#hopefully this post makes sense haha

[glow-205]

Hi, have a forever wip

Real talk under the cut

I do wish that I was more active on here, but I’ve been moving away from Dislyte for a bit. I’m trying really hard to get back (the new goth chick looks cool especially…) but I do think I’m moving away from the game. The chance for Meta Leora and Elaine is making me creep back…

Also, I’ve recently gotten into Project Sekai, and I’ve been trying to save up for Shiho’s wolf card for the past few weeks/months (???) so yeah

Oh, and I’m going to a new school now and that’s kinda messing me up too lol. The summer hw was BRUTAL

I am going to keep up the Dislyte Academy AU, and am (hopefully) going to continue to create Dislyte art, but please don’t expect me to be here often lol

Until next time !! :]

[wikiangela]

seven sentence sunday

I wasn't gonna post anything from this one bc it's so close to being done I might just post it within a day or two (no promises tho lol) but I'm loving it so much and I can't resist posting a snippet haha

so here's a bit of my 7x06 tommy's pov fic!

___

(...) “my sister finally married the love of her life,” a kiss to Tommy’s chin, then another, and one more, and Tommy laughs again. “And I,” Evan grins against Tommy’s lips as he kisses him again, “I have a really hot date to her wedding.”

“Yeah, straight out of a fire.” Tommy smirks and bumps their noses together, and Evan laughs, Tommy drinking in the adorable sound. It all feels- it feels intimate, familiar, more than it should be at this stage.

“Mhm, even hotter now.” he leaves one more kiss on Tommy’s lips. “And I’m just- I’m really happy you’re here, Tommy.” Evan pulls away, this time enough to look into Tommy’s eyes, his own shining excitedly, face softening, as he whispers, with something like awe in his voice, “You made it.”

“Of course.” Tommy answers earnestly, feeling a fond smile pull at his own lips, his chest swelling at the look Evan gives him, something so affectionate and wonderstruck – he doesn’t think anyone has ever looked at him like this. It could be overwhelming, if he didn’t feel the exact same way. “We had a date.”

___

no pressure tags: @elvensorceress @thebravebitch @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz @watchyourbuck @eowon @loserdiaz @evanbegins @ladydorian05 @wildlife4life @diazpatcher @lover-of-mine @monsterrae1 @weewootruck @loveyouanyway @spagheddiediaz @rainbow-nerdss @epicbuddieficrecs @pirrusstuff @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @nmcggg @rogerzsteven @hippolotamus @bidisasterevankinard @giddyupbuck @sunshinediaz @honestlydarkprincess @911-on-abc @jesuisici33 @steadfastsaturnsrings @buddieswhvre @fortheloveofbuddie @your-catfish-friend @daffi-990 @hoodie-buck @aroeddiediaz @thewolvesof1998 @theotherbuckley @tizniz @diazsdimples @dangerpronebuddie @spotsandsocks @exhuastedpigeon @underwaterninja13

[jorvikwildhorse]

My Horse's Dragon: A Star Stable Online Fan Comic -- Chapter 1: Honey and the Dragon

[NEXT>]

Hi. I made a star stable fancomic about Faramawr because I have something wrong with me i think :)

[oshiawaseni]

Japan’s concept of confession and why Ochaco might not confess

“Confession” is a big deal in a country as subtle as Japan. Not all people have the courage to confess, but when starting official relationships confessions are often expected. This is what I know confessions to be like in the world of manga: Person A talks alone with Person B and shares with them the secrets of their heart. “I like you please accept my feelings.” This usually ends either with them going out or A being rejected by B. The usual reason for the rejection is “I like someone else.”

I’ve been having some more ideas about the day Izuku fell into Kacchan’s arms and how what Kacchan did for him was almost confessional in a way. He told Izuku what was in his heart, why he bullied him and that no matter how much he tried, he just couldn’t escape him. He called him “Izuku” and we saw the impact this had on Izuku’s face. 

Izuku just couldn’t believe that Kacchan was calling his name properly for the first time in 12 years, it completely shocked him, and after apologising for everything, he told Izuku, “Come home, let’s do this together. We need to help each other in this fight against AFO.” 

The conclusion of this confession was that Izuku acquiesced to 1-A’s request for him to return, but it was only really possible because his attachment to Kacchan triumphed over his motivations to stay away. It was Kacchan who broke down his walls with his apology. It was Kacchan who filled him with hope that things would be better, and Kacchan who finally hammered into Izuku how important it was for him to be part of the collective. That his inclusion was very wanted and needed, and that he in turn can rely more on everyone as well. That together, they can push forward, trusting in and helping each other.

I think what hurt Izuku the most during his solo arc was being away from his friends, but especially Kacchan. Because that day in the rain, he literally gave up on his solo vigilante mindset for him. After hearing Kacchan’s unbelievable words he had patiently longed to hear for years, it was impossible for Izuku to stay away from him any longer. As he passed out, he stumbled a few steps towards Kacchan who, without missing a beat, caught him in his arms and gently held him. This embrace told us “From now on it’ll be different. I’m gonna be here for you, Izuku.”

So to recap all of that... Kacchan became vulnerable and spilled what was in his heart, Izuku accepted his desires, with it all culminating in them becoming closer. Which is just like a successful romantic confession!?

I think after watching this all go down, something inside Ochaco clicked. A lot of the class are rushing over to Izuku when Kacchan catches him because they’re just so worried about him, but a few of them, Ochaco included, stay standing back. It doesn’t make much sense at all. But we’re given a zoom in of her without knowing any of the thoughts going through her mind.

They got Izuku back, but she doesn’t really seem all that happy. Momo says to her “this is just the first obstacle we aren’t done yet” and she agrees. Ochaco knows that there’s still more they as a group need to do for Izuku to make his return happen. But the fact that there’s a few panels dedicated to zooming in on her staying put, her almost emotionless face (mirroring Shoto’s) while she’s watching Kacchan save Izuku and his new unbridled intimacy he has with him - could be telling us that there’s something else she’s processing.

Is this moment somber for her because she realised the person Izuku needs the most is none other than the person he has openly admired since she first met him? The very same person who always bared his fangs at Izuku because he was scared him getting close?

Was Ochaco witnessing the beginning of something new between them and suddenly finding herself sidelined as a contender for Izuku’s affections?

Somehow… this could be what it was all about. And that’s why I think there’s a good chance Ochaco gave up her crush on Izuku for good when she witnessed Katsuki return his love and embrace him after that emotionally-charged apology. After this, a more defined distance between her and Izuku appears visible in their next scene together. A respectful distance of Izuku’s own choosing.

It was like a definitive line had been drawn out that can’t and perhaps shouldn’t be crossed. Maybe they both understood that the person Izuku wanted close by his side has always been Katsuki. That desire wasn’t simply a pipe dream to Izuku anymore, it had become reality. And who is Ochaco to get in the way of that?

And then it’s almost like she is bookending Katsuki’s confession to Izuku with a confession of her own about Toga, putting a close to the Izuocha chapter and she makes a comment which feels double in meaning. “I guess that means we are the same.” or You love a boy, just like I might love a girl. (To put it bluntly)

And Izuku remembers this line again after he gets separated from Kacchan and Ochaco is telling him to go. Go back to Tenko. Go back to your Kacchan.

The concept of “knowing how someone feels because you love them and always watch over them” comes up from time to time in manga. In a way, that’s also a reason why Kacchan and Izuku understand each other as deeply as they do and they aren’t afraid of showing it off. They were always watching each other from a safe distance and learning things about each other in this way. I think during chapter 322, this concept is what was happening to cause such a realisation in Ochaco. (And it’s also for this reason Tsuyu, who never had feelings for Izuku, still doesn’t get it.)

It was hard for her, knowing everything she does about Izuku’s deep attachment to Kacchan, to learn that Izuku’s affections for him weren’t one-sided and they were now closer than ever before… That’s why I don’t think she’ll want to get in the way by confessing anymore. If Kacchan’s apology was intended to be compared with a romantic confession, then Ochaco is probably aware that Izuku already “has someone he likes”… and that person isn’t her.

[incesthemes]

the threshold of death and intimacy: supernatural + the terror amc interviews

221 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part 1 // The Terror Stars on Their Voyage to the Edge of Masculinity, Vulture // 311 Mystery Spot // Fifth Anniversary Live Q&A 8 with Dave K // 823 Sacrifice // Fifth Anniversary Live Q&A 8 with Dave K // 923 Do You Believe in Miracles?

[alpinelogy]

why the urls changes ? :0

cause i like it lol. its fun to me. at the end of the day this blog is just about me and i like to change things up sometimes haha

alpinelogy is here to stay in the long run. unfortunately

[fluffle-writes]

I wanna. Pick them up in my mouth and shake 'em around like a dog obliterating a squeaky toy

[pekoeboo]

some thoughts.

been thinking about actually giving the Primordial SMP a real story title after all this time, since it's not really an SMP anymore. it used to be based on actual Minecraft gameplay, but Cookie and I have just come up with so much original content over time that it's kind of its own thing now, to some extent??

only thing I'm really unsure of is whether or not I should continue to tag it with the Minecraft tag, since like. part of it still very heavily references things that have actually happened while playing MC, including direct relation to a legit adventure map that doesn't belong to us (as well as some gameplay mechanics that are relevant for certain parts of the story). but also the story is filled with a LOT of original content that we just came up with ourselves, like the characters and their backstories, so I don't know.

I do know I'll likely be splitting everything into three distinct Acts, with both Act I and Act II of the story taking place within Drehmal and Atria, respectively (two worlds based on actual Minecraft worlds that we've played in)... so maybe just those two could be tagged as Minecraft? not sure. Act III takes place within Aya's home world though, which is a fully original concept that's separate from any Minecraft mechanics or ideas, so I don't need to worry about that.

either way, all of this is still just kinda rotating around in my head for now. haven't decided on a story title yet, but if I do, I'll be sure to let y'all know how I'm planning on organizing it from that point on :'0

[the-sparkling-diamond-satine]

OCD CHRISTIAN I HAVE TEARS IN MY EYES PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLAESE OCD CHRISTIAN

Send me an ask from my WIP List and I'll post a little snippet or tell you something about it!

Christian lights a match, frowning when it doesn’t feel right, and discards the match, reaching for another to try again. He knows that he’s being wasteful, knows deep down that this isn’t actually doing anything, but the knowing isn’t enough to make him stop. He needs this, needs the way it makes his world make sense again, needs the way it brings order to the chaos. His world turned upside down the moment he met Satine, and it hasn’t stopped spinning since. But this? This makes sense. There are rules to the way the world works, or so Christian had once thought. If you strike a match, it’ll light. If you touch the fire, it’ll burn. If you meet someone you love, she’ll be here forever. She won’t— Christian moves to strike another match, the pit of anxiety in his stomach only growing when this one snaps in half in his too-tight grip.

[marsbotz]

Saw your tag saying FSM haters come fight you. Here I am! Frankly I'm not so much of a hater as I am just of the opinion "wow this guy sure Started All This Shit" but I'm absolutely willing to hear your view of the matter if you're willing to share! Love some Friendly Fandom Discourse (it's healthy tbh) come at me bro 👊 👊 👊

HI LOL.... my personal opinion is that the FSM gets a lot of hate for similar reasons to wu (which i also think are unjustified but that's a different post). like you said he gets a lot of the blame put on him for starting everything that's to come in the show, but i don't really feel like he intended to do any harm.

the FSM was born into a war. when he was still a very young child, he was forced to choose one side of himself, of his family, and destroy the other. and so he ran away. but this world he runs to is chaotic and dangerous. and so again, he is forced to fight for the right to live in peace along with the inhabitants of this world.

but even in this new world, he wasn't safe: the oni followed him, determined to bring him back to fight for them. and after them, the overlord. his whole life, especially when he was younger, he had been fighting, or running from forces that aimed to destroy him.

i believe the FSM was incredibly paranoid throughout his life, worrying that at any moment everything would be ripped away from him. this can be seen in how secretive he was, how much of his history is hidden away. the mech used to win the war against the overlord was sealed away where it could never be found. he granted elemental powers to select people to help keep him safe. even in his death, he hid away, in a place that even wu could not find.

this paranoia carries on through his sons. he taught them both to fight, to protect themselves, when they were also very young. one of the earliest moments we see of them is them fighting with swords! and though he loves them, they are not immune to his secrecy, or his fears. when they steal the scrolls and enter the serpentine territory, he never fully trusts them again. when garmadon gets bitten and starts to turn to evil, he's desperate to cure him. and i don't fully believe that the FSM intended to make garmadon feel broken or "wrong"... just that his fear has so consumed him at this point that he can't see the damage he's doing to his children.

it's also worth noting that despite garmadon's corruption, the FSM never truly hated him. he was left to protect the golden weapons alongside wu, he recieved the same protective enchanted gi, and was left the same clues to find him after his death. it's just that garmadon was unable to see this through the corruption (which is another post).

perhaps all he did was to protect his sons. that seems to be how wu sees it, at least. because wu repeats this same behaviour with the ninja, even if unintentionally. he brings these kids into a war because that happened to him, and his father before him. maybe he doesn't even realise it's wrong. he hides things from them not only because because he's ashamed of his past (again, another post lol), but because his father always hid things from him. it protects wu, but it also protects the ninja.

i don't believe the FSM was a flawless person. hes one of many grey characters in ninjago, and to boil down everything he did to "good" or "bad" is a disservice. maybe you see him as someone who only ever ran from problems instead of truly solving them, maybe you see him as a cruel and neglectful father. and maybe those are both true. but he's also someone who always tried to fight for peace, for himself and everyone in ninjago, and someone who truly loved his sons, despite the damage he did to them both.

so that's who i think the FSM was. an immortal, all powerful godlike being, yes, but also a scared child who just wanted to live peacefully, and would do anything to prevent another war. and maybe he is, in some way, indirectly responsible for every bad thing in the show, but i think this is more of an after-effect of the countless wars and conflict. he did the best he could, and considering all he went through, i think he did alright.

[trouticecream]

Intermission: Old Wounds Reawakened 1/2

It had only been for a little bit.  Just a tiny glimpse–against the very bits of rationality and cold, clear-cut logic which had cemented his original decision on the matter–into the life of the one Gregory had once been in conflict with… –approximately a decade ago, if one is to view the timeline in a more linear manner; in exactly the way in which Ninten himself would have experienced it.  Safe within the rocky and somewhat ancient–it being the very first Psion base ever constructed on Earth post preliminary contact with the seemingly ordinary planet–confines of the Mt. Itoi base, the Psion himself had utilized its built-in surveillance system–capable of zeroing in on any temporal-spatial coordinates–to extract concrete visuals centered on Ninten.  His original intentions had only been to capture a brief ‘check-in’, but like anything else of such a nature… like any other ‘slippage’... it never remains at one neat point, but rather unravels like an unwieldy thread down a labyrinth-like ravine, never to be reclaimed again.

What had started as a mere ‘peek’ had quickly evolved into something far more extensive; a task that certainly tests (if not outright transcends) what humans ordinarily regard as an ethical boundary.  Visuals which he had tirelessly followed over the course of several days, subsequently pushing back his own schedule and sending away the Starman Super which now stood by his side in his overarching quest here on Earth, in order to collect a sufficient enough degree of data on the human’s current life to (perhaps a touch selfishly) assuage his own (increasingly weighty, oddly enough, despite the lack of tangibility to it) concerns over whether or not he had permanently bestowed undue ruination upon Ninten’s life.  And according to his own observations of the human’s life thus far…

… nothing in particular seems to be amiss.

By the arbitrary definition of what it means to be ‘okay’... by the most commonly-recognized standards of humanity… Ninten seems to be okay.  Changed, but otherwise ‘okay’.  The first thing the Psion had ever noted about him is that the human boy had undergone striking physical changes, as is customary for the progression from a child and to a fully-baked human-being.  Ninten is no longer the diminutive human he had once towered over in his own full–and thus truest–adult form, but now the one who would certainly tower over the Psion himself now, stuck as he currently is at a height of 2”3;  a complete reversal of their positions when the two originally met, for the first and final time.  The form of a child–aptly referred to as the “child phase” among Psions–and though Gregory himself would like to claim otherwise… a pervasive lapse in his perceived age from before.  No matter how much knowledge he has or how many experiences–be it a collection of clear memories or vague impressions, filling the prevalent holes in-between–he has, the “adult phase” no longer seems suitable either.  Perhaps it had never been suitable from the very beginning.  Perhaps he had never been a ‘proper’ adult, but merely projected a facsimile of it and now, he had been resynchronized to what he had always truly been the whole time.  Just as the human boy had gradually grown up to the form of an adult to better match the many more experiences, knowledge, and maturity he had likely acquired since the confrontation at the summit of Mt. Itoi.

But then… that is only natural for humans is it not?

It is only natural for them to change, evolve, and grow in not just physical but in ways that far transcend mere physicality; their very flesh casings themselves.  One of the many ways in which humans prove to be surprisingly resilient, despite what shallow conclusions one may initially surmise from their comparatively fragile compositions.  A quality that, despite their renowned technological and psionic advancements, Gregory has personally found the Psion species to be lacking in.  The former is barely natural for Psions, requiring a special Magicant-oriented process to shift from the “child phase” and into the far more functional “adult phase”.  And the latter is almost unheard of.  

Change is not natural for Psions.

It is not natural to be anything, but the role that one is created to fulfill in society; nothing more and nothing less.

To undergo as many physical changes as Gregory himself has.

Child.  Then Adult.  Then a state beyond even adulthood; one so explosive and intense that it could not be contained by what Psions would define as an ‘adult’.  Then something not quite whole, but cognizant enough to pull whatever it could back together.  And now Child again, but with a kind of understanding and elevated perspective he never had the first time around.

To undergo as many non-physical changes as Gregory himself hopes to achieve, beyond the ones that have guided him beyond the confines of Psion society and into goals determined by himself.

A Psion that does not follow orders from anyone other than himself.

A Psion whose role is determined not by others, but by his own reflections.

A Psion that grows almost as the likes of humanity does.

As Ninten certainly has.

The physical changes were what was immediately evident, but though the base personality traits remain intact, the Psion himself could tell that there is a kind of acquired maturity and (surprising) level-headedness now; a sharp contrast to the brash, reckless, and hotheaded nature he had originally been acquainted with a ‘decade’ ago in chronology, thousands of years ago in his own total amount of time spent existing.  And fortunately, changed as the human boy might have been, the life that he leads seems to be ordinary.  Nothing short of what any other human might pursue were their interests to align precisely as Ninten’s have.  He engages with various sports on a regular basis.  He attends some kind of educational institution dedicated towards studies beyond that which something referred to as ‘high school’ entails with a focus on what appears to be fauna in a medical context.  He plays a particular ‘role’ in his society as a preparer of coffee in a cafe, albeit within very limited temporal constraints and in exchange for currency.  And he regularly maintains contact with the associates which had accompanied him at the summit of Mt. Itoi.

All constituents of that which many humans strive towards; a ‘normal’ and ‘happy’ life.  And relatively ‘normal’ and ‘happy’ Ninten seems.

It is… a ‘relief’ as humans would put it.

A miniscule bit of a kind of… –’heaviness’ proverbially lifted off his petite shoulders.  Not quite all of it, but at this juncture, that should not have mattered anyways because this is done.  Logically, Gregory should have logically left it at that.  Should have simply forgotten about this entire… detour altogether… and re-centralized his focus towards doing something that will actually help the Earth and its life-forms; not something that has already long since overstayed its ‘welcome’ or lack thereof.  And yet… against all the precise calculations and ice cold logic which had originally led him to decide against doing any of this to begin with… something… –irrational, compels him to pursue the matter beyond its originally limited scope.  More than merely conducting surveillance from within the safe confines of the Mt. Itoi base… the Psion somehow manages to convince himself to take this data collection a step further and observe Ninten a little more closely.

An in-person excursion rather than merely observing him from behind the filter of a screen, no matter how advanced.  Just to be extra-certain.  To conclude that without a reasonable doubt… Ninten’s life has not been ‘ruined’ by either invasion.

And nothing else.  Inexplicable as the sheer strength of such a pull is towards continuing on with this… there can be no other reason.  No other reason is acceptable.

And so, now the disguised alien–emulating a pale blonde human boy, no more than 5”2 in height, with dark blue eyes–lies in wait, deftly hidden behind an especially thick tree along a few others scattered about the general vicinity of the human’s residence in the town referred to as ‘Podunk’, dark blue voids fixed on the residence in question.  At this point, the Psion already has a good sense of what Ninten’s schedule should be.  What to expect.  And how to most efficiently gather further data in order to properly eradicate any lingering concerns so that he can finally put this matter aside and stop wasting time accordingly.  It will only be one day and nothing else–

…–his uncharacteristically distracted and haphazard thoughts abruptly get cut off with a sudden brush of physical contact in the form of a light yet somewhat firm application of pressure to a shoulder.  A mere poke punctuated by a “hey” whispered all too closely into his ear, but an action nonetheless so surprising–a novelty in and of itself with how rare it is to ‘sneak up’ on him like that–that Gregory immediately stiffens up, mouth flattening into a tense line, and he unconsciously projects a barrier of pale blue light from his own person and outwards.  A barrier which, as a result, ends up knocking back the mysterious ‘assailant’ and hard into the ground a more comfortable distance from the disguised Psion himself.  Gregory sharply turns, his hand slightly raised and dark blue voids narrowed with a mixture of irritation at having been startled and an analytical edge, ultimately intent on quickly assessing what action this change in situation warrants.  A state of agitation which almost immediately evaporates the moment he not only gets a proper look at the ‘assailant’ in question, but hears their voice through the air as they rub their side before wildly waving toned appendages before them in protest.

“OW!  Hey… HEY, take it easy kid will ya?!?  I didn’t mean any harm –I was just trying to mess with you a little, honest!”

Ninten.  Of course.  The height, athletic build, messy dark hair, brown eyes, voice, and tanned skin all match up.  But, even so, Gregory sharply stares for just a moment more before he puts his hand down and the barrier around him dissipates.  An action which elicits a sigh of relief from the human man, before he rather gingerly pulls himself back to his feet, half-heartedly dusting dirt from his red and blue striped hoodie adorned with an illustration of some sort of Earth creature–a ‘penguin’ he believes to be the correct term for such a thing–in its center and plain black gym shorts as he does so.  The disguised Psion, in the meantime, merely stares straight ahead without a blink, his mind utterly frayed and buzzing with a million different thoughts; utterly unprepared for an encounter of this sort, the rarity of being surprised aside.

He cannot parse out how to respond exactly.  How much he should bother with blaming himself for the transgression of any contact with the human at all.  How he had been caught by surprise at all… before ultimately determining that much of these thoughts don’t matter right now anyways.  He needs to say something… an ‘apology’ he thinks based on what all those books on causing accidental harm suggest… but before he can even manage to do that much, something oddly petty steamrolls through any semblance of ironclad restraint.  The disguised alien neatly crosses his arms over his chest with a huff, his tone taking on a kind of militant sharpness, tipped in just a bit of disapproval.

“Well.  Do not do it again.

Someone of your experience and developmental phase should know better than to do something like that.”

By the time the disguised Psion finishes speaking, Ninten has already regained his footing and recovered from the fall albeit a bit sore, and though he’s clearly the so-called ‘adult’ here, something about the primness–almost like being scolded or something–rubs him the wrong way; in a way that any other kid definitely wouldn't, as if somehow there’s something more complicated or deeper than the surface than it seems, in a way that’s just a touch familiar.  Yeah yeah maybe sneaking up on what, now, seems like an obvious PSI-user–beyond the more visible display of power–isn’t a great move, but geez it’s not like it’s the end of the world or anything!  The human man crosses his arms–as though intentionally imitating Gregory–and cocks his head almost challengingly, just about barely stifling the urge to dismissively stick his tongue out in contempt of the pretentious air being given off by the other, before he sharply shoots back a response of his own, making sure to match the disguised Psion’s tone exactly.

“Wellllll… –maybe I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t skulking around like a weirdo!”

He wouldn’t normally address a kid–no matter how pretentious–like that, but man something is definitely up with this one.  Something weird enough that it somehow feels fitting to respond as he would anyone else; it just feels right somehow, especially for the weirdly blank demeanor and the way that the kid talks… which oddly enough, also feels right somehow hence why he doesn’t question it much at all.  Maybe even more so given just how much, odd as it may be, it re-ignites the same rebellious spark that propelled him forward against all odds back when Giegue–.  He cuts his own thought off with a shake of his head, disapproval of his own, before completely pushing away the overall ick of just how unsettling, disturbing, and well… complicated it ended up being.  He doesn’t really know why he’s thinking about him now of all things, but well, old habits die hard, especially when dredged back up by yet another attack.  Some time might have passed since then, but the scale of it this time around was something else altogether.

The human exudes a heavy sigh, acutely noting that Gregory had deigned not to respond with an utterly inscrutable expression, before pressing on a bit more gently though not quite letting up entirely yet.

“Guess what I’m saying is that… I’m trying to piece out what you want exactly.”

He animatedly yet vaguely gestures at the other.

“On why you’ve been watching me.”

He sticks up a finger, almost scoldingly, as if anticipating denial of the fact.

“And don’t say it isn’t you.  It’s gotta be you.  I got the same feeling I’ve been getting over the past few days right as you arrived, but stronger.

I’m a PSI-user too, y’know?

Maybe not as talented as one of my best friends, but not exactly a lightweight either, you get it?”

Just as was the case before, Ninten is met with silence or at least that appears to be the case at first, before Gregory averts his gaze, small hands agitatedly gripping the ends of his yellow sweater and twisting it to and fro.  As his own bout of pettiness slowly ebbs away, a combination of frustration–in having miscalculated so severely and violating the one thing he had vowed not to do–and shame sets in, causing the disguised alien to hesitate a little before he ultimately responds.  There’s no utility in lying.  Not about observing Ninten at least.  As for the reason why… well… he will have to make something up.  A moment’s thought is granted to that notion before Gregory straightens himself out to a more upright position and nods, flatly speaking as he does so.

“I do know.  You are the one that stopped the alien invasion a decade ago.  I have heard many stories about it and was hoping to learn something more from observing you.

I…”

The disguised alien glances back, expression perfectly neutral, before he seems to ultimately relent in some way, hands falling back to idle positions by his sides.

“... –sorry.”

And though his stoic demeanor dares not falter, it ‘feels’ as though the ‘floodgates’ have effectively been opened or as though something has burst on the inside in a way he has not experienced in a very long time.  It’s an oddly rending sensation; resonant with that which he had pushed back before being inadvertently pulled back in with a biting vengeance.  A buried desire to apologize–to rectify–wrongdoings against his adoptive human mother’s kin now reborn anew and embodied by the simple expression he had just managed to utter.  Something that means so much more than just this situation in particular, but no less a truth that he could not reveal here and now.  The ‘cruel’ truth of the matter is that Ninten could never be allowed to understand just what the ‘sorry’ means in full… what it exactly means to the Psion himself… because it would go against his current mission on Earth.  On what he means to achieve in ways that far transcend the mere physical actions of cleaning up after what he’s done here.  It isn’t just about rectifying the physical damages, but ensuring that no further harm comes to the life-forms on Earth because of him and that they can exist in relative peace without having to see even the remnants of the invasions of Earth.

“I should depart.  I will bother you no further.”

And to that end, out returns the only correct response to such a situation, in Gregory’s personal opinion.  Personal feelings must never come before his mission.  Be as that may however, it would seem that such a thing is not entirely up to the Psion himself because for better and for worse, the human isn’t quite as content to let this whole thing go.  Not after he’s heard not just the reason why, but the way the other seems to relent shortly after.  An apology goes a long way and while there’s (still) this overwhelming sense of oddness and vague sense of familiarity–something that’s been pushed back time and time again, throughout the entire ordeal–it doesn’t exactly stop him from sticking out a hand (but this time, without making the mistake of suddenly coming into physical contact with the other) in a stop motion.

“Wait!  Listen, this is all super-weird okay?  Let’s just get that out there, but hey, if you wanna know more about that whole invasion thing, I don’t mind telling the story.

But some advice for next time? if you wanna get something outta someone, it’s usually better to just be direct about it y’know?”

He smiles, reassuringly, at the disguised alien.  It seems that for the time-being, everything preceding this moment, is water under the bridge.

“Makes it easier to avoid situations like this to begin with, yeah?”

Gregory averts his gaze for a moment, mulling over the human’s words for a moment and turning over his revised options, before looking back at the other with a curt nod, his own expression a somewhat cold and blank contrast to Ninten’s warmth.

“I suppose so.”

And… that’s all he says for the time-being, unable to put together anything better.  In the end, it seems that since the ‘damage’ is effectively done… he might as well see this through to the very end; this way he gleans something from it as opposed to something this happening… with nothing to show for it afterwards anyways.  Fortunately, he doesn’t need to say much because Ninten himself is talkative and outgoing enough to fill in the spaces left in the wake of Gregory’s woeful inadequacies in such a thing.  The hand that the human had extended out earlier is promptly turned over in an open gesture, receptive to being gripped in kind by another.

“Ahem.  Now that that’s settled, why dontcha head back with me to my house?  It’s better to talk ‘bout this kinda thing in comfort!”

Gregory himself merely stares at the offered hand, perhaps for a moment too long as though more complicated deliberations are going on in his head, before relenting and gingerly–cautiously–taking it.  Something so simple yet utterly complicated.  He has not held anyone’s hand in literal millenia much less anyone that could effectively be regarded as ‘family’ by proxy.  It is as though he had grown so accustomed to existing in a particular state–with a perpetual figurative hole in his ‘heart’–that he had not realized that anything was amiss anymore until the realization struck him anew.  Re-awakened a particular kind of awareness that had been numbed before and in turn, alerted him to an old pain as it’s now being eased, even if only a little bit.  Were he precisely the same as he was before, the disguised Psion is certain that he would have retracted his hand immediately and though the impulse isn’t entirely absent, rather than falling to its mercurial whims, he tightens his grip just a bit to avoid inadvertently slipping out.

Grip secured and confident that he’ll be followed in kind, the human man begins to almost casually make his way across the short distance to his home while Gregory silently follows along, still a touch conflicted but more willing to put that much behind him in favour of making certain that everything goes well here.

“Soooo… you obviously already know me, my name and everything… –so I gotta know, what do I call my newest fan?”

The word ‘fan’ immediately cuts through the remainder of the disguised alien’s internal conflict if only because such a notation is absurd, his mouth twitching just a bit with a barely contained resurgence of that pettiness from before.  It does no good to become unnecessarily combative like that.  The assumption made is a convenient one and so, after the initial affrontement passes, Gregory responds in a more comparatively amicable (if not fundamentally neutral) way in return.

“You may refer to me as ‘Gregory’.  I look forward to learning from you, Ninten.”

[neonponders]

WIP Tuesday

for my fic Found You (Side-Ways)

s4 rewrite with time travel/time loops.

“Steve! You’re a missing person! Don’t you think that’s going to—I don’t know—get you, like, arrested for questioning?”

Dustin’s haranguing got interrupted by Max climbing out of the gate in Steve’s wake. Dustin’s hand shoved into his hair, dislodging his hat as he lamented, “Jesus shit.”

Robin fell into step with him and Max. “What’s the plan, exactly?”

“Is my car still here?” Steve asked.

“It is, actually. I’ve been using it. Here are your keys—don’t look too closely at the dents.”

He scoffed a tired laugh and the three of them jogged out of the mall. Behind them, side-ways Lucas asked through the gate, “What about us?”

’85 Dustin looked in the direction Steve had left and exhaled haughtily. “Well, our paladin and zoomer just abandoned us so…I suggest we all meet in the Upside Down and get you guys up to speed.”

Lillian cut in, “That’s not a good idea. This man lives there, does he not?”

’85 El reassured with a look at her Will. “He can’t risk attacking us yet.”

Modern Jonathan huffed, “That’s great. Can I ask how so?”

Will answered, “Because I can sense him. Between me and your Eleven, he can’t attack us without us knowing what direction it came from. If he isn’t ready for a fight, he’ll leave us alone.”

’85 Dustin grumbled, “Yeah, but we’re not ready for a fight either.”

Their El finished with a final look at her older counterpart, “Upside Down doesn’t sleep. But Henry does.”

Modern Jonathan waved a hand, vaguely tired of all this. “Yeah, sure. We’ll go on that, I guess.”

He looked at Billy when a hand gripped his shoulder. Billy surprised him with his controlled strength, how he moved Jonathan out of the way of the gate without knocking him off balance. Jonathan’s high might’ve been wearing away, but he blinked clearly at Billy the same time his mother cornered, “Billy.”

“I’m not dying blind like the other one,” he ordered, dropping right into the Upside Down with the climbing rope in hand.

[anguis-sapphire]

i can’t believe I didn’t try using Astral as an online name before now. yes, I had had it as a placeholder on something for ages, but having

a way of referencing one of my absolute most treasured interests that has been so treasured since I was little (DQIX),

without it necessarily being directly tied to that interest,

and that also works as a link to what is arguably my most recent new interest (FFXIV) despite that not being at all intentional,

as well as being a name that so far does not activate either my latent “it’s too edgy” hangups about going by Void or my “it’s not serious enough” hangups about going by Echo,

really does make it click into place well.

[void-kissed]

This post is okay for anyone to reblog as long as my DNI is respected! You’re welcome to elaborate in tags or replies if you’d like to~

[astrxealis]

good eve, sending u all hugs ^_^

[blorbosexterminator]

Finally posted the first chapter of The Swan's Symphony. Hope you all enjoy it.