#i am going to make temporal tower

[andillneverbethesame]

Its nice to have a friend with james and ravenclaw!reader pls 🙏

love this! thank u for the request <3

it's nice to have a friend

❥ james potter x ravenclaw fem reader, remus lupin x sirius black

❥ summary; you and james swear you two are only friends. except you're not.

❥ warnings; none really.just not reread for gramatical mistakes

❥ a/n: this is very shorttt sorryy

my ts masterlist pt 1, pt 2

“alright, class," professor sinitra said at the end of the astronomy lesson. "that's the end for today. i'll see you all next week. and don't forget your essays about your birth planet!”

“finally,” you sighed in relief. “i am so exhausted.” you hated these friday astronomy lessons at midnight. but you were grateful you didn't need to be up early the next day.

“me too,” pandora yawned. she looked as if she was already half asleep. everyone seemed to be. except james potter, who was now making his way to you with an energetic smile on his face.

“hello, y/n," he grinned and you tried to ignore the way your heart skipped a beat.

“hello, jamie.”

“can i walk you to ravenclaw tower?” he asked you and you raised your eyebrow. “it's not safe for a pretty girl like you to walk around the castle at night.”

“i won't be alone,” you replied. “i got pando—” you turned around to your friend who was next to you just five seconds ago. however, she was nowhere to be seen then. “or no. . . well, then i guess you can walk me.”

on the way, you notice james walked unusually slow. he always walked so fast that you almost had to run to catch up with him but this evening, it seemed as if you were faster than him. as if he wanted to make this walk last as long as possible.

you smiled as you shook your head at the ridiculous thought. you and james were only friends. you've always been just that.

“do you wanna hang out tomorrow at hogsmeade?” james suddenly asked.

you glanced at him. “what about the boys?”

“well, sirius and remus are having a date and peter still feels sick. it would be just the two of us. we could go to honey dukes and get the strawberry chocolate you like so much. and then we could stop at madam puddifoot's and get some tea and cake,” he offered. it almost sounded like a date. you cursed yourself again for the thought.

“you hate madam puddifoot's,” you pointed out the flaw in his plan.

“but you like her jasmine tea,” james said. and i like you, he wanted to add. “come on, it's my treat.”

you rolled your eyes. “you don't need to pay me for hanging out with you, jamie. i'd love to spend time with you in hogsmeade. it'll be fun."

james waited at you in front of the ravenclaw tower at ten in the morning sharp, just like he promised.

despite the fact that it was not a date and just two friends hanging out, you spend quite some time getting ready, wanting it to be perfect.

pandora teased you from her spot on her bed as she watched you chosing between two outfits — dark blue sweatshirt with black skirt and black sweatshirt with white skirt (you chose the second option in the end). you could only roll your eyes and deny every single one of her accusations but you both knew very well what was the truth.

james was wearing his gryffindor sweatshirt and opted to pair it with black pants. his hair was a mess, as always, looking like he had just gotten out of the bed without even trying to style it. he complained about it often but you thought it suited him well.

“ready?" he asked with his hands in his pockets, a smile lighting up his face.

“ready.” you nodded.

“where do you wanna go first?” james questioned as you two entered the village. a lot of people were there every day, but especially today when almost five hundred of hogwarts students decided to spend the day there.

“i'd really love to get the tea at madam puddifoot's now,” you answered honestly. “i'm feeling rather cold and need to warm up,” you blew warm breath on your hands and rubbed them together, hoping for at least temporally feeling of warmth. but it was no use. you almost couldn't feel your fingers anymore.

“why didn't you take gloves with you?” james asked.

“i lost them,” you replied with a pout on your lips. james then took off his pair of black gloves from his hands and handed them to you. “i— but. . what about you?”

he waved it off. “don't worry. i'll be fine.”

“are you sure?”

he nodded and you could tell he really meant it.

you two ended up at three broomsticks for a late lunch. despite each of you eating a piece of cake, a chocolate bar and shared a packet of sour candies, you two found yourselves quite hungry after all the walking.

madam rosmerta greeted you as soon as you walked in (though she was mainly talking to james, who ordered two butterbeers and then winked at her) and you chose a table by the window.

“what would you like?” james asked. “it's on me.”

you gave him a look. “i am not completely broke, y'know? you paid enough for me today. let me pay for you once, too.”

“not happening,” was james's immediate response as he shook his head. “i am a gentleman.”

“i never said you weren't,” you laughed. “but you can't pay for me all the time. i'm not your girlfriend.”

that seemed to shut him up as he couldn't think of anything else to say. at that moment, rosmerta came to your table with butterbeers and asked what would you like to have for your meal.

“i'll have shephard's pie," you spoke.

“beef pasties for me. thank you, rosmerta,” james smiled.

“thank you for today, jamie,” you said once the woman walked away. “i really needed this. i've been so stressful with everything that's going on.”

the boy knew exactly what you were talking about. attacks on muggles and muggleborn wizards and witches have been more and more frequent this year. a lot of your friends were muggleborns, and so was your dad. you prayed every day, begging whoever was up there to not let anything happen to those you loved.

james nodded understandingly. he, too, was worried for the future of the wizarding world. and he knew that he will be joining the order of the phoenix as soon as he could, and he'd be fighting for the good side as hard as he could.

his hand reached across the table for yours, squeezing it lightly for some kind of comfort to give you. you smiled sadly at him and sweets his hand back.

“yeah, me too. i'm sure everything will be okay,” he tried to reassure you. but you both weren't so sure. you weren't going to ruin this moment, though.

“thank you. it's nice to have a friend like you,” you said and james nodded.

yeah, he thought. a friend.

from across the room, remus and sirius, although they were on their own date, were watching you two with an immense interest.

“remus, he touched her hand!” sirius whisper-yelled at his boyfriend and hit him lightly as if he was trying to catch his attention as if remus wasn't spying on you two either. “he touched her hand!”

“yes, sirius, i'm not blind!” remus replied.

“come on, kiss!” the dark-haired boy began to pray. “i'm tired of them tiptoeing around each other like that.”

remus raised an eyebrow as he looked at sirius. “you did the same with me.”

“shut up.”

a month later, it was valentine's day and you had no one to spend it with.

all of your friends were going on a date with their partners or potential partners, but you were in bed with book.in your hands and a cup of tea on your bedside table. no one was in your dorm, leaving you completely interrupted to get lost in the story.

that was until there was a knock on your door.

you groaned. the words on the pages seemed to be getting rather. . . interesting.

"who is it?"

"your favourite boy in the whole world." was the answer and you quickly sat up and fixed your appearance. you'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"come in!" the door opened, revealing james in a black suit and a big boquet of flowers in his hand. your mouth opened at his look. he looked really attractive, don't get me wrong, but you couldn't understand why was he dressed like that. "what's going on?"

"well, dear y/n, me and you are going on a date, that's what's going on."

"on a date?" you asked, furrowing your eyebrows. "as. . . friends?"

james shook his head. "no, not as friends. we're more than that." he didn't give you a time to say anything before he continued with, "get ready. i'll wait in the common room."

you blinked in confusion as you watched him close the door and then you squealed once you were sure he was far enough to not hear you.

[cookinary]

Hey guys, if you want some music

I've been putting together a playlist of what my AUs' themes would be

I'll be making a list under the cut of which song matches which AU (so don't check it out if you wanna figure it out for yourself!)

Da OG boi: Banana Man - Tally Hall

Android: Robot Rock - Daft Punk

Backrooms: H A L L S - CG5

Basically Villain: Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio

Beyblade: Beyblade Metal Fusion French opening

Brothers in Arms: Turn the Lights Off - Tally Hall

Cartoon: Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand

Clone: I think I'm a clone now - Weird Al

Cyberpunk: Organic Self - Noisecream

Demon Banana: Demons - Imagine Dragons / Phoenix - ft.Cailin Russo and Chrissy Costanza

Dragon Pilot: Dragon Pilot Hisone to Masotan outro

Escaped Experiment: Monster - dodie

Explosive Personality: MINECRAFT CREEPER RAP - Dan Bull

Ghost: Ghost - Confetti

Godhunter: Godhunter - Aviators

Honey I shrunk the kid: So What - Three Days Grace

It's just a game: Losing My Mind - Mystery Skulls

Mad Guy Dead: MAD RAT HEART from the Mad Rat Dead OST

Mad Switch: Fuck You - Lily Allen

Magic: Dementia - Owl City ft. Mark Hoppus / ROACHES - Luluyam (I picked these songs because Mage is psychotic because of everything he went through)

Mountains: Les bronzés font du ski

Murder Drones: Disassembly Required - Liam Vickers

Mutant: Captive Normal from the Hi-Fi Rush OST (PLEASE CHECK THIS GAME OUT) / I'm My Own Master Now (Platinum Mix) from the Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance OST

Nyankees: meow - lvusm

Pacific Rim: Pacific Rim main theme

Phoenix: Phoenix - Netrum & Halvorsen

Pokemon: The Journey Starts Today - Walk off the Earth

Portal: Who I am - CG5

Post-Apocalypse: Survive - SOARA / Wasteland Outlaw - MAJESTY

Radioactive: Radioactive - Imagine Dragons

Reaper: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash

Sailing Seas: The Seven Seas - F-777

Sea Monster: Ocean Man - Ween

Simulation Collapsing: ECHO [Cover] - Alfakyun

Space: Starman - David Bowie

Spare: I Can't Decide - Scissors Sisters

Supers: Speed of Light - Joe Satriani

Swap: Sweet About Me - Gabrielle Cilmi

Tanuki: Heisei era Tanuki War (Spirited Season) from the Pompoko OST

Therianthropy: Wild Slide - Jules Gaia / T-Rex - K.Flay

Time Agent: This Time - PXL

Time God: Temporal Tower from the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky OST

Time Loop: Stuck in a Timeloop - Animadrop

Totally Spies: Here We Go - Totally Spies season 1 opening

Turning Red: Pandas Unite/Nobody Like U from the Turning Red OST

Unaware Eldritch God: God - Jake Daniels

Untitled Friend Game: Goose Goose Revolution - TheLivingTombstone

Werewolf: Animal In Me - Solence

Witch Vampire: Happy Halloween Rap ver. - nqrse

Zombie: Macabre Rotting Girl - Kathy-Chan / Stay Alive - FFM ft. Felix Bushe / INFECTED - STARSET

Junkyard King: Junkyard King - Navie D

Rookie Mistake (AU where my sona is present): Idontgivea***k - Rabbit Junk

And EMPIRES by Electric Swing Circus isn't for an AU but I thought it was a good fit for vanilla Ophelia

[billycorn]

All Our Days

@sincerely-sofie I am sorry for this one. I know it is not the vibes, but I offer it nonetheless

Kip sat on the beach, watching the sun dip below the horizon. It's orange and golden rays bounced off the water, turning the ocean into a sea of fire.

Fire.

Tears sprung to his eyes, but Kip fought them back, and smiled. "Hey, Twig. Sorry it's been so long since I visited. I've been really busy with guild work. I've helped a lot people. I think you'd be really proud."

Laughing to himself, Kip gave up on withholding his tears. Instead, they flowed freely down his cheeks. He looked to the sky and smiled despite the ache in his chest. "I really miss you."

"Kip, who are you talking to?"

His head swivelling, Kip found Marill watching him, concern in the little boy's eyes.

Clearing his throat, Kip wiped away the tears. "Nobody." Kip couldn't help but notice that Azurill was missing, it was strange, seeing the pair split apart. "Where's Azurill?"

"He's playing with some friends." Marill toddled over and sat beside Kip.

"Feeling a little lonely?"

Marill nodded. "I'm not used to being alone."

Smiling, Kip gently rubbed Marill's back. "It's no fun being alone, is it?"

Marill cautiously glanced up at Kip, the boy wanting to ask something, but not sure if he should.

Turning his gaze back on the sunset, Kip sighed heavily. "Exploring with Twig was the best! She always had my back, and she would pack extra snacks." Kip paused, throwing his head back and laughing heartily. "And she told the worst jokes!"

"You really miss her."

Kip nodded slowly. "Remember when Drowzee took Azurill? You were really scared, huh?"

Marill frowned. "I don't want to feel like that ever again."

"I feel like that all the time."

Kip meant to keep speaking, but couldn't get the words out. Memories came rushing back; memories of their first expedition, of Fogbound Lake and the Dark Future, memories of Temporal Tower and everything that came after it. He hadn't been sleeping well since then. Most nights he would awake in a cold sweat, with no memory of a nightmare, just a sense of loss and an echoing truth; 'You are not the Hero of this story.' He would roll over, find her bed empty, and lose her all over again.

Tears sprung back to Kip's eyes. "I feel like that all the time, so I try to remember, when we started as an exploration team, I would get nervous and struggle to sleep sometimes. I never said anything, but Twig knew and on those nights she would sing a lullaby. Long ago, before we met, I dreamed about you. The peace you'd bring. The songs we'd sing. The way you'd make things new. Then one day, you arrived. I heard your angel cry. Helpless, small, and perfect, Welcome to your life. And on that day, I made a vow. Whispered and True. No matter what, no matter how, I made this promise to you. I will cling, I will clutch, I'll hold onto you, I won't turn away. I won't leave, I won't go, I will stay with you all our days."

Marill looked at Kip, confused. "She lied?"

Kip nodded, biting his lip. "Yeah, she's a jerk."

"Who's a jerk?"

Convinced he was hearing things, Kip laughed bitterly and shook his head. "Sometimes I can still hear her singing it."

"Stop telling everyone I'm dead!"

His mouth forming a thin smile, Kip turned slowly and there, right there, was Twig.

His lips quivering, Kip barreled into Twig, knocking her flat. "You kept your promise."

Laughing through her tears, Twig squeezed Kip in a mighty hug. "I'll always find my way home."

Here's a link to the lullaby if anyone wants to listen to it.

[waltwhitmansbeard]

I totally only read the tags after I sent the ask yesterday and I didn't want to send two in one day, so good morning 😊

Can I ask for Shadowgast for #27: "C'mere, I don't mind letting you sleep on me", pretty please? 🥺🥺

27. "C'mere, I don't mind letting you sleep on me."

There are many reasons why Caleb was so hesitant to take on a position at the Solstryce Academy, but one he had not considered before starting was the time it would demand from him. So much of his spare hours are now spent grading papers and reviewing his students' research proposals, and it leaves him little room for his own intellectual pursuits. Helping shape the minds of the next generation of arcanists is no small thing, to be sure, but still, reading another ten page treatise on the various practical uses of the Blink spell, none of which meet any kind of basic ethical standard, when he could be reading the notes on his latest chronurgical experiment that his Kryn friend left the last time he was here is so much to ask of a man.

It is especially cruel on the rare afternoons that said Kryn friend is actually able to stop by for a visit. Caleb is well aware that each one is a risk to Essek, that he puts his very life on the line in order to spend even a few hours with Caleb in Rexxentrum, and Caleb tries so very hard not to read anything into that. Instead, he compares arcane notes with him, their spellbooks passed back and forth like notes in a classroom, scribbles down Essek's suggestions for improvement on his Web of Fire in the margins as onion and garlic sizzle on the stove in preparation for the maultaschen he's making for their dinner.

Once they've eaten, though, he must focus once again on his professorial duties, and so Essek sprawls out on the couch in his room in the tower, flipping through the reading Caleb will be assigning in class next week, while Caleb is bent over a desk, exhaustedly underlining areas for improvement in each essay. He works until the candle drips low, until Essek murmurs, "Caleb Widogast, you need to rest."

There are four more papers left to grade. "I'm almost done, ja? And then we will discuss ways to increase the effective time of that Temporal Shunt spell."

"You are going to pass out on top of your work. You need not stay awake on my account."

Caleb frowns at him over his shoulder. "Quite the assumption, freund. I have so little time with you; how am I to get our important work done when you disappear in the morning like a ghost?"

"You are being dramatic." He extends a hand toward Caleb, the myriad of rings on his fingers glinting in the flickering fire lit by a spectral cat hours ago. "Come. I don't mind letting you sleep on me."

Oh, what unholy temptation. There are four more papers left to grade. From here, Caleb can smell the air in Eiselcross still on Essek's skin. "Just a cat nap, liebling," he murmurs, pushing back from the desk to stand.

"Of course." Essek's hand beckons him closer, a siren upon the rocks.

"I'm serious. Twenty minutes, then you wake me."

"It is a promise, Caleb Widogast." Essek presses himself into the back of the couch, allowing room for Caleb to slide beside him, to nestle his head atop Essek's arm.

"Twenty minutes." His eyes slide closed. It has been quite a long day.

"Twenty minutes." And Caleb knows, as he quickly slips under, that he will not wake again until morning.

[voidwritesstuff]

Shadows in the radio static. (Shadow! Alphonso AU)

->created by: @graceandtheidiotsquad .

Summary: the rainbow chemical has unexpected side effects,like keeping the dead amongst the living.

->cw: a scene of harrasment, mentions of PTSD.

Theres a lot of noise in the air, gunshots, air planes,screams,garbled noises from the radio. The Sky is black with no stars,the mud is Sticky on his boots as he runs up a tree, he sees his lieutenant, Lucas Cole, and thanks god hes not alone.

But even then,alphonso feels out of it too, the world shifts between this hellish swamp and his backyard in the appalachias. But he managed to climb up that tree, Lucas is not there mentally, his eyes are wide and his gaze is lost and wild.

He watches his lieutenant raise his gun. A sharp pain shatters into his nervous system, and only as his eyelids feel heavy does he sees Lucas lean over him and tell,tears in his eyes. He hears "im so sorry,im so sorry! Oh crap Alphonso! Stay with me!--stay"

Darkness.

It feels like an eternity in the dark void,he tries to follow the voices and cries for help of his fellow soldiers but they vanish when he tries to touch them.

But then he sees Lucas...hes not longer on the swamp though, hes in the medical bay being treated for his injuries. This time,when he tries to Grab his shoulder he falls to the floor, no longer on that void.

--kid! Kid?! Do you hear me!?--He yelled right in his ear. But all Lucas does is flinch and shuffle away.-- the hell am I? Some kind of ghost?

Thats how he finds himself following Lucas around,the few times he manages to make contact is through dreams. But he soon finds his lieutenant either doesnt remember them or chalks it up to ptsd.

--Damn it kid!!-- He huffed, sitting with him as hes shipped back to the USA. But then he sees Lucas slowly fall asleep, instictively leaning towards him. Alphonso sighs and leans his head on his, side hugging him. His anger melts and he just says-- alright then, just rest...

He finds himself watching Lucas as the years pass by,the few times hes made contact his Friend has woken up in a cold sweat or made him a little paranoid.

Nothing changes until Lucas finds his way towards Milton-Haven, Alphonso can see this weird ghost Lady that he speaks to sometimes.

--How do you manage to get yknow- an actual physical form?--He asked her once, she was by an electric tower.

--pull energy- from radios, or--electricity-- she replies-- can be- temporarily, not sure if permanent

Alphonso nodds and sits with her-- How do you do that?

This ghost Lady takes his hand and puts it to one of the legs of the tower, theres sparks and then suddenly hes training the Power with her.

--We might end up causing a black out-- he half joked, and the ghost Lady laughed-- I never asked ya yer name

The ghost Lady looked at him through her glasses, her curly hair in a ponytail swaying with electricity, and her Angel wings that looked like radio waves shuffle. Light blue energy zaps around her like a Tesla coil. Its intimidating but somehow inviting.

She replies-- Doctor Rosemary James.

Alphonso doesnt try to materialize until the Next night, sucking up all the Power he could. Needless to say there were Many reported temporal black outs and lights acting funky.

Lucas had just come back from his first Real date in a while. Hes tinkering with a radio, murmuring "creep" by radiohead, hes too concentrated on his work and todays events that he doesnt notice the first flickers of light.

But then they get worse, a second passes by and he looks at the light on the ceiling-- what the- its the third time this week!

Lucas feels the hairs in the back of his head stand up, he drops the tool he was using and looks behind him, then he hears a -- That would be my fault,kid.

His eyes go wide and filled with tears-- what the hell

He sees a Man, mid fortys, wearing a ww2  uniform. A piece of his cheek is missing, his skin is deathly white, red spider lillies grow from his helmet and his Pointy dog ears pressed against the side of his head.

--Youre dead-- he says matter of factly,hands shaking.

--Gee,nice GOFO, lieutenant-- the bastard has the Audacity to smirk. Then he pulls him for a tight hug.

Lucas expected him to smell god awful,but he senses the sweet aroma of flowers and his usual cologne. He hugs his friend tight and sobs into his shoulder, the moss on his clothes soft against his skin.

--is-is this Real?--He asks,voice barely a whisper.

--Yup. As Real as it gets,kid-- he whispers, stroking his back-- 'm guessing you want an explanation, dont worry,we have all the time in the world now

Alphonso starts to explain everything that happened since the very beginning, how he got here and who taught him how to materialize, upon hearing the name, Lucas looks at his Friend with wide eyes.

--Wait- Rosemary?! Shes still with you?

--There are days where she cant even talk to me, but im sure she'll give us an answer if I ask-- the other Man said with a shrug.-- hey,grab us a beer so you can tell me about your hot date

--You saw everything?!-- he asked with dark cheeks.

--Nah I gave you two lovebirds privacy. Just stayed around the area.

Lucas sighs and stands up, gong to Grab two beers from the fridge,shaking his heas-- oh fuck me. --He growls in disbelief.

Few seconds later hes opening a beer,but before he gives it to Alphonso he says--Ya sure you can drink this?

Wheeler clicks his tongue and snatches the beer--Give me that shit-- his friend laughs and then takes a sip-- god,I missed this.

The ex radioman chuckles-- hmm, I imagine -- but then he sees his captain smile wide, his sharp,yellowed teeth showing.

--So, tell me about the girl-- He said,a little too smug.

Lucas almost chokes on his drink-- well- uhm. I met her because I thought was running late. We share the same therapist, turns out I got there really early, and uhh we started talking

--Thats sweet-- Alphonso says-- whats her name?

--Jerico-- he replied-- jerico Castro, shes very sweet and shes got the prettiest smile. Man,you shoulda seen me when I met her, my breath left my chest and I got so red in the face, you and the others wouldntve let me live it down

The other Man chuckles, his completely white eyes twinkling with mirth-- hm, bet

So,they both spend the night talking, up until Lucas falls asleep. Alphonso chuckles, he picks up his friend with ease and carries him to his room, fireman Carry style.

--Dude. Get a bed-- he murmurs and sets him down on the cot, covering him. Then,he goes to rest on the one person couch outside his Friends room. He almost seems to curl up like a dog, his ears down.

For the Next few days,alphonson follows Lucas around his usual schedule. He walks beside him to his therapist's Office, helps him to Get groceries (wearing a beanie, a jacket with a hoodie and a bandana around his face,with sunglasses).

--Ya dont gotta follow me 'round-- Lucas teased,putting the groceries on the table.

His Friend shrugs-- I guess I still Belive youre my boy-- he ruffles his lieutenants curly black hair-- guess yer a Man now

Lucas smiles with warmth, he chuckles and hugs his friend-- thats very sweet,you know? I guess in some way yer still my captain

Wheeler shakes his head-- You are yer own Man now.

A few more days go by of this routine. Alphonso was more than happy to watch and help his friend, every day Lucas would wake up to Alphonso sleeping on the one person couch Next the door of his room,Like a Guardian dog.

--Dont try n lick me now-- he joked once.

--cant make any promised-- his captain replied with a shrug.

One night, Lucas is fixing himself up in the mirror,he struggles to fix up his tie-- jesus fucking christ,55 Years and I still cant-

Wheeler sighs and fixes up his tie-- just like bootcamp

The other Man chuckled-- just like boot camp. Thanks

--s'nothing. Good luck,tiger-- his captain winks.

During the night, Alphonso keeps a healthy distance between him and Lucas,who walks hand in hand with his date.

--Man,dont you look stunning-- the ex soldier whispered, nuzzling his dates hair.

-- have you seen yourself in the mirror? -- jerico whispered with a smile,leaning on him-- love the cologne

He shrugged-- thanks, a friend reccomended it

--Hes got good taste-- both walk past a Group of men,who look at jeri with less than friendly intentions. Lucas purses his lips and covers her with his arm, pulling her closer.

Two of the guys follow them to the restaurant they were going, the ex soldier is aware of this and Gently tells his date-- babe, go to our spot,okay? Ill be there in a moment.

Jerico whispers a "be safe" since she noted the men too, and leaves to their table. Lucas Turned to the men with pursed lips-- do we really have to do this?

The two men dont reply, but before any of the two can do something, Alphonso jumps on them, mouth billowing hot smoke. His clawy hands rip the two men away and says-- Go,I can handle this

Lucas watches both impressed and in horror as his Friend pulls the men to a dark alleyway. He knows his moral compass wont let him forget that easily,but in reality he just wants to continue his date.

So,he rejoins his date. And the rest of the night goes swimingly.

He drops her off at her house, giving a tight hug and a nice passionate kiss, she gladly kisses back and hugs his neck.

--Hey, what about the guys from before? -- jerico asked, stroking his jaw with her thumb.

--'Eh,I wouldnt worry 'bout it. I scared them off

She chuckles and says-- uh-huh, sure thing tough guy.

The ex soldier kisses his dates forehead-- sweet dreams,hon.

--Night,lu

Lucas drives back to the cabin with joy and warmth in his chest. He opens the door of his house with a sigh And drags his feet to his bedroom,ready to pass out.

--hey! How did the date go?--Alphonso asked,curled up on the one person sofá, one of his eyes Open and one of his ears raised as his tail wags lazily-- n' before ya ask I just gave them a good beating.

The radioman chuckles-- not a scratch on ya,guess ya never lost yer touch. N' it went well, I dropped her off, we had fun. She specially liked that I kept in mind her food sensitivities.

--Always paying attention to the little details-- wheeler replied with a tired smirk-- thats good. Get some rest,kid.

--Ten-Four captain-- the other Man replied, giving a pat on the head to his friend and going to his room. He loosens his tie and then undoing his hairbun, his black curly hair bouncing a little-- night!

--Night!--Alphonso replied,closing his eye and tucking his ears against the side of his head. For the rest of the night he keeps watch on the house.

Lucas decides that even if it was a little odd, it was good to have his captain,his mentor, his friend back.

[tobiasdrake]

I don't think the Tower of Time likes me very much.

Really driving home the idea that I need to learn patience and not to rush stupidly into things. This is almost like training. Highly lethal training.

But given my contract with Quarble, does lethality even mean anything? I'll become a For Realsies Messenger and get sent to some point in time to... I guess, deliver a message... if I make it through without dying. But since I can't die in any way that matters, this is more of a training gauntlet than a mortal test.

Is that a bug of the Messenger system, or a feature?

NOPE FUCK THIS PLACE

Third option: Cruel prank. A cruel prank of the Messenger system. Shopkeeper's watching me on CCTV and laughing as my flesh melts from my skin and my bones are ground into powder.

To be honest, there's something beautiful about this space we're in. I know we're, like... temporally unmoored or something. But you can see the Sea of Stars out there in the great beyond and it really makes you think about how small you are in the grand....

...

*Ahem*

You can see the Sea of Stars out there in the great beyond and it really makes you think about how small you are in the grand scheme of things. Like an insignificant mote of dust, made meaningful only by your collisions with the other motes around you, in an ever-changing whirlwind of noise and light.

It's moments like this that make our bonds with each other resonate so strongly. Because in our own way, we're all stars in that vast cosmos. But it's only together that we can form into constellations.

...

Even if some of us shine a little brighter than others.

My spine was punched up a mountain by a naked wrestler I am entitled to a little bit of narcissism right now. The cosmos owes me that.

...Luana?

Probably not. She looks much more like my new buddy-pal, the Monkshroom.

These are definitely Messengers, yeah. <.< >.> And I call this one. This jacked, cool-looking guy is totally me.

Oh, goddammit. I already called dibs on that other one but this guy is way more jacked and manly. Is it too late to change my mind?

Final corridor before boss. Typically, this is where a portal to the Shopkeeper would be, so he can brief me on what's about to happen.

But. I guess. Since his room is a physical space in this very tower, there can't be portals into it from here. So I'm just fucked.

Dammit, I like bantering with him.

Nope, never mind. I'm just terrible with pattern recognition. Haha, banter time!

To be honest, I'm about half-convinced that the Tower of Time is made from solid chaos, with rooms that move and change on a whim. Like CastleVania. The physical place, not the franchise as a whole.

The important thing is that now that we exist in physical space--

FUCK ON A CRACKER AND CALL IT COITUS CRINGLES Why not!? We're already elbow-deep in your ancient secrets; What could possibly be so important that it needs to be kept under extra layers of super special bonus secrecy!

*heavy sigh*

Wait, the test was for willpower? Okay, so I guess that answers that. Feature. The real test was being stubborn enough to not give up.

Really makes you wonder about those three losers who died in the foyer. What catastrophe of low self-esteem brought them all the way to the Tower of Time only to give up and quit three lasers in?

Well, if that's what this is about then I'll have you know, I am very talented at dying fruitlessly. Quarble can vouch for me. I never learn my lesson.

"You are a testament to your goddess's teachings."

THANK YOU.

Wait, is this going to hurt? Because I've just been carved up by so many lasers that I'm pretty sure they gave me retinopathy. I wasn't really looking for another fight.

HOLY SHIT

That is DEFINITELY the Artificer. Or at the very least, Artificer-adjacent. This whole tower already had an Artificer-esque vibe but this reeks of Artificer. Blue robot? Pink crystals? This can't not be Artificer tech.

...so much for being a non-combatant. He's had time to upgrade. Goddess, I hope he did not take your advice and install a mobile Eclipse Cannon in his chest.

You know what, never mind. He's still basically a non-combatant. This guy is all flash and no substa--

*indignant* Well I wouldn't have if I didn't get distracted by me underestimating him! I refuse to take responsibility for this.

This seems safe. CATCH ME NOW, CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS!

Why do I yell things?

[fandom-soda-writings]

Farther From Each Other Than Ever Before - Chapter 3

Description: Emmet has one chance: Fix the future and Dialga will help him find Ingo. If that wasn't the deal of a lifetime, then Emmet didn't know what was going to be better.

He didn't realize the Future wasn't repairable where - or rather when - he was placed. He finds help in a lone Grovyle who inhabits the bleak landscape. This is his once chance to get his brother back, He is Emmet and he refuses to fail.

Ratings: Mature (Strong Language, Minor blood and injury description)

Warnings: None

Chapter select: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

Emmet woke up before Grovyle, one of the first times that this had happened to his knowledge. He wasn’t sure what had woken him up, nor when he had even fallen asleep, but his heart pounded in his ears. 

“Must have been a nightmare…” He breathed quietly, “I am Emmet. No time to sit around. Time to make preparations to depart.”

He stood up quietly, determined to not let the leaves rustle beneath him. As he packed up his bag for the following trip, his eyes kept straying to his surroundings. The vision he had before wouldn’t leave his mind, what was it about this area that triggered it? 

He set his bag down and walked to a nearby tree, eyeing the bark up and down as if it would hold some sort of secret within. Arceus, this was so stupid. 

He gently placed a hand on the bark, fully expecting nothing to happen. His sight wavered and his head began to spin as the surroundings around him vanished. He was once more in the colorful surroundings he saw before, the bright blue gear spinning slowly in the center of the clearing. 

“Can I perhaps..?” He whispered to himself, Taking his hand off the tree. 

He reached to grab the gear, moving closer and closer… and then he came back to reality. He stood in the middle of the gray clearing, no time gear, no sounds of any kind. 

“So I can only hold it as I am holding something associated with the area?” He muttered, “Or is it the influence of the gear itself?” 

He picked up a stick from the ground, feeling the sensations wash over him once more. The colors returned once more and the gear manifested. If he could just grab it… 

His hand passed though it as he attempted to grab hold.... It was just an illusion after all. 

Emmet dropped the stick, his smile threatening to come apart at the seams. If this wasn’t the true gear then…

“What the hell then am I being shown?”

If it wasn’t something in the present - or he supposed his future - then…. Was it the past?

He needed Grovyle’s book. How many gears were there again? 

He carefully walked to where Grovyle was sleeping and gently shook him awake, being met with one of Grovyle’s glares in the process. 

“My apologies, but I wish to see your book once more.” 

Grovyle yawned and shoved his satchel into Emmet’s arms, turning back over to return to sleep.

“Thank you.” Emmet whispered.

He felt bad for rummaging in Grovyle's things but Grovyle could have given him the book himself if he cared. He found the small book eventually, the satchel seemed almost bottomless as he sifted through the items, opening it up to the page bookmarked with the Time Gears. He skimmed the pages, committing the information to memory once more. The book seemed precious to Grovyle, So he didn’t want to look at anything else than his intended target. 

Five Time Gears, All hidden across the land. Associated with the Temporal Tower, but It was unknown in what way. 

Right, he knew that much. His mission involved the Temporal Tower and the Time Gears in some way. Perhaps if he brought them to the tower they would do something? 

He closed the book, the information he required being found. Five locations, which means four more to test his hypothesis on. Emmet put the book back, placing the satchel by Grovyle once more. The pokemon was snoozing quietly, his side raising and falling with his breath. 

Emmet could let Grovyle sleep for a few more moments, But they should be moving soon. The Subway Boss had a bad feeling that trouble was coming soon. 

Grovyle woke up a few moments later, Emmet had just finished cleaning up their firepit from last night when the grass type caught his attention with an annoyed grumble. 

“Good morning Sleepyhead.” Emmet teased, which received him a small pebble to the face. 

Grovyle ignored his suffering and began to clear his bed slowly. Emmet sighed, picking an apple out of his bag. He broke it in half, whistling to get Grovyles attention before tossing a half his way. Grovyle caught it and nodded in thanks, consuming the fruit as he worked. 

“...I am Emmet. I have a theory,” Emmet suddenly spoke, Grovyle looked over in his direction once more, “About those visions.” 

Grovyle stopped working and moved closer, a raised eyebrow indicating Emmet to continue. 

“I tried some experimentation. They activate with anything around this area. I have no idea the distance these visions will activate. But they show the time gear in this area. I cannot grab it when the vision is active. I think it might be showing me the past.” Emmet explained, rubbing a thumb on the back of his right hand, “I cannot be certain until we find another Time Gear location. There are four more to find. I don’t know how to confirm my theory, however. These gears keep time moving in these areas, correct? Like a machine?” 

Grovyle nodded, although he was slow to start. 

“Then this may be because they’re simply missing now. Perhaps it has to do with Dialga’s current state too…” Emmet muttered. 

Grovyle nodded again, this time in agreement. He had come to the same conclusion over the few months (Maybe?)  of travel, it seemed. 

“Right then, Shall we be off? Those last four locations won’t find themselves.”

“Vyle.” 

Emmet fell into his familiar point and call pose, announcing a quiet “All aboard!”. Much to his surprise, Grovyle slowly began to imitate Emmet’s point and call pose. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes at the sight, but he withheld them. The pose was truly better with another by his side, after all. Emmet allowed Grovyle to be his temporary second half as they left the forest. He couldn’t help but wonder if Ingo would allow Grovyle to live with them once this was all done. From how it sounded, Grovyle was born in this bleak future, he had never seen a single sunrise or sunset in his life. He hadn’t known a life beyond running and fighting. Emmet nodded, his eyes filled with determination. He was going to bring Grovyle back with him and give him the life he deserved once this was all over. He doubted that Grovyle would want to participate in the Battle Subway but that didn’t matter. Emmet would give Grovyle a life of relaxation if that was what he wanted.

[tineymang]

i talked a bit abt this before and i decided to just go with it! so Wahoo i am making posts talking abt my guys now :] i have so many thoughts about them

SO when i was thinking abt things i would post abt team epic squad i figured a good place to start would be thru describing some of their personalities! like a lil introduction post yk.....

also heres their reference posts!! in case anyone was wondering who was who

team epic squad

lumi

circuit: somehow, despite everything that happens in eos's story, circuit remains quite possibly the goofiest guy ever. a guy that can endear even the most hardened of dark future pokemon (dusknoir) they love to crack jokes, and will often jokingly tease their friends too. theyre not incapable of taking things seriously, but because of their tendency to cope with things through humor, it can come across that way. they can be very impulsive, often jumping straight into situations without thinking about the consequences beforehand. they are also very stubborn, even moreso then a certain grass type partner of theirs. they have many hills and they will die on All of them. they're almost always at either 100% or 0%, and there is little to no inbetween. in general, they're always loud and out there, and have no problem with making their presence known. some pokemon tend to be offput by them on first meetings, but they don't let that stop them (mostly). though, despite how open they tend to be emotionally, they don't really have the right words for talking about some of the things that bother them. without a proper outlet for their feelings, circuit mostly just attempts to ignore those thoughts in the hopes they go away. this, unfortunately, does not work. whoopsies! mello: in stark contrast to her partner, mello is very reserved. she's prone to anxiety and overthinking, so she often prefers to do nothing at all instead of messing up like she fears she will. in conversation she's generally pleasant and polite, but she's more relaxed and casual with pokemon she's comfortable with. she's not a natural at picking up on social cues, but has learned how to from repeated practice. she doesn't have a lot of confidence in herself, and has problems saying no to people. in spite of many pokemon's first impressions of circuit, mello always admired how they were able to be so open in a way she couldn't. over the course of eos' story, she slowly starts gaining more confidence in herself. her anxiety never fully goes away, but she learns how to manage it when it does come around. she also starts writing a journal following the events of temporal tower! she finds it's a good way for her to express her feelings in a healthy way. as she gains more confidence in herself, she also becomes more comfortable expressing herself! she gets very passionate about the things she's interested in, and she can spend hours talking about them. she can get very absorbed into her hobbies, to the point where she has trouble pulling herself away from them. all in all shes just trying her best :]

stripe: though stripe has never had much of a pronounced presence within team epic squad, that doesn't make their role any less significant! she's much more of a listener then a talker, and tries to prop up those around her. they can be pretty objective, and most of the advice they give tends to follow suit. they like to be punctual and organized, and can get irritated if things are in disarray. in general, she's always been one to want to slow down and appreciate the lesser noticed things in life.

mana: they take a lot after their parents! they can be like what seems like an endless fountain of energy, always finding something to be excited about. they're very empathetic, and have a strong sense of right and wrong. despite what some may assume of them, they can also be very observant when a situation calls for it. though, another thing mana gets from their parents is an occasional penchant for mischief. sometimes, this includes intentionally risky activities mana does specifically to give circuit and mello a heart attack. mana insists they're able to handle themselves, though!

luna: having been around for over 100 years now, luna has seen many things. but despite her age, conversation is not exactly one of her strong points. she isn't very used to having casual talks with other pokemon, and often comes off as stilted and overly formal as a result. she's polite to a fault, and there's little that can shake her from her cordial front. though, if something were to draw her ire, she can be very.... intense. having spent so long trying to prevent darkrai's world of darkness, luna struggles with knowing what to do now that darkrai is no longer a danger. she feels the need to constantly be doing something to help, even over her own needs. she's uh. she's got a Lot going on i'll tell you that much

lumi: despite being at an age where she's able to speak, lumi often chooses not to. instead she will usually communicate through various emotive sounds, or just by nonsense syllables string together. she has a strong sense of adventure, and is endlessly curious about the world around her. she pretty much needs to be supervised at all times, or else she'll be wandering off by herself to go explore the unknown. she gets nervous whenever a trusted adult isn't nearby, which she does not realize she inadvertently causes by walking off on her own. it can take her a while to warm up to new people, but once she has decided she likes someone she will stick to them like a koala.

[silencedminstrel]

SPECULATIVE SCRIPT - THE ELEVEN HEAD WIZARDS OF THE HOLY ESTATE ARE HAVING AN EMERGENCY MEETING

FADE IN

INT - THE INNER SANCTUM OF THE HALL OF WIZARDS, PLANET XNROE - NIGHT

CYBER MASTER TERVLEN: So there you have it, my brothers! From this virtual topography feed of The Promised Land, we can see that all five rivers coming down from the central plateau have stopped flowing, which means The Sacred Spring Of Ambi-Valia had...very much...dried up!

FIRST WIZARD KEVGA: Good God! After Mr Uchida failed to infiltrate the False Deity's Tower we knew it would be a matter of time before he makes his move but...but this? This is worse than the worst, everyone!

TIME KEEPER STUMIKTAZ: (Sigh) Thankfully we've managed to erect temporal barriers around the planet just in time, meaning that we'd be spared the brunt of the spacetime decay but...the same cannot be said for the rest of the universe!

HEAD NATURE WIZARD HAROUN: Well I think it might buy the universe some time if we'd perform the "Dance Of Life" Ritual right away but...!

CHIEF EARTH MAGE KHAIROS: Don't you worry about me Brother Haroun, I think I'm strong enough to do my part in...! (Sigh)

OCEAN MASTER BEVIGA: But what about our Klariel friends, everyone? Don't you all forget that it was Saif Shalkanath who really created them; he might try to use them against us at a moment's notice!

HEAD NECROMANCER MARHOS: And with his firm control over every aspect of the Underworld, what only knows if he would also decides to use the untapped potentials of the Nether Realm to undermine us...!

HEAD WHITE WIZARD THEIN: Alas, even after I've successfully gathered all the eight manuscripts of The Music of The Spheres, it will take the combined magickal efforts of all the remaining Light Workers to perform it, meaning that some of us may not survive this ordeal!

TWILIGHT ORDER REPRESENTATIVE ANG-NATH: That does it, everyone! This is not something that we The Hall Of Wizards could handle by ourselves; we need to join forces with The Council Of The Great Guardians if we ever hoped to...!

SKY BEARER LUWING-XI: And I second that! I'm through watching all our friends die needlessly like the last time! (The failed Kltua-Lymonzs invasion) It's high time that both the "Sword" and "Shield" of XNROE are to act as one!

STEEL MAGE JARGEIL: But, but with Great Shairo gone rogue and Humoga's having his hands full keeping it all together, how can we expect The Great Guardians to help us?

CYBER MASTER TERVLEN: It's better than confronting him by ourselves with only a third of our forces available, Brother Jargeil...!

CHIEF EARTH MAGE KHAIROS: I wholeheartedly agree with you, Brother Ang-Nath!

HEAD NECROMANCER MARHOS: So am I Brother Ang-Nath...!

HEAD WHITE WIZARD THEIN: (Sigh) Though I still have my doubts, I say let us hear what are they going to say about it...motion seconded!

TIME KEEPER STUMIKTAZ: I'm with you too, Brother Ang-Nath!

HEAD NATURE WIZARD HAROUN: Yes, though we never really get to know how powerful this False Deity could be, I firmly believe that we will need all the advantages we can lay our hands on, Brother Ang-Nath!

OCEAN MASTER BEVIGA: So our brethren had decided, Brother Kevga! What's our next course of action, First Wizard?

FIRST WIZARD KEVGA: (Sigh) I'll go talk to my son after this...! This meeting is adjourned.

FADE OUT

THE END

[mowiwow]

winter (godheim clarence)

spoilers: godheim clarence route

He does not have much to live for.

His parents have forsaken him, many fear him, and his companions have all turned into frozen monsters.

He, too, has become a monster.

The Archmage has seen death more than anybody else. He wanders the snowy tundra even within the spatio-temporal gap. All he has to cling onto are his memories, but it’s cruel, truly—

For he can only remember the frigid cold of an eternal winter. He only knows of the white blanket of death, of the lives trapped beneath an impenetrable layer of ice. He only remembers watching helplessly the first time he realizes the true nature of mages. He only remembers the lives he had to take for the sake of the world—

Footprints buried by snowfall.

All traces of him silently covered up.

What colour, he wonders, is hope? What colour are the flowers that bloom after winter? What colour are the eyes of his old friends?

He doesn’t remember.

An endless expanse. The spatio-temporal gap is not so different, he thinks, from the eternally blank canvas he wandered within Godheim.

(That’s what he tells himself, but his heart aches still.)

(He’s surprised he still has a heart at all that can feel.)

It’s only when the Archmage is truly alone that he makes a key realization—

I miss them.

He misses the playful quips of the lonely emperor, despite having no tolerance for his jokes at the time. He misses his old companions, whom he once shared warm food and drink with. He misses the sweet little girl whose stomach had no limits, the occasional moments of lightheartedness within a place as cruel as the Magi Tower. It’s a place rife with sin and the deepest depths of humanity’s greed but still, they were people who shared his burden.

“May Spring live where you go next,” the Archmage had once said to the mage he had put to rest. And the following, an oath that he cannot keep; “—and may we be reunited once more.”

And…

He misses you.

A tender, gentle warmth. A single flower standing tall and proud despite the relentless onslaught of sleet. The artist who threw themselves into the thick of things, the artist of spring. Hope.

A part of him solemnly wishes he had never met you.

The Archmage had forgotten the warmth of companionship. The warmth of someone whose fate was not looming over their head—

Ah, but that’s not right.

You, the sacrifice, meant to be killed for the sake of a world that you don’t even belong to.

The artist who still had hope. Who had a determination in their eyes to defy fate; someone who has not fallen to the numbing acceptance of their fate. The ghost of a smile forms upon the Archmage’s chapped lips as he draws out your visage within his mind.

The unexpectedly pleasant ticklish sensation of an innocent emotion. One that he cannot put the name to, but one he feels nonetheless.

Nobody bears witness to the softening corners of his eyes, the light sheen that highlights deep, melancholic blues.

(But, of course, he deserves no such happiness. It is not tragic, he thinks. Just a mere matter of fact.)

(The fall still hurt greatly, though. It is rather cruel to show a starving man the promise of a feast only to rip it all way from him.)

Quietly, the Archmage stops walking in the endless, pure white void reminiscent of Godheim’s snowy fields.

Ah, he thinks vaguely. I suppose I am no longer the Archmage.

When he looks up to see the sky, the void stares back unflinchingly.

Clarence, he thinks. His name sounds a little odd in his thoughts. I suppose I am just ‘Clarence’ now.

He’s a little tired.

After living hundreds of years pursuing one specific goal, he is now lost. An aimless wanderer with no clear destination; nothing to fight for. The Archmage’s— no, Clarence’s— head hurts as a barrage of disorganized thoughts fill his mind.

His battle has long since ended (or was it actually not that long ago? Time does not exist here, after all) and he is now reaping the rewards. The fruits of his labour; his reward is eternity.

(Hardly a reward. It’s a punishment, rather; but he isn’t complaining. His sins have gone unpunished for too long, after all.)

(A small voice in the back of his mind cries— "What sin is there in the desire to live?")

(“Everything,” another replies matter-of-factly.)

The feeling of saving a world he has been working tirelessly to save… it’s…

It’s cold.

He has spent all his life with the snow as his cloak. Clarence had forgotten how horribly unpleasant the cold was.

No snow falls. But he feels the sensation of snowflakes lightly falling upon his cheeks, of snowflakes turning dark hair white. But unlike before, he doesn’t move, doesn’t shake the snowflakes off. He remains stagnant, suddenly too tired to lift a limb.

He is rather weary. He’d like to rest.

There is no chilled winds, but he feels the tips of his fingers growing numb all the same. And when he looks down, he thinks he can see his reflection within the ice of a frozen lake.

It seems, Clarence thinks, wordlessly staring out into the endless abyss. There is no horizon to look at, no sun to anticipate in his personal prison of endless winter. I have a lot to remember.

(And as his heart aches inexplicably, he can only stand there quietly in rumination. His tears have long frozen and he no longer has the energy to scream out in pain.)

Well, that’s fine.

He has an eternity to remember everything, after all.

To remember what it’s like to be human.

Maybe he can remember what it is that he lives for.

Though whether or not he can become human once more—

A maple leaf falls and crumbles away somewhere in a world with Spring.

[sociologyonthemove]

The conflicting twin personalities of the Brighton seafront by Stella Clark

On the train to Brighton and in the station, I feel like a commuter. With fellow travellers engaging in ‘civil inattention’ (Goffman 1956) and whistles blowing I am aware of people’s familiarity, and a lingering sense of urgency. As I walk down to the seafront, this feeling gradually disappears until I reached the sea and feel like I am on holiday. The change in environment makes me feel completely different - “where and how people move is a continuous negotiation between the body and the environment” (Bates 2017, p.57). However when I Iook closer, entwined in my experience is the endless battle between consumerism and nature, freedom and restriction: the conflicting twin personalities  of the seafront.

The station felt fast. Like there are invisible pathways from getting off the train to the exit, different to the streets outside. There are set routes that commuters walk on, which can’t be disturbed. Bates (2017) refers to these “traces of unpaved routes” (Ingold 2007) as ‘desire lines’. I cannot help but think about how from an aerial view, if we did generate lines wherever we went (Bates 2017; Ingold 2007), there would be a miniature station in itself made up of people’s journeys, overlapping before going their own ways.  

“Patterns are marked by regular paths and points of spatial and temporal intersection which routinize action in space and collectively constitute the time-geographies within which people’s trajectories separate and cross in regular ways” (Edensor 2010, p.70)

As I get further away from the station, the pace of people and traffic decreases, however there is still a feeling of travel, tourism and relaxed urgency. The fact that there are so many different routes down to the seafront means the ‘pedestrian flows’ (Bates 2017) are quieter. I make it down to the clock tower and finally the sun is shining. I look at the benches to see if there is anywhere not dirty or wet. I perch on the edge and I hear two men passing, who say, “I couldn’t even sleep with the bird”. The seagulls continue to scream. Buses are continuously passing, making heavy sighing and hissing noises. I hadn’t noticed before how many buses there are and how loud they are. There is a sign at the cross roads on the floor, saying ‘crossing - use your eyes and not your phone’. There is a sudden silence – there are no buses and I can hear the chatter of voices. It’s quiet because it is still moderately early. Seagulls, buggy wheels, a walking stick, a gaggle of men on motor bikes talking with cigarettes hanging out their mouths. The buses return – groans of petrol, spurting. They accelerate and moan to get up the hill. It sounds like such an effort. Someone is pulling a suitcase. Eight buses pass me before there is a space to quickly fast walk over the road. 

The usual view as you reach the beach down from West Street is obstructed by a temporary wall. It has a silhouette of the seafront on it and floating between the outline of boats and the i360 it says, ‘Improving the Seafront’. I turn left and I am bombarded by ‘Rock shop’ after ‘Rock shop’. There are rows of hard sugar sticks and signs saying, ‘Brighton Rock’. A duvet has been wedged between some metal bannister. I wonder why its absent owner has chosen this cold and exposed place as their haven. 

I get down to the seafront, and it is as if the lure of the sea has replaced any feelings of urgency with peace. There is a strong salty, fishy smell. As I walk along, I have a bird’s eye view of the people on the level below. I feel so much more alone than when I was here in the summer. Ping-ping, a bike is trying to get past. There is a man with a metal detector, conscientiously covering the beach, square metre by square metre. I can see big plastic ice creams wobbling in the wind. I can smell doughnuts. The sweet smell adds to the comfort of the familiar territory. Hall and Smith (2014) say that, by “knowing already how things have stood before”, the perception of the environment changes. I see two little figures surfing on the waves, which are crashing and frothing. I pass a sign for 99p flakes, for £2.50. I come to the Palace Pier. It’s lined with fish and chip places and more fried sweet foods. Although there is now a ‘fresh fruit!’ stall in the middle of the entrance to the pier. That is definitely new; you could never get anything healthy from the pier, before. I still feel nostalgic though. 

I go onto the pier, which to some is the Brighton Pier. The seagulls lurch down towards a group of people and they all scream. Edensor (2010, p.70) says “in considering the multiple rhythms of place we can identify seasonal, climatic and tidal rhythms”. From the right side of the pier I can see the tide coming in and out. The regular pattern is therapeutic. I can see the West Pier’s skeleton standing in the waves. The sea is elegantly crashing around it. The shhh of the sea continues. The smell of the doughnuts. There is candyfloss everywhere. I am suddenly overwhelmed by the excessive amounts of food that surround me. The waves are crashing and the white froth even looks like candyfloss. I can hear cheerful music. As I walk along the sky is getting lighter above and the sea is getting darker below. I’m too far out at sea to see the white of the waves now. I think about how senses interact with the world and each other and how the salty sea breeze and the smell of sugar, enhances my mood. I feel so much more content away from the fumes of West Street.

It seems strange to go inside on a pier, especially on what is now such a lovely day. Nevertheless, the flashing lights of the arcade entice me in. There is a relentless noise of coins dropping and music playing, accompanied by children screaming from excitement. 

I leave the pier. A sign saying ‘Adios!’ waves me farewell. I walk down steps to the lower esplanade getting a waft of the sea smell. I can hear people’s feet on the pebbles. Two ‘welcoming’ union jacks flutter in the wind. From down here, the pier looks more daunting. I am no longer blinded by the vastness of the sea and sky.

I’ve hardly taken a single step away from the pier and there are more amusements! The ‘arches’, have all been made into little shops and cafés. The ones down this end are all boarded up, with the occasional ‘ice cream sold here’ sign. I imagine being on a seaside ‘get away’. The closed umbrellas would be open and the beach would be laden with bare bodies. For now two merry go-rounds are wrapped up tightly in plastic, protected. Out to sea I notice distant rows of wind turbines. 

I come to a sign saying, ‘Artist corner’. Here more arches are open.  They are bigger, selling photographs of Brighton. I see a little boutique which says, “Featured in OK!”. Someone is bringing out and selling boxes and boxes of shells. It is funny to see shells for sale when there are thousands on the beach for free.

The difference between the tranquillity of the seashore on one side and the drumming of consumption on the other is startling. There are rows and rows of endless flip-flops and fishing nets for sale. There is an art installation on the beach to the left. I walk over, going from the flat paved floor to the pebbles. I find it difficult and feel clumsy plodding over them. I can’t make out what they all have in common. I clamber back off the pebbles.

The ‘sea haze’ shop is standing alone on the left hand side of the path. Most of the shops are on the right side, and only the pebbles on the left. The Fisherman Area celebrates the community of fishermen by a startlingly large plastic prawn. There are all sorts of different seafood next to a sign saying, “caught by our own boat”. I think about the enormous range of fish and how surely they couldn’t have gone out this morning and caught them all. On a bin it says “For Fish’s Sake – Bin Your Litter”. The seagulls chirp otherwise, “or you could leave your food on the floor for me”. But there is hardly any rubbish on the beach. Or people at the moment.  I walk on past a small fish shop with a man and woman sitting outside, eating what smells like grilled fish. 

I come to rows of boats, waiting patiently to plunge into their natural habitat. Seagulls sit on top of their masts, peacefully. The West Pier stands quietly to the left, each year a little more fragile looking. I think about what the sea will look like without it. The i360 is protected by a large, glass box with the pod inside it going up and down every 30 minutes. Past the i360 and it is quiet again. I weave round to find myself at a children’s play area. The children are climbing on pirate ships with their mothers saying, “don’t you go wandering off”.  The café next door sells ‘kids toasties’ and little packs of ‘sunny raisins’. 

I can see people paddle boarding in the sea and I decide to sit on one of the many benches placed just behind some railings. Are the railings to protect us from the danger of the waves? Or are they just a marker for an audience to sit behind and watch the sea’s performance? There is a woman sitting on one of the groynes, getting dangerously close to the violent water. On my side of the railings, there is a homeless man zipped and enclosed in his sleeping bag. It seems almost offensive that the woman is risking her life for a sense of freedom, while he engulfs himself in his sleeping bag for protection. I see beach huts – I have reached Hove.  Now I can see three men sitting on the other side of the Peace Statue, that I couldn’t see from the approaching side, drinking cans of lager. I can’t stop noticing Extinction Rebellion posters everywhere. 

References

Bates. C.  2017. Desire lines: Walking in Woolwich. In: Bates. C. & Rhys-Taylor. A. Walking Through Social Research. Routledge.

Edensor. T. 2010. Walking in rhythms: place, regulation, style and the flow of experience, Visual Studies, 25 (1): 69-79.

Goffman. E. 1956. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Doubleday.

Hall. T. & Smith. R.J. 2014. Knowing the city: maps, mobility and urban outreach work. Qualitative Research, 14 (3): 294-310. 

Low. S. & Smith. N. 2006. The Politics of Public Space. Routledge.

[i-never-forgot]

Fujii I am going to kill you (affectionate)

I am Tired™️ so please forgive the lack of usual operatic screaming but here is a list of things that are making me go insane:

That angle in the first panel showing off how big/tall he is compared to the other three. Massive monster man. So sickeningly debonair and devilish at the same time. I am terrified. (I want that framed on my wall.)

That icy stare actually giving me chills my God

Aimilios’ fur standing on end and just having the instinct to run…me too, bud, me too

Grovyle and Ribbons in the foreground planning and looking so determined…my heart. Is shattered. Knowing what comes next.

THE MOVEMENT IN THAT THIRD PANEL. FLAWLESS. ALMOST GIVING HIM A FABRIC-LIKE SUBSTANCE ALL AROUND BESIDES HIS CLOAK. I AM IN LOVE WITH THEIR SHOCK TOO

I cannot say enough about the fourth one. Wide frame, arms extended and taking up so much space, Aimilios cowering in the corner. The shading, the highlights—AAHHHHAHHHHHHHH

THEM BOTH CALLING OUT HIS NAME

DUSKNOIR’S HAND JUST,, ENGULFING AIMILIOS’ HEAD

POOR AIMILIOS JUST FREEZING

FUJII I AM S O B B I N G

Your masterworking in composition and movement is still as *chef’s kiss* as ever.

I particularly love the cyan highlighting on top of the dark grayscale, it’s so moody and I think much better fitting to the scene—I think it would have been more interesting if the Hidden Land had started out lush and then desaturated the closer Hero/Partner gets to Temporal Tower, implying the slow creep of frozen time taking over, so seeing it here is really nice.

The scale of Dusknoir versus the other three, again, is phenomenal. You have such a way of emphasizing how gargantuan he really is, as well as juxtaposing that in violent or comforting contexts. Just…*muah*

Also, because I am me and cannot not say anything about it…Hands™️. Very nice👌🏻

Overall I think this is one of my favorite pieces you’ve done. It’s so pretty and ominous and encapsulates the direness of that entire situation so perfectly!😊

And, on that note…for the love of God Fujii when will you stop hunting my tears for your poor tortured babies🥺

“Dusknoir would never hurt us..!”

“He’s too nice to do anything like that..!”

[bat-under-a-bridge]

Pokemon Scarlet has kidnapped my brain and locked it in the back of a van, so, here I am, about to ramble about the Area Zero music.

Forgive me but this a rant I really need to get out of my system and I've seen no one rant about it so I'll do it myself.

Under this cause its long

First off, Area Zero is amazing I love it, it is really pretty and the music and setting feel really fantasy(?) like. I love it and the paradox pokemon so much. I think the music fits both the past and future themes really well and, on top of that, it's really just a good song.

The main music feels so like, "This is the end, you make it or you don't. No matter what you will fight to make it." and, yes! Yes! Give me those end of the journey feelings! Love them!!!!

Not sure if it's just me, but, the background part of it sounds a lot like a song in one of the PMD games. I've been searching for the one but I'm thinking its probably Temporal Tower/Spire from PMD Explorers. Do you know how awesome it is!!! It encompasses the whole time theme from BOTH games and how both the past and future are both important to both games! (Past more in Scarlet, future in Violet, point still stands) And I think that it's just freaking epic!

The VOCALS!!! They sound so foreboding and ethereal at the beginning of it!!! And the high pitched voice thingy in the main part is really cool! Like a song that the word have been lost, or haven't been made yet, but the melody remains no matter! The bass and things under it all, and the ending just remind me of the music that plays in the CORE and Hotland in Undertale, and I love that to! Go, Toby Fox! Infect other games with your wonderful amazing style of music. Yet keep the Undertale vibes because they are immaculate when used here!!

It really feels like this is the end of your journey, make it count. Protect those who you love and keep them close. Reveal the past and future to live on, do not let this be the end. Fight whatever is next with the friends you made along the way. Its just a really nice way to set up the ending. With a powerful and good soundtrack.

This freaking song is amazing and lovely and I love it so much, I love it. and the game was good I like Clodsire and Armorouge they are really cool

[holdonendure]

Brothers and Sisters

The concept of Follower of the Way has degenerated in these days, to a simple matter of choice or mental exercise. Liberal theologians focusing on unity for church growth and mammon have neutralized Biblical doctrines outlining the tenants of the new–birth, because they are divisive. Yahusha said…

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 10:34-37

The popular concept being: Just make a decision for “YAHUSHA,” and you will go to Heaven; no repentance or change required. Wow! No wonder the claim is that 80% of the country say they are “Believers” Say this prayer and you will be “saved!” From what..death..sin...eternal damnation? (Good luck with that) Furthermore, televangelists and Self proclaimed “Apostles”, “Bishops”and even “Prophetesses“suggest followers can develop plans and make decisions, and then demand their want in the name of Mashiach Yahusha and have the gall to label it a blessing. (Living Your Best Life) They aren’t fooling anyone but the spiritually immature. If that offends you, it was for you. There is absolutely no Scriptural support for this bold and blasphemous hypothesis. Salvation is a summons to die; die to self, temporal pursuits and ANYTHING else that would draw your attention from the following and serving of our example, Yahusha. Focus with me on the Our Saviors words…

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and woman, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my Talmidiy (disciple). And whosoever does not take up his cross, and come after me, cannot be my Talmidiy. (disciple) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sits not down first, and consults whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassage, and desires conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be my Talmidiy.

LUQAS (LUKE) 14:25-33את

The Scriptural teaching on what it means to be a disciple of Adonai Yahusha isn’t popular. This just happens to be one of multiple unpopular accounts of true conversion. There is absolutely no reason this message would appeal to the lost, unless the Spirit of the ELOHIYM drew him or her to Ha’Mashiach first (Titus 3:5). Following this transforming work, the believer is suddenly confronted with established loyalties, spiritual crosses, spiritual assignments and spiritual battles. The Savior’s instruction to hate family in verse twenty–six is an eye opening charge or better yet, a commandment, (not a suggestion) to set spiritual priorities ahead of not only family but everything else as well, including personal wellbeing. According to Yahusha Ha’Mashiach, unforsaken loyalties don’t simply reduce your performance as His disciple; they disqualify you. He next mentions un-carried crosses as disqualifiers from His discipleship (verse twenty–seven). Modernism tends to categorize any discomfort such as physical, economic, social or geopolitical, as a cross. This is simply not accurate. These and others may be closely akin to your cross, (in your own summation) but they do not even come close qualifying as the cross itself.

Dietrich Bonhoffer is but one case in point. Bonhoffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian who was executed for conspiring against Adolph Hitler. He recognized the hatred manifest in Nazi propaganda, and stood against it. This was a career–limiting move that first cost Bonhoffer his freedom and then his life. But Nazism was not Bonhoffer’s cross. He could have capitulated, as did other German pastors of the day, and been just fine. In simple terms, your cross is ANY opposition to your flesh: deny yourself.

The third area of discipleship disqualification Messiah dealt with is unkept promises (verses twenty–eight – thirty). He spoke as in a parable and used the analogy of someone planning a building, who projects the cost before undertaking the project. Many people have no desire to end up in hell, but neither do they intend to follow the Yahusha Ha’Mashiach, whatever the cost. According to Yahusha , your lack of commitment disqualifies you from being His disciple.

The fourth and final qualification mentioned in this passage deals with unfought battles (verses thirty–one – thirty–two). Anytime you compromise with your flesh or peer pressure, you have failed to fight a spiritual battle, which again disqualifies you from being a Talmidiy (disciple. )

James wrote…(brother of Messiah James...yeah I think he knew him)

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with YAH? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of YAH.

James 4:4

Compromise with the world does not in any way draw you to the Savior , but conversely, draws you into sin. There is no neutral track in the Messiah’s economy,

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 12:30.

Or...

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and את eth love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve YAH and mammon. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 6:24

The new–birth is a summons to suit–up in the whole armor of YAH (Ephesians 6:10–18), because you are now in a spiritual battle, most often fought on the field of your mind. No Believer ever reaches sinless perfection on this side of eternity, but you do make the decision to sin long before the opportunity ever presents itself.

The most ignored and understated part of our personal accountability as true converts comes in verse thirty–three when The Son Of the Most High said, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple”, which flies in the face of the prosperity gospel and false doctrine taught ☀️SUNday mornings from coast to coast. Based on Yahusha’s stated qualifications for discipleship, are you His disciple? Or have you been DISQUALIFIED in your own deception?

[tobiasdrake]

This place is beautiful. I wasn't sure beauty like this could still exist on Mesa Island. I hope I get to meet the Butterfly Matriarch. She sounds pretty cool.

To be fair, she wasn't wrong. Shopkeeper said the contrast between time periods was pretty cool here. Credit where it's due, it super is.

OH MY GODDESS YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL

The little spots of turquoise on your give just the lightest splash of color contrast to the browns and yellows and EEEEEEEEEEEEEE

You are. I am at maximum jealousy right now. Envy levels through the goddamn roof.

I am about 80% sure you're actually a moth, not a butterfly. But I don't fucking care, because you are killing it either way.

With gusto. I--

Oh fuck me

Thanks, uh... Navi?

So the giant bat monster exists in the past but is temporally corrupting her here in the present, even though that one Messenger in the interim already slew it at some point in the interim. I have so many questions about how this works.

Time travel is so fucking trippy.

Oh, this is going to be way easier than I thought it would. I figured Firefly was going to zoom around and I'd have to attack only when the temporal bubble is illuminating your face.

But if we're just going to throw down trailer park-style, that's super easy. @ me, bruh; Let's fucking go.

Ha! Bat monster doesn't have shit. These screeches are trivially easy to dodge. What else have you--

Oh. Well. Uh. Okay. I'm sorry I insulted your--

RED IS DOWN AND UP IS LEFT

It's fine. It's fine. Just. Drugged. I can deal with this. Just have to stay perfectly still and wait for the nausea to pass.

TEAM EFFORT LET'S GOOOOOO

Nobody is ever prepared for the twirly-doos. Twirly-doo is the ultimate technique of the Messenger lineage. I'm a fucking buzzsaw in flight.

Thank you, Shopkeeper, for this wingsuit. It's so-so in mobility but crazy powerful as a weapon.

There's a lot of value in beauty. It gets the short end of the stick because the good parts of beauty are so immediately evident that it makes the bad parts more conversation-worthy. Not a lot of morals out there like, "Beauty is a great thing and you should appreciate it!" because everyone already does by default.

But it is complicated. Beauty is like a work of art. It takes blood, sweat, and tears to manufacture an aesthetic precisely to the (often unreasonable) standards of society - and once it's done, it has to be cared for and maintained lest it begin to degrade over time.

And no one appreciates it. They think it just happens. Like it emerged fully formed into the universe one day. It's easy to fall for a pretty aesthetic painted over a rotten core because we're already so busy taking beauty for granted that nobody ever engages with what it means in the first place.

...

So, I guess what I'm saying is: Sucks about the bat thing. Sorry you had to live with that. But also, I see you. The clean waters and vibrant grasses and towering, living trees are a testament to the volume of work you've put in over these last centuries, and I see you.

Oh, a time bubble firefly of my very own? Thanks! I'm sure she'll come in handy.

Hold up, your Messenger was MONKSHROOM!? HOLY FUCK. I know exactly what curse I want to lift.

What's up, best buddy? I brought you a friend! I think she can help with your, uh, condition.

Oh yeah, Navi is definitely going to sue someone.

You don't remember?

Shit. Well. Um. Short version: You're not expected to deliver the Scroll anywhere anymore. Missed the boat on that one. But I might have some good news for you. How do you feel about the color blue?

Inexplicably, negative some-odd hundred years. Not sure how or why you time traveled again after failing and getting cursed but it's temporal metaphysics. Shit's fucked on a good day.

Yeah, not gonna sugarcoat that one. You fucked this place up so bad that they changed the name. Which, admittedly, isn't hard to do when there's only one bastion of civilization left in the world and it keeps being periodically destroyed. Endlessly repeating incursions of catastrophic destruction make preservation of world knowledge difficult.

It's like having a library that self-immolates every 50 years. At some point, you get used to starting over from scratch.

Wear earplugs.

I'm sure. I'm just happy that she's finally rid of this curse. I've invited her to Game Night twice. Maybe this time, she'll actually come.

[therapardalis]

eightandonly​:

-

The Doctor paused as he looked at the board then to her with wide eyes “Temporal manipulation…in a localized field like this…I mean…It can be done but you need to know what you are doing” he said pacing back and forth. “For example if you tamper with it incorrectly there are fail safes in place that activate to correct the issues” he pointed out. “Time being accelerated or decelerated for example can have impacts on the surrounding fields” he wrote these down and made an image to prove his point. “Like warping of the surrounding area, materials being affected by either withering or rejuvenation” he frowned and folded his arms thinking hard about this. 

“That is not the case here…whoever or whatever is messing with time knows what they are doing” he stated concerned. “People aren’t growing old or young and the area around the clock tower has not been afflicted with any type of temporal affliction” he nodded. “I mean I have a good understanding of how temporal and spatial reconfiguration works but it doesn’t seem like that…its not as big as that…however it is not small either” he looked at her. “My kind are not the only race who can affect time but…I am having a hard time narrowing it down” he confessed. “So what did the students tell you? you’ve been here a little longer than me so you have seen more that I have” he offered. 

“Hmm ...” Thera folded her arms over her front, listening. He seemed to be shooting down her theory, but she held onto it just the same, not yet ready to let it go. Especially as the Doctor continued, and she began to think he hadn’t quite understood what she meant. Or, more likely, she lacked the language to clearly explain her thoughts. “Look,” An exhale through pursed lips, “have you ever heard the saying, ‘the best swordsman fears not the second-best, but the worst’? I know you’re the expert on this kind of thing, but can I just be the ‘worst’?”

It could turn out she was completely wrong, but she was too tenacious not to follow it through; and the ‘worst swordsman’, the amateur, might think of things the expert would not. “Just ... you mentioned warping the surrounding area. Like ... making things seem to spin? Or, ‘withering’? Like when all your energy drained out of you yesterday?”

The fingers of the hands holding her upper arms tapped a little in thought. “As for the students ... they say they’ve seen a human shape appear out of nowhere, or disappear. What if this ... whoever it is really doesn’t know what they’re doing, and so far they’ve just been very lucky?”