#he's held off on it thus far for various reasons

[butterflydm]

looking towards s3

I'm going to be doing a bit of wild speculation for s3, here, after going through the various book narratives and moments to check off what the show has already covered (including some speculation about certain plotlines having been subbed in for other ones) and so what's likely next for them in s3. Contains book spoilers through Knife of Dreams and casting and location spoilers for s3.

(for a more thorough "what's already been done", @sixth-light has one here: what's in and what's out: characters; worldbuilding)

The Eye of the World:

I think we can probably all agree that the one big thing from EotW that hasn't been covered yet is the introduction of the Caemlyn-related characters, other than Elayne -- namely Elaida, Gawyn, Galad, and likely Morgase. We know that this will happen in s3, at least to a certain extent.

They came in clutch at the last minute with giving us Elayne taking care of her 'bird with a broken wing' aka her meet-cute with Rand.

The Great Hunt:

Pretty much everything narratively important about TGH was covered this season. Some of it was remixed (Rand's 'Fal Dara' encounter with Siuan and the Aes Sedai happening in 2x7 in Cairhien instead of at the start of the arc) but pretty much everything important has been done.

And Siuan being much harsher with Rand in the show than in the books makes it understandable why Rand is not willing to trust Aes Sedai (with a handful of exceptions). imo the change in Siuan's plotline was done for three reasons: a. to set-up Rand's increasing wariness around the White Tower and Aes Sedai; b. to have a narrative reason why none of our main characters are going back to the White Tower next season; c. to set up a character arc for Siuan in s3+. Obviously, time will tell on whether or not I'm right, but those were the reasons that came to mind immediately after 2x7 and I still think they're likely reasons.

re: 'flicker-flicker' - the most important thing coming out of flicker-flicker is that Mat is determined never to 'betray' Rand, like it's implied that he did in some of the flicker worlds, and Mat has absolutely made that emotional commitment due to the events of this season.

The only important minor character from bk2 specifically that we don't get introduced to is Egeanin, I think, and again, that's a case of "if we have her, we want to introduce her when she's more narratively relevant", which would be either s3 or s4 in this case, for Nynaeve and Elayne's storyline. We also still have Egwene's introduction to Gawyn being held in reserve for when he enters the story.

The Dragon Reborn:

Elements pulled from TDR into s2:

Perrin (and thus viewers) getting introduced to Aiel culture (though through Aviendha rather than Gaul, combining two separate elements of bk3 into one introduction).

Mat being trapped in the White Tower and then released back out into the world.

Our introduction to Moiraine's spy network.

I think that Elyas being more human-apathetic plus Ishamael telling Perrin that "the more wolf you are, the more you're mine" may have subbed in for Noam and his loss of connection to humanity, driving Perrin to be wary of the wolf-connection.

Moiraine threatening Lan with a forced bond-change because she's trying to push him away.

Rand being hounded in his dreams and being lured to a site of prophecy by one of the Forsaken in an attempt to rescue Egwene.

Rand's moment of killing people and them kneeling to him (in the books, he actually sets them up to kneel; I liked the show's approach much better)

We also witnessed Mat having an actual reason for his Old Tongue memories and his fighting prowess and the show also may tie his luck into him blowing the Horn, given that he said his battle-cry, so I feel like the "archetype" he has in the Heroes is the Gambler (which I think the 'finn call him?). I really loved that all of Mat's random stuff has kinda been consolidated (and the Horn scene might be my favorite scene of the whole series thus far).

Rand being recognized as the Car'a'carn by Aiel searchers.

Elements that were not used but will happen next season: Perrin meeting Faile. I also think it's likely that Perrin will start going into TAR next season (which could give us either Birgitte or Uno | Gaidal Cain in a re-occurring role). Elayne and Nynaeve becoming Black Ajah Hunters (I'm unsure if Egwene will or if she's going to go straight to her bk 4 plotline; I suspect that she's going with Rand), which is also their bk4 plot. I do think we'll get both Perrin (via Hopper) and Egwene (via the Wise Ones) learning TAR.

Things I'm not sure we'll get:

I'm doubtful that we'll get Egwene & Elayne's Accepted tests at all:

Egwene may come across as an even better patsy/figurehead to Salidar if she's a novice

2x7 really makes me feel doubtful that The Dragon Reborn's friends will be able to waltz into Tar Valon and then waltz back out again (unless they are returning specifically to spy out the mood in TV re: the Dragon and Moiraine?)

Egwene choosing over and over to abandon Rand in the Tests feels like it would directly contradict her character arc in s2, where her motivation for working so hard in the Tower was to give herself the strength to protect the ones she loves.

@sixth-light suggested the idea that Egwene might get her "what is to come" vision in Rhuidean and I like that idea a lot -- if she goes with Aviendha to the silver rings and catches glimpses of her potential futures!

I feel like Aludra might not get introduced until very soon before we need to take the Stone of Tear (or potentially not until after Ebou Dar, when she's needed to create the dragons).

I also suspect that we'll skip Thom's storyline from this book just like we skipped his storyline from bk2 and go straight into his post-Tear bk4 storyline, since Rand is going to be doing Aiel politics and not Westlands politics next season. So my current suspicion is that Thom is going to be part of Elayne & Nynaeve's storyline (and then once Elayne and Nynaeve come back into Rand's storyline, that could be when Thom helps Rand).

This is also the book when balefire first appears (Rand uses it on Darkhounds; Nynaeve uses it for the first (and only?) time; and Moiraine uses it twice). Not sure when the show will introduce it, because I feel like it's going to be The One Way to actually kill Forsaken, so it may be held back closer to when one of them dies. I suspect we'll see Lanfear get doorway'd in s3, but I don't think any of the Forsaken will get killed off until s4 (Rahvin, if he exists) at the earliest. If Rand kills Rahvin with balefire in s4, that gives the rest of the Forsaken a reason to back off and keep their distance (especially if Moridin shows up in s5 to take the reins back over on prioritizing corrupting Rand over killing him).

What might happen in s3 but might be reserved for s4: the convergence on Tear and the various roads people take there. I feel like Tear is likely to come after the Waste and maybe even after Cairhien (Tear may be where Sammael is instead of Illian, but then Rand fails to kill him there and he flees to Illian?).

Also, as I keep noting in my reread posts (which is where I'm getting this info from) Mat is much less anti-Rand than fandom agreement had led me to believe/remember was happening in the books at this time. He dislikes The Dragon Reborn (TM) but his thoughts about Rand as a person tend to be more regretful or frustrated than fearful. So the show is doing fine there, since they've dealt with the The Dragon Reborn (TM) issue by having the whole "who is the Dragon plotline?" in s1.

The Fires of Heaven-A Crown of Swords:

I think we already covered "oh no someone else may get Lan's bond" and he'll go directly from Moiraine to Nynaeve, because Alanna has a more important forced bond to take (probably in s4). I am wondering if we'll see Nynaeve bonding Lan much earlier than in canon, maybe even at the end of s3 if Moiraine goes through the doorway and Nynaeve ends up in the same city as Rand & co.

Crossroads of Twilight-Knife of Dreams:

Guess who just got murdered! So... no Renna and no Seta. And maybe no more Suroth. The show has been ruthless with the Seanchan (not a complaint). The show is also leaning much more heavily on the friendship of the Two Rivers Five (plus now Elayne), so Mat doing any of the bullshit that he does in CoT & KoD feels less likely because this Mat doesn't have the excuse of dagger-sickness to forget what happened to Egwene in Falme. After the show made such a (beautiful! spectacular!) show of Mat being a good person at heart, even being a Hero of the Horn, which he wasn't in the books... yeah, they are not doing the book version of Mat & Tuon (thank fucking goodness). They may do a version of Mat & Tuon, but I think it will be very different from the books, if it happens.

One of the new interesting changes that the show appears to have done (from what Egwene said in 2x8) is make sul'dam extremely weak channelers instead of being learners. I think this has some fascinating implications re: Tuon because it means that a collar would 100% work on her. In the books, the sul'dam get tested along with all the other women to see if they are damane and if any of them have sparked, they end up caught.

It's only over long years of use that they develop their 'affinity' with their damane and this is when the collar would work on them. So, per book canon, it's entirely possible that putting a collar on Tuon during any of the books would fail to do anything, because she's still quite young and also is not 'complete' as often as many other sul'dam because of her high status. But in show canon? That collar will work 100%, because they use the Searchers to find marath'damane instead of testing every woman in the Empire every year (until they turn 25, I think it was). If the show is working backwards to decide on these changes, then it's entirely possible that this change in the way finding marath'damane is done was 100% specifically for Tuon's potential storyline down the road.

Also, I love that it means that Tuon is a weak-ass channeler, because that was always my head-canon for her anyway.

The Shadow Rising:

Elements already pulled from TSR+ into s2: Rand knows that Selene is Lanfear and Lanfear is offering to protect him from the other Forsaken and wants to work with him. And Rand also knows that "the Dark One" is actually Ishamael and the rest of the Forsaken are now out in the world. We've also learned about ji'e'toh already. TSR is also when Moghedien was introduced.

What likely won't happen in s3: I think Tear itself will be held back until after the arc in the Waste. They've already done some of the related character-work from the start of bk4 in s2 already, with Lanfear and Rand, and most of the other stuff (the 'finn doorway) could be moved to Falme if need be. Or, since we have the all characters going east, maybe it'll be in Caemlyn when the characters split up to their various plotlines (which would give us Elaida's Foretelling for Rand and Egwene meeting Gawyn) and then they wouldn't have needed to have Falme as a location shoot for s3 at all.

I do suspect that the Rand & Elayne relationship is being pushed to a later season and we'll likely get the beginnings of Rand & Aviendha instead (which makes me suspect that Elayne's storylines would get adjusted in a later season to actually give her time with Rand).

What likely WILL happen in s3: the Tower coup and Elaida taking over as Amyrlin; Rand & co going to the Waste and Rand becoming Car'a'carn while Mat gets his medallion and Egwene gets Wise One training; Elayne and Nynaeve (and Thom?) going Black Ajah hunting (or specifically after Liandrin?). Potentially we will see Rand and Aviendha catch feelings for each other as Rand and Egwene fall apart (and Lanfear stalks Rand from the sidelines, since she's not supposed to be interacting with him). And Perrin defending the Two Rivers, of course.

I don't think that we'll get Tuon this early, though we may get the prophecy (and the dread from the audience that Mat is destined to marry one of these horrible slaver people, because the Court of the Nine Moons has already been mentioned).

In addition to being a big book for Rand & Lanfear developments, TSR is wonderful for Rand & Mat as well. There are so many amazing moments for them in this book. If the show hits even a handful of these beats, s3 will be great for the Cauthor side of fandom. Especially with how Josha and Dónal are playing Rand & Mat as very handsy friends who are comfortable with physical touch.

So, what are some potential ways they could go with s3?

(I promise that any and all speculation with be at least 85% inaccurate and may be as much as 100%; does contain some casting and location spoilers for what we know about s3 so far)

Starting place in 3x1:

Option One: Falme subbed for Tear

We do Tear-stuff in Falme (doorway; maybe bubbles of evil) and then the characters split up for separate journeys.

Pros: making the most out of our current location! the characters are already there!

Cons: Have to pay a location fee for an additional season when they could instead use a s3 location.

Option Two: Caemlyn subbed for Tear

We know that Caemlyn is going to be in s3 and they might want to get the most out of their new location.

Pros: Might get Elaida's Foretelling of Rand. Egwene meets Gawyn without needing to go to the White Tower. Mat could do his 1v2 quarterstaff battle against Elayne's brothers. Means that everyone has already traveled significantly to the east during the break between seasons but they're all still together as a group, meaning we won't need as big a timeskip after this. And Elaida's Foretelling could even be the trigger for Rand & co needing to flee the city.

Cons: can't think of any but I'm sure they exist; this genuinely seems like such a good option to me that I am 100% marking it down to potentially write as a fic, if I ever get the time (I continue to collect plot bunnies at an alarming rate in this fandom!)

Option Three: Hurrying through BK3's ending (aka Tear is Tear)

This seems more expensive than it's worth, but maybe they got more money for s3!

Pros: bk3 Tear will be done, I guess?

Cons: expensive set piece and location that is then promptly abandoned so that everyone can go somewhere else

So, we've done our set-up episode and now we've moving on to: everyone goes somewhere else!

Where do they go?

Stop, Wait... Option Four: There Isn't A Set-Up Episode

This is the option for not having any set-up at all and just jumping into everyone's individual journeys.

Pros: Faster to get into the main story

Cons: No bonding time for the group as a whole; fewer character interactions; would probably make me sad

Well, we've either done our set-up or we haven't, so where is everyone going?

Perrin -> The Two Rivers

I mean, we all know it. Perrin is kinda the reason that I think we won't start with everyone already at their destinations, because I don't think Perrin's storyline in the Two Rivers is meaty enough to be stretched out over eight entire episodes.

Wondergirls -> ???

A White Tower stop-over seems fairly unlikely to me after 2x7, though there's a chance. I think it's more likely that we'll get them splitting up to go into their bk4 plotlines.

(If the Wondergirls do go to the White Tower, what is Rand doing during this time? How does Egwene reunite with Rand for her bk4 plotline?)

Verin burned her bridges with Siuan & Leane, potentially (she COULD probably talk herself out of being viewed as Black Ajah... maybe... but it's hard to see how she could talk herself out of being viewed as breaking Tower law) which implies to me that SHE isn't going to return to the Tower, and she is the one who introduces Dreaming to Egwene in the books. Which makes me lean towards the idea of Doing Tear (and the White Tower plots) in Caemlyn.

They could take some of the characters back to Tar Valon in s3 but... but that bridge between Moiraine and Siuan is so scorched right now that it's difficult to see Siuan being willing to let any of them leave the White Tower if they go there again.

Mat -> Rhuidean

Mat didn't touch the dagger, so he has no need to go back to the White Tower literally ever, especially since one of his Hero friends put the Horn away into an interdimensional pocket for later.

Rafe has implied that we will see Mat's quarterstaff battle at some point (unless he just meant that we would see Mat wielding a quarterstaff against two opponents at once, which definitely happened in 2x8), which leads me further to think about s3 starting in Caemlyn, because after that, Gawyn and Galad go off into separate plotlines.

If we assume that Caemlyn takes the place of both Tear and the White Tower for book 3 & early book 4 events, then everyone would go to their book 4 plotlines from here -- Perrin would go west to the Two Rivers; Rand & co would go to the Waste; Elayne & Nynaeve would go to do some Liandrin-hunting. We would only need five main locations for the season, at least two of which are pre-existing -- Caemlyn, the Two Rivers, Tar Valon, the Aiel Waste/Rhuidean, and whichever city Elayne & Nynaeve go to in order to hunt Liandrin (and if it's Cairhien, then they already have the location/set).

Events that I'm Pretty Sure we'll get in s3:

Rhuidean. Rand's walk through Aiel history and Mat's encounter with the foxes. Rand saving Mat's life. <3

Asmodean becomes Rand's teacher.

I do think we'll likely get Couladin proclaiming himself as the Car'a'carn and the chaos of Alcair Dal, because Mat killing Couladin is really what creates the BotRH and cements him as the leader.

The White Tower coup.

Nynaeve faces off against Moghedien... or maybe this season she will still be focused on Liandrin?

The Battle of the Two Rivers.

I think we will start to get Rand & Aviendha in this season, but slow-burn. But if they plan to do the Moiraine & Lanfear show-off at the end of the season, then you'd want the Rand & Aviendha relationship to begin to flower. And then Lanfear is out of the picture (as far as Rand knows), which would let him worry less about her killing any woman that he's attracted to.

Things that we Might Get in s3 (depending on pacing):

We might get either Cairhien or Tear at the end of the season. That really depends on pacing and I don't know how fast they plan to move through the arc in the Waste. There are really only two big Events in the Waste in bk4 -- Rhuidean and Alcair Dal; though there's also visiting Cold Rocks Hold and the attack there.

Moiraine and Lanfear's encounter with the doorway. The reason that I'm thinking this might happen in s3 is because someone (was it Rafe?) teased about a "big cast change" at then end of s3 that book readers would be familiar with. Losing Moiraine right as he gets a Forsaken as a teacher would be very intriguing.

If we are going to do the polycule (*crosses fingers hard*), then there needs to be a decent stretch of time where Elayne is actually allowed by the plot to spend time with Rand. We got our meet-cute and it was beautiful, so I have high hopes. There is also a new tor.com interview where Rafe says that Elayne and Rand have a 'huge arc' together.

For now, I think the time period after her book 4 plotline and before she gets involved in Ebou Dar seems like the best time (as opposed to just wandering the countryside for weeks because Nynaeve can't remember the word 'Salidar'). So after Rand has returned to the wetlands. I am going to speculate that s3 ends with the Battle of Cairhien while, at the same time, Elayne and Nynaeve go to Cairhien for their own story reasons. Because they've already done their book 4 plotline, and maybe part of their book 5 plotline, there's no need for them to hurry off right away. And Elayne spends most of s4 with Rand (and Aviendha) (and Mat). Elayne can help Rand navigate politics in Cairhien, and they can fall in love while being big ol' workaholics. We also could have Dumai's Wells happen here so that Rand can get rescued not only by Perrin but also by Mat, Egwene, Elayne, Nynaeve, & Aviendha. Which would just be nice.

I do think, based on the Power of Friendship vibe that we had in the s2 finale, that the show is going to be bringing our characters back together a lot more often than the books did (and I'm happy about that).

So, based on that idea... a tentative outline for s3 (I am not expecting this to end up being at all accurate, lol, just feeling some things out about a potential way things could go based on what we've see so far in terms of how quickly the plot moves and how the show seems like it's more willing to reunite all the characters, so I am going to try to get everyone to Cairhien by ep8 so that they can reunite again; we also might be doing Tear instead at the end of the season):

ep1: The opening of the season is supposed to start with a 'bang'. Would they do the Tower coup this early in the season? Siuan ended s2 in a terrible political position, having the Dragon in her possession and then losing him. And if anyone finds out that she was conspiring with Moiraine for twenty years... otoh, would they want to show us Elaida in Caemlyn first, before taking her to the Tower for that plotline?

I'm not sure how much of a time-jump we'll get, though probably a bit of one, but I'm hoping we'll get to see all the characters together in the same location, as happened in Tear in the books. This may take place either in Falme or in Caemlyn, but our characters will have a chance to regroup and mingle. We may get some of our action from the start of book 4 here -- the bubble of evil, getting rumors of trouble in the Two Rivers. If the opening episode is in Caemlyn and not Falme, it may also feature: Mat vs Gawyn & Galad; Egwene and Rand (at least) meeting Gawyn and Galad. Rand meeting Elaida and getting a version of the Foretelling. This might also have our characters meeting up with Verin and Alanna in Caemlyn, and we may get our Verin & Egwene scenes and a certain gift of a twisted stone ring.

perhaps spurred by Elaida's Foretelling, our group scatters to their future destinations. Since they are much closer to the Two Rivers than they were in the books at this time, it might be that Loial leads Rand's group through the Ways to Rhuidean, rather than leading Perrin to the Two Rivers. Egwene meets the Wise Ones in TAR and decides she also needs to go to Rhuidean with Rand.

ep2: Perrin arrives in the Two Rivers and we get a look into that situation; Elayne and Nynaeve get interrogated by a woman who is definitely not secretly Moghedien. Rand and Mat ask permission to go to Rhuidean. In order to make it so that all the characters are heading in to the same place, maybe Elayne and Nynaeve went to Cairhien to investigate Liandrin's disappearance? Since all the 'known' Seanchan were killed off in the Battle of Falme, the show may have the Seanchan take s3 (and s4?) off as they regroup before their next offensive.

ep3: They've put a pretty heavy-hitter in as ep3 in s2 and it seems likely they would try to do the same in s3 because of the way that Prime drops shows, so let's call ep3 the Rhuidean episode, where we learn about the Aiel's past and Mat finds a doorway. Moiraine goes through the silver rings, learning about what will happen to her in the future, and writes some letters (alt: Moiraine goes through the doorway in Rhuidean as well and learns it there?).

ep4: Rand & co travel towards Alcair Dal (skipping Cold Rocks Hold); If the White Tower Schism didn't happen in ep1, maybe it happens here. I'm going to tentatively put the Coup here. Rahvin arrives in Caemlyn, if he exists?

ep5: Alcair Dal & Rand trapping Asmodean as a teacher (with Lanfear's help). Couladin announces that he's the Car'a'carn and decides to march on Cairhien, and Rand already feels guilty about getting Lanfear to help him escape in 2x7 and her torching the city, so he's extra motivated to stop him.

ep6: Battle of the Two Rivers, so that Perrin will be able to start his cross-country road trip to meet back up with everyone else by the end of the season? Maybe including the 'trap' for Faile that happened in TDR and it makes Perrin realize that he has feelings for her, which he feels guilty about. Asmodean begins teaching Rand.

ep7: Nynaeve and Moghedien have a confrontation in Cairhien and Nynaeve manages to defeat Moghedien, causing her to flee (or maybe this is Nynaeve defeating Liandrin? We might want to keep Moggy scary for the moment). At the end of the episode, the Shaido Aiel have arrived to lay siege to the city.

ep8: Battle of Cairhien - Mat kills Couladin and forms the Band of the Red Hand; Lanfear finds out that Rand and Aviendha have... slept together? kissed? have feelings for each other? And Moiraine and Lanfear have their appointment at the docks when Lanfear loses it as she realizes that after all her work, Lews Therin/Rand is never going to love her the way that she wants him to.

Then, in the name of 'letting the characters spend more time together', Rand's friends maybe actually get to hang out with him in s4 before people split up again, giving us a situation where the whole group gets to reassemble to save Rand at Dumai's Wells? Hard to guess without knowing how much will get covered in s3. They've done a great job pulling in plot lines from various books so far.

s2 did an amazing job of having a handful of themes that they explored through multiple characters and storylines, so I expect that s3 will also have some themes that they will be using. Not sure what it might be yet though once we get our s3 trailer (in, like, a year or a year and a half, lol) we'll probably have a better idea, because Halsey's "Control" being used for the s2 trailer was INCREDIBLY accurate for some of s2's themes -- "who is in control?" and the idea of fear and control and trying to own someone's power were very much at play in s2.

So what character arcs might we see in s3?

I think we're going to see Moiraine & Lan firmly established as mentors to Rand throughout the season, doing their best to prepare him for the future. And then Rand is potentially going to lose both of them at the end of the season (since I think that the show might bring all the characters together at the end of the season again, we might even see Nynaeve "bonding Lan to save his life" at the end of s3).

In general, there's just... honestly gonna be so much Rand stuff that I will be absolutely overwhelmed (in a good way). TDR-TSR-TFoH are my favorite run of the books and there are just so parts of TSR that are SO good (and a lot of them are Rand).

Theory for Mat's arc in s3: I wonder if we're going to start with him choosing to take a bodyguard-type role for Rand (because of his guilt over the stabbening) and transition to taking a general/captain-role at the end of the season (which would involve more independence in the future when he needs to leave Rand's plotline) as the Maidens take over as Rand's bodyguards. TSR is such a good book for both Rand and Mat in general, so I'm really looking forward to what the show does because the show has invested so much in their relationship already.

I am so so curious about what dynamic will be established for Rand & Asmodean and how many of the other characters might know the truth about him. In the books, Moiraine reveals in her letter to Rand that she knew who he really was but agreed with Rand that perhaps there was no choice but to work with him, because she agrees that Rand needs the training.

I do think we'll see some vibes between Rand and Elayne in the first episode, but that they won't act on them. But Rand was clearly struck by Elayne tenderly healing him with the sunlight in her hair and I do think we'll get some follow-up on that moment in ep1.

We'll also be getting Rand and Egwene pulling away from each other as romance partners (but perhaps settling into being trusted friends?). And I agree with @markantonys that it makes the most sense to have Rand & Aviendha as Rand's first established romance post-Egwene, because of the way the plotlines are set-up (Aviendha is actually going to be around Rand all season) and because she comes from a culture that leaves space for adding additional partners, so you don't need to use the misunderstanding loophole for Elayne and then Min to be added to the relationship in the future.

Perrin is going to come face-to-face with his guilt and grief over his wife's death when he goes back to the Two Rivers. Especially when he begins to catch feelings for Faile. We'll also see him training in TAR with Hopper. We'll see the continuation of his struggle with Dain. I do wonder if Dain might die at the end of s3, for similar reasons to why Renna, Seta, & Suroth died at the end of s2, leaving room for Galad to become the main Young Whitecloak figure in the future. Because the Whitecloaks spend several books not really being relevant in the middle part of the series.

Given how Nynaeve struggled with her block this season and it's been a real obstacle for her, one that she can't handwave away by doing the Bruce Banner "I'm always angry" thing like she kinda does in the books, I think that her main struggle this upcoming season is going to be trying to break her block and that they might even have her succeed at the end of the season against Moghedien -- much like s2 featured Egwene, Mat, & Moiraine coming into their powers (or back into their powers for Moiraine), s3 may see Nynaeve, Rand, & Perrin doing that.

The fact that Siuan disagreed so strongly with Moiraine in 2x7 makes me feel that it's more likely that she will survive the coup, because now she has tons of space for a character growth arc once she's struggling with actually dealing with her own stubborn Two Rivers person in the form of Egwene.

This will be Elayne's first season as an established member of the group -- one of the reasons that I think we'll get a set-up episode at the start of the season is that it makes sense to establish what her place is within the group. And then if Thom is in her storyline, we'll be able to explore a lot of her feelings about being the Daughter-Heir and her relationship with her mother, even if Morgase isn't shown on-screen.

Given that we killed off* all the 'known' Seanchan, I wonder if that means that we'll be taking a break from them in seasons 3&4, and then have them return at the end of s5(?), after Mat, Nynaeve, Elayne, and Lan have all gone to Ebou Dar (maybe Egeanin's plotline is shifted to Ebou Dar and we see that being explored at the start of s5 before the bulk of the Seanchan attack at the end?).

(* well, Suroth might not be dead, since we didn't actually see her die and she might have gotten rescued from the water, so she might be existing in a quantum state -- dead if they can't get the actress back later on but alive if they can)

We had a LOT of plotlines in s2 -- five major plotlines (Rand, Mat, and Perrin each got their own, while Egwene & Nynaeve and Moiraine & Lan did some sharing) plus we had the villain plotlines.

I’m guessing that we’ll only have three main plotlines in s3, which will give them all a bit more breathing room — we’ll have Rand & co in the Waste; Perrin & co in the Two Rivers; and Nynaeve & co doing a version of Tanchico. I think that the White Tower coup is likely to be a plotline for one-three episodes rather than something that spans the entire season.

And now, just for fun, a WoT s2 speculation scorecard! How well did I do?

I'll go backwards in time, so starting with my most recent speculation (that I did based on the 2x8 trailer that aired post 2x7).

That shot of Rand asking "who are you?" would be to that lovely shot of Elayne with sunlight in her hair: Correct!

Lanfear and Ishamael will fall apart while the Two Rivers kids stick together: Correct!

Elayne and Nynaeve will have to separate due to only have one sul'dam outfit: Wrong!

Hopper is going to die; Perrin will kill Daddy Bornhald in retaliation: Correct!

I had, like, three different guesses for the Horn situation so I'm not giving myself any credit there, lol

Turok will die by channeling, not by sword: Correct!

Moiraine and Lan will free damane as their plotline for this episode: Wrong!

Speculation for 2x7 made after trailer that came out after 2x6:

I do a lot of vague spec, the first firm thing I say without as much waffling is that Rand will be put under 'house arrest' by Siuan: Correct!

Mat saw Rand get taken by Lan & co: Wrong!

Lanfear and/or Ishamael arranges the fire in Foregate to free Rand from his 'house arrest' by the Aes Sedai: Correct!

Egwene gets to socialize with other damane: Wrong!

Speculation for 2x6-2x8 based on imdb listings for the last three episodes:

again, I do a lot of waffling and 'maybe this, maybe that', my first solid spec is that Liandrin's son would die in 2x6: Correct!

I did think we would get the royal wedding, so I will mark that: Wrong!

Natti Cauthon would appear as part of Ishy messing with Mat: Correct!

I thought the White Tower would be a location in these last three episodes: Wrong!

Yacissa will get killed by the Black Ajah: Wrong! (very happy to be wrong; I LOVE her)

Lanfear will help Rand out as his presence creates a wedge between Lanfear and Ishmael: ...kinda? I mean, she was Team Rand the second she learned Rand existed, lol.

Rand will leave Cairhien via Waygate: Correct!

Maigan will be Pura: Wrong! (no one is Pura, at least not now, and Maigan is very dead)

Loial will get to visit Egwene in the 'kennels': Wrong!

Egwene won't be freed until 2x8: Correct!

The 2x8 cold open will focus on LTT & Ishamael: Correct!

Ishamael will experience a painful reversal of expectations in 2x8 as his plans fall to pieces: Correct!

I also speculated here that Perrin would kill Bornhald in this version but I already counted that one above.

Uno will reappear as one of the Heroes of the Horn: Correct!

Speculation for 2x4 based on the first three episodes:

Moiraine doesn't already know Rand is in Cairhien: Wrong!

Lan will show the Lanfear poem to Alanna & co: Wrong!

Liandrin will tell Nynaeve that Perrin & co were captured by the Seanchan: Correct!

Logain was deliberately placed in Cairhien to lure Rand there: Correct!

Before we got the episode titles but after the trailer came out:

Siuan's trip to Cairhien occurs in episode 6: Correct!

Rand will still be wandering around the countryside when he meets Selene: Wrong!

Moiraine and Lan will be researching at Verin's in 2x1: Correct!

Rand and Selene's main episode will be ep2: Wrong!

The shot of Lan on Mandarb in the woods will be in Nynaeve's Accepted Test: Correct!

Nynaeve's Accepted Test will happen in ep3: Correct!

Moiraine and Rand reunite in ep4: Correct! (wrong about how/why though)

Perrin meets the Seanchan in ep5: Wrong!

Perrin meets Aviendha in ep5: Correct!

Rand meets Logain in ep6: Wrong!

"We get the New Spring flashback scene, see Moiraine & Siuan happy and young, then hear Gitara's Foretelling": Close! (I guessed it for ep6)

Verin will be in Perrin's plotline: Wrong!

Liandrin will be confirmed as a darkfriend in ep6: Close! (it was ep5)

Egwene, Nynaeve, & Elayne will spend the first 5 episodes in the White Tower and the last 3 in Falme: Close! (it's more 4 in WT; 1 traveling; 3 Falme)

I did a huge post of How Does Mat Get To Falme, which ended up being hilariously incorrect as "Lanfear has him bonked over the head and then Travels him there" was not on my radar, lol. But my favored method included him reuniting with Rand in Cairhien, so I'm glad that part still happened.

Anyway, I didn't do so awful in my predictions, I think.

(In terms of 'accidental predictions', I did write a fic involving Rand being tied to a bed in Cairhien by his lover literally months before we had any clue it would be happening in the show, - and while I'm talking about randomly accidentally being a Prophet in my fics: in Voice, I had Lanfear (who we had not yet met in the show) giving solid relationship advice - "That's fear talking, not fact" & I had this line for Mat: "Maybe Mat was destined to be a failure and a disappointment, like his father. But he wouldn't just lie down and let it happen." which is essentially what it feels like we just got from him in 2x8.)

[tenabrye]

Could you do a millions knives fanfic I never seen any of them on this app

I hope you enjoy this one, even though it may be a little short. ;)

warning(s): slight obsessiveness, mentions of murder, slight gore, written with a female reader in mind

He always believed himself to be a being that was incapable of feeling anything for anyone, let alone a human. So, why did he feel something for you? Knives knew when his feelings slowly began, and that was when he had met you for the very first time. It was a situation that he knew would have been bad for you if he hadn't intervened. Normally, he wouldn't waste his time on humanities squabbles, but this time...this time felt different. He didn't know why, or how, just that something inside of him felt off when seeing you. Not to mention how strange you acted after the incident. How nice you were to him, thanking him profusely for his assistance.

You disregarded the fact that there were corpses littered around you, some missing their limbs, heads, and a torso. He also found it strange that you showed no fear towards him after what you witnessed him do. A normal human would have screamed, cried, even, perhaps called him a monster and ran off. You did none of that. Instead, you stood there with a smile on your face, hand holding his as you gently shook it in thanks. He could have killed you for touching him, but he didn't. Instead, he only stared at you, his mind swirling with reasons to justify your behavior in this situation. Was this the hospitality that he often heard with your species? Would you react any differently if he told you who he truly was? What all he has done in his life thus far?

Knives questioned himself on why he allowed you to even accompany him. He had no issues keeping himself safe, seeing as his very presence invoked fear in most he crossed paths with. But you? You were an entirely different story. Barely any skills to defend yourself with, and you were knowledgeable with certain things, so why did he continue keeping you around? The answer was plain as day when you were in yet another incident that almost cost you your life. Despite listening to his instructions to stay put--something he was fond of about you--trouble still found its way to you. While he knows many would not dare to intrude and provoke him, there were a few that did. Specifically a group of humans looking for yet another place to ransack. Knives had no need to waste his time on something his followers could make quick work of.

That was until he heard your scream. It was the first time he had ever heard you make such a horrific sound. His body had never moved so fast and he was at your location within seconds. He couldn't completely understand why the sight before him angered him so, but it did. Seeing you down on the floor, cuts littering your body as blood slowly seeped out from your wounds. Various men surrounded you, one having himself straddling your backside. He had a fistful of your hair in his hand while the other held a blade, which he pressed against your neck after lifting your head back. The men hadn't realized Knives' presence, their eyes solely on you, however, that all changed when one of them hollered out, causing the others to turn their attention on their comrade.

A metallic appendage shot through his chest, lifting him up a few feet off the ground before it shot up, splitting the man from the middle. His now lifeless body fell to the floor, causing the others to now stare at Knives. The man in question did not hesitate, nor did he allow them to draw their weapons. With only a mere twitch from his eyes did other metallic appendages shoot out at the men, quickly sinking into their flesh and ripping them apart. The one on top of you didn't have time to deal with you as the slender weapon wound itself around his neck and yanked him off of you. With a raised hand from its master, the appendage tightened its grip around the man's throat, its blade-like edges cutting into his skin. Knives then balled his hand into a fist and watched as the man's head detached from his body, falling to the floor with a thump. The body followed suit, not that Knives cared. His gaze was solely on you as he approached your still form.

He surprised himself at how gentle he was when picking you up in his arms. You were alive, and it was odd how it caused him to feel such relief at that. As you lay in a makeshift bed, resting, he kept to himself and mulled over the situation. He came up with more questions than answers at this point, but it didn't matter. It was a slow realization for him to understand that the reason he kept you around was that he had become obsessed. How different you were from most of the humans he encountered, the loyalty you showed, and how you treated him despite the way he treated you at times. It reminded him of a certain someone from his past so very long ago. He wasn't certain if this was changing him or not, distracting him from his goal. He just knew that he wanted you here, by his side, and that it was easier since you did so of your own free will. He wouldn't mind if he had to resort to more forceful tactics, though.

Knives may have hated humans, but he could perhaps make an exception for you. He deemed you worthy of his attention, worthy of his protection, worthy of being his. Did you care about his obsession? Did you not mind the lengths he's gone for you? The blood he's shed to keep you safe? He didn't know, nor did he care. All he cared about was that you now belonged to him, and he had no mercy on those that dared to mess with that.

[sticktopia]

Happy Accidents (RocketPrincess AU)

When a drunken one-night stand leaves Mango with an accidental pregnancy, he has to figure out how to keep his secret safe. Turns out, it's easier said than done when the baby's other parent is literally his boss.

⚠️Warnings: Implied sexual content & Drinking⚠️

Chapter 1

“What do you mean party?” Mango looked up from the blueprints strewn across his desk. One of the various grey employees was standing in front of him, bouncing excitedly.

“A party! Celebrating the ten year anniversary of the company! Are you going to be there?” The stick asked again. Mango chuckled a bit.

“I dunno Stormi. I’ve only been with the company for a few years. Do I really deserve to be part of something like that?” Mango asked as he looked through his blueprints again.

“Oh come on Mango! Everyone’s going! Even boss man’s gonna be there!” Mango paused as he heard that. Victim was going to be there? That made Mango feel nervous. Victim was the CEO of the company. Everyone he’s met so far has told him that Vic is cold and merciless. Though Mango had never met the man himself, he believed their words. The people he spoke to have worked with the company for years after all. Some even when the company first started. It was only reasonable to listen to them.

“I mean, it’s the ten year anniversary for their company. Why wouldn’t they be there?” Mango chuckled as he wrote a few notes down.

“True. But still! I know you’re not much of a party guy, but at least come for a little bit. Please?” Stormi begged. Mango arched his brow as he watched the stick.

“I guess I could go for formality…” Mango muttered as he put his pen and a blue print down. “I kinda am head of the tech department after all.”

“Yes!!! This is gonna be so fun!!!” Stormi cheered. “See ya then!”

And just like that, she was gone. Mango sighed and shook his head with a smile. Mango would never admit it, but he’d kind of become the workplace father. Of course, he didn’t mind the role. He always got the juiciest bits of gossip and the hottest of teas. But it could get a little distracting when he was trying to do his job. Another knock at the door caught his attention. Looking up, Mango could see Agent Smith standing at the door. Mango quickly stood straighter and prouder. His hand found their perch in his hips as he spoke.

“And to what do I owe the pleasure?” Mango asked with a small smirk. Smith removed his sunglasses, revealing his bright cyan eyes.

“Good afternoon Mr Tango.” The agent said formally. “I came to ask if you can fix my glasses. Ballista decided it would be fun to tamper with them, and now I can’t see the holograms.”

Smith handed the sunglasses towards Mango, who gingerly took them and looked them over. As he studied the sunglasses, he then decided to ask the head Agent about the party as well.

“So, I assume you’re going to be at the 10 year anniversary celebration later this evening?” Mango asked as he looked at the frame of the glasses.

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend. I have another very important mission to carry out. Thus why I need my glasses repaired immediately.”

“Ah. Shame.” Mango said as he looked back up. “Do you mind if I put the glasses on? It will help me figure out the problem.”

“Whatever you need to do.” Mango placed the glasses on and Smith activated the hologram connected to his arm. True to form, Mango could not see the hologram clearly. It was merely a blue fuzz. Mango hummed and tapped the glasses, opening settings, playing with the sensors and trying to get them to work better.

“What did Ballista even do to these things?”

“They took my glasses while I was in the shower. And they did… something. According to Hazzard, Ballisa started “bouncing off the walls” before the glasses flew off and hit the wall.” Smith explained.

“Hit the wall?” Mango took the glasses off and sat in his chair. Mango grabbed a magnifying glass and held it above the corner of the glasses. Sure enough, the sensors were cracked. Mango hummed as he put the magnifying glass down.

“The sensor’s lens is cracked. Those will need to be replaced.” Mango said as he handed the glasses back to Smith. “You’ll have to take those to Asher. They’re better at that kind of precision work.”

“Ah, thank you Mr Tango.” Smith said. As they turned to leave, Mango spoke up.

“It’s Mango.” Smith paused and half turned back to the technician. “No need for Mr Tango, remember? Just call me Mango, please.”

“Ah, yes. Pardon my mistake. See you around, Mango.” And with that, Smith was gone. Mango hummed as he watched the agent leave. He sure was an interesting specimen.

**********

Mango stood against the wall, cup in hand as he watched the party go. It was less wild than he thought it’d be. But it was still loud and there was LOTS of drinking. Hell, even Mango decided to drink a bit. Just to keep him from leaving too early.

“Mr Tango.” The tall stick’s head lazily turned to his left. A much shorter stick stood next to him. Though Mango was slightly drunk, he noticed the stick standing next to him to be the one and only CEO of Rocket Corp, Mango was nearly shocked sober as he recognized the man.

“U-uh. Yes sir?” Mango kicked himself for stuttering. Let alone being nervous. He needed to calm down. The hollowhead eyed the much taller stick slightly before letting off a small smirk.

“It is nice to meet you sir. I have been looking for an opportunity to speak to you in person but as this company’s CEO, I have been quite busy and held up.” Victim said with their hand extended. Mango looks at the hollowhead’s hand before clearing his throat and discreetly wiping the sweat from his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you too sir.” Mango said as he shook the CEO’s hand. Vic nodded once as they leaned against the wall with Mango.

“You have been on my radar for some time now. I hear you have been moving up the ranks at a rapid pace.” Victim said as they took a sip of their drink.

“Ah, not really sir. I just-“

“You started as an intern and quickly became head of your department in three years. That is nothing to sneeze at. You are an interesting specimen Mr Tango.” Victim said. Mango chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Please, just call me Mango. No need for the formalities. It makes me feel old.” Mango chuckled as he placed his cup on the table nearby. Victim hummed as they did the same.

“No one has ever asked that of me. Yes, I think I will do that. Thank you Mr Mango.” Victim chuckled.

“Ah, yeah.” Mango chuckled as he watched the hollowhead. Maybe it was because Mango was a little more than tipsy, but he wasn’t as nervous anymore. The CEO wasn’t nearly as terrifying as everyone had made them out to be.

“Well, I must go now. It was very nice meeting you Mr Mango. I hope to meet you on more occasions.” Vic said as they grabbed a cup and began walking away. Mango chuckled as he grabbed his cup and took a sip. But he stopped when his taste buds were showered with a sweet carbonated taste. Mango paused and looked at the cup.

“Cider? I didn’t realize there was some.” Mango mumbled as he looked at the now empty table. Wait, if that was cider, then where was his cup of beer? Realization set in.

“Crap.” Mango sighed as he went to look for his boss. He then heard a shout from nearby. Following the sound, he found a small crowd of confused and almost horrified workers. Being much taller than nearly everyone there, Mango was able to see into the middle. The boss was standing on a table cheering about how they’re proud of everyone for working so hard for the last ten years. It was a strange sight for everyone there to see. Their normally reserved and stoic boss was acting so friendly and extroverted it made them feel uncomfortable.

“Where’s their right hand man?”

“We need Agent Smith!”

“He went on a mission! He’s not here!”

“What do we do?!”

“Who gave the boss alcohol?!”

Mango facepalmed. Of course this had to happen. Well, Mango was responsible for that mess, so he may as well take care of it.

“Uh, ‘scuse me guys.” Mango said as he walked towards the middle of the crowd. The employees created a path for the much taller man. Mango got to the middle and placed a hand on Vic’s shoulder.

“Boss-“

“Ah! Mango my man!” Vic hopped off the table and hooked an arm around Mango’s neck, pulling the taller stick down to their level. “You, you are the most interesting! I like you! You work hard and you move faster than everyone here! Yes yes, you are… What do the youngsters call it? You slay!” There was a collective groan from the younger ones in the crowd. Mango sighed and swept the shorter hollow head into his arms. Vic gasped as he did. Once they realized their predicament, they chuckled.

“Ha. Look at you, you’re bold Mango.” Mango shook his head.

“Creators-sorry everyone! They took my cup by mistake! I'll take them to their room.” Mango announced to the crowd, and with that, Mango left the room, princess carrying the drunken CEO the entire way.

“Heh, you really are bold Mango. Look at you. So fine lookin’ and, and crazy.” Victim giggled as they leaned into Mango’s shoulders. Mango couldn’t help but blush a bit.

“Sir please-“

“Ah. Don’t call me that.” Vic huffed as they traced Mango’s chin with their finger. Mango flinched slightly at the touch, but shook it off nonetheless. Vic chuckled and kissed Mango’s neck, causing the taller stick to nearly drop his boss.

“S-sir!”

“You were always my favorite Mango~” The boss purred. “You’re so cool. Covered in soot and sweat when you work. Like you are a character from one of those Japanese cartoons.”

Mango was flustered. Was this really what his boss thought of him? Mango ignored the drunk hollowhead’s flirty demeanor and the kisses on his neck. That was easy. Ignoring the tightness of his pants however, was not. Soon, Mango reached the boss’ personal quarters. He sighed in relief as the door automatically opened for him.

“Oooo~ who’s room is this~? Is it yours~?” Victim purred as they continued to leave bites and hickeys on the left side of Mango’s neck. Mango kept quiet as he approached the bed. Mango sighed as he laid the hollowhead down.

“Alright, you shou-ACK!” Mango yelped as the hollowhead suddenly grabbed him. The next thing Mango knew, Victim was sitting on his waist and pinning Mango’s wrists on either side of his head. Mango stuttered as Vic looked down at him with hungry and foggy eyes.

“You are one of the most interesting employees to ever step foot in this company. Maybe I should reward you for that~” Victim whispered as they leaned down and kissed Mango. The taller stick was too stunned to do much. The alcohol fogged his common sense and his heart was thumping in his chest. Mango knew this was wrong, making out with his boss. But he couldn’t help it.

Mango needed more.

**********

When Mango awoke the next morning, his whole body felt sore and his brain felt very heavy. It took the orange stick all his energy to just sit up. What time was it? Where was he? What ha-

Mango heard someone groan and shift in the bed next to him. Looking over, Mango’s eyes widened in horror as he saw the familiar grey hollowhead. Mango then looked around the room. Both the men’s clothes were haphazardly tossed around the room. Looking at himself, Mango was completely nude. And so was his boss. Memories of last night then flooded Mango’s brain. His horror and anxiety spiked as he remembered every last thing.

“Oh shit Mango you fucked up!” Mango said as he carefully hopped out of the bed. Mango grabbed his clothes and put them on as quietly as he possibly could, pausing every time his boss shifted or groaned. Once Mango had his clothes on, he made his escape. Carefully, to make sure he didn’t get caught exiting the boss’ room. The last thing he needed were people starting rumors about him and the boss.

That’d be hell.

(Chapter 1)-Chapter 2

[orphanheirs]

Wip excerpt

Thanks @drchenquill for tagging!!

I'll share an old excerpt, definitely a first draft, where I was trying to figure out how to introduce Tristan/his backstory. This might be too much exposition, and/or I might figure out a more interesting and efficient way of communicating all this.

Tristan Learmont had never tasted outside air since the day he first drew breath. Being born in winter during a great freeze, an infant would surely not be taken out of doors until spring in those days, and Tristan was no exception. However, he being so frail and ill of health, this period was extended. As time wore on and young Tristan’s sickliness failed to dissipate, most doctors brought in to see him recommended that the child be shielded from the elements, for he was so frail there was great danger to his life if he were thus exposed. Adjoining this assessment almost always was another grave warning: the boy should never strain himself physically, and activity should be greatly limited, lest he exhaust a weak heart. These recommendations continued until there was no need to repeat them. As Tristan never got well, the restrictions were never lifted. Even with them in place it was expected he would only live a few years. But the Learmonts, being the wealthiest landowners in the region, had no need to spare expense in following the doctors’ orders full and beyond recommendations so that their youngest child might be pinned to this world as long as possible.  To this end a large suite in a separate wing of the house was cleared for his habitation while he was still an infant. This wing was separate from the children’s wing, which housed the rooms of all his twelve brothers and sisters. In this section of the palatial house, all the great windows were kept locked. Even the curtains were commonly kept drawn. In this perpetual gloom Tristan grew.  At first, visitors to the Learmont household would ask after their youngest child's health with great interest, but over time these things were no longer said. Tristan became the invisible ghost residing in the closed-off wing of the house upstairs, which everyone was dimly aware of, yet rarely spoke of, and endeavored altogether to not think of too often. Tristan’s chambers became a forbidden, dreary realm where only servants, governesses, and doctors were doomed to tread. Though the Learmont’s neglect of Tristan may seem shocking, one must remember that at this time many great families held each other at arms length as a matter of course, and many parents were eager to send their children off to boarding school as soon as they were of age. All the other Learmont children were shipped off to various faraway academies starting at age seven or eight, so it stands to reason that, as Tristan was far too frail to be sent out into the world, his parents were obliged to be satisfied with his being sequestered out of sight in the same house. However, as much as Tristan was ignored, he was indulged to the same measure. If a child is deemed spoilt by an excess of earthly pleasures and very little discipline, we may firmly pronounce Tristan rotten. It seemed some strong feeling of pity for the poor mite languishing in gloom at the other end of the mansion awaiting an early grave aroused in Mr. and Mrs. Learmont, if not a warm attentive affection, a sense of plain detached injustice. They compensated for this by acquiescing to his every whim (usually reported to them by proxy through a servant or governess) and refusing to punish him for misdeeds (the same). In addition, within the parameters set by the prevailing medical advice (that is, no strenuous activity and no venturing out-of-doors) he was permitted to do whatever he pleased. From an early age he was even allowed to set the course of his own education.

Tagging: @buffythevampirelover, @risingshards, and @luchadorbard!

[quills-house-of-fiction]

The Shy, the Wicked, and the Cynical - Chapter 1

Summary

A former do-gooder pirate, Shy Kelsey de Bouff now works for the Armada underneath Deacon due to circumstances beyond her control. But after failing to complete her previous mission, Kelsey volunteers a target to make up for it: former friend and rising Witchdoctor, Wicked Saffron Bosworth. However, the stakes are much higher than she realizes, and she must work with a team of unusual clockworks in order to set the Spiral right. Or as right as it can be, anyway.

The satchel of gold fell lazily onto the ship vendor’s outstretched hand. He opened it greedily and laid the contents out on his hand. Several moments passed. Gold clinked against one another. He stopped and looked up at Kelsey, beaming from ear to ear.

“All accounted for,” he chirped. “Might I ask what you’re buying this for? I’ve seen you around plenty of times on different ships.”

Kelsey swore in her mind. She had forgotten her mask today, otherwise she would have dodged the question entirely. She couldn’t afford to waste time here. She glared at him as she offered her answer, not wanting him to press further. “My old one is in repair.”

He looked at her incredulously, but thankfully, he got the message. Kelsey didn’t care what he thought. He held the bottle out to her. She took it a little too quickly, unbottling the ship as soon as it touched her hand. She strode towards it quickly. She shouldn’t waste any more time on Cooper’s Roost docks.

The galleon itself was of Bison origin, something she wasn’t all that comfortable with for cultural reasons. She didn’t bother to name it. The ship would serve its purpose of getting around discreetly well. It wouldn’t be out of place for Cool Ranch, nor would it have a flag to identify her with. She couldn’t afford to have her usual markers on display either. Kelsey had already purchased the necessary equipment should broadside combat become an issue. Good enough.

The small Armada crew she had been allotted for this mission stood at the edge of the docks away from most of the ship vendors. She nodded towards them and they approached. They were an odd sort even for the Armada’s branding, which is why they had been assigned to her. They consisted of four soldiers of different designations: Parallax, a modified Battle Angel serving as a diplomat; Paradox, a lively and jovial clockwork jester with a colorful face that moves; and finally, Custos Decimus and Custos Sentus, an Armada Dragoon and an Armada Marine respectively. Both were considered defective. Custos Decimus’s programming was never quite right, and he was far too soft-hearted to enter combat as a regular Dragoon. Custos Sentus, on the other hand, had gained a disobedient streak after an incident during the arrest of another Witchdoctor left him with full sentience. If Kelsey was honest, he was the most aggravating of the crew, even with Paradox’s backhanded nature taken into account. Surprisingly, it had been Deacon who vouched for both of them and recommended that they be assigned to Kelsey.

Parallax, her first mate and trusted confidant, approached. She tapped her finger on her arm impatiently. “Awaiting your orders, Captain. Are you ready to depart?”

Kelsey nodded. Parallax was proactive-minded, which was a quality that Kelsey didn’t mind about her. As a whole, Kelsey felt an inexplicable kinship to her new crew, for perhaps she was the most different of them all. “Help me prepare and we’ll be off.”

Within the hour and the help of Kelsey’s crew, they set sail. Kelsey steered clear of the various factions roaming Cooper’s Roost Skyway and went for the pink wind-lane that she knew encircled the outer edges of Cool Ranch. They were considered neutral territory, and thus safe for her to leave the helm alone if she needed to. The winds would carry the ship if such a thing occurred.

Two days passed before Kelsey finally sailed into Tumbleweed Skyway. She had passed navigation and sailing duties onto Parallax while she rested uncomfortably over those cold nights. She had Decimus and Sentus–her nicknames for the pair–take inventory of the ship in the meantime. Paradox stood in the crow’s nest of the ship for the majority of the ride, keeping eyes on the skyways around them. Kelsey stood at the helm again, guiding the ship beyond the borders of Big Sky and into Tumbleweed.

Parallax approached from the deck. “Captain,” she said quietly as she leaned down. “We are almost at your destination. Are you sure what you are doing here is worth it?”

Kelsey nodded. “Yes, it is.” She paused. “Just before we dock at Tumbleweed, gather everyone else and take them below deck. You all are to stay down there until we set sail again. It is critical that my contact does not know that I am working with the Armada.”

Parallax bowed slightly. “As you wish, Captain.” She strode off to pass her instructions to the other crew members on deck.

Kelsey swore she could hear a hint of exasperation in Parallax’s voice, but she wouldn’t complain. Parallax wasn’t too keen on backwater places like Cool Ranch. After all, she had been working in the courts of other nobility alongside her sister, Paradox, prior to their assignment under Kelsey. But that did not–should not–matter here. Kelsey would be the one doing the information gathering. She vitally needed their skills in combat.

If the rumors Kelsey had heard were true, her target would be too difficult to capture on her own.

Kelsey lowered the board to the dock just as the sun was setting over Cool Ranch. She carefully stepped down, trying not to make note of the long way down in her periphery should she miss a step. Despite sailing for years, she didn’t think she could ever get over that intrusive fear of falling into the skyway. When she touched the docks of Tumbleweed, she almost wanted to kiss them.

She left her mask and cane behind this time. She needed to pass as her old self as much as she could. But each ever-so-slight limp towards Tumbleweed proper grew to be a huge ache in her half-clockwork heart. She climbed up the ramp, which she heard had been renovated courtesy of her contact, and finally set foot into Tumbleweed. Just to the left of the entrance was the Desert Rose Tavern. She made for it.

The tavern smelled of cinnamon and nutmeg. It was warm and lively today, if not a little busy. A pianist sat at the upright piano in the corner. Her hands moved elegantly from key to key as she played upbeat ragtime music. Kelsey found her fingers tapping along to it unconsciously. People from all walks occupied the tables, but Kelsey found an open spot at the bar.

Kodak the Barkeep–or better known to her as Cynical Jonah Landon–was a flurry of movement behind the bar. Patrons signed to him their orders and he made them with few questions.

She sat down and waited for him to finish with another customer. She was eager to get out of the dust storm that was Cool Ranch. Her heart pounded in her ears. Every thought in her mind shouted at her to turn around and leave the bar, to return to her ship and set sail again. She shouldn’t get Jonah involved, she shouldn’t–

Before she could turn around and leave, his green eyes met with her hazel ones. Jonah smiled and gestured for her to wait one moment. Kelsey nodded and compiled. Guess I’m staying put after all. He placed a cocktail for another customer at their spot at the bar, then approached Kelsey.

His hands became water as he signed to her. “Hey Kelsey!” His smile widened.

Kelsey’s voice shut off as hers found the same flow. She wanted to retch at how fake it must have seemed, but she didn’t. “Jonah! Long time no see!”

“How have you been? Where have you been? What can I get you?”

“A bottle of Yum, please. I’ve been fine,” she lied. “I’ve been sailing around, keeping up with the same old adventures we used to have.”

Jonah tilted his head at her. She assumed that it was the fact that she was not, in fact, fine. Nor was she having the adventures she said she was. She wanted to tell him everything that happened to her over the past five years, but her mission depended on keeping that critical information from him. He would not be pleased to find out who exactly her target was, but she wanted to ease him into that realization.

Kelsey had always been a terrible liar, even in her childhood. And Jonah’s uncanny ability to read facial expressions had been mastered at a young age due to his profound deafness that occurred in the middle of his childhood.

Thankfully, he didn’t press any further and went to the back. Kelsey let out a sigh she’d been holding and stiffened when she heard him come back. He uncorked the bottle for her and slid it over the countertop. She caught it in her organic hand. Kelsey took a sip of it and set it gently on the table. She lifted her hands to sign again.

“Do you know where Saffron is?”

Jonah’s face fell. “Always so business-minded, Kel. Why do you want to know?” He crossed his arms and glowered at her.

Kelsey paused. “To make amends,” she signed back. But that wasn’t the truth, not even close. She wasn’t sure how much he knew, but Kelsey wanted to make Saffron pay for the suffering she inflicted on her all those years ago. Maybe Jonah could read that on her face. But it didn’t matter to her. “I miss her a lot.” The signs felt vile on her hands and face, but she tried to keep face as best as she could. Her expression fell flat.

Jonah pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. Regardless of whatever he found in her expression, he began signing again. “There were rumors of her being in Haunted Skyway. I don’t know why in the Spiral she would want to go there. It’s a mad, mad place.”

Kelsey’s eyebrow raised. What Jonah said about the skyway itself was indeed true. Undead plagued the skyway like nobody’s business. Between the undead pirates and the sky snakes made of bones, venturing in there was a madman’s errand. But if there was anything Saffron liked, it was spooky aesthetics and anything Hoodoo-related she could get her hands on. The skyway was filled with bad mojo according to Old Scratch, but it would be a perfect draw for Saffron. It was too early to tell for sure, but that would be the place to start.

She went to sign again, but found that Jonah’s attention had been pulled away by another patron flapping their hand in his periphery. Kelsey took this brief moment of reprieve to sip from her bottle of Yum and let it soothe her soul. The body of it was pleasantly heavy on her tongue, with a fruity and floral flavor that almost reminded her of lavender. It was a comfort she needed given the arduous task ahead of her. She would have to thank Captain Gunn’s corpse later for the bastard’s ingenious idea to bottle it.

Jonah returned. “Anyway, yeah. Haunted Skyway. People have told me she’s hanging around her. Some brave folks are saying she was last spotted in Miranda.”

Her eyes widened. “Miranda?!”

He nodded. “I don’t know why, nothing good came of that place.”

She agreed. It was where they had taken down Captain Blood, but the sheer sight of that ghost town left lasting memories on herself and Jonah. The undeath and trauma alone had been suffocating. Saffron, on the other hand, was eager to explore the town despite the horrible tragedy that occurred there years prior to their intervention. Jonah and Kelsey looked at her like she was crazy then. Saffron, of course, didn't care.

“If I had to guess, she found something else magical about that town.” Jonah rolled his eyes. “You’d best stay out of that skyway, Kel. Find a way for her to come to you. Talk then.”

Kelsey wanted to retort that she didn’t have time to find an artifact that Saffron would like, but she kept her hands and face together on that one.

As she raised her hands to sign, Jonah had once again been pulled away by other customers. Kelsey opted to leave him be. She had finished her first bottle of Yum and found herself craving a second. Another bartender stepped out from the back and got to work, Kelsey asked them for another bottle. She slid the coins just as they had slid the bottle to her.

It would be a long while before Kelsey would ever be able to have an evening like this. She decided she would make the most of it. The exhaustion from all the sailing she had done these past few weeks was wearing on her. She was eager to spend the night on dry land for once. Tonight, she decided, her crew could wait. She could spare a little time to rest before the arduous task ahead of her.

Kelsey was halfway through her third bottle of Yum when Jonah appeared and tapped her shoulder, startling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the lit candle he had in one of his hands and raised her brow. He motioned for her to follow him, and they went over to one of the secluded tables underneath the second floor. He set the candle in the middle of the table. It illuminated the space between them and not much else.

“I’m on break,” he signed. “Tell me what’s really going on. I know you wouldn’t look for Saffron just for that, Kel.” He scowled at her. “There’s more to this.”

Kelsey sighed. So he had spotted her lie after all. She pursed her lip, trying to put her thoughts together into an acceptable explanation. She chewed on her lip, glancing at the table, the floor and anything that wasn’t Jonah. But in her peripheral vision, she got the impression he was still scowling at her. Her expression slipped somewhere between sorrowful and earnest, perhaps both.

“Can you promise you won’t be angry with me?”

Jonah raised a brow. “I can’t. But if it’s why I think you’ve been missing for all these years, then…”

Her face fell. “I’ve been forced to work with the Armada. To make a long story short, they saved my life, and as a result I have a debt to pay to them.”

“So the rumors were true. About you working with them.”

She nodded slowly. She glanced away, only turning back as he signed.

Jonah pinched the bridge of his nose. “And even with what they did to my parents, you’re still just going to help them anyway?”

“I’m at their gunpoint, Jonah. I can’t do much else. Hell, I’m lucky to be out here by myself right now.”

He let out a long sigh. “Okay, fine. So how does Saffron play into this? Why do you need her?”

Kelsey’s lips stretched into a frown. She explained her side of the story: that the Supreme Commander believed that she would also be a threat to his operations if she wasn’t dealt with right away. So as punishment for her previous failure, she was sent to capture Saffron, alive ideally. At least, that was partially true. That was all he needed to know.

In reality, Kelsey was the one who volunteered Saffron as a target. She was still angry with Saffron for setting her up all those years ago, only to take the fall for Saffron’s smuggling operations. She had no qualms about carrying out this mission, even after the trio worked together for Marco Pollo’s Map post-Erebus breakout. But those days were long gone, and any truce they had was dust in Cool Ranch’s winds. Jonah retired with some of Pollo’s gold to take over the Desert Rose, and Saffron had gone her own way altogether.

“I haven’t been told good things about Saffron, either. I heard she was amassing an undead crew. An army, some called it.”

Kelsey’s eyes widened. “Why?” Her expression shifted into confusion and concern.

Jonah shook his head slowly and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, Kel. But even if it’s for the Armada, you still have the best chance of stopping whatever scheme she’s got going on. She’s going on a dark path that’s only getting darker, and I wouldn’t be enough to save her anyhow.”

“Jonah…” she sighed. Her shoulders slumped and she leaned against the table. “You know, I really did try to continue our work after Cool Ranch. But at Knossos…” she paused as she manually signed the name of the island. “Between the Minotaur’s sons and the Armada ambushing us there, I didn't have a choice. The only way I was going to leave there alive was with them.”

“Kel, you don’t need to explain yourself. I trust your judgement in whatever it is that you’re doing.” He lowered his head and continued signing. “But please, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.”

Kelsey furrowed her brow. She really couldn’t discern what was what anymore.

Jonah stood up from the table and took the candle with him. He extinguished it with a quick breath. Kelsey followed quickly and grabbed his hand.

“Can I stay overnight in one of your rooms?”

Jonah nodded. He retreated to the back of the bar once more. Kelsey fished out a pouch of gold from an interior pocket and counted out the gold for one and a half night’s stay. When Jonah returned with the keys, Kelsey handed it to him. He counted quickly, then looked at her confused.

“Please, keep it. You need it more than I do.”

“Thank you,” he signed, the back of his flat hand extending towards her, and led her upstairs to a door on the side of the floor.

The door opened up into a mildly dusty hallway, with many more doors lining it. He led her to one at the end of the hallway on the back wall and gave her the keys.

“Here you go. Best room on the block. Return the keys to the barkeep in the morning.” He turned and walked away, but stopped and turned back to her. “And Kel, please come back sometime. Knowing you, you’re probably gonna set off at sunrise. Just…tell me what happens.”

Kelsey half-smiled and chuckled to herself. “You got me. I will though.” Whether it was a half-truth or an outright lie, Kelsey couldn’t tell. After everything that would happen, there was some part of her that believed that Jonah would hate her guts just as much as Kelsey hated Saffron’s.

Jonah left her to the comfort and privacy of the guest room, which was rather quaint. She sighed and undressed into her undergarments. The room got chillier as she did so, making the bed all the more inviting. She decided her crew could wait for a little bit. She wanted to sleep on dry land just this once, she got the feeling that she wouldn’t have this luxury for a long, long while.

She plopped on the bed and got to work unstrapping her prostheses for her left arm and left leg. As she gently pulled off the arm, she admired the intricate details required to craft such a sensitive thing. The design was partially her own, perfected by the Armada’s–no, Kane’s–intervention. She set her metal limb aside and looked at the stump that was the upper half of her forearm. The illusion of connectivity she had shattered, and she waved it about uselessly, if only for her amusement and no one else’s. She did the same to her leg, stripping it down to the barest half-limb. She ran her hand over the stump. Despite it being removed years ago by some of Valencia’s finest surgeons, she couldn’t ever not be amazed by it.

Kelsey got comfortable underneath the bed sheets and let her mind wander. First about Saffron, then Jonah, and where she would be after all of this. Would she even be the same person? A vague unsettling feeling crept into her stomach. It was too early to make any sort of prediction. But with the news that Saffron was amassing an undead crew, she found it harder to get comfortable. What in the bloody biscuits of Marleybone could she possibly be doing this for?

It didn’t take long before the desire to rest overtook her.

When the sun shone warm beams of light through her window, Kelsey stirred. She awoke from a deep and comfortable sleep and sat up in her bed. She rubbed the sleep away from her eyes and mentally planned out her day.

She would leave the inn and set sail alongside her crew for the Haunted Skyway within the hour. She was not thrilled to be returning there, as she was certain that the Armada’s intervention had awakened Captain Blood and put the skyway in the state that it was. She wasn’t eager to return to Miranda either, as after the game between Death and Captain Blood, she was sure it would be a ghost town in the truest sense of the phrase. Too quiet for comfort. Even subtle movements wouldn’t go unnoticed.

And it was also in the Haunted Skyway where she destroyed Deacon. She wasn’t sure if he had forgiven her for that one, or if he ever would. She had an inexplicable sense of sympathy for him, though she would never admit that to her friends or either of her crews.

But most of all, it was also where she’d find one of her former best friends gathering an army of undead pirates for Saint-Fido-knows-what purpose. The threat of the Armada aside, none of this situation had good prospects for the rest of the Spiral.

Kelsey wasted no time getting ready and leaving the Desert Rose Inn. The air still felt cool and dry, making it a pleasant time to leave. She hurried past the folks in the early morning, barely slapping the room key on the counter for the bartender to take back. She jogged out of the doors into Tumbleweed, and down the rail to the docks.

The board was already waiting for her when she reached the docks. She carefully climbed it, trying to avert her gaze from the skyway below. She didn’t have time for those intrusive thoughts to play now. When she was fully boarded, Kelsey caught sight of a certain clockwork Marine leaning nonchalantly against one of the masts.

“It is about time you showed up,” Custos Sentus said, his hollow eyes meeting hers.

Kelsey folded her arms. Her brows furrowed. “I thought my instructions to stay below decks until I returned were abundantly clear, Sentus.”

“It was too warm.”

Her eye twitched. “I don’t have time for this today,” she groaned. She glanced over to the Captain’s Quarters, where Parallax waited, peering through the circular window in the door. Kelsey motioned for her to come out.

She must have spied the concerned look on Kelsey’s face as she hurried over to her position. “Is everything alright, Captain?”

She shook her head. “Not in the slightest. Gather the rest of the crew and prepare to set sail. We’re going to Haunted Skyway.”

[black-suns-rim]

The story of White Death and Python

You guys wanted to know more about White Death and Python, so might as well kill 2 birds with one stone for the 700 follower celebration post.

Word count: 2,385

Enjoy

"For as long as I could remember, he was always by my side. He always stood up for me. I thought it was because it was the smartest one of the bunch, and he knew it. But he had actually cared for me so long ago… it's hard to believe it. We now hate each other so much — we are mortal enemies — but we never used to be…"

I got off of the throne of bones I had made. A fine trophy within itself made up of the various things I had killed over the years. I made my way to my life's mate. She stood at the temple's arcing entrance.

"You finally want to talk about him? After so long?" She put a hand on my shoulder and we pressed our foreheads together, greeting one another.

"I have never told you why he hates me so much. I have never told you the true reason why he hunts me specifically and I have never told you the real reason why I don't want you to interact with him."

She held my arm and led me out of the temple, "Then tell me, White Death. I have been patient with you thus far, waiting for you to be ready to speak to me about him. All of him."

"As you know, we were brothers by blood. Both of us having the same father…"

☆

Python and White Death grew up together alongside their peers and clan mates. They both belonged to the highly honored and respected Twin Xenomorph Clan of Yautja-Prime. Python was bulky even from a young age. Tundra (White Death's former name) was smaller and looked much different from his clan mates and peers. It was one of the reasons he was picked on and bullied. Almost all of the members of the Twin Xenomorph Clan were dark in color, while Tundra was snow white due to his mother's genetics.

Though he lacked height, he made up for it with his intelligence. Python saw his brother was smart and he could use someone like that on his side, so he began to protect him from most harassment. Eventually, the two gained brotherly love for each other — Python showed more outwardly affection compared to Tundra who almost always was cold to everyone and Python, but he did have some love for his brother. As they grew and became Blooded Hunters, the two drifted apart for a while.

☆

"Out of the blue, he wanted to meet with me many years after we became adults. He said he had discovered something that could improve yautja-kind." Python laid back in his bed. One of his mates, who was a trained medic, was treating one of his hunting wounds. She had given him a heavy sedative since he was in a lot of pain. She was surprised to hear him finally talk about his Bad Blood brother. She knew it was the sedatives but she was curious to know more about Tundra.

"And what news did he have to tell you, my love?"

"He came to me with what he said he had been working on for years. What he thought would make him and many others a better hunter…"

☆

"I showed him my hard work. The data, the examples, even pictures. Do you know what he called my genius work? A DISGRACE!" White Death raised his voice but he didn't startle Da'novi. She was used to his loud voice.

☆

"Do you see this brother? How amazing is my research? It could help improve the hunters of our society. It could help improve me!" Tundra placed down the many papers he had hand written on as well as pictures of his test subjects.

Python looked at the pictures and was slightly revolted by the animals he had changed to fit his vision. "Tundra… I see you are excited about this, but may I share my input?"

"Yes, what is it?" He sat down across from his brother.

"This… isn't natural. We hunt for glory and honor and to impress the ladies, but we don't do it to be…" He paused to think, "We do it to see whose genetics are better. I think this method might go against our culture; it might be disgraceful."

"Disgraceful? I'm looking out for the interest of our people, and myself. Our genetics are limited. With my research, we could become more, be more. Just look at these weak creatures I turned into worthy prey." Tundra pulled out some more pictures of these grotesque animals.

Python was beyond disturbed, "Tundra, there is a reason it was a weak creature. It is a part of life, the natural balance! If we mess with things like this, we would be ruining the natural balance!" Python raised his voice to make his point clear.

Tundra mistook this as aggression, "You do not understand me or my views!" He grabbed his papers and put them back into the bag he was carrying, "you have never understood my views! You will never understand what it is like being born 'inferior'!! Having your early years being a living hell, and being punished just for being alive and different from the rest of them!" He began to leave the room.

"Tundra! I only want to look out for you. I know our views are different, but this might be too far." He grabbed Tundra's arm, "the only support I can give is keeping this information between us. But I do warn you, the Elders may not like this if you plan on showing them in the future."

Tundra pulled his arm away, "you are no support to me. You never have been." His words stung Python like a deep cut. Tundra left the room without looking back and Python sat down, sighing heavily.

☆

"I knew I never understood him or how he perceived the world… but I didn't realize he wanted to mess with things that should never be messed with." Python tried sitting up but his mate pushed him down.

"Rest. If you keep moving, you'll hurt yourself even more." She said in a tone of slight agitation. Python was stubborn, even when he was being treated.

☆

"A couple of years later, he still never saw what potential my research had. The tensions between us grew as I came close to perfecting the sirim that would help me become a better hunter. But one day, his eldest son discovered what I had been doing and destroyed most of my hard work. I killed the brat in my blind fury and rage." For a split second, White Death showed a twinge of regret, but he quickly moved on.

"Of course my brother was… beyond upset with me."

☆

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?!" Python took a swing at Tundra while screaming at him. Tundra dodged his brother's dangerous blow.

"HE DESTROYED MY YEARS OF RESEARCH!!" Tundra grabbed a sharp tool and flung it into the arm of Python. It stuck out from his arm but he kept throwing punches at Tundra. Tundra ran out of the hut he had been using as his lab and Python pursued.

Tundra was much smaller and weaker than Python. One hit from him and it would be all over. He led Python to an opening — a training field. Tundra grabbed one of the basic hunting weapons and shot it at Python. It only made Python's rage stronger. Python lunged forward, "TRAITOR!!"

Tundra used Python’s momentum against him. He had pulled out a traditional hunting knife from his belt and stabbed Python in the gut. He twisted the blade of the Knife and pulled it out in only the span of seconds. Python roared in pain. He fell to the ground.

The two were gaining a crowd. They stayed back and watched. Python noticed the crowd as he struggled to get up. Tundra then stabbed him in the back. He too noticed the crowd and grew nervous. He knew he was going to get into trouble for what he did to Python’s son. Python got up and finally managed to knock down Tundra while he was distracted by the crowd. Python kept laying punches to Tundra while he had him pinned. Python passed out from blood loss before he could kill Tundra.

Both of them were out and wounded badly. Some of the yautja went up to the brothers to go take them to the healer. Once the Clan Leader heard about the fight between them, he went to visit them in the healer's hut once they were awake. Python was the first to wake and he told DiamondBack what Tundra had done.

☆

"So, after that whole incident, they put me in a holding cell and waited for me to wake so I could be put on trial in front of the council of Elders. The rest of the story, you know." White Death sat down by the crystal clear lake that was right in front of the temple the two had come out of.

"Remind me what happened. I do love the story of how I helped you out." Da'novi smirked as she leaned against him. Her soft voice always had a way with him. He could never resist her.

"Hmm… only because you asked."

☆

"Tundra of the Twin Xenomorph Clan, you stand trial here today on the account of the murder of a Young Blood and unethical genetic experiments. How do you plead?" Da'novi had a cold tone in her voice as she looked down at the accused bad blood.

"I am not guilty. I was defending my research from the destructive hands of that vile young blood." Tundra answered coldly back. The Elders were taken aback by his answer. Another Elder spoke, "You have no regret for killing a child?"

Tundra held his ground. His feelings were still hurt and he hadn't had time to process all that had happened, "No. I have no regret." The Elders murmured amongst each other. Da'novi had never come across a yautja like him in her years. She was intrigued and wanted to know more about him.

"The council has decided! You are to be executed in the upcoming days! You have been given the dishonorable title 'Bad Blood.' " an Elder spoke with a tone of disgust. Tundra was taken back to his holding cell. Some hours passed before a hooded figure visited him.

"I was never here, do you understand me?" The figure, Tundra could not recognize them, which is what they wanted. He walked up to the door of the cell, "What do you want?" He asked aggressively.

"Your research, It is nothing like I've ever seen. I am impressed by it. All of your research is being destroyed as we speak, but I was able to grab two of the tubes of liquid you had. Are these important?" The figure grabbed both of the tubes from a bag and handed them to Tundra.

"Yes, these are very important. This is my life's work." He put both of them in a hidden pocket of his belt.

"I assume the liquid is that you used to genetically change those creatures?" The figure asked.

Tundra nodded. There was something about this figure he trusted.

"Then I will see you later… if that liquid saves you from your execution." The figure leaves. Tundra wondered who they were, but he was glad that they gave him two of the tubes of his sirim. He peeked through the opening to see if any of the guards were around. None. He pulled out one of the tubes and a syringe. He put the liquid in the syringe, "you better work when I need you." He whispered to himself.

The next morning, Tundra was taken from his cell and walked by two guards to the public arena where his execution was going to be held. A humiliating death, a dishonorable death. To be killed with such a title as "Bad Blood" meant he would not have a happy afterlife. While he faked trying to get out of their grasp, he pulled out his syringe.

He was kicked in the back of his legs and forced to kneel on the ground. The arena had many spectators in it. The occupants hissed and growled at the sight of Tundra. An Elder spoke, "This hunter is here for murdering a young blood and for unethical genetic experiments on other creatures! His status, Bad Blood! He will be given a dishonorable death for his crimes!" Right as the Elder got done with their speech, Tundra injected himself with the syringe quietly. It only took seconds before he started roaring and contorting his body from the pain.

The guards didn't know what was happening to him but they tried their best to hold him down. Tundra's body began to rapidly grow so fast that his skin tore. He knocked off the guards and slashed them with his claws. The crowd grew loud as Tundra mauled both of the guards within seconds. More guards came out with their plasma blasters aimed at him. Tundra jumped up in the seated area of the arena and made his escape, using the people as a protective shield.

Python had watched the whole thing go down, "He… did it…" He said in disbelief. His disbelief quickly turned to rage and he roared out in anger. His son would not be getting avenged today.

Tundra was pursued off planet but he escaped.

☆

"You were chased off the planet and escaped many Elites while still in the pain of your genetic changes. I still find that impressive." Da'novi stood up, "and now you are the most feared and hunted Bad Blood many years later."

White Death smirked, "I am. And I have gained many followers who believe in the same thing I do. A clan of outcasts and Bad Bloods. Fitting. And you, a spy amongst the Elder Council. A perfect mate." He stood up as well.

"Speaking of which, I must go. The council will be discussing ways of getting rid of you once and for all. You have been a thorn in their side."

They put their foreheads together as an affectionate goodbye. Da'novi left and White Death went back to his temple.

[callmegkiddo]

Give them a Peace of Mind

Now, I did say that I was trying to work on requests. I AM, don’t worry I am, just, my motivation for requests turned to me wanting to make stuff for my OC’s-

Sentences I thought off that inspired this: “Like the sides of a coin, a simple flip gives you a whole new surface to observe” “Like the flip of a switch, your personalities change” “They are only whole when their souls have been mended back together” “You're only truly whole when you not broken and hurting”

A reflective surface stares back at the world, its cracks glistening in the light, the wooden frame enchanting, but mysterious. A mirror, so simple, but so deflating to see. A simple artifact, from a time in their history. Lying inside that mirror is a void that shifts and changes. Its atmosphere was cold and suffocating, the deep black of its world almost never-ending. Amidst that void, is a manor, big and eye-catching. A garden of soft grass, flowers, bushes, tall trees, and plants, surrounds its surface area.

Characters: Evalyn and the Splits

—-------------------------------------------

How peculiar it was, to see such a thing. A sign of life perhaps? Others have thought that it was abandoned, made by gods that decided to live in that mirror, waiting to be summoned by someone worthy. But no, instead, those living inside that manor, within the mirror, were old friends.

Fractions of various pieces of one's soul, a soul so cracked and broken it caused doubles from numerous dimensions to converge in on that soul and make use of those pieces. Thus, the forms of the splits came to life. And now, all of them reside in the mirror. With all their fates, told through time and time again, from all the loops, and rewinds. Time has become a mystery and an inconvenience to them.

The first split is the co-host and leader of the split. Evan Mook, the District Attorney and right-hand man of Dark. Their way of command, and iron fist around things. His rules were simple but held consequences when broken.

The main host, protector, and the one who roams the outside world the most was Evalyn Mook. They front the most and often have to do most of the work for the DA when the mirrors void prevents them from going out.

CD The Conductor or Casandra is the second in command. And for various reasons too, they are the sort of scientists of the group. And they specialize in the security system, making it easy for both the DA and CD to see if anyone has trespassed. She keeps everyone in line, making sure that nothing is out of place for the DA. She also ensures that all communications are online, and sends out messages for others to follow in case of a break from an “entity.”

Mundy, a former felon, cursed bound to a ring he was accused of stealing, and a formative leader of a group of explorers and archeologists. He is the perfect example of “Think now, talk later.” Thus why the DA chose him to be the next to lead in case CD or the DA are unavailable. His way of command is nearly second to none, and his persuasiveness gets everyone out of a jam. His main weakness, however, is his vulnerability. He prioritizes others first before himself. And that causes weakness, a weakness so severe it cost him his life before the splitting.

Rody is a rooly woman, and despite her slightly manly physique, she is rather feminine. A trans woman with an energetic and lively nature. Her cheery personality rivals Pinkiepie from My Little Pony. However, her high energy is a scary revelation, especially when fighting her. In times when she is angry, her energy becomes unbearably high, to the point, it looks murderous. Her mind is unstable, she thinks dying is a way to be free and escape this cruel world. This is why she is often around the DA, the one person who values life and is far more stable than Rody. A perfect balance to the chaos Rody brings to the table.

Captain Spencer, was a strict ruler, but also a tsundere at best. He hates to admit it, but he’s very affectionate. He’s great at encouragement, and he constantly tries to be at the top. His focus is always to make sure everyone is working as a team, and that no one is against him. He’s the one who gets assigned to be Mundy’s plus one whenever CD or the DA isn’t around. He doesn’t mind it really, quite enjoys it. He often bonds with Mundy over their musical tastes.

But, although Spencer is affectionate, that doesn’t mean he isn’t easy to anger. His patience is slim, but he tries his best to be considerate. He rules with an iron fist alongside Mundy, and he’s extra strict about how things are done. He’s a violent man, and he would resort to violence if the opportunity needed it. Often dubbed as the universe's child, due to his galaxy-colored hair, and his affiliation as Captain.

And finally, the youngest of them all, an android, and one of the first ones created after Bing. The one who makes and fixes the tech used all around the manor. The inventor of the splits, and probably the one who helps form plans with the DA. Firefox, the young feminine lad who was turned into an android at the age of 12.

And Firefox isn’t the only human that got turned into a living machine. CD, a cyborg, her mechanical body, made from spare parts of all the androids in part and service. She was made right after Firefox, many call her the “Creation” or the “Mangel” due to her mangled and spare parts. But thanks to the help and engineering from Firefox, all her parts were repaired and made to good use.

And, that isn’t the only thing that bothers those outside of the mirror. Constant reminders of everyone's deaths replay in their dreams and nightmares. Various things, remind them of what happened that night.

Getting locked up in a mirror, watching what used to be their body, and walking away, that body wearing the same face as someone close. Waiting, cooped up in that dark void, with thoughts and voices scratching at them like desperate claws. Hearing those deprecating thoughts from the “entity”, hearing it reminds them all of what their best friend did to them.

It brings despair to them all, to be reminded of how broken they all are, that their existence is all because of an accident. To be reminded that the “hero” of their story, is the same bastard that caused their demise.

It broke them, but…. They couldn’t help but feel free.

After all, that time stuck cooped inside that maddening prison, they felt free. Free enough to laugh with each other. Free enough to be able to feel compassion again. Free enough…. To feel like themselves.

Despite the broken pieces, despite the fractured soul. They still found a way to feel somewhat whole. Sure, it hurt whenever they switched places to the front. But they could bare it, as long as they get to see those they care about most.

Mundy, switches to be in the spotlight, only whenever Yancy, Illinois, or Magnum are in the room, often even forcing one of the others out of the fronting mind space just to say hi.

Evan, more formerly known as, The DA, fronts whenever Evalyn isn’t needed. But the people who frequently see them. Is Dark, Wilford, Actor, Abe, or anyone who was related to the accident back in 1923.

Rody, fronts whenever the opportunity struck. Most times she fronted if ever the others invited the splits to do anything related to games. Arcades, ice skating, anything. But she noticeably fronts whenever Wilford is involved.

CD, she fronts whenever someone has problems around things, like simple paperwork, security measures, security setups, or just any difficulty with some forms of tech she is familiar with. This is especially true, around Host, Annus, or Eric. Her specialty is equipment for making videos or recording booths. It’s why she was assigned to security.

Spencer, now this man fronts whenever his crew is around, or whenever the DA can’t help Dark with keeping the egos in line. He’s the leader, so of course, he has to help Dark. But, he only wants to appear before his crew. Gunther, Celci, Burt, Mark, Mack, First Mate Tyler… Even Wug is an exception.

Mundy, HO BOY, does this man like shoving Evalyn out of the spotlight-

He appears whenever Yancy is around, he always has ideas up his sleeve to try and get Yancy to make more songs. He adores his singing, and always pushes encouragement onto him, he doesn’t pressure him of course, but his excitement is always appreciated.

Mundy also comes glitching in whenever Illinois comes home, he greets the adventurer with wide open arms and sparkling eyes begging him to tell stories about his latest adventure. On more than one occasion, however, did he not greet Illinois, and he blames the ring he was bound to all for it. How could he not? He hates that thing to bits!

Now, Mundy hates the sea, scared shitless he goes below the waist into the salty waters. Thalassophobia is an intense fear of any natural body of water. But, he still makes an effort to be interested in what Magnum has to tell, even though it would probably give him nightmares, he loves the giant lug, and it hurts not to be interested!

Firefox, god this guy has quite a grudge against Google, but that doesn’t exactly do much from getting him to front. He loves to front whenever Bing wants him to. He is always approachable, especially so if you need something to get fixed. He is the one you should be looking to for devices or gadgets that are broken, especially whenever CD isn’t around.

And now Evalyn, sweet sweet, Evalyn, they front the most out of everyone. Being the main host was difficult, but they got the job done whenever possible. Loyal, and eager to please, they are assigned numerous assignments by Dark to help around the manor.

All of them do, they all have things to do around the manor, and they do it without fail. Always eager to please, always eager to make others proud. They don’t tire of taking anyone's part in the project. Loyalty has no bounds, they do anything asked of them. Whether it be dangerous, or simple.

They always had this problem, of being too loyal to certain people. They all became too eager to please, especially when Actor saved them from their hellish prison. They would all do anything to make him happy.

Their precious Actor… Evans precious and capable Actor…

Their very souls beat for the Actor, their very existence revolves around Actor and his many stories. Whatever that madman asks, they will do or take part in. No ifs, no buts, no coconuts.

And this loyalty, all stemmed from Damien. The glorious Mayor that betrayed the DA. And Evan, still trusts Damien, though a little less now, but he still does. He can’t help it, he practically dedicated his entire life to Damien until his very death.

Doesn’t this sound familiar?

Doesn’t this sound… Rather toxic?

The DA, the splits, all of them are so eager to do anything Actor or Dark asks of them.

Like a puppet on a string, they answer every beck and call.

Like in a trance they cannot break.

It worries me… It worries me that my creations will be hurt again. It hurts me knowing, that there will be a day that damned Actor will just abandon Evan again….

It scares me…. Like a lot….

The holiday is tomorrow, and the Splits are planning on celebrating it with the egos. If all goes well… Maybe, they will be whole again, and merge to form Evalyn Mook…

I can’t do anything to bring Evan back as the former host. But maybe, this Christmas, this holiday, will bring them back. Will give them peace of mind…

And maybe, they will finally get their happy ending.

G out.

12/24/XX

[ardenssolis]

@tenkoseiensei said (inbox):

nerofest. even for a doppelganger, it wasn't cheating to rise through matches and various brackets so long as it remained by one's own power, shouldn't that have been so? nothing could possibly have disqualified him, distasteful as some others might have found it. accompanying the pharaoh for a dozen rounds, building trust as none other than an otherwise absent arash, who alone held every excuse and reason to withhold his self-annihilating phantasm, the likes of which not even yan qing could replicate. he's kept himself hidden like this all the way up until their current final round, wherein he winks and smiles at the other. ' i've got your back as usual,' he says, and yet the instant ozymandias has turned about, the doppelganger's fist lands a shocking blow so hard, it whirls the pharaoh right back around. rictus spreading, elation plain on his mimic features, yan qing can't help but laugh. ' just kiddin', just kiddin' ~ ! surprise, yeye! it's not exactly chivalrous, but it's better than bein' shot in the back an' through the heart with an arrow before things have even gotten started, right? ' setting into martial posture, shamelessly allowing his shape to rearrange and reveal himself, the soft returning jades of his eyes glimmer with realized mischief - and a fresh enthusiasm. ' let's do this right an' have a good one. we've helped each other along this far, but now it's my turn! hope you're ready t'feel more than just one measly bruise on your skin, old man! '

     WHEN ‘ARASH’ HAD APPROACHED him desiring a partnership, there wasn’t much thought placed on the ‘why’ from Ozymandias’ end. Who was he to refuse that bright smile that radiated warmth? Certainly not even he could turn down that Archer down. Rare was it for them to be on the same side, fighting for similar goals and the like, thus, one would have to forgive Ozymandias for being over-the-moon with excitement towards the very prospect of once again, fighting side by side. As one would expect, they rose through Nero’s little event rather quickly, easily becoming two of the top fighters as a result.

     ‘I’ve got your back as usual.’

     Those were the only words that he had needed to hear for guard to completely drop and attention to focus on the foe before him. ❝Heh, let us win this and show who the greatest warriors a--- ❞ His sentence was abruptly interrupted by the blow to his back as he stumbled forward. Mouth agape with both betray and confusion, upon hearing that rather familiar speech pattern, it didn’t take much to put two and two together. ❝Tch, using my favoritism towards that Archer to your advantage, I see.❞ They could have turned into anyone, but pointedly chose them. Quickly he turned, then, staff summoned into hand without another moment of hesitation. ❝You did rather well, I admit. Not once did I sense anything was remiss. And you…❞ he smirked, head tilting – all usual haughtiness back in place despite his rather embarrassing stumble not even a couple seconds ago, ❝just casually were able to make your way up with thanks to my incredible efforts.❞

     Shameful!

     But to be expected. A sound strategy, he supposed, albeit a monumental headache to deal with. ❝I will not go easy on you, you know. If anything, because you utilized that hero’s visage, that means I must crush you even more.❞ He pointed his staff at the other, light gleaming off the cold metal as his lips curled into a large smirk. ❝Come, then, Assassin. Do not hold back on my account…for I have little intention on doing the same.❞

[shmothman]

Thank you for responding! I love the essay you wrote about what we've seen about his character thus far and you brought up good points! When you put it like that, his 'recklessness' does come from things that he planned for. While true, having the Brave Asagi fly through a thunderstorm for the sake of shaking of the Explorers is reckless, it also gave Cap a power boost from the lightning, bringing back that image of Ash's Pikachu way back in the first episode getting struck by lightning against the Spearow flock.

And yeah, instead of letting Liko just rush in like that, he held her back and put down a plan; distracting Amethio with a battle while Liko goes ahead to save her Pokemon. It makes me wonder if Amethio would wise up and makes it harder for Friede to taunt him into battles, seeing that he's done it twice now. I'm super intrigued to see the origins for the crew! Like, how did he scrounge up people from various backgrounds and ages, and where the Brave Asagi even came from. Did they build it from scratch? Repurpose an existing blimp for their purposes? It's super technologically advance to me, given that they can have an on deck battling arena plus those force fields(?) covering it. From the character sheet we've seen of him, there was one where he made this pouty face and one that I could see where he's getting reprimanded or maybe feeling sick. Given that there's Mollie on board, I just want to see moments where he's wrangled into the infirmary for one reason or another. With the stunts he's pulled thus far, I want to see one where things doesn't go exactly as plan. He strikes me as someone who maybe has a hard time staying still. I know I'm waiting every week for new bits of information cause I want to write him so much!

Right right right—the thunderstorm bit seemed risky, but I think it really mostly showed that he has confidence in what he does; he didn’t doubt his and pikachu’s ability to navigate through it safely, and he knew the tactical advantage it would give to pikachu in battle. (There’s the question of whether learning that these things would work took a lot of risk on his part in the past, and I do have an inkling that he was more reckless as a kid/teenager than he is now, but who knows what we’ll learn about his past.)

And yes I also hope Amethio is the type of antagonist that doesn’t fall for the same thing twice—now that he knows Friede is prone to Being The Distraction, I hope they’ll have to find new ways to beat them! (Though, if we’re being honest, we’re coming from the series that had ash/team rocket fall for the same things every time, so we’ll see 🤣) And I really want to see what Friede does when plan A doesn’t work 👀👀

I’m so excited to see the origins of the crew, too! I mean obviously Molly has a history with the Nurse Joys (given the pink hair, the Chansey, and the fact that she didn’t want to go into the pokemon center) so my guess for her is that she ran away from being a nurse—and what better way to leave everything behind than to join the crew of an airship. But I would guess that either they were all friends and decided to go into the adventuring business together, or Friede was the one who came up with the idea and met/hired/befriended the rest along the way. Or Captain Pikachu found them all 🤣🤣 it’s anybody’s guess right now!

I wouldn’t say that the airship is super advanced, given what we’ve seen of the rest of the technology in the pokemon world: the forcefield around the battlefield reminds me of the energy barriers in the stadiums in the journeys series—it’s probably pretty standard tech in-universe. And there have been much more futuristic methods of travel, off the top of my head I remember Hunter J’s airship from the Diamond and Pearl series; though I do get the idea that it was at least a little bit cobbled together—or at least improved by Orla and the rest of the crew when they got it. Maybe they inherited it from someone? Maybe they bought it? I can’t wait to find out!

I also agree that he seems like someone who can’t stay still (listen I know I’m always HCing my favs with at least one of my Mental Issues but this one for sure has adhd)—I would bet that he’s always looking for the Next Mystery to Solve, and would probably get restless pretty quickly if there wasn’t anything to do next. But I also think he’s okay when the thing to do next is just… make some money 🤣 because hey, more money means more adventure, right? Though I do think he took this job more for the mystery of it than the money of it 🤣 it really seems like he’d do just about anything for a good mystery 👀👀

[cursedfortune]

She stood amidst his study, finding him after soaking for a time in the bath. He was so insistent to show off his collection, which she was eager to see, but the hot water called to her after their first night together. His time ability may be able to make her clean and pristine in an instant, but it couldn't contend with a hot bath to reinvigorate all the muscles she had used since her arrival upon this world. From their first meeting and fighting to them unifying beneath the sheets of their bed.

The witch hadn't much cared to dress beyond a nightgown and the dark cloak she donned over it. This palace of his was now her home, their home, and thus she'd settle into the same behaviors she did back on her world.

Black eyes glanced over to Regulus as he spoke, listening as he talked about this trophies of him. Her hand lifted, hovering above the objects imbued with such potent energy. They were powerful, sure, deadly in their own right. But she understood why these weapons and trinkets stood no chance against him. It was all doomed to failed, his Authority was far too clever. Still, she admired them, admired the energy and power they held. Despite being so new to his world, there was a look in her eyes that said she understood more than he knew. Not of the lore of this world, no, but in what she felt of the energy. She understood energy in a way others didn't, she saw and heard it in a way only she could. Mortem was no witch from his world, she was not born to this world nor was limited by its rules because of it.

She allowed him to guide her where he liked, to show off his hoard and regale her with whatever he wished to. His mention of her ambition was met with a glance and wry smile. Ambition was a word she used for others, it wasn't a strong enough word to use for herself - but she found his assessment charming. As he showed her the amulet she listened, musing over a witch of avarice - as if all witches weren't greedy in their own way. His little mention of the witch's failing made her curious but that curiosity was brushed aside when she felt his words in her ear. His warm breath against her skin, his lovely voice speaking such a cruel reality.

She wondered if he intended his words to be a veiled threat or if it was an accident, either way she was amused. Mortem turned her head, her gaze meeting his directly.

"I have already taken what I desire most from this room." You. Mortem leaned closer to him, her lips daringly close to his own before she gracefully pulled away just out of his reach.

His offer to take anything she humored for a moment, focusing her attention on all the weapons and trinkets. Her hand reached out, dancing across various items as she hummed to herself - processing the information, learning just what this world was capable of forging. For weapons often were the most advanced thing for any civilization, she learned.

"But in all seriousness, your offer is generous. Yet, I find I am asking myself, 'whyever would I wish to take anything from here'? All these things belonged to those too weak to go against you, after-all." Mortem reasoned as her hand dropped back to her side, her body turning to face him. There was something incredible harsh and cruel when it came to her manner of thinking, an honesty mortals often didn't appreciate. Sore losers, she'd call them. "Let them stay here in shame, where we can bask in your victories." The witch's grin may be slight but it was no less wicked.

In the stillness of his castle, he reclined in his study, enveloped by the trophies of his victories. His gaze roamed the space, where the flickering candlelight danced upon the polished surfaces of six legendary swords displayed prominently on the wall. Each blade stood as a symbol of his might and avarice, a chilling reminder of the dread he inspired in those who dared to defy him. As the Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, embodying humanity’s darkest yearnings, he had long abandoned any trace of mercy or empathy.

“Ah, you seem unaware of the world’s true tale,” he remarked to the young woman before him, his tone laced with both amusement and provocation. Clad in simple robes of deep midnight, she bore hints of her own mystical connections, her eyes wide as they absorbed the magnificence of his collection. He observed her intently, intrigued by her intentions.

Regulus grinned, a spark igniting in his eyes at her curiosity. “ Each sword carries a narrative, a fragment of history that would send shivers down most spines. Would you like a tour? I’ve been rather occupied these past few decades.” He gestured grandly toward the trophy room, his hand sweeping through the air with flourish.

He reclined in his chair, fingers interlaced in a steeple. “They called out to me, lured by my insatiable desire. They murmured enticing promises of power and control. Who was I to turn them away? Better in my collection, than out there causing issues.” He paused, gauging her response, then continued. “But my interests extend beyond mere blades. I possess artifacts as well—relics from the witches I’ve encountered on my journeys.” Regulus nodded, a spark of intrigue lighting his gaze. “Indeed. But tread carefully; these are not mere trinkets. They are ensnared by ancient sorcery, potent enough to taint even the most virtuous souls. Yet in this realm, and in my grasp, love triumphs over all.” Rising, he guided her toward the trophy room, the excitement in her eyes mirroring his eagerness to unveil his treasures.

The chamber was a wild assortment of weapons and artifacts, a stark contrast to the neatly arranged swords. Regulus stepped aside, inviting her to explore the collection. “Each item conceals a secret, a force that only the deserving can wield,” he spoke in a hushed, enigmatic tone. A chuckle escaped him. “You possess ambition. How charming.” He delved into the heap, his fingers brushing against a frigid, metallic object. “This,” he declared, lifting a weathered amulet, “once belonged to a witch of avarice who could bend time to her will. Yet, even her might fell short against the greed of a certain archbishop.”

Regulus leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. “Let’s just say she no longer requires such trivial possessions. She fought, she faltered—how very human of her.” With a flourish, he returned the amulet to its place. “But enough of bygone tales. You may take whatever you desire from this room, anything your heart yearns for.”

[metabolicchief3]

2

Light broke through an open window, creating a cone of light. Each mote of dust caught in the cone burned almost as bright as the sun that illuminated them. Small spots of burning white floated in the air as Rordus breathed. His eyes locked on the ceiling of his bedchamber, then, as he turned his head, the rest of his room. A decent sized chamber, large enough to fit almost twenty stoutly men. A small chest sat on the other side, behind the door. Beside his bed sat his sword, an object he stared it.

He lay in his bed unmoving and endlessly thinking. He hadn’t been able to sleep for what felt like days, but had simply been the one night. There was an uneasiness that choked him. It held him to the bed and refused to let up. The very same thing that had burned inside him had overheated him as he slept. He had tried stripping down, shedding cloth until all that remained was that which he was born with.

Now, after so many hours had passed. He felt paralysed under the weight of this imaginary and suffocating force. One week. He had been given one week to prepare himself. To clothe himself and to arm himself for his coming journey.

Rolling onto his side, he asked himself what if I don’t make it? He shuddered at the thought of death, but knew it was natural and that, one day, Mheylin would carry his soul to safety. But he was still scared.

Any sane person would be, He thought. Despite his reasoning, he couldn’t leave his bed.

After what felt like hours, or maybe days, he heard the sound of a pick breaking dirt. It was soft, but he knew it. He’d heard it more times than he could count.

It rang again. And again. With every chime of the picks, he felt a fresh pang of guilt. I should help. He’d think, tracing the shape of the window in the drifting dust motes.

He closed his eyes and reminded himself of how much time he had left. How little time he had to prepare, and how much longer he had to spend with the people he would miss.

Then, he looked at the beaten down sword beside his bed. He imagined himself holding it, standing over felled foe and slain beast alike. A master of his own destiny with gore oozing off his body, none of it his own.

All things end. He remembered his house words. The words everyone else knew and the words he had lived by.

“Son. Come here. You’ll have a sister soon, and we need to talk to you about something.” Kristans voice rumbled from the deep parts of Rordus’ memory. Pulling him to sit up in his bed. His father had always been able to make him move.

“You see how your mother and I look so different? This is because she is an Orc, and I am an Elf. You son, are one of the many born between.

“And outside these walls, there are many more that look different to you or I. Mounjar, great Stonemen of the mountain.” Kristan imitates a great hulking figure, curling his arms around his sides as if trying to touch hips far wider than his own.

“Dwarfkin, small but mighty men beneath the mountains.” He bends his knees and brings his arms in, imitating a shorter and quite portly version of himself.

“Humans of various colour and makeup.” He covers his pointed ears and makes a series of silly faces, earning a boisterous laugh from his young son.

“These are the people who protect, and are protected. By us. Though our House words are ‘All Things End’, that is not all we say. We say ‘All Things End’ thus cause no sorrow, speak not ill, treat not unkind. So, Rordus. That is your role. To treat with kindness and care, to bring warmth in hearts and smiles on faces.” Kristan crouched down, touching his sons cheek before looking to a door, one Rordus hadn’t noticed until now. Rordus almost looked too but his fathers eyes fell on him once more.

Kristan smiled.

Rordus stepped out into the fields, pick slung over his shoulder with a hand to keep it in place. He had dressed in the same beaten down clothes he’d worn for every rotation since he’d fit them. Haggard greys, stained with dirt and scarce clumps of clay.

He stayed quiet as he moved to where he’d left off the day before. He didn’t dare talk for fear of his voice breaking and for shame for taking so long. It would have broken his heart if anyone knew how scared he was now. He had barely been able to use his guilt as fuel to leave the fort, he dare not imagine what fear would do to him now.

When he stopped, he looked back, staring up at the dark stone that comprised Highbrood. Up at the fortress he called home. An ugly thing made beautiful by the men and women who lived in it, and around it. People he’d come to love.

Rordus looked back to the dirt and pulled his pick back over his head, then brought it down. Then again and again until the sound from the weapon echoed across the burgeoning farmland.

He continued for a little over an hour before his pick broke. He’d drove it into the ground far too hard and the handle had snapped in two.

He mumbled a quiet curse behind his lips and straightened out his back, only now feeling the ache pulsing down his spine. He glanced around the field and gave a deep sigh.

He looked at the shattered half of the shaft he still clutched and had an idea. Perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad to practice before I go, but if I do.. His eyes turned to the other people picking away at the ground, breaking up the farmland to a farmable state. Once more a pang of guilt struck at his heart.

He clenched his hand around the broken shaft and threw it into the brush that lay not too far. Reaching down, he gripped the head of the pick by the damaged shaft and began anew. This time he was in one knee and used only one arm.

Strangely, this was even more efficient than before. Getting stronger still. He gave a slight smile and felt his fear trickle away some, just as it was clouded with the duty of ensuring they would be able to farm this land.

“Blue Eyes!”

Rordus looked up at Lersin and then to the two other boys beside him, Jerish and Harrel. All three looked to have an air of excitement and exuberance. Rordus didn’t like that. He knew the look, and it was never good.

“Can I help you lads?” Rordus inquired, returning to his work as he did. Ignoring the feeling of their stares. He assumed they were just trying to grasp what secret he may have been hiding.

“Not sure. Heard a rumour about someone. Says they might be leavin real soon.”

“Don’t tell me. Old Magge.” Rordus could almost feel the heat coming from Lersin’s red ears.

“Listen here you little-!”

“No you lout.” Jerish interjected, clearly annoyed at the ambiguity and sighed. “’eard it from the smiph. ‘arrel’s aunty.”

“Right you did eh? And where did she hear it from?”

“Well, she was asked to fashion you somephin for an ‘upcoming trip’.”

Rordus looked at Jerish now, a little confused though he didn’t let it show. He mulled it over in his head and gave the boys a shrug. He pondered what it could be. Perhaps a sword? But he had his own already. Maybe armor, but that didn’t make sense either.

“I’m going to the Harbor in a week. Obsidian asked for me directly.”

The three boys all dropped their jaws. They looked amongst each other and looked back at Rordus, a second round of shock passed through their faces as they realized he was serious. Their shock only barely held back their anger at Rordus’ nonchalance about such a piece of news.

“By the Baron’s black balls, you’re not tuggin!” Lersin was shocked, moreso than the rest. She could scarcely take her eyes off Rordus. “What would Obsidian want with a half-breed like you?”

“That’s Half-breed Lord to you Lersin.” Rordus smirked, satisfied with his quick wit and imitation of his father’s noble tone. When there was no rebuttal, his smirk faded into a flat expression. He returned to work quickly after.

It was silent then, besides the sounds of Rordus and the other townsfolk picking at the ground. The silence made Rordus uncomfortable, he kept waiting for some exclamation from Lersin or some story from Jerish. Maybe a complaint from Harrel. But nothing came and it felt wrong.

After too long a time of being uncomfortable, Rordus looked up and saw his friends terribly sad. Harrel was holding back his tears and Jerish was turned around, his head in his hand. Lersin was still just staring at him in disbelief, unwilling to process the information.

“I’m sorry.” Rordus whispered, almost glad he was already on one knee as his guilt flared.

“It’s okay.” Harrel sniffled, trying to keep his emotions inline. He was doing a terrible job. He wiped at his eyes and breathed as best he could. He’d always had trouble breathing when he cried. “Jus gon miss you is all.”

Rordus gave a smile and stood up, walking toward the three others and crouched in front of Harrel. He hugged him close and gave him a strong squeeze. “Don’t worry. I ain’t gone yet.”

He felt Harrel squeeze back and let go soon after, standing up fully and hugging the other two. He closed his eyes and squeezed them too, much stronger.

“I.”

“Rordus! Father wishes for you!”

Turning his head, Rordus was greeted with the sight of his sister. He suddenly felt a great pit in his stomach form and slowly looked back to his friends. Lersin had turned away, fists clenched and ears a blood red, and Jerish gave him a soft nod, his own lips unable to form anything besides a poorly concealed frown. Harrel was looking up at him with pleading eyes.

“One more hug?”

Rordus needn’t speak. His kneeling said his words for him as he hugged the young boy for what he feared would be the last time. He held his young friend for a time, letting Harrel choose when to let go. His eyes stayed shut for a long time and let Harrel feel what he needed to feel.

When the hug ended, both boys relinquished each other and stepped away, understanding that they’d be unable to say goodbye if they held each other again.

Rordus turned away then, solemn and somber. His gate was slow and his stride even as he walked toward his sister, and the- once guarding- now looming towers of Highbrood.

“Gonna miss them?” Charlotte asked. She stepped into stride with him, struggling at first to maintain the strange and macabre pace, but getting after a few awkward steps.

“Course I am. They’re my friends.” Rordus’ voice was soft. Softer than he himself had ever heard it. Like it, or he, lacked the strength to properly project it. “I’d miss you if you weren’t already nose deep in batshit and gum.”

Charlotte pulled a face that almost made Rordus smile, but he turned his gaze to his feet. He knew the path well enough to not need sight, but even then, seeing his feet on the dirt was a reassurance. He had often flown in his dreams. What man wouldn’t?

“You know, if it weren’t for you being my brother, I would have beaten you halfway to Mehylin’s embrace by now.”

“I know.” Rordus chuckled.

A long pause followed that. He didn’t know whether it was his sisters understanding of his current woes, or whether the conversation had grown stale with no fresh additions.

“Maybe after you learn all that Magic you’re so obsessed with, you could tutor me? Nothin too big. Just a small fireball here and there.” Rordus broke the silence. His voice still barely a conversing level, but his sister seemed to work well enough with what he gave.

“Possibly. I might be too busy to waste time teaching a mystical cripple like you any of the ropes.” Her voice had a self-satisfied air of pride and self-righteousness. An undignified tone that matched her perfectly.

“I’d like that.”

A few moments passed before Rordus realized Charlotte had stopped. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow quizzically. She just stood there, looking at him with the most indecipherable expression Rordus had ever seen. Got that from mother.

He gave her a smile and turned back, walking to the Fort by his lonesome, leaving his sister to ponder his offer.

The all too brief walk was shockingly refreshing. He pondered why it felt like someone was dying, why everyone were so emotional, including himself, when he still had a week until he left. He wasn’t dead yet.. was he?

His thoughts were cut short by his mother, waiting at the door. A sword in her good hand, his own haggard weapon in her other. He shot her a curious look, then she shot him his sword. A powerful throw. It would have caught him off guard if not for their incessant desire for him to catch arrows at any time.

“Mother.”

“Rordus. Come. The next week will be short for you, but much longer for us.”

“What do you mean?”

Farles drew her blade from its scabbard and dropped the finely aged leather-bound item.

“Mother. Just tell me.” Rordus’ voice was almost warning, and would have been. Had his opponent been anyone but his mother.

Farles stepped forward and lifted her blade up to strike.

“I will refine your swordplay as best I can.” She brought the blade down faster than she ever had.

Rordus barely lifted his own, still sheathed, sword in time. The impact echoing a sickening crunch as his scabbard came away damaged.

“And your father will refine your mind as best he can.” She swung again.

Rordus this time dove out of the way, rolling across the dirt before leaping to his feet. He pulled the sword from its scabbard and silently took note of the proceedings.

His eye caught his blade was intentionally dulled. He hoped his mothers was too. Barely regaining focus intime, he lifted his dull sword to block another mighty blow. The sound echoing across the empty yard.

Stepping back, he readied himself and stole a rushed breath. His vision was getting distant, he was losing focus. He strained his eyes to refocus on the world close to him and not miles beyond a human horizon.

Pain surged through his side, hindering his efforts. He swore loudly and stepped back further. This time instead, he reigned in his senses more easily. His eyes refocusing on his mother, who came at him with yet another swing.

“I think you’re being relentless to an unneeded degree!” He called aloud as he made his first attack, trying to jab right through her unprotected front.

She took a step and slapped his hand away. Bringing her blade up to his throat and holding it there.

“You have a disadvantage. You have to focus on things beyond just instinct. I have the advantage. I don’t need to reign in my sight for I see what is before me. And what I see is a poor swordsman.”

Rordus, thoroughly beaten and nursing bruises across his body, limped through the home. His mother had been unflinchingly aggressive. He understood why, she cared for him and wanted him safe. He just wished she cared a little less. If she had maybe he wouldn’t be more purple and blue than his natural marsh green.

With a rough grumble, he approached his fathers court chambers. His body weary and his mind just a little less weary. A hard days labour and faux-warfare had ruined his hands. Bandaged hands that pushed the doors open to reveal his father sitting at a table. The Map table.

Mentally cursing his situation, Rordus stepped through the door, entering a strangely discomforting threshold.

“Close the door.” His father said, not looking up from the book he appeared to be reading.

Rordus did as he was told and approached once the door was securely shut. He found a chair placed beside the table and took a relaxing, but painful seat. His legs were thankful for the break, but his bruises and aches only screamed in protest.

“Who lords over Caer’Gwaed?” His father asked, putting the book down and standing. His tone was not unkind, but it held no sympathies for his son. He stepped around the table and put a finger on the tops of the Gorewood.

“What?”

His father didn’t respond. Rordus straightened in the chair, unknowingly slouched in his brief relief.

“The High House Dymos. Lord Hathford Dymos is head last I heard.”

“Indeed he is. He has no children. Who stands to inherit the seat?”

Rordus had to think for a second.

“His brother. Lord Klarn Dymos.”

“Good. Which families make the Nine?”

Kristan’s eyes were unwavering. They made Rordus uncomfortable in a way and he averted his own eyes. He deliberated, stealing glances at his father, small attempts to gauge his emotions. Failed attempts.

“Douff, Braeffe, Crayton, Aerey, Emeress, Linias, simita, Maywealth, and Kydan all make the Nine. Family, now House, Allard left after a disagreement with the remaining member of Douff, Obsidian.”

“Esaul aua kay oss Phngyay Gor’rod?” Kristan lifted a brow at his son, a little smirk pulling at the edges of his lips. Rordus silently cursed the man. His Yiumayj was not good, and unprepared it was even worse.

This time he took longer still than ever. He translated the words in his head. What are the words of House Gorrod? He frowned harshly, an expression of near anger touching his features. He made the decision to try and prove himself that bit smarter than he looked and translated his own response into the elvish tongue.

“Ylaytsauyl Iy Kay Paulay.” Rordus gave Kristan a rebellious smile, feeling like he’d finally beaten or shown himself capable to his father.

“Steadfast Is The Gate. Good.” Kristan nodded slowly. “I would test your knowledge of Olcesh but I’m not versed in it well enough. I’ll leave that to your mother.”

Rordus gave a slow nod and looked down at the map table. Watching it like it may come to life. A sudden realization that soon he’d found out just how big things were.

“You’ll be alone on this venture.” Kristan spoke, stepping behind Rordus’ chair and back around to the opposite side of the table from where he had been. “I won’t be able to come with you. Your sister will take your role in the Rotations, but I will be busy with other less enjoyable things.”

Rordus felt a pang of relief. It almost surprised him, he didn’t quite think he was going to be worried about his place in the Rotation, and yet.

“What are the three things you need fear most?” Kristan asked, resting his knuckles atop the carved wood and leaning against them. Rordus met his intense gaze and resisted the desire to back down.

“Monsters of all kinds in the forests between here and the Harbor, and far more along the road of where-ever I travel. Half-City slavers, and the weather.”

“Right on two accounts, your third fear should be unknown entities. Whoever you meet, should you meet any soul on the path, will try to manipulate you or use you to their own ends. We may teach against such acts but our teachings are not global, unfortunately.

“That said. Help where you see fit. Your judgement is ultimately your own, and I trust you.”

Rordus nodded slowly, trying to memorize the information as he heard it and frowned a slight amount. “You said a path?” He asked. “Is that a specific path I need know about?”

Kristan gave a nod and smiled. “Since the days of the Voldani conquests, we Allards have had our special way of getting into the Harbor.”

Kristan straightened and moved around the table, closer to Allard at the southern end and tapped on the intricate carvings of mountaintops that surrounded the city capital Safe Harbor.

“It’s called the ‘Green Airway’. We first used it to ferry survivors from other sieges and supplies when needed. The only people who know of it are your mother, Obsidian, and I. And now you. It is marked on no maps, but is simple enough that crossing it just once will stamp it upon your memory.”

Rordus nodded along and watched the map, almost as if it moved with his fathers every motion.

“It runs from the mountains surrounding Highbrood, here.” He tapped the mountain scape southwest of the Harbor’s ‘Walls’. “It runs through the woods, and into the mountains. When you enter it you need make sure you are not followed. While I’m doubtful of any creatures hiding in wait with conscious and mind enough to chase you, it’s better safe than dead in the Airway.

“We can go over your route the day you leave, for now, as I’m sure your mother told you when she gave you those bruises, I am here to hone your mind. Teach you things necessary to living outside the mountains and outside the safety of Highbrood. Understood?”

“Yes father.” If Rordus were honest, he hadn’t paid much attention since he’d heard about the secret passage. His imagination had stolen whatever attention he’d feigned having. “Good. Let’s start with Courtly Manners.”

[makeste]

Did you see the Japanese tweet that went viral (100k likes&22k RTs) by niconicogalaxy where they said (I'm paraphrasing) that every time Bakugo did or said a good thing,they kept thinking "great, now apologize to Deku" because they hadn't forgiven the bullying? It was tweeted a week before chapter 284 came out so some ppl think Horikoshi was actually influenced by it (I doubt it). I'm surprised that the JP fandom is still so hung up on a verbal apology. Thought that was mostly the western fandom

I haven’t seen said tweet, but yeah you’re absolutely right in doubting that a viral tweet posted a week before 284 was released would have any influence whatsoever on the content of said chapter, since Horikoshi would have already finished the final draft several weeks earlier. I think that in general, the writers/artists are roughly a month ahead in terms of what they’re currently working on vs what’s being published that week. not only that, but major plot points like this would have been planned months if not years ahead of time. I have no doubt that Horikoshi is influenced by the fans at least a little bit here and there, but it wouldn’t be anything nearly as direct as that. this was definitely something he had in the works for some time beforehand.

that being said, the topic of Japanese fandom’s reaction to the whole Bakugou bullying situation is pretty interesting to me because there are multiple cultural factors at play. first of all, I feel confident in saying that there is absolutely no culture in the entire world in which bullying your old childhood friend and cruelly suggesting that he fling himself off a roof is in any way even remotely acceptable. I think it’s pretty much universally agreed that that’s pretty fucked up. in this respect Japanese fandom would be no different from the western fandom; both are in agreement that Bakugou went way too far.

I think the bigger cultural difference comes in terms of how bullying in general is commonly perceived and handled. Japanese culture is really big on harmony and everyone getting along and working together for the benefit of all. in theory that sounds great, but unfortunately in practice a lot of people are much more concerned with maintaining the appearance of harmony, and will prioritize that over making sure that things are actually harmonious. so for example, rather than taking any meaningful action to stop bullying, a lot of teachers and school administrations are more concerned with covering it up in order to save face and preserve appearances. it’s very much a culture of “I pretend I do not see it” taken to extremes. everyone just pretends like nothing is wrong and ignores the problem, because to actually acknowledge and address it would mean potential shame and embarrassment for everyone from the school to the teachers to even the victims themselves, and their families, as fucked as that is. and so a lot of times the bullying basically just goes unchecked, and so it becomes a huge problem.

and so the end result of this is that you have a culture where in theory everyone agrees that of course bullying is wrong, but in practice kids are raised in this society of “I pretend I do not see it” and learn from a young age that that’s just how the world seemingly operates. and I suspect there are a lot of people who have very strong feelings about that, and feel kind of frustrated and powerless about it. and so I think there are probably a surprising number of people in the Japanese manga fandom that feel much more strongly about the bullying depicted in BnHA than one might expect, even if they’ve learned to have tempered expectations when it comes to similar situations in real life.

so in that regard it actually doesn’t surprise me at all that the Japanese fandom would view a Bakugou apology as a requisite for his redemption arc just like many in the western fandom do. and also add on to that that apologies are a hugely important part of Japanese culture, again as part of the whole “everyone getting along in harmony and putting the needs of the group above that of the individual” thing. so it carries that much more importance, and is seen as that much more essential. and so it honestly wouldn’t surprise me at all if there were actually more people in the Japanese fandom than the western fandom who view a verbal apology as being absolutely crucial to wrapping up Bakugou’s character arc, because it’s seen as a critical part of accepting responsibility.

fortunately for both fandoms, Horikoshi seems to feel the same way, and even mentioned in an interview with Cinema Today Japan last December that “[Bakugou] still needs to apologize to Deku.” and he’s well aware of how polarizing a character Bakugou is, and that there are people in the fandom that hate him. and so I’m pretty sure that we can expect to see an apology scene at some point, which I have no doubt will be a highlight of the series for me, and which will also rip out my heart and stomp all over it before lovingly piecing it back together and bandaging it with feels. I’m looking forward to it lol.

[vickyvicarious]

Curious how many of Van Helsing's examples of either accepted fact (or otherwise) are absolute bullshit? So was I! Which is why I've made up a handy list:

corporeal transference: the idea that the self can be transferred from one body to another. SPIRITUALISM BULLSHIT.

materialisation: an appearance of a seemingly solid object or the bodily form of a spirit from out of thin air. SPIRITUALISM BULLSHIT.

astral bodies: basically a psychic aura of your mind attached to your body by a cord. you could travel in this form far off while still tethered to your body remaining behind. SPIRITUALISM BULLSHIT.

reading of thought: telepathy, basically. SPIRITUALISM BULLSHIT.

hypnotism: putting people in a trance to either induce them to do something, or used in medical/psychological treatment. there's interesting history here, especially with the difference between Mesmer and Charcot's methods, but certainly as it is understood by Van Helsing and Seward... SPIRITUALISM BULLSHIT.

"things done to-day in electrical science which would have been deemed unholy by the very men who discovered electricity—who would themselves not so long before have been burned as wizards": vague on the details to be sure, but the advance in technology was wild and easily explains why spiritualism took such hold of the populace at the time. no one really knew what the limits were, and a lot of stuff that seemed preposterous or like magic was already happening so why not believe in ghosts, etc. too? FACT.

Methuselah lived 900 years: an example straight out of the Bible. unless you are a believer that everything in the Bible is factually true then this is RELIGIOUS BULLSHIT.

'Old Parr' lived 169 years: a famous case of a man who supposedly lived from 1483-1635. highly doubtful for obvious reasons, namely just being based mostly on one pamphlet and probably just being different guys with the same name. however I will grant that this is a real case Van Helsing could have heard about and thus give him only a 1/2 a bullshit point on this one. POPULAR BULLSHIT.

comparative anatomy: that just refers to the studies of differences in body structure between various animals to understand what adaptive changes they've made, such as why this animal developed flippers vs. this animal developing wings, and so on. however Van Helsing follows it up by referencing "the qualities of brutes are in some men, and not in others", which is definitely a reference to such practices as physiognomy and phrenology. those involved reading the features of a face or the shape of a skull to determine a person's character and nature, and were obviously steeped in extreme racist ideas/held no bearing in fact. RACIST BULLSHIT.

"that one great spider lived for centuries in the tower of the old Spanish church and grew and grew, till, on descending, he could drink the oil of all the church lamps": I had never heard of this one till that post I just reblogged. sounds like it is based on a story told in newspapers. another example of POPULAR BULLSHIT.

vampire bats in the Pampas/Western seas: so vampire bats definitely exist, but in real life they do not drink anywhere near the quantity of blood to kill a cow, horse, or man. that said, Quincey is eyewitness proof of such an event, so this is at least factual in the novel. FACT.

tortoises living longer than generations of men: this is true. the oldest known tortoise (named Jonathan) is I believe 190 this year. FACT.

"elephant goes on and on till he have seen dynasties": elephants live to usually a max of around 70 years. ANIMAL BULLSHIT.

parrots only dying by being killed: parrots do live a long time, for a bird. still only around human average lifespan or less. ANIMAL BULLSHIT.

"men believe in all ages and places that there are some few who live on always if they be permit; that there are men and women who cannot die": this is of course referencing common myths like vampires and such. normally this would be marked incorrect but just like the vampire bat I'm willing to make allowances for the book. however, those allowances aren't enough to overcome my quibbling because vampires do die and then are undead; that's a different thing from never dying at all so I will mark this down as MYTHICAL BULLSHIT.

toads shut up in rocks for thousands of years: this is another idea referenced in the post I linked above. it's false, toads don't live that long and also I'm kinda skeptical on the 'encased in solid rock' thing but this was a pervading idea. ANIMAL/POPULAR BULLSHIT.

the Indian fakir being reborn post-corn: the corn thing is a Van Helsing original as far as I can tell, but stories of fakirs going into a meditative state and surviving without food or water for a long time have been around for quite a while. one example Van Helsing may have read about was Sadhu Haridas who supposedly survived being buried 40 days and nights without food or water in 1837. POPULAR BULLSHIT.

That's a total count of seventeen examples he gives to Seward. Of these, only three are what I would consider "facts"... however, a lot of these ideas were pretty commonly held amongst many respected intellects of the time. I'm mostly thinking of all the Spiritualism (which accounts for the first five examples), but also of course the phrenology/physiognomy stuff.

This is mixed in with several examples of things that are more out there/urban legend type ideas which would be less popular even at the time. Mostly the "popular bullshit" category (another 4 entries), an example of Van Helsing being willing to believe in mythological beings which I can't fault him for given that pays off with Dracula, and a few misunderstandings of animals.

While many of these are fairly commonly accepted ideas of the time or at least certainly not unheard of, they do make Van Helsing seem kind of gullible. Plenty of people thought Spiritualism was a sham, etc. I certainly would personally be more aligned with Seward if this was the list of reasons given why I should be more open-minded.

Edit: wasn't trying to say Van Helsing himself believes in every single one of these, just examining the examples he provided, mostly because I find the context interesting.

[silverjetsystm]

"Yes. Even a chance for them to be studied and used as intended is better than remaining in a vault. Students aren't all selfish nor seeking power for their own ends. And if it helps one person on their path, we are happy." There was a difference in keeping the tradition alive and greed. "Anyone can make a difference." She was the right person to have reached out to.

"Thank you." Relief bled off of Mr. Knight like the sun on dew. "A heading is important. We would've stumbled around in the dark trying to figure it out." Beyond her contacts, her understanding and own struggles with identity and family was why he visited her shop so late. Steven and Jake tucked themselves away, leaving Mr. Knight with far too much time on his hands.

He was curious about her. Enjoyed her company. Her warm presence when his life is cold. A reminder there was life outside of the horror. Another example in his personal list that people could change. Who could do good. He was never one for magic. It didn't particularly bother him, per se. Surprised him. Drove him up the wall wondering how it worked. It wasn't one of his talents. He had accepted, if not embraced, the unknown a long time ago. Occasionally, he used Khonshu's name and the 'priest' role to solve problems he couldn't simply punch out of. They had different skill sets, ways of helping those who were lost. She could intervene when all hope was lost, from anywhere. He focused on the neighborhood; what he could see and hear.

Street Level was different. She was in their orbit, in a community rather than in a Mansion.

Parked around the corner was tonight's ride - a White Lamborghini Huracán. Another stolen trinket from the maggia. He's been lucky thus far keeping the authorities of legal and illegal nature off his trail. The depth to the white color, a hint of blue, had demanded him to grab it like he was young again. If he asked Steven very nicely when the next deal went through…

No, he is a priest and he doesn't need material things (Steven and Jake scoff to one another in the back). He held the door open for her, shutting it gently, before sliding into the driver's side. Various switches were adjusted before the Lambo roared to life under them. He wasn't sure if she was interested in cars (or flashy wealth) so he didn't elaborate.

For now, he started the drive at 5 over the speed limit. Dreamy experimental music blared from the stereo. Quickly, he turned the volume to whisper, leaving comfortable silence and the purring engine. Temptation called to him. Mr. Knight glanced over at Wanda with the smile of an adrenaline junkie. "What do you think? Reasonable or fast?"

There was a quick flash of incredulity that died as quickly as it had appeared at the name. Rather ARROGANT a name when chosen by oneself. She tilted her head slightly, watching him with a slight smile playing on her lips as she waited for his answer. There really wasn't a 'right' or 'wrong' answer from him. They were now his, really, and it was his choice that mattered. But it would be interesting to know what he wanted.

Her features softened and she sat back, giving a little nod at his words. "That seems fair. There are people out there who can do good with knowledge. I think it's important to share these things, sometimes it can bring change for the better. Anything can make a difference, even better if these things wind up in the hands of someone good." His response made sense, and seemed quite right. They could be dangerous, and Wanda would understand wanting to keep them hidden. But knowledge could be beautiful and amazing. "I can perhaps help, a little. Many of the tomes I have here are from religious scholars, or have been borrowed by them. I can't guarantee someone who'll meet every point you have, but I can perhaps give you a list and a place to start." Her brow furrowed for a second, almost unable to help herself from thinking over who might end up on that list - though there would be time, later, to actually compile it. He was right. There shouldn't be false starts. She trusted the people she got the books from and who borrowed from her in different ways. But Wanda had already a few people potentially in mind.

His next words almost startled her and there was a tiny pause, then a little nod of acknowledgement. It was difficult. Things weren't comparable, just small areas of common ground and understanding. Her father used to have physical objects tying him to his heritage and past. Most were gone. It was sad. But the knowledge lived on in other ways.

He continued to surprise her, and for a second her eyes widened and there was a surge of curiosity within her. The look softened to an amused smile, and she gave a soft hum. "Perhaps it WOULD be good to look at the competition," she joked. Hardly 'competition' though was it? Sadly there was certainly more than enough people and beings in need to require them both. And she rather thought things would operate in slightly different ways. Whatever the case, of course she wanted to see. "Of course I would. If that's alright." She ran a hand through her hair, brushing loose locks behind her ear as she gave a smile. "I guess I can't deny I'm curious." Curious about them, curious about the entity she could sense whenever she was near. Besides, as much as she could talk to the Avengers about work, what she did right now was far closer to what the Midnight Mission did than her ex-teammates.

[takaraphoenix]

My very favorite DCMK thing is The Lost Ship in the Sky. That’s a tough thing to say, because it’s like picking your favorite child. Every time Shinichi and Kaito interact and face off presents a unique thing that makes it special and makes me love it.

But this current rewatch, though I am not entirely through with it yet, really reminded me just how much I love this movie, specifically.

Because it presents an entire different kind of dynamic between Shinichi and Kaito. This movie presents them the most as equals. And allowing them to work together as equals shifts the dynamic between them and makes them interact with each other in a much more playful and also honest manner than we get to see in any other encounter between them.

Now, let me elaborate on why I think they’re never as equal as they are here.

Usually, we get the thief and the detective; which, in itself, brings an imbalance with it - the chaser and the chased. The two rivals competing with each other. On various occasions, the playful magician who just wants to awe Shinichi with his heists and magic, but even here we have Kaito go in with entirely different motifs than Shinichi. On too rare an occasion, them working with each other when circumstances force them to.

So, on the premise of them working together, this movie is by far not one of its kind (thankfully enough), but even compared to other team-ups like say The Magician of the Silver Sky, where too many lives are very directly at stake and there is a certain tenseness and professionalism about their interactions, or The Blue Fist of Sapphire, where it’s more playful but Kaito holds things back and it has a more serious tone to it due to the actual murders, somehow the movie about bio-terrorism and all of Shinichi’s friends being kidnapped by said terrorists is the most playful when it comes to their dynamic.

There is already a built-in imbalance between them due to the premise of Detective Conan; Kaito has free reign that he takes for himself as a criminal, but Shinichi is always held back by Ran/the Detective Boys/the police. Where Kaito gets to use the KID get-up to be free, Shinichi is restricted by the public persona of Conan that he has to put up around others as well as the limitations that come with being perceived as a child by others.

Even The Blue Fist of Sapphire, that literally has Kaito kidnapping Conan and making him pretend to be a total stranger, somehow manages to heavily rely on the Mouris and thus on Shinichi putting on the front of a little kid. And when it’s just the two of them, the atmosphere is very serious because they’re discussing the murders, which in their nature put Shinichi into a very professional mode.

For large portions of this movie, however, it’s really just... Kaito and Shinichi, being all alone with each other. And sure there is a threat of bio-terrorism, but so far no one has died, so far it is all still preventable for them. So far, it is a puzzle for Shinichi to solve and he largely gets to solve it together with Kaito, without anyone intervening.

They’re alone, with no public to force them to act a certain way, and they both have the same goal, for the same reason - stop the terrorists, save the people on the ship. How to get there, what to do, and also the motives of the terrorists, that’s all things they get to figure out together.

Look at this moment, specifically. They’re verbally agreeing on working together - and neither puts up any front. The way Kaito hunches over and gives Shinichi a side-eye, no KID bravado there, just a skeptical Kaito. How Shinichi leans away and scratches his cheek, also giving Kaito the same kind of side-eye, no facade of Conan.

For the first time, they’re the most them with each other. They’re actually being Kuroba Kaito and Kudou Shinichi with each other. Not Kaiou KID and Edogawa Conan. Not the thief and the detective. Because even between Shinichi and detective!Shinichi is a difference and for the most part, the smug detectiveness is on hold and it’s just... Shinichi being Shinichi.

That was a very long post to say what could be summed up in this one GIF actually. Look at the pure, raw bastard energy they both have, those smirks, the communication without words.

Because they both have public personas that play down the utter bastards that they are; the charming gentleman thief, the suave and brilliant detective. But deep down, in their hearts, they are both little gremlins who are up to no good and could actually destroy the world if they so desire - and this movie shows the full potential of what they can achieve when they actually work together and it also beautifully showcases the way they work together. They were literally finishing each other’s sentences when they figured out the bad guys’ plans.

This movie is the most KaiShin movie, because it shows just how similar they are while at the same time showing just how much they compliment each other with those similarities, because their matching intellect but also the bastard-way in which they apply that intellect makes it so easy for them to work together.

[it-happened-one-fic]

Sorry for Making You Wait - Trey

Author Notes: You remember how my previous Riddle fic, "I Just Missed You" was written using "Far Away" by Nickelback? Yeah this one is too. I'm actually thinking about gradually posting one for each character using various lyrics from that song. Anyway, it took me a while to figure how to write/characterize Trey so I hope this came out good! Reader is gender-neutral as per usual.

Type: Fluff/romance/slight angst/comfort

Word Count: 1680

“So, what are you gonna do?” Cater’s voice interrupted Trey’s thoughts. Trey lifted his head, looking up from the cake batter he’d been stirring to meet Cater’s surprisingly cold green eyes.

But Trey had a feeling he knew exactly why Cater was looking at him the way he was. The two of them had agreed to call the other one out on their shortcomings after what had occurred with Riddle’s overblot. They both felt they could have done far more to help their housewarden but had complicitly failed.

And yet Trey found he couldn’t own up to the very subject Cater was bringing up. So he instead met his friend’s gaze with a neutral expression, “About?”

Green eyes rolled and Cater actually laid down his phone to better face Trey, “You and I have both made the mistake of not saying something before. I don’t think you want to do that again. Do you?”

Impressively, Trey didn’t react, controlling his inner thoughts and emotions so that he only faced Cater with an impassive expression, “It wouldn’t be fair to sway their decision.”

“Even when it will affect your life?”

 The new voice came from the doorway, causing Cater to turn and Trey to look just behind his orange-haired friend to see Riddle standing there.

Trey’s voice was quiet when he responded to his housewarden, “It’s their life too Riddle.” 

Riddle’s eyebrows rose but he nodded his head in admission to Trey’s statement which had made Cater sigh, “Did you ever think that maybe they want you to say something?”

Trey’s head snapped over so that he was staring at Cater who merely shrugged. Riddle picked up where Cater left off though, “Y/n isn’t one to let such a big decision be swayed easily. But your opinion matters to them, Trey. It always has.”

Trey frowned but went back to stirring his batter, “All the more reason for me to not say anything. Anyone’s decision can be swayed if it's someone whose opinions matter to them.”

He could see Cater look towards their housewarden who crossed his arms, “Be that as it may you still need to go see them.”

Trey looked back up, with lifted brows at Riddle’s words. Riddle was seldom this forceful but then he housewarden had a proud smile on his face that showed he felt he had won, “It wouldn’t be right for them to be off without a single parting gift from us. Especially after how much they have helped us.”

Trey already knew where Riddle’s words were headed but he sighed, letting the shorter boy continue, “I myself cannot go due to various reasons so I need you to go and deliver this farewell gift to them. If they are truly going to leave then it simply won’t do for them to just be off.”

Trey held out a defeated hand, accepting a small, wrapped package from the red-head and Cater slipped off the stool, resting a hand on Trey’s shoulder, “At least say goodbye Trey. And don’t make any mistakes you can’t fix.”

With those parting words they left, leaving Trey with a package to be delivered and mixed feelings about what to say. He’d fully intended to bid you farewell but he was going to be careful. He wasn’t going to give himself a chance to muck up your decision with his thus far unspoken feelings.

Trey sighed, abandoning his batter in favor of getting this all over with. With luck, you wouldn’t be in and he could plead not finding you and having to deposit the gift at your doorstep. But then he didn’t know if that would be luck either. Because Trey did want to see you. 

Trey realized that he wanted a lot of things though. In fact, it seemed like all he’d done lately was want. He wanted to see you. He wanted you to stay. He wanted you to share his feelings. 

He sighed, package in hand as he strolled towards Ramshackle dorm. A path he knew well and could probably go down with his eyes closed so long as no one else was on the road. 

He usually came bearing some sort of gift. A cake, excess cookies, some new tea they were going to be trying out, lunch because he had totally made too much when he was cooking and had no one else to give it to.

One day he’d almost come with roses that had definitely come from him getting excited with the pruning shears and ‘accidentally’ cutting too many before he aborted that trip. Even Deuce had teased him about that one.

This trip was probably the longest it had ever taken him though. Whether it was because he was walking slowly due to his own dread or if it just felt like it was taking hours he didn’t know. Either way, by the time he reached Ramshackle it felt like it should be far later than it was.

And there you stood, out on your front porch, just about to go into the dorm you’d been calling home and would possibly be leaving in just a few short days.

Grimm was asleep in your arms which was unsurprising. Since you’d told everyone the news, looking at Trey pointedly when you’d been speaking, the cat hadn’t been seen apart from you. Trey wasn’t going to be the only one who missed your presence.

Trey shifted slightly, looking between you and the small package in his hands. So this was really happening….

He cleared his throat slightly and you turned, scanning your yard before you spotted him. You smiled as soon as your eyes found him and waved with your free hand.

 Feeling more than a little melancholy he waved back before starting towards you, trying to decide what on earth he was going to say.

Cater’s words replayed in his head like a sick melody: “And don’t make any mistakes you can’t fix.”

Mistakes… That’s what this whole situation felt like. One big mistake. 

The selfish part of Trey wished Crowley had never found a way home for you. The more reasonable part of him wanted to be happy for you. You could reunite with friends, family, and whoever else might be awaiting your return.

You were still smiling when he made it onto the porch and you, blessedly, took the lead in the conversation, pointing playfully at the package in his hand, “Is that for me?”

The smile that slipped onto his face was at last genuine as he recognized the phrase immediately. That was what you said whenever he brought you something.

“Of course,” He held up the delicately wrapped package with a lopsided grin, “But your hands look a little full, I’ll carry it in for you.”

You snorted but glanced down at Grimm, patting him affectionately before you pulled open the door, “So did you just come to make a delivery or….?”

You trailed of uncertainly, your eyes not quite meeting his and he felt a pang of guilt.  He had been avoiding you since the day you’d made your announcement of Crowley’s findings. He had never been clear on whether or not you’d already made your decision or if you just wanted to let everyone know what might be coming.

“I…uh, I guess I’ve been putting off saying farewell,” He explained awkwardly and watched as you, quite literally, drooped.

A frown crossed his face as the downcast expression on your face but you merely set your cat down on the sofa and turned to face him, “I see….”

You managed a fake smile, “Is that a farewell gift then?”

His smile matched yours. Fake. “Yeah, Riddle sent me to bring it. Seemed like the best time to say bye for myself.”

He shifted, setting the box down on a nearby table, “It’s been great having you here Y/n. NRC won’t be the same without you.” The words tasted sour in his mouth as soon as he said them. But the bittersweet flavor that followed could only be blamed on the words that remained unsaid.

And seeing that expression on your face made him want to take back his previous words. You glanced away, feigning checking on Grimm even though he was pretty sure you just didn’t want to meet his eyes, “Thanks Trey, I’ll miss you-….. Everyone here.”

He found himself lightly tapping the table as awkwardness seeped into the atmosphere like a plague. 

Don’t make any mistakes you can’t fix.

Trey found himself straightening as he looked down at you, “Actually….” He hesitated, fears and worries resurfacing as soon as he spoke but he caught the look in your eyes, curious with just a touch of hope.

“I didn’t plan on saying anything but… Cater and Riddle said that I should and now that I’m here….” He trailed off again, carefully judging your expression. Surely that was hope he was seeing in your eyes, wasn’t it?

And then there it was, your soft voice urging him to continue, “Yes?”

He sighed, looking at you with a slight smile on his face, “I hope I’m not too late but…. Do you really want to go? To leave here?”

A wobbly smile appeared on your face, “I… I suppose that depends on what will happen if I stay?”

It wasn’t a statement. No, that was definitely a question that had a distinctly hopeful lilt to it. 

Trey shifted so that he was standing directly in front of you, the smile on his face spreading, “Well, I don't know everything that will happen if you stay but I can think of someone who would be very happy and be more than willing to make sure you always have a place to call ‘home’ and they aren’t Grim.”

Tentatively, his hands found yours and he chuckled slightly at your surprised expression, “I’m sorry for making you wait Y/n, I’m not too late am I?”

You shook your head, the smile on your face answering his question before you ever spoke, “Well, it did take you a while. But I’m patient.”