unpredictable, and it's this that makes Astro who he is, what makes him unique from every other robot. As stated earlier, the Blue Core represents Penny's soul (and the Winter Maiden powers that are attached to it). When the Blue Core dies - and Astro dies with it - and Dr. Elefun is asked if he can be rebuilt, the answer is 'no' because the Core was unique and can't be remade - just like Penny's soul.

While Astro appears perfectly human on the surface, he's fitted with as much self-defence technology as Tenma could fit in him. The most iconic of these upgrades (and the only one that's consistent across every single version of Astro throughout the franchise) is the rocket boots. He even flies in a very similar way to Penny - pay attention to the posing, especially with the legs.

When Astro starts making friends with humans on the Surface, he conceals the fact that he's a robot, afraid of what they'll think of him when they learn he's not human. This matches up to Penny initially hiding the fact that she's not human, seeing herself as 'not a real girl'.

Astro has two father figures - Dr. Elefun and Dr. Tenma. Similarly, Penny has two father figures - Pietro and Ironwood.

During the climax of the film, Metro City starts to fall out of the sky and back down to the Surface. This is a parallel to two seperate moments in RWBY. The most obvious one is when Atlas is falling onto Mantle after the Staff of Creation is used. However, I think this scene more closely resembles the scene from Amity in which Amity Tower begins to fall.

When Astro sees that Metro City is falling, he immediately flies in to hold it up, despite the incredible strain it puts on him. This is a direct parallel to how Penny flew in to hold up Amity Tower.

Astro pushes himself to the limit when he holds up Metro City, to the point where the flames from his boots burn so brightly that they turn blue - oh hey, doesn't that look familiar?

Astro also demonstrates self-sacrificial tendencies at a few points in the film. When he's captured in order to have his Blue Core taken out and placed into another robot, he simply accepts it, saying that "I think maybe this is what's supposed to happen...this is my destiny". This becomes a lot more interesting when you remember that the Blue Core is representative of Penny's soul and Maiden powers. Astro giving himself up to President Stone (the film's main antagonist who later ends up in a sort of 'fusion' with the Red Core) so that Stone can use the Blue Core could be a reference to the virus making Penny want to give herself up to Ironwood so that he can use her soul to open the vault - especially if we believe that the Red Core is connected to the virus in some way.

Near the end of the film, in the fight against the fusion of President Stone and a giant robot containing the Red Core (it's a long story, I'll get to it later in the post), Astro makes the decision to sacrifice his own life in order to destroy both the Red Core and the Blue Core, saying “this is what I was created for” and saving the lives of everybody else in the process. I doubt I need to explain how "choosing to die in order to protect other people" relates back to Penny in Volume 8.

At the end of the film, and in the rest of the Astro Boy franchise as a whole, Astro takes it upon himself to be the protector of Metro City (and technically the Surface, but since Metro City has fallen, they're not exactly seperate locations anymore...). 'Robotic guardian of a city who's seen as a hero by the people' - you don't get much more obvious of a connection to the Protector of Mantle than that.

Additional details that may not be intentional but I still noticed anyway;

- Dr. Elefun describes as Astro by saying "That robot had more humanity than most of us". At this point, there's been many moments that affirm Penny's humanity - "You have an aura, Penny. A soul. That's who you are - our friend. Not a machine", "Her soul is who she is", the fact that she was able to receive the Maiden powers, all of these moments affirm that Penny has always been just as human as anybody else. This is also contrasted against Ironwood (and, for a while, Winter), who act more machine than human.

- Astro is actually rather heavily trans-coded. Penny is also trans-coded, but this is mostly likely a coincidence that happened as a result of the inherent transness of robots

- Elefun tells Astro that he's "not actually an entirely ordinary boy", which is reminiscent of Ruby describing Penny as "she's...not your typical girl."

- The shape of Penny's bow (the way that it sticks out more on one side while the other side is more vertical) looks similar to the shape of Astro's hair (this one was pointed out to me by @cosmokyrin​ when I mentioned this theory in the Frosen Steel server)

Dr. Elefun - Pietro Polendina

Dr. Elefun is one of Metro City's top scientists, and one of Astro's father figures. He is soft-spoken and gentle, a dreamer but a genius. In terms of personality alone, he's a pretty good match with Pietro. He's also the one who created the Blue Core, which draws a direct parallel to Pietro creating Penny's soul from part of his.

Dr. Elefun is the first person to truly see Astro as who he truly is. Dr. Tenma expects Astro to be a replacement for Toby, and is disappointed when he isn't. Similarly, everybody else sees Astro as a robot just like any other at first - an advanced robot, but nothing more than a robot. But Dr. Elefun gives him genuine praise, and encourages Astro to live his life and find his place in the world, just like how Pietro tells Penny that he wants to see her live her life.

It's also worth noting that in most other versions of Astro Boy, Elefun takes the role of Astro's primary caregiver after Dr. Tenma no longer wants him.

President Stone - James Ironwood

President Stone is the current political leader of Metro City. For the entire film, his entire focus is on combat and military strength, and on multiple occasions he actively expresses his intention to start a war with the Surface. He believes that the best way to get re-elected is with a show of military force and violence.

His primary goal throughout the film is to have Astro destroyed in order to retrieve the Blue Core and use it for his own gain. This is a direct parallel to Ironwood's goal in Volume 8 - to hunt down Penny and have her use her Maiden power to open the vault, and destroy herself.

Stone wants to use the Blue Core in order to power a specialised combat robot, ironically called the Peacekeeper. When Astro continues to escape his clutches, he decides to use the Red Core to power the Peacekeeper instead, but it doesn't completely go as planned. The Peacekeeper is equipped with what the film calls 'adaptive technology' - it's capable of absorbing anything it makes contact with into its own body.

And I do mean anything

After Stone is absorbed by the Peacekeeper, he's in full control of it - essentially the Peacekeeper is nothing more than a metal outer shell. President Stone has become a fusion of man and machine.

Dr. Tenma - both Pietro Polendina AND James Ironwood (a bit more Pietro than Ironwood but it's worth acknowledging both)

You might notice that while Elefun and Stone do have plenty of references to Pietro and Ironwood respectively, there are gaps where they don't cover every aspect of these characters and/or their dynamic with Penny. This is where Dr. Tenma comes in.

Dr. Tenma is Astro's dad, and the one who built him. He originally created Astro as a sort of 'replacement' for his biological son Toby after he died, giving Astro all of Toby's memories (more on this later). Naturally, this is a very clear connection to Pietro.

Additionally, Dr. Tenma uses the Blue Core - a completely unique, one-of-a-kind technological marvel - in order to power a single small robot that's intended to be nothing more than a replacement for his son, saying "I can't lose him again!". In this moment, Dr. Tenma is so focused on not losing his child that he doesn't acknowledge the big picture.

However, once Dr. Tenma realises that Astro isn't a perfect replica of Toby, but rather his own person, Tenma discards him, not caring if Astro gets destroyed or not. Similarly, when Penny stopped doing what Ironwood wanted her to do, Ironwood stopped caring about her as anything more than a container for the Maiden powers and is perfectly willing to let her die once the vault is opened.

Luckily, Dr. Tenma does have a change of heart, deciding that while Astro isn't Toby, he's still his son. Near the end of the film, Astro is very injured, and Dr. Tenma encourages him to get far away from the danger. However, Astro refuses to back down, instead choosing to sacrifice his life in order to stop President Stone, despite Dr. Tenma begging him not to go. Here, we have yet another parallel to this moment in Amity.

Bonus (aka characters that aren't perfect allusions, but connections do exist)

When Astro ends up on the Surface, he's taken in by a man who calls himself Hamegg. Hamegg ends up being a jerk, and while his personality and actions in the film don't particularly match up with any characters in RWBY, his backstory is a perfect match to Watts - a head scientist in Metro City who was shunned and fired for reasons unknown (Hamegg claims that they were 'intimated by his ideas and talent', but this was when he was trying to impress Astro and he lies a lot anyway, so this could be a complete lie).

On the Surface, Astro befriends four human kids (Cora, Zane, Sludge and Widget) and their robotic dog, Trashcan. While the personalities don't really match up (though Cora, Astro's closest friend, does bear a visual resemblance to Ruby), the idea of a 4-person group + a dog could be a parallel to Team RWBY and Zwei.

Zog is a very old, very large robot that had been 'dead' for several years until Astro found him and revived him by giving him some of his Blue Core Energy. Zog is our allusion to Winter - Astro giving Zog some of his Blue Core energy is a parallel to Penny giving Winter the Maiden powers. Additionally, in The Final Word, Winter explicitly calls herself a machine. While this does have significance on it's own, it could also be a nod to this allusion. That being said, the main connection between Winter and Zog (and possibly the most important part of this post) is based on events that have yet to happen in RWBY canon, and so I'm saving that part for the end of the post.

Story Parallels 

Toby's Death

Toby Tenma, Dr. Tenma's biological son, was very similar to Astro in terms of personality (with some key differences), as well as having a strong physical resemblance.

When the Blue Core and the Red Core were first being shown off to President Stone, Toby was accidentally locked behind a sealed off barrier, trapped with the Peacekeeper containing the Red Core. Toby was killed in a blast that completely disintegrated him, leaving nothing but a hat containing a single strand of hair.

This hair is important, because Dr. Tenma used this hair in order to extract Toby's DNA and memories, which he was then able to implant into Astro in order to make him resemble Toby.

This scene is most likely a parallel to Penny's first death in the Vytal Festival. In her first death, Penny's body was destroyed, but her core remained intact. Her core, which contained all of her memories, was the key piece in properly putting her back together without erasing who she used to be. The strand of hair containing Toby's DNA is representative of Penny's core containing her memories.

Additionally, there's the fact that when Toby was rebuilt as Astro, he was given various upgrades to allow him to better hold his own in a fight, with the most obvious behind the ability to fly via rocket boots. Penny received similar upgrades when she was rebuilt as well.

It's worth acknowledging that Toby's death could potentially parallel the moment that Ambrosius separated Penny from her robotic body, with the strand of hair instead being her soul, separated from her dying body and then disintegrating. However, due to the timeline and order of events, I think that Toby's death is more likely to be a parallel to Penny's first death, and her separation from her robot body is instead a parallel to the next scene I'm about to mention.

Momentary Death

When Astro is captured by President Stone and taken back to Metro City, Dr. Tenma actually does remove the Blue Core from his body, which does cause Astro to temporarily die.

Luckily, it only takes a few moments for Dr. Tenma to change his mind and return the Blue Core to Astro, reviving him.

Astro's 'soul' was removed from his body, causing that robotic body to die, even though in the end Astro does survive it. This is reminiscent of Ambrosius removing Penny's soul from her robotic body, letting that body die, while Penny survives.

Zog

I briefly went over Zog earlier, but I wanna go into more in-depth about him, because the parallels between Winter and Zog and the implications of said parallels are the main reason I ultimately decided to make this post.

As I said earlier, Zog is a very old, broken down robot that nobody has been able to revive in years. When Astro finds him, he brings him back to life by giving him some of his Blue Core Energy. Astro essentially gives Zog some of his lifeforce, a part of his soul.

Winter was on the verge of death at Ironwood's hands, but Penny was able to save her by giving her the Maiden powers, and her soul with them.

However, Zog doesn't keep all of the Blue Core Energy Astro gave him all to himself...

Resurrection

As I've mentioned a few times in this post, Astro does die - and I mean properly die, not a death that lasted 2 minutes at the most and had no consequences. Astro sacrifices himself and his Blue Core dies, all in attempts to protect the people of Metro City/the Surface and his friends. Dr. Elefun says that he can't be rebuilt because his Blue Core, his soul, was unique.

But then, Zog comes around. Zog, who is holding onto what is a part of Astro's soul - the only surviving part of Astro's soul. Zog returns some of the Blue Core Energy to Astro, which brings Astro back to life.

So, to recap: Astro gives a part of his lifeforce, part of his soul, to Zog. When Astro dies, Zog gives some of that soul back to Astro in order to revive him.

If you've been looking at the theories regarding Penny and Winter recently, this will sound VERY familiar. While the specifics vary, the essentials of the most popular theory is that Penny transferred her soul to Winter to hold on to along with the Maiden powers, and that somehow, Winter will return that soul to Penny in one way or another (either by putting her into another robotic body, or just somehow extracting her soul and letting it form it's own body again). The fact that this movie has these exact events occurring makes this seem more and more like the most likely route.

If Penny really is an intentional allusion to Astro Boy - which, based on the sheer length of this post, seems pretty damn likely - then the film practically spells it out for us. Winter will give part of her aura, the part that Penny gave her, in order to bring Penny back to life.

thank you for coming to my ted talk

[humlors]

day 3 of greystorm week!

heyoo! this one became wayy longer than i’d thought to begin with! this is one of many fjorester moments that made me scream out loud, but greystorm flavored!

prompt: Old Meets New - Recreate a scene from another campaign with @greystormweek! 

summary: In a deep underwater cave with limited ways of keeping your air in your lungs, few things and many things may happen. 

5k, read on ao3

On paper, the job hadn't seemed like a hard one.

The toughest ones never were, that was something Dorian had learned after many months on the road, scrapping by saving kittens from trees, only to be attacked by the owlbear mother and cubs living in said tree. With more people by his, Orym and Fearne's side though, things felt safer, easier. Yes, he'd get mildly mauled by a creature which nature should have thought twice before producing into the world, beak and claws in his face accompanied by a sure to be very manly scream. But, now the monstrosities would quickly and violently be dealt with, be it with an orb made of pure energy, a very scary dead woman, or a giant glass-maul smashing them to pieces of what they once were.

Though while all of that was a metaphor – more or less – it didn't change the facts. Dorian felt that life was easier in a larger party, no matter how strange many of them might be. More financial freedom, more people to rely on, a safety net in both directions. He was grateful he could trust the Bell's Hell's, as when having a brother on the run from some very crafty and bloodthirsty bounty hunters, he knew he at least could have a shoulder to cry, or at least mildly complain on.

So when their mission led them underwater, he felt like he could finally step up, pay back some respects and all that. The only thing standing in the way, though, was something that he shied away from even on his best day.

“I swear it's gonna work,” Imogen grunted through clenched teeth, a bead of sweat trailing down her cheek. From this angle, Dorian couldn't quite see what she as hunched over, but he'd been in the vicinity when the sorcerer had driven a hard bargain for the enchanted mask that according to the shop keep would allow a person to breathe underwater. Sadly, he'd been having a chat with Laudna only a metre or two away from Imogen when she'd seen the tear in the fabric, effectively breaking the spell. His ears still rang a bit from that. Some day he'd have to ask what all those words meant. Turns out that just because they were words in common didn't mean he had a clue they could be combined in those ways.

"And no one will blame you if it doesn't!" Laudna said sweetly over her companion's shoulder, right before looking up at the rest of the group with the same smile, but all reason gone from her eyes. "Right?"

"'Course not!" Fresh Cut Grass chimed in. (If they were following along in Laudna's cheery morale-upkeep from fear of the undead woman, or simply complete obliviousness, was never quite clear.) Rolling over with a slightly squeaky wheel – next to him, Ashton grimaced in pain at the sharp noise – the robot laid a few cold steel fingers on her shoulder, obviously giving her a quick inspiration. "You'll do anythin' you set your mind to, I'm sure of it!"

Orym looked up from his perch on Fearne's lap, just barely, to give a single thumbs up before once more settling on the faun's soft legs. Fearne smiled gently in the way only she could. Imogen ignored all of them entirely, her eyes and hands alight with concentrated magic. A simple mending spell didn't usually fix enchanted objects, everyone knew that. No one wanted to challenge Imogen when it came to magic. The conundrum was plain and simple.

"How long 'til she cracks, you think?" Came Ashton's low voice from the right of Dorian, with more than a hint of amusement leaking through.

Dorian's breath caught a bit, feeling the other genasi's warm breath gently touch his ear. "Not long," He whispered without meeting the other's eye, congratulating himself for not sounding as affected as he was from Ashton's proximity. "But I'm honestly just waiting for Laudna to pull a handful of hair out any second now."

The deep chuckle Ashton tried to hide behind his hand made Dorian's heart swell in his chest. He chanced a glance in Ashton's direction, letting his gaze trail over the sandy beach they were currently standing in the dunes of. They were probably counting themselves lucky in their usual sleeveless look. The sun above them was relentless, and Dorian couldn't risk taking off his armour before the mission was over. The most likely cooler water looked more and more inviting by the minute.

Ashton had a crooked smile on their face, gold lines glinting beautifully in the daylight, arms crossed. "So…" He began, gaze firm on Imogen's still form and Laudna's pacing (Dorian wasn't looking at their arms, no matter how fantastic they looked, just slightly flexed and up close. No, really.) before trailing up to meet the bard's eyes. "When are you gonna tell 'er you don't need air underwater?"

Dorian's eyebrows shot upwards, a surprised smile making its way to his face. "Huh. Not many people know that."

Ashton shrugged one shoulder (now he definitely wasn't looking.), something mischievous in their mismatched eyes. "I know more than you'd think, blue."

And if Dorian stopped breathing for a second or two, who was even counting?

A yelp of pure, frantic joy broke their short but intense staring match. Both heads snapping forward, Imogen was making a noise halfway between laughing and screaming. "It worked! I said I'd fix it, and I stitched that fucker back! Hah!" she stood up – a bit shakily, her knees surely not liking having been in one position for so long – kicking sand around her, the hand not holding onto the flimsy mask pumping the air in triumph.

Laudna was clapping her hands next to her, relief washing over the previous stress in her face. "Oh, I knew you could do it! Now…" she looked around, everyone suddenly snapped out of the last half hour's respite quickly (Out of the corner of his eye, Dorian spotted Orym leaping into action, newly awoken, fumbling for his sword before realizing that no danger was about, just a very loud and excited sorceress.) "… Who's volunteering for taking a dive?"

Ashton took a step away from the boulder they'd been leaning on, hand shooting up. "I'll do it. Didn't win over Anni in breath holding three Winters' Crest's in a row with nothing to show for it. In case that fix you did isn't permanent." His tone held a just barely held back cockiness that Dorian couldn't help but smile about.

Fearne, after putting Orym back on his feet while still looking a bit disoriented, cocked her head in curiosity. "Winter's Crest? I've never heard of that part of the tradition?"

"Well, we've got this whole – We make it more of a game night, and we've got that whole 'eat apple's from a tank'-thing used a bit more creatively- I guess – Anyway." Ashton explained in a rush, most likely leaving everyone with more questions than answers. He gestured with his thumb over his shoulder in the other genasi's direction. "Dorian's comin' with me."

"Pardon?" Imogen said after a beat. She'd stopped dancing by now, and it was obvious all that energy could easily be redirected into some other emotion. "There's only one mask. You can't-" She paused, eyes trailing over to Dorian, suddenly something like white-hot anger in them. "Dorian. If you knew the spell all this time, so help me-"

"I don't! I-I swear!" Dorian yelped, hands flying up in surrender. "I just… uh…"

He looked at Ashton, a bit helplessly. Of course, they had nothing but a shiteating grin on their face, eyebrows raising with a nod that said, 'No, no, go on. I wanna see this.'

He sighed. Then quickly blurted out, "I- my- my kind can kind of… hold our breath indefinitely. Gets pretty useful when diving a-and, other things. I guess." He could barely look at Imogen at the moment, shuffling his feet in the sand. "I was going to say something but, well, you seemed so set on the mask, so…?"

Braving a glance up, he was not entirely unsure Imogen wouldn't pounce and strangle him where he stood (not that that would have done anything, his mind unhelpfully added.), but instead she was quiet for a moment, took a deep, audible breath through her nose, then said. "Yep, Dorian. You really should'a said something."

"Cool!" Ashton said, clapping their hands together as a way of defusing whatever murderous intent Imogen was about to direct at Dorian. Obviously enjoying this far more than he should, Ashton cast a glance to Dorian with a grin. "Let's get wet then."

Dorian only barely registered Fearne giggling to his left, ducking and shaking his head slightly. And if his cheeks were warm while the party made their way towards the water, who would have seen, anyway?

-

"And if something goes wrong and panic sets in, you remember you have to-"

"—Get to the surface, yes Orym, I do know basic swimming safety." Dorian couldn't help but laugh while quickly putting his hair up in a rudimentary ponytail. Armour cast off (defence be damned, he knew he'd more easily sink than swim with it on.) he was only in his pants and undershirt by now, and he felt like he could finally appreciate the warm winds flowing into the warm cave they'd moved into. The pool in the middle of the cavern was fragrant of salt and stagnant water, and he'd multiple times seen Fearne drop progressively larger pebbles into it, 'just to see what would happen'.

A few days ago, the chief of the small fishing village they'd been staying in the last week had burst into their rooms, screaming about a robbery, how the thieves taken the village taxes for this month, and how his head would be on the line if the local enforcers stopped being paid and started letting the various monsters living in the area into the community. After a sit down where Laudna and FCG had carefully but firmly explained that he should care more about people, the party had rushed off in the direction the sobbing chief had pointed in. What he'd failed to mention was that the thieves were not in fact a gang of dangerous criminals, but a small crowd of teenaged kenkus with a penchant for shiny thing. The Bells had followed the tracks of feathers and angular footprints to a hill overlooking the nearby ocean. The sound of chatter could be heard from quite far away, the avian creatures whooping and hollering about their latest prey. This meant the party had no issue sneaking up on them. Of course, with the steep hill, they hadn't seen the deep hole in the ground (the birds had been throwing coins into it just to hear them sploosh as they hit the water, just so they could then perfectly replicate the sound just heard. Really, who could blame them?)

So when Grass had rolled forward with a pleasant "Howdy!" as a way to make amends and end this confrontation peacefully, of course the pack of teens had scattered, trying helplessly to fly, all in different directions, all failing miserably. But, of course, not before one of them had knocked over the chest containing the treasury, sending all of it plummeting into the water below.

So after a quick rescue mission to the teens that had accidentally landed in the water, brushing their feathers off, giving them a stern talking to about what's yours to take and what isn't, and another long rant from the chief about how he couldn't have found more miserable mercenaries if he'd tried, they were back. Only, they'd thankfully happened to find a cave that lead directly to the surface of the pool they were to look for treasure in - Laudna's words, not his – which only made the situation marginally better. So much for luck.

Orym still looked slightly concerned, wringing his hands together, a knit between his brows. But instead of saying something more or less useful that would only make Dorian sigh deeper, he turned to Ashton instead. "And you, Ash, we still don't know exactly how long that mask lasts, so the second you've got the chest-"

"—Get to the surface! Yes, I'm aware!" Ashton said with a crooked smile and a grimace, stretching his arms above his head, delighting in hearing a crack or two. "Seems to be the end-all solution to being in the water. Getting out of it."

"It's not exactly the safest place to spend your time, that's all I'm saying." Orym huffed, arms crossing. Dorian did understand him in a way. Growing up on a mountainside like the village of Zephrah would make anyone suspicious about the unexplored parts below earth. "Just - make sure you get up before you're forced to do so."

"Aye aye, cap." Ashton responded non-committally with a small salute, going to remove the various heavy rings and studs on their fingers. 

As Dorian made himself ready, decidedly looking away from Ashton – somehow, without all the embellishments, they looked a bit more naked than usual - Fearne's voice came out from nowhere, as it usually did, over his shoulder. "So, you will definitely snag any other things you might find down there?"

Turning, she was smiling that smile that for most of the population meant a face of kindness and trust, but one that Dorian saw through for eagerness for another trinket to add to her collection. Dorian raised an eyebrow with a small, knowing smile. "You know we're doing this as a nice thing, not to gain from?"

Fearne just shrugged innocently, eyes twinkling in the low light Laudna had procured around them. "All I'm saying is that you never know what you might find." she looked down at him, cocking her head slightly. "Maybe a sugilite, lavender quartz…" Her gaze trailed around the cavern, obviously going down a list of some kind. "… I'm sure there might be an amethyst down there you'd like."

Dorian's eyebrows furrowed for a moment, then shot up when realizing the implication. He swallowed hard, neck heating up. "Maybe." He responded, tone high in his throat. "S-still, not why we're here."

He then decidedly moved away from Fearne, who's gaze burned in the back of his neck. Not why we're here, indeed.

Seeing that Ashton was getting an earful from Imogen who was fruitlessly trying to explain how the mask worked, he slid up next to them. "Ready?"

Imogen batted away Ashton's hands, fiddling with the tie in the back of his neck. "Sure! So long as you don't mess with it – I'm serious, Ash, stop it – this should give you at least an hour without harm."

Dorian, seeing Orym's eyes widen in terror, mouthing a frantic 'an hour??' cut him off. "And we should definitely be done by then." Turning to Ashton, he said, "So?"

Ashton adjusted the mask covering the lower part of his face carefully, mismatched eyes glinting with excitement. "So? Who're you waiting for?"

Dorian blinked. "Well, uhm-"

Before he could say another word, Ashton gave him a firm smack in his back before standing up and running, then jumping into the pool and sinking – well, if it wasn't too on the nose – like a rock below the waters.

The splash was loud, water getting everywhere in the cavern. Beside him, Dorian could make out the disgruntled sounds of Imogen grumbling about getting water in places she'd rather not speak of. FCG, who had been standing right by the pool, made no move to wipe themselves off, simply looking curiously down where his friend had taken the plunge.

"Just – get in there." Imogen grunted as Laudna came running with a handkerchief, which she accepted gracefully.

Dorian swallowed the laugh building up, instead wading into the small, shallow plateaus of the pool. Closing his eyes, he took a deep, deep breath before stopping, getting used to the feeling of air flow staying where it was, before closing his hands, palms downwards, and diving beneath the surface.

He thought he'd heard a "Good luck!" right before his ears closed up, sounds becoming muffled and incoherent beneath the water. After sinking a second or two, he opened his eyes, vision blurred for a second, before seeing a dancing light having followed him down, floating in a way that it never really did in the air. Mentally saying a silent thanks to Laudna, he kicked his legs behind him, waved his hands downwards, and took the dive.

The bubbles Ashton had left behind were a helpful guide in locating him, already quite a few feet below. Still, the pool was deep, deeper than expected. While swimming downwards, his ears popped slightly, though he could barely pay attention to it, marvelling at the various plant life living under the waves. It was beautiful, And with the light he could stop anemones, corals and kelp, all shining in marvellous colours he couldn't imagine would look the same above surface.

While getting distracted by a plant – probably a coral that seemed more like a fancy, red mop, swaying back and forth in a way that was positively mesmerizing – Dorian felt a tug on his ankle that very nearly made him startle. Looking down, Ashton was still holding onto him, making eye contact before nodding downwards. Right, just an hour with no telling how deep they might have to go.

Dorian nodded as a silent confirmation, moving downwards as quick as he could muster, hoping he didn't look too embarrassed. In silent unison, the two continued swimming downwards.

The cavern moved in strange crooks at times, Ashton taking time to fill their pockets with stray coins that had fallen out of the chest on its way downwards. Dorian did his best to help, even if Fearne's "helpful" comment about gemstones before made it harder to focus.

Finally, after probably ten or so minutes of swimming, Dorian spotted the chest, lying open and bruised at the very bottom of the pool. Reaching over to tug at Ashton's arm – having gone cool after this amount of time underwater, yet still as calloused and scarred as he remembered from the few touches Ashton had allowed him – he pointed in the direction. Ashton's eyebrows shot upwards as a silent "fucking finally". Dorian couldn't agree more as they quickly moved, gathering the coins, digging in the sand as they slowly but surely gathered up and shut the chest.

When they both felt satisfied, the chest closed and secure enough to be lifted upwards, they both took one of the handles on either side. Ashton made sure to catch Dorian's eye before holding up a hand, showing three fingers. Second by second, he counted one down after the other, before the last one came down, and they both heaved, setting their feet and pushing up, up.

While the chest in itself wasn't huge, and it's contents not even particularly heavy, it took a lot for Dorian not to try to chip for breath, the surrounding water adding resistance enough for it to feel like they were carrying a struggling horse through a sea of syrup. While Ashton's strength outmatched his own, he was proud to say he didn't lag behind all too much, grabbing and pushing off of the cavern wall when it became necessary. They worked in tandem and efficiently.

Once in a while, Dorian couldn't help but to glance over at Ashton, taking brief moments to admire just how flawlessly they seemed to move underwater, how the low light accented the curves of his muscles in a delicate, gentle way. Above the surface, it was hard to watch him in battle, what with having to care about dodging attacks and charging back to ensure his own survival. But here, now, he could finally truly appreciate the way Ashton moved. Harshly, a bit recklessly, but always with a purpose. Dorian savoured it the most he could, letting his gaze trail over the other genasi's neck, fingers, chest…

Focus, he reminded himself, setting his eyes upwards again. Not what we came here for.

Slowly, they worked their way through the same path they came. The same plant life still bloomed as capturing as it had done before. At one point, Dorian's hand slipped from the rock he'd held onto. Panic surging through him for half a second, he grabbed onto part of the red strings of algae he'd admired before, pulling harshly before getting a safe hold once more. He would've breathed a sigh of relief, had he been able to.

Ashton shot him a look of concern, brows furrowed, to which Dorian only shook his head. Danger over, they continued.

The surface was gaining quickly, and at the sight of it, Dorian summoned the last of the strength in his aching arms to pull himself the last stretch quicker than before. The last few metres seemed tougher somehow, Dorian accounting it to seeing the end in sight making it both easier and harder at the same time. Several more lights floating above, as well as their friend's blurred faces gazing into the depths, Dorian heaved, hand firm on his handle of the chest.

Finally, his head breached the surface, and he spluttered, breathing deeply and as well as he could. Head spinning, he felt two sets of hands pulling on his free arm above shore.

"Oh, thank heavens-"

"How far deep down was that thing-?"

"Are you okay-?"

His friend's concerned voices came bombarding to his senses, the slowed down noises below the water he'd quickly gotten used to, making it seem like everything was being said at a much higher frequency than he as used to. He coughed out whatever water had gotten in his airways, taking one last lunge to haul the chest upwards, finally on land again. "I-I'm fine. It went well."

Wiping his face off, he looked up, the rest of the gang all having looks of concern and relief written across their faces. Orym, a bit further off in the cave, had his hands on his knees, head downward, letting out a groan of reprieve. Fearne was half in between casting a comforting smile to Dorian, and halfway gathering the coins that had fallen out of the chest. If she was pocketing for herself at this point, Dorian didn't have the energy to care about.

Feeling a tap of cold metal on the top of his head, he turned to see Fresh Cut Grass silently uttering a few words, a feeling of calmness overflowing him. "I'm sure you're fine but - It never hurts." They smiled (probably. It was always hard to tell.).

Dorian sighed deeply, the satisfaction of a job well done sinking deep in him. Exhaustion tugged at his entire being, and he longed to be some place dryer than where he was right now.

Just about to start complaining about how caverns really shouldn't be as deep and as hard to navigate as this one was, Laudna cut him off.

"Where's Ashton?"

Dorian froze. Whipping his head around, eyes darting around the pool, there was no sign of the other genasi. His eyes focused, and a handful of bubbles floated to the surface, just in the place Ashton had previously held.

Without a second thought, Dorian took another deep breath, and sunk below once more. His mind in high drive, he pushed off a wall, eyes searching for a hint of green, purple, black-

There. About ten feet below, Ashton's fuzzy shape was moving. But not quickly. Hazily, concurrently with the water around them. Not moving by themselves, not truly.

Dorian didn't think, couldn't, as he launched himself in Ashton's direction. Swimming closer, he saw more clearly what was happening, and almost swallowed a mouthful of water in panic.

The red algae, the one's he'd in a moment of need used as a handle before, was wrapped around Ashton's throat, his chest, his arms. Holding him close as a jealous lover would, terrified they would move another centimetre away. Ashton was fighting it, fingers curled around the harsh barbs of the plant. The points of them were sharp, pointed enough to cut through any fabric, enough to-

The mask was floating a bit helplessly, uselessly, about a metre away. Ripped nearly in half. Ashton wouldn't be able to reach for it, not that that was in the forefront of their mind at the moment.

Dorian didn't let panic take over, per se, but he didn't have another thought in his mind when swimming downwards, summoning whatever magic came naturally to him, hands alight and grasping, tearing the algae from their roots and up, except, Get off him. Get off him, now.

Not until the red strands were floating around them, twitching in their last moments of life, did Dorian see the violence he'd caused. It didn't matter. Frantically, he looked at Ashton's face, searching for anything to give him hope.

Their eyes were hazy and unfocused, eyelids slowly closing. From their lips came a few stray bubbles, the last of the preserves he'd had at the moment of attack. His hands floating weakly in the water, seemingly having reached for Dorian in those last moments, before giving up.

No. Dorian's mind raced. No, no, no, no. Grasping the genasi's face, he searched for any spirit left, just enough to get to safety.

None. One eye a clear purple, the other milky white, all stamina was draining quickly.

Dorian acted before thinking, leaning forward and pressing his lips to the other's. Reaching deep, he channelled whatever ancestor and whatever elemental power they'd left behind he could muster, pushing out the never ending air in his lungs and into Ashton's. The moment in itself felt too long, too drawn out, the gentle push of skin against skin, noses bumping against each other, fighting and hoping severely that it would be enough, if only for a moment. Under his fingertips, he registered the molten lines of gold, hard crystals, and the last warmth still in Ashton's body.

He pushed one breath, two, heart beating a thousand times a minute at the third, before he felt a gentle touch at his waist.

Dorian pushed backwards. Ashton's gaze was still unfocused, but he blinked once, twice, eyes darting over the other's face.

Fighting the urge to scream in joy and alleviation, Dorian quickly brought an arm under Ashton's, found a foothold, and kicked them both upwards.

They were heavy, but it didn't matter. An uncountable amount of seconds afterwards, Dorian kicking his feet against the gravity for dear life, he broke surface once more. Next to him, he both felt and heard a large and shaky intake of breath, and it may have been the most beautiful sound he'd heard in his life.

Around him, the Bells had gone into full panic mode, dragging both of them up to land again with intermingled shouts that he couldn't register. Every limb felt heavy and useless, yet he still could feel and missed the density of Ashton's form near him as they were separated. Every breath of air felt like a blessing, resonating in every crevice of his body.

Opening his eyes to see his friends rushing about the two of them, he laid his head down on the cold stone floor, his last ounces of energy having been thoroughly spent. Oxygen getting in his system once more, he registered Ashton about a metre away, coughing up saltwater in quantities that couldn't be healthy, Orym leaning over him, trying feebly to pound at his back.

Above him, Fearne was talking to him, asking something that he didn't hear the separate words of. He didn't care, not now. Instead, feeling droplets of water run over his face, he cast one last glance over at Ashton – alive, breathing, incredible Ashton – and with a single tired smile, let darkness take him.

-

Birds sung in tune when he woke up again.

The linens he was resting on were harsh on his skin, but warm. Sun rays were hitting his face, and he grimaced at the sensation. With a groan, he turned over on his side, quickly regretting it, as every muscle in his body screamed in protest.

"Dorian, hey."

With a quick intake of breath, he recognized the voice, opening his eyes only a sliver. Light obscuring his vision or not, he noted the room he was in as one of the one's the party had been residing at in the fishing village the days prior. At the end of the bed were a handful of ribbons, as well as the pouch of treats Fearne had assigned for Mister resting. Orym's shield leaned against the wall just below the window he was facing. His own bag of toiletries were laid carefully in a corner. And in the chair where they were supposed to be was...

"Got me worried, there." Ashton said lowly, voice a bit rougher than Dorian remembered. Leaning his elbows on his knees, a small smile slowly worked its way to his face. "Good to see you're still among the living."

Still drowsy with sleep and overexertion, Dorian squinted. "How long was I…?"

"Not long." Ashton shook their head. "Probably just, y'know, a side effect of being underwater without air for a while. Kinda knocks the with outta you."

Despite himself, Dorian laughed quietly. The muscles in his stomach ached in response. He persevered.

Finally looking at Ashton – really looking – he saw dark circles under his eyes, exhaustion weighing hard on him. Around his throat and arms, prickles of newly healed wounds dragging like lines across his skin. "Are you…?" He started, something catching in his throat, letting out a cough before continuing. "You got stuck. How…?"

Ashton shrugged lifelessly, leaning back with a heavy sigh. "I dunno, man. One moment, things were doing good, the next, that shit just – caught me. No idea how it could even do stuff like that." They huffed a humourless laugh before crossing their arms, gaze trailing to the floor between their feet. "Unless you'd come back, I… I dunno."

The memories hit. The panic, the mindless decision to take his face in Dorian's hands, to bring their lips together-

"I'm sorry," was, of course, the first thing out of his mouth, heat rising on his chest and up his face, suddenly feeling more awake than the last second ago. "I-I didn't know what else to do, I just – I know you hate touch like that, but I had to do something -"

"Hey, hey," Ashton showed their palms, speaking in a tone uncharacteristically gentle for his character. "I get it. I don't blame you. You, uh -" They searched for words for a second, knee bouncing, one hand fiddling with a fraying part of their pants. "You did what you had to." They swallowed hard.

Somehow, that statement didn't give the relief Dorian had hoped it would. It had been a necessity, a moment of paralysing shock, nothing else. There were a million things he wanted to say and ask in response, among them being 'hope this won't make things weird', and, 'I'd do it again', and, 'please, don't read into it too much. Please.', but instead, he opted for a relieved, if pushed smile, and a "Yeah. Exactly."

Too many emotions swirled in his guts to be so newly awoken, and the pause that followed hung heavy in the small room.

Eventually, Ashton rose from their chair in a quick move, looking anywhere but the bed. " Anyway, everyone's been hovering for hours now, I'll just – go down, say you're good." They spoke quickly. "Oh yeah, and – uh, the chief guy was fucking overjoyed to see his money back. So that's – settled."

"Good!" Dorian squeezed out, wanting to shrink into the sheets more than he could possibly hope to do.

"Yep," Ashton said, mostly as a way to fill the silence. He stood for a moment, then took a few long and firm strides to the door, the floorboards thudding beneath them.

Content to wallow in his own conflicting emotions for the short amount of time before his friends undoubtably came rushing in, Dorian waited for the door to make its groan of unoiled hinges and then close again. It didn't come.

"Look-" Ashton's gruff voice came again, frustration apparent. Dorian peeked out from under his barricade of sheets, seeing the other genasi hesitating by the door, gaze anywhere but at Dorian. "I didn't – I'm not mad about it. Yeah, I fucking hate when people touch me out of the blue like that, but-"

Dorian sat up slightly, something tugging at him in Ashton's voice. It took a long second, one hand on the handle of the door, but after a deep intake of breath, Ashton met his eye.

"I didn't hate it." They said, let it sink in for half a moment, then opened the door, walked out, and shut it once more.

The bard in the bed didn't move, blinked, blinked again.

The words sunk in. The meaning behind it did. Ashton wasn't an eloquent person, no one would accuse him of that. But in the time Dorian had gotten to know him, know his way of speaking, of his quirks, of his manner of saying things and not at all saying them, he learned to work with them. Work with the feeling, the tough words that hid a tougher front, that peeled oh, so carefully back just a hint, revealed…

Well, Ashton had been waiting in that chair, hadn't he?

Dorian couldn't, wouldn't hold back the smile that came unhindered, that soft, warm feeling settling in the centre of his chest like a home to stay in.

He let it stay. In the moment, it felt like it crystallized, most likely in a shade of purple quartz.

[permafusion-stevonnie]

So this idea isn’t leaving my head. While I’m not going to get it started for now, since I want to concentrate on my current Stevonnie comic, ideas are still ticking away and I just really wanted to draw this cover for the idea.

Maybe I’ll get its own page started in time. I’ll let you know if I do. But even if I did, I wouldn’t expect regular updates to it, not while I’m working on Together Forever.

I want to quickly say something that I think some people may have gotten confused about when I was talking about the Fallout Universe before:

Crystal Gems are still called Crystal Gems, but their role is similar, but not the same as the Brotherhood of Steel. In that they are isolationists, who will try to protect humanity from dangerous gem technology, and corrupted gems. they aren’t bothered with human mutants, human problems, or human technology. But I feel that, ove time, Steven will help their character growth away from this and help them, at least, start opening up to the local comminuty and helping where they can.

Homeworld Authority is still called Homeworld, or The Authority, but take on a similar role to the Enclave. They view themselves as the rightful masters of earth and they’re automatically more superior to any other lifeform by birthright.

I have been thinking over what could have occurred to create this world, how’s this for a (work in progress) backstory: (ended up a lot longer than I thought it would, so I’m space saving by putting in this break)

The Gem colonisation of earth happened later than it did in canon. A couple of thousand years, maybe. Unlike the 6000 years ago in canon, it was perhaps 5000, or maybe 4000 years ago. Enough for a bigger human civilisation to take part in the gem war for earth.

Pink still gets her colony started, still changes her mind about it, and finally chooses to become Rose Quartz to lead the rebellion. I think the human zoo will still be made, because I like the idea of that being around to give a mash-up of the human zoo and the mother ship zeta dlc from Fallout 3.

What really diverges from the timeline is when the rebellion starts fighting back with larger groups of human allies. 4000 (or 5000) years ago we are talking some good military strategies, chariots, bows and arrows, cavalries and tactics, etc. Some research will be needed to really flesh out the lore.

Homeworld, facing a bigger threat than a hundred or so rebels, puts a little more effort into research and development of newer technologies to counteract the human strategies. Nothing develops technologies quite like war.

Rose and the others start capturing some technologies from Homeworld and start studying them to not only understand them, but even attempting to reverse engineer them. They obviously won’t be able to replicate the weapons in form, but hope to do so in function.

This is where Scribes would come in for the Crystal Gems are the replacement for the Brotherhood of Steel that I’ve talked about before. Some Gems and some clever humans, would dedicate themselves to trying to understand the newer Gem technology they’re starting to see.

With inventive people like Bismuth to build their own version of it.

The actual Gem Technology will be locked away in the temple- or whatever name I may give it- but the remake versions that the Crystal Gems turn out will be spread far and wide.

I’m just thinking off the top of my head, but it’d be like- if they tried to make their own version of the gem destabiliser, it would be like a giant tuning fork hooked up to something similar to a large Baghdad Battery (google it, it’s kinda cool) that they would carry in a backpack.

The war would carry on like that, with Homeworld making new tech to combat the threat, sooner or later the rebellion captures some, they make their own version of it, and Homeworld makes new tech to combat the threat.

This drain on resources does take its toll on Homeworld though, and their war against earth is perhaps much shorter, between 300 and 800 years, I haven’t decided yet.

Things do play out similar to canon though. Homeworld decides to abandon earth as a lost cause, implant the Cluster so they’ll get something out of the deal and the three Diamonds blast the earth with their powers as a final middle finger to the rebels.

Gems are destroyed, except for the original Crystal Gems, and Bismuth! Canon Bismuth made a lot of regular weapons and armour and the rebellion was still losing. She was driven to making the Breaking Point because she didn’t think they had a chance of winning any other way. In this new canon, however, because Bismuth was working on newer and newer weapons all the time, each one she was confident would help turn the tide of the war, she never had chance to work on the ultimate weapon of the Breaking Point. She may have designed it, or may have the idea kicking around the back of her mind, but never got around to building it. 

Rose does her thing of finding somewhere isolated to live in both peace and regret for the war. This is where the Crystal Gems become isolationists

With the Gems gone, humans are left to their own devices with all this more advanced technology than they should have in this point in history. Tech continues to develop with this head start.

Fast forward to the year 1929 and people are living lives as you’d see in the Fallout universe in the 2070′s. Nuclear fulled cars, robot assistants, laser rifles and power armour and all that other stuff.

The reason I chose 1929 is two-fold. The first Fallout game was set 84 years after the nuclear war, and 84 years after 1929 is the year 2013; the year Steven Universe first aired.

The failing of the world is the same reason the Fallout universe failed. Resources started to become scarce, wars started over what remained and the whole thing was escalated by a race that may have been too young to fully understand the forces they were really dealing with, having come a long way, but still too fast, thanks to the ancient interference.

Nuclear hellfire rained down and some people took their shelter in the vaults, while everyone else had to find ways to survive outside.

Rose and the Gems stick to their isolation as humanity all but wipes itself out. Rose is heartbroken to see the beautiful world that she fought so hard for, so easily destroyed. There can be a lot to explore there. Maybe Rose will leave the group, maybe she’ll just wander off and be alone a lot but still return to the temple eventually. I haven’t decided yet.

Perhaps all the gems will have some additional guilt, knowing that their old tech is what pushed humanity so far so fast.

Fast forward 70 years and Rose meets a travelling wastelander named Greg. They fall in love. I’m not going to go into a lot of detail here mostly because I haven’t really thought too much about it, but partly because I know I want it to be explored within the story itself to show how different from canon it would be. Not just the flashback elements from “Story for Steven,” and "We Need to Talk," with a Fallout flair. I want to work out some other nice adventures to bring them together.

Rose and Greg come back to Beach City with Rose expecting their baby.

Steven is born and the Gems immediately take custody, with the logic that their secure base is a better place for Steven to grow up than the harsh wasteland. Greg is allowed to visit as often as he likes, but not stay there. Nor is Steven allowed off the base. They want to protect the legacy of their leader, Rose.

I’m going to say that Steven starts showing hints of Gem powers around 10 years old. Nothing he can control. Perhaps his Gem glows when he’s really happy, if he falls down some steps his bubble forms but immediately pops so it’s just enough to save him from injury. Little things like that.

But this serves as a point where The Gems start “encouraging” Greg to visit less and leave the raising of Steven to them, as his upbringing has now become “Gem Business”

Steven may have snuck off the base once or twice to see the world beyond the base, but after this he’ll do it a lot more often to see his dad and the Beach City settlement.

I think Bismuth suspects he sneaks off but both can’t prove it, and doesn’t want to try and prove it, Garnet knows but says nothing, both of them are letting Steven have his fun, and Pearl has no idea he does it.

Amethyst is not part of the group in the beginning, she’s out as part of a raider gang somewhere. Thank you to theyarheeguy for giving me that idea, and many others, to work with.

A total of 84 years after the bombs dropped, Steven is now 12 years old, sneaking off the base for another visit to town, when he spots a pretty young girl dressed in a strange blue jumpsuit, emerging from a hidden trapdoor that was underneath the old Beach City water-tower.

Steven is 12 because I believe that’s how old he was when the show started. Based on the timeline, the passing of the seasons and so on, he has to have a 13th birthday that we don’t see on screen, before we do see his 14th birthday.

[thecreaturecodex]

Necroton

Image by Roger Raupp, © TSR Inc.

[First appearing in Dragon Magazine #42. I do like the genre assumptions that existed in early D&D, before the feedback loop of making D&D more like other fantasy fiction, even as existing fantasy fiction stole more and more from D&D. Of course wizards built giant robot crabs to collect treasure for them! What could be more logical? Between the shape, the eye beam and the overall goal of “collecting things”, I wonder if the necroton was revamped into or inspired the retriever, which first appeared the year after this in the Fiend Folio. Maybe someone, like me, was annoyed that there’s no death theme to the necroton.]

Necroton CR 8 N Construct This squat metallic creature looks like a cross between a crab and a spider, walking on six legs with two blades pincers held aloft. It has a single crystalline eye, and a ridge of crystal spines lines its back.

A necroton is a construct created in homage or mimicry of the retrievers of the Abyss. They are primarily built to gather magic items, immolating and paralyzing wealthy adventurers and then looting them when they are helpless. The massive claws of a necroton are sharp on the outer edges, which strike with the force of greatswords, but their interiors open to fine manipulating organs. A necroton contains embedded in its center mass an iron locker two feet square, where it stores items that may prove too fragile for it to carry through a combat. Especially greedy mages may outfit their necrotons with a bag of holding in this locker in order to store even more treasure.

Necrotons are immune to most magic as golems are, except they are created in order to be a sensory hub for their creator. Some wizards adventure via remote control, watching through their necroton’s eyes and ordering them to attack specific foes, ignore or retrieve particular items, or flee if endangered. Most necrotons are encountered individually. If found in groups, they are given careful orders to avoid catching each other in the radius of their fireballs, as magical fire effects slow them.

Constructing a Necroton A necroton must be assembled out of steel and fitted with a single giant crystal, worth 1,000 gp, to serve as the eye. Necroton CL 10th; Price 41,000 gp Requirements Craft Construct, detect magic, fireball, geas/quest, hold person, prying eyes, creator must be at least CL 10th; Skill Craft (armor or blacksmithing) DC 15; Price 21,000 gp.

Necroton          CR 8 XP 4,800 N Large construct Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., magic sight, Perception +0 Defense AC 22, touch 11, flat-footed 20 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +11 natural) hp 85 (10d10+30) Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +3 DR 10/adamantine; Immune construct traits, magic Offense Speed 30 ft. Melee 2 claws +13 (2d6+4) Ranged paralysis beam +11 touch (paralysis) Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. Special Attacks death throes, fireball Statistics Str 18, Dex 15, Con -, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 1 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 27 (35 vs. trip) Ecology Environment any land or underground Organization solitary or fleet (2-4) Treasure standard Special Abilities Death Throes (Su) When reduced to 0 hit points, a necroton explodes in a 20 foot radius, dealing 10d6 fire damage to all creatures in the area (Reflex DC 15 halves). The save DC is Constitution based. A necroton that has used its fireball for the day does not explode. Fireball (Su) Once per day as a standard action, a necroton can launch a fireball from the spines lining its back. This has a range of 80 feet and explodes in a 20 foot radius. All creatures in the radius take 10d6 fire damage (Reflex DC 15 halves). The save DC is Constitution based. Immunity to Magic (Ex) A necroton is immune to all spells or spell-like abilities that allow for spell resistance except as follows. Any divination spell to observe a necroton remotely, such as a scrying spell, succeeds automatically (no save) and allows the caster to see through the necroton’s eyes. If the caster is the controller of that necroton, it can issue commands remotely as a standard action. Fire based spells slow a necroton for 1d4 rounds. A necroton is treated as being a ferrous creature for the purposes of a rusting grasp spell. Magic Sense (Su) A necroton can detect magic auras as per a detect magic spell as a supernatural ability. Paralysis Beam (Su) As a standard action once every 1d4 rounds, a necroton can fire a greenish ray from its eye. A creature struck by this ray must succeed a DC 15 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d3 minutes. The save is Constitution based.

[ugharghugh]

Sonic and the Robotnik Wars, an AI generated story

Episode 2

Scene opens showing us a shot of Emerald Hill, with the mine entrance on the left side. The cave has been decorated with candle lanterns and Christmas decorations. We pan to the right to see a pair of robot guards sitting on a branch, overlooking the entrance.

Shadow: Oh great, guards.

Shadow hides behind a bush.

The robot guards sit still.

Shadow: (to himself) They always do that.

Shadow pulls out his guns and kills the guards.

Shadow: (to the bodies) So lonely down there all alone.

He walks into the cave.

Inside there is a long hallway to the left with a rock ceiling. Shadow goes down it. At the end of the hallway there is stairs.

Shadow: Great.

Shadow goes down the steps.

Scene cuts to a large, open room with several hallways surrounding it. It is dark, but there are a few candles scattered around.

Shadow: What's this?

He begins to explore.

He finds a bunch of switches and buttons.

Shadow: (examining them) Power switches?

Shadow flips a switch and the whole room lights up.

Shadow: Cool.

Shadow notices a door in the far corner.

Shadow: Whose room is this?

Shadow goes into the room.

Inside there is a bed in the corner.

On the bed there is someone sleeping.

Shadow: (gasp) It's Amy!

Shadow: (loudly) AMY!

Amy wakes up, confused.

Amy: (confused) Huh?

Shadow: Good, you're alive.

Amy: (scared) How'd I get in here?

Shadow: let me explain, you were kidnapped by that robot when that train crashed.

Amy: I...

Shadow: there was a doctor in the train, he fixed you up.

Amy: (fascinated) An actual doctor?

Shadow: yeah, he was in jail for a while, apparently.

Amy: (still shocked) So I was saved by a convict?

Shadow: he's a good guy.

Amy: (glaring at him) That's what they all say.

Amy jumps off the bed and glares at Shadow before walking towards the door.

Amy: Let's go.

Shadow follows her, looking around nervously.

They exit the room and go into the hallway passing by some candles on the wall. From above a giant robot spider, called Egg Spider, drops down and blocks their path.

Egg Spider: Ggkk, egg robots.

The robot holds out a leg in Shadow's direction.

Shadow: (to Egg Spider) Why have you come?

Egg Spider: I have come for you.

Amy: (dismayed) Me?

Egg Spider: You have fallen into my hands.

Amy: (angry) Handcuffs would be nice.

Shadow: I don't like where this is going.

Egg Spider: If you do not come with me, I will take the girl.

Amy: (thinking) That's not too bad.

Shadow: (Begining to rant) Do you realize who you're talking to? I'm the ultimate lifeform, there is no limit to my power. You, on the other hand, are a glorified toaster.

Egg Spider: Be quiet.

Egg Spider walks forward.

Shadow: Hmm, let's see if this works.

Shadow pulls out his gun and shoots at Egg Spider.

Egg Spider: Ehhh......

Shadow: Do you see my power now!? This is why I'm the Ultimate Lifeform! With this power I could rule the world! But I don't! Do you know why? Because I don't want to. I fight because the world needs me to. Because all life deserves peace.

Amy: (in awe) That's so sweet.

Egg Spider: Fascinating...

Shadow: Fascinating? (sarcastically) Is that the best you can do? "Fascinating"!? Pathetic.

Egg Spider: (calmly) That was very interesting.

Shadow: (more coldly) What?

Egg Spider: You are nothing like any of my previous opponents. None can withstand my fury.

Shadow: (coldly) Fury?

Egg Spider: (amused) You have not faced my full power.

Shadow: (smiles) Then why don't you show me?

The Egg Spider lunges at Shadow.

Shadow: Slithering terror!

Shadow kicks the Egg Spider, knocking it over.

Shadow: (mocking) Your metal is no match for my steel shoes.

The Egg Spider stands up.

Shadow: (arrogantly) Hah! My claws can cut through anything!

Shadow dives over the Egg Spider, slicing it.

Egg Spider: (in pain) I am...quite sorry...

Shadow: Don't you mean your leg?

The Egg Spider falls over.

Egg Spider: (crippling pain) Sssssccch, ssssssssbb!

Shadow: That was interesting. Amy Let's get out of here.

Amy: Okay.

Scene transitions to show a icey cavern with an army of giant robot snakes. They start to shoot missiles at a small building.

A large bulky robot called the Spit Fire comes flying in and blows a hole in the building.

Eggman (Over radio): Mission successful.

Eggman lands in front of the building and goes inside.

Camera follows Eggman inside the building. We see a jail cell. Inside is Sonic tied to a chair with Silver guarding him.

Eggman: (calmly) Oh my, what a pleasant surprise.

Silver: (disgusted) You look horrible.

Eggman: I disagree.

Silver: (bows sarcastically) I see you've changed your look.

Eggman: (grimaces) Shut up, Silver.

Silver: I am at your beck and call, sir.

Eggman: And so you've decided to just hand Sonic over to me?

Silver: That is correct.

Eggman: I'm glad to see you see reason. Let's take him to my dungeon.

Silver: Yes, sir.

Sonic wakes up as Silver picks him up with telekinesis.

Sonic: Uggg, Silver why?

Silver: because you won't see reason and Eggman will. I have to save the future.

Sonic: But this isn't you Silver.

Silver: (angrily) you don't have any idea who I am! You've only been here for a small time! I've been through lifetimes of pain. You've only seen a small glimpse of my power. I have to save the world.

Sonic: (pensive) But you're destroying the one thing you care for the most.

Silver: (angrily) Don't lecture me. I have to do what I have to do.

End scene.

Scene transitions to a snowy city, Tails and Rouge are outside a house sitting on a bench. Rouge's arm is in a cast.

Rouge: Hmm Tails, If I were you, I would tell my parents I'm gay.

Tails: (chuckles) Rouge, I'm not that kind of person.

Rouge: Oh come on Tails, What are you so afraid of?

Tails: I'm...afraid of...humiliation.

Rouge: (glances at Tails angrily) I'm sure your parents won't humiliate you if you tell them.

Tails: How?

Rouge: Because you're Sonic's friend.

The door to the house opens and Knuckles sticks his head out. He gestures for the pair to come inside.

Knuckles: Alright, they said you can come in.

Tails: (smiles and starts to walk inside) Okay.

Rouge: (follows Tails) Okay.

As Tails and Rouge go inside the house, inside is Knuckles sitting on the couch with Cream the rabbit, Cheese the chao, and Blaze the cat.

Knuckles: Well, I got both Cream and Blaze to agree to help us.

Rouge: ...

Rouge puts her hand on her face in exasperation.

Rouge: These are who's going to help us find the Master Emerald?

Cheese: (nods)

Cheese flies towards Rouge and licks her on the face.

Rouge: Ahhh! You perv!

Cream: Cheese! Don't bother miss Rouge!

Cheese: (in chao language) But Cream, she needs the licking!

Cream: that's no excuse for bad manners!

Cheese: (in chao language) Sorry Rouge...

Cheese sadly flies back to Cream.

Tails: anyway, Knuckles what is your plan to find the Master Emerald?

Knuckles: Alright here is my plan. First, we fix the plane and head to Angel Island. Once there Cream and Cheese will be able to ask the local chao what direction they sense the Master Emerald. Then Tails can use his gadgets to narrow down to where it is. Finally, we will all go to where we think the emerald is and find it.

Tails: That sounds good, but what about Rouge?

Knuckles: Well, she's injured, so she can't go with us.

Rouge: (Angrily) I AM NOT INJURED! (bends down to her waist) See?!

Tails: Wait, Rouge, if you bend down like that, your cast will break, and it will be even worse than before.

Rouge: I don't care! I'm not staying behind when theres jewels on the line!

Tails: (looks hurt) No, Rouge! You just need time to heal.

Knuckles: (sighs) Fine, it's not worth arguing about this, the plane has plenty of seats.

Blaze: (flies over and licks Rouge's face) There! You're all better now!

Rouge: (annoyed) Thank you Blaze.

Rouge: (looks at Knuckles) So, when do we leave?

Knuckles: (looks up into the sky) Tomorrow.

Will our heroes find the Master Emerald? Can Sonic escape the clutches of Eggman and Silver? Find out next time!

[feeling-weirdy]

**my scarletvision master list**

A giant list of all the drabbles I have written in chronological order for anyone who would like to read from start to finish.  If people are interested in becoming notified whenever I post something, please follow my AO3. 

Please feel free to send in prompts for anything you would like to see added to this list. 

Age of Ultron to Civil War

A Thing Isn’t Beautiful Because... - prompt; “right before or after Vision saves Wanda”; Overwhelmed with emotions, Wanda is filled with grief by the loss of her brother.  Vision tries to help her figure out a way to deal with the loss.

Uncertain, yet Intentional - prompt; The moment before his ‘I did intend to come in here’ line in episode 8 of WV

Silent Tears - prompt; Wanda really lets herself cry for the first time since Pietro’s death and Vision does his best to comfort her.

Unpleasant Dreams - prompt; Wanda has a nightmare and Vision goes in to check on her to see if she’s alright.

Do Better - prompt;  Vision is unable to save everyone in a disaster which helps him learn a very hard lesson.

Never Again - prompt;  Wanda POV; Vision and Wanda watch sitcoms and Wanda gets distracted

Bugging Out - prompt; “Holy fucking guacamole!”; A routine update goes awry.

Vis, We Talked About This - prompt; “Viz, we talked about this”; Vision tries to distract Wanda without seeming too pushy.

Your Electrifying Touch - Wanda POV; Unable to keep her thoughts contained, Wanda slips up but has to find a way to keep herself back on track.

An Unexpected Surprise - prompt; Vision comes home from a tough mission to find Wanda curled up in his bed.

Practice Makes Perfect - prompt; Vision and Wanda practice in an attempt to help get Wanda’s powers under control.

Dancing Out of Tune - prompt; Vision walks in on Wanda listening to Pietro’s favorite genre and throws him off guard.

Striking Thirteen - prompt; a moment where feelings develop; Wanda can’t seem to fall asleep and looks to Vision for help.

Happy Birthday...? - prompt; Vision gets a present from Wanda for his first "birthday"

Neverending Flow - prompt; Wanda gets a nosebleed

While No One is Watching - prompt; The gang starts dancing, but disappears once uncomfortableness starts to set in once the android and witch start to get close to one another.

Heart Over Duty - prompt; What else makes Vision cry?

Overrated - prompt; “I always thought Mr Darcy was overrated”; Vision’s feelings can no longer be kept to himself.  A novel Wanda suggests causes him to blurt out his confession.

Freezing Circuits - prompt; “Vision tries ice cream” 

An Accidental Moment - prompt; pre CW; While watching television together, Wanda initiates the next step in their relationship.

Civil War to Infinity War

Safe and Sound - prompt; songfic for Safe and Sound; After the destruction in Lagos, Wanda breaks down, leaving Vision to console her the best that he can. 

Distraction - prompt; Wanda POV; Wanda is overwhelmed by the Accords and is desperate for something else to focus on.  Vision is happy to oblige.

A Step Too Far - prompt; Vision offers pizza and an explanation for his actions in trying to keep Wanda safe inside the compound.

After the Storm - prompt; Vision arrives to see Wanda for the first time after the aftermath. 

The Little Green Monster - prompt; Vision becomes jealous of someone flirting with Wanda.

A Spark of Light - prompt; “we could be like sparks of light”; Vision attempts to talk Wanda into extending their little walks to something more substantial.

Can I Change Your Mind? - Vision is unable to tell Wanda goodbye and tries to get her to stay with him.

Three’s a Crowd - prompt; “love triangle between Vis, Wanda and Clint” 

Chicken Soup for the Soul - prompt; Wanda gets sick and Vision helps take care of her

And Life Will Always Be... - Wanda POV; Excited to meet up with Vision again, Wanda enters the hotel room hoping to get a head start but finds her plans are pushed to an instant halt.

Between the Lines - prompt; “that was an innuendo, wasn’t it?”; Vision struggles to understand why Wanda is acting so strangely.

Look My Way - Wanda POV; Tired of spending the afternoon alone, Wanda takes things into her own hands.

Cappuccino or Latte - prompt; “what’s the actual difference between a cappuccino and a latte?”; Vision attempts to make coffee despite his disadvantages.

Short and Sweet - Vision can no longer keep himself back from kissing Wanda.

All to Myself - prompt; Vision jealous of Wanda and Cap America’s friendship; The distance they have created has finally brought Vision to a breaking point.

Getting Caught - prompt;  Wanda and Vision get caught coming home late

Not Ostentatious, but True - prompt; “my love isn’t ostentatious, but it doesn’t make it any less true”; Vision becomes jealous of how others profess their love and he does his best to explain himself.

Purrfectly Happy - prompt; The first time Vision ever sees a cat 

By the River - prompt; UK shenanigans; Vision uses an anniversary as an excuse to create a new memory with something they had never tried before.

That One Thing - prompt; Vision and Wanda discuss their future.

To Grow Old In, V - Vision worries about whether or not his next move is too grand, but is determined to move to the next step regardless.

One Last Moment - prompt; “one last moment”; Vision and Wanda talk about their options should Wakanda fail to disconnect the Mind Stone.

Wandavision sitcom AU

Love Me Tender - Vision tries to make a special night for Wanda, hoping to make up for the Mr. Hart fiasco.

Support - prompt; Vision offers his assistance as Wanda struggles with her pregnancy.

Cravings - prompt; Wanda’s weird pregnancy cravings; Vision struggles in the kitchen while trying to keep up with her cravings.

Perfectly Molded - Wanda POV; prompt; Vision wearing gray sweatpants.  That’s pretty much it.

Back to Bed - A pregnant Wanda is sick and Vision struggles to take care of her.

Prenatal Upset - prompt; A pregnant Wanda doesn’t feel sexy and Vision is more than happy to prove otherwise. 

Melting in the Rain - prompt;  Wanda goes into labor and is cool as a cucumber leaving Vision to panic alone.

Nerves of Steel - prompt; Vision gets so caught up in himself that he phases through a piece of furniture and doesn’t even notice 

Painting for Mom - prompt; sweet dad!Vision moment; The boys craft gifts for Mother’s Day.

Yellow Brick Road - prompt; Vision and Wanda help the boys go Trick-or-Treating

The End of the Road - prompt; part 2 to Yellow Brick Road

Movie Night: Titanic - prompt; the family watching Titanic

Peace and Quiet Shattered - prompt; The twins attempt to make a little robot and are having trouble until Vision steps in and fixes it with ease.

Halloween Spooks - prompt; Vision getting scared by Halloween animatronics

Unable to Compute - prompt; Tommy and Billy do something stupid and Vision has a hard time understanding why

post Wandavision

A World Without Color - A series of prompts following White!Vision as he learns more about who he was so that he can move forward.

post Infinity War AU

Make it Real -  A series of one-shots, and possible story, following the traumatic events of Infinity War in an alternate universe where Wanda and Vision are alive and traumatized.

Random AUs

Bidding for Attention -  Tony has a bachelor auction and Hope Van Dyne bids on Vision to upset her dad for fun and then Hope and Vision hit it off and keep hanging out which makes Wanda realize her feelings for him have changed.

Pt 1