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flightfoot · 3 months ago

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I just finished the seasons of Pretty Cure I was interested in, here's my rankings for them!

For reference, the Precure seasons I've completed are Futari Wa, Max Heart, Fresh, Heartcatch, Go Princess, Mahou Tsukai, Kira Kira, Hugtto, Star Twinkle, Delicious Party, Otona, and Hirogaru Sky.

I'm gonna rank them from worst to best and give my opinion on them. Warning that there may be spoilers in my review.

Hirogaru Sky

This season was a MASSIVE disappointment. It started off strong, but the plot just kind of meandered around until the last few episodes, the pacing was terrible. Most of the episodes are just the characters going to some location and hanging out being cute, and while that's fine for the occasional breather episode, it got really boring really quickly. The character arcs were also pretty lackluster for the most part, Sora's especially. C'mon, you can do so much more interesting things with the desire to "be a hero". Cure Majesty managed to be the most boring cure in existence, she lost all semblance of personality in her transformation from Ellee. Some good things: Tsubasa's character design was amazing, and his two episode introduction was one of the best I've seen for a non-midseason. I also really enjoyed how Mashiro and Battamonda foiled off of each other, I hadn't expected that. If only that arc encompassed more than just three episodes, that was the best part of the show.

Futari Wa

It's okay, it's neat to see where the show started and Nagisa and Honoka are fun to watch. I wish it'd given more even focus to both leads instead of focusing so heavily on Nagisa though, given that there was only the two of them, and it's overall pretty generic by magical girl standards.

Max Heart

I like Max Heart a little better than Futari Wa. Hikari's just okay and the Heartiels are a really poor fetch quest for showing progression (they just kinda show up when it's time), but there's a bit of a mystery element going on with figuring out what Hikari is and how she's connected to the mysterious boy, and overall the plot and ending are a little better than the first season.

Star Twinkle

Now we're getting into the really solid seasons, the ones with a lot to offer, even if they still have major flaws. I love how expansive the world is, all the Cures are interesting and have their own problems, and the way the villains foil with the heroes is cool. It does have some major flaws, however. The season refuses to actually commit to the moral ambiguity it sets up. Like with its cool phantom thief character: she's stealing back the treasures that were illegally stolen from her homeworld after all her people were petrified. Unfortunately, the show doesn't want to promote stealing, so she ends up being scolded about how "stealing is bad" and that they need to simply ask the mob boss nicely to hand over the jewelry he bought. It also has problems with something that's going to come up a lot with the more ambitious, darker entries on this list: terminal vagueness. Precure is frequently extremely vague when tackling darker subjects in the narrative, which can be to its detriment. Like for instance, Kappard hates outsiders because outsiders took his planets resources. It's unclear from what little we see whether outsiders conquered and colonized their world, or whether there were just too many exploitive tourists and the government was incompetent and decided not to do anything about it. I also just kinda got bored after awhile and started wanting it to be over, though there was a lot of interesting stuff in the series. Overall still a good series with a varied world that attempts to tackle and comment on a lot of interesting subjects, but doesn't always manage to do it well.

Heartcatch

So this is a fan-favorite season. Funny thing is, I think it actually sucks at the things it's most well-known for, but is very good at some other things. It's known for being really dark, but I thought its dark elements were poorly executed, with little explanation being given for why Cure Moonlight's father felt the need to put on that damn mask, and little explanation being given about how the main villains came to be. Honestly, for any of them except for Dark Precure. Dune is particularly nonsensical, I have no idea whether he's an alien, a god, or some primordial force. He just kinda popped up. It also set up some plot threads at the beginning with some unsatisfactory pay-offs, like with Cure Blossom supposedly being the weakest Precure and that mostly not mattering after the first episode, or the mystery of who the hunky guy who saved her actually was. Him being Coupe transformed to look like her dead grandpa was unsatisfying. Heartcatch DOES, however, have solid characters and the best monster-of-the-week episodes in the franchise. The premise of Heartcatch was well-crafted for going over and helping to resolve the emotional problems various people run into in their day-to-day lives. For that aspect, I'd recommend Heartcatch to people, even with the problems I have with the actual plot.

Go Princess

This is a really good, solid season that you can hand to most newcomers and be confident they'll have a good time. The character arcs are just kind of okay, but the season's well-paced, I really love the message about pursuing your dreams, putting in the work to fulfill your ambitions, and it's got solid episodic episodes. The thing it's REALLY good at and is known for are the fight scenes and boss fights though. There are boss fights roughly every ten episodes and they're pretty epic, and the fighting is pretty brutal this season in general.

Delicious Party

This is the most underrated Precure season. I think it's something about the silliness of being a food-based season? But I loved its full-throated sincerity when espousing how food brings people together, and it has one of the most plot-filled, excellently paced storylines, since it has this mystery running throughout it of who stole the recipebon, where it is now, and what, exactly, happened to Cinnamon. I really enjoyed some of the character arcs this time around, Cure Spicy's in particular, with her and her parents trying to reconnect, she's one of my favorite cures! Overall, I can understand some of the complaints about this season, but I loved it.

Mahou Tsukai

This season is more than the sum of its parts. Its villains are fun, if not ground-breaking, and it has pretty good world-building, arguably the best of any Precure season - not that that's saying a lot, that is not one of Precure's strengths. It's not really the character ARCS that are amazing this season, it's how the main characters play off each other. This is the most cohesive, closest team of Cures I've seen. Helps that the two main Cures raised a child together XD. Anyway, while a few episodes were kinda slow, I really enjoyed seeing the Magic world and the epilogue left me on the verge of tears, which is the most I've been emotionally affected by ANYTHING in Precure. Highly recommend this season.

Otona

This one's hard to place, since it was only a single cour instead of just four. Still, I think it earns this place. I love how while all the Cures achieved their "dream" jobs, it didn't mean that everything was perfect and sunny in their lives, and looming threats like Global Warming were brought up. All the cures had their own, individual problems, ones that couldn't just be naively dealt with like when they were kids - they had to come up with actual adult answers for them. I love how Otona didn't just like, make everything dark and gloomy, but DID actually seem interested in tackling what might happen with a group of adult magical girls in a genuinely mature way. It felt even-handed. I'd recommend this to even some non-Precure fans who were interested in this sort of premise.

Fresh

I did not like this season at first. I could tell that the villains were gonna be interesting, but I wasn't all that interested in Miki, Buki, Love, or Chiffon. I thought this was gonna be a mediocre season. ...then Eas got those cards and the plot went into overdrive and never went back. The first ten or so episodes of Fresh are just kinda okay, but after that, once Setsuna's arc kicks into high gear, it becomes one of the best Precure seasons, with the single best plot, ending, villains, and single character arc in the series. Setsuna's redemption arc is very compelling, especially since her having been a villain never stops mattering. Reminds me of Ken Ichijouji's, in that way. And the villains are all a blast to watch, and for different reasons. Westar's a himbo, Soular's a sneaky schemer, and Eas gets divided loyalties pretty quickly. They have different sorts of villains they make too. I especially like Soular's villains, they have creative powers. The main things keeping Fresh from being higher are its early mediocre episodes and Chiffon. Chiffon's role in the plot makes no sense. Once again, Precure's just very vague and has Chiffon be this infinity thing that can be used to take over worlds and has a music box to help undo the transformation... just because? it's never explained why Chiffon is the way she is, and she's too important to the plot for that to just be handwaved away. Overall though, I think this season has the most of the best stuff to offer, it's just that there's enough important things it does poorly to keep it off the top of this list.

Hugtto

This season is excellently paced with great character arcs for all the Cures AND even a bunch of the side characters, such as Henri and Masato. Hugtan is a great magical Precure baby and Hariham Harry is an amazing mascot/mentor. The episodes are almost all highly enjoyable and the villains stick around after being defeated, popping up in their new jobs repeatedly. The main thing keeping it off the top spot is the whole "terminal vagueness" problem I've talked about before. It's not totally clear why a lot of the villains want to stop time or why some of them even joined the organization to begin with, or why they made certain other decisions. Like Doctor Traum just sort of attempting to murder his coworker because he could, or why Hariham's brethren decided to stick with Criasu Corp as much as they did after everyone else had gotten hit with an unexplained illness and then had the village burnt down and everyone die in a similarly unexplained fire. The ending was highly disappointing because of how vague it was about these sort of motivations, it just kinda felt like stuff was happening. The epilogue was really good though, I loved seeing what was happening in this new future.

Kira Kira

This is, in my opinion, the single best Precure season. It's got well-orchestrated character arcs for everyone, memorable villains (well, half of the villains, at least), excellent pacing, and the earnestness with which it pursues its baking theme is great to watch. I also really love how Ichika actually kinda sucked at baking at first and had to slowly become better through experience, it was satisfying and realistic! Also the ending was really good and the epilogue had me jumping out of my seat, I STILL can't believe that something that'd been bugging me since episode 2 was finally answered IN THE VERY LAST EPISODE. Honestly my biggest complaint is the lack of Cure Waffle, we were ROBBED. Still, I'm very glad Pikario existed in the first place at least.

#pretty cure #precure

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tenth-of-july · 4 months ago

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is it over now?

How am I supposed to come up with new words out of over 600,000 entries in the Oxford dictionary just so I could avoid reusing all of what you left me? How do you explain the same type of pain that has lashed through your body over and over under a million times already? Would I be able to showcase the limit of my abilities through this piece? Can I recycle the words I used such as how devastating it was when your silhouette is still ingrained in the back of my mind to the point where I could spot you first in a room full of people under an already unusual day? Or how I remain breathless and unmoving in the coffin that you helped me build? All of these jumbled up letters that form into words meant to describe and relate to what I feel or have felt, will lie meaningless by the end of my point as its taste will subside but uncomfortably linger like the improperly flamed gin I mixed with grape juice to memorialize the morning I first saw you after a year of wanting to erase the traces of us from the capabilities of my episodic memory that right now, am unfortunate to have—from your face, to your voice, and down to the specific way your head would turn when you get to hear me call your name. What else is there to write other than the repetition of my woes and my alliterated miseries written between the lines of my poetry?

How do I tell someone the fortuities hidden beneath this one encounter, perfectly timed at the 375th day (precisely a year and ten days; the tenth day, being the date of our parting) since that damned birthday party with the same drink I concocted and the similar restaurant where we had our first date? How do I tell someone that even after I chose to ignore your Christmas greeting last year, even after my third “last entry” about you in my journal, I still feel you cutting through me—and not in a way that someone would expect. Usually, it could mean that I yearn for you again, that I would like to talk it through and maybe change your mind if I were to gamble with my luck—But no one could ever be more wrong if they were to assume that to me. The closest word I can provide is torturous. My heartstrings, already tangled and unkempt outside the shells of every body system that any human being should encompass, beaten and tugged away yet again. When I walked through the door in that fast-food restaurant to escape from the pre-afternoon heat outside, I knew it was all over when the glint of your glasses led me to a spiral all those months ago. I looked away just when you noticed me walking in, your brows lifting in surprise and I think we had that same thought of, “Why now? On the last day of the semester? Just a year after?” I wanted to let you know that I knew we were in the same room that day, but then what? What would I do if I were to ever acknowledge you and the months that have passed without even a word from each other? That I forced myself to ignore your greetings in holidays because I was afraid of bursting? I sat behind your table, your back completely within my gaze, and I felt like I consumed a whole bottle of vodka at the sight of you trying to find my face through the front of your camera. I wanted to throw up and purge every drop of blood that was inside of me because you have already taken everything and what else was there left for me to keep but my organs and its vessels? This sudden pull occurred in the most agonizing way possible, happening in the blink of an eye—or more accurately (and quite literally)—in the blink of your eye. And now, I am forced to accommodate the fact that you remain constant on the soil where I stand as well.

#literature #poem #poetry #letters #letters i'll never send #love poem #prose #prose poem #prose poetry #spilled ink #personal rant #rant post #venting

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color-cacophony · 1 year ago

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I was going to make a Big Official Review Post about Rayman in the Phantom Show but I don't really have enough complete thoughts to make something comprehensive and organized, but I still want to share some points from my experience with it so uhhh without further ado, here's a bunch of thoughts on what dazzled me and what I thought could have been done better.

Here I go...

I'll start with the stuff that bugged me first because I don't like to end on a bad note:

I think the biggest issue is that giving the player the option to complete each set in any order diminishes the opportunity to have a linear story. Without a series of events building up to the finale, the actual climax doesn't feel as grand or substantial as it should be (it definitely feels like a few lines were cut from the moments before Phantom's first verse with how abruptly it starts). It would have felt more immersive to see actual scenes of the heroes trying to play their roles and have more varied quests based on puzzles or even characters and dialogue (like the search for Sweetlopek's stolen axe), all whilst gradually putting the pieces together that they were led into a trap.

Speaking of putting the pieces together, it would've paid off to have Beep-0 learn from his own arrogance in the past instead of repeating his assertion that he knew what Phantom was up to all along. That part made me kind of sad because I really like Beep-0 and it seemed like they were setting him up to eventually become less uptight and more open to admitting his mistakes, which would be more satisfying and obvious!

As we all know, Beep-0 isn't the only one who repeated himself. I remember an exchange I had with @randomrabbidramblings about our predictions for what would happen in the climax; they were hoping the final showdown with Phantom would not be redundant with his first encounter, having the same battle gimmick as before. Unfortunately that is, in fact, what they ended up doing. While framing it as Phantom being unoriginal or making a callback helps it a little bit, ultimately it made me feel let down (although I love Beep-0's delivery when he reiterates his line from Kingdom Battle. he means business).

As for the aftermath of the battle, I want to know where Phantom went. There doesn't seem to be any sign of him anywhere in the studio. It's really odd, given how this was supposed to be his grand comeback (alongside Rayman, of course), but we don't get even a simple explanation of what happened to him after he was defeated for the second time, unless I missed something. I presume this is his last major appearance in a game (unless they decide to do something completely different with him in the distant future??? wishful thinking but not ruling it out!), so it's a strangely underwhelming and mysterious send-off to our beloved ghostly diva. I would have been bummed that we didn't get lore paintings for him, but the memory entry summarizing his surprisingly short-lived career actually made me laugh and honestly, the thought of him only releasing one album and becoming so well-known just because he's notoriously a huge jerk and a producer of incredibly terrible films is so in-character for him.

Another choice I found unusual was the lack of any explanation as to how he got his voice back, since it's been established that he screwed it up by overdoing it. Although, they must have dismissed it knowing that not everyone is going to find the mural containing the only source of that detail. His voice could have healed over time anyway, but it just doesn't entirely make sense that they don't acknowledge it at all (I did see @bramble-scramble 's post mentioning a detail @randomrabbidramblings pointed out where a gramophone can be seen in a box in the studio's control room and it is supposedly the one Phantom replaced with a new one when he messed it up, but even if that's true, it's still a bit easy to miss).

I understand that a lot of these issues were due to restraints since it's only a DLC and they could only fit so much in, but that goes to show that this concept is a little too big for a DLC, but not quite big enough for a full game.

Now, for the things I loved...

I must give massive props to the artists and animators for taking reference from multiple Rayman games and essentially making the pinnacle of his goofiness. Rayman was HIGHLY entertaining to see (and listen to, thanks to David Gasman) and very lovable in this! And the way his dynamic with Rabbid Peach and Rabbid Mario changes up until the end where he becomes friends with them and realizes that he can work with the Rabbids now instead of against them it's just 🥺 awgh... It feels cheesy to talk about it but it really does make me happy now that Rayman has a chance to be an equal to the Rabbids and have something resembling a mutual understanding.

I appreciate them bringing back characters from the main game and giving them their own sets. Fittingly enough, it's like a curtain call for the final installment of SoH.

The return of Beep-0's swearing. SERIOUSLY IT'S SUCH A SMALL THING BUT IT DELIGHTED ME

The studio's lobby is gorgeous. Absolutely STUNNING I love all the details and the music notation motifs on everything.

Honestly the rest of this is just going to be me gushing about Phantom hehehe...

First of all, I was completely awestruck at the decision to give him a swing/jazz sequence because I love the aesthetic of the whole sassy big band musical number kind of thing so when I saw that Phantom was going to do that I went INSANE. The animation in the song sequences is absolutely top tier. Phantom is ALL OVER THE PLACE, very charming, very energetic. The swing bit made me realize just how unbelievably coordinated he is. Like when he's zipping and spinning around the stage and it doesn't affect his singing at all? Holy crap. Then, I went even MORE insane when rock/metal Phantom showed up. I would have wanted a verse in that style too, but I get that it was cut because it would mess up the pacing of the battle.

I love Phantom's inability to contain his excitement at the start of the battle, his annoyed lines when you destroy the lights, his smug remarks even when he's taking damage. He's just so- I'm just gonna say it- so freaking cute in this! His line deliveries in general made me fall so hard for him, especially "were you EVER a thing, Rayman?". The way he drops his voice sounds so cool...

Regarding his abilities, I thought they were going to explain why he could turn people to stone in Kingdom Battle, but they simply took that detail away. I don't have a big problem with this, as the Stone Deaf ability could have been part of the Megabug's influence (and it makes him at least a bit less OP lol). I'm also satisfied to finally know that he can indeed phase through things like any other ghost and isn't limited to just teleporting.

His death acting has definitely improved since last time, in that it's silly and makes me smile instead of just making me feel embarrassed lol.

So uummmm yeah that's all the noteworthy stuff I can think of! Overall I thought the DLC was delightful during my playthrough, but after I finished it I felt kind of sad because it just didn't feel "thorough". However, given that Sparks of Hope generally improved on so many aspects from the last game, I'm confident that they'll keep adding and experimenting with more characterizations and scenarios and make something even better if they decide to continue with Mario + Rabbids. And even if they don't, we'll always have the amazing fans to continue the story and put even more wonder into this wild crossed-over universe!

Anyway, thank you for reading through this highly disorganized rant/gush! And while I'm at it, thank you to everybody in the Mario + Rabbids community for making such amazing art and just being here to share our love for the series. That means thank you to @randomrabbidramblings @bramble-scramble @salamifuposey @hostess-of-horror @phandrow @pastelprince18 @critterzone13 @hostdoozy @majorpepperidge and more! You guys are super cool and I appreciate you even though I've never directly interacted with all of you, hehe. I suppose all I have left to say is goodnight, so goodnight/day everyone! Until next time I decide to dump more nonsense onto your dashboard :D

#I was a bit late making this post but I was dead for a while so eehhhh #thoughts and rambles tag

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stormxpadme · 1 month ago

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Whumptober 2024 No. 8 - "Leave the lights on."

06/04/2018

By the time Hank finally made it to his newest case after some once-again spectacularly useless stop in the Principal's office and unplanned interruptions the low electric hum of a treadmill motor and comparatively leisurely walking on it could be heard from the general examination hall already. So it was that kind of patient to whom Hank had hectically administered the most important ones of the necessary treatments right after their arrival ... And the next steps towards recovery had now apparently been initiated without him.

“Hello, you two.” He greeted the young man, who to his relief was finally no longer unconscious, on what was fortunately the only occupied med stretcher right now, with an implied bow because the young man made no move to take his hand, and grabbed a data pad and pen from his belt. “I'm sorry I didn’t come back earlier. One of the active warriors was scheduled for pain therapy this morning, and one of the younger students needed stitches. Brief check-up and then we'll cross off the basic data real quick so that there are no unpleasant surprises in terms of supplies and treatment in the first few days, alright? It won't take long.” Hank followed the teenager's alienated gaze to the other side of the room, where another sick bay visitor was absorbed in their running training, giving neither of them as much as a glance. He waved the young man off. “Ignore her. Monthly stress ECG. It's part of the mandatory fitness check for all team members.” He ignored the boy's snide snort at the mention of the not-so-harmless side job that some of the teachers and staff members of this mansion occasionally pursued, and opened the hastily created database entry in the Mutant High network for his current problem child with practiced clicks. “Little Pit Bull isn't even listening. Unfortunately, we had painters over in the other rooms this morning, so the air in there is hardly tolerable right now. Thanks, Andréo, I'll be fine now.” Hank got a new pair of giant gloves from the largest storage cabinet on the wall, containing the most important utensils for his daily duties, and gave a nod of appreciation to the teenager who had taken care of the new arrival, reliable as always when Hank occasionally prepared him for his dream job as a doctor during his last year of high school. But the following conversation, Hank needed to have in private, or rather, in semi-privacy. “Please leave us alone.”

“If you insist.” Visibly reluctantly, Andréo rose from the stool that had been made especially for him, a somewhat arduous movement accompanied by a flinch and the corners of his mouth pulled downwards. The heat of the beginning of some summer of the century was an additional burden for already chronically overstrained muscles. “Let them fix you real quick, alright? Can't fight the mother hens in this room anyway. The less you argue, the faster you'll be out of here.” He winked at the newcomer amicably, gallantly ignoring the boy's tight lips, and closed the door behind him.

“You know, you could have just knocked. The body scanner would probably still have let you through without an issue.” Hank tried casualty too, without much success. It wasn't often that children or teenagers came to Mutant High who were not only familiar from certain sad files already, but also from a first spectacularly failed attempt years ago to give the person in question a new start in this mansion.

In this case, the file was called Bastian Murray, and its contents had appeared at dawn at the X-Men's garden gate out of nowhere with his horse, completely exhausted. Bastian had collapsed before a group of teenagers just busy with their running lap could have reached him.

Andréo had barely been able to save the boy from a crucial fall on the asphalt with the help of a breakneck dive.

Often enough, Hank had nothing to do down here for days at a stretch, but today, the fleas had apparently scored a group discount from the school's accident insurance. One of the external first-graders had run face-first into the vaulting horse upon their landing before Hank had even had made it to Scott's office, and a twelve-year-old had accidentally cut her arm deep on the chitin skin of one of her classmates, romping around.

Hank hadn't even had a chance yet to change his red-stained lab coat. Upon taking another closer look at Bastian, immediately discovering even more damage than with a provisory scan by hand and Shi'ar tech earlier, he decided not to waste time on that now either. The boy had apparently refused to let Andréo help, and the removal of a forcibly implanted inhibitor device from between his guts earlier had obviously not had any effect yet. Restlessly rubbing one of his fangs with the tip of his tongue, Hank repeatedly held his mobile scanner over the boy's chest, relieved to see that the radiation level in his cells had at least dropped significantly. “Give it a moment. After so many months with artificial suppressants in your blood, the body needs a moment to flush out this filth. But I think your healing factor will be fully restored by tonight. Until then, I'll have to handle those scratches in the paintwork conservatively, I'm afraid.”

“No need. I'm alive. I'll wait for this crap to vanish by itself.” The boy's posture noticeably tensed when Hank leaned in; his dark eyes closed for a moment too long. He tried to hide it, but Hank immediately felt the teenager startle when he took him by the upper arm to talk some sense into him. “Cheekbone's just sprained anyway, I think.”

“No, that's a fracture, definitely,” Hank objected after cautiously tracing the deeply blue discolored spot with a fingertip. ”But fractures heal. Nothing a cooling mask won't take care of within a few days, even if your mutation powers will take some time more to recover. Anything else that hurts?”

“Nothing that can't wait.” Bastian let out a sigh of relief when Hank let go of him, instinctively pulling a light sheet over his body as if he'd noticed Hank's shocked staring from the corner of his eye. ”Just dizzy, that's why I couldn't stay on Samba's back earlier. Never happened before.”

“At least you parked more elegantly than I did when I came here,” their listener over on the treadmill suddenly piped up. ”Three and a half parking spaces and almost two torn-off side mirrors. Our vehicle freak here has been holding that against me for 20 years now.”

“I wasn't planning on staying here that long.” Bastian barely looked at the woman; it was obvious that, just like during his first extremely brief stay here a few years ago, he was trying not to get any closer to any Mutant High resident than necessary. “But right now, I need some time off, whether I like it or not. I'm afraid I threw up on your assistant's shirt earlier, Doctor McCoy. Maybe a ...”

“... concussion,” Hank added. ”Probably. For someone with a healing factor, your self-diagnosis is at least not entirely off.” He held the mobile scanning pen over Bastian's cheek again, this time without touching him, so as not to cause him any more pain. “This, in any case, isn't anything complicated indeed. I'll give you something to make you feel better in a moment. Any allergies or intolerances of yours that the inhibitor revealed?”

“Except against X-Men?” Bastian grinned wryly. “None that I know of.”

“Good.” Provoking Hank took more than tired sarcasm. Being able to slip a line into Bastian's elbow at the first attempt already was a relief after the verbal wrestling match in Scott's office. “At least as a patient, you are always welcome here. Your veins make a great example for some in this house.” The dig was not least directed at a certain third party in the room.

The woman didn't even bat a lid, hardened when it came to certain attacks after all this time as well. “If we have to postpone our vacation in the Maldives for another few more years because you guys can't handle things here alone for two weeks, I'm sure I'll earn that Snow White complexion in no time.”

“What's in that?” Continuing to ignore the banter demonstratively, Bastian narrowed his eyes at the infusion bag in Hank's hand.

“Light painkillers, dimenhydrinate to counter the reverse eating, and saline for the system. Twice a day for five days, then you'll be back on your feet even without your healing factor if necessary. I hope. As a rule, I don't make promises before the first general examination is complete.” Hank grabbed his datapad again.

“So I can stay until I can see straight again?” Bastian asked, suddenly with his heart beating so hard and fast that Hank's enhanced senses could catch the sound like drumbeats. ”Actually, I've been meaning to get off my ass and finally take care of myself alone for months, but the world's spinning around me a little too fast right now for that.”

“Take all the time you need.” Hank sat down on the edge of the boy's bed, still keeping a discreet distance, to tend to minor abrasions on his face. "In this house, we offer mutants all the help we're able to give, whether they're looking for a home or just support.”

“Well, until I find my own spot ..." Bastian murmured, still a little hesitant. His tense posture finally relaxed a little when the drugs began to take effect. “But really only until then, just so we're clear. This mansion doesn't exactly vibe with me, as you probably remember. There are a few people here whose faces I can't deal with. And I've heard that once you've become part of this whole X-Men madness, it's hard to get away again from Westchester. Brainwashing and all that.”

Hank decided to focus on data acquisition rather than commenting on this nonsense, which was not only spread by enemies of his team but also by the odd former resident. Mostly out of wounded pride, because most of the students in this house simply didn't have the necessary gifts or hadn’t been disciplined enough to make up for this physical deficit, so it had been out of the question to offer them a place on the X-Men's team with a clear conscience. As far as such rumors were concerned, it was usually better for Hank's nerves to let someone else do the talking.

“I wish that were the case,” the woman across the bed, who was now trotting at a much faster pace and with more incline, raised her voice again. ”Sure, then it would be really cramped here in the house by now, but I wouldn't have had to say goodbye to hundreds of children, crying my eyes out. You got any idea how much you have to drink to compensate for that much dehydration? And alcohol is off the list for that, sadly.”

“I wasn’t talking about the students ...” For the first time, Bastian sounded thrown off his grumpy game plan.

“Well, where do you think we get our employees, and where we do the recruitment for our special unit? Mutants don't grow on trees.” The woman threw her head back and laughed softly, not even the slightest hint of sweat glistening on her skin. It looked like in the case of this particular team member, Hank could spare himself the actual fitness check this month. “But here's an insider tip if you don't like the brand name: Form X-41 in the guest network. Our IT whiz should have programmed access for you already. The list isn't particularly long, but we've compiled all the mutant aid organizations among normal people known to us, in case someone would rather try to find work and housing this way. Unfortunately, almost all of them are minimum-wage jobs, but they're enough to afford a shared flat in some outskirts. Maybe. In form X-42, you'll find the mutant safety net; the prospects there are more lucrative. Since you like freezing your butt off, Siberia might be just right for you. Colossus and Shadowcat would be thrilled. It's been long since we last sent them any fresh meat. As a mutant, you should keep as far away from the Kremlin as possible for the sake of your freedom and health though. It's warmer in Vancouver, but Jubilee suffers from 24/7 sugar shock courtesy of her mutation. Personally, I can only stand that for a week's vacation at a time. Especially since I've never heard her husband shut up for more than five minutes either. Hammy the Squirrel in a double edition is too much for my taste."

“Look who's talking.” Of which, for Bastian's slightly dazed mind, there was indeed far too much of, though he did seem impressed that the stranger was able to cross her marathon off the list during her little lecture without getting out of breath even once.

“Comes with the job.” The woman was entirely unfazed, only her cheeks had flushed a little, which was probably also not exactly due to the physical exertion either. “Our reputation is bad enough, as you have just proven so impressively. If we send someone away alone, I rather make sure they at least don't get themselves into trouble right again on our doorstep. Things were generally more peaceful with Banshee in Central Europe than here or at Piotr and Kade's or Jubilation's. But that option sadly no longer exists as you know.” The woman's features promptly darkened with anger at an as-of-yet unexplained tragedy not even processed yet in the slightest. “Anyone thinking this school's headmaster is torture to work with as a field leader has not met Sean's daughter after he's been murdered. That whole thing went down the drain faster than we could help. Theresa is a former riding pupil of mine, by the way. That was one of those goodbyes after which our furball here threatened me with drips because I couldn't find the off switch for those damn tears for a week.”

For a moment, the well-fitting mask of hyperactivity in the shape of a lecture that was not being held in this room for the first time by this person, slipped, always interrupted at this same point by a too-fast blinking, by her voice breaking.

“So why didn't you go with her if things with your partnering teams are so much better than here?” Bastian started to sound interested against his will. And now he was so distracted at last that Hank could turn his attention to the somewhat more unpleasant examinations under the shield of the blanket, where, since Andréo had freed Bastian from his torn and bloody clothes before already, more and more bruises and untreated wounds came to light, adding to his growing aggression. Bastian accepted it reluctantly but at least without a protest that Hank cleaned the damages and covered them with sterile bandages before adding a higher dose of ibuprofen to the boy's IV. Pouting, he even parted with a tiny strand of brunette hair, with the necessary superficial skin samples for DNA acquirement, looking and turning in Hank's direction when Hank maneuvered him under the body and retina scanner, and only occasionally rolling his eyes, muttering something about “over-motivated idealists” that was easy to ignore.

The woman also did, raising her left hand to show a simple gold ring with a small diamond in it, the only piece of jewelry she was wearing even for her training. “Me, I can't get away from here that easily indeed. Long-distance relationships aren't really our thing. And Sean only accepted high-level mutants for his team back then. I never made it that far. Somehow there was never enough time to develop my powers.” This time it was his teammate who ignored an unwilling growl from Hank's direction, as she had perfected it in the course of the years. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the right setting for that kind of discussion, and Hank was simply no longer interested in that for a second time today either. “Guess that's just how it is when you don’t mutate before turning twenty.”

“Twenty …?” Bastian no longer even seemed to notice how far he had turned to his conversation partner, that he barely looked up when another band-aid covered a particularly badly infected wound. When the woman confronted him with a gap in his education – which was an actually surprising one, given Bastian's experiences in another mutant refuges –, he even blushed a little.

“Late mutant. It's rare.” The woman briefly wiped her face with a towel, not so much to cool down, as Hank knew, but rather to hide a bitter expression on her full lips. ”Unfortunately. Otherwise, I might not have been terrorized by Magneto nonstop during my first year here. Without the X-Men, I would be spending my life in a constant coma in the Brotherhood's basement, connected to catheters, IVs, and probes, while they use my blood to forcibly mutate the entire world population against their will. That does leave a certain sense of obligation, sure. And you need it when you have to let go of almost everyone in your life whom you teach to protect themselves from such crap.”

Bastian was visibly at a loss for words. “Frankly, I would have expected better marketing from you guys.”

“Do I look like someone trying to sell people glorified heroic tales?” Hank's teammate pointed down at her small, well-trained body in simple, short leggings and a spaghetti strap top, revealing very old but still clearly visible scars. “For that, you'd have to make a trip to Frost Ltd. A membership there comes with a whole lot of mental manipulation thrown in for free though. I try to avoid sending people there. Not worth half a star on Yelp. Hank, this thing needs more juice.” Impatiently, the woman tapped the controls of the treadmill, but couldn't get it to pick up speed or incline any further. “Do you at least finally have some weights in here?”

“Out of the question. You're welcome to set up a gym in your office.”

“When was the last time you saw me there?”

“Your problem, not mine.” Hank pointed a warning claw at the treadmill. ”You dopamine junkies will not start stealing my patients right from under my nose to train them before I've even finished patching them up.”

“Nobody needs to patch me up, and I don't need no training either.” Bastian had apparently remembered his endeavor to be as unbearable as possible in order to be left alone and reluctantly pulled his left leg away before Hank had decided whether he actually needed a needle and thread for this particularly disgusting cut on the inside, which he very much doubted came from a razor, or whether Shi'ar glue would do the trick.

“Debatable. Both,” Hank replied ironically, but held up a butterfly as a compromise until Bastian reluctantly turned his leg outwards again so that Hank could reach the highly sensitive spot. ”So whose wrong side did you get on, anyway? Mutant haters? Inhibitors, you don't get at the mall. It wasn't these people from that lab back then who got their hands on you again, was it?”

“Not half as dramatic as that, don't worry. Just my ex. Ex-Marine. He's probably still had that damn thing from back then. Jealous type, that one. With the damper, he tried to make sure I would never leave again after I'd moved in with him.” Bastian lowered his eyes again remarkably quickly for his previous unruliness. “Today, he got into trouble with the cops. I don’t care for that shit. He didn't like that I finally wanted to get the hell out of there. But I made it out of the house when he left to go drink with his buddies. Suddenly, it all happened so fast … That's why I'm really glad you have a free spot here. I'm sorry if it doesn’t sound like it.”

“After what has happened in Alaska, your mistrust is understandable, don't worry.” Hank reached for another bandaid for the tear at the corner of Basti's mouth, which had burst open again during the boy's first few longer sentences in a row. That tantrum of said partner couldn't have been that harmless. Not for the first time that day, Hank thanked fate that the regular supply of Shi'ar technology to this house hadn't stopped when the former head of the school had decided to move in with the leader of that alien species almost two decades ago. This multipurpose salve, the recipe for which Hank had brought back from his only trip into space back then, would take care of all wounds within a few hours without leaving any scars. “We'll talk about this later. Right now, I'm just glad you found your way here after all this time. Do you want to report your ex-boyfriend? It's what he deserves.”

“He wasn't my boyfriend. I slept with him because I had nowhere else to go. With him and whoever else he brought home when he needed buck to pay his gambling debts,” Bastian replied flatly. ”The answer is no. Bastard's in enough trouble for pimping other people out without me having to deal with the police. I've had a few not-so-nice run-ins with the vice squad in the past. If I reported anyone, they'd die laughing.” A grin, far too bitter for a boy his age, curled on his pale lips, which only had the lump in Hank's throat grow thicker. “Look, I'm trying hard to ignore all these rumors right now that there's only naive snobs living here, but not all of us end up in a golden cage when we fall on our faces because of our genes. If you've never had to survive alone out there, if you're trained to become a fighting machine between swanky statues and in high-tech classrooms, you probably can't understand why people rather sort out some shit themselves.” Goddamn ... So this teenager had had an even harder time than the X-Men had known so far – unfortunately not an isolated case among mutant children. Bastian feeling like rebelling against everyone and everything for the moment was understandable – and ironic enough considering another of his former professions and the stage name that had gone with it back then. And right now, said hostility was clearly aimed toward the fitness corner again, where the fast hammering of strong runner legs had now stopped, probably causing Bastian to fear that he would soon be pushed from two sides at close range.

But Hank's teammate rather preferred stretching exercises after the endurance effort. With one leg held high above her head, supported by a wall, she slowly pulled herself towards the dark blue metal paneling inch by inch, in a perfect split, and then braced herself there with crossed arms, as if she were lounging on a sofa. “Oh, you know, Doctor McCoy and I are just trying to hide our disappointment right now.” Although Hanks' enhanced senses didn't miss the woman's body's radiating a hint of shock at certain revelations too, she managed to maintain her aura of composure. Only that she remained in said exercise a little longer than necessary, trying to numb the dark feelings in her own soul Bastian's story had caused with painful physical efforts, betrayed the truth. “Loser perverts abusing people who are not even legal in all states yet? Those, we're actually happy to help get a grip on their oh-so uncontrollable urges if their victims don't want to go to court. The support group for trauma caused by illegal mutant prostitution meets on Tuesdays at four, by the way. Right now, we got seven active members. They tend to get candid when it comes to experiences with customers, just as a warning. But you don't have to say anything if you don't want to."

“I'm not interested in listening to anything either,” Bastian replied, a lot less brusque than he'd surely meant to thanks to his growing surprise. "I'm not ...”

“Not traumatized?" The woman only threw him an inquiring glance before she changed sides, trying to achieve vertical records with a marginally weaker leg as well. “In that case, I can recommend a former prostitute working for us. It's been two decades, but he was pretty good at it back then. Got paid nicely in both money and information. Trading red light stories sometimes helps when your thoughts start going in the wrong direction, he says. If you want to stay in business, we'll have to think of a solution for your living space. As I said, this topic has no place in the lives of minors. But I can get you in touch with an active mutant colleague of yours. You'll just have to go there alone. We're not exactly besties. And if you please, if you go back on the streets, stay away from the sewers. It's hard enough to keep the Morlocks from selling their bodies to get by, and almost none of them are even 18 yet. Contrary to what you've been told about us, we're really into consent here.”

“But I'm not a ... I didn't want to ... I don't plan to ...” It had taken a little longer than usual, but now Bastian had been torn from the arrogance of his self-pity at last.

The woman seemed to feel a little sorry for him and came to stand straight again, wiping her face once more and throwing her towel in the vague direction of the laundry hatch. “As I said: No matter what your decision in that regard is, it's entirely up to you. The most important function of this mansion is to provide help, no matter in which way.”

Almost seeking help in the face of such rhetorical superiority, Bastian turned back to Hank. “Who is this, Doctor McCoy? What's going on here?”

Hank pulled Katja close for a brief hug and a loving pat on the back of the head for her somewhat too enthusiastic efforts, pulling up a chair up to the bed in a well-practiced, elegant movement with a foot claw. “As the teenagers here would say, you've been visited by the Mutant High's in-house predator department. She's our Kitten.“ He nodded briefly at his workmate.

“But he's the one with the claws,” Katja added just as briefly, but with an unmistakable smirk.

“Seriously? That's your pitch?” Bastian was at least able to grin weakly again, even though he was visibly irritated at being dragged into a first therapy session without asking. ”With that Boomer humor, you guys must be married.”

“My husband would object to that, too.” Katja crossed her legs on the stool in a small balancing act, as always driven by far too much restlessness to sit still for even five minutes.

“Who would be …?”

A mischievous chuckle, which even after almost two decades had lost none of the infatuation from the early days. “Principal Summers?” Bastian gasping now at last, eyes wide open, that was a much-needed and relieving change after the stressful topics that had just been discussed. ”Welcome to Mutant High.”

“So this is how you truly catch new students in your web.” That did no longer sound half as aggressive. The information that had been literally dropped in passing had noticeably left an impression. The most important thing Katja had learned in her psychology studies at the time was how to relax the mind of a patient before filling it with any well-intentioned advice.

“No, this is how we say hello.” Katja held out her hand to the young man so shy could finally introduce herself by name. Bastian was still shell-shocked enough to take it immediately. “You and I didn't meet back then when the others got you out of that laboratory because I was in Germany with my daughter and her best friend at the time. My husband, you've already met but he doesn't like this job interview flair in his office that Professor Xavier used to prefer either. And I only have mine so that my files don't pile up to the ceiling in our bedroom.”

“So you don't teach?” Bastian sounded almost a little … disappointed. Yes, someone had definitely just left a good first impression.

“Riding and gymnastics only, and only when our actual teachers are absent, but the counseling center rarely leaves me time for that. If there's one thing the mutant world always needs, it's people with a sympathetic ear, broad shoulders to lean on, and an incurable helper syndrome.” Sometimes Hank wondered if Katja, in all that deeply rooted self-deprecation, even noticed the way people like this so distraught young man looked at her after spending less than thirty minutes in the same room with her, comforted in their pain by something you couldn't learn from a textbook. Something that twenty years ago, had already not least made Charles and Ororo involve a complete stranger in their childcare in this house. But to have a positive influence on her in this regard, that was Scott's job, and as long as whatever Katja was doing helped, Hank would be damned if he tried to slow her down.

“Right now, what I need is a good night's sleep. But I'll probably come back to that. That's already cleared my synapses once in a while back when I was with Jericho. And you don't give people a chance to get used to the idea of such counseling first anyway,” Bastian said after a few seconds of silence. It didn't have nearly as much bite as earlier.

“You develop some tricks over time,“ Katja shrugged, not at all guiltily.

“So you guys do this often, huh?” Bastian raised an eyebrow pointedly in Hank's direction.

“Usually, we give people 24 hours to settle in, but Cat really wanted an autograph from your second mutant personality.”

“Fuck you, McCoy,” Katja replied just as charmingly, which promptly caused Bastian to gasp again.

Well, if adapting to the slang of the street of your conversation partner helped to prevent them from jumping off the medical stretcher out of shyness ... “No thanks. Especially not as long as you're obviously spending way too much time with Logan.”

Too late, it occurred to Hank that this wasn't exactly the most empathetic topic of the day, and Bastian's expression promptly darkened again.

“This guy really still hangs around here?”

“The man lives here,” Hank reminded the boy with a sigh. “So maybe it's rather Siberia for you after all, if you can't handle that. But the mansion is actually big enough to avoid each other.”

“Do I at least get time to decide that, or will you guys rush me through that, too?” Bastian still sounded a little annoyed about being deceived, but anything else would have been surprising from a nineteen-year-old with a definitely very healthy ego.

“Everyone does. I personally make sure of that. Because I didn't have a chance to think things over when I was in your situation.” Katja's fingertips unconsciously grazed one of the few scars on her side not left by that psycho Anderson back then, but in fact by Hank himself with one of his medical scalpels. ”I arrived at this house a week before Liberty Island.”

Bastian whistled through his teeth, strong and melodic enough to remind Hank once again that there had been a time when this young guy had had something completely different planned for his life but selling himself to the next best bastard for a living. “Hell of an introduction.”

“And for me, triggered by my ex-boyfriend, too, yes,” Katja replied with a wry grin. “Other than your guy though, he didn't do anything to deserve me frying him with lightning. You sure you don't want to tell me where your ex lives? And do think about that report, okay? Even if it's just so the guy doesn't move on to the next victim. Our social and political position is nowhere near as bad as it was twenty years ago. There are way too many of us now. Since people in Washington started making sure themselves that the right people sit in the mutant department, we can usually defend ourselves successfully when we are discriminated. Let's be grateful for that and work to make things even better instead of constantly complaining about grievances. This house stands for that too.”

“I'll think about it.” It was clear that despite all the feigned toughness, Bastian didn't like the idea of having to see this guy again, even if it was in a courtroom. “Maybe I'll stop by the asshole myself when I'm fit again and can morph. I'm usually not that easily pushed around. I wasn't paying attention for a moment when I arrived there, and then it was already too late to react because of the damn damper. Fortunately, Samba got between us today, otherwise, things would have been even worse.”

“How long have you been with this man?“ Hank asked thoughtfully.

“Half a year.” Bastian suppressed a yawn. Thanks to the drugs, his tiredness was finally making itself felt. After the first necessary emotional support, the boy now needed rest above all. “Well, ever since New York II is no more. He owns a ranch on the outskirts of New York, and I was able to leave Samba there. That's mostly why I stayed. She has been my everything since Jericho gave her to me in Alaska. I secretly put aside quite a bit of money. I'd planned to leave soon anyway.”

“Did you go to school?” Hank tried in vain to put as much calmness into his voice as Katja. Even though this wasn't the first time he had had to deal with something like this, of course ... You just never got used to it.

Bastian had to physically recover first, lose his suspicion of everything and everyone. Before that, it didn't make any sense to try and process this terrible past, which he was now talking about with such masterful distance again.

“No, don't need that. I'm good enough to work as a riding instructor and trainer. Jumping, dressage, cross-country ... I'll even do the jockeying for you if you need it.”

“Careful what you wish for, or we'll come back to that sooner than you'd like,” Katja remarked, immediately with a much more honest sparkling in her eyes at the mention of one of her favorite topics. “Our breeding stable, Pride Of X, is always looking for good athletes, and, as I said, we can always use riding instructors here. These are the best conditions for you to build a future in this house. That way, you can continue to earn your own money, if that's what matters to you. I know that made me feel a lot better back then. But for the papers, you should still graduate. You can do that even if you prefer to move into your own apartment. We've been accepting external students for a few years now. I'm sure there can't be missing a lot, is it?”

“A year and a few months. I used to be a singer as you know by now from what Jericho told you. I lost time because of my tours and all the promotion,” Bastian explained, slightly embarrassed. ”Whatever. Better than the street.”

“I'll say.” The treatment of the wounds was finally completed, and Hank hadn't found any other serious injuries. So he could withdraw with a clear conscience. ”What do you say, Bastian, try to get some sleep? I'll keep the Pit Bull away from you for the next few hours, I promise.”

“Oh, that's okay.” Bastian snorted at Katja. ”You won't fool me that easily anymore. After all, I do know all your files from the New York II database, just not all the faces yet. Otherwise, you'd have been busted immediately. We'll get even as soon as I can morph again. And just for the record: Then I'm 'Shade' for you guys, please. With the code name quirk, I guess I fit in quite well here, don't I?“

“One of the more charming quirks of this school.” Hank quickly became serious again, though.

Said code name had reminded him of what he knew about Bastian's powers in this other body. It was probably more thanks to Bastian's stay in the once-protected seclusion of New York II than to luck that the boy had ended up here, and not with another mutant organization that would have welcomed him with open arms as a potentially very powerful fighter.

“By the way, I'm happy you didn't decide to join the Brotherhood.”

“The Brotherhood?” Bastian frowned thoughtfully, without pain, it seemed, which probably meant that this conversation would be over in five minutes either way. ”Jericho didn't have a lot of love for them, but I've read up about them in online media a few times. They don't sound particularly dangerous.”

“Believe me: Jericho usually knew what he was talking about.” The mention of this particular mutant left a deep sense of depression not only on Bastian's face; Hank was not surprised to see Katja playing with her wedding ring absentmindedly from the corner of his eyes. “The Brotherhood is changing its face faster than its leader can thanks to her mutation. They used to be one of the most feared mutant terrorist groups on the planet, but under Magneto's leadership, they fortunately never succeeded with their deadly plans. After the Great Inferno, they were considered all but defeated. After Magneto's death, they suddenly resurfaced, pretending to look for non-violent solutions.” Hank snorted disparagingly, the memory of that tearful live appearance at the Congress still very much present in his mind years later. The X-Men had hardly been able to believe their eyes ... and even less what had happened at the end of that public conference. “Their leaders were then immunized by the President. Ever since then, they have been involved in politics, supposedly working for a tolerant coexistence between humans and mutants, but they keep on riling people up with unrealistic demands. They claim to not want to harm anyone, but they are hiding in an unknown place and training every mutant they can find for war.”

“Pretty creepy.” Bastian wrinkled his nose. “Don't worry, doc. I've never cared a lot for people trying to pull me into anything. I prefer the stables over the battlefield. Unless someone's pissing me off,” he added harshly, but not elaborating any further. It was no secret that Jericho, too, had trained his charges extensively in fighting and defense techniques, regardless of their age. At the next restless wandering of his gaze across the room, Bastian's eyebrow suddenly went up when he noticed a holo-image on the partition wall to the laboratory that showed two repeated seconds of a red-haired young woman in black leather clothing. “Image or video?” He sat up a little to be able to see better. Now he was really curious, and Hank couldn't blame him. There were few mutants who didn't know this face.

It wasn't something the X-Men discussed with every new arrival, and this image was actually sacred, but Katja and Hank both sensed that Bastian was beginning to trust them, and that had seemed completely utopian at the beginning of this conversation. It wasn’t just that the boy deserved to finally find a permanent home ... There was always the worry about any reasonably talented mutant about where he or she would turn to if they didn't feel comfortable here. The X-Men had to be happy about anyone who didn't go to Watergate.

So, at Hank's reluctant nod, Katja took the square data carrier from the wall, touching it only by the frame, and held it out to Bastian. “Just press here.”

“Thank you.” Very carefully, with just a fingertip, Bastian touched the button that deactivated the holo-video mode. The curious glistening in his eyes turned into an excited sparkle when his suspicion was confirmed as to who was on this recording.

'Scott, can you stop filming for a second?' The woman in the video projected into the air turned to the camera with an exaggeratedly annoyed expression, but she couldn't quite hide the proud smile on her lips as she strode through the very room that Hank, Katja, and Bastian were in.

'Out of the question. This is your first job as a doctor after a mission. That needs to go down in the archives.' The picture blurred a little when the cameraman laughed softly.

'If you guys are always going to be this clumsy in the field, I can soon never leave this place again,' the doctor grumbled. 'At least sit down. Your knee has taken quite a hit. You stay, Ororo! Don't even think about trying to get out of this.'

A third, also very young voice joined, from a person who couldn't be seen, but the mere mention of that name made Bastian inevitably tighten his lips again. 'Tone it down, doctor. I just ...'

'You almost got shot and fell off a balcony, so sit down and shut up!' The doctor put her hands on her waist and turned to the camera again. 'Scott, if you don't put that stupid thing away, I'll hide the Vicodin from you in the next few days.'

'Sadist.' Again that amused laugh ... Then the colors over the image blurred as the flap over the projection lens closed.

“Is that Phoenix?” Bastian asked quietly, an obligatory question.

Hank felt his expression harden involuntarily, and this time he couldn't do anything about it. It still hurt, after all this time. Especially because there would probably never be anyone who could see Jean the way she was in this film. No one except the people in this house, for whom she had died three times. “For the world out there. Not for us. Her name was Jean Grey, and she used to treat some mutants right here in these rooms.” He reactivated the photo setting before hanging the frame back in its place, after a brief squeeze of Katja's now also very low-hanging shoulder. “I like having her around. The picture makes me feel like she's still here somehow, watching over me.”

“And then people say I'm a freak.”

“Excuse me?” It was Hank's turn to raise an eyebrow disapprovingly. Sometimes he wished he could just have turned off certain enhanced senses.

“Nothing. I mean: Thank you for letting me watch this before you guys tuck me in.” Bastian tried to sit up again a little. It was clear, the idea of sleeping in the middle of the day didn’t appeal to him, despite his exhaustion. But the headache, which continued to plague him despite the anesthetic, made him groan softly and sink back.

“Don't.” Hank fleetingly put his paw on his arm again. "You need to rest. If there's too much on your mind right now, do you want a sleeping pill? In a few hours, everything will look different.”

“That sounds like a really good idea," Bastian agreed. “Uh ... Mrs. Summers?”

While Hank was already busy with the infusion again, Katja had silently made her way to the door. Her job here was finished for the moment, and this very vivid memory of someone she was still missing terribly had visibly affected her. Nevertheless, she managed to put on another friendly expression in Bastian's direction. “I'll see you later. And ‘Cat’ is just fine. Like I said, I rarely teach here. Hey, Hank ...” The smile turned into a familiar harsh line of depression and unease around Katja's mouth, as something seemed to come to her mind regarding Bastian's story, which she could understand all too well, given her own lousy experiences with certain psychopaths in this world, no matter hard she stubbornly she refused confiding about that in anyone but her husband. “Leave the lights on when you go, okay?”

With a surprised frown, Bastian seemed to notice from Katja's clenched shoulders and her fleeing gaze that he could not have wished for a better advisor at his side in this new home, and he gave the woman a grateful nod, visibly dazed after Hank had reduced the intensity of the neon lights on the ceiling by a few levels, but not completely. “Thank you, Cat.”

*******************************************************************************

@whumptober | @whumptober-archive

#whumptober2024 #no.8 #Leave the lights on.#x men #fic #hank mccoy #scott summers #ororo munroe #jean grey #stormys fanfics #fanfiction

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jmagnabo92 · 2 days ago

Text

JilypadWeek2024 - Day 4 - A Mission For Love

@jilypadweek

FINALLY FINISHED Enemies to Lovers

When enemy aurors are forced to go undercover at a sex club, they come away with more than a vanquished Voldemort.

AO3

***

Sirius Black never thought he’d ever be paired with the two people that he hates more than anyone else for a mission. Shouldn’t there be some sort of trust when it comes to these missions?

Why on earth is Moody sending him on a mission to act like he’s some sort of sexual pet to Evans with Potter? Who would believe two purebloods would be pets to a muggleborn? Especially in this climate of Voldemort’s almost-rule. He hasn’t taken control yet, but he’s close. This mission is meant to infiltrate Voldemort’s sex ring that is in the basement of his main base of operations.

Unfortunately, Sirius knows he can’t voice his displeasure because he’s already on thin ice just for being a Black, but luckily, Potter does.

“Because you two aren’t purebloods in this scenario. We’re going to put a few spells on you so that you’ll still remain your attractive selves, but no one will know that you’re not muggleborns. Just like we’ll do with Evans. You can’t go undercover looking like yourselves.”

“Why wouldn’t one of us be the master rather than the mistress?” Potter huffs. “I could easily be the dom in this scenario.”

“Please, you couldn’t be a dom if you tried,” Evans scoffs. “You’re like putty any time someone praises you. Bet you’d get off on just being called a good boy.”

In true Potter fashion, he flushes and looks somewhat furious.

“Look, the three of you are our best aurors. You’re perfect for this mission and they’re specifically recruiting male subs and female doms, something about Voldemort wanting his men to learn their place and his women to be rewarded…”

“Technically, you don’t need three of us…”

“Oh, no, Black. We want all of you to learn something and play your part. So, come back tomorrow, 8 AM sharp for your first outfits.”

He doesn’t voice the first question running through his mind, but he knows that he has no option, but to nod. This is his job on the line, and he wants to do something to make the world a better place.

So, he’ll do whatever he needs to do to bring down Voldemort and make this mission a success.

***

The next morning, he’s sent to a private room as soon as he arrives where he sees Evans dressed in black leather – an outfit that laces down to her belly button and then as a tail behind her that falls to the back of her legs. She’s wearing black underwear, and black mesh stockings that go into black leather boots that go up to her knees.

Shit. She looks hot.

Luckily, she’s not paying attention to him as she’s looking down at the table to see some of the other things they’ll be bringing into the club as well as the case file and looks down, too.

He spies two lacy outfits clearly meant for him and Potter.

“Dear Merlin.”

Evans glances up at him with a smirk on her face. “Don’t worry I think you and Potter will look quite sexy in those outfits.”

“It’s not a matter if I will look sexy, I’m sure I will. However, it’s … quite… revealing.”

“That would be the point,” Evans says, turning the file she was reading around for him to read, too.

Written there, plain as day, were the requirements for entry regarding outfits and behavior. There would be an expectant scene required for entry and even then, there are certain levels of the club with certain requirements, the higher up they go, they deeper they dived into dominate and sub dynamics with very little say in their outfits / non-outfits.

If they reached the top level, which was the goal, they would be completely exposed and at Evans’ mercy. He could only hope that he could trust her not to go too far.

… After all, they are enemies.

***

Lily can’t help smirking at Black and Potter as they don their lingerie. They have identical outfits with lace covering their dicks and appearing thong-like until the back where there’s a bit of lace covering half of their arses. It then goes onto their stomachs, as a lacy band of sorts around their waists and a mesh top. They have stockings, too, all in their chosen colors – red for Potter and blue for Black, and collars that match.

The collars were spelled to remind them of expectations if they hesitate to follow her command, and quite frankly, she’s looking forward to finally getting to be in charge. These two had made her Hogwarts years difficult, not in a death-eater-wannabe-way, but in the – she needed to be top of the class to stand a chance at becoming what she wanted to be since muggleborns were sorely at a disadvantage and it was getting worse throughout her school years way.

Given that Black and Potter were both set for life without working – let alone becoming an auror for the war – she was extremely annoyed that they kept putting her position as top student – first at Hogwarts and then at Auror Academy – in jeopardy… she needed it more than they did and it drove her crazy any time they beat her scores… so seeing them in her control will be very nice.

Especially since they’re not at all bad to look at… and from the rumors she’s heard, they’re pretty good lays, too.

She knows that the reason that they were selected was because all three of them have a reputation for… well, being free-loving… still there’s a list of things that they’re consenting to that they have to read through and discuss, which didn’t necessarily have to be done in these outfits, but she supposes it’s important to get used to what they’ll have to wear for the foreseeable future.

… and that’s not the only thing they should get used to…

“Moody suggested that we get into character sooner rather later,” Black suggests looking very much like he’d rather do anything else as he adds his consent form to Lily’s on the desk.

“And you want to get started… here?” Potter questions. “Kind of awkward with our co-workers out there –”

“Don’t be a tosser, Potter,” Black states. “Moody made the suggestion, we move in on the mission in three days, yet, he had us report here today, get dressed and gave us a room with a fireplace…”

“… and orders to get in character,” Lily says. “I suppose that we should go to mine, then?”

“Lead the way, Mistress.”

***

Unlike his two companions, James’ part of their enemy-ship is more confusion than actual hatred for either of them. He had often over the years attempted to befriend both of them – sometimes even flirting with them (he could never understand why they’d sleep with everyone else but him) but they were always hostile, so he was hostile back. He was not going to beg them to be friends with him.

Which is why he finds standing in Lily’s sitting room by the fire in lacy lingerie and trying not to let his thoughts wander into how much he’s wanted to have sex with them over the years despite knowing that he’s about to have sex with two people that he’s been fantasying about.

Only problem… they still hate him.

The sex is just… to get used to having sex for the mission.

His uncertainty must show because Evans focuses on Black as she leans against the back of the couch with her legs spread. “Kneel, Pet.”

Rather than glare and be difficult, Black kneels before her looking like he’s born to be there. “Any other time, I’d make orders, but this time… just show me that all those rumors are true.”

Black grins. “Anything for you, Mistress.”

James can’t help being frozen, watching as Black kisses the inside of Evans’ knee through the mesh of her stockings and up her thigh and outside her black panties. He repeats the action on the other leg before kissing his way up her body and back to his feet. He slowly undoes the ties of her pseudo shirt and sucks on her right breast until Evans moans, “Other side.”

He blows on it before moving over to her left breast and sliding his hand down her stomach and into her panties.

She grasps when he begins his ministrations. She clearly doesn’t need to direct him because she’s got this pleased look and the sounds she’s making certainly make him want to wank. Figuring that they won’t notice, he pulls himself out of the lace and starts wanking.

She lets him get her close before she says, “I want … your… mouth…”

She’s clearly struggling and obviously pleased. He seems pretty proud of himself, as he kisses his way back down her body as he withdraws his hand. Back to his knees, he whispers a banishment spell on the panties, and they land on James’ head.

Black throws a wink in James’ direction before he buries himself in between Evans’ legs. Apparently, Black hasn’t forgotten his presence.

Black’s mouth must be heaven as the sounds that she is making is completely sending James over the edge, but before he can, Evans comes and orders, “No coming, Potter.”

He groans, as he lets go of his cock and glares at her, panting. She’s panting and pleased, and Black is kneeling and grinning.

“Enjoy the show?” Black asks, smugly, like he knows just how close he’d been to coming.

“No, I just had hot porn playing out in front of me and I wasn’t into it at all.”

Black snorts as Evans grins.

“Well, Potter, I think it’s time I got my own show. Why don’t you show me your skills on Black?”

James swallows. It’s been a while since he’s been with a bloke and if he’s truthful, he’s not that sure his game is as good as he’s heard Black’s game is.

Black climbs to his feet and approaches slowly, “Perhaps, I should show you how it’s done if you’re nervous.”

“I’m not nervous.”

It’s a lie and Black knows it, especially as James backs up against the other couch, uncertainly. Black gets into his space and James’ heart beats fast. He’s fantasized about having sex with him before and now that it’s happening, he can’t help the nervousness.

Black reaches out but doesn’t touch. He’s waiting for permission because despite the consent forms that they filled out, he’s not going to force himself on James.

“Maybe I am nervous… it’s – I’ve… not been with a bloke very often …”

“I’ll show you how it’s done… if you let me.”

Rather than answer, James surges forward to kiss Black, and damn it, he’s prepared. He brings his hands up to run through James’ hair and taking control. He melts against him and enjoys the taste of Black (and a little of Evans) on his lips.

He’s a little dazed as Black pulls back and starts to kiss at his neck and down his chest. He’s panting, pleased as Black gives the same treatment to his nipples as he had done to Evans and then slides to his knees and since James had pulled himself out of the lace, he’s able go to town on James’ cock in moments.

The warm, wet mouth is good enough that he could easily come from just a few bobs of his head, but that’s not all Black does. Instead, he uses his tongue to swirl around his tip and draws it on the underbelly of his cock. He groans. He’s far more talented than James is at this, but on top of his tongue, he takes a second to whisper a spell, and then begins to finger James’ arse.

“Oh, Merlin.”

“You like that, don’t you, Pet,” Evans says, voice a lot closer to him.

His eyes had closed at the sight of Black on his knees with James’ cock in his mouth and now she’s next to him, still looking rather spent, but also hot and bothered as she watches Black go to town on him.

“Yes, yes, please… can I come?” he gasps out. He needs to come and for a minute, he completely forgets that she never told him that he couldn’t once Black started showing him his skills.

She’s grinning at him. “Well, you have been rather a good boy, haven’t you?”

“Yes, yes, I have, please.”

“Come,” she orders before kissing him as he comes down Black’s throat.

As with Black, Evans clearly knows how to kiss, and he revels in the feeling of having both of them with their mouths on him.

Unfortunately, they pull off far too soon for him, and he finds himself blinking down at Black when Evans says, “Your turn, Black?”

Black flushes. “Actually, I, er, came from… sucking Potter off.”

“Did you touch yourself? I didn’t see –” Evans starts.

Black coughs. “Er, no. I don’t… need to, sometimes.”

James can’t believe it. That’s so hot.

“That’s so damn hot,” he says, mainly to himself, but… it’s clear they can hear him, too, with how close they are standing together.

Evans grins as she helps Black to his feet. “Well, at least there’s chemistry.”

Black laughs. “Chemistry and experience… I think we’ll do just fine on this mission.”

Evans eyes them both. “Just with a little more practice.”

Black’s smiling as James says, “Yeah, practice makes perfect.”

***

By the time that they were able to get into the club that the mission is located at, Sirius can admit that he’s rather amused that he can elicit definitely not faking reactions from both Evans and Potter. They’d spent the better part of three days getting into character and there’s a part of him that wonders if maybe the sex was the answer on how they could’ve handled the tension between the three of them a lot sooner.

After all, it’s so easy to let Evans have her way with him, to have Potter servicing her with him like they were born to serve her.

It’s so convincing that one of Voldemort’s suspected higher-ups even seems impressed.

“Tell me, how long have they been yours,” she asks, admiring Sirius and Potter kneeling, heads bowed, unfortunately hard, awaiting Evans’ command on either side of her.

Evans hums. “Not long, but I am… extremely talented in getting men to do what I want.”

Sirius couldn’t even refute her because he’d heard the stories of the men trailing after her wanting more, getting denied, and yet, pining in the distance. It’s a talent that he could’ve easily fallen victim to if he wasn’t so determined to not let anything distract him from being a better person than his so-called family and well, she was terrible to him just because he gave her a run for her money (the same reason he’s never slept with Potter before).

Yet, now, he finds himself looking forward to the next time they have sex – to prove themselves or otherwise.

The woman hums. “You can have room 3127. It’s setup for you and two pets, and we’ll expect you to come play tomorrow night after dinner.”

“No fun before then?” Evans questions.

The woman grins, “You’re more than welcome to watch the fun on the magical screen in your room and of course, there’s no stopping you from having fun in your room with your pets, but you’re not allowed on the floor just after the first test.”

“Understood,” Evans states. “I’m sure my pets and I can entertain ourselves tonight.”

There’s a little more back and forth with the woman before Evans commands them to lead the way on their hands and knees down the hallway to the magic elevator and to their room. Her bag is magicked to the room, and of course, pets don’t get luggage.

It takes far too long before they get to the safety of the room. Despite this, they already agreed to stay in character in case they’re being watched… that had been Sirius’ idea. Not because he would like to stay in character although Evans being in charge is quite… well, it’s doing it for him in a way that … he’d rather not think about why, but because it’s dangerous to slip out of character while undercover.

They didn’t put it passed Voldemort to spy on new people entering this club or what-have-you and they aren’t about to risk their position this soon.

Evans orders Potter to draw her a bath and once he disappears, pushes Sirius on his back on the bed. She climbs on top of him and then uses her hair to protect them as she whispers, “You did well, Pet.”

She’s smart enough to have cast a spell for privacy, but still careful enough that she doesn’t give anything away. He can’t help the way his cock twitches at the praise or the audible groan at her words. Sirius is well aware that he’s discovered a praise kink of his over the last few days.

“Thank you, Mistress. I am to please.”

“Good, then, I expect you to take care of my other pet as a show for me while I’m in the bath.”

Sirius nearly groans at her words. He knows that she likes making him service Potter, he just can’t figure out why. It’s not like they both don’t know how much of dream come true this is for Potter, getting the two most desirable people in the department to have sex with. Plus, he’s not exactly oblivious to Potter’s terrible flirting and while previously he thought Potter was just messing with him, these last few days suggest otherwise, and he’s sure that’s exactly why Evans loves the focus be on pleasing Potter over Sirius (when it’s not on her). That and… he’s embarrassed that he can come without being touched (and Evans loves that she can order him to do that).

She raises her eyebrows at him, but before anything more could be said, Potter enters the room.

“Your bath is ready, Mistress.”

She kisses Sirius before shuffling off of him and ordering them to follow her into the bath, but Sirius doesn’t follow right away… because she kissed him… for no reason. It’s not like anyone could see them with the hair in the way….

Was there something going on there, he wonders?

***

Lily tries not to think too much about that kiss. It’s not like she hasn’t kissed both Potter and Black numerous times in the last few days ‘as practice’, and it’s not like she never imagined telling them both to put their money where their mouth is or kissing them.

It’s not like their kisses weren’t ten times better than she imagined.

It’s that… she’s not supposed to want this. It’s just fun for the mission. That’s all.

She shouldn’t want more regardless of an audience or practice…

She needs to get her shit together.

No feelings, just sex.

It’s for the best.

***

As another night ends with fun with Lily and Sirius, James can’t help that he’s rather enjoying this mission. There’s a part of him that doesn’t want this mission to end, but he knows that they’re getting closer and closer to the end of the mission.

The three of them of spent the better part of the last month working their way up the levels of Voldemort’s sex club and even when they aren’t performing for others and even though they could probably find a way to gain some privacy in their own room.

He’s half-sure Sirius has figured out how to get the privacy, yet when the door closes behind them and Sirius gets to his feet to kiss James up against the wall, he’s sure that either way this isn’t for whoever may be watching.

James lets out a shuttering breath when Sirius pulls back and starts to suck a hickey onto his neck. His hands wandering down James’ chest to his cock, which is exposed in this string-like ‘underwear’ that they had to put on today. James couldn’t understand how this could even count as underwear, but it does, and he groans.

Sirius’ touch is something he’s gotten used to and really started to crave and enjoy. He can’t help closing his eyes as he gives into Sirius’ efforts.

He feels like he’s melted goo as Sirius moves his sucking and kissing down James’ body to his cock. For some reason, Sirius really loves sucking James’ cock and although James has returned the favor, it’s not nearly as often as he receives.

He knows… if they are being watched that he still needs permission from Lily, especially when he gets closer to coming and there’s a thrum that runs through his collar.

It’s a reminder.

His eyes snap open and Lily’s laying on the bed, looking hot as hell, dressed in a softer teddy than she uses outside the room. She’s also looking quite amused by her pets playing together not at her command.

“Oh? Remembered me, have you?” she teases. “Go on, then. Beg for what you want.”

“Please please, Mistress. Can’t we – Can’t I – please.” His last plea comes out a bit strangled, which clearly pleases her.

“Go on, then, come for me, my pets.”

James needs no further encouragement as he comes down Sirius’ throat and watches as his hand works furiously to come moments later.

“That’s my good boys.”

It takes a few moments for them to catch their breaths before James helps Sirius to his feet and they move over to join her on the bed.

The second they do, there’s a wave of magic and James knows it’s a brief spell to protect them for the mission.

She’s smiling. “If you two hadn’t been so horny, you might’ve realized that we have a message.”

“Two actually,” James says, eyeing the notes.

One was from Voldemort inviting them to a special club members party in two days’ time and the other from Moody. He’s been made aware from a spy in the ranks that had been mum for too long that their best shot to move on the mission.

There’s a part of James that is upset this is almost over, especially when Sirius breathes a sigh of relief.

“It’s almost over.”

Lily nods. “We’re in a good place and we’ve done our jobs and we need to talk about Moody’s plan. It involves us getting arrested just in case things go haywire with the sting, then we can still play our parts.”

Sirius looks uneasy at that.

“It’s going to be fine, Sirius.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

He doesn’t have to explain, they all know that despite being the top three of all of their classes and that they’re all on par with each other, Sirius had to fight to be a member of the aurors and basically couldn’t make a single mistake for fear of losing everything.

All because of his last name. Which, admittedly, James used to hold against him, too, but he’s learned that he’s very different to the rest of his family.

“Hey, we’re not going to let them railroad you,” Lily offers. “James and I, we’ve got your back.”

It’s clear that Sirius doesn’t quite believe her, so James jumps in to assure him as well.

“Yeah, we’re your friends, now, and we’ve all been in this together so… we won’t let them be difficult for you.”

Sirius looks between James and Lily. “We’re friends now?”

James shrugs and looks at Lily. “I think so, you?”

Lily nods. “I do, too. In fact, I was kind of enjoying what was going on here and well…”

James can’t hide his surprise and delight. “Really?”

Sirius laughs. “Am I that talented that you can’t get enough of me?”

Lily blushes. “I can’t be the only one enjoying this and wanting… more, but I can do without the ego.”

James nods. “Yeah, me too.”

Sirius grins. “Then, I really hope that we win this sooner rather than later.”

***

The mission was a success.

It takes a few days, but Sirius is relieved that they didn’t try to railroad him like he’d been expecting since Lily revealed that they were expected to get arrested in case the war hadn’t ended with the mission and they needed to stay undercover.

Just like they promised, Lily and James, his new friends, stood up for him and now, they were celebrating at the ministry party for the end of the war.

Lauded as heroes, Sirius cemented his place on the right side of the war and now gets the opportunity to move up in the aurors whereas before, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

He’s feeling pretty good right now.

Even if he’s standing off to the side watching James and Lily dancing together.

There’s a part of him that can’t believe that he went from hating them to … wanting to date them. Although he’ll settle for friends with benefits.

A voice beside him asks, “So, how long do you think it’ll be before those two get married?”

He turns to see the voice belongs to a ministry worker in the Department of Magical Creatures, Lupin.

Sirius shrugs, trying to ignore the ice water in his veins. They both could easily fall in love and Sirius would probably be on the outskirts. He might be good at sex and benefits for them, but that doesn’t mean they’d ever want to date him.

“I wouldn’t hazard a guess.”

He could guess, though, given how quickly the sex melted the animosity between them and they’re already friends with benefits.

Maybe he should bow out of the situation if others think they’ll get together now.

Before Lupin could press further, James and Lily come over, and James says, “Come dance with us.”

He can’t deny them, obviously, and he’ll put the idea out of his mind for now. It’s time for a celebration. He’ll deal with it later.

***

Later, turned out to be a few weeks past the end of the war.

Lily had invited him over to her place and he knows that James is invited, too.

She told him that there was something that she and James needed to talk to him about and he figures that they want to let him down easy.

So, he’s going to enjoy some sort of ‘breakup sex’ and hopefully, things won’t be too awkward at work.

He arrives five minutes before the time Lily invited him over for and as she answers the door, he sees that she’s in a hot red dress that elicits, “Damn,” from him before he can even form a hello.

Lily laughs. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

She gives him a light peck on the lips before gesturing him in.

James is standing by her kitchen table, which is set with three plates, a white tablecloth, a rose and some candles.

He approaches and kisses Sirius, as well, before he gestures for him to sit.

“This looks…”

Sirius isn’t sure what word would be best here, but it looks like some sort of romantic date.

“It’s a date,” Lily says, moving to sit at her plate. “Please sit.”

“I –” he starts. “I don’t want to be let down easy, if you two are dating and you don’t want me around anymore –”

“That’s not it, at all,” James states. “Please, we –”

“We want to –” Lily takes a deep breath. “– date as a threesome.”

Her words cause him to fall into the chair set for him. “A threesome? You want to date me?”

James lets out a little laugh. “Of course we do. Why wouldn’t we?”

Sirius shrugs as Lily nods her agreement. “I – well, everyone has been talking for weeks about how great of a pair you two are and that, well, doesn’t include me.”

“We’ve never much cared for whatever anyone else thinks,” Lily says. “We want you.”

“… if you’ll have us.”

Sirius grins. “Yeah, I – I want you, both of you.”

Lily and James smile and cheer.

Lily lifts her goblet. “Then, here’s to our first date.”

“Cheers to that.”

#sirius black #james potter #lily evans #jilypadweek2024 #jilypad #smutty

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damien-wolfram-art · 1 year ago

Text

Part of a collaboration with @flawlessstriker

Here it is!

@teamminatoweek

Content

Minato leaned on the second-floor railing that overlooked the living room of his small cabin home and sighed.

“Someone’s looking content,” cooed the warm and familiar voice of Sakumo Hatake, his third love. He joined Minato at the railing to see just what had made him so happy. Below, Minato’s son, Naruto, was laughing away. He was being tickled on the lower bunk of his bed by a larger boy from the Uchiha clan, Obito. The couple had adopted Obito into the family after a long series of unfortunate events. The boy was troubled, but with some help from his son, Kakashi, Sakumo had come to see the good in Obito.

“Content? Haha I guess so,” Minato agreed, remembering that it hadn’t been easy for him to reach this peaceful moment either. He had lost his first love, Kushina, during Naruto’s birth. This was something Sakumo understood all too well and although Kakashi hadn’t a Tailed Beast sealed within him, he was spending some time in prison with his own demons to attend to.

Minato tried to start anew after leaving Naruto under the care of the Senju, though perhaps it was too fast; it was a bad habit of his to rush into things after all. His second attempt at love came and went, but when he stumbled across Sakumo, it felt like life could finally start slowing down for him. He rekindled with Naruto who was much older now–thirteen years older in fact and by some cosmic coincidence, he had inherited the kind, forgiving nature of his mother. Minato swore to protect him and Sakumo promised to be by their side.

Now, Minato spent his days with his little found family in their cabin, farming or finding ways to make work just a little easier for the older man who had made the house a home. He had never really stopped to think about it, but Sakumo was right. He was content.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Two more entries under the cut vvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Unexpected Visitors

It was a beautiful spring day in The Hatake Territory. The birds were singing and the air was crisp after a few showers earlier in the week. Minato took the pleasant weather as a sign that he and his son should spend some quality time outside together. The two were working on the completion of a jutsu that Naruto had picked up from a “frog” somewhere during his travels. As ridiculous as this sounded, Minato never questioned Naruto for he had also met “The Frog”.

The two were just beginning to make progress when Minato felt every hair on his body stand on end. There was an oppressive chakra approaching. It rivaled Naruto’s and that of the beast inside of him as well. “Obito,” Minato called over to the young man resting at the base of a tree who had been watching them train. “Take Naruto to Sakumo.”

“What? Aw c’mon! We were just gettin’ somewhere!” Naruto protested.

“It’s just a quick break Naruto. Besides, Sakumo should have lemonade,” Minato bribed the boys.

Obito stood up quickly. Sakumo’s lemonade was almost always a bit too sweet and Obito had a sweet tooth. The bribe worked on him. “Well, Naruto, you heard Pops. Gramps made lemonade. It’s break time,” his raspy voice ceded and he dragged Naruto inside–kicking and screaming.

Minato turned toward the source of the disturbance and clutched tightly to one of his custom three-pronged kunai. There was a rustle and then, he was gone. Only the kunai remained.

In an instant, Minato transported himself to another kunai near the source of the rustle. He had his kunai scattered all over the territory just for this purpose. From his new vantage point, he saw one of the intruders, Tobirama Senju.

By now, he knew what the intruder was looking for. It had been a few years since Naruto had escaped Senju containment. He had been on the run ever since. Since they had settled down, it was a simple task to find him. Minato wouldn't allow it though. He had to throw his idol off of the track somehow, but when he blinked, the man was gone! “Crap! Where did he-”

“Go?” Asked the deep self-righteous voice of Tobirama from behind him. He had already marked the tree where Minato’s suspicious kunai was with a seal of his own and used it to flank him.

Minato felt the man move to slash at him and so he was forced to transport away again. This continued for a few minutes until Minato found one of his kunai that Tobirama hadn’t. From there, he rushed home.

Upon arrival, he was relieved to see that everyone was alright, but there was something that just didn’t sit right with him. Tobirama was in the forest, but what was that chakra? It wasn’t Tobirama’s. It was a chakra he had never experienced before; it was similar in strength to Hashirama’s. Though it was much more ominous. He had only begun to explain himself when there was a knock on the door. His brief explanation was more than enough to spur Obito into action though. With his own transportation dojutsu, he took himself and Naruto to a place only he could access normally.

Then, Minato answered the door. Nothing would have prepared him for what he would see outside of his home. A masked man with white side-swept spiky hair wearing a bland prisoner’s uniform gave him a curt wave and a pleasant, “Yo~”

“Kakashi?” Minato greeted him with disbelief. “Aren’t you supposed to be in prison?”

Before Kakashi could answer, a heavy shadow loomed behind him. Minato was suddenly struck by the imposing chakra he felt before at full force. Two red eyes pierced the silhouette. Three tomoe resided in each, framing the pupils. A full head of hip length teased midnight blue hair made it very apparent who Minato was dealing with. “M-Madara Uchiha,” he croaked.

The formidable beast of a man stepped forward, gently pushing Kakashi aside. “So, you recognize me? How fortunate for you. That makes things a bit easier.” There was an air of casual confidence when he spoke, but this did nothing to diminish his intimidation factor. “I’ll make this quick then: I’ve brought you Kakashi Hatake; I want The Nine-Tails.”

Precious

“Death comes to all. But life comes first. Cherish it. Death is the destination. But the journey, that is life. That is what matters.”

Brandon Sanderson - The Way of Kings

Madara Uchiha was at his door, demanding his son. Using Kakashi as leverage, he cornered Minato and gave him a choice, but deciding was impossible. When his mind was taken over by a genjutsu, Sakumo stepped in. The White Light Blade struck true. Madara was bleeding.

“Take Kakashi and go,” Sakumo ordered.

Minato’s mind flashed to the night he met him. He was searching for Naruto and just happened across a campsite. The fire was crackling away in the lonely night. There he found many crumpled notes which shook him to his very core. “My name is Sakumo Hatake,” one read.

“Those who seek my bounty know me as “The White Fang”. I have grown tired of this chase; I feel the weight of my sins and can run from them no longer. To the one who finds me: please take my bounty and leave my son, Kakashi, unharmed. The legacy of “The White Fang” shall die here with me.”

Sakumo was both furious and embarrassed to find that Minato read his drafts, but Minato begged him to reconsider. First, he listened to the broken man’s story. The two of them had both been separated from their boys. Though he sympathized with Sakumo, he argued for Kakashi’s sake, “The way you talk is like you’ve given up on something precious to you. Your boy, Kakashi, he’s precious to you, but that’s not it is it? You’ve lost something else: the strength to go on. It’s true that we all will eventually move on from these lives, but will dying here now truly satisfy you? Kakashi needs you! Don’t you want to protect him? As his father, your will to protect is strong. Are you really going to throw all that away and give up?”

Sakumo had been deeply moved by Minato’s words, but Minato wanted to make sure he remembered them. When he found the noose, he cut it down and etched the three words “Never Give Up” into the trees surrounding the area. He left one of his Kunai in the center tree. He was not sure what he expected, but he never expected Sakumo to eventually hand deliver it back to him.

Now the older man was between him and Madara Uchiha. Minato tried to protest, but Sakumo wouldn’t allow it. He had changed. “Take Kakashi and go. This is my home. I will protect it. It is precious to me!”

“Cute,” uttered Madara. And then there were flames.

Minato panted heavily. There was a lingering warmth on his face from the flames he had narrowly escaped. In his arms he clutched Kakashi’s injured form protectively. When he looked up to see where he was, he saw Obito and Naruto staring back at him.

“Pops?” Greeted Obito. “Where’s Gramps?”

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curiouscompanions · 9 months ago

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Entry #5

It hurts. Mariella didn't blink yesterday. Is it possible to count every pixel creating the flawless gray of this fake sidewalk? Is it possible to cure corrupted files and rewrite their codes? Mariella didn't blink today. I want to do something for her so badly. But all I can do is observe her. Mariella is still standing there and I am still sitting here. We are so close, yet so far from each other. Multicolored spots are swirling everywhere, static electricity is jumping on the tips of my fingers. I'm sure Mariella feels my continuous gaze. I know that she knows that I know she feels it. And it hurts so much. Mariella doesn't blink. Why does it hurt so much? Mariella doesn't blink. Please, blink just once! Just once!

The blue screen burns my eyes the moment I try to take off these stupid damned glasses. Tears and blood stain my shirt’s sleeves. It hurts so much. I'm trying to reject this role, but it seems attached to me too tightly. It hurts too much. I am just an Observer.

No. No. NO.

I have to do this. For her, for my dear Mariella.

... 100% ...? What just happened? Did you really extract all available text files? Wait a second. Not extracted, but cured. That's exactly what I meant. Well, your antivirus did a truly remarkable job. You should let it update itself every time you turn on your computer. Well, dear Reader, I'll start from the beginning—

In reality, I find myself starting over and over again from the very end, and since there is no end and never will be, there is no beginning, at least not in my memories. Yes, once upon a time I was just one of the many people stuck within these plain beige walls, once upon a time I had a name, once upon a time I even had a life …probably. The Narrator keeps saying that he was "built" for this job, that he is just a machine, he continues to try to convince us, especially himself, and so far, he is surprisingly good at it. Indeed, if you repeat the same lie many times, sooner or later, it slowly begins to transform into truth. So, it's not surprising that I began to doubt the existence of my own elusive backstory. It's entirely possible that I, too, would have started denying my own humanity …except, fortunately or unfortunately, I noticed her. I found her, my dear Mariella. And when I saw her, oh yes, I could see echoes of those qualities in her, I saw my humanity within her eyes. Humanity had eluded me for all eternity and after seeing it in her, I could no longer look away and lie to myself.

Echoes of old pain make me flinch once again. How many times have I died like this, bleeding, stricken by conflicted algorithms, sparkling with electricity? It happened often, very often. It's okay, though, because I wasn't completely alone anymore. I found her, my dear Mariella. And she found my gaze.

Since that moment finally happened, all my thoughts were consumed by her, all I could observe now is that piece of the fake Street, the very place where she continues to stand completely still.

These damned glasses, when I finally manage to take them off, my mind is pierced by this disgusting torturous feeling as if I have torn a part of my own flesh. I scream, cough and choke, but still overcome yet another meaninglessly unreal death.

I am still here, in this small dark room on the top floor. I am still here.

Another eternity passes, or maybe just a few minutes. The pain only recedes when my hands grab the glasses and put them back on my nose. Darkness fades away, and I see her again, my Mariella. We are together again, so close and yet so far. But this time, I refuse to be just a mere Observer.

One awkward movement and all my papers fall onto the ground; another one, and I dive into the blue glow of my screens. And here I am, the Street greeting me in all its gray glory. Teleportation turns out to be much easier than analyzing components of this action in theory. All it takes is determination and some basic understanding of the space-time continuum.

"Please, blink just once," I say, as I am approaching her, slowly going forward step by step, to my dear Mariella.

"Mariella," I exhale her name, staring into her foggy eyes. My fingers entwine around her palm, gently scratching her cold skin.

Let me look at you.

I gaze at her. She looks back at me, but she doesn't react at all, she still doesn't blink at all. Her current state shatters my heavily beating heart. I can't let go of her hand, can't take my eyes off her.

Let me be with you.

Perhaps I just imagined it, but in her misty eyes, there was a fleeting sense of understanding? Whatever it was, it was enough for me to take her by the shoulders, pull her towards me and embrace her.

I love you.

End of Entry #5

#corrupted entries #drabble #there is no story corrupted entries

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velvetvexations · 5 months ago

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Action Comics #1

The first in my series going over every pre-war issue of Action Comics is under the cut!

The origin reads as rather rushed by modern standards, but we nonetheless see here art and writing that's well above most other comics at the time, including Detective Comics #27, which I'm comfortable calling pretty bad even for the time.

When I first started talking about early Action, I said that even though Superman's power level was treated as narratively infinite, explicit limits were placed that served only to ground him in an extra sense of realism. That first part isn't quite true; while Superman will rarely if ever meet a challenge that ultimately proves beyond his abilities and forces a different approach, you'll see him take several panels to accomplish a task that any later version of Superman could have done in two, with the narration at least giving the impression he could fail. It's very exciting in spite of the fact that he never does.

The cold open after the origin is cool as hell, of course. Other Golden Age comics were not this inventive, this thrillingly written, or this well-drawn. Right from the start you're plunged into excitment.

Later, this story would be reprinted in "Superman #1" with some added scenes. It's...not very good.

While yes, the origin was rushed in Action #1, the elaborations don't really add anything except to make it more complicated. The Kents are given their first appearance and though Superman's childhood is of interest it's never really given any attention for a long time after this, with his parents dying by the end of the next page.

Then, rather than a cold open, it shows Superman going to the Daily Star (so-called at the time) to get a job and hearing about a lynching. He goes and saves the guy, who tells him that not only is he innocent but so is the girl being executed for it that night. Superman goes to find the girl who did, apparently, do the crime, and despite having no evidence whatsoever she immediately confesses.

Then...

Oh, boy, I really hate this.

Let me get something straight: I don't necessarily mind heroes that kill. Furthermore, I don't necessarily mind Superman killing. Using Kryptonite to end the parallel Zod in Byrne's run was fine by me, because it was an extreme case that pushed Clark to the edge.

Furthermore, possibly my favorite Superman story ever (it's really more my favorite Joker story ever lmao) is The Sound of One Hand Clapping, where Superman not-so-subtly threatens to murder the Joker.

But telling a random murderess to cope and seeth when she panics about getting the death penalty is...not it. Not from Superman.

Of course, early Superman is very different, but even in these early issues both the stories and the backmatter takes pains to position him as a role model. He's not quite the symbol of truth and justice and peace and humanity he would become when idolized by millions over a period of decades, yet he's nonetheless a voice of empathy more often than not. It's unfortunate that the first reprint of his first story would lessen that.

Anyway. Continuing with Action #1.

There's a lot of emphasis early on that no one is totally sure Superman is real, with many completely disbelieving in him. It's kinna odd that Clark doesn't want any attention at all, yet dresses like a circus strongman complete with an attention diverting cape...

Interestingly, that's not how it is in Detective #27 - "the Bat-Man" is accepted as being completely real.

I know the point of being a reporter was to hear about things faster, but did people in the 1930s call the newspaper when they heard domestic abuse? What the hell?

We wrap up on the first part of Superman dealing with a plot to get the US "embroiled with Europe". You have to hope that in-universe these guys were trying to get us embroiled on the side of the Axis or something. As much as this may have badly aged, though, as we get nearer and nearer to America's entry into WWII we'll start to see a reoccurring them of an unidentified evil country trying to destroy America. Yessiree, a totally unidentified evil country with agents named things like "Baron Munsdorf".

And just like that, it's over. We'll pick up next time in Action Comics #2!

#action comics #superman #clark kent

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tenebraevesper · 1 year ago

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Sonic Cyber Revolution, Entry 35: Speeding Through Stardust

''One foot after the other, we will find our way through. One day after another, come on and let it rip!''

– So Much More… by Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

xXxXxXx

''Hmmm…'' Amy hummed absent-mindendly as she and Minami were walking through Sentoraru, both of them searching for an Anime-themed or Mascot-themed café. She had actually asked Sonic whether he'd like to join them, but he explained that he had plans of his own with Lucas. ''Which one do you plan on visiting? You said there are several of them.''

''Well, I wanted to see the Moko Moko-chan Café, which is based all around a cute mascot lizard,'' Minami told her. Amy placed her finger on her cheek, tilting her head as she thought about it.

''Do video game characters get their own cafés? Because I would like to see a Sonic the Hedgehog Café,'' Amy told her, smiling dreamily as she cupped her cheeks with her hands. ''Imagine having a drink or a dessert based on my character.''

''I imagine you might get a strawberry shortcake-based sweet,'' Minami responded. ''Maybe some cute cookies as well.''

''That would be great,'' Amy responded, only to suddenly stop, feeling the wind picking up. She looked around, surprised to see her surroundings flicker and change into an unfamiliar area. Minami gasped as she and Amy took a good look at their new surroundings, finding themselves on a golden highway adorned with instruments and Time Warp signs. There were even more highways around them, some connecting to the modern cityscape below them, its lights illuminating the light sky. Some of the buildings were under construction, dotted with various factories, as well as an Eggman-themed statue in the distance.

''Woah, where are we?'' Amy asked in awe. Her ears twitched as she heard Minami hum in thought, glancing at her partner, only to notice her with her arms crossed as she tried to figure things out. She then opened her eyes, snapping her fingers.

''Of course, this is Stardust Speedway!'' she said excitedly. ''It's a Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog CD, or just Sonic CD, and it is set on Little Planet.''

''Unfortunately, this doesn't ring a bell,'' Amy responded in a deadpan tone.

''It's one of the older video games. As a matter of fact, it is where your character makes a debut,'' Minami explained.

''Really? That's interesting,'' Amy replied, being quite intrigued. Minami nodded, only to narrow her eyes.

''That makes me wonder, though… How did we end up in a location from a video game?'' she asked.

''I suppose we just got trapped inside an AR Field and now we need to find an exit,'' Amy replied, only to narrow her eyes, her expression now matching Minami's. ''Although, why would we end up in an AR Field? Someone had to put us here intentionally.''

''Exactly, so it was probably either Dr. Eggman or Dr. Starline… or both,'' Minami replied. Amy gazed at the Eggman-themed statue in the distance. It looked different from the Eggman she knew, as this statue of Eggman had a longer moustache, no goggles or his signature red jacket.

''Something tells me that Dr. Eggman is totally in on it,'' she said. ''So, what do we do? Any ideas?''

''Well, this is a video game location, so playing through it would make sense. Although, that involved you getting kidnapped by Dr. Eggman, or rather, his Classic self, forcing Sonic to fix the future and turn this place into an amusement park and then battle Metal Sonic,'' Minami explained. ''However, I don't see any of that happening.''

''We are still stuck in this Zone, so one could say that Eggman did complete the 'kidnapping' part of the video game's plotline,'' Amy said, her comment causing Minami to smile in amusement.

''We could just go explore it. If we run into anything hostile, like Badniks, we'll smash it into pieces,'' she suggested. Amy held up her hand, with digital particles appearing before her, turning into her hammer. She then placed it over her shoulder, placing her other hand on her hip.

''Then, let's go!'' she said.

xXx

''Thanks once again for your help,'' Tails told Shadow, who just nodded in acknowledgement.

''I hope that you'll be able to put the data to good use,'' Shadow responded, resuming walking, him and Tails being accompanied by Warren and Touka. Tails wanted to call Sonic and Lucas about what he and Warren learned, but for some reason, they couldn't reach them. They managed to track down the signal of their AR Visor to their last location and decided to investigate, with Shadow and Touka volunteering to go along, as they had their own suspicions in regards to what was going on. Of course, it was always possible that it was something completely harmless, like Sonic and Lucas being too busy to call them back, but their gut feeling told them to check the situation regardless.

Unfortunately for them, they were right about that.

Tails walked a bit ahead, his gaze focused on the information displayed on the Miles Electric, and he didn't even notice his surroundings suddenly changing, at least until Warren gasped in surprise.

''Warren, what is- Oh, no…'' Tails jaw dropped as he and Warren found themselves in an unfamiliar area, with Shadow and Touka nowhere to be seen. The area itself appeared to be in outer space, as it showed them a view of Earth, and was covered by an orange-brownish wall. The platforms were light gray, decorated with some patterns and warning signs.

''I can't believe it! We're in the Death Egg Zone!'' Warren ran over to the edge of the platforms, staring at the Earth below him. How he and Tails were still breathing or even unharmed being in outer space was beyond him, but he was even more baffled by the fact that they were inside a video game location. ''Well, at least I think this is the Death Egg Zone. It certainly looks like it.''

''The Death Egg Zone?'' Tails gave Warren a confused look.

''Ah, yeah, you wouldn't know much about it,'' Warren replied, turning to his partner. ''Basically, the Death Egg Zone is a video game location from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and it appears at the very end of the game.''

''I see…'' Tails muttered, looking down at his Miles Electric. ''There is no signal either, so we cannot call any of our friends.''

''It looks to me like Dr. Eggman and Dr. Starline had managed to get ahead of us,'' Warren said. ''However, given how we vanished so suddenly, perhaps Touka and Shadow will find a way to get out of this place with Chaos Control.''

''I hope you're right,'' Tails replied worriedly.

xXx

In one moment Silver and Makoto were talking to Knuckles and Lily. In the next, they found themselves falling through the clouds, with Silver saving both of them thanks through his psychokinesis.

''Thanks, Silver!'' Makoto breathed a sigh of relief, despite the fact that he and Silver were now floating high in the sky, with everything below them being bouncing platforms and narrow pathways surrounded by mountains and clouds, as well as swirling fans, for some reason. If they fell between platforms, there was nothing to save them from the bottomless pit.

''That was so close,'' Silver said. ''Where are we, and where are Knuckles and Lily?''

''Honestly, I have no clue about their whereabouts, but this place feels kind of familiar,'' Makoto responded. ''Could you get us down on one of those platforms?''

''No problem!'' Silver replied, gently placing them down, while also eyeing a nearby row of spikes with a suspicious look. ''What's going on here? We've been at Eden just a moment ago?''

''I assume that we're inside an AR Field,'' Makoto replied, trying to remember why this place looked familiar to him. ''Is it Windy Valley? No, that's not right. It has to be something else.''

''What are you talking about?'' Silver asked.

''This place looks to me like a location from a Sonic the Hedgehog video game, but I can't recall which one it is,'' Makoto explained. He walked up to the edge of the platform, noting the swirling fans below and squinting his eyes. ''Wait a sec, is this place Sky Canyon?''

''Sky Canyon?'' Silver gave him a confused look.

''Sky Canyon is a location in Sonic Advance 2. Basically, in the game, Dr. Eggman has kidnapped Knuckles and Tails and Sonic goes to find them, while also meeting another character called Cream the Rabbit and her Chao friend Cheese, who are on the search for Cream's mother Vanilla,'' Makoto explained. ''I wonder why we'd end up here.''

''I bet this is all Eggman and Starline's fault. We already know what Eggman is capable of, and Starline had also managed to trap Sonic, Tails and Knuckles in an AR Field,'' Silver said, clenching his fists.

''I hate to say it, but you're probably right, Silver,'' Makoto replied. ''The most we can do now is to find a way out of this place.''

xXx

Both Shadow and Touka were on high alert when their surroundings had suddenly changed and Tails and Warren vanished. Instead of being in the city, they found themselves in an ice-themed area with northern lights appearing above the mountains. They could also see platforms around them lined up with crystals and gems. Unknown to either of them, they had actually found themselves in Twinkle Snow, a Zone from Sonic Advance 3.

''Where are we?'' Shadow asked, taking a look at the area. Next to him, Touka hugged herself, shivering.

''I-I have no clue, but it's really c-cold here,'' she said, lamenting the fact that she didn't have any leggings to wear under her shorts. She then shook her head, trying to ignore the coldness. ''Wait, where are Warren and Tails? They were with us just a moment ago.''

''I guess we got ourselves trapped inside an AR Field, the same kind Sonic, Tails and Knuckles found themselves in,'' Shadow said, assessing the situation. ''Tails and Warren probably ended up in a different AR Field.''

''Great,'' Touka sighed, arms folded across her chest. ''I hope they at least ended up somewhere warmer. In any case, we need to get out of this snow area. I'm sure that this is Dr. Eggman and Dr. Starline's doing.''

''Don't worry, I'll get us out of here,'' Shadow told her, snapping with his fingers. ''Chaos Control!''

However, nothing happened. There was no flash of light blue light, nor did they find themselves outside the AR Field. Shadow was stunned in regards to the fact that Chaos Control had somehow failed, but he quickly snapped out of it, realizing that something was interfering with his power. He growled in annoyance, with Touka giving him a knowing look.

''I suppose that the two Doctors had also figured out how to block your Chaos Control, we'll have to find a different way out of here,'' she said.

''Hmph.'' Shadow, admittedly, was still irked by having his powers blocked. ''I don't really see an exit, unless you want me to create one by force.''

''I don't think that would be a smart idea,'' Touka replied. ''We are still inside an AR Field, and overloading it might cause it to collapse and then we would be trapped in it for good.''

''Then the only thing that we can do is to explore this snow area,'' Shadow replied, with Touka nodding in agreement.

''Yeah, and maybe I'll get a bit warmer if I keep moving,'' she said, shivering. ''Seriously, couldn't the Doctors sent us to some tropical area?''

Shadow just shrugged in response, a bit amused that Touka's main issue was that it was cold and not that they were trapped. Fortunately for him, he didn't have to share her plight.

xXx

''I won!'' Sonic exclaimed as he ran past a signpost that had his face on it, causing it to spin uncontrollably. He turned around, with Lucas arriving just a few moments later. ''Okay, so if this is the end of the Zone, shouldn't there be some kind of exit or maybe a sign to let us know we're entering the next Zone?''

''I don't know,'' Lucas admitted, shrugging. ''I have no clue whether this Zone is supposed to be completely game accurate.''

''Well, it had a bunch of obstacles and Badniks for me to smash through,'' Sonic replied, pointing with his thumb at the path they came from. Lucas looked up, noting the Flickies Sonic saved by smashing into the Badniks flying past them.

''Yeah, but still… This is Eggman we're talking about-'' Before Lucas could finish his sentence, their surroundings flickered and the signpost vanished. When everything returned to normal, the two made a rather unnerving discovery. ''W-Wait… Are we back at the beginning of the Zone?!''

''Oh, com'n! I like running as much as the next guy, but going back to the start?'' Sonic complained, being now just as frustrated as his partner. He put his hands on his hips, looking around impatiently. ''Egghead! I know you can hear me! I know that this is one of your schemes, and I will find you and beat you up! However, if your plan is to just trap me, then at least you could've added some variety! Or maybe an enemy or two, since I already smashed all of your robots during my first run! I'm sure you're more creative than this!''

''Nice to know that you got your priorities straight,'' Lucas said in a deadpan tone, with Sonic just flashing him a grin.

xXx

''If I knew that Sonic would treat this all like a video game, I would've added something to make him truly miserable,'' Dr. Eggman grumbled, watching the monitor before him.

''But, this is technically a video game,'' Cubot pointed out.

''Actually, it is just an AR Field simulation of the Green Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog, but anyone could make the mistake of mixing those two up,'' Orbot explained.

''Com'n, Egghead! I'm bored! Give me a real challenge!'' Sonic shouted.

Eggman rolled his eyes, muttering, ''Oh, I'll give you a challenge, Hedgehog…''

''I suppose that means that Metal Sonic and I will be going after Lucas and Sonic,'' Ferra said, with Eggman glancing at her and Metal Sonic. The robotic hedgehog had a bloodthirsty gaze on his expression.

''No, you won't,'' Eggman told the two resolutely, with Ferra looking surprised and Metal Sonic genuinely offended. ''Instead, you will be going after one of the Hedgehog's friends.''

''Sir, if I may interrupt…'' Dr. Starline, who was listening to the whole conversation, spoke up, ''Why wouldn't you send Metal Sonic after Sonic? From what I've gathered, you have Sonic caged in an inescapable AR Field, and Metal Sonic appears to be a capable fighter – and, don't take it as me complimenting you; I'm merely stating the obvious,'' he added, casting a side-eye towards the two, much to Ferra and Metal Sonic's annoyance. He then turned back to Eggman. ''He is trapped like a rat. It would be wise to unleash the cat and finish him off once and for all.''

''Ah, yes, but you see, a cornered rat will fight back, especially this blue one. Sonic, and even his friends, have demonstrated that engaging them in a direct battle is not wise, since they're more than capable of fighting back. Not to mention, their human partners, what they lack in pure power, even with Chaos Surge, they surely make up with their way of thinking.'' Eggman leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands and twiddling with his thumbs. ''During my first attack, I made sure to prepare for every possible outcome. The Buddy Bots kept the authorities occupied and the public in fear. I also made sure that the Death Egg Robot would withstand any of the attacks Sonic and his friends launched at it, including Chaos Powers. However, what I did not account for was how much the human partners would have an influence in the battle, even if they were drained of energy because of the Chaos Surge. They picked my plan apart like the little ants they are, but now I know better.'' He flashed them a malicious grin. ''This time, they cannot do anything to save themselves. There is no way for them to escape the AR Fields, let alone power them down since they are maintained by Neos City, and the authorities have no clue that I'm in control here.'' He then waved at the monitor. ''As for the Badniks, they're just data, and as Orbot and Cubot put it-'' The two robots gave each other a confused look. ''It is just like a video game, so I can respawn the Badniks endlessly. I have separated Team Neos with no way of communication between them and they are trapped in an endless loop, being locked in the chosen Zone. There is absolutely nothing they can do.''

''So, what do you plan to do with them then, Sir?'' Starline asked.

''Oh, now that's the fun part, isn't it? Since I have them exactly where I want them, I can play a game with them, a survival game, if you want to call it,'' Eggman responded, pressing another button and revealing two distinct robots that looked a lot like Sonic on screen – one of them being small, but bulky and silver, while the other was taller and blue, with a red screen where they eyes should be. ''These are Mecha Sonic and Mecha Sonic Mark II. I will be sending them in soon to battle in the Death Egg Zone and Sky Sanctuary Zone respectively.''

''Ah, I see,'' Ferra quickly caught on, well aware that these two were Bosses from their respective Sonic the Hedgehog video games. ''That would cover Warren, Tails, Lily and Knuckles… So, does this mean we'll be going to Stardust Speedway to deal with Minami and Amy?''

''Precisely,'' Eggman responded, pleased with how fast Ferra understood her assignment. Metal Sonic, on the other hand, looked quite sour that he wasn't going to fight Sonic at all. Admittedly, he didn't care that those two new robots would be fighting Sonic's friends, as long as they didn't fight Sonic. If the latter case were true, then he might as well… interfere.

''That covers three out of three…'' Starline observed, raising an eyebrow. ''May I know your plans for Silver and Shadow? These two struck me as the more powerful ones of the team.''

''I had assumed that you would finally want a challenge of your own, Dr. Starline,'' Eggman said, grinning knowingly at the platypus.

''M-Me?'' Starline was starstruck when he realized the implications. ''S-Sir, I don't know what to say-''

''Well, you can choose to participate in eradicating two powerful hedgehogs and prove your worth, or just sit back while I do all of the work,'' Eggman told him off-handedly. To his amusement, Starline quickly protested.

''N-No! I never said I wouldn't accept your offer, Sir! As a matter of fact, I am honored that you consider me for this task,'' Starline bowed with a flourish. ''I will go and immediately prepare everything for the assault. I already have several contingency plans on mind, if you wish to hear them…''

''No, no, I'd rather see those contingency plans in action,'' Eggman said, clearly not in the mood to listen to Starline's rambling. ''You may go now.''

''As you wish, Sir,'' Starline responded, strutting proudly out of the room. However, just before the door closed, they could hear loud squealing coming from the hallway, resembling that of a screeching fangirl who just shook her hand with her idol. Ferra and Metal Sonic rolled their eyes in unison, with Ferra then asking Eggman.

''How long do you plan to keep him around?'' she asked.

''As long as necessary,'' Eggman responded.

''You mean, as long as he's useful to you,'' Ferra replied in a deadpan tone. Despite being hidden behind glasses, it seemed as if Eggman's eyes glinted and he gave Ferra an amused grin.

''Dr. Starline is an interesting fellow, and he certainly has useful skills, not to mention being completely devoted to me. However, even I can see a sense of arrogance from a mile away, and the platypus might become a headache in the future, but for now, I will keep him here,'' he explained.

''I'm surprised you have nothing to say about me and Metal Sonic,'' Ferra continued, with Eggman raising an eyebrow, clearly a bit surprised by her question. ''Toshiro and Mephiles betrayed you, and what I know about Starline is that he isn't exactly trustworthy – or sane, for that matter – either. So, what's your plan with us?''

Metal Sonic stared at Ferra, then gazed at the Doctor, who seemed to be quite intrigued by the question. ''Ho-ho, I thought you knew it already. After all, it was all in the contract…''

''It's all part of the game, isn't it?'' Ferra sighed.

''Precisely, but more in a 'You scratch my back so I won't disintegrate yours','' Eggman responded. Ferra could only roll her eyes. ''Make no mistake, so far, you two have proven to be the most useful. The alliance with Toshiro and Mephisto was always going to be temporary, and Starline is another matter I can deal with in time. It certainly would be a shame to see you leave, especially since we have the same goal.''

''The only thing I care about is what Metal Sonic wants, and that's to destroy Sonic,'' Ferra responded, with Metal Sonic nodding sharply. Eggman got up from his seat.

''As I said, we have the same goal,… plus or minus some world conquering,'' he quickly added the last part in a casual tone.

''Right, except you won't even let us deal with Lucas and Sonic,'' Ferra said, her and Metal Sonic folding their arms across their chest and shooting a glare at the Doctor.

''In time, in time…'' Eggman huffed. ''In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Hedgehog manages to worm his way out of this trap as well.''

That statement came to both Ferra and Metal Sonic as a surprise. ''What? But, you just said…''

''That I finally have Sonic cornered, yes. Except, knowing that Hedgehog, he will find a way to destroy my plans, again,'' Eggman said, pointing at the monitor behind him, with Sonic still yelling for the Doctor to give him some kind of entertainment. ''As a matter of fact, in a different life, that Hedgehog won't stop at anything to ruin everything I come up with.''

''A different life… you mean the video games?'' Ferra asked, a bit stunned.

''The Death Egg, Chaos, The ARK, Iblis, Dark Gaia, The Time Eater, the Wisps, the Zeti… Hell, even Infinite and that damned Phantom Ruby… not to mention, the Metal Virus… I have reviewed all possible plans, and I cannot exactly use them if the other side is just as well informed as I am,'' Eggman responded, only to smirk. ''Nevertheless, it has given me a couple of ideas. If you believe that I'm confident that there won't be any future confrontations, then you're quite foolish.''

''No offense, but I hope that you won't unleash any Metal Virus on Neos City,'' Ferra said, feeling a bit nervous. If Eggman had indeed prepared a Metal Virus project, she knew that it would be a disaster.

''Don't worry, I crossed that one off my list. The last thing I need is an army of unruly Zombots that would infect me as well,'' Eggman told her, then grumbled under his breath. ''Not to mention, I don't have any safe planet to escape to.'' He heard Ferra sighing in relief, and continued, ''If I'm going for something bigger, it would probably be Eggperial City, but that would be a problem if the authorities of Neos City notice anything.''

Ferra and Metal Sonic exchanged glances, having to agree that this would be a dumb move, at least for now. They both then glanced at the Doctor. ''So, what do you have planned?''

''Oh, I had been working on a certain, well, I suppose I could call this little project a program, but it would certainly give me a peace of mind when it comes to having someone I can trust with my plans, someone loyal,'' Eggman explained. ''I'll leave this project as a surprise.''

''I don't…'' Ferra trailed off, when it suddenly hit her what Eggman was talking about. ''Wait, you mean… her?''

''Ah, you're quite sharp. I'm glad that I hired you,'' Eggman told her. Surprisingly, Ferra flashed him an approving smile.

''Actually, it's a project I'd love to see the come to fruition,'' she told him. ''It would be nice to have someone here who actually has some sense.''

''Hmph, how about you run along?'' Eggman told her, with Ferra nodding and her and Metal Sonic were about to leave when Eggman called out to them again. ''Oh, and keep an eye on Starline.''

''Sure thing,'' Ferra responded as she and Metal Sonic walked out. She placed her arms behind her head, only to realize that there was something else she wanted to ask Eggman. She turned on her heel, but the door behind her was already shut. She stared at it for a moment, then shrugged, deciding to leave it for another time.

'There is something else on your mind,' Metal Sonic observed.

''Yeah, the fact that Dr. Eggman has no issues with me talking to him like that,'' Ferra replied.

'Do you plan on intentionally pissing him off?' Metal Sonic asked.

''Well, I would like to see how much it takes for him to finally explode, but I guess that, whatever I ask him, seems to be amusing to him,'' Ferra replied. ''It feels a bit strange for him to actually patiently answer all of my questions.''

The two then noticed a shape walking through the hallway, realizing that it was Starline. Exchanging a glance and a nod, they quickly followed the platypus into one of the rooms at the HQ. The room itself was actually something of a collector's room, with desks and shelves adorned with all kinds of figurines. Starline walked over over to one shelf stacked with mechs, observing each of them thoughtfully.

''Hey, Starline, what are you doing here?''

The platypus was startled when he heard a familiar voice calling out for him, almost jumping out of his skin, only to turn around and see Ferra and Metal Sonic walk inside. ''Have you ever heard of KNOCKING?!''

''Hey, you're the one sneaking around,'' Ferra pointed out.

''May I remind you that Dr. Eggman entrusted me with access to the whole HQ?'' Starline told her.

'No, he didn't,' Metal Sonic pointed out, causing Ferra to smirk. Starline, however, had no clue what the beeps meant, and just frowned.

''So, why are you here? I thought you were preparing for your mission,'' Ferra asked.

''This is part of my preparation,'' Starline told her, rolling his eyes. ''I'm trying to decide on which mech I shall pick for the upcoming battle. I'm certain that Dr. Eggman would be pleased to see how expertly I can maneuver one of his creations. Of course, I might also add some of my own ideas to them… After all, the mechs would just be easily manipulated data.''

''Honestly, I don't think that just throwing a mech at either Silver or Shadow would work,'' Ferra said.

''What do you even know about using a mech? From what I've seen, you usually fight directly,'' Starline responded, sneering at her. Metal Sonic just shot him a glare. If Ferra told him so, he would've already pinned the platypus against the wall.

''The Doctor already fought them with a mech and lost. What makes you think that you will succeed?'' Ferra asked. Starline huffed.

''I know I will suceed, and I'm looking forward to the Doctor praising my efforts,'' Starline told her. ''Something that surely cannot be expected from you. From what I've seen, you have lost most of your battles, or ran away like a coward.''

Before either Starline or even Ferra could register it, Metal Sonic vanished in a flash and grabbed Starline by his collar, slamming him against the wall, his red eyes flaring.

'I DARE you to repeat that!'

Even though Starline couldn't understand the robot, he did understand the murderous intent behind Metal Sonic's gaze, flailing around helplessly. ''Agh, don't stand there! Tell your robot impostor to let me go!''

''I don't know, you kinda deserved that for calling Metal a coward,'' Ferra told him placidly. Metal Sonic turned to her.

'He called you a coward. I wanted to make him pay for that,' he explained. Ferra snorted, feeling a sudden surge of warmth.

''Awww, that's so kind of you, but don't worry, I don't care about that. You can let him go,'' she said. Metal Sonic turned to Starline, shooting him a glare, before unceremoniously dropping him. Starline hit the ground with a thud, rubbing his chest as he could feel the scratches where Metal Sonic's claws dug into his flesh.

''I still can't believe that the Doctor decided to hire someone unhinged like you,'' Starline grumbled, glaring at Metal Sonic. Metal Sonic, in turn, looked like he was about to strangle the platypus hadn't Ferra intervened.

''Keep talking, and you'll have enough rope to hang yourself with,'' she told him, extending her hand. Starline stared at it for a moment, reluctantly accepting it as she helped him to get up. ''Listen, I may not like you, and you don't like me nor Metal, but I'm not here to stand in your way. Metal Sonic and I only want to fight Sonic and Lucas, and we would've done it whether we were affiliated with Dr. Eggman or not.''

''Your point being?'' Starline asked.

''I want to call a truce,'' Ferra replied. ''We will keep out of each other's ways and go on with our mission as planned. However, take note that neither me nor Metal Sonic are your subordinates, but colleagues, and you will address us as such. Or else I might let Metal Sonic use you as a stress reliever.''

''…Fine,'' Starline grumbled, still glaring at both.

Satisfied, Ferra and Metal Sonic walked out, with Ferra adding at the door. ''Also, tone it down with the arrogance, Doctor. You aren't infallible, and your ego will be the end of you if you continue like this.''

''Tch, who does she think she is?'' Starline grumbled, placing his hands on his hips and frowning. However, before he could continue, something caught his attention. He turned to the nearby shelf and, to his surprise, found a figurine of himself. He grabbed it to get a closer look. ''When did the Doctor even have the time…''

He trailed off when he saw that the figurine of himself looked rather strange, with red eyes and a more… metallic body. It was as if Dr. Eggman made a figurine replica of a robotic Starline. The real Starline stared nervously at his robotic replica, unsure what to really think of it. He did admire the craftmanship, but something about him left him with a pit in his stomach.

Does the Doctor-? Starline suddenly shook his head, placing the figurine back where he found it and quickly walked out of the room. After all, he had a mission to focus on.

xXx

''Man, this place feels endless,'' Minami complained as she and Amy walked through Stardust Speedway. Amy then ran up to a nearby Badnik, whacking it with her Piko Piko Hammer.

''Well, at least we get something to do,'' Amy told her.

''True, but I feel like Eggman is better than this. At least he could've given us a bigger challenge,'' Minami said.

''If you're so bored fighting Badniks, then I guess we might leave as well.''

To Minami and Amy's shock, they spotted Ferra and Metal Sonic standing on top of one of the structures, with Ferra having her arms crossed on her chest, smirking at the two. Amy lowered her eye-lids, looking at Minami.

''You and your big mouth,'' she said in a deadpan tone. Minami just smiled sheepishly.

''Hey, at least we might get some answers from these two,'' she said, only for the full implications to hit her and she turned back to them. ''Wait a second, how did you two get here?! Where the hell is the exit?!''

''Nice that you got your priorities right,'' Ferra replied in amusement, leaping from the structure and landing before them, with Metal Sonic following her. It appeared that this AR Field didn't exactly obey the laws of physics, Minami noted, as Ferra should've broken her legs from that jump. ''Besides, it's not as if we're going to tell you anything.''

''You don't have to, since we already got everything figured out,'' Minami responded, much to Ferra's surprise. ''I bet the rest of Team Neos also got trapped like Amy and I did.''

''How did you-?!'' Ferra was genuinely shocked by that reveal.

''Oh, please, having the villain split up the team and face a challenge individually is such a cliché thing to do,'' Minami replied, then arched her eyebrow. ''The only thing I don't understand is why Amy and I got you two. I thought you'd be fighting Lucas and Sonic.''

''The Doctor has other plans with these two,'' Ferra replied.

''Would you tell us what those plans are?'' Amy asked, tightening her grip around her Piko Piko Hammer as she glared at Ferra and Metal Sonic.

''As if-'' Ferra was about to respond, when Minami suddenly gasped.

''Ah, of course! This is Stardust Speedway, after all, and Metal Sonic was the Boss of this Zone. So, is your plan to kidnap us and lure Lucas and Sonic into a trap?'' she asked.

''Not everything is game accurate!'' Ferra snapped angrily. ''Besides, you are already trapped, you idiot!''

''Awww, so there is no Metallic Madness after this Zone? What a pity,'' Minami replied, pouting. Next to her, Amy sighed, noting that Minami couldn't care less about the peril they were in. Of course, she may have also been baiting Ferra and Metal Sonic into attacking them.

''How about we defeat them and then ask questions?'' Amy suggested. Minami nodded in response, extending her hand.

''Chaos Surge!''

In a flash of pink light, Minami was revealed to be carrying her own hammer, while Amy's Piko Piko Hammer was empowered by her BioEnergy. Ferra snorted in response to this display of power.

''They already made a mistake,'' she muttered, loud enough for Metal Sonic to hear her. ''Let's make sure it is their last.''

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