#honorary remnant vibes

[hexapustapes]

They are going to blast off

[crysdrawsthings]

*slams hands on desk* tes oc time??

top five weirdest things elanor has done, go.

Sorry for the wait with this! And thank you so much for a question! She is my horrible, but special meow-meow, so I am always happy to talk about Elanor!

So, a lot of her concept actually grew from the idea going kind of like "there is a lot of really weird stuff in Skyrim (the game), that we just gloss over, because it is a game from Bethesda, but what if there will be a character, that is just like that?". And so a lot of it does contribute to Elanor's weirdness. But I am getting off topic.

In no particular order and, probably, not being quite that weird most of the time, but some of the things Elanor did that are... unorthodox.

While dealing with Potema being brought back from the dead Elanor did, without that much effort, cut down necromancers, vampires, skeletons and whatnot, eventually reaching the spirit of the Wolf Queen herself. To rather gleefully slap together a ritual to bind remnants of Potema's soul to some skull laying nearby. I am not even sure if it would be Potema's skull. Then proceeded to gift the chatty and constantly spewing curses skull to Elisif after Elenwen calmly, but sternly demanded it be removed from the Embassy's vestibule.

Elanor's rare "moral Ws" she sometimes achieves by either taking a liking to a particular person (having the energy of a stray dog or beloved babushka helps) and therefore having an insatiable urge to deal with the favorite mortal's problem in the most ruthlessly straightforward way possible. Or by finding someone genuinely abhorrent / annoying / distasteful / plainly speaking awful and doing a public service by disposing of said person. However, being from the 4E Thalmor her plank for "eh, that's ok" is incredibly low.

That fact that she licked the Eye of Magnus is not that weird, to be fair. Forbidden orbs do that to mages. That fact that she got her tongue unstuck from it, applied some restoration to the bleeding and freezing and five minutes later did it again is a bit concerning tho.

Actually enrolled into College for shits and giggles. And is technically a honorary member of the Dark Brotherhood.

She eventually devours the world, ascending to become Alduin properly. Still retains a huge portion of her personality following this, so Alduin 2.0 comes in an altmer-shaped package and with horrible no good vibes. Her very first act after finally tasting what being truly divine feels like is to go and stab Talos, naturally. Old habits never die, of course, but she also got a very personal beef here.

Dis-honorable mentions:

Does Namira's quest properly. Enjoyed the little snack at the end. Not the weirdest thing she had put in her mouth, to be honest.

Once the Bromjunaar was rebuilt have ordered to make a hall there specifically to keep butterflies inside. No deep reasoning behind it, she just likes butterflies.

Asked her "mother" for advice on how to set the mood for a romantic situation with a guy she likes. Sheba having zero clues on the matter suggested a lightning bolt. Elanor shrugged and did just so.

Runs a network of animal shelters on her salary and various monetary findings. Just. Genuinely loves animals.

[reddpenn]

This man was born with the soul of a wet paper bag and sometimes he just needs some reassurance!

[d4rk-x-w0lf-17]

@starlightshadowsworld a random assortment of honorary remnant makoto doodles because i wanted to draw the boy ✌🏻

[starlightshadowsworld]

I have an au where not only are gundam and Celeste siblings but their cousins with the naegi siblings. I keep thinking a how painful for everyone in your honorary remnant makoto au especially since once they're at hopes peak they have to pretend to be strangers. Plus i didnt want Celeste to be even worse morally in this au so to make her case make sense i have to make it so that monokuma secretly threatened that if Celeste didn't kill someone and try to get away with it hed kill komaru and/or gundam thus taking her character in the completely opposite direction. Makes the possibilitys of how it would affect your au very fun to figure out. I just felt like talking about it so i hope you're ok with it.

It's all good don't worry 👍

Sounds interesting, those two definitely have a similiar vibe in taking new identities and living in a fantasy.

Compelling motive, and making them related to Makoto and Komaru is very cool. Like the idea, very much changes your perception on Celeste and why she made the choice she did.

[probably-haven]

the following post is a bunch of dumb bitches in an rp server coming together to ramble about shit they find entertaining: Starting with Modern Au, (this specific post based on the Zhongli x Childe fam)

So the members of the family are basically Zhongli, Childe, Ganyu, and Xiao.

As with Canon, Guizhong is dead, In modern Au they were previously married to Zhongli and was the mother Ganyu and Xiao- before she died. 

And then there’s Madame Ping who’s like honorary aunt/grandma? Zhongli’s old friend that’s really close with Xiao and Ganyu and all them folk. basically family to them just not by blood, y’know?

anyway

Azdaha is their dog. 

-

anyway, now that that’s covered yeeting to the plot

So after giving birth to XIao they realize that Guizhong has this really shitty rare disease thats basically uncurable cuz of how rare it is so nobody really bothered looking for cures and shit, as you do. 

and so it progressively gets worse until she dies, at which point Ganyu was 8 and Xiao was 6

and then Zhongli meets our old friend, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and turns to osmanthus wine... a lot of it. so the family falls apart to the point that Xiao and Ganyu end up basically viewing Madame Ping as more family than Zhongli, cuz hes just being broken and dumb

So Xiao is the most effected by all the shit and almost basically kinda separates himself from Zhongli completely out of- not quite spite but kind of. Ganyu meanwhile just tryna do everything and be there for Xiao and stuff. Azdaha does nothing cuz hes a dog and doesnt know anything. 

 Anyway shit goes down, Zhongli and Childe hook up and long story short, Zhongli decides to stop acting like a majorly fucked up dipshit because Childe realized he was a dipshit to his family and started actually trying to get him help with his problems and shit and it spiraled so now theyre married. 

Xiao hates it and hates Childe and by extent Zhongli for dating him and its just real bad.

Over time things calm down though and they start being like almost a remnant of an actual family again, but then they realize, surprise- Guizhong’s disease is hereditary and Xiao has it(because we gotta have some parallel to karma, “Xiao without pain cannot exist”(the motto the server lives by))

so that kinda traumatizes Zhongli and the family goes to shit again 

and yada yada filler stuff

some time later Madame Ping like- semi convinces Xiao to give Zhongli another chance. but then she dies so it doesnt really do anything but make shit worse.

especially cuz the harbingers frame childe for it because of shit we’ll get into later. they use a photoshopped photo which was gloriously recreated as follows: 

the story is more complicated than that, but ill talk about that more when i talk about harbinger stuff. 

more timeskip

Xiao’s physical health goes to shit to match his mental health! and as a result, obviously, he ends up in the hospital(conveniently the one Venti volunteers at)

so yeah- that happens- (he probably gets better eventually tho- its on and off- we havent determined whatll happen this is all pre-planning, not stuff thats actualy been fleshed out 100%)

-

more random information

Childe is trying to break away from his fatui ways which is why the fatui keeps fuckng with the people he cares about

Zhongli is friends with Dainsleif and Diluc. They are the Old Man Barbaque Trio. 

They have jobs, ill get into it later

Childe still has his siblings- thats kinda complicated tho

Ganyu is in college- its a busy vibe

theres more to the modern Au, this is just one area, its... a lot

thats it for now tho

[sarpedon]

sending u so many viddy game queshtins bc they are good: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 18, 27. ur welcome 💖

3. best game you’ve ever played?

that’s so hard omg. maybe bloodborne?? it fucking slaps. hades as well is just. mwah.

4. worst game you’ve ever played?

when i was 14 i bought a game called Orcs & Elves on the nintendo DS and i hates it so much. just a genuinely incomprehensible experience. looking up reviews now it actually sounds like it wasn’t a bad game, i just didn’t know what i was doing. but it lives on in my heart as the worst game i ever paid real money for. honorary mention goes to harvest moon sunshine islands, also ds, for just having god awful controls. the era of companies overusing the touch screen :/

5. A popular series/game you just can’t get into no matter how much you try?

breath of the wild, the witcher, mass effect, final fantasy, red dead redemption, grand theft auto… there are a lot actually!!

6. A game that’s changed you the most?

oh man. hmm. tales of symphonia probably. very formative for me, as was tales of the abyss. you can see remnants of both these games in most things i write! :3

7. A game you’ll never forget?

dead space 1 and 2 live in my head rent free always. i almost named myself isaac.

16. Character you’ve hated the most?

i always found karol from tales of vesperia kind of. annoying. i think it’s just that the rest of the cast in that game is SO strong and cool and fun and he’s just. meh. in a game with worse characters it would t stand out but he really doesn’t vibe with me.

18. A game you wish your friends knew about?

LITTLEWOOD. it’s so good it was honestly the big shocker for me this year i played it so much i did everything in it! if you like a sort of cozy little feel good relaxing type game, look it up! it’s so good. soooo good.

27. Has there ever been a moment that made you cry?

Probably not the answer you wanted but when DmC: Devil May Cry came out, i beat the whole thing in one sitting, which took about 14 hours. the final boss had self healing abilities and i started literally crying real tears of frustration while fighting him cuz of this. my mom still makes fun of me for that. it’s been 8 years.

[nanonkorapat]

You like 2gether? Great! Check out these series now

I’m sorry the title sounds vaguely like an ad, it wasn’t my intention oof. Anyway, here are five (+2) series you should watch and fill the void (in no particular order)!

THEORY OF LOVE (2019)

You can find it here.

“Third is a filmology major and a member of the Savage Team along with his best friends Two, Bone, and Khai, but he has a secret. Third has been secretly in love with Khai for years.”

Theory of Love is one of these series you don’t expect to like that much, but they surpise you. First of all, I still remember falling so deeply in love with this friend squad; they were so fun and wholesome (and yes maybe dickheads sometimes but that’s life). They were all so nicely written characters and I was always looking forward to seeing them every week. The story is a bit sad at first, but it will also make you laugh a lot. It also have lots of movie references! Loved that. Honestly, I’m not very good at reviews, but I can definitely say TOL was a series I still think fondly of, even to this day, like half a year later.

DARK BLUE KISS (2019)

You can find it here.

“Kao and Pete being in a blissful romance, have grown closer. But with Kao being closeted from his mother, he fears the dreaded thought of her finding out. His mother then introduces Non, a son of a colleague, as he requires tutoring from Kao. With Non constantly giving off ‘iffy’ vibes towards Kao, it only fuels Pete’s jealousy.”

I recently watched DBK and I was really taken aback by it. The fact that it dealt with some specific topics surprised me. We see Kao being scared of coming out to his mother, him being forced into a difficult situation mostly because he was trying to economically support his sister, Kao and Pete having problems because of miscommunication etc. It was something different. Of course, there were some bits I didn’t like, like the possesivness of Pete, but you can’t have everything in life. Overall a very good series, I would definitely recommend.

Note; DBK is a sequel of Kiss Me Again the series. You don’t have to watch it. If you want to, I’d recommend watching only the PeteKao cuts on Youtube.

HISTORY3: TRAPPED (2019)

You can find it here.

“The cooperation between police and the people create a harmonious new society. Police who are filled with justice are turned into the personal protection for gangsters. But one police officer becomes trapped in the underworld, as he develops feelings for a gang leader.”

God, I just realized how much I miss Trapped. It was one of the first asian series I watched and really loved. Look at the summary! It’s literally a fanfic I loved it. Jokes aside though, really nice plot, well written characters, nice twists, lots of funny moments, happy enging, what else would someone ask for? I fell in love with the characters and their stories. Literally, can’t even think straight and write a coherent review of this, I just love it, trust me.

WHAT DID YOU EAT YESTERDAY? (2019)

You can find it here.

“Kakei Shiro is a 45 year old lawyer who works at a small law firm. He is a good cook and a meticulous and thrifty person who keeps the monthly food budget to 25,000 yen. His partner Yabuki Kenji is the affable hairdresser in his 40s. The two of them share a two-bedroom apartment and the finer points of two men living together comes up at the dining table every day. Although two of them have been in a relationship for three years and Kakei’s parents know he is gay, Kakei never shares the fact that he is gay or Kenji is his partner to anyone.”

Looking for something sweet and wholesome? Watch this one. I have to thank whoever recommended this to me (I’m terribly sorry I forgot). The story of two middle-aged gay men, living their life in peace (most of the time at least). Involves lots of cooking, to the point it always made me hungry. It’s a relaxing series, one that will warm up your heart and make you smile.

HISTORY2: CROSSING THE LINE (2018)

You can find it here.

“Qiu Zi Xuan was an excellent volleyball player in the past, but he had to give up on on his dreams due to his injuries, but he still participates in the volleyball-related training. During the training, he meets a guy, Xia Yu Hao, a guy with a really bad temper who gets easily infuriated with people that make him angry, but he strives to acquire what he persistently wants to achieve.”

A lovely story. I think I watched it in like one afternoon. I couldn’t really resist to the dumbassery of Yu Hao. A story about coming to terms with your feelings and going after what you want. That’s it and, honestly, that’s more than one needs.

HONORARY MENTIONS (not bl, I just fucking love these series)

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG (2018)

You can find it here.

“A nostalgic story that revolves around high school students during the year 1996.

While chasing down a bike thief during the summer, Yang Xi gets injured by a lab explosion that renders her unable to compete in a long-distance run. When school opens, she realizes that the culprit behind her misfortune has transferred to her class and has even taken her position as class president. He is Hua Biao, a hot-blooded, rash and gifted genius of the science department. Hua Biao’s arrival immediately puts his classmates on guard and he must prove himself to be accepted by the class. Later on, they go through lots of ups and downs in life.”

Probably one of my favourite series ever and trust me I’ve watched quite a few. First things first, the OST. God, catch me still signing it under my breath. The visuals? Absolutely amazing. The plot and the characters? Honestly superb. The quotes? Made me cry every single time. This series gave me such a strong feeling of nostalgia, it had this whole vibe of being young and reckless, but at the same time knowing that you will grow old, that the world will change, that you will change with it. Imagine this; you are laying on your bed on a hot summer afternoon, you are young, loads of books are waiting for you, sprawled all over your dest, the radio is on, playing some old melodies mixed with static, you are reading a book or comics and you are waiting for your friends to come. This is it. This is the feeling this series has left me with. I know I may not be making sense for most people, but our languages sometimes are uncapable of expressing our feelings. You just have to experience it yourself.

THE LONGEST DAY IN CHANG’AN (2019)

You can find it here and here.

“744 A.D., Chang’an, the cosmopolitan heart of the Tang Empire. The remnants of a vanquished Central Asian kingdom have infiltrated the world’s largest city for a planned attack during the Lantern Festival. Meanwhile, the court is fraught with infighting. The aging Emperor is expected to announce the regency of the Right Chancellor during the festival and retreat to the mountains with his young lover. If the Right Chancellor becomes the regent, the reformist Crown Prince risks being deposed—or worse. Intelligence chief Li Bi, a young Taoist priest, and ally of the Crown Prince has only 24 hours to prevent both the attack and the regency. After a botched attempt to capture the infiltrators, Li Bi and his team call in the services of death row prisoner Zhang Xiao Jing — a war veteran, beloved police chief, and murderer of his last direct superior.”

Keep in mind that this is one of the most expensive (if not the most expensive) productions on China. The whole series covers the events of one day, one single day. What they did is actually amazing. The plot is so well structured, the costumes and set perfectly made, the actors plainly great. It might take a couple of episodes to understand the plot because especially on the first one there are a lot of things happened and lots of information getting thrown around, but it quickly becomes way more clear. The music, the twists, the morally ambiguous characters; one of the best things I’ve seen. I cried, I laughed, I feel in love and I now realize that no matter how much I praise this series, it won’t be enough.

Lowkey hope I haven’t done any mistakes because I don’t proof read anything and that’s the hill I’ll die on.

[namjoonchronicles]

pretty thoughts | jungkook

♠ pairing: jungkook x you ♠ genre: fluff, domestic, parenthood au ♠ word count: 6k ♠ honorary mention: @jungkookiemycutebias and her beautiful moodboard ♠ description: visiting your husband at work as the youngest senior barista, when he couldn’t get off on time as promised because of a sudden surge of customers. You met someone from the past that wasn’t supposed to know where you are while you wait, and Jungkook wasn’t very fond of him.

♠ author’s note: A spin off to Granite Glow.

When you first met Jungkook, you didn't think he was going to take this much space in your heart.

That time when you were in the cave, you only had one thought. If you couldn't see those galaxy eyes again, you'd be damned forever. As you sunk deeper in the depth of darkness, accompanied by the remnants of the memories you had with Jungkook, you felt serenity and despair all at once. They played like montages in the back of your mind, pulling you in and then out of nowhere, you heard him. Heard him calling your name. With it, you gained a newfound strength that allowed you to carry the weight of the yellow line and into the next mound where you could find surface. When you did, you took a lungful of air, and the sounds echoed through the granite walls of the cave.

When he scrambled to your side in the back of the ambulance, face so pale with chapped lips, you couldn't help but smile. You couldn't hear a word of what he said but you remembered feeling safe, because you saw those beautiful galaxy eyes, and it felt like coming home.

One year later, your love remains hot to the touch, scalding down your throat as you take it in, like this bitter coffee. No sugar, just black. It was too bitter for your liking but you downed them anyways. Jungkook would make better coffee than this. If he wasn't late this morning, you would have enjoyed one. He's a very capable husband.

Odd, he never lets those laying around the kitchen, you thought.

A microphone for his DSLR camera. Taehyung must have left it there this morning. You took it in your hand, and carefully walked down the left corner of the hallway where Jungkook's golden closet office was, pushing the baby walker to the side.

Look how far we’ve come, my love.

His Supreme skateboard, hung up the wall, three cameras in glass case, and three monitors for his editing works. Some other appliances arranged, neatly and orderly in some kind of synchronisation. This was where Jungkook spends most of his time if not working at the actual headquarters. His camera bag set aside, next to his half-packed luggage. He was getting ready to be in Hong Kong soon and you worried about that a lot. It’s going to take time to get used to not having him here.

He hums to the tune of Norah Jones’ classic, “Come Away With Me”. The skin of his  forearm showed the ripple of his muscle, his hands busy wiping the white coffee mugs with dry cloth. It had been a relatively relaxing day at work for a weekend.

Jungkook worked part-time at a coffee shop on public holidays and weekends to cope with the expenses needed at home. Honestly, he was still worried about the videos that needed editing at his main job. Although he had an ample amount of time to do that when he gets off at noon, he doesn’t like putting task off. Be it his current job or his job as a husband, who frequently runs errands in place of his wife.

Married young, Jungkook always worried if the struggles dented you in some way, like it has in the past. Jungkook did all kinds of odd jobs just to keep both of your heads afloat, but he’s glad he no longer has to. He is chirping to the fact that he gets to leave his part time job with a half day shift today. He has a date with you today, and he’s looking forward to that. Finally he gets to act his age and hold your hands, and just be him. And then he heard a glass falling to the floor. He dropped his head and blew hot air to his forehead. Chewing his lips, he walks over to the poor little co-worker.

“Get the broom, don’t touch it with your hands,” Jungkook commanded him. And he scurried away, to disappear down the hall to where the utilities were. Hyungjin just joined the team a few weeks ago, and he hadn’t let go of the newbie jitters. It’s twice this week. Now Jungkook isn’t the kind to lash out but he does give off a dark vibe. Not because he is authoritative, it’s because he is experienced. He tips his head up to Hyungjin who shyly hands him the short broom with dust collector pan, his expression softens to the newbie.

“...Do I scare you?” Jungkook smiles. Hyungjin shifted his eyes side to side, clasping his forefingers together like a child being punished.

“Can I be honest?” he stammered, nervously. His tongue peeped out his mouth, to swipe along his drying lips.

“Sure bud,” Jungkook collects the broken shards into the pan while Hyungjin held the mouth of the plastic bag, open for him. “They say you were in mafia once, which explains your built. And did assassinations, because you have good reflexes. You also grab hold of customers who don’t want to pay for the coffee they finished.”

Jungkook stands up straight, and tipped his head back, showing off his neck and jaws.

“That was once.”

Hyungjin visibly stiffens.

Upon straightening his view, Jungkook cracks his neck to one side, keeping his eyes close. This boy had been fed with outstretched lies by those before him. He twists his wedding ring as he begin to explain.

“Everything changes when you find love,” Jungkook cocked an eyebrow at the poor boy, before wiping his hands, “Tie the bags and discard it.”

He was rather enjoying the superiority he could play with this facade of ex murderer, ex military, ex mafia member past--his past co-worker had joked about him. Hyungjin nodded and dutifully committed to his duties.

Jungkook wasn’t superstitious, and never would ever believe when people say that when a mug breaks during your shift, there will be a sudden surge of customers. A bus stops in front of the cafe and vomited its content.

Oh no.

It was a foolish kind of love, you and Jungkook had.

Late last night,you’ve finally had time to take a look in your full figure mirror in what seemed forever, you pinched the back of your arms.

And he notices the expression you wore. Dissatisfaction, rejection and self-ridicule. “What’s with that face?” He lifts his face from the phone briefly, his round glasses reflected the screen as he continue to type a reply to a coworker.

You were standing there in just white bras, with your pastel pink mommy trousers for night wear before twisting your head over your shoulder to see your own back side on the mirror. Lips puckered, and you see the marks on the side of your stomach, before letting out a disappointed sigh. “My body changed,” you grumbled as you snatched a folded orange tee beside Jungkook’s ankle.

How long had this been going on? Jungkook wonders.

He hoisted himself off of the bed, slide his phone carelessly on the bedside table before taking your t-shirt away from your hand. Then he rested his chin on your shoulder, circled his arms around your waist, just underneath your bra line, pulls you close to him. You couldn’t stop the smile from blossoming on your lips and he continued to stare at your reflection through the mirror. Now that’s a view.

His sparkling brown orbs, shooting mega hearts to yours despite no words being exchanged. “What did you say?” Jungkook said in a harsh tone but his touch was anything but. He pressed his lips onto your shoulder without breaking eye contact. Your smile is getting wider and wider as he held on. “You’re sexy… drives me wild all the time,” he taunted you with his hushed voice.

“You’re a good liar. I have stretch marks, on my butt, on my stomach… And my boobs? They look disproportionate with the rest of me, I look like an alien…” you said them with half hearted giggle and, “My body turned ugly… I feel heavy, I look heavy, I’m… hideous.”

Jungkook had been shaking his head ever since you begin talking, refusing to acknowledge anything you said. “I’m nothing like the girls you filmed, yeah I saw your edited videos with that new female news anchor, she got nice legs and butts too,” you leaned your head back on his shoulder, sighing. Throwing acid glanced at yourself through the mirror. Jungkook moved his arms down your hips and cupped your butt, before squeezing it.

“I’d take no other butts but this one,” Jungkook gave you a disturbing grin that either makes you want to punch him or kiss him hard. You rolled your eyes to the side and switched to press your front on him, circling your arms around his neck while he glided his eyes up to find yours. He towered you easily, and you got absorbed in those mesmerising iris that it took you a thought loud enough to bring you back to the situation you were in.

“Look at you,” you pointed at him with your lips, “You’re flawless. Beautiful… captivating.” Jungkook smacks his lips together, while fixing your baby hair, giving you that crinkling eye smile and spoke in articulate whispers that, “No matter how much your body changes, I’m madly in love with the very soul you bore, and even if you think that you’re not enough, I am still going to love you for who you are. And. In my eyes?”

He pauses, he tips your chin up with his index finger and spoke to your lips, “Your sexiest moment has yet to come.” Kiss.

Foolish, you thought. Jungkook meant every word but you thought it was foolish of him to love you. Jungkook gave away so much. He gave away a secure future to be married. He gave away his youth, his hard work, his dreams, to be married to you. It was not easy. It was not easy to have this life with him.

With no family to turn to, you both only had each other. There was so many first times. First interview, first rent, first job, first child.

Things would have been easier, albeit, if you had just stayed on track and did as told; and leave Jungkook behind. Tell him it was over and that you didn’t want him. It was mere words. But those pleading eyes could never let you lie. You know it when you touch, when you embraced him, when you kissed. You knew you weren’t going to want any other lips, have another arms to hold except this one. That’s why you did it.

That’s why you eloped.

A life without Jungkook isn’t worth living, no matter how easy it was.

Your family didn’t want anything to do with you. They didn’t want a child who refused to follow their path of life. Jungkook, a simple person, with simple background, didn’t worth their time. The fact that he was too young for you became the only logical rejection. Ridiculous, you thought. Age gap is a myth. Jungkook is alike you as you were alike him. What was it about Jungkook being too young for you? They just didn’t want you to be married to Jeon Jungkook. Because Jeon Jungkook wasn’t Kim Seokjin. The guy they preferred.

“Man should be older, for the marriage to be ideal,” your mother sipped her tea.

Ideal is an illusion.

“Dad was older than you. Was it ideal? The backbone of marriage is to trust and communicate. Something your ‘ideal’ marriage, certainly lacks,” you were greeted with a splash of tea across your face and hair.

And that was the last time you saw your mother. She loathed Jungkook. Unable to look at him in the eye when you brought him home once. One glance and you knew she was disappointed. 3 years in an expensive college and this is the boy you found? A videographer?

Not to mention the unconventional piercings, his lack of spiritual faith and low social class vibe. To her, he was revolting against her upholstered chair that she might have to send to laundry spa after Jungkook left. Afraid that his mediocre financial wealth be infatuated to her luxurious furnitures.

He was not enough for her, but he is enough for you.

Tough times do make the easier one more meaningful. No family to turn to, and you both only had each other, and that was enough and more.

Fostering through emotional wounds, you held your chin up high for the man you choose to love and his devotion was clearly infested in the way he was with you one night, lips parted to watched the stars in your room, that lit up in pitch darkness above the bed.

“Everything we have isn’t extraordinary, but is enough…” you heard him say, your head resting on his bulging bicep, twirling your fingers with his very own, while staring at the self made constellation ceiling you spend time creating. It was the best thing you’ve ever done and Jungkook did all the sticking. It was true what he said. The life you had before him was full of materialistic infatuation but no soul. It was a thirst to be above everyone, get ahead of the time, be an icon people would look up to. But no longer do you yearn for such attention, for the only attention you craved was his.

It was easy to love and leave for some people, but not to you. When you love someone, you gave them everything you had. And everything was Jungkook had. Sometimes it scares you, how much you create a place that is his, in your entire being, that when you bore his child, you were frightened that she will take your place. Foolish thoughts, isn’t it?

When Ben came, she changes everything. Jungkook’s little office was littered with polaroid pictures of her.

Her little nose, the corners of her lips that resembled her fathers’, the need to push boundaries she was set in—she was only four, but heavens, the energy she has. Jungkook was not only teaching her all the martial arts available, he was teaching her to an individual. To speak for herself, to be unafraid and heavily invested in her to make her happy. You maybe the love of his life but Ben is so much more than that.

Too young to be a father? You mocked your mother’s childish rejections. Jungkook was a better father than you remembered having.

Speaking of Ben. How is she?

Dial tone ended after what seemed to be ages. Taehyung was giggling heartily upon answering the call. “Hello Ben’s mom!” He chirped.

“Hi! How’s everything going?”

“Everything is great! Jimin is helping her on the slide, and she’s faster than both of us combined… we’re heading to the zoo when it opens, and she’s just been fed.”

They’re doing pretty well. They’ve been entrusted to do the babysitting job eversince Ben was 2. Jimin is good with keeping her entertained and Taehyung had enough babysitting experience with his niece and nephews for you to even come up with a complaint. Thank God for Jimin and Taehyung.

“I’m going to head over to Jungkook’s cafe. Just called to make sure everything is fine. I missed her.”

“It was a little over four hours, noona! Ben is only catching up with her uncles… hurry up then! The movie is going to start!”

You ended the call without talking to Ben, afraid that she would want to come with you if she knew you weren’t working. It was difficult to get the day off, taking a break from mothering and having a full time job. Besides, Taehyung and Jimin took their day off too, with paid babysitting by the hours. Their fares are cheap compared to other babysitters.

Grabbing your purse, you slid out the main door with simple brown loafers and stockings, a beige knee-length long coat and ash grey turtleneck, paired with jeans. It’s winter.

But when you arrive to his cafe, you saw endless rows of people queueing to get a table. There’s no way the new staff can handle such crowd without Jungkook’s help. Your best guess that he would still be in his barista uniform, making drinks.

And your intuition proven right when you saw your husband struggling to meet the order demands while being the only one in the barista corner, preparing coffees. The new staff is taking orders and putting on a fake smile for incoming customers at the cashier stand.

Poor baby. You glanced through the fogged up glass window at your husband and finding purchase in your heavy sigh. Where did the rush of crowd came from?

You looked around for clues, only to witness someone leaving a black Palisade Hyundai, parked on the side. This man, was on the phone and grey long coat as he exited his car, his brown hair neat and short. He was in the back seat and his driver stood at the door for him. He looks expensive. When he turned to the side, your heart dropped.

When is the noon shift going to be here? Jungkook grumbled in the back of his thoughts, your voice lingering in his head.

“Don’t be late…”

He let out an exhale through his nose, as he tips his chin back looking at the order screen where Hyungjin had keyed in the paid orders. Hyunjin rushes to his side, leaving the cashier stand vacant only to say, “416, said no caramel syrup.” Handing back the coffee he just made. Jungkook was about to lose his cook, but he grinded his jaw and nodded, silently.

Surely he could do better speed but with the constant modification of orders, he is stalling his usual pace. Plus, he was worried that his wife is somewhere out there in the cold, waiting for him to finish his shift. But with this many people and the noon shift not showing up, the movie date might have to be cancelled. And there’s nothing more Jungkook hated than to irresponsibly break a promise. Especially towards his wife.

Even if she’s walking in with a dude into his very cafe—hold up, what?

He is in fact, pushing the doors open for you. Wanted you to be seated on a couple seat but you declined and went with him.

He looks rather friendly. Too friendly perhaps for Jungkook’s liking. The noon shift finally arrived but it will take time for them to merge into the situation, so Jungkook switched place with Hyunjin to take orders from the man you’re with.

“Hello, my name is Jeon, how may I address you sir?”

“Seokjin,” this attractive man pursed his lips and leaned to the menus to see them clearer, while choosing he murmured, “What shall we have…”

You on the other hand were playing charade games with Jungkook. He mouthed, very angrily, “Who is he?”

And you replied, “I tried to call but you didn’t answer…”

He goes, “I’m working!”

Seokjin shot his eyes up and Jungkook cleared his throat, “Two hazelnut cappuccinos and two egg tarts… please.”

Jungkook switches back to his barista mode and chirped, “Would you like to try our new cheesecake along with it? It’s half price today…”

Seokjin scrunched his face briefly at the screen and, “Nope. Just the coffee and egg tarts, thanks.”

“Sure, that would be $18.80.” Seokjin tapped his shiny platinum card on the pad and it clicked to cash. Paid. As easy as that.

“Egg tarts is still your favourite right?” Jungkook heard he asked you with the most gentle voice a man could possess. Jungkook passes the cashier stand to the noon team, and excused himself to the toilet for a bit. He untied his black apron roughly, and threw it against the wall in the hallways meant for staff. Then he walked in long lunges to his locker, and unlocking them to get to his phone.

17 missed calls from Wife. 32 messages.

“His name is Kim Seokjin.”

Jungkook quickly replied, gnawing his lips in between his teeth as he typed. His beauty mark underneath his lips showing evidently.

“Who the fuck is he? Why are you having coffee with him?”

Wife is typing…

“He is the guy I was supposed to get married to.”

Jungkook stilled. That makes more sense.

You’re fidgeting. Eyes wide open, to every corner in that cafe. Fingers a little clammy, pupils darted out at every person there--you’re nervous, it isn’t difficult to see.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell your mother where you are…”

You glanced up to meet his gaze. He looks handsome. As always. Every young women in that coffee shop wanted to be you.

“Is it that obvious?”

Seokjin nodded in reply.

“How are you?” He asked. In a way only past lovers share. There was no quick answer to that question but you out your priorities first. The most important thing he should know about you is that…

“Married? And a daughter?” Seokjin’s eyes doubled it size as he leans back into his chair, in disbelief.

“I mean…” he glances up and down, drinking in your figure, “don’t tell me that that/ body had a daughter that’s four now… how does your husband sleep at night when you’re not home?”

Pretty well if he’s tired, you thought.

“How about you, Seokjin?”

“Same old same old. Business is like always. We’re venturing new ideas. Since coffee shops are overrated now. They grow like mushrooms after the rain,” Seokjin crossed his legs and brought the brim of the cup to his moistened lips. Feeling a slight discomfort at the fact that your ex-fiancee spoke ill of coffee shops, knowing your husband is working in one.

You were at a crossroad of revealing Jungkook as your husband and risk Seokjin telling his brother about it. His brother will tell his mother and his mother will inform your mother about you and your choice of a life partner. It's not that you were ashamed of Jungkook’s job. It's more to save him than it is about shame. But Seokjin is still a friend. And there’s a side to him that is trustworthy.

“You know, things ended abruptly between us,” you began.

Seokjin’s false confidence begins to wane when you started speaking about the sore spot in his heart. You knew he felt something when you two were together. Whatever that was there, was engulfed by the resemblance of a lover you tried to play for his sake. To him, you were an enchanting one. And it hits him, how great of a pretender you proved to be.

“I apologize if it bothers you in any way. I know the engagements was all your money. And the time you’ve invested in me, I can never repay…” you spoke to your chest, fiddling with your wedding ring.

“I’m married to one of the staff working here, in this coffee shop that grow like mushrooms after rain, you said,” you glanced around to show emphasis, and, “He works part time on weekends, and have a full time job as a cameraman for news anchors. We’re supposed to have a date today but the coffee shop got busy so we’re going to be a little late but that’s okay, I guess?” You smiled and puffed your cheek while cocking your head to one side, unaffected by it.

It was way different from when you were dating Seokjin. Seokjin had hotels, you never ate in any restaurant below 4-star rating, he buys you clothes and dolls you up with his favourite luxury brands. You never had to leave the house because there’s a cinema in his mansion. His idea of a date is on a cruise ship, with food cooked by a Michelin-graded chef, a good bottle of Dom Perignon in a Swarovski studded champagne glass. He would have provided you everything.

A world class jet. A trip to Mallorca. A designer handbag. You name it.

But if it wasn’t love, it wasn’t love.

“I’m very happy. Jungkook had opened my eyes to many things. Made me learn about myself. Help me indulge in the simpler way of living, one that is slower in pace, deeper in meaning. I realise I really didn’t need that much, just a few dorks who loves me the way I am, and that’s where home is,” you bit your smile and hung your head. Seokjin slowly smiled too.

“This daughter of yours, how does she look like?”

You happily showed Seokjin your little family. And you pointed Jungkook. Seokjin immediately recognised him. “He is way too good looking for this coffee shop,” Seokjin gushes, you thought he was gay for that nano second.

“I know right… he doesn’t believe me when I say so,” you giggled.

“And your daughter’s name is Ben?” “Yeah… Just her pet name.” “And Jungkook just agrees?” “He lets me get away with a lot of things.” “He seems like the more mature one in this union, thank goodness someone is taking charge huh?”

You knew he meant how childish you could be and it was true, Jungkook might be wearing the pants in certain areas in your marriage, but in some, he wears the apron. Versatility is important.

“I should probably go, I didn’t plan to stay long in Seoul,” Seokjin took one finishing sip of his coffee, pushing his chair back in one swift move, refastening his long coat and you stood up with him. You both enveloped in an embrace, long enough for close friends and parted. Seokjin is making a business trip to Brazil and he managed to joke that if you end up marrying him, you two would have met for 20 minutes in a month because he’s just so busy. You watched him walk back to his Palisade through the glass window and the engine whirls away, elegantly, just like its owner.

“Ready to go?” A clipped tone suggests that Jungkook may have resented the sudden reunion between you and Seokjin. What else can you say than it was unplanned? He is murky and sour like the lemon juice you had last night, with his black turtleneck on his grey puff jacket.

“I’m sorry you had to wait for me,” but you didn’t have to bring your rich ex-fiancee over to fill time, Jungkook set himself aflame.

“I told you, I didn’t plan it to happen,” you sounded defeated yourself, trying to explain a harmless situation to a deafened man, “if I didn’t refuse his offer, he might tell mother where we are, and that would be—will you slow down please, I can’t keep up with you!”

He spun around, nose flaring, face sterned and hard unforgiving gaze met you. “You’re just rubbing it in my face, to tell me what you could have end up with, instead of a struggling videographer with a double job because he can’t afford his own daughter’s nursery.”

You stopped dead in your lunges and stared at him with reddening eyes. It was strong enough for him to feel the atmosphere shift. Jungkook crumbled with a stutter of your name out of guilt, but you rammed through his shoulder, bolting ahead. Not caring if he stumbles a little when you did.

“I can’t believe after all that we’ve been through you would say all of this with your whole chest,” you grumbled through gritted teeth, trudging forward. Jungkook was beside you, trying to capture your arm, multiple times but you just swatted them away, each attempt.

“I gave you every broken bits of me. I gave you my love. I gave you a child, damn it!” You wiped your tears aggressively, pushing him to the side on the almost empty pavements. The pace you were going at, results in a great gap between you both. And increasing as time passes, until...

“I… I’m lacking,” Jungkook shouted from afar.  

You spun your heel around. He behaves just the way he did in the past, when you told him that you can’t be with him because he was too young. Back then, he wanted you so badly and refused to let conscience take over him, persistently saying that he is going to wait for you, no matter how long it takes.

He hangs his head low, kicking the ground with the heel of his worn out shoe.

“He looks accomplished,” he added, “And successful. And… all in all, a better man. For you. Maybe you should have married him.”

You threw a scoff to the side and gave your head a half-shake, trying to process his words. Brown loafers increases speed, strutting towards Jungkook’s shoes, and you called, “Listen, Jeon.”

Jungkook took one and a half step backwards, as you charged. “I have Ben and you now, isn’t it a little too late to have regrets?” You cocked an eyebrow, smirking, standing toe to toe with Jungkook. “Too late doesn’t mean it won’t happen…” he murmured to his chest, pouting like a child.

“Seokjin barely has time for himself. Has to keep up with social demands and being a socialite had put a leash on him, struggling to keep his head up the surface of a never-ending race of who had the biggest, baddest toy cars in the market. Pretending to be happy with the money he has and have no friends he can genuinely bare his feelings with. Still think I want him? I’d be more sated marrying a lamp post than I do marrying Seokjin.”

Jungkook of all people would know the sexual appetite you have. You wouldn’t last a whole 48 hours without him. Which is why he is worried about the trip to Hong Kong happening soon. That will also be the first time Ben will be parted from her dad that long.

Jungkook’s smile lingers and caught your lips in a chaste, PG-13 kiss.

“I’m thinking of a rated R kiss as soon as we get back to our place…” Jungkook laced your hands with his and tattled to cross the road where the mall is. “If it's dark enough in the movies, maybe we don’t have to wait that long,” you batted your eyelashes at him. He responded with a crumpled face, scrunching his nose while booping yours.

Jimin kept handling you plushies while Taehyung passed a sleeping Ben from his arms to Jungkook. He waddled down the hall in relaxed strides towards Ben’s bedroom while you were still taking stuffed animals from Jimin. Taehyung excused himself to use the toilet.

“Why are there so many?”

Jimin blinked at you and stopped momentarily before resuming to hoard all the things they brought home to you.

“Taehyung played a dart game and wanted to give Ben all the stuffed animals there. He won the whole thing. We had to give the other half of the gifts to the little kids in the zoo,” Jimin explained.

“Are you sure you don’t want to be paid?” You slumped your shoulders, as Jungkook wraps his arm around you, bidding farewell to the babysitters who did an extremely good job, taking Ben out so you could have a little me time.

“Nah, we owe Jungkook a lot to doing editing for us, this is the least we could do, besides helping out with chores. Ben enjoyed her time too,” Taehyung gave Jungkook a playful fake punch on his stomach.

“I never thought that this dude would end up having kids faster than I did… he wouldn’t flirt for shit back in college,” Jimin reminisce.

“Really?” You gave Jungkook a look and he put on a bashful face.

“You jerk,” Taehyung jokes, “Who would have thought. The quiet ones are always the naughtiest one…” nudging Jungkook elbow.

“Once he set his eyes on someone, he really went full tunnel vision. Won’t settle for less, did he, Taehyung…” Jimin shoved both hands into his jeans pocket.

“Alright, go home. You’re not young anymore. You’re bothering my time with my wife by being here longer than requested. Your body is aging,” Jungkook passed, pushing Taehyung and Jimin away from the door.

“We took care of Ben and this is how you repay us?”

You crossed your arm, leaned your body to the door frame and watched the boys bickering all the way to the stairs. Your husband returns with a lingering smile. He stops in his steps, momentarily when he saw you. He wipes his hand together and continued his route, biting his smile as if he didn’t just do the most attractive thing a man could do.

“I know that look.” You started.

“What look…”

“That ‘remember what we did when they weren’t here an hour ago’ look.”

Jungkook chuckled through his nose and walked in the main door. He leans his back to it and locked them, still biting his lips the way that would drive you crazy, tipping his head back a little so you could have the little flashes of him having you on top of him, a little while ago.

“My coworker thought I was in mafia. Do I look that brute?”

“You’re probably the prettiest mafia there ever is,” you shot back.

“Awh, babe… what pretty thoughts you have.” He follows you lazily down the hallway.

“Ben… Ben!” Jungkook let out a sharp exhale, and you passed him a look that he didn’t catch. Dining table. Jungkook is trying to feed little Jeon. “Let’s eat our rice…” He sang tiredly, spooning the rice into a small ball, enough to feed your three year old, who is bunny hopping up and down the hallway. She had been excited after uncles Taehyung and Hoseok took her to the bunny farm yesterday. She hasn’t come down from her high. You couldn’t take the sight anymore. Ben looks at you when you shot her name, and came waddling her little feet towards the dining table, leaning her tummy on Jungkook’s knee. She knows she can find protection from her daddy. “What did I tell you about leaving the table when daddy feeds you?” Your voice is acid, gruelling, “When anybody feeds you?” You repeated yourself and she pouted with her perky lips and chubby cheeks, lowering her head. She had understood what she was doing had made you unhappy. Mummy is upset. “Not to… do that,” she mewled in little voice, she blinks repeatedly. Jungkook tucked her baby hair behind her ear as she was being scolded by her feisty mom. And he also pushed her bangs back and gave her forehead a loud smack kiss, whispering in daddy-like voice, “You promise not to do it again, right? Because Ben is a good girl, yes?” He attacked her with more forehead kisses until she giggles. “It’s not good for your tummy to jump up and down like that, when you’re eating. Get on your kiddy chair dad took for you,” you bracketed her waist and put her into her chair. You know she doesn’t like you right now. She had crossed her arm and turned away from you. She only entertain her dad. And he’s smiling proudly right now. You propped an elbow to give her an eye roll that Jungkook saw. “Beef briskets are your favourite, aren’t they? Dad cooked this for you. Your cheeks are all smeared with gravy,” he thumbed her cheeks in an attempt to clean her up, leaning towards her with his galaxy studded eyes. He dips his gravy stained thumb into his lips like it was the most natural thing to do ever. And you sit there, internally swooning over the fact that you had the amazing Jeon Jungkook, your baby daddy.

[omniuniversal]

“All Us Friedks Have Is Each Other.”

The Proto-TRUK swooped low through the planetoid’s atmosphere, braking in mid-air and then hovering to a landing, transforming into land-vehicle mode as its tires touched the black rock of this dark little world.

Almost before the TRUK had fully settled onto the terrain, Ben had already kicked his door open and dropped to the ground below, slamming the door behind him.

“Okay, what’s the sitch?” he demanded. 

“Oh, Ben Tennyson, thank goodness you are here,” a matronly-looking Methanosian woman stood there, kind of a Miz Frizzle vibe with her dress and the way her red blossom and fiery petals framed her head, fidgeting with her hands, frowning worriedly. “One of our students is missing. Please, you have to find her!”  This was Miss Lobelia, a teacher at Undertown Elementary.

“Chill, ma’am, I’m on it,” Ben nodded, and frowned out at the horizon, warm light starting to seep over the rim of the planetoid and turning the navy night sky warmer shades of purple.

The spaceship resembled a school bus, and most of the kids were aboard already, looking sad and nervous.

Rook frowned as he disembarked the TRUK, having radioed their position to Plumber HQ, approaching the distraught teacher. “Can you describe the student? Under what circumstances did you last see her?”

“She is an Ectonurite,” Lobelia supplied, nodding earnestly. “Her name is Zs’Pook, no relation to The Ecto-Lord. I did a headcount before we returned to the bus, but I-- I miscounted a Splixson student who had not fully reunited before I started to count. We came here on an astronomy field trip to look at different stellar fields and constellations than are visible from Earth and its polluted atmosphere-- but now-- now the sun is coming up-- and she’s out there on that bare rocky expanse all alone!”

“If she’s just a kid, she still has her first skin, right?” Ben frowned. “She should be fine in broad daylight.”

Lobelia shook her head, agonizing. “She has a-- skin condition. It is not unlike the human condition of vitiligo-- there are gaps in her primary dermis, leaving her vulnerable to direct light exposure.”

“Okay, poor kid,” Ben winced. “So maybe she can just ghost into the rock and take shelter--”

Rook shook his head even as he swept the vicinity with his Proto-Tool in scanner mode. “This world has high concentrations of an ore that renders material super-tangible. The Plumbers use this substance in constructing cells and restraints for criminal Ectonurites or Necrofriggians or those with similar abilities. Zs’Pook would be unable to conceal herself in such a way. Additionally, as she may well be frightened by the scenario in which she finds herself, she has probably become invisible and intangible out of instinct, rendering her almost impossible to scan with conventional sensors or senses.”

“And calling Gwen for a tracking spell wouldn’t help,” Ben scowled, tapping his chin, “because Ectonurites don’t have Mana, as such. I couldn’t use Squidstrictor, either.”

“Precisely,” Rook frowned. “This is indeed a conundrum, and time grows short--”

Miss Lobelia turned away from them, covering her face with one hand and sobbing quietly as she was wracked with worry.

Ben sighed-- on the one hand, teach shoulda taken better count of her students. But on the other hand, he would probably be freaking way out if--

--freaking--

He stopped. And blinked. 

And reached up to touch Miss Lobelia on the shoulder. “It’s okay, lady. Just hang out and photosynthesize a little in the morning sun. Ben 10′s got this on lock.”

“...Ben?” Rook squinted.

Adjusting the dial on his watch verrrrry carefully, scrolling through the hologlyphs, Ben looked for one in particular...

“Hero time,” he murmured. 

And his hand came down in a blur, and green light surged up in a flare...

...and he became FRIEDKIN. 

Named for his honorary alma mater-- and Gwendolyn’s current hall of academia --this was a species he’d picked up on a parallel world called Remnant with his friend Cody Baxter ( @cody-baxter-isms )-- a Grimm. Normally, Grimm were scarcely coherent enough to be sentient, much less sapient, but he’d gotten this sample from a particularly old and evolved and wily Grimm that had managed to survive long enough to get a mind of its own.

This particular model of Grimm looked like a hyena-hedgehog hybrid sculpted out of shadow with prickles made of jutting, sharpened bone, with blazing green eyes and gleaming, predatory teeth. It resembled Argit, but only vaguely-- bulkier, and stockier, and darker. 

Friedkin giggled to himself as the kids on the schoolbus recoiled in shock and awe-- there was something inherently unsettling, disquieting, unholy about this creature, and he had enough of a low-key sadistic streak to enjoy putting these tykes on their collective back foot.

He could fire out his bony spines, he could manipulate shadows... he had speed and strength and regeneration above peak human... but for right now, he had one trait as a Grimm that was absolutely crucial.

Grimm could sense negative emotions. Such as anger, and despair, and... fear.

“Everrrrbody calm downnrrrr,” Friedkin rumbled, sniffing at the air. “I rrrrneed a clearrr line on this rrrrrkiiiiid.”

Rook touched Lobelia’s shoulder. “Madam. Can you put aside your worry for a moment? Can you help soothe your students?”

Nodding, sniffling, wiping away a brackish tear, Lobelia turned to climb on the bus and to give an encouraging speech to her charges... that Ben 10 looked frightening right now, but he was there to help their friend! After a moment, the kids all cheered, heartened indeed! 

Friedkin tilted his head. “Therrrrrre we go.”

And then with a seethe and a surge he bounded off toward the rising sun...

...he covered the distance with loping strides, flaring nostrils, blazing gaze...

...there!

...abject terror, quivering despair...

...he could feel her even though she was translucent, bunched up in what little shadow a tiny shelf of black black rock provided, and he stalked toward her with a grim Grimm grin. 

“Hey rrrrrkiiiiiiid,” he rrrrrrasped as he approached. “Rrrrrcome with me if you wanna rrrrrlive... or whateverrrrrr it is you Ectonurrrrrites do.”

“I can’t,” Zs’Pook mumbled in terror, her voice quavery even beyond the normal tones of her spectral species. “I can’t I can’t I can’t. I set one tentacle outside this shadow and I’ll get... dusted.”

Friedkin chuckled. “Ah, my sweet summerrrrrrr child. Rrrrrrhave shadow, wiiiiillll trrrrravellll.”

And he reached out with one foreclaw, and shaped the tiny patch of shade in which she sheltered into a big ball of darkness into which she could hide--

Zs’Pook gasped in surprise, and jumped up into that spheroid of black.

Towing the shadow-ball with him like an umbrakinetic balloon, Friedkin triumphantly brought Zs’Pook back to the bus and aboard, at which point Miss Lobelia swiftly flicked a switch that tinted the windows and hugged Zs’Pook with grateful delight.

Friedkin reverted to human in a fresh burst of green genomorphic energy, and Ben smiled softly at the reunion with hands on his hips-- ignoring the darksome echoes of Friedkin’s influence as he faded back into the watch.

“Thank you, Ben Tennyson,” Lobelia beamed gratefully as Zs’Pook turned to hug Ben instead. “Thank you so much!”

“All part of the hero biz,” Ben nodded with a smile, patting the Ectonurite girl on the back. “And, uh, kids, stay in school. ‘Knowing is half the battle.’”

“What is the other half?” Rook wondered as they returned to The Proto-TRUK.

“You know,” Ben frowned, “they never said. But I bet it’s kicking butt!”

“There are of course, numerous battles that can be won without a single kicking of butt,” Rook pointed out as they strapped in. “This scenario is but one example. Is that not ‘awesome,’ too?”

Ben considered that for a moment, glancing across to the darkened windows of the bus where Zs’Pook was rejoining her friends. “Yeah,” he nodded. “Yeah, it really is.”