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motelpearl · 9 months ago

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I'm watching star trek voyager so I'm gonna put my thoughts below & keep adding onto it (yes I'm going from tng -> voy & skipping ds9 for now at least even though I feel like I'm missing out on context bc trekkies seem to hold ds9 as like the gold standard of star trek but I watched a couple episodes & I just couldnt dig it)

the relationship of kes & neelix is so bewildering to me like what does she see in him like hes not even a bad person but he's just a lot dumber than her & has that "where's my hug" type guy energy also he's like so old not even in a sugar daddy way just in a boomer way like doesn't kes's species only live 9 years

I hope tom paris goes through some character development because as of right now he's soooooo annoying like referring to chakotay as an "indian" all the time......ugh one would hope we wouldn't still be doing that in the 25th century also I knew from seeing online discourse that chakotay's writing is stereotypical in a well intentioned but still badly-aged way & it's not ruining the show for me but whenever he closes his eyes & the panflute music kicks in I just sigh deeply

the vidiians are fucking terrifying bruh its giving a cure for wellness

I HATE HISTORICAL REVISIONISM IM SORRY BUT IT WILL NEVER FEEL COMFORTABLE TO ME EVEN IF THEYRE DEAD. NOT THE MARK TWAIN RPF IN TNG NOT THE AMELIA EARHART RPF HERE IT JUST AINT RIGHT

OKAY MAYBE I WAS WRONG WHEN I SAID NEELIX ISNT W BAD GUY BC WHAT DO YOU MEAN KES IS A PREPUBESCENT 2 YEAR OLD

not the voyager defeating an alien by becoming submissive & breedable (of course the voyager has a blue plasma trail & pronouns....)

JANEWAY WANTS CHAKOTAYS DICK SO BAD PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER GIRL WHERES YOUR DECORUM

tuvoks hairline is so fascinating to me

not belanna being lowkey in love with chakotay too & then them showing his bare ass in the next episode....rick berman was on this man like a fat kid on a smartie

FUCK THE KAZON UGLYASS BEASTS

seska needs to be in jail bruh

I SWEAR TO GOD IVE WATCHED ENOUGH STAR TREK THAT I CAN TELL JUST BY THE CAMERA ANGLES WHEN AN EPISODE IS DIRECTED BY JONATHAN FRAKES LIKE HE'S ALWAYS DOING WEIRD DUTCH ANGLE TRACKING SHOTS & STUFF LIKE THAT

so I heard that threshold is like the worst episode in the entirely of star trek & after watching it I honestly dont think it's that bad like sure it's an implausible premise but it's not as bad as like code of honor or sub rosa

NOT BEEF BEING A Q....TWO OF MY WEIRD NERDY INTERESTS ARE OVERLAPPING ALSO THE CAST LIST OF THIS EPISODE SCARES & EXCITES ME. FUCK Q SEXIST ASS MOTHERFUCKER FIRST HE CREEPS ON THAT TEENAGE Q THEN HE KILLS ALYSSA OGAWAS BABY NOW HE SAYS WOMEN CANT BE CAPTAINS & SEXUALLY HARRASSES JANEWAY. DIE.

I always wonder how they get the alien makeup on babies like in this episode with the baby with horns on its head & that one episode of tng where they showed baby borg. also the concept of teleporting a baby out of the womb for an easier delivery is hilarious

tuvok & neelix toxic yaoi?

bruh if this episode is setting up the possibility of suder just letting out his violent impulses one last time & going scorched earth on the kazon & the doctor helping him by means of holographic skulduggery & then tom paris showing up with a cavalry of fucking talaxians to lay the smack down I'm gonna laugh so hard

TOM PARIS FINALLY STARTING TO REDEEM HIMSELF

THE PORTRAYAL OF 1990S EARTH IS SO FUCKING FUNNY TUVOK WEARING A DURAG TO COVER HIS EARS PLEASEEEEE

time travel episodes stress me out so much though like PLEASEEE put the tricorder away. not belanna & chakotay getting kidnapped by hillbillies omg the shots where the guy kicks chakotay & then belanna kicks the guy were edited so weirdly

starling reminds me so much of elon musk

is the alien possessing kes bisexual?

too bad q got to die of old age instead of janeway giving him the electric chair

janeway gettin her lara croft on we love that

why cant vulcans just jack off during pon farr like I thought hand stuff was their whole thing

this isnt voyager specific but shuttlecrafts should really have seatbelts like the amount of times people randomly get injured because turbulence throws them out of their seats....WE SOLVED THIS ISSUE 500 YEARS AGO

not tuvok building the Doohickey

why are they leaving harry unattended on a borg cube WHY DOES STARFLEET NOT MANDATE THE BUDDY SYSTEM HES JUSTA LITTLE GUY & NOW HE'S GOING TO GET ASSIMILATED

WHAT THE JESUS IS THAT

awww bless kes I knew she would leave & I was worried she would die but I'm glad she left on a lighter note

"welcome to the worst day of my life" hi my name is belanna dark'ness dementia raven torres (yes I know losing the warp core is serious but that line was giving "we live in a society")

DID HARRY & SEVEN HAVE SEX. BRUH

eugh I wrote in my other star trek thread that borg assimilation is one thing that just gives me such deep discomfort like even though the borg gradually become sort of overdone the concept of assimilation becomes increasingly terrifying regardless like seven's backstory just creeps me out so much like the concept of her parents just being these sort of rebellious scientists who thought they were gonna make some great discovery out in the delta quadrant (sidenote I hope it gets explained more how exactly they got out there like did they go through a wormhole too?) & just stumbling upon these unimaginable horrors that they had no chance of fight & having to watch as their naivete & hubris destroyed their childs life & everyone they previously knew had no idea where they went or what happened to them EUGH ITS SO CHILLING

wait how did they get the warp core back was I not paying attention

tuvok getting his gilf certificate in the mail we love to see it

species 8472 are terrifying even though the CGI is so low-poly

okay this is a pretty pointless criticism but it annoys me how all the female characters wear heeled boots & on that note the grey turtleneck under the uniforms looks so ugly like post-s3 TNG had the best looking uniforms & this isnt coming from a biased place just bc tng is my favourite (also the movie era uniforms that were red & had random white straps were SO UGLYYYY & DUMB LIKE HOW CAN YOU TELL ANYONES RANK OR DEPARTMENT IF THEYRE ALL RED)

I hate the way the borg queens spine swings around like a cat's tail

opening the episode with harry kim getting his tiddies sucked....ON PRIMETIME TV? IN THE 90S?

I just know that anti-alien-sex law got put into place because of riker

since like late season 3 I'm finally starting to understand why trekkies say janeway has sexual tension with literally everyone

a vulcan shedding a single tear when hearing an artificial lifeform perform a piece of classical music? NOW WHERE HAVE I SEEN THAT BEFORE......*taps chin pensively*

tuvok & neelix detoxified yaoi?

BARCLAY & TROI YASSS

NEVERMIND NOT BARCLAY BACK ON HIS HOLODECK BULLSHIT

not the space Irish again (also from what I've seen irish people are apparently really offended by the irish reunification of 2024 meme <\\\3)

if janeway were alive in 2024 she'd be on tumblr making posts like "I need to get sent to the seaside for my health"

I didnt expect the episode "virtuoso" to suddenly take such a resonant turn but in the age of generative ai it's strangely prophetic

the double whammy of seeing jeffrey combs & the rock as the guest stars in this episode

I got injured the other day & have been pretty much bedbound because of it & whenever a scene takes place in sickbay I think "spare dermal regenerator 🤲"

they bring back kes just to give her makeup that makes her look like Christopher Walken <\\\3

ugh I love troi shes such a queen

why does the borg queen look like this -> 🥺

honestly I'm kinda sad that I'm on the final season

poor tuvok man first he almost gets assimilated, then he gets mind controlled, now hes just trying to fuck but he's thwarted by political tensions

I kind of want to rewatch st: picard since I know seven's backstory now & have the context of the borg's decline like I saw trekkies saying janeway "handled them" but now I know the exact circumstances

omg I know chakotay & seven somehow end up together (at least for a while) when the show ends bc I've had so much of voyager spoiled (tbh that seems to the usual reason i watch shows, I get a bunch of it spoiled & then I'm like "but how do those dots connect") anyway that literally makes no sense bc I can't think of a time theyve ever interacted since seven became a character but like chakotay & janeway were RIGHT THERE THEYVE HAD TENSION SINCE SEASON 1 IM NOT EVEN A SHIPPER CAUSE IDC THAT MUCH BUT IT WAS RIGHT THERE (& I read the wikipedia page for each episode after I watch them cause idk I like learning behind the scenes stuff & in the "reception" section of each page theres always something like "fans were disappointed that janeway & chakotay did not bang like screen doors in this episode") LIKE THE FANS WANTED IT IT WAS A LOGICAL COURSE OF ACTION IT WAS SET UP SINCE SEASON 1 & THE WRITERS CHICKENED OUT. WHY THOUGH?

noooo belanna dont do eugenics ur so sexy aha

POOR TUVOK BRUH SEASON 7 IS JUST A YEAR OF TUVOK SUFFERING

THE DOCTOR MAKING PHANTOM OF THE OPERA REFERENCES....DID HE JUST BECOME MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER (even though he pronounces "fantome" entirely wrong)

"she's suffering from dysphoria syndrome" janeway trans?

I know this show was made in the late 90s/early 2000s but nothing hammers that point home like seeing the same exact fishing rod toy I had as a kid in this episode that aired a month after I was conceived

just when I thought the Q couldnt get more annoying....one of them is a teenage boy

NOT SOME WRITERS BARELY DISGUISED FOOT FETISH SEEPING IN.....I COULD NEVER BE AN ACTRESS

one thing that has never stopped annoying me is the fact that we literally see naomi wildman be born onscreen & then she goes from newborn -> 9 year old over the course of like 2 seasons

okay I finished it & I'll need more time to collect my thoughts but the basic idea is: I liked the show but I feel like there was lots of possibilities that went unexplored but one thing I especially liked is that unlike TNG (which is still my favourite trek) the female characters got storylines that didnt just revolve around interpersonal stuff (ie. family/romance) but actually got to use their specific skills

but now I'm rewatching the first couple episodes of because I honestly had no idea what was going on (I didn't even realize the doctor was a hologram until like halfway through season 1 & I didn't realize tuvok was spying on the maquis until like season 3) & one thing I have noticed is that NEELIX WAS SO FUCKING UNHINGED IN THE FIRST EPISODE LIKE HE COMES OFF LIKE HEATH LEDGER AS THE JOKER IN THAT SCENE WHERE HE VIDEOCALLS VOYAGER & STRUTTING AROUND THE TRANSPORT ROOM IN HIS PIMP COAT & ALL THE WATER STUFF LIKE WHO IS THIS MAN also belanna's makeup was so bad I'm sorry <\\\3

#motelpearl #star trek

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anxious-ace · 1 year ago

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Chronorun Reports notes:

Van Helsing, Jekyll, and Mrs. Frankenstein (Victor's mom) are siblings with Abraham and Henry being twins and Caroline being a few years younger (specific ages will have to wait until my brain decides that doing math is worth it)

(they are all a mix of Dutch, British, and Swiss btw)

(yes this means that Victor is Van Helsing's and Jekyll's nephew)

Van Helsing formed the HOSC to essentially bring light to all of the scientific discoveries that are happening (Jekyll's serum, any supernatural being he encountered, the time machine, Victor's creation, Griffin's invisibility, and more) but not without the house members' consent

Now let's get into the plot- a good amount of people in this universe have powers (almost all of the members of both societies have powers)

They are as follows:

Van Helsing- gains an ability of whatever type of entity he conquers (if he were to slay a vampire he would only get one of the abilities shared within all vamps. Ie teleportation) as well as natural immunity to most (not all) supernatural attacks and anomalistic mastery (or that could just be from his job)

Jekyll- technically he speaks to Hyde through telepathy as well as having telekinesis

Hyde- telepathy like Jekyll (because of course) and the ability to teleport objects and people away from and to him

(Jekyll and Hyde are forced to work together because they are not able to do what the other can as well as the other)

Victor- weather control (I just wanted to reference the movies, I think he would use it to help him animate the creation)

Griffin- now I know you might think that I'm going to make his invisibility his power, but that's not the case. He can however talk to animals, he just doesn't want anyone to know.

Time traveler- let's get the obvious out of the way, he can see any point in time (past present, and future), and it proved very helpful (but overwhelming and contributes to his time blindness)

Sherlock- like the time traveler, he could be obvious (giving him some kind of hyper-intelligence) so I'll give him tactical analysis and the hyper intertellince (or he could not have the ability and just be that smart, I haven't decided yet)

Watson- since he's a physician and royal army surgeon (according to Wikipedia), giving him a healing ability (more so healing others) would be a fair but obvious move. However, I want his medical knowledge to be utilized (meaning he would use actual medical practices instead of relying on powers) so the proper techniques would still have to be used (more so internal and really bad external wounds, broken bones, and deep/wide cuts being examples)

Gwen- now she could be a little difficult (considering the fact she is someone else's oc and I'm a bit scared to ask because it might look like I'm stealing their idea) so I'll move on for now. (she could have enhanced reflexes as it would be really helpful)

Switching gears to more general ideas (I'm looking for a reason to segway into the investigative committee's powers)

Griffin and the time traveler don't use their names for reasons they'd rather not admit (it has something to do with their experiments)

Van Helsing and Jekyll may make it look like they hate Victor (because he's an irresponsible, spoiled, college dropout who can be a bit of a nervous wreck at the most inconvenient times possible) but they're still trying to help him get over everything (and to take some god damn responsibly for once in his life)

Van Helsing and Watson are transcribing past journals, audio logs (the series takes place in the 21st century), and more as a part of the whole "bring light to all of the scientific discoveries that are happening" thing the HOSC does

The HOSC is very queer (not really with each other but you know)

Jekyll is a trans, ace, gay man (maybe Hyde too, he hasn't really thought about it, both he/him though)

Victor is pansexual and nonbinary (he/they)

Griffin is a bi demi-boy (also he/they)

Sherlock seems to be more interested in his work than in relationships (aroace cis man)

Watson is more open to the idea than Sherlock is though, at some point being stated to have said "I think everyone looks nice, does that mean im attracted to everyone? No not everyone, but certain people attract me more than others." (doesn't put a label on gender either but uses he/it/they)

Time Traveler is a theatre kid so he is probably the most open with his sexuality and gender (gay nonbinary dude using they/it)

Again, I have no idea for Gwen as she is not my character (well none of them are, I might have one at some point but thats not what I'm here for) so I either ask the creator or leave her as unlabelled (which might not be a bad idea actually) although the picrew shows her as aroace

Van Helsing might be the only straight one (I say might be because he doesn't know, still uses he/him though)

Now for the Missing person's investigative committee: they are in charge of finding out the who, where, what, why, when, and how of missing person cases

Utterson and Poole started it after Jekyll faked his death, which happened about a week after Van Helsing got back from killing Dracula (so it was like 7 years ago based on Quincey jr's age in the main story)

I'm now imagining a very stressed Van Helsing hearing about his brother supposedly killing himself because his latest experiment went tits up (excuse me while I try not to cry)

Their powers are:

Utterson- since he's a lawyer, giving him something like Holmes' hyper-intelligence (if it's his ability at all) is kinda obvious so some kind of adaptive ability could be fun (body language analysis could be useful)

Poole- super speed to help him with all of his duties (and in case of emergencies)

Mycroft- I kinda want his to be out of the park but still useful in a way, fuck it he can turn off others' abilities either by touching them or snapping his fingers

Walton- some kind of internal GPS for his traveling

Kemp- I tried reading the invisible man wiki to see what kind of doctor he is (he did go to a medical school so that could help) but couldn't really find anything so im going in sorta blind. I'm just going to make him a shapeshifter

Now that that is out of the way, few more things until pride shit

If someone pisses off Mycroft, their powers are just gone for the day (which could be devasting if they piss him off during a very important mission)

Walton being the youngest (younger than Hyde but older than Victor) means he is often the fastest and most agile of the group (until Poole uses his super speed obviously)

He's basically the group's son (at least to most of them, Mycroft might have some warming up to do)

Now, pride:

Utterson- Jekyll's husband (cis bi man, uses he/him)

Poole- unlabeled sexuality (aro he/it user)

Mycroft- like Van Helsing, he might be the only straight one (uses he/him)

Walton- trans, demisexual man (he/them/it)

Kemp- omnisexual nonbinary (they/them)

@mrhyde-mrseek what do you think?

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fractallogic · 11 months ago

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I have a headache that I think is caused by lack of caffeine and/or lack of food, and I have told myself that I can get a spicy chimkin sando for lunch today, but that requires getting out from under the cat and putting clothes on… much like my other plans of “reading a book” and “making more cookies (and going to the grocery store for ingredients)” and “playing video games” and “get a chai from Dutch bros” do too

Why can’t I just order my sando online and magically teleport it here while it’s still hot and tasty

The book I want to read is all the way on the other side of the coffee table

The ingredients for the cookies are AT THE STORE

My life, you see, is very difficult and I am sad and pathetic

#or do I want TWO chimken #they’re the size of very large sliders #somewhere between slider and sandwich #the sauce is so good. the cheese you can add is so good. even their fries are good #and goddamn do I love a fountain coke #I am hungry. but also cold and the cat is warm #and the outside is rainy and cold

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heksery · 1 year ago

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"it looks great, eg," udyati grins at him. "is that a moat?"

the little strip of beach near her house isn't a secret anymore. people come from all over to enjoy the 'beach at the meuse' whenever hook of holland is too crowded.

(which is often, these days. especially with the new rapid transit line.)

she turns her head back towards the sun again, letting it warm her face as she closes her eyes. "if you want me to carve the tiniest door known to mankind into your sand castle, you just let me know, okay?" @dvarapala

"yes. any proper castle should have a moat," egmund confirms, grinning in return. preferably, it should also have plenty of flowers and ivy crawling up the towers but that is a little harder to achieve on a sandy beach.

then he manages to accidentally knock over the top of the keep. "shoot," he utters with a sigh and a pout at his friend. "let me have another go. different roads sometimes lead to the same castle, after all."

when his fellow dutch suggests a tiny door, he laughs. "oh, i have always wanted to teleport my pinky finger to another universe!" he teases her. "would it actually work? if you add a small door here just behind the drawbridge? does a portcullis count as a door? an iron gate," he adds for clarification.

#dvarapala #q #hoist the sails ~ egmund [thread]

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thegrimdog13 · 1 year ago

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Hey!I saw in your last post about the necklace, and I was hoping if you had any other magical cursed items are in your AU! (This can be an info dump I love this subject cause it's similar to mine too!)

Alright! I’m going to do this one for my main au! So it’s not going to be the all powerful Ben world.Also all haul Ben 😂 pt.1

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Necklace of macht - It is a necklace that can steal powers.It is only heard of in legends but some say they see it’s green glow in the depths of the water.

( macht is Dutch for might)

Sword of mimicry- This is a sword that can replicate any sword ever in history or in a game hint hint……This sword has more magical properties than just appearance! It can harness any natural abilities like water,fire,wind,and earth.This sword is currently in the possession of Ben drowned.

Grimoire of deadly deeds- This book basically just tells you how to do what spell you want to do. The ingredients and instructions if there are any. But with a twist it only responds to one with a dark heart or intentions. Unknown were it is?

Book for Golden Gates - This is basically the opposite of the Grimoire of deadly deeds.Instead of evil intentions they are only good ones and one with a good heart.Unknown were it is?

Linking lead- It’s basically a magic collar for you mystical or non mystical pet so that you can teleport them to you.This is a common item and there are many of them.

Portal- well it’s a portal….. but you have to give your blood and a message if we’re you want to go or it won’t turn out well.Only a couple scattered around the world.

Rewinding clock- It’s a clock that can rewind time when you wind it back or wind it forward. If you are wearing it you’re the only thing that will stay the same.It’s very dangerous and if you don’t use it right you can mess up everything. This is owned by clockwork.

Ribbon of Relief- A ribbon that can stop any pain when you tie it around the wound.But once it comes of off the pain comes back.Unknown who holds it presumed to be Nurse Ann.

—————————————————————————

I know this is short but I don’t have any ideas right now. If you wanna leave some ideas Im always open! That being said if you want more or have any suggestions let me know! Love you all ❤️

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debbiechanclub · 2 years ago

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Anyway here's a snippet of the next fic

“Okay, either I’m way more drunk than I feel, or you just had her by the throat.” Torrance suddenly proclaimed. She and Will had seemed to teleport in front of them, fresh drinks in hand.

“Fucking what?” Will laugh-sputtered with a wide-eyed look at Kyle. But, for possibly the first time in his life, Kyle didn’t know what to say.

Thankfully, Nellie had enough Dutch courage going that she wasn’t embarrassed. “Don’t worry; I put his hand there,” she slyly returned. It left them speechless. “Do you want anything?” she asked Kyle as she slid out of the booth.

“Water,” he said, making a drinking motion with his hand. “I need water.”

#*hits post and runs away without giving any scene context*

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alsjeblieft-zeg · 2 months ago

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111 of 2024

Created by brelee

What's something that gives you confidence?

Wearing my work vest lol. 100+ points to respect, too.

Do you ever zone out and accidentally stare at someone?

Lol all the time. Story of my life. I zone out pretty often.

What are 3 restaurants you enjoy?

Nakhon, Lunch Garden and Pitta Reco.

Could you handle being famous?

I don't think so. I value my privacy.

Out of every cellphone you've owned, what's been your favorite and least favorite? Why?

My current one, Samsung Galaxy A53. Great camera, first of all. My least favourite was probably my first one, it didn't even have a camera.

Have you ever ran from law enforcement?

No, there was no reason.

What is a law you'd create if given the authority?

No idea. Probably free counselling for everyone, or affordable dental care.

If you were to star in a horror movie, would you rather play the killer, victim, or someone who survives till the end?

Someone who survives, probably. Seems the most fun.

What's something people tend to misunderstand about you?

That I'm not shy. I just have autism.

What's your favorite kind of cookie?

Chocolate or any shortbread cookie.

Do you collect anything?

Yeah. Pens, notebooks, other stationery, keyrings, postcards and fridge magnets.

Do you prefer shoes or going barefoot more?

It depends on where I am. I hate walking in shoes inside the house.

Do you have a lucky number?

Yeah, 16.

Have you recently checked something off your bucket list?

Yeah, recording a Dutch train for my YouTube channel. XD

What's your most used emoji?

Kiss, I think.

Are you good enough at math that you could solve 50+ problems in 1 hour?

I don't think so, but still, I'm decent enough.

What fruit would you be if you were a fruit?

Sour cherry.

What's the highest degree of pain you've ever experienced on a scale of 1-10?

Brain bleeding was beyond 10, I think. It's a miracle I survived.

What's your favorite indoor activity?

Filling in surveys, I'm not kidding.

What age would you be if you had to pick one to be permanently?

16 or 25.

Where would you go right now if you could teleport?

Either to Poland or to my parents.

Do you find robots to be creepy?

Yeah, uncanny valley and such. The more human-like they are, the bigger the effect is.

Have you ever received a foot massage?

Yup, from my husband.

What's a popular food ingredient, spice, or herb, that you dislike?

Caraway, oh my God. I hate it.

What are some things that take up a lot of your time?

Travelling by public transport lol.

Would you rather start your life over as a new person or add 100 years to your lifespan?

Can I start over with the knowledge I have now? I'll take it, thanks.

Could you use 25 hours in a day? What would you do with that extra hour?

Probably a nap to regenerate my batteries.

Would you rather meet your ancestors or meet your future self?

My ancestors. I've been always curious where my family exactly comes from.

Do you have a love-hate relationship with someone?

No, I don't think so. But I have such feelings to some celebrities lol.

What's the last game you played on your cell phone?

Match Factory.

Did you learn anything today?

Nothing in particular.

What season best fits your personality?

Probably spring.

Do you own any garden knomes or flamingos?

No. I don't even have a garden.

Tell me a story. fictional or non fiction.

There's a cat, a cat goes meow. Here's the story.

What is preventing you from achieving your goals?

My health, or lack thereof.

What all did you purchase today?

Cleaning supplies and some cat food, plus potatoes for soup.

What's your favorite material item you own?

My laptop, and our smart TV in our bedroom.

For a day, would you rather be a dragon or elf?

Elf, probably.

What was a childhood snack you haven't had in a while?

Sugar bread, I think. It's not really a snack, though.

What's the best birthday you've had so far?

My 32nd birthday when my husband took me to the restaurant.

#survey #random survey #q&a survey

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nihiladditaenihilperdidi · 6 months ago

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Ghost Hunting || Rune + Isaac || December 12th, 2022

Isaac: The old library smelled of mildew and cat urine, with the occasional whiff of ash. Locals had reported seeing a woman roaming amongst the ruins of the burnt-out library. Children called her Moaning Myrtle after the Harry Potter character.

The intel that Isaac had gathered would point to Jennifer Cossack, a woman who had worked there in the past and broke her neck going down a set of stairs. Hostile? No. Privy to sensitive information? No. Critical to the Foundation? No. A good time killer during a boring month? Sure.

Isaac was sitting in a musty chair on the second floor, overlooking the entryway. He had been here for three hours already and had already walked around most of the building. And so he sat, listening to the occasional rat scurry and wind softly blowing through the building.

Rune: It had happened again. Another night without rope or handcuffs or even a scarf to tether himself in place. Another night waking up somewhere in the Gauntlet and having to tear his way out. Teleportation would be easier. Teleportation would be a fucking blessing. It was a micro-miracle that he wasn't covered in ectoplasm as he crawled through the opening between one reality to the next. Both hands felt at his pockets as he stood. His sigh was damn near euphoric.

At least this time he had his cigarettes and wallet. Would have been a shame to have left them in Brooklyn.

"Kanker," was still the first word out of his mouth as he took in his surroundings.

Isaac: Isaac's head snapped to his right. The shuffling he heard was too large for a rat. That and he swore he heard someone say something. He stood but remained still, waiting for more movement.

Rune: More movement in the form of a clack of a lighter and a hiss through a man's teeth. What followed sounded a lot like a singular clap of hands before the noisemaker came into view.

He was a man of modest height, wearing a shirt much too loud for the quiet ruins that surrounded them, draped in a dusty blue coat a size, no, two sizes too large. His bird-like nose was the first visible feature before laying eyes on the stranger.

"Hi there."

Isaac: "Hi." Who was this asshole? A bum? No, much too clean to be a bum. More importantly, where'd he come from? Isaac swept the whole area and didn't see anyone.

After a few awkward blinks, "Where did you come from?"

Rune: Rune made a show of looking over his shoulder, to the bookshelf where he had emerged from, tucked away and resealed.

He shrugged. "Dutch. You, American?"

Isaac: "Yes. You come from 'Dutch'? I mean where did you come from just now, guy?" Who was this asshole? Isaac turned his body to face the stranger directly. Maybe he was newly homeless? He certainly has a negative vibe to his demeanor.

Rune: "Is your English worse than mine?" His lips tightened, holding back a smirk as he filled his lungs with smoke. This man seemed easy to provoke.

"Nowhere."

Isaac: Isaac squinted, "Alright, Dutch from Nowhere. What're you doing here?" He faced him directly, but listened outward. Was he here alone? Did they follow Isaac here to jump him or something?

Rune: Interrogations weren't very appealing, but the type of questions asked, and how they were asked, said a lot. Not a drug dealer; far too calm and relatively collected.

"This a stakeout?"

Isaac: "Of sorts." He knows what a stakeout looks like, but didn't seem upset by the idea of police. "Name is Isaac. What're you doing here, Dutch?"

Rune: Easier to lie until he had more information. The man was dressed too clean and spoke too well to be undercover.

He clapped his hands again, rubbed them together as he stretched. Just a simple cover for a spell, checking the local quintessence. Difficult to find the nuance in an area with a recently slit Gauntlet.

"Woke up here," he finally said.

Isaac: "Right." Unless the stranger fell asleep in an air vent and crawled out, Isaac would've noticed a sleeping man. "Do you often sleep in burnt-out buildings? Or is this a special occasion?" They were both being coy and close to the chest with information. Playing these cat and mouse games were at the very least, interesting.

Rune: That elicited a smile. "Might be special. Don't know yet. I'm not alone in a burnt-out building. That's interesting, don't you think?"

Isaac: "The same thought occurred to me. Only my version had more cursing and a question attached." Isaac finally moved, not towards the stranger, around him. He came to a metal desk that had some old moldy books on them. The book, a harmless distraction. The desk, decent cover if things were to go south. "Where was this guy when I swept the building a few hours ago?" A chill ran down Isaac's back as he asked.

Rune: "What are we doing, clearing out homeless from a roof over their head?" What roof remained, as it were.

The question was little more than a throwaway statement. He scoffed, blew smoke away from them both.

"You're not Walter White. You're not Dick Tracy. What's that leave? Jason Hawes. Name someone in construction. I'm drawing a blank."

Isaac: Cute references. "How about Peter Venkman?" Was this guy even old enough to know who that was? All fair though, Isaac had no idea who the hell Jason Hawes was.

"And you?"

Rune: The fact that this man didn't ask who Dick Tracy was had both wondering about the other.

"Peter Ven-Venkman?" The name didn't hit his ear the same. Not with his accent. "I'm..." His shoulder rose and fell. He wasn't a priest. He wasn't a witch. Over a century and he still didn't know what to call himself.

He would settle with something vague.

"I like spooks."

Isaac: "Is that why you're here, Dutch? Looking for Myrtle? Or just a cheap thrill?" Why won't he identify himself, he keeps shying away from it. He seems almost as paranoid as Isaac. What enemies is he worried about?

Rune: "Died as a Myrtle? Damn shame." His silver case of cigarettes was offered.

Isaac: Isaac softly shook his head at the offer.

"Anyone ever tell you that you have a funny way of talking?" He wondered if this stranger was as good at dodging bullets as he was questioning. No, he wasn't a threat but he sure was annoying.

Rune: "Depends who I'm talking to."

He thought nothing of the perturbed look in the man's eyes. Isaac. He considered for a moment how to approach, turning his head to once more blow smoke away from them.

"Isaac from the Bible?" He scoffed. "Religious?"

Isaac: "No, Isaac from Mars." Eyes squinted, it was time for Isaac to give dumb answers to questions too.

"So Dutch, what're your plans for tonight? Stick around here and keep talking in circles with me? Surely a young man such as yourself is too busy for this." A chill went down Isaac's spine as he spoke.

Rune: There was a chill, wasn't there? Not just Isaac's vague impulse, but in the room itself. He reached his hand out, palm up, seeming to check nonexistent rain. And then his palm faced forward, denying something down the charred hallway his welcome.

He had enough information, and enough energy to scrounge for more, should he need to.

"Territorial hunter. She's down the hallway to the left."

Isaac: "First useful thing you said, if it's true." Something about the way he said it. So matter of fact, so confident and sure of himself. Isaac didn't doubt that he was right, however he wasn't going to press further until this stranger either identified himself or left.

"Not territorial. I'm not a fan of being watched while I work."

He looked towards the hallway a moment and back towards the stranger. "You can sense them, how?"

Rune: "Ha!" He could appreciate this man, even if it wasn't reciprocated. Refreshing, compared to the song and dance of sleepers.

Not all hunters took kindly to mages. Flip of a coin whether or not he was a legitimate hunter kneeling beneath some hierogram or an ill-chosen hobby. The Vatican had its own cabalistic hounds since the days they called themselves condottiere. He hadn't gleaned enough to know this man.

"Pray enough to saints and other things start listening."

Isaac: "Pray enough and you'll choke on your own tongue." Isaac stepped out from behind the desk and put himself between the hallway and the stranger.

"Dutch, how do you sense them?" His tone was a little more firm.

Rune: "You're not listening, jongen." People these days want everything cut and dry. Years for him to understand the headache of his elders. It had taken some fifty years to understand, and fifty more the ache to hit his ears.

"You don't feel chill? Hear the gray noise? Pulse on your skin?"

Isaac: "Only the chill I suppose, that can come from anything though."

His head tilted slightly. "Jongen?"

Rune: Isaac was met shoulder-to-shoulder.

"Kid," came out as a short laugh.

Isaac: "Kid?" The annoyance was heard in his voice. "You look like you're eight, Dutch."

"So you can detect them, you always had that or did you pray to a saint for it?"

Rune: "You really ask a lot of questions. Making my jaw hurt."

Only a step forward, before Rune turned, nodded towards the hallway.

"Let's go say hi."

Isaac: What a strange one.

"Sure. You lead the way, Dutch." Isaac stepped aside and welcomed him to take point. He still wasn't sure about Dutch, but in the event something happened at least physically Isaac had the advantage.

Rune: "You're a strange one, too." He knew he shouldn't have done that. Being regarded as an oddity wasn't new, but it was rich coming from a hunter. Allowing one to be privy to his mental links was a sure way to find a gun to his temple.

And so he began down the hallway.

"You're not doing this out of the kindness of heart, are you?"

Isaac: Of course. Was there something about Isaac that just attracted telepaths? Isaac resisted the motion to reach for his pistol and followed behind.

"Can't you just reach in my head and see, Mr. Mind Reader?" If he did decide to peer inside his mind again, Isaac was imagining flipping him off. Telepaths didn't annoy him so much as concern him. There were typically two speeds of telepath that he encountered. The kind that were respectful and would ask for permission or at least offer a warning. Then there were the ones who poked in some ones brain as a sort of power move. The jury was still out on Dutch.

Rune: "Cute." Wasn't his first brush with telepathy. Didn't seem the least bit fazed. There was no expertise. Only glimpses. Vague notions. The occasional single sentence. He harbored no envy for true telepaths. There were plenty of headaches dealing with wagging tongues.

For a man so fond of questions, he certainly didn't prefer answering them.

"It's no wonder she's here." The frequency had changed. Deeper, quieter noises he was familiar with.

His cigarette was extinguished against the creosote wall.

"What did you intend to do for her?"

Isaac: "No wonder, what do you mean? Being dead isn't qualifier enough?"

Honesty may be the best route, hopefully if he was honest enough Dutch wouldn't go rooting around in his head. "Help her pass if that's what she wants."

Rune: "And you can do that?" He just needed to hear it out loud.

Isaac: "That'll depend on her as much as it depends on what I can do."

Rune: His chest rose high and fell deep.

"Right." So, that meant he would be the one out front. He felt underneath his shirt for his crucifix, holding it in his fist as he stepped over a charred, hollow board, towards the source of static.

Isaac: His tone hinted at a reluctance, or at the very least an annoyance at the whole idea. "Is this putting you out or something? If you recall I didn't actually ask for your help."

Isaac followed, with a decent buffer zone between the two.

Rune: "You didn't." Before he could do anything, he needed to assess the situation. There were wraiths, and then there were other things. The annoyances.

"You know how she died?"

Isaac: "Broke her neck going down a set of stairs. Her actual name is Jennifer Cossack."

Rune: "Feels like it went quick." His feet stopped just shy of the door, laying his hand on the black surface. Deep breath, eyes closed.

"You're not the average hunter, are you?"

Isaac: "I'm not a hunter, so no. I suppose not." Hunters were amateurs, feeling around in the dark like a teenager with a beautiful woman. No, that was not Isaac.

"I'll make you a deal, there's an all-night diner nearby. We check this spirit out, then we have an actual conversation over some tea." An olive branch, if this man can do what he claims it's possible that he'll be useful in the future. Or at the very least, might have useful information.

Rune: Funny how he hadn't corrected him until this moment. He seemed comfortable enough with the title to prolong the error.

"Cossack," he muttered. Eyes to the ground. Waiting and listening for a voice, a word. She was a quiet one, this little librarian. A confused soul, but no threat. Her frequency was too smooth for concern.

Rune took a step back from the door, rubbing his hands together. A pale blue light illuminated between his palms. No prayers to Saint Benedict, no Mark or Psalm. No need for scripture here. Only his outstretched hand, creating an obscure filmy window that penetrated both the door and the wall on the other side of the room.

The hole on the opposite wall gradually enlarged, as though eating away at the remains of blistered wood, revealing a wide expanse of nothing. A void with a secret. A hole too small for either of them, but just tall enough for a shadowy figure to inspect. A shape vague enough to have once been human. Her hand gripped the edge of the opening, peeking through. The shape turned, as though looking back, and Rune waved. Her options had been narrowed to the cauterized room or the great beyond. Curiosity got the better of her, and with her disappearance, Rune closed the hole.

"Wax on, wax off."

Isaac: "She's gone then? You didn't even speak with her..." Did she even realize what was happening to her? Or where she was going. Isaac couldn't deny that the power itself was impressive. The way it was wielded rubbed him wrong however.

Rune: "Would have only upset her."

That out of the way, a fresh cigarette was pulled from his case. His fingertips would be tingling for an hour. The nicotine helped.

"I'm starving."

Isaac: "Maybe." He didn't know that for sure, but no reason to question it now. What's done is done.

"Right. Let's get out of here then. The diner has a decent breakfast menu, burgers are a little greasy for my liking." Isaac made his way to the exit, turning his back to Dutch. There was enough trust now to turn his back on him.

Rune: His body language said as much, as did going on about food. No one on the verge of putting a gun to his head was ever that relaxed.

Maybe he would earn a name after all.

"You good?"

Isaac: "Yeah. Are you? You just opened a door to the beyond without blinking."

Rune: "Practice makes perfect," he winked.

Isaac: As they exited the building Isaac stopped a moment to brush himself off and turned to Rune. "You want the address or just want to follow me?" He assumed that Dutch had some sort of vehicle nearby.

Rune: "That doesn't sound like walking. Sounds like I need a ride."

Isaac: "...a ride?" Eyes squinted and head tilted slightly. "How did you get here?"

Rune: "You said yourself, you scoped the place." His smile had him biting into the butt of his cigarette. "Call it a happy accident. I really did wake up there."

Isaac: "Whatever. Come on then Mr. Dutch from Nowhere." His truck was around the corner and he led them that way. "Just do me a favor, no magic or superpower or whatever the hell you have in the truck. Oh- and no smoking either."

Rune: A pattern was forming around his damn name, and at least one person would find it humorous. He just shook his head and scoffed.

"Ah, come on," he whined, but there was no fire in his voice. One deep suck and his vice was stamped on his heel.

Isaac: The truck chirped as they got close. There was a bag in the passenger seat and a jacket on the backseat.

As he opened the driver's side, "You can toss that bag in the back. Diner is only a few miles down the road so should be a quick ride."

Isaac settled in, turned the radio volume low and began driving once his new 'friend' was settled.

Rune: Tossed in the back, sure, but the temptation was to sit in the back. There was a difference, just the tiniest little luxury, but not today. Today he was rolling down the window, despite his loss of cigarette, half hanging out the window for a breeze.

"Where did Isaac from America grow up?"

Isaac: "In a house." He smirked to himself, "Before I tell you my life story, why don't you give me your real name, Dutch."

Rune: "I planned on it. After you tell me something interesting."

Isaac: "Ok. My entire family thinks I'm dead. Name, and something interesting."

Rune: "Quid pro quo?"

Isaac: "I like to think of it more as a level playing field."

Rune: "You watched me cross a soul into the Shadowlands. You're catching up."

Isaac: "That's you assuming I can't do the same. In case you haven't realized, you didn't blow my mind with that. By that logic I'm driving you to get food, you're catching up."

Rune: "You can't." Of that he was certain. Not exactly what he had done, or he would have already done it. He didn't doubt he could do something, but it wasn't equal.

"Rune. I was sleepwalking."

Isaac: Isaac extended a hand towards Rune for a handshake, "Isaac, from Massachusetts."

"Sleepwalking? That happens often to you?"

Rune: The hand was given a glance, and taken.

"New England kid." Had that air about him. Couldn't put it into words, but it was distinct.

"All the time," he sighed.

Isaac: "Sounds quite annoying, have you thought about tying a cinderblock to your leg or something?"

Rune: His laugh was little more than a bounce of his shoulders. His elbow came to rest on the door, temple to his fist.

"Tied to a bed all the time."

Isaac: "That so? Then learn to tie a better knot." Isaac knew there was no way it was that simple. However, after the last 20 minutes of Rune annoying him he was relishing the opportunity to give it back.

Rune: "Ha!" One would hardly call his expression offended. Over a century of hopping between realms had given him perspective, and a thicker skin.

"It's what happens when I forget," he shrugged.

Isaac: "Ah, I see. At least you're never too far from home I suppose. That and I'd assume whatever mojo you got going on helps make sense of things." Isaac pulled the truck into the parking lot of a diner simply named 'Diner'. It's simplistic name was precursor enough to what was inside. Simple food, for simple people. No frills, no gimmicks. Food for people who were just trying to get half decent food in their bellies for the day ahead.

Rune: For the first time, Isaac was given a look of bewilderment. To roll with whatever erroneous assumption had been made, or question it?

The reason for his silence as he followed the not-hunter within, crowding his side of the booth immediately. Legs stretched out and ankles crossed, back to the wall.

"Curaçao," he said before their waitress arrived, bringing a cheery disposition he was unaccustomed to for this hour of the day.

"Tea, and coffee, please."

Isaac: "Just tea for me."

"Sure thing." The waitress left a menu and retreated once more.

"Cura-what? Calling me names now?" Isaac sat with arms extended on the back of his seat. He was relaxed, or at least as relaxed as he could allow himself to be.

Rune: The look of disappointment, my Lord, was akin to defeat.

"It's an island." He made a basic shape with two fingers. "Little magenta flat, shabby shutters, salty sea air. Where are we?"

Isaac: "Oh, an island, really?" Is that where he came from?

"Louisiana... USA... Wait, do you mean you sleep magic'd here?" His tone wasn't loud but it was incredulous.

Rune: One moment, said his finger, closing his eyes. It helped to have the sun or moon in his face for this sort of thing, but if he meditated long enough -

"I'm... 3064 kilometers from home," he jiggled his hand, "plus or minus some meters."

Isaac: "Wow," Isaac blinked a moment. "Does that internal GPS give you directions too?" Although slightly sarcastic, Isaac was a little impressed.

Rune: "Eh." He jiggled his hand again. "How did a boy from New England become a not-hunter?"

Isaac: "Still cool," he appreciated the ability even if Rune seemed dismissive about it.

"On accident, and by necessity. That is a very, very long story though. Also, probably better told in private company." He tried to keep his mind clear, in case Rune was also a telepath of some sort. It seemed like every other magical being he ran into lately could get in his head.

"And how does a strapping man such as yourself gain their abilities?"

Rune: "Worried about a sorcerer? In this diner?"

Rune looked over his shoulder. Gave the room an honest consideration. No one stood out. Not even a pouty goth in sight.

"Some are born, some are made. If I hadn't been born with it, I'd be dead."

Rune smiled up at their waitress, brief and polite. Sugar was added to his tea without tasting first. His coffee kept black.

Isaac: To the waitress, "Thank you."

"I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about people hearing us, normal everyday folk. Secrecy is a big turn-on for me." He flashed a quick smile at Rune.

"Dead? Care to tell more?" Curious.

Rune: Good smile. Too damn brief to be earnest.

If they were going to keep everything vague in public, this wouldn't be much of a conversation. Could try telepathy, certainly, but it was a literal headache, and not worth the quintessence.

"Let's just say, I was born lucky."

Isaac: "Fair enough, we'll say that." Isaac took a slow sip.

"So do you usually just teleport home or stay and explore wherever you might pop in at?"

Rune: A sigh. A long, slow, fatalistic sigh.

"I don't teleport." And this was about to be a long not vague conversation, wasn't it?

Isaac: Eyebrow furrowed, "But you do, clearly." His hand moved towards Rune, who clearly had teleport here by some means.

"Is it technically called something else or something?"

Rune: Where was that hand going? He looked up, meeting his gaze.

"You can say that. Do you want a lesson in interdimensional travel?"

Isaac: What an annoyance. Isaac wanted to learn more about Rune. What he could do. What sort of threat he might be. But talking about things in detail in a diner was not the best idea.

"I do. I guess this isn't the best spot for that though. Too many eyes and ears about."

Rune: "Secrecy is a big turn-on for you," he pointed out, lips tense with a withheld smile.

"Keep me as your closet babe, I might give you my number." The side of the booth he had been intentional, but that wasn't Isaac's business. He just wanted his good ear to him, listening for that one lie that would have him on his feet.

Isaac: "Clearly it means something to you as well, the way you dance around every question under the sun."

Closet babe? Cute. Admittedly he was a good looking guy however, he seemed almost too annoying to even be friends with. Isaac ignored the comment.

Rune: "Not every question."

First a sip of coffee, then tea, and back.

"So, what's left to talk about if we can't talk about magic?"

Isaac: "Well I have one curious question. Why were you sleeping in that? If you," Isaac air quoted with his hands, "slept walked here, do you usually sleep fully dressed in such snappy attire?"

Rune: His head thumped against the wall, eyes to the ceiling. That wasn't exactly avoiding the subject either, was it? Both men had room to be annoyed with the other.

"Waking up in the middle of Fuckville in just your underwear does not a good time make."

Isaac: Right. Talking in what felt like shackles was rather annoying. Isaac should be the one to offer an olive branch of sorts.

"Wanna take our drinks to go? We can at least talk privately in the truck. Also, are you gonna need a hand getting home?" As he asked, he couldn't help but feel a little bad for Rune. Unsure of where you may week up each night has to be stressful to a degree.

Rune: "Ok." Drinks, food, just something in his system would get him to the next place. He felt in the bottomless pit of his coat for his wallet. Just had to sort through the currencies for the correct one.

They could have parted ways already. Had multiple opportunities to. Seemed Isaac was the curious cat type.

Isaac: Isaac waved toward the waitress, "Check, please? Can we get to-go cups too?" The waitress nodded, giving them the cups and the check.

Isaac stood and poured his drink into the cup, "I can take you wherever you might need for the night. Hotel, train, whatever you may need." He put the lid on his drink and then pulled his wallet to pay.

Rune: A twenty and a five were already floating onto the table from where Rune flung them from his wallet. More than enough for mediocre coffee and one cup of tea, but he could rarely keep up with inflation. This was worth pennies in his opinion.

"The cheapest hostel in town is fine."

Isaac: Wallet was tucked away, "Hotel, Dutch. We call it a hotel here." He gathered himself and offered a hand to help Rune stand.

Rune: Tired eyes glanced at the hand and took it. All of the strength his body possessed, he was still a relatively light haul.

Once to the truck, the interview would begin again. So he settled his back to the door, tucked a foot to his chest and stared at the driver expectantly.

Isaac: Isaac stared at Rune a slight moment through squinted eyes, "Ya know, it always surprises me. You magic users so often talk about doing spells proper so you don't blow yourselves up. And yet, you won't buckle up."

Rune: "Hm?" Rune looked at the seat and back with a tightened mouth. Even fighting smiles wrinkled a cheek.

Rather than voice his assumption, he pulled the belt over his frame, letting the click fill the silence.

Isaac: "There's a half-decent hotel up the way, the free breakfast is crappy but the rooms are nice."

Isaac started driving, "So, it's not teleporting. What is it than?"

Rune: There were the twenty questions. Facing Isaac was easier than facing oncoming traffic.

"Teleportation implies you're still in this realm. I stick my hand in a portal, it's sticking out in Amsterdam. Sidestepping isn't this realm at all."

Isaac: Sidestepping, interesting.

"Another realm? This realm have a name?" Isaac expected Rune to ask his own questions, but if he was gonna let this line of questioning be onesided, so be it.

Rune: "Hundreds of names, hundreds of realms." Said in the same tone as a math tutor explaining an equation from muscle memory. Same old same old. "Or just say Umbra."

Isaac: "Oh, the Umbra. Gotcha'." The Foundation was familiar with the Umbra and all the machinations that both stem from it and use it. It wasn't a huge concern as far as realms go. Mainly because those involved with it generally police it enough to keep from ending the world.

Rune: He didn't need to catch a lie to catch familiarity. Perhaps leaving his mind open to net random thoughts wasn't the best idea with a not-hunter, but here they were.

There was no need to ask the first question, so he moved on to his next thought.

"You're that kind of hunter. Like... Technocracy."

Isaac: His tone was quick and almost piercing, "No. Not Technocracy. We don't hoard tech to be top dogs. We don't mix magic with science for the sake of power."

Rune: Consider Rune impressed, and the muscles of his shoulders just a little less tight. Isaac had already mentioned the organization, had already denied affiliation, but hearing it again, and hearing it sternly brought peace of mind.

"I said 'like,'" he smirked. He glanced out the window, only to look back.

"Not Pentex, either," he mused. Pentex wanted to create monsters, if the rumors were true. They had multimillion-dollar experiments below ground. Wouldn't dream of dallying with lost spirits. So that left -

"SEP? SCP?"

Isaac: "SCP, yes. Word of the wise, don't mention Pentex around other Foundation people. They're the closest thing we have to a polar opposite." Usually someone knowing the Foundations existence was bad, however it's to be expected for those already beyond normal society.

Rune: "That says a lot with a little." Was that an English phrase? He shrugged his thought away.

"If I have to align myself with anyone," he tilted his head, "I work for the Church." That was an unnecessary offer of information, but considering their reluctant little dance all morning, it was a gift.

Isaac: Isaac nodded slightly with approval. On occasion the Church and the Foundation would work together. However they would never fully have a partnership. Their methods varied too much.

"You don't look Dutch, what are you?" A basic question but he was genuinely curious.

Rune: "As blunt as a rubber mallet," he scoffed. "Japanese, I'm told. You don't look Cherokee. What are you?"

Isaac: "German and English- wait, Cherokee? Why Cherokee?"

Rune: "It's the only one I know," he shrugged, smirked.

Isaac: Isaac sighed, unsure of how to even respond to this. So he didn't.

"So why can't you just zip back home? If you can do it sleeping don't you have some sort of control while awake?"

Rune: "Alright." Rune sat up, held his hands out like a sphere. "So, our place in the universe is constantly moving. Yeah? Earth, she moves. The sun moves, the galaxy moves. The Umbra moves, too. I sidestep into the Null Zone here, yeah?" a random place on this invisible planet of his hands, "and I walk, and walk, and I claw my way out, well, now I'm here," other side of the planet.

Was this confusing? Good.

Isaac: Null Zone? Sexy.

"Similar to dimension hopping it sounds like. But you didn't answer my question, why can't you do that to get home now?"

Dimension hoppers and realm walkers. Isaac was familiar with the concept and how it worked. The Foundation used some dimensional pockets to contain some of the nastier beasties. Still, he had never encountered a realm walker firsthand.

Rune: "I did answer you. You're not listening." He held his invisible ball up again. "When I open this door, I'm in Hokkaido. I close it. I open it again, I'm in - where are we?"

Isaac: "Louisiana. So it's just random? You don't decide where you go, just that you are going?"

Isaac blinked for a moment, and with a chuckle he exclaimed, "That sucks! Like it's amazing that it can be done, but it's barely useful."

Rune: Complicated would be putting it nicely. He recognized the signs for many entryways; understood various cultures, what to eat, what creatures to avoid; had long ago memorized the spell to exit stage left, and how to lock the door behind himself. Control was a multifaceted word. Most people heard "sidestep" and nothing else.

Which was why he hadn't predicted Isaac's mirth. Caught so off guard, the Euthanatos laughed with him. The sound nothing more than light little hiccups.

"It really does!"

Isaac: "You ever worry you're gonna blink into an active volcano one day?"

Rune: "Well I don't sprint out the doors I make."

Isaac: "Do you just poke your head through like a peeping Tom?" It may seem silly, but the idea of a random guy poking their head out of a dimensional rift somewhere in the Arctic circle and saying 'Nope.' made Isaac smile on the inside.

Rune: Isaac's humor was rubbing off on him, whether he intended or not, because there was now a smile on Rune's face he couldn't simply wipe away. How annoying.

"Most of the time I'm somewhere raining. Now, if I could only make it rain somewhere in the world, I'd be back in Willemstad."

Isaac: "I see. Seems dangerous if you don't have full control. What if you shift while asleep on a plane?"

Rune: "I've never been on a plane."

Isaac: "Really? Do you just get back home by ship all the time?"

Isaac felt a little bad that he was bombarding Rune with questions. At the same time, he seemed the type that would stop this line of questioning if it truly bothered him.

Rune: There they were, on the same trail of thought. Rune was humored and still caught by the onslaught. The not-hunter wasn't so much annoying as he was entertaining. Like an insatiable child.

"I love the sea. I'll sooner take a ship than a porter."

Isaac: "Right. Well, thankfully Louisiana has plenty of ports and ships are in and out constantly. Hopefully getting home will be easier than normal for you."

Rune: "We'll see."

His knees were brought to his chest. Chin placed to rest, eyes closed.

"Anymore questions, or school no longer in session?"

Isaac: "I've got plenty more questions. I'll save it though, I've tortured you enough."

Rune: "You don't know torture," he mumbled under his breath.

Isaac: Isaac gave him a side eye. Torture, a sore subject? He would keep that in mind going forward, he'd also not mention some of the more colorful methods of containment that the Foundation uses.

"Despite the risk of asking more questions, need any supplies for your trip home? Snacks, bedding, anything like that?"

Even if Rune was a little moody, and a bit of a dick, he still helped Isaac when he could've just slipped away or attacked with whatever other magic he might have. This was the least way to thank him in kind.

Rune: "I just need some sleep." His voice had taken on something light and whimsical. The tone of someone fighting the very thing.

Isaac: "Fair enough, we're almost there."

What an annoying existence. Isaac actually felt bad for him. Magic or not, to not be able to trust sleep, the most basic of actions had to be depressing.

Five minutes later they pulled up to a Best Western with an old cracked parking lot that was mostly empty.

"I know it looks a little ratty but the rooms aren't bad. I stayed here a few days a while back."

They parked a few spaces opposite of the front door. The lights above glowed orange, old and weathered like the surrounding area. The occasional flicker.

Rune: His eyes were closed, his breathing even. For at least a few minutes he was perfectly content. Felt safe enough with his driver to allow himself this brief bit of peace.

Parked, he took his time stretching his back and arms.

"So long as they take cash and don't ask questions." He felt at his inner pocket for his wallet. His false American ID was rather old by now.

Isaac: "They do, seventy a night. Personally, I'd avoid the breakfast unless it's prepackaged."

Isaac pulled a piece of paper and pen, jotted down his number and offered it to Rune. "My number, if you want a ride in the morning to wherever you're headed in this state. Or if you wanted to grab breakfast or something."

Isaac wasn't sure how often these shifts happened to Rune, but he figured making the trip back was annoying or to some degree lonely each time. If he could offer this traveler at least a small friendly experience for once, he'd do what he could.

Rune: Rune looked from the piece of paper to the man offering. People were certainly more friendly this past year. He was just lucky - ha - and grateful to have met another dweller of the dark. Landing feet first in front of a sleeper would have been messy.

"Right. So we can play another game of twenty questions? I'll be in room 7 or 61, if you're bored."

Isaac: Rune just couldn't say thank you, could he? Probably one of the most annoying people he has met in recent years. Yet he was still entertaining to be around if anything else.

"You can ask all the questions next time, Dutch. Good luck out there."

#ghost hunting #rune #isaaccolbert #discord rp #closed

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themyzzinglink · 6 months ago

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oh you wanna talk motherfucker?! *does this to you*

What motivates you to work hard?

What form of public transportation do you prefer, and why? (air, boat, train, bus, taxi, etc.)

What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve done lately?

What is your favorite thing about your career?

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Who is your hero?

What is your favorite book to read?

What are your hobbies?

What is your biggest fear?

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?

What is the best gift you have been given?

What really makes you angry?

What is your proudest accomplishment?

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

What are two of your biggest pet peeves?

Do you believe in second chances?

What’s been your biggest mistake so far in life and what did you learn from it?

What qualities did you inherit from your parents?

What do you most look forward to about getting old?

Are you passionate about collecting anything?

Awww shit they cast the "start talking, bitch" beam and it hit me like a truck.... Let's fucking gooooo

With my current job I try to work hard to get the mail around in time so I can be home earlier hhh And the money I get of course. But the real hard work will come in August when I start my new education and job and I will work hard to prove to myself that I CAN do it and to learn new things and to build towards a future I like.

Love trains! Busses are nice too but can be too crowded and sometimes make me a little uncomfortable. Once went with the local small bus here (bc my dad drove it) and it was lovely! I love a good long train ride though!

I haven't really done a lot of spontaneous things recently I'm afraid. Did go out today to get new glasses unplanned! I did really need new ones it seemed... Oh and I made a fire and sat by it last night for Beltane! Hadn't super planned that and just went let's just do it!

My favourite thing about my current job is getting to know some people in my rounds, chatting with people in the streets! With my new career idk yet! Probably will be being in nature and working with it!

I would love to live in some more foresty areas, more nature! Maybe somewhere in scandinavia! Though I really don't mind where I live now to be honest. Maybe Scotland or Ireland too?

I don't really have a hero I think! I don't really think of people in that way I suppose, never really thought about it.

I always love reading The Hobbit! Or Mort by Terry Pratchett. Or Murder on the Orient Express. Also Koning van Katoren as a Dutch book.

My hobbies are playing video games, going on walks, watching murder mysteries (and other films and shows), baking and I want to pick up reading again...

My biggest fears revolve around me losing the things I care about most and I don't really want to go into specifics with that. Not my biggest fear, but I can't sleep with my door open hhh

There are so many things I can't do that I would love to for a day... Idk... maybe be an actress in a series I like? Or like a michelin critic...

Best gift ever would be all the slakkies I got gifted over the years heheh. But aside from those the VR headset I got for my birthday one year that my closes friends put money towards. (big thank you still to all of youuuu)

I don't really get angry easily. But I get mad when someone does not take me seriously or keeps making fun of me. Also quite some right wing word views. And a lot of things that are happening in the world right now.

My proudest accomplishment... probably graduating high school. OH no wait it's quitting therapy because it had *really* helped and I didn't need it anymore!

Hmmm I would love to have teleportation powers. But I would probably have powers to give people a good sleep or something. Snork mimimi powers.

Pet peeves! I can't stand loud eating sounds and really dislike being interrupted (sometimes it just happens but if it's often grr)

Okay so I though that I found my biggest mistake but I was wrong so honerable mention: going to uni to study art history. Not because of the subject, I still adore art and museums and art history, but because academic studying is NOT for me. Sure learned that. And learned not to tie my self worth to my academic accomplishments!

Actual biggest mistake was not visiting my grandpa more often when he was alive. Not properly telling him I loved him. Learned to visit my one living gran more often.... Now I just gotta do it and not regret it all when she passes.

I do believe in second chances fullheartedly. It of course depends on how the first chance got fucked, some things I can't give another chance to. But generally yeah! People change! People grow!

Oh my parents and I are all very good at having a great time doing very little. Taking things slow, chilling out. We revel in calmth. Inherited being good with kids from my dad! Inherited my honesty from my mom maybe.

SO many things to look forward about getting old! Seeing the world, meeting people, falling down and getting up! But I legit look forward to being an old lady on a porch looking at the garden. Maybe find someone to spend my life with and be there with them. Making my own family, however that may go. Growing old and not fearing people's judgement, being a weird old prune!

Am I passionate about collecting something.... *profusely sweating* n... nooo... I mean... I have 31 of the same plushie in varying colours and sizes, all with their own names, amassed over the last 20 years... So yeah I collect the slakkies <3 <3 <3

HOO that took me a while but I am very grateful for the ask because I could babble on and on. Thank you, anon! <3 always love chatting away on here heh

#long text #loved these questions #asks #mybb mumbles

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m39 · 1 year ago

Text

Doom WADs’ Roulette (2005): Total Control

We ended the Silver League with Dutch Devil’s map. And now, we will end the Golden League, along with the entire Cacowards 2005 roster the same way.

G10: Total Control

Main author(s): Ronald Lubbelinkhof (Dutch Devil)

Release date: October 11th, 2005 (database upload)

Version played: ???

Required port compatibility: ZDoom

Levels: 1

Total Control on first look might be considered as Altar of Evil but mixed with techbase. Is it completely like that though? Well, let’s find out.

This map looks at least as good as Altar of Evil, I guess. I think it might have more details than that map but I usually ain’t focusing on these while playing Doom WADs unless they are very noticeable.

Like the previous map, Total Control takes place in some kind of dimension that feels like its purpose is to trap you here. Although, this time the map is surrounded by an endless sea of slime that probably comes from the map itself.

And like Altar of Evil, this map utilizes sound effects from Doom 64. I already talk about how I feel about these in the past so I’m not gonna waste your time again on them.

Changing the subject, Horizon from TNT: Evilution is used as a music track for Total Control. And, you know, it’s a good track, it does its job well on this map.

Now, when it comes to how you play Total Control, this is where things start to get interesting. Unlike Altar of Evil, which was a rather linear map with one or two optional areas that aren’t tagged as secrets, this map allows you to finish it in many different ways. Sure, the combination of key hunting doesn’t change (red ==> blue ==> yellow) but nothing stops you from choosing between exploring the map first before taking care of the keys or going after them at once. Maybe even something in between. The map is kind of confusing, but I don’t think you will spend much time looking for one important switch.

There are two non-secrets involving Plasma Gun and BFG. The former weapon can be acquired by finding a switch in one of the secret sectors, while the latter one is on a pedestal and you have to do some stuff related to the area with slime to activate the teleporter to the weapon among other things.

Total Control isn’t really that hard. I guess it’s on the same level of challenge as Altar of Evil but for different reasons. Unlike Altar of Evil which had custom monsters and a shit-ton of Imps, Total Control offers... hitscanners...

...

Bollocks.

It is still mostly cannon fodder though, like the previous map that has over 350 Imps on HMP.

If you need some help in making your playthrough of this map easier, go south directly from your starting position to the area where you will find a Rocket Launcher. After dealing with that room, go west to the BFG area and take care of everything related to this weapon before moving on to other places.

Honestly, I think Total Control is on the same level of quality as Altar of Evil, which is very good. It has some problems and overall I prefer Dutch Devil’s previous map, but this one is also fun to play.

Well, folks, we are finished with the Cacowards 2005 roster of WADs. Tune in the next few days for another installment of the Revenant Awards.

Bye!

#doom #Doom WAD #review #doom mod #Doom 2 #doom 2005 #2005 #total control #total control WAD #doom total control #Doom WADs’ Roulette #cacowards

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scarfacemarston · 2 years ago

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Since you are stuck at the airport, maybe you would like your imagination to go a bit crazy? Feel free to delete it, if it's not really your type of content!

Stupid idea: If you were to give everybody in the gang a superpower, what do you believe would suit them? (Imagine John staying powerless though and Arthur often mentioning his power is being somehow alive with no brain 😆)

Ok, so I actually wanted to take my time with this! It took forever. I hate to sound desperate, but I worked extremely hard on this. It took hours to do as crazy as that sounds. Please “like” and reblog or even comment. It’s the only way I can get feedback and that’s so important to content creators. Note: I decided to give every superpower a drawback. I think that’s what I’ve heard about Dungeons and Dragons? I'm not counting deadeye here which could be considered a power by some. I don’t think it’s a power myself, but I can understand the theory. Arthur - The gift of luck and probability. Unlikely, but if you think about it - he has the fate of many people in his hands and their fates depend on his decisions of who he goes after. I believe John would have elements of this as well if we’re including a meta of the epilogue and rdr 1. However, this can only apply to strangers. Not to himself or his loved ones. John - Arthur and John argue over who has more luck so I think that he could have elements of this power. I thought about night vision but given that John is at least partially blind if we follow rdr 1, that doesn’t quite work for him. I know this sounds crazy, but I would give him animal communication powers....that doesn’t mean it always works well for him, of course. In fact, he might make animal enemies if he’s not careful. John is canonically known to be freakishly good with horses to the point that people who meet him say he could be rich from working and training horses. Despite his dangerous times, he is able to tell animal behavior quite well and is considered a master hunter in rdr 1. Dutch -Earthquake powers - it just seems to make sense to me! He makes a lot of escapes and I can see him using it to cause trouble. It’s more flexible than the power I gave Bill. However, it’s hard to control and he can cause harm to himself.....especially in rdr 1. (Which was chosen, though.) Hosea - Photographic memory - you can't get shit past him, that's one of the reasons why it's so easy for him to create stories. Unfortunately, he will have no ability to forget painful memories. Javier - Camouflage. He was able to stay in hiding for ages and only came out when Bill needed him. Dutch had rumors about him previously. Rumors about Javier in Mexico also only happened when he and Bill were on the run in rdr 1. The only problem is, if used too often, it can be difficult to turn on or off. Charles - Teleporting or phasing through matter. Kind of like Vision. It fits with how stealthy he is and he tends to divide himself up a bit. Meaning, since he often balances lots of responsibilities, this will help him juggle these responsibilities easily through traveling quickly. This also helps with stealth and spying, of course. Unfortunately, if he’s too tired, he could teleport to the wrong place. Abigail - Very hard to pin down. I liked the idea of her having healing powers especially through the power of song, but I also like the idea of her having a danger sense like Spidey sense ...canonically, she is very strong, unusually so. Ultimately, I would give her shape-shifting because Hosea notes how gifted an actress she was and even says she’s the best con-woman he’s ever seen. Unfortunately, this can cause her to doubt herself and question who she really is - it can affect her self confidence. She has to be careful not to become over reliant to it. Jack - The ability to speak with the dead. I wrote a thing years ago about it on a roleplay server. I think it would come in handy when he writes. However, I wouldn't have this power show up until he was a teenager because toddlers who speak to the dead are terrifying. Could be scarily amusing. When he is older, it could help him with his writing, help him on rare occasions receive a visit from a family member (There are “hints” that Beecher’s Hope is haunted in rdr 1.) Having this “gift” has a downside to itself already. Sean - Elasticity - he'd have a blast reaching everything and anything he's not supposed to. However, if used incorrectly, he would be akin to a wet noodle, meaning it would be hard to return to normal. Karen - Sonic scream, she has a very loud voice already regardless of whether it comes from laughing or yelling and she loves being a distraction. She could cause a lot of trouble with it like breaking glass. However, she could cause great harm to her friends if she loses control. Tilly - Foresight which gives her a connection to danger detection. I'm also thinking iron will. NOTHING will get in her way. She will manifest her own destiny and she did despite all the circumstances. She's a rock, she cannot be moved. This also can connect her with her sense of morality. Unfortunately, there are times that her danger detection may be incorrect. Sadie - Bravery of the Valkyries and the the ability to have perfect armor/ impenetrable skin. (Think Colossus from X-Men) Unfortunately, this can affect her ability to feel physical sensations if she fights too often. Molly - Invisibility. It comes in handy for so many things. It could be a power that intrigues Dutch for its usefulness and I can see him using it as a way to flirt. I think it also fits because in later parts of the game, people act like she’s invisible. Like Sue from Fantastic Four, I can see her turning invisible when she gets pissed and walks off in a huff. Unfortunately, like in the game, people do tend to forget about her. Grimshaw - Healing skills. I really wanted to give Abigail this as well because she does a heck of a lot of nursing back to health, but I ultimately believe Grimshaw does so a bit more. She may not always be the softest of carers, but she knows what she’s doing and does care. However, her healing is not always pain free. Lenny - Essentially a bullshit detector. The power that no one can lie or manipulate him. This fits perfectly with how he can navigate people like Dutch and come out on top, go toe to toe with Hosea and is able to climb the ranks of the gang quickly so to speak. (Most of the gang seems to respect him even with his age.) Unfortunately, this depresses him because he sees just how many lies there are. Micah - He’s basically a version of Grima Wormtongue to me. He has the ability to tell incredibly believable lies through a more hypnotic method. That’s why it’s important to have people like Lenny, Tilly and Hosea around. However, this backfires if he is trying to actually tell the truth as in, he’s severely injured or he is trying to call for help in some other way. Mary-Beth - I wanted to go with the power of empathy to her sensing emotions - however, that doesn’t mean she’s always kind or does it for altruistic reasons. Empath powers can be more complex than that. However, just like in real life, this can cause compassion fatigue. Kieran - Size manipulation like Ant-Man. Hell, the idea of him riding a huge ass horse is hilarious af. In actuality, he can shrink like Ant-Man to get into locks. However ---- he can’t get caught so he has to be more careful than most. Josiah - Duplication of self combined with mimicry. He'd be terrifying depending on how he'd use it. However, it is extremely difficult to control. Reverend - The ability to spread hope / inspire to almost anyone - however, just like in the game, he has to be in the right mind set and it can be exhausting. Bill - The power to cause explosions at will.......this can be difficult to control and can literally backfire. However, it comes in handy as a thief.

Strauss - Super intellect. He is more left brained in that this is more mathematics, statistics, able to make a good hypothesis and pick up skills in that field. However, this makes him prone to headaches. Pearson - The ability to be immune to all poisons whether its through food or liquids, but also poisonous gas as in swampy areas. Unfortunately, his ability to avoid poisons could make him a danger to others if he accidentally contaminates something.

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