#i care about this lighthouse's lady so much oh my GOD she is just an npc. not a main character. and. and

[astrxealis]

oh i thought THAT was sad and now it’s even SADDER. FUCK this game honestly fuck this game

[ganymedesclock]

[enters the cat door.] Pale King? :)

PK is great because while we get a lot of impressions of what he's capable of, overwhelmingly his work is left for us, self-evident and finished, in such a state that we are not given hints on how he did it or what he did. This obviously has a lot of canon significance to who he is as a person-

(especially when the nature of much of that work is itself somewhat inscrutable; how exactly does he record his voice in whispering stones that only speak to certain parties when the rest of the setting is limited to actually writing things down?)

-but basically what it amounts to is that it's headcanons all the way down, baybey.

PK is... obsessed. This, to me, is the thing that stands out to me at an immediate glance of anything he was capable of. He fashions himself as a rational arbiter; possibly even a thing emotionless, unbiased, but really, it's obvious that certain ideas drove him so powerfully that anything, including unimaginable agonies and cruelties- barely factor. His mind as we explore it has very few guards that try to drive us out and kill us, few true barriers that stop us from moving forwards- but an enormous, vicious, whirling mechanism, beautiful and terrible, that polices every inch we move. You can proceed, the white palace says, if you're perfect. If your timing is perfect, if you never dare the metal teeth that surround you, if you choose exactly the right things and move only as the space is designed to move- and if you are willing to suffer, truly and awfully, then you can proceed, the palace is yours, it is open and the barest adversity will stop you.

This is not the mind of a person who lets things go easily. This is not the mind of a person who is actually detached. This is a beautiful machine, elaborate, precisely calibrated, and it makes miracles.

And it is, quite frankly, an absolute inhospitable nightmare. It might as well be the surface of the moon, not for alienness, but for the sheer ludicrous notion that anyone could live or love there. His mind is a haunted house to end all haunted houses; it'd be a fine locale to find in Silent Hill. The few rooms that actually seem like recollections of real places- the nursery, the workshop, the throne room- are all unsettling in different ways.

The nursery is the loveliest and also the most unattainable; a place for two people who are never coming back to the person who left them behind in the first place and didn't even set a chair for himself- the workshop is cluttered, creepy and miserable, nowhere you'd expect a god to make miracles; the throne room is bleak and dark, and has pillars set like fangs and the only chair so hard and uncomfortable it won't save your progress or give your player character a second of rest.

There is only one mention, anywhere in the game, of coldness associated with anything even adjacent to PK- the description of the pale ore characterizes it as "emanating an icy chill"- and when I remind myself of this, actually go looking for it, it shocks me. PK, to me, is so powerfully and intensely an ice person. Not just in the superficial senses- oh, he's cold, oh, he's callous, oh, he suppresses his emotions and opposes the fiery, sun-aligned Radiance; but that while neither of these gods have any ability to "get over it" whatsoever, the way they hold onto things is drastically polar opposite.

Radiance boils. Simmers. Screams and writhes and rages and pulses to her emotions. Those infected by her plague begin to feel as if they are burning alive the more her influence extends. She is a heat that stokes itself higher and higher and higher, to frenzy and fury, and the coldest it can get is if she methodically banks herself down to coals to pretend for a single utilitarian moment she's not as angry as she is, so she can whisper sweet words just long enough to coax someone onto the cinders.

PK... freezes over. He holds onto things perfectly, as if they never left, as if they never changed. When you walk over the nursery memory it looks just like White Lady could come by and put an infant Hollow in the cradle and sit down to rock them to sleep. It's so clean. So expectant. So empty.

And yet, there's something completely inhospitable to life about it. How could anyone live here? How could anyone be happy here? The game Silent Hill: Shattered Memories has a theme of a happy childhood frozen over in invading ice; that's very much what comes to mind here, even if Hollow's childhood was troubled long before they'd have anything to do with this room. PK ices over, is a person who stopped his own heart at one point just to serve another purpose and, superficially indifferently, left that body behind to rot without any sort of respect or acknowledgement. @rukafais drew a headcanon a very long time ago to the idea that PK could just will his own blood to stop flowing, and that's long one I've stuck with- a living person who is at odds with himself because of this absolute glacial inhospitality.

PK is also... clever. Inventive. One could almost argue too clever for his own good. If there's one way his obsessions are utterly unaffected by this ice and sense of detachment, it's that while Radiance is revolted by, fears and hates the void, PK... was fascinated by it. It's probably the most dangerous non-Radiance thing in the kingdom to him and yet he built his palace right next to the abyss; built a great lighthouse and a smaller alcove room that- unlike the spaces in his own mind- you can actually imagine him sitting, maybe for hours, maybe for days- just staring at the void sea. Dropping things into its grasp only to fetch them back out. Pouring it into shapes, and seeing how it held.

This also seems to convey itself in the shapes that his magic takes, or that similar pale white magic in other places (such as around the dreamers' monument) form; they are extremely intricate. Impossible filigrees of light that dangle in the air. Nowhere is this more obvious than the Pure Vessel fight, the moment where Hollow is remembering what they once were- at the point they were trying to be everything PK wanted of them, everything PK cares about. Hollow's attacks in that fight are beautiful. Ornate. The temporary spikes summoned from the ground have the same woven, 'watered' pattern that we see on the Pure Nail once Ghost acquires it.

So these ideas, of PK- icy stillness, obsessive detail, and insatiable curiosity- condensed for me a lot into how I imagine him fighting or handling situations. I imagine him as fighting with a spear very keenly- not just long reach, but that I associate PK very strongly in my mind with the concept of dissection and vivisection. Everything in its place, labeled, named, and known, consecrated by the light with identity and purpose- the hungry, predatory curiosity of a hunter picking apart prey, but with enough academic backing that they're looking for something more than the juiciest pieces to eat.

So, I imagine PK fighting with spears, and impaling or cutting implements... in that I imagine him fighting like a surgeon, pinning and mounting something or herding it into place.

[confused-as-all-hell]

Nina Zenik's trade was love.

Her lips were the colour of teenage breakups, her eyelids dusted dreamy gold. Her kisses tasted like melting chocolate, and the touch of her bare hands was wildfire, burning, destruction. Within a cage of ribbon and bone, her heart wept for quiet.

Her smile could have set the world aflame.

Nina had ridden desire until her body gave out, had slept with infatuation in her bed, had risen to the prying hands of lust. She had never known gentle touches or warm butterfly lips; men and women both saw her body, saw an opportunity, a conquest.

She loved, my god, she loved.

But nobody had ever loved her.

Some tried; they took her to quaint little cafes and pretty sparkling monuments, but her laugh was too bright, her grin too wide, she was too much to be managed.

Her friends did their best to cheer her, and their kindness was often her lifeline, but Inej’s comforting hand never struck out, and Kaz’s vicious mind never bent towards anything but his studies, and Jesper was too busy with his boyfriend for more than a friendly hello.

Nina had never expected them to wage her wars, but some little, nagging part of her mind longed to be fought for.

So when she met Matthias Helvar, she hated him.

He was gentle, kind, waited on her opinion, halted before kissing her fingertips. His warmth, she thought with breathtaking terror, was just a ruse.

No person on the entire fucking Earth could romantically love her.

She knew that her giggles were just too raucous, and her body too curved, and her wit could have cleaved the moon. She knew she was too much, and she knew she wasn't enough.

When she was studying, when she was jesting, when she was laying on top of Matthias' broad frame, the vines crept in.

When she heard him sneer at a young woman, when she heard him degrade her, their, rights, those tangling vines nearly fucking strangled her.

For the first time in her life, Nina fell silent. The stars spun before her eyes. The ocean was in her ears. The hatred and bewilderment clouded her lungs.

When she mentioned it to Kaz, he only frowned. "Helvar isn't known for his humanity," he said fairly.

Nina didn’t shake. She didn’t sob. She didn’t bury her face in her hands and weep.

She was still Nina Zenik, and she would not lose her heart over a hateful boy.

She only turned to Kaz, seated at her desk, and Inej, cross-legged on the bed, and Jesper, sprawled on the floor.

And Nina did what she had forsworn eight years ago.

She begged.

They were good to her, her friends.

They worked quietly and quickly, abandoning their piles of homework to soothe her furious heart, ditching their responsibilities for her anger.

It was their love she clung to when red flashed before her eyes.

Yes, she cared for Matthias, more than she ever wanted to admit.

But she was proud to be a female, and prouder still to be a feminist. She refused to dissolve her values for a few hours of sex.

They worked through the dregs of night, and when the first wisps of sunlight spun around the stars, Nina at last sat back.

Later that day, Matthias Helvar was expelled.

She had been staring at his back during one of their lectures, silent silent silent, as Inej squeezed her hand tight.

When the announcement came, all she felt was a bitter surge of terror.

The look on his face, the misery and humiliation and awful bewilderment, it would fucking haunt Nina forever.

He turned to her, eyes full of hope. "I was with you that day," he said softly. "You know I didn't."

Matthias, bold and kind and gentle, the god of burnished gold, a saviour like none she had ever known. His kisses tasted of salvation, his laugh sounded of redemption.

And fuck if the pain on his face didn't break her damn heart.

I'm wrong I'm wrong I'm wrong.

For just a second, Nina wondered if she had acted too harshly. But the image of the girl, sobbing into into her hands, screaming she was worthless and awful and didn’t deserve to be called human….

“I am so sorry, Matthias,” Nina said softly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Months later, Nina still dreamt about the hopeless look in his eyes, the way he would pick her up and kiss her neck, how his kindness was her tether.

Did she love him?

Yes.

She loved him, simply, bitterly, indomitably.

It felt like dying.

It felt like waking up in the middle of the night, heart hammering, and trying to shift the veil of sleep from your gaze because something's wrong, something's out of place, and fuck if it isn't a boy with pretty blue eyes.

It felt like searching for your oblivion in someone else's body, and their hands are too wide, and their breath too rough, and the fury that lights your bones aflame is too fucking much.

Nina was no stranger to heartbreak. Many, many boys had shattered her courage, her wit, her pride; she had built it up again, a fortress of red silk and crimson anger.

But to break someone else's heart, to dream of a guileless laugh like rumbling thunder, to think of his coffee order whenever Inej asked her what she wanted for breakfast, it was nearly too much to bear.

She tried to heal herself.

She tried changing her perfume and restyling her hair, tried shedding the skin of a rash, reckless woman, and dressed in the suitable tones of a graceful lady.

But a quiet life did not suit Nina Zenik.

The roar in her head could have broken queens. The hum of adventure in her veins moaned for one more taste. The tide of kindly words and gentle smiles were unfamiliar in her mouth.

Her friends always did their best to extend a hand, and it was due to Kaz's ability to hack the school website that her grades remained polished. It was thanks to Inej's quiet that Nina could breathe for just a bare second. It was put down to Jesper's raucous laugh that she clung to life.

How stupid, she told herself, to cry over a boy.

But she knew there was no shame in crying over a boy. It was natural to mourn a relationship, a missed opportunity, and it didn't make her less.

What she really meant was: How stupid, to cry over an awful person.

Was Matthias awful?

That remark, that stupidly bitter remark, was terrible, yes. But she in her indomitable fury had reacted so harshly.

Worse men than twenty-three-year-old Matthias Helvar had learned better. Couldn't he?

For a second, hope lifted her heart on the wind.

The very next morning, she hurried out to the center where Matthias was doing his penance, and she begged to speak with him.

When he stalked out, tall and breathtakingly handsome, aurete hair brushed back and glacier eyes gentle... fuck if she didn't lose her damned mind.

"Nina," he whispered, so softly, as if her name was his salvation.  As if they were back in the safety of her bedroom, bare among the silk sheets, limbs intertwined as he gasped for her to keep going, not to stop.

"Hello," she said shakily.

"Nina, my love," he said again, his words heavy with sorrow. “My sweet garden flower.”

Her joy rose like a crashing wave, and for just one second, it felt like she might conquer the entire fucking world.

"Matthias," she said, her voice strangely airless.

He rushed towards her, fingers reaching, and she dared to close her eyes. His calloused palms brushed against her bare throat.

"My darling," he murmured into the hollow of her ear. "Oh, Nina, why would you come here tonight?"

"Am I unwelcome?"

He laughed, but it was injected with something akin to misery. "You were always welcome, Nina. I never turned you away from my door. My bed was yours. My hands, yours. The key to my dorms hung around this pretty neck. When have I ever denied you houseroom?"

"I thought you might hate me," she admitted, still trembling. The idea seemed ridiculous now.

"Hate you?" Matthias echoed, thumb grazing her pulse point, pressing down gently. "My fucking god, Nina, I have detested you since the very moment you said my name in that damned lecture hall."

Her heart stuttered.

"Every aspect of your pretty fucking face," he whispered, still soft as if he was kneeling for his confessional, "reviles me. Your laugh, your grin, those little melodies even the birds cannot mirror. The way you write your birthday cards. The way you sat by while I was convicted for a crime I did not commit."

He kissed the corner of her mouth, light as a butterfly's wings. "Oh, my darling, but you knew. Was I so terrible to you? Did I not sing you to sleep and hold your hand and bring your spring blossoms?"

She tried to croak his name, but he ghosted a finger across her lips.

"I loved you, Nina Zenik," he said. "I love you still. But send me to fucking hell if I wouldn't drive a blade through your heart." He pressed his mouth to her own again, so delicate, so careful. "I thought you cared for me."

But Nina was beyond responses. She was dashed on the rocks, laying on the stretcher, amid the ashes of her ancestors.

"No?" said Matthias gently. "Very well, my sweet love. Go to your grave in my arms, as I went to heaven in yours."

His fingers brushed her lips, grazed the swell of her breasts, closed around her throat.

When Nina woke the next morning, it was to her own unmade bed. Her neck was so swollen, peppered in bruises and markings in the shape of broad fingertips. She could barely speak.

She didn't know if she would have, even if given the choice.

The words within her, the lovely ebb and flow of their comfort, had washed away with the tide at last.

Within a few days, the markings on her skin had nearly been scrubbed away, and the gasping pressure of her larynx had eased up enough for her to cry.

She felt like an untethered ship, bound for no shore, alone on the ocean with no hope of salvation. No matter how loud her desperate screams, there was no lighthouse beacon shining through the storm, no gentle arms to welcome her home.

Her tears fell like raindrops, pattering into her morning tea and onto the silk of her pillows, rolling down her face and staining her clothes with salt.

Inej tried to soothe the grief, and her grace was often enough to hold the hurricane at bay. She slept in Nina's bed, hands outstretched as if beseeching forgotten gods, the set of her delicate face troubled.

Kaz worked hard to keep her grades high, and he seemed to take her desk as his own, working there until the latest hours of night whenever Inej ran late. He was always there, irate and dry perhaps, but there.

Jesper, newly engaged to bright-as-the-stars Wylan Van Eck, could be counted on for mindless chatter and familiar jests.

It helped, of course it did.

But nothing filled the hole in her armor, the pride Matthias had so aptly destroyed.

Some people had thought of Nina's rage as a monster, a beast slithering through the night, a serpent prone to striking first and thinking later.

But she had loved that fury, loved her pride. It gifted her a defense against sneers and remarks and hatred. It had given a little girl with happy eyes a purpose, eighteen years ago.

Nina blazed like fire, lovely and breathtaking, but so many forgot that her flames were not just pretty. They were scalding, awful, burning hot to the touch.

And she had been fucking stupid enough to think Matthias could withstand the inferno.

And she had been fucking stupid enough to think Matthias could withstand the inferno.

It was ten months before she saw him again.

Nina was leaning over the counter at a little cafe, doing her best to remember her friends' orders, touching her fingers one by one.

A laugh, like the demanding rumble of a hurricane, crested over the cafe.

Her heart fucking stopped.

Matthias was seated at a rickety table, arms tucked behind his head. He was grinning at a boy seated across from him, one of the number who had snickered at his remark over that weeping girl, all that time ago.

He glanced to the side, laughter on his soft rosy lips, and caught glimpse of her.

It was too late to smooth her straight dark hair, or wish she had worn a ball gown instead of ripped jeans and one of Jesper's T-shirts.

It was far too late to do anything but stroll up to his table and lean across the wood.

"Aerts," she said with a click of her tongue, indicating the other boy. "Darling, and I thought your sad little gang provided good company?"

"No complaints," Aerts said with a roguish smile. "You look pretty enough to whine in my ear, though, Zenik. You fancy a tumble?"

There was a shuffle, and a loud thud, as if Matthias had swung his foot into Aerts' shin.

"Fuck off," Matthias said jerkily to her.

"I'd much rather get off," Nina said dispassionately.

His ears turned red. "You've grown more petulant than ever."

"You didn't mind my whining," she said airily.

A hand flashed in the air; Kaz, waving her over impatiently.

Nina waved to signal her understanding before turning back to the boys. "How about it, Helvar? For the sake of nostalgia. I'm going home with somebody tonight, might as well be you."

Aerts didn't seem offended she'd turned him down. On the contrary, he grinned shiftily at his friend. "Go on. It'll be fun."

They barely made it to an alleyway before Matthias was kissing her.

The sex was quick and rough and furious, bruised lips and roaming hands, gasping moans and clever fingers. It was Nina with her head thrown back against the wall, eyes fluttering like the wings of a dove. It was Matthias bent down over her, whispering I hate you I hate you I hate you as though the words were his litany.

When he knelt before her, the sun was in his skin, his hair, the brush of his tongue.

And suddenly they were in their first year again, learning to love and lose and grieve and gift.

He bought earrings shaped like little stars for her because he had seen the way her eyes lit up.

She left a bouquet of white lilies on his bed because he had once mentioned they were his favourite.

He kissed the curves of her body because he had seen the disgust which others regarded them with.

She let him cry on her shoulder the anniversary of his sister's death because it hurt it hurt it hurt.

But just like in their first year, they parted.

He would always be the boy with some semblance of poison in his heart.

She would always be the girl who was simply too much for anyone to love.

And if they met, again and again, in thrift shops and opulent restaurants and beaches and nightclubs, they could pretend it away. They could smile, wave, sleep at night with the memory of a sweet laugh ringing in their ears.

Maybe one day, another day, a kinder day, they met again.

Maybe this time, Nina would ask him to heal the hatred in his blood.

Maybe this time, Matthias would tell her why he had hurt that girl.

Maybe they would love each other anew, a spring blossom eager to flower again, an old oak tree strong enough to outwait the storm.

But for now, the blossom will wither and die every winter, and the tree will go gently to the hurricane.

For now, it is Matthias, the king of ice, Nina, the queen of fire.

For now, love is simply not enough.

[something-very-special]

they ran over the seals

More Replicant playthrough observations and general nonsense under the cut. For reference, up to the keystone quest; completed the Forest of Myth and Junk Heap.

This fucking game I swear to god.

A vaguely coherent ramble about sidequests An observation about sidequests in general in this game -- and I don't recall if I ever voiced this somewhere public or it was just a personal observation from my time with the original -- is that the quests in the first half of the game are all relatively easy to complete. There's that one asshat who wants 10 goat hides, but other than him, most of the sidequests are either very much based on finding characters, or gathering a sensible number of items that are either relatively common, purchasable, or given a guaranteed spawn for the duration of that quest.

The sidequests everybody remembers having to do are in the second half, where everybody is demanding and awful and I'm sorry ten MACHINE OILS do you know how goddamn rare those are? They're goddamn rare.

(We'll not discuss Life in the Sands.)

This is generally agreed to, in the technical vernacular, 'suck'. And it's always funny that the most interesting sidequests are the ones with very minimal requirements (Yonah's cooking, getting Popola drunk, the Lighthouse Ladoh my god everything's gone blurry I'm not crying you're crying who am I kidding we're both crying). That particular aspect of the design also feels intentional, not really gating your ability to progress the really meaningful or funny sidequests behind an unreasonable number of rare items. The other aspect of the design is that these quests are not meant to be completed in a single playthrough; most of them are single-stage and just absolutely unreasonable, but if you're going through the game four times you have a... reasonable chance of getting everything you need more or less naturally.

Nobody does that but I think that was the intended design. I think it's a good idea, although the execution of expectation is flawed so I don't really blame people for saying those sidequests suck. (Although I will in turn blame people for saying the sidequests suck as a blanket statement. Yeah getting that guy who burned his kitchen down a billion Broken Motors is aggravating but did you not find that old man's dog? Speak to Ursula on her death bed? Solve a murder? Then again I think tracking down that rotten son who's trying to get away from The Family Business only to learn his father is a con-artist and get literally no reward is the height of comedy so maybe I'm not the greatest point of reference.)

But that asshole in Facade can get bent. I can't exploit my garden properly, jackass! I am no longer a god of time. (I kid, of course.) (This guys sucks even when you can fix your clock.)

Forest of Myth It didn't even occur to me to wonder how they would incorporate the comprehensive voice acting into the Forest of Myth. I like how it plays out, although I wish the voices maybe had a fade as you went deeper into the dream instead of just cutting out at some point, especially for the lines where the characters are being ascribed actions by the narrator that they themselves aren't doing near the start of the Deathdream. But it's just delightful to go back to it. The second half of the game really sticks in your mind both for emotional reasons and because you play it at least three times per full playthrough of the game, but the first half is just so much fun.

Protip: Talk to everybody after you've finished the dream sidequest. Weiss tries to dissuade you. Don't let him dissuade you. I'm still delighted by the Mayor; "We're building a statue of you, made of solid gold. I know you don't own a horse, but we're going to put you on a horse."

I forgot about Yonah being a disaster chef Papa Nier's reaction to the stew is better. Brother is still funny but Papa Nier just expecting to die is comedy gold.

For anybody curious, the joke about the cakes is that Yonah made 'fruit cake' using some of the worst possible fruits for cake-making. If only she'd thrown a tomato into the mix, too.

Lighthouse Lady Every time. what the fuck is a canal I'm aware of the addition of the new-old content but it didn't occur to me until Popola suddenly starts nattering on about fixing the canal when I'm expecting Yonah to talk about a penpal that oh, yeah, I guess Seafront would have had something going on the first half that would play into the second half? (I assume it does. Be weird to introduce these characters just to have groundwork for an added sidequest. ...but it was a cute sidequest.) But look Popola my boy is supposed to be in the next area I visit could we-- I mean he's on the way could we just-- no-- fiiiiiiiiiine. (It was short and sweet, though, and I appreciate that the couple's love is exemplified by them both calling Weiss a floating magazine in tandem.) On a related note but was I the only person suddenly concerned when the sidequest completion maxed out at 50% and not 51%? I had to double-check with a guide just to make sure, since I've spent the last decade telling people to make sure you hit 51% before going on to Part II.

MY BOY I love that nowadays, Emil is everybody's son. But I really wish I could go find somebody only familiar with Automata and just watch their reaction. (I'm guessing there are streams out there that fulfill this but man I'd love to get it in-person.) If you're only familiar with him from Automata this has to be a mindfuck.

Personal anecdote, but I've had the privilege of playing NIER with somebody else almost every time I've gone through it. I had a wonderful experience of doing a replay some years back with somebody who had experienced it with me before but didn't have the most solid memory of the beginning (and had actually missed the entire weapon's lab the first time through). I get to the boy at the piano introducing himself and the 'Wait, what?' was a thing of beauty.

MY ANDROID This was a welcome mindfuck for me; finding Sebastian and having him 'reactivate' in such an unnatural, mechanical way. I don't recall if it was ever officially confirmed that Sebastian is an android (I know that it's just understood that this is the case but I'm not I can't recall a specific one) but the little flair they added to his animation caught me completely off guard. I liked it!

Destroying the food source A lot of people will cite a major inciting incident for the game as being when the protagonist heading back into the village and killing the child Shades just outside the entrance. This moment is such a great bit of subtle foreshadowing that's so easy to miss... but kind of joining that, just before the Knave of Hearts attacks, I realized that the Shades out on the Northern Plains are clearly ramping up for an assault of their own by murdering the sheep. The sheep population at this point is decimated (which is great when you realize you haven't gotten the Sheepslayer trophy and you're about to enter Part II and you don't know if the boar drifting minigame got carried forward with the inclusion of 15 Nightmares). You go out onto the Plains and you will find not only small clusters of sheep left behind instead of the vast, terrifying herds from the start of the game, but until you get their attention the Shades are prioritizing killing the sheep. (Also annoying because that doesn't count toward my sheep murder number.) The Shades will be out there also killing sheep earlier on, but since the whole map is in Overcast mode after talking to Yonah it's especially prevalent to go out to the Northern Plains and seeing the slaughter. And I realized-- they're cutting the Village off from a primary food source. Shades don't eat and they don't have any beef with the local ungulates (at least, no more so than anybody else does), so why are they hunting down the sheep? To deprive their enemies of resources. Sheep are extinct by the timeskip. It's actually really clever of them, and a really clever indication of their sentience and intelligence before it's fully verified.

"Let's get these shit-hogs!" Everything about the way Kaine and Emil interact across the entire game is perfect I will brook no argument this is objective fact.

Emotive Rectangles I wrote an essay about this before but it really bears repeating that the job the original animators did with this scene is just phenomenal. The way Weiss drifts, flits, flips, fans his pages, drunkenly swerves, shoots around the room in defiance... He's a goddamn rectangle, but there is so much emotion and personality in this scene just based on the movements conveyed through a what is effectively just a box. Ten years later and triple-A titles with full facial capture don't have this much seething personality. I really have to give props to the cavia animators, wherever they wound up. That studio could really put some subtle love and care into their titles, utterly unnecessary and easy to miss but you can tell that whoever was working on it was giving it their all. The books are probably the exemplification of this, but every time I go into Seafront and visit the seals I can tell that the guy on seal duty was having just the best day. They made Emil so pretty There's an FMV cutscene right smack in the middle of the original game after the battle against Noir. I understand why it was a necessity on a technical level, but it always looked pretty out of place and a little uncanny valley compared to the rest of the graphical fidelity. That's no longer a necessity so this cutscene is rendered in-engine. I admit I was actually curious to see it redone this way and it looks fantastic. I single out Emil since he is the focal point of cutscene and because his particular high-poly model had some pretty weird difference from his in-engine model, but he and Kaine both look great. But, like, it's almost mean how pretty he is.

They made Brother Nier so pretty Yeah okay you got me he's kind of hot. Kaine's expression when she wakes up and looks him over is... significantly easier to read now. Good voice, too. (Ancient rumors tell that one of the issues with international releases of RepliCant was that they couldn't find an English VA with a voice that 'fit' Brother Nier. He sounded good out the gate but hearing him growl "Let's go TAKE CARE of those KIDS" during the thief sidequest-- I got chills. It sounds so silly but there's a kind of percolating fury to that delivery. Papa Nier was like frustrated but mostly disappointed dad; I felt like Brother was going to take care of those kids, and nobody was going to find the bodies. Younger Brother Nier just never stops looking goofy to me but Older Brother just looks great in motion, between the alterations they made to the movement and just the entire weaponry system. The distinction between the two halves of the game was always a little odd in the Gestalt version-- not odd enough to really raise eyebrows if you didn't know about RepliCant, but of course you can tell that this age gape between the optimistic doe-eyed dogooder and a man largely ruled by his fury and calloused by tragedy is what the timeskip was going for. Swab me down and call me Ishmael, it works. Younger Brother wasn't quite clicking with me-- not because of any writing or voicework issues, but I've got Papa Nier on the back of my mind and it's impossible not to compare and contrast the delivery and dialogue between the two. I know that this is intentional, too; Younger Brother is supposed to be that happy-go-lucky video game protagonist, always doing the right thing and helping people, in order to contrast against the man he becomes. Even just edging into Part II the effect is dramatic and it recontextualizes Younger Brother into a much more effective overall character. And let me reiterate, I enjoyed my time with Younger Brother just fine, I have no issues with him. But he's up against Well Meaning Big Dummy Part I Papa Nier. No contest. And I'm excited to see where Older Brother goes from here.

Speaking of voices I mentioned this before but the delivery on the character's lines is different. The entire game was re-recorded and quite a few lines are still pretty similar to the original, but there are some that are... definitely different. Part of this is a difference in the relationship between characters based on their life experience and ages-- Weiss is much more of an ass to Younger Brother but has a much more even respect for Older Brother (neither of which are like the rapport he established with Father). Some of Kaine's lines feel more aloof, dismissive, and almost tired in the front half of the game. I haven't really gotten to a point to dig into Emil's rapport with the other characters, but the delivery feels more hesitant and uncertain (which I think is more in line with his Japanese VO, but I'm prefacing that on an untrained ear and a presumption rather than recent memory). It's been interesting to see not just where hey adjusted dialogue (and how-- there are some lines that didn't need to be rewritten), but also how they adjust tone and delivery. Dealing with Younger Brother is one thing, but as I said, I'm very excited to see what's different in the second half, especially being much more familiar with that part of the game. Speaking of Voices! Halua got dialogue! I... preferred when it was inferred (and the implications of "I'll always be watching over you" are borderline malicious given the results of their fusion dance, yeah THANK YOU HALUA this is GREAT). Halua's delivery also felt a little too innocent and upbeat both for the situation and when compared to her narrative voice in The Stone Flower, where she comes across as much more cynical and cold. But given what she's been through and the nightmare she's finally escaping I guess she's allowed express happiness. She's certainly earned the right to having a spoken line. No matter what. Every fuckin' time.

"Here we go." This was always a great line to kind of ease in to the officially-official start of Part II-- every time you start up a New Game+ you're greeted with Emil musing about his conflation of Halua to Kaine, and then the phrase "Here we go". There's a lot in that one line. On a personal level he's grounding his thoughts in the moment and steeling himself for what comes next and pushing through his pain and sadness and fear. Whatever Nier told him in the facility he's still terrified, desperately terrified, that Kaine -- who was the one who told him his life had meaning -- is going to reject him. And why wouldn't she? Ultimately they don't know each other, not really. He understands at that moment that his relationship with Kaine is based on confused memories of his sister, that maybe the bond he thought they established isn't actually real. As soon as he frees Kaine he's going to have to confront her, like this, and how could she ever-- she won't-- but he can't just leave her. Whatever happens next. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. (God it matters.) "Here we go." On a meta level, that's our introduction into the second half of the game. The first half is all prologue. This is where we'll be spending the rest of our time, even to the point that 'New Game+' skips straight ahead to this moment. Now that we've finished the establishment, this is where it all builds and where it all matters. Here we go, audience. The ride starts now. You get up to this point now in Replicant. You get the same lead-in. My dumb ass even whispered "Here we go", because I can't help myself. And he says, of course he says--! "Anyway." ... ...a-anyway? What the hell kind of line is that? "Here's some deeply personal musings that are also an indication of my own discomfort as I babble to myself just to fill the void so I can stave off thinking for just a few more seconds. ANYWAY." What a... bizarre decision. Just bizarre.

Upgraded melee combat The introduction to the armored Shades always feel kind of rough-- the defenses on those Shades are significantly higher than anything you've faced and the new weapons you're given to combat them just aren't that good. (If you got lucky you could have a fully-upgraded Faith by now, which is nearly three times as powerful as the 'heavy' two-handed sword you're given; if you downloaded the 4 YoRHa pack for Replicant you've probably been able to upgrade one of those weapons once, which are also a really nice strength boost that leaves the freebie heavy swords and spears in the dust). As an introduction to the new weapon types it always feels like rough going. But then you get a chance to get decent weapons and the combat system truly opens up, and compared to the first game you really feel it. At this juncture I would always just bustle off to Facade and grab the Phoenix Spear and never look back-- the raw power compared to the rest of your arsenal coupled with the triangle dash is basically the bread and butter of the rest of the game. It's not exciting, but it's effective. No more triangle dashing, which was deeply disappointing... but both weapons definitely feel good. I am also somewhat ashamed to admit that it wasn't until now that I realized attacks weren't just about rhythmic input-- you can hold the attacks down to do different charged hits and combos depending on when you execute them in your combo, similar to Automata. I, uh... I felt a bit dumb. But hey, wow, it's a welcome adjustment and it makes all of the weapon types feel equally valuable for different purposes. I never liked using the heavy blades in the original release because they just felt too slow for the damage output they did, even if their 'point' was mostly to sheer off armor (and they definitely felt too slow for use in crowd control). Now they're still heavy and slower, but not to the point that you're basically leaving yourself open just trying to attack. Spears now do crazy sweeping combos and multi-hits. Both of these properties were borrowed from Automata and I find myself prioritizing melee combat and almost forgetting I have magic because honestly it just feels intuitive and fun. I feel like Kaine and Emil might have gotten a power boost as well? Not that I can really confirm this but going into some of the Junk Heap rooms I'd focus on killing a few robots in the corner and then turn around and just see a field of item drops and no more robots. Don't take my word on that, of course, but they felt a little more effective, and a placebo effect is still an effect. "You're staging a protest? That's fun!" Emil. Rebel without a cause. Will not hesitate to kill you if you trespass on his property. (Might explain the statues in the courtyard, actually.) I'll have to double-check this dialogue because I definitely remember more of a melancholia before we get to roasting marshmallows. I think Papa Nier actually offers to talk to/implicitly threaten the villagers to let them in the Village whereas Brother offers to sleep outside with them... which is actually kind of funny. In the former it comes off as Emil and Kaine maybe kinda-sorta not wanting to be allowed in the Village for their own reasons (they're not happy reasons but they're reasons nonetheless) and reassuring Father that no, it's okay, it's fun! The latter is almost telling Brother to stay inside because he'll ruin their sleepover.

(They're absolutely having giggly girl talk about him outside the gates, 100%.) they ran over the seals All I want in Seafront is to enjoy the music and run out to the big beach and hang out with the last living seals and they put a fucking pirate ship on top of them. Oh, wow. Gideon. Wow. OG Nier featured a Gideon that tried to keep himself together and then had fits of mania. You'd be concerned about him during some of the dialogue but generally speaking he came across as... functional. The delivery on all of his lines is now so insanely murder bonkers, like every line he's addressing you like you're already chained to the wall of his serial killer dungeon and it's glorious. I don't know if the distinction between the games is deliberate (in that Gideon in Gestalt was just more even-keeled between his 'rip 'em apart' snarlings and was always just totally nutso in RepliCant) but I do appreciate it. It's a good mirror to Brother Nier's own anger, which only ever seems to be mollified when he's talking to his friends (even kindly accepting sidequests there's a pretty consistent -- not universal, but consistent -- air of barely-bridled frustration). The other characters that Brother encounters are various reflections of himself if things had just been a little different-- Gideon was a representation of the kind of obsessive madness that would have eaten Brother alive if he hadn't had his network of support. Gideon's constant fury and bloodlust even bleeds into him just saying "What can I do for you?" He has no anchor to keep himself sane, nobody to stay human for; he's all mania, all anger, and he only takes any real interest in Brother on his return because he sees an opportunity to act out his vengeance. After defeating Beepy and Kalil he even goes so far as to not only blame Beepy for killing Jakob, but for also killing their mother, which is patently insane but really speaks to how far his justifications and fury have taken him. Papa Nier responds to his anger toward Beepy by basically backing away slowly and saying "Oookay then". Brother, however, actually commiserates; "That's enough. [...] We get it. We really do." This is definitely one of those moments where Brother's context works better than Father's; he absolutely sees himself in Gideon. He completely understands him and sympathizes. He recognizes the madness of his own quest, he sees where it could take him, and there's a resignation when he speaks to Weiss: "Revenge is a fool's errand." "...yeah." Papa Nier has a similar delivery and similarly implies that he understands how terrible his quest is, but there's something decidedly haunting in Brother's sympathy. Also just verifying something on the wiki and this bit of 'Trivia' really jumped at me:

Gideon is the only character to only cause the deaths of other characters. In his case, he caused a platform to crush Jakob and ordered the deaths of P-33 and Kalil, with P-33 surviving.

Metal AF.

[nattspencer]

Lighthouse

Missy x Reader

Summary: The reader is really self conscious and struggling because she thinks she’s not good enough for missy

A/N: English is not my first language, therefore I’m really sorry for any mistakes, let me know about them. Also, I’m not sure if that’s what the anon requested, but I did my best, hope you all like and hope to see more of your requests again!  

Warnings: Mention of impostor syndrome, lots of self-loathing at the beginning, super fluffy at the end, soft!Missy.

Word count: 1.939

Not my GIF

    Not even your favorite book was enough to cheer you up. Hours have passed since you locked yourself inside that library and that feeling kept nagging at you like a disease, eating you from inside. It’s been less than a week since you and Missy are officially together and there wasn’t a single moment that the impostor syndrome didn’t get you. You weren't worthy of her. How could you be? She is a thousand years old creature, wise as the universe, mad as a hatter and complex as the sphinx riddles. You’re just a human, just a breakable, stupid, brief human.

    Sighing, you let your eyes drift throughout the room, trying so desperately to focus on something other than yourself, trying to numb your pain. You observed the trembling shadows on the wall, glowing and dimming according to the fire that raged on the fireplace, the shelves bumped with books from all languages and subjects, some that your mind couldn't ever grasp about. The main lights were off, it was just you, the fire, and a lampshade that shaped your book's words, so known by you. 

    The leather sofas and the armchairs carefully displayed with tea tables around screamed the Time Lady's addictiveness for the drink, unpretentiously, your watch got caught by a well known couch. It was right there when she first told you how much you meant for her. Missy was reading out loud to you the same book between your hands, while her fingers danced delightfully between your locks and your head comfortably placed on her lap. She said you were her lighthouse, her safe place, and still, you couldn't believe in one word of it.

    A dripping sound suddenly lifts you from your thoughts. Your face was wet. When did you start crying? Funny, the more you try to escape, the more you see yourself surrender by her in every single aspect, drowned in her. She was your universe, and you knew deep in your bones that you weren't enough for her. She deserved more. She deserves to be loved by someone who would never leave her, who wouldn't decain and die in a few years, who she could share the rest of her life with. She just worths so much more than you could ever be.

    The worst part, nevertheless, was seeing her trying to cheer you up. Oh god, seeing her sad and concerned eyes pointed at you just destroys your soul completely. The only one you swore to protect, now suffers because of your insecurities. You knew you should talk to her, you knew that she was waiting for you to do that, but you couldn't. You just couldn't. Your mind kept repeating to you like a mantra how much desgust she would feel if she finally knew how stupid you are. Your hands covered your mouth trying to muff your sobs.

    Far away, you could hear her heels clicking on the floor, too fast for you to hide, too fast for you to run, all you had time to do was take a deep breath and wipe your flooded face. You didn't dare to look on her face, you just pretended to read the book on your lap.

    “I'm just making tea, do you want some?” She broke the silence uncertain of what to say.

    “Oh, no, I'm fine baby.” You said putting your best smile on your face “Actually, I think I'm going to bed. I'm feeling rather tired today. See you there later?” Quickly you got up, trying to pass by her unnoticed when she warmly held your arm.

    “Y/N…” Missy said in a plea “Please, talk to me. What have I done wrong?”

    “Nothing honey, I'm just a bit tired.” That was a paper thin lie, but it was the best you could come up with.

    “You're crying.”

    “I was reading a very emotional book, don't worry, it's just hormones. I'm getting very emotional these days.”

    “You were reading your favorite, Y/N, there's nothing sad or emotional in that book. Please, please talk to me. Tell me what's happening.” Missy never begged anything for anyone, but you were her exception. She was terrified to lose you.

    “It's stupid-”

    “If it's bothering you it's not stupid, nothing about you are. Share with me. I'm sure we can solve it, together.” Her hand slides by your arms and reaches your hand, lacing your fingers with hers in a warm embrace. There's just one thing in the whole world you couldn't resist: her supplicating eyes. You couldn't take it anymore.

    Exhausted, you just let yourself collapse in her arms. Tears fogged your vision and soaked her shoulder, your white knuckled fingers held her close as if in any moment, she should just turn into smoke and disappear. There was no point in hiding your sobs, hiding your misery, you let it all out. Even not grasping entirely your motives, the Time Lady held you tight, as if you were the most precious thing in the whole universe, lulling you until you calm down.

    “I’m…” Still attached to her, your muffled and choked voice began “I’m sorry Missy, I’m so, so sorry.” The words came out as a mantra

    “What do you mean?” Delicately, she involved your fingers from her blouse and kissed your knuckles, guiding you to sit on the sofa.

    “I’m not the right person for you, I can’t ever be.” You confessed avoiding her eyes.

    “Y-y-you don’t love me, is that it?” Never a few words hurt so much to be pulled out. A billion knots formed in her throat .

    “No!” You jolted, almost offended that she could think such a thing “I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone, it’s surreal.” Missy hides a relief smile, but her body lightens. “I’m so lost in you and your hearts make me feel so good, so loved, so safe that I feel I might explode in happiness. You’re my universe, Missy, and that’s why I can’t be with you” She frowns, disturbance filling her eyes “I can’t be with you knowing that you deserve so much more than I could ever be. You deserve someone who won’t fade and die in a few years, someone you can share the rest of your life with, someone so wise that you can rely on and who you could run all the universe with. I’m just a waste of time. I can live the rest of my life with you but you can’t live the rest of yours with me. I’ll hurt you. How many years do you think I would be able to run the stars with you? Twenty? Thirty? Forty? All of that is just a blink of an eye to you. I can’t just sit down and wait for you to discover the great froud I am. I can’t spend the rest of my life waiting for you to regret and most of all I can’t deal with your contempt.” The Time Lady was astonished. Her mouth opens and closes but no sound came from it. You didn’t dare look at her “I think… I think it’s better for us both if you just throw me back at my flat and forget about me.“ Your throat burns. Nothing ever could be harder than this. “You deserve more, Missy. Let go of me. Just promise that you will be happy, okay?” When your shattered eyes finally glanced at the Time Lady, she didn’t think twice before sealing your lips with hers.

    It took a few moments for you to realize what is happening, but as always, she melted you. Tasted salty and bitter from your tears, however, you could feel her hearts exploding and taking you in. Her hands cupped your cheeks so delicately as if you would break and fade in any second, her body leaning slowly towards you until your back touched the cushion, you were in the clouds. When your tongs meet, it was like your hearts meet too. Before you felt her love and passion, but now, you were emerging into it, drowning into it, until you bolt were breathless.

    “You can’t see it, can you?” She whispered, resting her forehead against yours.

    “What?” You answered still inebriated by her.

    “Your own light. Your kindness, your generosity, your forgiveness, your empathy, all of your stunning qualities, you can’t see it, can you?” She moves backwards slightly, just to see your eyes “You’re the kind of person who doesn't make people better.” It stings. “You inspire them to be better by themselves, to love themselves. For a long time I only saw myself the way other people see me, as a broken useless thing, but you saw me for me. You made me worthy. You believed in me even when I already gave up on myself.” You saw the admiration deep inside her blue sea eyes and your head skipped a beat. “You say I’m so wise but you taught me so much about people, about myself, I rely on you. I don’t care if we can’t run across the stars, I just want to be with you. You are all the stars I need, and I don’t want to waste a single moment of our forever. For the first time in my lives, I want to be happy, and that’s only possible if I’m with you.”

    “B-But I’m nothing special-”

    “Yes you are. You’re my lighthouse, my safe place, the one that makes me, a lover of chaos what to be good. I want to be better for you, Y/N, and that’s not because you asked me, you never did, that’s because you inspired me and showed me how good good can be. You made me love myself for god sake.” The sound of her laugh was strangled by her unspilled tears. “I want you until you’re grey and old, Y/N. I may suffer when you die, but don’t steal our time together from me.” Her eyes plead painfully.

    “I love you.” That’s all you managed to say.

    “Stay with me, and I promise I’ll try my best to return the favour and make you love yourself even more then I love you.”

    “There’s nowhere else I want to be.” She smiled tearfully.

    “Promise me that you’ll always talk to me when you feel this way?” She supplicated delicately. “I don’t think I can bear to hear you ask for leaving again.”

    “I promise. I’m sorry for hiding it from you, it’s just…” You tuck a rebellious curl behind her ear and place your hand in her cheeks, rubbing it affectionately. “My head kept telling me not to, you’re a big ball of confidence, I tough my insecurities would just look stupid for you”

    “Hey, first, you’ll never look stupid to me, actually you always seemed so... imprevisible? Complicated but simple, good but sometimes delightfully wicked, fragile but so strong, I think your contradictions were one of the many things that made me fall in love with you. Anyways, second, I might look like a big ball of confidence, but I’m far away from it. I wear this mask for my enemies so I don’t seem weak or less than them in the battlefield, and I can say for sure today, that my biggest fear is to lose you, not for your age, but for something else. It terrifies me to think that we can’t enjoy all the time we have left.”

    “May it be eternal while it lasts... Thank you. For being here to me.”

    “Always, love. I’ve got you. No matter what we face, I got you.”

[ttte-magical-girl-au]

Rosie Gets A Gun - TTTE Magical Girl AU

Characters: TTTE Rosie, TTTE Lady

Content Warnings: Death of a fantasy creature, gun usage

High in the skies above, dying leaves and scattered in the strong breeze, all while rain came down from the heavens with fury and ferocity. The skies were grey and full of rumbling, murmuring thunder, and the railway had come to a standstill due to the inclement weather. With wet leaves on the tracks, strong winds, and fogs rolling in from sea, it simply was unsafe to resume work on the railroad.

This left Rosie with nothing to do as she waited for the weather to improve. Her coworkers had offered to let her join them for tea, but the tea was quite bitter and their conversations were quite dry. Dry, much like watching paint dry. 

Umbrella in hand, Rosie wandered about outside, trying to find something of interest. Perhaps she’d help some worms on the concrete back into the dirt, or perhaps she’d find a shiny rock among the flowing dirt and muck. But she found a basement door in the back of the sheds, leading into unspoken depths. It wasn’t there the day before, or the day before that, or any day Rosie could recall. Curiously, she reached for the handle and opened it, then descended down the steps into the dark.

Rosie expected the stairs to only take her a few feet deep, but it seemed as if she endlessly walked down the steps in the dark. She turned around to return to the surface, but the steps she had just stepped on had vanished without a trace, leaving her in an underground night. 

So, she did the only thing she could think of. Scream for help. 

“Jeez, can’t a goddess get some sleep around here?” a tired voice echoed, followed by a hand clap, illuminating the area. Rather than some dark, cramped room full of rainwater dripping from the ceiling, the room was built of marble, with corinthian columns that stretched to a blue sky. 

Rosie turned around to see the speaker with a stumble, her umbrella clattering to the floor. 

She was a beautiful woman, with long brownish-gold hair that floated in the air and a burgundy dress and crown. Her skin was inhumanly grey, and her sleepy voice was soft. “Ah, don’t tell me I left the door open…” she said with a sigh and rubbed her temples. 

“Where even is this? Who even are you?” Rosie asked sharply, picking up her umbrella and gripping it tight like a lance.

The woman looked down at her and seemed disappointed with herself. Probably for leaving the door open. “Call me Lady, Goddess of All Good on the Railway. This is my unearthly domain or whatever.”

Rosie opened her mouth to speak, but Lady cut her off.

“No, you’re not dead. No, you’re not seeing things,” she said, counting off her fingers exactly what questions had to be answered before they were even spoken. “Yes, I genuinely didn’t expect this, because no, I’m not omnipotent or whatever.”

“Can you do cool stuff?”

Lady giggled, soft and sweet. “Yeah, check this out,” she said. With the wave of her hand, a map appeared on the floor between her and Rosie. She knelt down and beckoned for Rosie to join her as she scrolled through the interactive map.

“This doesn’t seem very cool,” Rosie joked, moving beside her to look at the map. 

“Oh, hush.” Lady laughed yet again, but soon silenced as the map flashed red and forcibly moved over to depict a lighthouse on the rocky shores of Sodor. The fog had rolled in, heavy like a wet, woolen blanket, and the light had fizzled out. “This can’t be good…”

“Some poor boat might hit the rocks…” Rosie murmured. She turned to Lady with a panicked look in her eyes. “You’re a goddess, can’t you fix it?”

Lady sighed. “No can do.”

“You’re not a very good goddess.” 

The goddess scowled, looking away from her human companion. “I can’t meddle with the work of other gods. This event’s magical. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten the alert…”

“Then let me meddle!” 

Lady looked back at Rosie with a raised eyebrow.

“Then let me meddle,” Rosie said again, a determined look in her eyes. “Something really bad could happen if someone doesn’t step in!”

Lady hesitated for a moment, but within moments, a glowing sphere manifested in front of Rosie. Likely Lady’s doing. “Take whatever’s in there and I’ll send you out there. You’ll get there faster than my girls too…”

Rosie reached into the sphere and pulled out a gun. A literal gun. As she looked it over with curiosity, she found herself tumbling down a grassy, foggy hill near the lighthouse.

“Okay, what’d you get?” Lady’s voice echoed in Rosie’s mind.

“Oh, uh, a gun!” Rosie stood up and brushed the mud off of herself. In the fog, she could only see the faint outline of the lighthouse ahead, and she carefully made her way over.

Lady laughed. “I totally meant to give you that. If you don’t die here, you can keep it.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

It probably wasn’t nothing, but Rosie continued onwards, approaching the lighthouse one step at a time. The wind grew stronger and stronger the closer she got, with thunder and lightning roaring and flashing overhead. She didn’t care, however; whatever magical being was keeping the light off had to be stopped.

Finally, she reached the door and pulled herself inside to the safety of the lighthouse. Or, at least, the shelter from the elements. “Do you even know what put the light out?” she asked Lady.

“My sources are telling me...hm…” Lady hummed to herself as she began to evaluate the area before reporting back to Rosie. “Amphiptere wrapped around the light.”

Rosie blinked. “The fuck is that?”

“Amphipteres are wingless dragons. This one in particular has control over weather,” Lady said. 

“You could have just...said that, y’know?” Rosie grumbled. She ascended the staircase towards the service room and main gallery. 

Lady huffed. 

Rosie opened the hatch door to the giant lightbulb, only to see the hulking mass of the amphiptere writhing and wriggling around it, blocking out the light. It howled like thunder and leaked fog from its mouth. Its scales were as sharp as lightning. 

Rosie took a breath, pointed her gun at the beast, and fired one, two, three, four, five, five times. The first through fourth bullets simply littered the scaly skin of the legless dragon, but the fifth pierced the eye and drove right through the brain, killing it in a blast of water vapor. 

The light from the bulb was free at last and blinding, and Rosie retreated back into the service room to rest her weary eyes. 

“Yay, you did it!” Rosie could hear Lady’s faint clapping in her head. “Oh, the rest of my girls are here too! Rosie--”

“--I didn’t tell you my name--”

“--I know many things,” Lady said with a knowing tone. “But tell me, how’d you like to do this more often?” 

[fanfics4all]

Madness

Request: Yes / No  Can I request a John Murphy x reader smut? Maybe like it's when Murphy is trapped in the lighthouse with the reader and so like they do the do there. Anon

Requests are closed <3 Have a nice day/night

John Murphy x Fem!Reader 

Word count: 1744

Warnings: Fighting, Suicide, smut, I think that’s it.

Y/N: Your Name 

PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORK, I WORK HARD ON MY FICS AND IT’S NOT COOL TO STEAL SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK! 

If you want to be on the tag list for anything (My series fics, specific character fics, or just all of them) All you have to do is send me an ask and I will add you! 

Masterlist 

(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)

John and I had stupidly gone with Jaha to find the City of Light. John went because everyone hated him back at camp and tried to kill him, and I went because John is my boyfriend and I wasn’t gonna just let him go. We’ve been through hell with Jaha so far, but there wasn’t really any turning back now. We lost everyone, it was just the three of us as we washed up on a shore. John was knocked out and I was too tired to stay awake. Before I gave into sleep I saw Jaha walking away, leaving us. I woke up to John shaking me and checking that I was okay. 

“I’m fine John, I just couldn’t stay awake.” I said getting up and he sighed in relief. 

“Come on, I found a place, I need your help trying to get it open.” He said helping me up. I followed him to a lighthouse that had a weird metal door on it. 

“I tried knocking, but no one’s in there I guess.” He said and I laughed a bit. 

“I doubt anyone would be in there now.” I said and he shrugged. 

“It was worth a shot.” He said and started trying to pry the door open. I helped him and we actually got it open. We heard music being played and John pushed me behind him as he went inside. I followed behind and we left the door open. We walked downstairs and saw no one was there, but this place had been untouched and very clean. 

“Promised land.” John said with a smile. We both stayed in place and looked around this wonderful place. 

“Look babe, food.” He said and pulled me along with him. We opened it up and stuffed our faces, John poured himself what I’m guessing was some kind of alcohol and smiled. The two of us enjoyed the food and everything that was around, and John ended up finding the remote to the large T.V.. The music had stopped and I looked over at the T.V. to see a man sitting on the couch. 

“I tried to stop her.” He started and I moved to sit down on the couch, while John was in the chair. 

“But I lost control. She got the launch codes. It was her. She did it. But it was my fault.” The man said and pulled out a gun. My eyes widened and I shook my head. 

“I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry.” He said and shot himself. I shrieked in fear and John rushed over to hold me. 

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s okay, I’m right here.” He said and kissed my head. 

“He… He…” I stuttered.

“I know Y/N, I know, just focus on me okay?” He said trying to calm me down. 

“We should go.” I said and he nodded. The two of us got up, but we heard what sounded like the door closing. John rushed to the door, but I stayed in place as I heard a voice. 

“Containment door sealed.” The robotic voice said. 

“No way! Come on!” I heard John yell and he pounded on the door. 

“Come on!” He growled. 

“Chris, where are you man?” I heard another guy say and I looked back at the T.V.. John rushed back down and wrapped his arms around me. 

“Chris? Chris?” The guy called as he came down the stairs in the video.

“Chris!” He shouted in a shocked panic as he saw his dead friend. 

“I knew it. The news was wrong.” Another guy said coming down after the first guy. 

“It wasn’t China. The stupid son of a bithc let Alie out.” The guy said. 

“Help me. The radiation’s coming.” The first guy said. 

“Unless we wanna share this place with a corpse, we need to get him outside.” He added and they both picked him up. John pulled away from me and grabbed something from under the table, it was the gun… He put it in his pocket and started looking around the place. He grabbed something and went back to the door. It was no use, I knew it, so I just sat in the chair John had been sitting in at started at the things around me. I heard the banging of whatever John had grabbed as he hit the door, and when it didn’t work he screamed. He grabbed something else, but that didn’t work either. He grabbed something else and something else, it went on for a few hours and he was making himself sweat. He ended up losing his jacket first, but then his shirt soon followed. 

“John, it’s no use. You’re just gonna end up hurting yourself.” I said stopping him. 

“So what Y/N, we’re just supposed to sit here! What if it never opens again?” He shouted. 

“I don’t know John, but please stop. Just come and sit down with me. Let’s just get our minds off it.” I said and he sat on the couch. He picked up the remote and found another video. 

“2051. Becca meets Alie.” The guy that killed himself, Chris said. 

“Chris, we’ve gotta get to work.” The girl that had a blindfold on said, I’m assuming she was Becca. 

“We are working.” He said. 

“Alie wanted it to be a surprise.” He said taking off her blindfold. The camera panned over and it was the same girl. 

“Hello, Becca.” She said in a voice that sounded like it had no emotions. 

“Who did this?” Becca asked. 

“I did.” Alie answered. 

“You don’t approve?” She asked. Becca ran her hand through her. 

“As you know, I didn’t think I needed an avatar. You did.. Why not my creator?” Alie said. 

“Please state your core command.” Becca said. 

“My core command is to make life better.” Alie answered. 

“How would you do that?” Becca asked. 

“By fixing the root problem.” Alie answered. 

“What is the root problem, Alie?” Becca asked. 

“Too many people.” She answered. 

“Oh my God…” I said in shock. 

“Too many people?” Becca asked. I got up and went to the other room. I didn’t want to hear any more. 

I’m not sure how long it’s been, weeks I think. But John is losing it, which is making me lose it. He’s been watching the videos over and over again and we’ve been fighting over it. I tell him to stop and he yells at me that there’s nothing else to do. The two of us were pretty much on opposite sides of the bunker all the time now. John was once again watching the video of Becca meeting Alie and when it got to the part about too many people John screamed and threw a bottle at the T.V., breaking it. 

“We’ll there goes your entertainment.” I said and he turned to glare at me. 

“Shut up! I’ve been trying to get us out of here, and you’ve been doing nothing!” He shouted. 

“Because I know it’s no use! John you’re driving yourself mad trying to do something that can’t be done!” I shouted back at him. 

“You’re giving up! You didn’t even try!” He shouted. 

“Because it’s no use! We’re locked in a bunker that was made to survive the end of the world! You think hiting the door everyday or watching those stupid videos are gonne help!?” I shouted. 

“It’s better than doing nothing!” He shouted. I sighed and walked over to him. 

“Can you just stop for one day?” I asked and gently caressed his cheek. 

“I don’t want to give up.” He said quietly. 

“We’re not, but just give your mind a break for a little bit.” I said and kissed him, something we haven’t done since the first few days of us being locked in here. It ignited something inside him and he grabbed my throat. He pushed me down onto the couch and got on top of me, his lips never leaving mine. He was already shirtless and he started stripping me. He quickly lost the little clothes he had on and his fingers found my pussy. I moaned into his mouth and I felt him smirk. He moved us so he was sitting on the couch and he pushed me to my knees. 

“Suck it.” He ordered me. I was used to him being kind of dominant, but this was different. I wrapped my lips around him and he immediately pushed my head down. He pushed me as far as I would go and moaned in pleasure. I felt myself getting wet and moaned as his cock hit the back of my throat. John was usually careful with me, but this time he was gonna be rough and it was exciting me. He pulled me up by my hair and pulled me so I was straddling him. He pulled me down so my pussy was sliding down onto his perfect cock. I bounced on his cock, enjoying how he filled me completely. His cock was stretching me out and his the best spots deep inside of me. I hadn’t realized how horny I was, or how long it’s been since we’ve had sex. 

“Fuck you feel so good!” I moaned. 

“That’s my good girl, fuck it!” He growled, his voice slightly quivering from the pleasure he was feeling. I bounced with joy, throwing my head back with a loud moan. My orgasm came quickly. John grabbed my hips roughly, his fingers 100% leaving marks. His lips moved to my neck and started sucking and biting, also leaving marks. I felt myself cumming again, hard. 

“John!” I moaned pulling the hair at the base of his neck. He was almost there as he roughly worked my hips on his cock. 

“Fuck!” He screamed and he roughly held my hips in place. He filled me with him cum and when he finished he pulled me off him. He sat me in his lap and kissed my head. 

“I didn’t hurt you did I?” He asked and I shook my head with a smile. 

“No, that was actually really hot.” I said and he smirked. 

“Good to know.” He said and kissed me lovingly. 

“I’m sorry about everything Y/N.” He said and I caressed his cheek and smiled. 

“I understand John, I’m sorry too. I love you.” I said and he smiled. 

“I love you too.” He said and wrapped the yellow blanket around us.  

Tag list: @les-bio-lie​ @tashy-bear​ @xrosesareredx​ @ashwarren32​ @hollie-blogs​ @schisbro87​ @lover-of-books-and-teas​ @nerdygaloresposts​ @alex--awesome--22​ @teenwolfbitches2​ @genius2050​ @drw0301bieber​ @softgamerking​ @lady-of-lies​ @simonsbluee​ @ravenmoore14​ @emo-godess-loves-you​ @now-imagine​

[rosemakh]

The Bad Game

[Blurb: An innocent game of mini-golf takes a sinister turn when a family friend demands that Naomi make good on her bet. This deep betrayal leads to an impossible choice.]

[Author’s note: I wrote this in 2020. It’s loosely based on true events, as recounted by a friend of mine. This story is a tragic family drama. It deals with emotional abuse, manipulation, substance abuse, and other things that might trigger some readers (like most of my stories!)]

The driving lesson was over, so Naomi parked the old van and turned off the ignition.

"That was good, sweetie," Pastor Rob congratulated her from the passenger's seat, "You'll be able to get your license soon, for sure!"

Naomi shook her head and smiled sheepishly, "Maybe in a month."

They climbed out of the vehicle to stretch their legs and switch seats. Naomi hopped in and fastened her seat belt while Rob slid the driver's seat back. She giggled at some birds squabbling in the grass as he lowered his weighty girth into the van.

"How about some mini-golf?" He said, rather suddenly.

Naomi liked the game but she was tired. She'd been driving all morning and still had a pile of chores to do at home. She was also tired of being under the pastor's leering gaze. Spending the rest of the day with him -- followed by a Sunday of volunteering at his tiny church -- wasn't her idea of fun but he'd been kind enough to give her driving lessons when nobody else would. She was grateful to him, so she agreed to go.

On the way to the mini-golf park, Rob said, "How about a bet, this time?"

They'd played before but never with a wager. It seemed a little strange to Naomi, so she asked, "Like what?"

Rob kept his eyes on the road, "We'll play one round. If you win, I'll do any one thing you want and if I win, you'll do any one thing I want."

Coming from any other man, this kind of proposal would have alarmed her. But this man was like a grandfather to her. They'd known each other for years. He helped her family. He was goofy, humble, and generous. She trusted him.

She looked at him and nodded, "Yeah, okay! You'll probably just force me to go to lunch with you again or somethin', right?"

They both laughed.

They drove the rest of the way in silence with Elvis Presley crooning on the radio.

***

Naomi was usually pretty good at mini-golf but that day, she missed every shot. She almost felt as if an unseen force was affecting her game. Rob, on the other hand, was on a roll, banking his bright blue golf ball around plastic gnomes as if by magic and landing holes-in-one at both the lighthouse and crocodile lake. In dozens of games, she'd never seen him play so well and she'd never played so poorly.

As the game progressed, it became clear that she would lose the bet. A faint foreboding bloomed within her. She pushed it down and continued playing but by the end of the game, she'd lost by a huge margin. While they turned in their rented putters and balls, then made their way back to the van, Rob's face grew progressively pinched and dark.

Naomi sat in the front passenger's seat and fastened her seat belt. The edge seemed unusually sharp, digging into her neck as if trying to cut her. The earlier sense of foreboding bloomed again.

Rob yanked his door open, squeezed behind the wheel, mopped his sweaty forehead with one of his tree-trunk arms, and backed out of the parking space. A few feet ahead, a small gaggle of giggling women were crossing the lane. Rob, mouth gaping and eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets, moved his head to openly gawk at them in their tiny shorts and tank tops. Naomi was used to him doing that but, for some reason, she suddenly felt uncomfortable. She folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the car door. She watched his lecherous behavior out of the corner of her eye. He didn't detach his eyes from the ladies' bodies until they'd all piled into their car.

***

Rob pulled out onto the highway and stopped at a red traffic light. He gripped the steering wheel and stared straight ahead for a moment. A dangerous mood emanated from him.

Without looking at her, he grunted, "If I was the Mafia, you'd be in a lot of trouble right now."

Over the years, she'd seen him behave erratically. Sometimes his sermons would devolve into tales of bloody warfare, domestic abuse, and sexual assault. She knew the man had demons to fight but now it seemed he was about to use one on her. To prevent upsetting him, she didn't speak, but merely pressed herself hard against the door and looked away as the van accelerated.

He took a deep breath as if preparing to make an important announcement.

"Naomi," he said, "God showed me something last night. I was riding my bicycle like I do every night, and I looked up and saw you in the moon."

He sounded awestruck as if he'd witnessed a miracle.

"You were floating in the big full moon, wearing the most beautiful silver dress and slippers. Your hair was blowing all around you. You looked like an angel, just for me. I watched you and you smiled so sweetly, with so much love. And you reached your hands out to me and your dress blew and you were so beautiful. You stayed with me like that until I got back home."

Naomi couldn't think of anything to say. She continued looking out the window and prayed to God for safety.

When Rob parked in his driveway, Naomi had to will herself to move. She peeled herself from the door and opened it carefully. She wanted to run next door and call the police but slowly followed him into the big house, instead.

"Is your wife home?" She managed to ask as he swung the front door open.

"She's at Dorothy's piano recital at the college. They'll be gone for hours."

He led her through the cozy living room, past wholesome family pictures and walls filled with Christian crosses. Finely-crafted angel figurines looked on from shelves and tabletops as they passed. A desk in the corner housed a huge Bible, its pages edged with gold.

Rob positioned one dining chair so that it faced toward the backyard garden, then motioned for her to enter the tiny dining room and sit. She could see his wife's award-winning roses through the sliding glass door. Their yard was carpeted with soft, well-manicured grass. A set of cute lawn furniture sat on one side of the deck, overlooking a small swimming pool.

The dining chair didn't have arms, so Naomi awkwardly placed her hands in her lap. Rob suddenly stood in front of her, looming over her and blocking out the sun like a massive obelisk. To avoid his eyes, she stared at her hands.

His voice sounded above her, "I know you're a woman of God, so you'll honor your vow."

Barely a few inches in front of her, he knelt and pulled a ring box from his pants pocket. She stared at the box, praying it wasn't what she suspected. But it was. With bloated, hairy fingers, he flipped the top open to reveal a simple wedding ring. The gold-colored ring was etched with a diamond pattern to make it look like a normal ring but Naomi understood. Feeling as if she was in imminent danger, Naomi clenched her knees together tightly and thanked God she'd decided to wear jeans instead of a skirt.

He fixed his veiny bug eyes on her, "My sweetie, I've wanted to marry you since we first met when you were 14. These four years have been the happiest of my life. I know you feel the same way. God has shown me that you do."

Naomi tried rationalizing with him, "But you're already married. How will that work?"

He leaned toward her and his big belly pressed against her shins. He looked into her face like a lying boy that desperately wanted to be believed, "I've told you about that. It's basically an arranged marriage. I was 35 and our families put us together. We never loved each other."

"But it's a sin to violate your marriage vows. Besides, I don't feel that way about you, Pastor."

"But I know you do, sweetie," he nodded his head repeatedly, "God told me."

She shook her head furiously, "No!"

"It's okay, sweetie. Don't be afraid."

His fat belly pressed harder against her shins. The fleshy sensation made her feel sick, "You're old enough to be my father. Your daughter's older than me! It wouldn't work, I'm tellin' you!"

He continued, searching for ways to convince her, "And--and I know you don't want children so I got a vasectomy so you don't have to worry about that."

"Oh, God!" Naomi couldn't hold herself together anymore. Terrified, all she could do was tuck her head into her shoulder and sob.

"Sweetie--" He briefly touched her hand.

As if she'd been burned, Naomi drew her hands up to her chest.

He craned his blubbery neck to look into her face, "What's the matter, sweetie? Everything's okay. Haven't I proved that I care about you?"

He put one massive hand on her knee. Instinctively, she gasped and clenched her knees together tighter. She looked at the ceiling, gulping back sobs and biting her lip.

He placed the other hand on her lap, still holding the ring box, "Haven't I helped your family for the past four years. With your mom not working, what would you guys have done without me?"

She managed to choke out, "I appreciate everything you've done for us--" between sobs but couldn't continue.

"Oh, sweetie," His voice was tender as if speaking to a lover, "Don't cry. I know it's a big change," He waited a few moments for her to calm down but she was far too upset, "You're overwhelmed, my love. I'm sorry. I'll take you home now. Let's talk about this tomorrow after church."

Relieved to have a way out of the situation, she nodded shakily, "Tomorrow."

***

She'd managed to pull herself together and look somewhat normal by the time he pulled into her family's driveway. She scrambled out as soon as the van stopped.

Before she closed the door, he said, "I'll pick you up for church tomorrow, sweetie," and blew her a kiss.

She shut the door and willed her shaky legs to carry her up the cracked concrete walkway and into her family's shabby home.

She stepped into the living room in its usual state: Toys and dirty clothes littered the floor; Bowls of half-eaten cereal sat in small collections upon the tables; A sticky spill had congealed under the coffee table, next to the overturned cup that once held it.

She called to her young sisters, "Nancy, Nellie! Come clean up after yourselves, please!"

Nancy, 12, and Nellie, 5, stalked out of their room with mock annoyance. They glared at Naomi, stuck out their tongues, then collapsed into a fit of giggles.

"Cut it out, silly girls," Naomi said as she walked to the kitchen.

Their mother staggered out of the master bedroom and down the hall. She walked past Naomi without a word, opened the cabinet above the sink, and retrieved a large bottle of sleeping pills.

"Hi, Mom," Naomi said gently.

Her mother merely glanced at her, then opened the bottle. She moved almost robotically as if the effort of moving required all of her concentration and energy. She dropped three pills into her hand and swallowed them with a cold cup of coffee that was sitting on the counter.

"Are you okay, mom?" Naomi asked.

Naomi's mother turned to face her, "Never," and looked her up and down, "Look at you. You're so lucky. You don't have three mouths to feed."

Naomi stayed stone-faced and silent. Her mother said this often. The first time it happened, Naomi had made the mistake of talking back. She refused to make that mistake again.

With a surprising amount of force, her mother threw the open pill bottle against the sink's backsplash. Cloud-blue pills erupted from the bottle and fell haphazardly into the dirty dishes in the sink. A few landed in water and fizzed, creating bubbling islands of blue foam.

"I'm goin' to bed," her mother grunted.

Nellie, the youngest, peeked her head around the kitchen wall and held her toy bunny to her chin, "But Momma, you were in bed all day."

Their mother bent down and stroked Nellie's chubby face with a tenderness Naomi had not received from her in years, "Momma's tired, baby. Mommies get tired."

She stood up and snapped at Naomi, "Clean this place up!" then disappeared down the hall.

After their mother closed her door, Nancy strutted in and put a small pile of dirty cereal bowls on the kitchen table, "Where have you been all day, by the way? We've been stuck here with Mom and you've been out havin' fun!"

Naomi placed the bowls in the sink, "Believe me, nobody in this family is havin' fun."

Nancy took hold of her younger sister's hand, "Come on, Nellie, let's watch a movie while we wait for Naomi's crappy dinner."

"I like her crappy dinners," Nellie replied as they climbed onto the sofa.

"Oh, shut up, Nellie."

Overhearing the exchange from the kitchen, Naomi chuckled.

While preparing dinner, Naomi prayed for guidance. The thought of seeing Rob again made her feel sick, so she leaned over the sink for a few moments until the nausea subsided. Her mind raced with possibilities and none of them were good. If they stopped attending his church, she'd have to get a job. But she was just about to enter her last year of high school. If she quit school to work full-time, they'd probably never get out of poverty. On the other hand, if she stayed in high school and worked part-time, her sisters wouldn't have anyone to take care of them. Their mother was in no state to look after anybody and the girls were too young to take care of themselves all the time. She watched the pasta boiling on the stove. It roiled and raged like the thoughts in her head.

By the time dinner was ready, she had decided to turn him down and leave his church. She had no plan beyond that but she continued to pray and search for a solution.

***

Rob pulled into the driveway bright and early on Sunday morning. It was the sisters' responsibility to set up the church room in Rob's rundown beachside inn, so they had to get there before everyone else.

"Howdy-ho, kidderoos!" Rob greeted the girls as they headed towards the van.

Naomi checked to make sure the top button of her high-collar dress was done up and raised her hem slightly to keep it from dragging through the dew-covered grass. She picked up Nellie and strapped her into the front passenger's seat, then climbed into the farthest row of seats in the back.

Rob was watching in the rearview mirror, "You can sit up here with me, Naomi!"

"Nuh-uh! She said I can, Mr. Rob!" Nellie protested.

Beaming, Nancy spread her drawing books and art supplies across the middle row of seats and said proudly, "Oh, Yeah! So roomy! This must be what it's like not havin' any sisters! We should sit this way all the time."

"Well, that settles that," Naomi said as she pulled the van's sliding door shut.

He drove through the neighborhood slowly, glancing at the rearview mirror every few seconds, "Are you sure you don't want to sit up front, Naomi? Sitting next to the driver is great driving practice."

Naomi didn't take her eyes off her book, "No thank you. I promised Nellie she could sit there."

"What if you drive, instead, and I sit next to you?"

Nancy piped up, "No way. I don't wanna die today!"

All four of them burst into laughter.

Rob dropped the subject but repeatedly flicked his eyes to the rearview mirror during the 30-minute trip. Eventually, Naomi placed her backpack in her lap in an attempt to hide her chest from his searing glances.

***

The ramshackle inn was a place of refuge where vagabonds and penny-pinching tourists could enjoy a room on the beach for next-to-nothing. Rob did all the repairs himself but, unlike Jesus, he wasn't much of a carpenter. The floors were lumpy, sagging, and did nothing to muffle the sounds of footsteps. The paint was flaking in various places both inside and outside the building, and the bare, wooden staircases wobbled and creaked. It was a humble place for humble people.

Naomi and her sisters ascended the stairs into the common room and got to work converting the tiny space into a functioning chapel.

***

That Sunday's service was no different from any other. Pastor Rob led with a spirited, yet incoherent, opening message, which seemed to be nothing more than a collection of random Bible quotes from a desktop calendar. After the opening, he jumped straight into an equally spirited sermon about men and women and all the sex passages in the Bible. Although he didn't look at her, Naomi knew who he'd written that sermon for.

He spoke with fire and the attendees responded in kind, yelling "Preach!" and "Amen, brother!" at random intervals.

Two young women came out of an adjoining room and sat together on one side of the small space. They were dressed in tiny jean shorts and string bikini tops. Pastor Rob seemed unable to keep himself from glancing at them every two seconds to ogle their exposed flesh.

After the service, the pastor mingled with the attendees. None of the smiling people shaking Rob's hand were aware of Saturday's events and no one -- maybe not even the man himself -- knew what he was going to do when he got Naomi alone again. The spongy floor shook with each of Rob's massive steps as he traveled through the cheerful crowd. Naomi felt the vibrations in her core, like a war drum signaling impending doom.

***

Just after Noon, he pulled the van up to the girls' house. Nancy and Nellie got out and said their goodbyes.

Naomi made her way to the front passenger seat.

"We're off to do more driving lessons!" Rob explained to the younger girls.

He waited until the sisters were safely inside the house, then drove to a nearby playground. He pulled into an unpaved parking space facing the park, where some families were enjoying the mild weather and fresh air. Naomi was grateful to have other people around.

The pastor turned off the van and gripped the steering wheel so hard his pudgy knuckles turned white. They both stared silently into the park for a while.

Suddenly, without looking at her, he asked, "Are you playing with me?" and continued staring ahead, awaiting her answer.

Naomi gathered her courage and calmly replied, "No."

She looked at him. A sick red color was creeping up his neck. She had to get this over quickly, "I thought about it and I'm sorry but I don't feel that way about you. You're like a grandfather to me."

He growled a reply through clenched teeth, "How could you say that?" And looked at her from the corner of his eye, "You've been flirting with me for years."

Naomi couldn't believe he was the same man who'd been laughing it up on the beach just an hour ago, "What?!"

He unclenched his jaw but the edge in his voice remained, "We've played tag on the beach--"

"Only with my sisters!"

"We kissed in the back seat of this van."

Naomi scoffed, trying to hide her panic, "I got back there with you because you asked. I didn't know you were goin' to kiss me!"

Rob finally looked at her and erupted, "Why else would I ask you to join me in a back seat!"

She had accidentally sent him into a rage, possibly putting herself in physical danger, but she could no longer control her actions. The deep feelings of betrayal, disgust, and fear were too overwhelming.

She yelled in his face, "Why would you think I wanted to kiss you?"

Rob immediately lowered his voice -- a so-called psychological tactic he loved to use when things got heated, "You told me you were saving yourself for marriage."

Naomi yelled again, "I told you that as my pastor!"

He spoke slowly, "You also told me you felt uncomfortable about your strong sexual desires."

"I thought I could confide in you!"

He removed his hands from the steering wheel and turned his body toward her. Looking deep into her eyes, he spoke gently, "I know you're a godly woman. With me, you won't have to worry about anything. I promise I'll never hurt you. You can explore your desires with me safely. No diseases. No pregnancy. And I'll take care of you, your mom, and your sisters."

Naomi couldn't believe what she was hearing, "You're tryin' to bribe me with my family?"

"It'll be a sacred union."

"You're already married, Rob!"

"It's okay," He spoke to her as if talking to an upset child, "We'll keep it a secret. Nobody has to get hurt. God's chosen few have always been misunderstood. We both know nobody will understand our love."

She screamed at the top of her lungs, "We don't have a love! How could you? I trusted you!" She smashed her fist against the dashboard, "You and no one else! And you'd do this to me? Were you doin' this all along?"

Rob maintained a steady, soothing tone, "I didn't do anything. It's God's plan, my love."

"SHUT UP!"

Naomi's hands were shaking so badly, she barely managed to undo her seat belt. She reached for the car door handle.

Rob raised his voice slightly and scolded her, "You promised me! You're not a liar!"

Her anger spent, tears ran down Naomi's cheeks as she looked him straight in his eyes.

Her voice shook as she said, "I think Jesus will forgive me for this one."

She shoved the door open, got out, then slammed it shut with a frustrated roar. Startled people in the park, who'd heard them yelling, stared at her. Avoiding their gazes, she angrily walked away.

She'd traveled several feet before Rob finished hauling his heft out of the vehicle. He called to her, "Did you buy your sisters' school supplies yet?"

She stopped on the spot.

"Or your mom's medicine?"

She lowered her head, tears cascading down her face. Her entire body shook as she clenched and unclenched her fists. A swarm of dark possibilities swirled in her mind.

A child's scream and laughter yanked her back into reality. Instinctively, she looked in the direction of the sound. The squealing toddler was being pushed on a swing by his smiling dad. Mom looked on, laughing loudly.

Naomi stared at the happy family. Memories of carefree days floated up from the depths of her mind. She could feel Rob's eyes on her.

Without looking at him, she walked back to the van, threw herself into the seat, slammed the door, and waited. After a moment, Rob squeezed behind the steering wheel, watching her. Without a glance or a word, she pulled the musty seat belt across her body and fastened it with a heavy click. It pressed against her chest and lap, pinning her to the seat. She folded her hands in her lap in a failed attempt to keep them from shaking.

She stared at the horizon, blinking away hot tears and taking measured breaths. Aware of Rob's gaze, she pressed against the car seat and bit her lip hard. Her body shook with adrenaline and terror.

Rob continued to stare at her as he started the van. He seemed to be savoring the moment as he raked his hungry eyes up and down her body.

***

The pastor sat the last grocery bag on the kitchen table.

He checked to make sure nobody else was around, then pulled Naomi close for a quick kiss on the lips, "See you Saturday, my love."

He headed out the door. She bent over the sink and washed her mouth out with dish soap.

She dried her face as Nancy came around the corner.

"Was that Pastor Rob?"

Naomi nodded.

A mischievous smile crept across Nancy's face, "Gee, I'm sure glad you two didn't die in your drivin' lesson!"

Naomi was too numb to even pretend to laugh but she forced herself to smile as sweetly as she could at her silly little sister, "That was funny, Nancy."

"Duh!"

Naomi pulled an ice cream cake from one of the grocery bags, "Look what I've got."

Nellie appeared in the doorway, curious. Naomi knelt so the kids could get a better look.

Nancy gasped, "Wow! Are we celebratin' somethin'?"

Naomi forced a warm smile for her sisters, "Yes. We're celebratin' how much I love you."

Just out of sight, their mother muttered, "Bring me some o' that to my room, Nancy," then shuffled back down the hall.

"Oh, Momma likes it, too!" Nellie said, "Thanks, Naomi!"

Nancy pulled a plate from the dish rack, "Yeah, I guess you're okay, sometimes."

At that, the three of them stuck their tongues out at each other playfully.

Naomi turned and placed the ice cream cake on the kitchen table. The golden ring on her left middle finger caught Nellie's eye.

Nellie pulled Naomi's hand to her own face so she could get a better look, "That ring's fancy! I like the diamond shapes. Did it cost a lot?"

Naomi briefly flashed a smile, "Yes, it cost me a whole lot."

"I won't tell, but Momma might get mad if she finds out."

Naomi gently pulled her hand free and stroked her precious little sister's hair, "I think you're right, honey. I bet she would."

[goddessofeternity]

Chronicles of the Supernovas: Chosen

Callum

Chapter 6: Lost Children

“Help me….”

I paused and raised an eyebrow as I heard a voice. “Masami? Are you alright?” I glanced down the hall as my wife turned the corner from the kitchen. She pursed her lips as she handed me a bag full of food for our mission.

“I’m fine Callum. Are you ok?”

“Yes, I just thought I heard something. I thought you were asking for help with something. It might have just been nothing…”

“Are you sure? You have been off in your head a lot lately.”

‘That’s because I’ve been distracted by your secret.’ I brushed that thought away as I pulled her close and kissed her head. “Just really focused on work angel. Plus, I’m trying to plan out our anniversary. I think this mission is going to take some time. I’m afraid that I might miss it now.”

“Don’t you worry about that Callum. We have so many years of anniversaries to get through. Missing a few here and there will not ruin us. Besides, when you are done, we can go somewhere. This gives me more time to think of what to get you.”

“You never have to get me anything angel. Having you by my side has always been enough.” She giggled and snuggled into my chest as I kissed her head again. “I do hope this doesn’t take that long though.”

“When you get back we can continue our fun from earlier?” She looked up at me and batted her eyelashes as she stroked my beard. “That is if you aren’t too tired…”

“I always have enough energy for you Masami.” I lifted her up by her thighs and she wrapped her legs around my waist. “We could have a round right now if you’d like?”

“You have an assignment to do. I suggested when you come back so we can have a nice long loving session.” She kissed me gently before she got down from my arms. “You just let me know when you’re almost done. I’ll make your favorite.” 

“Ok angel...I’ll try to finish this quickly.” She gave me one last kiss before she waved at me as I went to the door. I stopped just before I grabbed the handle. I should ask her now, especially if we might miss our anniversary. The thought would pague me the entire time. It was now or never. I turned around quickly as Masami looked at me with a raised brow.

“Is something wrong?”

“Masami I…” Her gentle smile warmed my heart and I just couldn’t do it. I’d hate to confront her before I leave and we get into a fight about it. That was the last thing I wanted to happen between us. “I’ll miss you angel.”

“I will miss you too my love…” She blew me a kiss as I left our home. I teleported away to Lady Serafina’s temple to meet with the others. I heard Celica and Nim arguing with each other before I opened the door. Sighing deeply, I entered Lady Serafina’s throne room and smiled a bit at the bickering of Nim and Celica. Lady Serfina paid them no mind as she conversed with Ka’seem. I really wished that the two of them could get along when we aren’t on the field. They work exceptionally well together in a fight, but off field they are vicious. 

“Hey Callum! Ready to kick some ass?” I shook my head at Nerissa as she stretched out her legs on the floor. 

“I’m hoping that it won’t come to that honestly...the less fighting the better.”

“Oh there’s no fun in that…” She pouted like a child and I patted her head as I walked over to the others. Celica threw her hand up into Nim’s face effectively ending their squabble as she looked at me with a small smile.

“You all set to go Callum?”

“Yes I am. Are you?”

“Oh I’ve been ready to go. The dog was just giving me some “helpful” advice.” Nim was still seething as he growled low in his throat. “Oh? Something you have to say? Speak boy...come on I have a biscuit for you~”

“Listen you rat faced bitch! How about I put my foo-”

“Alright alright you two. Stop the fighting and let’s get going.” I turned Nim away from Celica and walked him over to Ka’seem and Lady Serafina. “You really need to stop letting her get to you. The both of you have been friends for far too long for this.”

“Friends? Tch...I wouldn’t even call us associates…”

“My apologies...I meant comrade in arms.”

“Yeah right…” He rolled his eye dramatically and I chuckled at his annoyed face.

“Come on Nim...I know that you at least respect her...somewhat…”

“I respect her skill as a fighter and status as a Goddess, but her personality is shit just like her fucking face. The woman is rotten to the core. It’s like her soul purpose in life is to be an annoying bitch.”

“Right…” I could feel the conversation going to a more negative place, but thankfully Ka’seem and Lady Serafina were done with their conversation. “Has there been any changes?”

“Nah...we’re all set to go. I just wanted to get a scope of the planet. I actually haven’t been here before, but that might have to do with Celica being stingy in her jurisdiction.”

“I just don’t want you running around my area and fucking something up.

“Hey...it’s not like I knew I was carrying an invasive species on my person….”

“It took years for that planet to recover Ka’seem. I don’t care if you and your pantheon show up in my jurisdiction. I just want you all to be more careful and aware.”

“Yes yes my bad..” Lady Serafina tucked away a planet she was constructing to address us. We lined up in front of her as she smiled at us.

“My Supernovas...I need you to exercise caution as you partake in this mission. We have no idea the scope of what the Darkness could be planning. I need you all to be through but also safe. I suspect that this is not one isolated incident. I have other things I must attend to with the other Gods and Goddesses. If you really need my assistance, you may contact me. Bring these poor beings back to their homes and families my Novas. I wish you all the very best of luck and look out for each other.” With a delicate twirl of her hand, Lady Serafina opened a portal leading to our destination.

“Thank you Lady Serafina!” We all coursed as one before we set out through the portal. After a brief blinding light, we found ourselves in a deep thicket of trees. Small creatures scurried away from us as we put away our weapons. The last thing we wanted was to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves. I handed the others their food from Masami and they tucked it away into the pocket dimensions we each had for our weapons. 

“Oh Callum...have I ever mentioned how much I love your wife and how she takes care of us?” I chuckled as Nerissa took a few bites of her food and moaned in happiness.

“All the time Nerissa.” Before Masami came into our lives we would pretty much be on our own in regards to food on our missions. Most of the time we just ate what was available, which was never the best and we ended up sick. It was a struggle not to eat everything at once. Everyone often tried to pick at their food so as not to eat it all. Nerissa was already struggling on that front.

“Callum, you’re still glowing…” Celica said to me as she walked over. “You look like a damn lighthouse…”

“Oh sorry...I always forget…” Our usual godly glow was not often noticeable when in our temples or realm of the Gods. Mortal beings always lost their composure when they encountered a God. If the Darkness was really here, then our presence had to be as masked as possible. “Let’s head out and meet back up in four hours.”

“Right…” Ka’seem and Celica followed me as Nim and Nerissa went in their own direction. It was a short walk to the...village, if you could even call it that. Most of the homes were damaged and in the process of walking apart. Beggars were leaned up against decayed buildings and others were drunk and stumbling down the streets. Most looked at us with cautious eyes and others just shot us dirty glares as we walked through the village. A few buildings seemed intact, and I nodded at Celica and Ka’seem and they broke off to gather information. I looked around trying to figure out the best approach so as not to scare them off. 

“Change sir?” Feeling a tug on my pants, I looked down at a man, who looked no more than thirty with rotting teeth and a crooked smile. “Money?”

“Oh of course…” I knelt down and put some money into his hands. His eyes widened before he laughed and coughed. He clutched his chest in pain for a second, and I frowned deeply in worry.

“Do you need medical assistance?”

“I need more money...you're gonna get mugged out here with that much money on you.”

“I will take my chances.”

“You aren’t from around here are you?”

“Is it that easy to tell?” I stood back up as he smiled darkly at me. I didn’t want to risk him attacking me this early on. “I thought I was being inconspicuous.”

“A funny guy...you won’t last here.”

“Why is that?” He narrowed his eyes at me when I asked and he scoffed and looked away from me. I probably shouldn’t push the question but I needed information. “Is there a reason I should be worried about? I figured this was a quiet place despite all the crumbled buildings and such.”

“Your curiosity could get you killed here…”

“Oh?” I knelt back down and looked him hard in the eyes as I pulled a large bag of money out. “If you tell me what I want to know...then I can easily get you off the street.”

“So paying me is how you want information?”

“It seems to be the language you want to speak. I’m just acting accordingly. Now...do you want the money or not?” I jiggled the bag in front of him as his frown deepened. 

“As much as it might seem that I want money...that isn’t what I truly want.”

“Well...what is it that you want?” I watched curiously as his face changed and a deep sadness displayed in his eyes. I figured he was lying, but now I knew that he wasn’t. I didn’t want to press further for his sake, but I knew it would hopefully solve both of our issues.

“I can help-”

“No you can’t!” He roared at me as he stood up. “No one gives a damn about this sad planet! Nor does anyone care for its people!” He spit at my feet and grunted angrily as he walked away.

“That could have gone better….” I rubbed my head as I walked deeper into the town to see if the others had any luck. I spotted Celica by a broken water fountain glaring down at a homeless man who glared right back. I walked up next to her and raised a concerned eyebrow at their silent contest.

“Celica….”

“He’s thinking that he’s intimidating...but I can assure you that you’re not…” 

“Celica...stop it...I can see his breath….” Celica blinked hard and the air lost its chill. The man stopped his shivering but the glare continued nevertheless. “I think you should stop making my friend so angry...she gets rather unpleasant when she has her fits.”

“I do not have fits…” She scoffed at me and threw her hands on her hips. “I know that he knows something and he’s being a bitch about it.”

“The only bitch I see around here is you!”

“You little-” I pulled her away before her boot connected with the man’s face. Moving her behind a building, I gave her a look and she rolled her eyes. “I was only going to break him a little bit.”

”Low profile Celica….we need to find Ka’seem now. I haven’t seen him in quite some time.”

“He might have found something not in the town. Although there is something that I have noticed and I don’t like it one bit.”

“What would that be?” She crossed her arms and let out a breath as she gave me a hard, but worried look.

“I haven’t seen a single child…” My eyes widened as I turned and looked around the empty square. She was right. Even those who were homeless and poor, managed to have children of their own.   Seeing at least one child would have been preferred. Perhaps that is why it seemed eerily quiet in the town,  we were sent to a relatively populated area, but it seemed that it was not the case. 

“The Darkness….”

“It has been some time since the Darkness did anything with children. The thought of it is making me sick, and is making this a more urgent matter.” She shuffled in place before she huffed and walked off. “I’m going to check  that bar and see if I can find anything. Callum...we can’t allow the Darkness to massacre children again...not again.”

“I know Celica...go.” She nodded before heading to the bar. I wasted no time either as I went looking around the town. I needed someone, anyone to tell me what was going on in this place. The people on this planet are too closed off and scared. Whatever happened here happened recently, but it also gives us an advantage. There was still time to hopefully find the kidnapped children, and that was only if they hadn't been killed yet.

“Please…” I stopped as I heard a prayer pass through my mind. I stopped abruptly as I heard crying in a nearby alleyway. I furrowed my brow as I went to investigate it. I stopped as  I saw a woman in deep prayer with her face pressed into the dirt. I knelt beside her and placed my hand on her trembling shoulder, she didn’t even flinch as she kept saying her prayer.

“Ma’am...are you alright?” She finally looked up at me and her eyes shone with fresh tears ready to fall any second. “What is making you upset?”

“M-My son...he was t-taken from me…” I straightened my shoulders back as I frowned deeply.

“Who took your son?”

“It doesn’t matter. How would you be able to help me? No one cares about the people here...no one cares about my son!”

“I care ma’am. I specifically came here to assist the people here. Just tell me what happened to all of the children in this town.” I smiled at her to ease a bit of her worries and it seemed to work as she wiped her eyes and fully faced me.

“T-The children started being taken about a month ago. Men in dark clothes came and demanded that we hand our children over. Most of the adults offered themselves, but they were only interested in the children. Those that fought were killed quickly or injured for their actions. I tried to take my son and leave but...but I wasn’t quick enough.”

“I’m sorry…” She burst into tears again and my heart ached for her and the other parents that lost their children. “What did your son look like?”

“He...he has short curly hair like mine and bright g-green eyes. His name is Brian and he has a mole on his left shoulder. He’s a sweet boy...he doesn’t deserve this…”

“I will bring your son back to you...my friends and I will bring back all of the children who have been taken from their families.”

“W-What?” Her face betrayed the hope I could hear in her voice, but I smiled regardless and she gave me a weak one back. “You..you will? How?”

“My friends and I do deeds like this for a living. I will bring Brian back, I promise.” 

“Thank you! Thank you!” As I stood up, she knelt at my feet and cried harder. “Bless you sir...I thank the gods for your kindness!” 

“You don’t need to thank me. You just hold on a bit longer, that is all that I ask.” She nodded as I handed her a tissue and she wiped at her face. Leaving her alone, an unimaginable sadness flowed right through me. I knew that I should have never promised to bring her son back. The Darkness had always been an unhinged force. I know when we inform the others about the missing children they will all have the same thought.

Almost half of the missing...will be dead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next: https://goddessofeternity.tumblr.com/post/653031863907221504/chronicles-of-the-supernovas-chosen

Previous: https://goddessofeternity.tumblr.com/post/653031081005760512/chronicles-of-the-supernovas-chosen

Thanks for reading!

Comments and reblogs are appreciated! Likes are welcomed!

[weedle-testaburger]

The Eye of the Oncoming Storm, a Thasmin oneshot for a friendo

As a sort of late bday present for @chronowix (and to help me cope with The Timeless Children), here’s a Thasmin oneshot what I wrote. Enjoy!

Yaz trudged back towards her family’s flat, taking a moment to look back at Ruth’s TARDIS and then continuing down the road. It was a good thing Ruth had landed in Heeley, a few miles south of where she lived; if she’d decided to go all the way back to Gloucester or that lighthouse where she’d gone with the Doctor, getting back home would’ve been a nightmare. As it was, she could probably promise to get back in about half an hour, an hour tops.

Figuring she didn’t want to worry Sonya, she pulled out her phone and messaged her, ‘Hope you’re alright, gonna be home in half an hour x’, wondering if she’d get mad if she asked her to put the kettle on for her. Better not risk winding her up, she figured.

As she came to the little plaza outside their building, she stopped and looked over at the point where, the few times they had come back home, the Doctor had often left the TARDIS. It looked weirdly empty without a conspicuous blue police box standing there. It was at that moment that it hit her: the Doctor was gone. That amazing woman might be dead, and might never come into her life again, for all she knew. And as she realized this, a twinge of pain ran through her. How were you supposed to see amazing things from all of space and time, from Rosa Parks to the conquest of the last of humanity by the Cybermen, and just go back to enduring dad’s curries and desparately hoping to climb the greasy pole of Hallamshire Police? She didn’t know, and thinking about it made her wince.

All of a sudden, as if summoned by her idle thoughts, a rippling ethereal sound started emanating from the spot, and before her eyes, a bright light flitted on and off as beneath it a familiar blue box faded into existence, accompanied by a familiar grinding noise. Moments later, the TARDIS stood before her eyes, and as if by reflexes, she dashed towards it, burst through the door and called out, “Doctor!”

From the other side of the glowing golden central column of the console, a blonde woman peered at her companion, and grinned widely as she recognized her. “Yaz?” she said quietly, almost in disbelief.

“Oh my God, you’re safe!” Yaz beamed, almost laughing as she rushed up to the Time Lady in front of her and hugged her.

To her own surprise, the Doctor hugged back eagerly. “Just about, yeah,” she answered quietly.

“I have a dumb question,” said Yaz.

“I love dumb questions, go for it,” grinned the Doctor.

“How long’s it been for you since we last saw each other?”

The Doctor thought for a moment. “Hmm, well, escaping from the Judoon prison ship and fighting off the Daleks took about... six months? Yeah, I’m gonna go with six months.”

Yaz hugged her again. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

“It’s alright,” the Doctor replied half-heartedly. Before Yaz could stop her, she was fiddling with the controls of the TARDIS console again. “Just had the best idea,” she grinned. “Fancy coming for a quick trip?” Yaz nodded. “Then hang on tight, I think you’re gonna love this.”

As the Doctor threw a lever up, Yaz grabbed onto one of the frames around the TARDIS console as the ship shook and the engines grinded loudly, apparently going a long way away from Sheffield judging from both the Doctor’s enthusiasm and the TARDIS engines’ enthusiasm.

At last, they landed, and the Doctor proudly announced to Yaz, “Step out there. Go on, trust me.”

“Trust you?” Yaz laughed. “I’m about to step out there and find an invading army of Daleks you want a hand with, aren’t I?”

“I mean it,” the Doctor insisted. What the hell, Yaz thought to herself. She had a very earnest look in her eyes, and if the worst came to the worst she could just duck back into the TARDIS. Bracing herself, she stepped out the door- and saw a tranquil-looking hillside through a stony archway. Was this a joke? She looked around her, wandered a few feet from the TARDIS, and sat down on one of the mossy outcroppings, figuring if they might be important to some kind of society, she ought to be respectful. The view of the hills seemed to spread for miles beyond, and for some reason staring out at it gave her a sense of tranquillity she didn’t think she’d ever quite experienced.

“You like it?” the Doctor asked as she came up behind Yaz.

“Yeah,” Yaz grinned. “Where is this? Did you just take me to some bit of the Highlands or Wales with the TARDIS?”

The Doctor laughed. “Nope,” she smiled. “This is the Eye of Orion. One of my favourite places in the universe, probably.” She gazed out over the hillside and sat down on one of the ruins.

“So, who lives here?” asked Yaz.

“Oh, no one lives in the Eye of Orion. Hardly anyone can get here. One of the few unspoilt beauty spots in the universe, this is.” Peering down at how Yaz was sat on the grass, the Doctor asked, “You wanna come up here?”

“If it’s alright,” Yaz laughed, and sat herself next to the Doctor, smiling as she saw the blonde staring tranquilly into the middle distance.

Try as she might, though, the Doctor couldn’t shake the discomfort she felt with herself at being here. She remembered the time she came here with Tegan and Turlough, hoping for a relaxing visit, only to be taken away by the Time Lords to do their bidding, and the pangs of exhaustion she (or rather, he, as she was back then) had felt as her selves were whittled away one by one.

Remembering the Time Lords made it even worse, as the knowledge that she was the Timeless Child came back to her, and the realization that despite what she’d heard from Ruth, she couldn’t just shrug it off like she knew she should. She felt Yaz’s eyes on her, and desparately tried to focus on the view. “You alright, Doctor?” Yaz asked softly.

The Doctor sighed, and murmured without taking her eyes off the view, “not really.”

To her surprise, she felt Yaz’s hand touch her own. “If it helps, you can tell me,” said Yaz quietly. “I know I’m a human and stuff, but... I know what it feels like to run away from people close to you. If I can help, I want to.”

“Thanks,” the Doctor replied, still not looking at Yaz, but holding her hand. “You know,” she started, “I always used to feel like I was so much better than all the other Time Lords. They all decided to just slave away in their horrible little society, and I was the one that got away. I even told them all to their face once- I said they were decadent, degenerate and rotten to the core.” She smiled at the memory of her past self's bombast, and then sighed. “But now I know the only reason they exist is because of me. And I just wonder, is that what I am too? Just a secret agent who’s doing what she does because a corrupt society taught her to do the dirty work of meddling with time?”

For a moment, Yaz didn’t know what to say. But then a realization hit her. “Doctor?” she asked.

“Hm?”

“You don’t remember who you were back when you worked for the Time Lords, do you?”

“Nope, not a thing,” the Doctor admitted. “Why do you ask?”

“Because, honestly?” Yaz looked at her, and at last the Doctor could bring herself to look back at her companion. “The whole time I’ve known you, I’ve thought you’ve been the best, most important person I’ve ever known. It doesn’t matter to me who you used to be, just who you are now.”

“You really mean that?” replied the Doctor somewhat disbelievingly.

“Of course,” Yaz smiled.

“Thanks, Yaz,” the Doctor replied, resting her head on Yaz’s shoulder. As she continued to watch the view, a realization hit her. She didn’t remember a thing about being the Timeless Child, and ever since the first life she could remember, she’d been growing and changing and learning more about being a hero to people. It didn’t matter whether before that she’d been the founder of Time Lord society or a Shobogan farmer- what mattered was that she’d tried to make people’s lives better when almost all the other Time Lords hadn’t. “Hey, Yaz?” she said.

“Yeah?” Yaz replied.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Do you wanna travel with me again? Or do you want to go home?”

“I dunno if I’ll ever want to go home,” Yaz admitted. “Being with you, I’ve seen so many incredible things, met so many incredible people. I mean, normally I can barely even say I care about most people, but with you...” She was close to saying, “I love you,” but held herself back. “I don’t wanna leave you yet, is what I’m saying.”

“I don’t wanna leave you either,” the Doctor smiled. She cupped Yaz’s cheek, and in one smooth motion, the two leaned into each other and kissed softly, before hugging tightly. When they separated, both of them were blushing hard, but neither could let go of the other’s hand.

The two of them looked out at the rolling hills of the Eye of Orion, and leaned into each other hazily, comforting each other silently. The Doctor was the one to break the silence with the remark, “I’ve lived so many hundreds of years, and I can’t believe I never thought of using the Eye of Orion as a spot for a first date.”

[lightshelldarkyoak]

Part 2: Moon Crossed Lovers

"WHY WON'T YOU DIE?!", Hades screams from the top of his corroded lungs as he tries to claw Hou Yi in half.  Hou Yi responds in kind while loosing arrow after arrow into Hades's shapeless form, "ABOMINATION'S FIRST!", said Hou Yi. Ever since Hades revealed his true form to Hou Yi the only sound heard in the distance has been that of battle.  Souls of the damned screaming in agony as they are forced to aide their master in pinning down the lone marksman. The fleet-footed marksman himself manages to dodge their un-dead grasp with ease, unleashing volleys of flaming arrows into the night while hes at it. Most would assume this battle of titans's to be a stalemate. Unfortunately though for Hades, Hou Yi was starting to get the upper hand. The heavenly marksman trained with the bow ceaselessly, even before acquiring the Raven Bow. Not even one day went by without training being involved in his daily regimen. Meanwhile, Hades lead a very sedentary lifestyle by simply sitting on his throne, watching the River Styx flow by, and listening to the throes of anguish as Cerberus mutilated those who dared to unlawfully exit or enter the underworld. thus with this grand difference in both ability and tempered skill the battle seemed to be nearing its end. however unbeknownst to both gods, a third more graceful goddess was about to make her way into the fray.

  Still deep within the caverns, a simple argument was ensuing over direction and pride: Chang'e: are you sure we're going the right way Mon? The Moon Rabbit: yes madam , if you follow me through this path here we'll make it to the surface in no time. Chang'e: That what you said the first time Mon. Not only did we not make it back to the surface,  it took us an extra two hours to make it back to the camp!

The Moon Rabbit: NOW LISTEN HERE MISSY! I may be an old moon rabbit but I still have pride in my animal instincts! and theses rabbit ears of mine heard a sound this way!

Chang'e: ugh, very well Mon.

The Moon Rabbit: That is another issue!

Chang'e: Hmmm?

The Moon Rabbit: why do you call me Mon?

Chang'e: Well your name is The Moon Rabbit correct?

The Moon Rabbit: YES IT IS INDEED I, THE ALMIGHTY MOON RABBIT! Chang'e: .........

The Moon Rabbit: (The most trolling look you can Imagine) 

Chang'e: ....Well your name is too long

The Moon Rabbit: Its my name madame

Chang'e: I like Mon better, its cute! 

Moon Rabbit: b-but madame

Chang'e: yes Mon?

Moon R. : I-

Chang'e: Yeessssss Mon?

Moon: ......I don't have much of a choice do I?

Chang'e: *shakes her head and brandishes a smile so bright it lights up the cavern* nope!

Mon: *sighs* very well, from this point on I shall be....Mon.....

Chang'e: Splendid! now lead the way Mon!

Mon: Uuuuuuuuugggghhh ..........!

  "Madame, I believe we are nearing the origin of the sound I heard not long ago, as well as the surface!" Mon explained with glee. A sparkle had returned to Chang'e eyes that Mon could only remember seeing when he first met her on the moon's surface. Granted, this sparkle shines much brighter for two reasons. Not only does Chang'e have a chance to finally look at the planet where most of her memories lie, she may finally get to see her beloved after so much time has transpired. "Now madam I must warn you of the dangers that are out-", before Mon could get a word in, Chang'e dashed into the open now dawn with reckless abandon. Hope and joy welling in her heart she bellowed, "MY BELOVED, I AM HERE!"

Dashing out into the sea of tranquility, Chang'e stretched her arms to feel the solar winds flowing through her kimono and kicking moon rocks along the way just for fun. eventually, she came to a stop and properly started stretching. In the process of all this stretching she knocked off what was most likely a millennia's worth of space dust from her kimono. Mon not exactly too enthused with all the dust, begins to have a sneezing fit because of it. Chang'e notices Mon's discomfort and performs an elegant crescent spin move that knocks all the surrounding dust away in one fell swoop. as She leans down to brush some dust off the rabbit's muzzle she asks, "Mon are you alright?" Mon replies, "I'll be fine madam, but we have bigger dilemmas to tackle". Chang'e responds with a quizzical look and tone, "where?" Mon simply points and says, "look". Chang'e looks in the direction Mon pointed, at first she can't make it out because of how bright it is compared to the caverns. Eventually her eyes adjust and after a bit of squinting she sees them, but most importantly him. His red scarf, long flowing ponytail, his distinct headdress, his eyes burning with determination to go beyond his limits, and finally his bow of feather and steel shining like a lighthouse in the distance on this vast ocean of rock and sand. overcome with emotion, she wailed one name: "HOOOUUU YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"

Back to Chang'e and Mon, they were watching in the distance to see if the battle was over or if they heard Chang'e's voice. "Madame I think the battle is over" said Mon. " did he win, do you think he heard me?" Chang'e replies. "I believe so but its strange that the skeletal figure disappeared all of sudden" said Mon. "OH! I see him! Hiii my love!", Change yells joyously while waving. "hmmm, that's odd", Chang'e points out. "What's that?" Mon replies, "the last time Yiyi ran that feverishly was when a boulder was about to fall on me".  ".....................Madame I have a plethora of questions for that statement alone" said Mon. "Regardless, he does seem panicked. I wonder wh-" before Mon could finish his pondering, Hades's black visage arose from the ground enveloping everything in darkness. "Salutations Wench, I'll be borrowing your form " Hades said with a wicked smile. "MON HELP ME!", Chang'e yelled "MADAME WHERE ARE YOU, ITS TOO DARK!" Mon replied in panic. "YOU'RE IN THE WAY VERMIN!" Hades roared as he knocked Mon into a nearby dune. "GAH!" Mon reeling from the blow drifted into the sand dune and fell unconscious. "Mon!" Angered by Hades's treatment of one of her eternal companions Chang'e proceeds to threaten him appropriately. "SHOW YOUR PRESENCE SO I CAN END YOU MYSELF!" she yells with righteous fury. "very well, but be careful what you wish for. hihihiAHAHAHAHAH" Hades responds knowing full well his final plan is complete and unveils the darkness. As the darkness cleared and vision is returned to Chang'e's eyes a figure stands before her that is both bewildering  and yet very familiar. "So?" , said the figure flashing a cheeky smile. "how do I look?" the figure responded again with a near perfect replication of her voice. At this point Chang'e realized the horrors of what had transpired. What was standing in front of her was Hades, but in the form of herself.

"You monster", Chang'e spat as her graceful demeanor cracked for the smallest of seconds as she stared straight into herself knowing full well what Hades' s final scheme was. "Monster?" hades laughed " i'm just a damsel in distress and for all we know, you could be the monster here" Hades said with sinister elation. Chang'e had just about enough of Hades's illusion and prepared to dance his head clean off his body. Sadly before she could twirl, Hades's grabbed her arm and said "I would be careful where you spin princess, since lover boy is almost her". Understanding the gravity of the situation before her, she held back. Knowing full well the consequences of killing her clone right in front Hou Yi.

Hou Yi, now having caught up but gasping for air utters his beloved's name "C-gasp wheeze Chang'e where are you?". in perfect unison a response is heard, "here I am Hou YI".  Standing up properly from his hunched and haggard stance, Hou yi speaks, "strange, did your voice always res..o...nate". If it wasn't for the situation at hand, Hou Yi would have fainted. He was looking at not one but two Chang'e's, Both Identical in voice and pose. "C-Chang'e?" Hou Yi asked, "yes?" they both responded. Confounded by the turn of events, the marksman hunched over again for air but also to think. After a couple Moments of pondering , He realized there was only one thing to do. "lady and god of death, one of you is the my most cherished one." The Chang'e's looked on in silence while Hou yi continued, " I will find out who your identities are with questions and events that only me and Chang'e know, and once I figure who is who". he paused, "ONE OF YOU WILL DIE!" , the pressure from that statement alone sent shivers down both the Chang'e's spines.  So now begins the final gambit of the god of underworld, a game of memories with one wrong move or answer from either side leading to death.

Question after Question, with each being farther back and more specific than the other. A fool-proof plan except for the fact that each Chang'e had a perfect answer. Hades's was able replicate everything about Chang'e including past memories that only her and Hou Yi knew, all it took was a little help from the Oracles. Hou Yi was starting to run out of questions and patience. Meanwhile Hades was snickering on the inside as his perfect plan was coming to fruition. Simply put, running down the clock until Hou Yi would have to guess or finally buckle from the stress. If Hou Yi picked him and shot Chang'e he would wait until Hou YI inevitably came in for a hug and reap his soul. On the other hand if Hou Yi did shoot him but collapsed after, Hades would use that chance. By appearing from below Hou Yi, Hades would attempt to take him to the underworld with his ultimate ability before Chang'e killed him. It was a dastardly double edged sword that only Hades, the the god of the afterlife could forge. "Everything is going to plan" Hades's said in his mind.........Or so he thought. A couple feet away from this deadly game a certain fluffy companion was waking from his impromptu slumber.

Mon, The Moon Rabbit was stuck headfirst in moon sand for at least an hour before regaining consciousness.  When he did arise his response was.....unique to say the least.  *PTOOIE* "Goodness me the last time I had my head dunked in the sand for that long was when I lived with my nineteen brothers and sisters!", Mon said right before spitting more moon sand out. *Ptooie* "Now, where has the madam been whisked away to" taking the power of the impact into consideration, Mon guessed that he had not been sent flying too far. After scanning the area for what felt like an 10 minutes Mon saw a recognizable Figure in the distance making his guess correct. "there you are, but wait... there are two! hmmm" mulling his thoughts Mon had an idea. "lets try this for size", in a matter of seconds after speaking Mon's eyes  began to glow bright jade and that's when he saw it. "HA!" Mon scoffed, " you may be a master trickster but these jade eyes of mine see EVERYTHING, TALLYHOOO!". With pep in his hop and brimming with confidence, Mon scurried towards his master in order to break Hades double-edged sword into pieces!

Hou yi: .......Favorite toe....

Chang'e and Hades: ......Pinky......

Hou Yi: .......if you were Jing Wei, how would you say hello .....

Chang'e and Hades : ........Oh hey fam.........

Hou YI: ............THATS IT, I'M SORRY BUT  ITS TIME TO CHOOSE!

Chang'e's mind: NO MY LOVE

Hades's mind: FINALLLLYYYYYY!

Mon steps onto the scene in gallant bunny fashion!

Mon: HOLD IT!

Hou Yi: a talking rabbit?

Chang'e's mind: MON!

Hades's mind: VERMIN!

Mon: Never Fear, for I have a plan Sir Yi, but it requires secrecy.

Hou Yi: Tell me your secrets small creature

Mon, proceeded to whisper something in everybody's ears and at the end of it, everyone was ready.

Hou Yi: Could both Chang'es please move several paces from each other

Chang'e and Hades: Yes my love

As both Chang'es moved away from each other, Mon stuck with the original as they moved farther away from Hades's reach but stopped in perfect range for something else

Hou YI: Its time small creature

Mon: indeed sir Yi......... MY INSTINCTS ARE TOP NOTCH!

As Mon hollered this abnormal comment, Hades stayed perfectly still while Chang'e did a perfect twirl

Mon: *wink* there you have it

Hades: what?

Hou Yi: *smirks* indeed

Hades: pardon?

Chang'e: *giggles*

Hou Yi: NOW MY LOVE!

SUNBREAKER!

Chang'e:  RIGHT BEHIND YOU!

WAXING MOON!

Hades: AGH THE PAIN,  I CAN'T MOVE ! NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ! NO! STOP! IT BURNS!  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Chang'e and Hou Yi unleashed their ultimate abilities in glorious fashion and timing! Crescent blades flew from Chang'e's kimono, cleaving through Hades's being and stunning him in place! Meanwhile 8 molten suns come crashing down where Hades stands practically incinerating him on the spot! This volley of fire goes on until the dust clears leaving the god of the afterlife in such a state that his only salvation is death and a quick return to the realm he left. "D-*COUGH*-damn you" Hades whimpered as he tried to reserve what life and energy he had left. Hou Yi being the chivalrous individual he was spared Hades's from his arrows point so that he could speak one last time. "H-how *cough* d-did you know?" Hades asked sincerely.  "Elementary" Said Mon, "these Jade eyes of mine can see who has consumed the potion of immortality and unlike you Hades, these two  practically looked like they were glowing". "....I see.... guess in the end that "light" was never meant to be mine after all...." Hades replied sullenly. " Well, anyway last words O' god of the underworld" Hou Yi said in snarky manner followed by Chang'e giving him a light smack for being petty. "Just five" Hades responds in kind, "See you in the underworld, ahahahahAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHMUUHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAhhaha...hhaa.hh...aa..........."

The ominous glowing miasma that constantly flowed from Hades's form began to dissipate, eventually his entire being began to disappear until not even his presence remained. After Chang'e and Hou Yi finished watching Hades fade out of existence, a plan thousands of years in the making was finally coming to fruition. Chang'e and Hou Yi simply turned, held each other in their arms, and a simple conversation ensued.

Hou Yi: ......So, any ideas? we might be on this rock for awhile

Chang'e: a few.....but you'll never get to know them until I say so <3

Hou yi: Ha! i'm a pretty patient man as you can see!

Mon: Yep! say no more! if you need this bunny he'll be in the cave!

Mon hops away as fast as possible realizing he's a third wheel

Chang'e & Hou Yi: ......pfttHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Chang'e: sure, sure, anyway I believe there is a thousand-year monologue we could never quite address. *smiles* care to help me?

Hou Yi: *grins* of course......... Chang'e, where are you?

Chang'e: Here I am Hou Yi. I'll be right here beside you, Always and forever.

.......yes they kissed, Happy?!

-Fin-

[rosietheamazon]

Uber-venture 6/13/19

So, I’m ubering 4, older people, ranging from their 60s-80s. Very sweet. I picked them up from a country club in Wilmington, NC. The man who ordered it, Earl, sat in the passenger seat while the rest sat in the middle row. None of them wanted to ride in the third row since that required a bit of climbing. One woman, named Kitty, was sitting in the middle holding onto the other gentleman’s knee for dear life. “I’m going to play with your knee. I’m a knee grabber,” she says. “Earl!,” he doesn’t hear, “Earl! I’m playing with so-n-so’s knee!”

“Oh okay,” he says. Not in a bothered way, but in a ‘oh, ha, that’s what you said’ way.

They ask me the usual questions: “do you do this full time or part time?” Part-time. I travel from Raleigh (easier to say than my actual city since no one knows where it is). “What’s your day job?” I build fences with my partner; his business. “Oh wow! What did you do before that? Etc.

So rather than discuss stripping with octogenarians, I talked about waiting tables. They asked about hourly wage. And I explained how it’s 2.13/hr plus tips. And if your tips equal or exceed minimum wage then you don’t take home a check and you claim as much or as little tips as you like that are in cash. Credit cards are tracked so, you know, have to claim those. And one lady piped up and said, “Yeah, see that’s what I was talking about earlier. I try to tip cash as much as possible.

Then they asked about what the average tipping percentage was. And from my time as a waitress it averaged around 16-18% half the time. A quarter of the time it was twenty, then the other quarter was around 15% or lower. And they were audibly groaning like “oh that’s terrible. That’s unacceptable.” And I said, well, bear in mind, I wasn’t a very good waitress. Handling people’s food makes me very nervous. And they thought that was sweet.

Then after twenty minutes or so, (which, I swear to god, is a lie and a half because the Uber app can’t possibly have the right times. These trips take foreeeeeveeerrrr) we arrive at what might as well be a fucking castle on the beach. This community has a private bridge over a river to get in and out of it, security, all that mess. The design is massive, and the front of the house is molded to look like a lighthouse. I was absolutely awe struck and complimented them on how absolutely gorgeous their home was. Some of the other designs in the neighborhood were really hyper-modern beach mcmansions where all the lights were on on the first floor so you can see all the modern art and how not-lived-in-looking they are or enormous classically styled beach houses.

They thank me, tell me to have a good night, be careful, hope I don’t have to be out all night etc. Then the gent in the back seat tips me $5 and says thank you. Which, you know, is nice. But when you drop someone off at a multi-million dollar home in a multi-billion dollar community. It registers as a pat on the head. Whereas, no cash tip, and I figure meh, not everyone tips Uber drivers, that’s ok, and maybe they don’t have cash is whatever. But come on man, a 20 wouldn’t have killed you. Not to mention we discussed tipping wait staff and average driver earnings as well. Like, you didn’t learn anything. Just a story from one of the “poors” you know?

That being said, it was an adventure because I got to be so close to the ocean I could smell it in the air. I haven’t been to the beach in a long time and it was so quiet and peaceful. I got a few house design ideas based on what I could see, since it was dark. And since I was already in the neighborhood I drove really slow just to enjoy it a little more. Plus, no one threw up in my car. That’s always a win in my book.

[esseastri]

Megan Reads Oathbringer (part 11)

All right, now that it’s been 4 months and I’ve read all the other things, I realized that it’s, like, 5 days until this book has been out for a year and I should probably get the fuck on with it, so. Here we are.

Part 11 encompasses pages 828-934 (previous parts)

me in July: I’m almost done! I can finish this!

me, now: sweet christ I have a smaller novel’s-worth still to get through lord let me live

Aw, damn, I left off on Interludes, but I DON’T CARE ABOUT VENLI, WHERE MY BOYS AT

oh SNAP I WANT THAT, the ability to speak and understand all languages???? GRABBY HANDS

ah yes the “the alethi enslaved us so we should rise up and kill them by enslaving ourselves to this other, more horrible godlike being” narrative. my favorite.

sigh

why we gotta EXTERMINATE people?

I’m tired. of extermination plotlines.

Maybe. Venli and her lil light spren will stop? the extermination!? I’m here for that!

“There was an art to doing laundry” HONESTLY THO, HAVE YOU MET COLLEGE-AGE BOYS WHO NEVER LEARNED HOW MUCH SOAP TO USE? AMEN.

oh.

I forgot about Mraize. 

like, literally, 100% forgot about his existence. sorry alyx.

eyy, we found Shalash!

HE WAS LOOKING FOR HER?? IT WAS A TRAP??

admiralakbar.gif

...Mraize has a babsk? I didn’t think he was Thaylen????

“A resistance is not what we caught you mounting.” UGH. PICK THE HAMMER, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT.

Why do I feel like this is a “HE HAS CHOSEN THE BEAR. BRING FORTH THE BEAR” joke?

yeessssssss, VENLI!!! TAKIN RESPONSIBILITY!!!!!!!! I CARE NOW. I WANT HER TO BE BETTER, I WANT HER TO WORK THROUGH. GIIIRRLL!!!!

HOW LONG WILL YOU VACILLATE?

YESSSSS

gr oss? Tha nk s? for the melting flesh images??

yelch

PART FOOUUUUUURRR

that’s. so many POVs. What is this, a GRRM book?

also none of the POVs are Bridge Four and. WHEN WILL MY BOYS COME BACK FROM THE WAR.

wait, I could have sworn the Alethi had been fighting the Parshendi for ten years?? but Dalinar is talking to Gavilar EIGHT years ago?

Did I miss smthn?

Did I conflate the Shattered Plains with the Trojan War? I’m confused.

Lisa has done Math for me and found out that it was only 6 years????????? Why did I think it was ten??? I COULD HAVE SWORN IT WAS TEN????

“his job was to loom” heheheh

so... Dalinar is the nuclear deterrent and the nuclear threat all in one?

Dalinar, leaning into the mic: “The truth is... I am Iron Man.”

#Evideservedbetter2kForever

OH NO A BABY

TINY FIFTEEN YEAR OLD ADOLIN IS MAKING MY HEART SING

“I had this specially tailored” I LOVE HIM

OHHHHH

HE’S TRYING SO HARD TO IMPRESS HIS DAD I’M CRYING

“When censured, Adolin only tried harder.” I! LOVE! THIS! TINY! SUNLIGHT! BOY!

I wanna write fic where Adolin Kholin meets Luke Skywalker and the world literally EXPLODES IN SUNLIGHT AND SOFTNESS.

“Who could deny him?” CERTAINLY NOT ME, I WOULD DIE FOR ADOLIN KHOLIN TOO GOOD TOO SOFT FOR THIS WORLD

me, squinting: “which Herald is Ahu?”

my running method is to just suspect everyone of being a Herald. At some point, I’ll have to be right.

WHICH! HERALD! IS! AHU!

HE’S TALKING ABOUT THE UNMADE LIKE HE KNOWS THEM PERSONALLY, TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY LET THEM IN. WHICH!!! HERALD!!! IS!!! AHU!!!!

LISTEN, I JUST WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE HERALDS. GIMME A BOOK ABOUT THE HERALDS, BRANDON!

GIMME THAT JUICY GOOD BACKSTORY, BRANDON!!!

me: why is there a map with the sea but Kholinar is on it???

two seconds later: OOOHHH DUH IT’S SHADESMAR

wack y fun!

ARE DREHY AND SKAR OKAY???? THEY DIDN’T COME WITH???

ARE THEY OKAY?

OH NO OH NOO I’M GONNA WORRY AOBUT THEM FOREVER

Adolin, say hi to your swwooooorrdddd

....the Oathgate has souls?

what?

Fearspren: gross.

I knew they were all bigger on the inside, as it were, but. #yikes?

“Kaladin’s not well.” “I have to be well.”

BRB SOBBING ABOUT KALADIN

I’M!

HE’S SO STRONG

I’M! HELP!

GIANT CLAW? UNMADE!!?? LET’S KILL IT. IDK IF WE CAN BUT CAN WE TRY??

“sword lady” HEH

ok well, at least we know Drehey is alive, since Shallain bumped into his soul, which is both TERRIFYING and REALLY COOL

YOU’RE NOT NOTHING, ADOLIN, YOU ARE EVERYTHING AND I LOVE YOU.

*long keening noises*

I FELL ON THE FLOOR

“Hey,” Adolin said. “It will be all right.” “I survived Bridge Four,” Kaladin growled. “I’m strong enough to survive this.” “I’m pretty sure you could survive anything. Storms, bridgeboy, the Almighty used some of the same stuff he put into Shardblades when he made you.” Kaladin shrugged. But as they walked onto the next platform, his expression grew distant again. He stood while the rest of them moved on. Almost like he was waiting for their bridge to dissolve and dump him into the sea. “I couldn’t make them see,” Kaladin whispered. “I couldn’t...couldn’t protect them. I’m supposed to protect people, aren’t I?”

GUESS WHICH PART BROKE MEGAN

GUESS WHICH PART DUMPED MY HEART ON THE FLOOR

ANYWAY, I’M CRYING

THISISFINE.PNG

“I’m frightened. I talk when I’m frightened.” I LOVE HIM.

ADOLIN’S HELOIGN HIM HE’S MAKIN HIM TALK TO DISTSRAT HIM AND MAKE HIM JEEP WALKING AND I”M

I LOV A SUNSHINE BOY

SO MUCH

...is Vivenna okay?

oh shiiit, Adolin is? king????

sort of? almost??

oh man, he’s gonna be SO GOOD AT IT!!!! LOOK AT HIM TAKING CHARGE AND TAKING CARE OF EVERYONE. HE’S SUCH A GOOD LEADER, HE’S GOING TO BE SOOOOOO GOOOOOOODDD AT THIS!!!!

that chapter was a Lot

OH NO A SZETH CHAPTER

I’ve only been asking for this for tHE WHOLE BOOK

but now I’m gonna be MORE SAD

.......idk how I feel about the soul-after-image thing. it’s interesting, but I’m still a lil weirded out by Szeth...you know...being alive?

huh. Vasher knows about the magic fish? So....does this validate Lisa’s theory about the fish and the birds from that other cosmere thing I can’t remember bc I haven’t read it?

holy shit, that’s a LOT of skybreakers.....

...who have been around the WHOLE TIME???? WTF

So...Szeth can hear the Spiritual Realm.....and is going to bond a spren, of the Cognitive Realm...and is in the Physical Realm... so does that make him the Avatar, Master of All Three Realms?

(while he may have a lot to learn, I believe that Szeth can save the world)

hm. they’re so...regimented. militaristic. ritualized. They’ve got tests and rules for getting in and it’s all very well-put-together. and it’s WEIRD compared to everyone else stumbling into their Ideals. Is this what is was like before the Recreance? or is this just the Skybreakers being Skybreakers?

why are there kaladin flashbacks in the dalinar book, why, brandon, why must you hurt me in this way

Brandon: *mentions Tien* Me, softly: “no”

HE REALIZED HE COULD KILL AND THAT’S WHAT TERRIFIED HIM

THISISFINE.PNG

I’M EMOTIONAL AND KALADIN IS SAD AND I’M UPSET

Also, Syl just. grabbing his arm and snuggling him is VERY GOOD, SHE IS VERY GOOD, AND SHE SHOULD BE WORSHIPED FOR BEING SO VERY WONDERFUL

“It cannot be holy. If it truly were, it would have burned me away long ago.” I’M SAD NOW, THANKS.

I have weird emotions about people losing their faiths, and Szeth’s character arc has been particularly. compelling to me.

“Here’s what you have to do: fight him and win!” has the same energy as that obnoxious Assassin’s Creed “tip” that’s like “the trick to staying alive to is get your enemy’s health bar to zero while keeping your above zero” and I’M SO PLEASED.

ooohh shit

he drew Nightblood

which I feel is NOT RECOMMENDED

# Y I K E S

Skybreakers take the “lawful” part of DnD alignments to a very unhealthy extreme

tbh they’re a lil fucked up, ngl

Skybreakers make me uncomfortable, is what I’m saying.

“he had never mastered the ‘sleep anywhere’ skill the grunts bragged about” NEERRRRDD

WHEN WILL ADOLIN REALIZE HE’S A REALLY GOOD LEADER??? SOMEONE TELL HIM, I WOULD BUT I’M TOO FAR AWAY.

oh that makes sense

I was confused for a hot second about how Vivenna knew Adolin’s kata, but she probably learned it from Vasher who...also...taught Adolin. Duh.

“I’m just a woman who has been constantly out of her league since adolescence.” Viveennnnaaaaaa, darling. You’ll be all right.

also that makes total sense--the Horneater Peaks? If they’ve got a portal, it makes sense they’re so much more in tune to the spren. Easier border crossings.

PEOPLE live in this realm? What the??

I don’t know Nazh, but the fact that he has an embarrassing tattoo due to Horneater lager bad decisions DELIGHTS ME

hm. idk why I’d sort of assumed that Dalinar went to visit the Nightwatcher before Gavilar died, but. maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it was a consequence of Gavliar’s death. 

“the other one” GET FUCKED WITH A CACTUS, PAST!DALINAR 

OOHH

SOFT BOY

Renarin is such a Good

also, Dalinar HUGGING is SO GOOD KEEP DOING THAT THAT WILL HELP

“Humans, you must stop your emotions. They are very inconvenient here.” I think, Pattern dear, that Shallan rather thinks emotions are inconvenient everywhere.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm

HERE WE ARE AGAIN

ANGER IS ALWAYS THE FIRST STAGE OF DEPRESSION

HELLO, KALADINMEGAN BRAIN, IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU WERE SO NEATLY SPELLED OUT BUT HERE WE ARE AGAIN

“You’re not angry at anyone, you’re just looking for something to latch onto. Something to feel.” To stave off the darkness of unfeeling and anger is easy. It’s irrational and warm and so easy. So it’s always the first one to go.

“It would continue until numbness seemed preferable.” GOD YUP. THERE IT IS.

It’s still really validating and really, really unsettling to see your brain problems spelled out so succinctly.

oh lord

“Men he loved, killing each other.”

I’M UPSET

(and the very tiny garbage part of my brain goes, ‘see he LOVES Moash’)

ADOLIN TAKING THE REARGUARD BECASUE SOMETIMES KALADIN NEEDS LOOKING AFTER I’M EMOTIONAL

Syl had a different Kaladin before Kaladin?? Wild.

and GOD but the symbology of the LIGHTHOUSE in Kaladin’s chapter. I’m. <3

EEEYYYY NAVANI!!!

she made them carry their own chairs, GOD THE MEANING BEHIND THAT, I LOVE HER

“Elhokar and Adolin are safe somewhere.” ABOUT THAT....

LOPEN, PLS

Bridge Four’s unwavering belief in Kaladin is SURE A THING. I love them SO MUCH.

also, god, MY BOYS, here they are, eating all the food and being ridiculous losers at a formal event I HAVE MISSED THEM SO

god, fuc you Ialai. ofc she didn’t carry her own chair, fukin JERK

good to know the assholery of the Sadeas name is being upheld, even after his death

god, every time Taravangian is mentioned, my gut just clenches, he makes me SO NERVOUS

GOD YES OH MY GOD, LIFT VS ROCK EATING CONTEST PLS GIMME MORE

I have forgotten that I love Sebarial. Petition for him to show up more often.

OH GOOD HE’S HAVING A BAD DAY. EXCELLENT. HE’S MUCH BETTER WHEN HE’S STUPID

...unless he’s super smart today and just pretending to be stupid.

fuck

IT’S SO HARD TO TELL WITH HIM ARGH

ANYONE ELSE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DISCUSSION OF INVADING SHINOVAR WHEN SHINOVAR IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT DOESN’T HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AT THIS COUNCIL???? JUST ME? OKAY.

also they keep talking about Shinovar as a redoubt and a haven, but....didn’t the Everstorm--going the wrong way--destroy Shinovar? Has anyone checked??

Navani is so clever and it’s brilliant.

“Taravangian was talking about having you tour Vedenar personally”....alone....so he can MURDER YOU. BAD IDEA. ABORT MISSION.

KALADIN HAD AN OLD LADY SLAVE FRIEND WHO DIED AND I’M SAD AGAIN DAMNIT

“He’s got battle fatigue. We have to watch him when he’s sitting around doing nothing, not when he’s got a specific mission.” MMMMMMHHHMMMMMMM

the future is forbidden, but not to Truthwatchers, sooooooo... is. this “Oracle”. a.......... Herald? PERCHANCE.

(He’s not, but I AM SUSPICION INCARNATE)

Weren’t they lying at the beginning and saying that Shallan was an Elsecaller? Because Odium thinks she’s an Elsecaller for some reason. And I wonder...who he’s spying through and where his attention is focused and who told him the lie?

KALADIN JUST WANTS TO SAVE HIS DAD IS THIS TOO MUCH TO ASK

aight, which world does canned food come from? How far ahead is the mistborn world whose name I can’t remember right now but it begins with an s SCADRIAL YEAH THAT ONE how far ahead is Scadrial in technological progression? Where does the Stormlight Archive fall on the mistborn timeline?

ADOOOLLIINNN. TALK! TO YOUR SPREN!!!

THEY DON’T KNOW??? THE BOYS DON’T KNOW? HOW THEIR MOTHER DIED?

HOW DO THEY NOT KNOW?

oh my god

that

god, that’s a huge lie to believe for so, so long. ohhh my goddd

someone has been writing down all the Unmades’ names, right? So I can look them up in the Coppermind later and be confused and try to work out which is which and what they do and how terrified I should be of them? cool thanks.

HELLO DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND

HE’S GONNA TELL US SECRETS!!!!! ARE THEY USEFUL!? WILL I LEARN THINGS ABOUT THE HERALDS!!!!??

I have one (1) priority in this establishment

...why does Syl have color

who is she

also LIGHTSPREN/REACHERS??? COOL AS FUCK OMG

“You don’t fly, you fall the wrong way.” Hehehehehehe <3

I HAVE MISSED KALADIN’S SELF-DEPRECATING JOKES THAT ARE FUNNY BUT ALSO VERY PAINFUL god, I love him. I love him so much. idk if y’all know this about me.

...ok, but the punny banter between Kaladin and Shallan is SO NICE Why do they have to be mean to each other so often why can’t they just be terrible sarcastic pun buddies?

“In that polished breastplate and striking figure, with her talk of chasing bounties and traveling worlds. She’s deeply mysterious.” CAREFUL, SHALLAN, YOUR BI IS SHOWING.

“The feeling was friendship, but neither of them had ever experienced it.” 

NOPE

NOOOOOOPPEE

WHO WANTS TO BET THIS SCENE IS SHIP FODDER DEAR LORD

Kaladin, darling, that shit is SO UNHEALTHY, DO NOT ENCOURAGE THIS

god

also like. darling. no. “I wish I didn’t have to care” DARLING ALL YOU DO IS CARE WHO WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT CARING

THIS IS GOOD FOR NEITHER OF YOU STOP

DO NOT ENCOURAGE THAT IN HER AND DO NOT WISH THAT FOR YOURSELF, jesus

lord, ok, well, I’ve read 100 pages, so on that disappointing character note, I’m going to go to bed.

[arrow-guy]

The Lighthouse (2/??)

Summary: The town is sleepy, the people are nice enough, but life gets turned upsidedown when the God of Thunder literally falls out of the sky.

A/N: I meant to only post holiday fics this week, but I finished this and it’s Thorsday so there was no way I couldn’t post it. I hope you like this part as much as you did the last! (Also! Quick little thing! The god who is speaking to the reader is not Loki, as I’ve seen a couple people tag this as such. It’s a surprise as to who it is, but it definitely is not Loki.)

Pairing: ThorxReader

Word Count: 1861

Warnings: None

Part 1

“Holy shit,” I stand up, shaking my head. “This isn’t happening. Thor is absolutely not in the middle of this massive crater in the forest twenty minutes outside of town.”

I’m afraid he is.

“Ooh, you don’t get to talk, creepy and misleading disembodied voice. You’re the one who got me into this mess.” I cross my arms and stare down at the unconscious god in front of me. “How did he get here anyway?”

It’s not my story to tell. You’ll have to take him back with you and make sure that he is alright.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You expect me to play the nursemaid and rescuer?” I laugh hysterically. “This isn’t what I signed up for, buddy pal. I never asked for any of this.”

Believe me, you’re not my first choice. Everyone else I tried to contact couldn’t hear me. You are the only human within a fifty mile radius of your town who is worthy to hear the voice of a god.

“Voice of a god, huh?” I rake a shaking hand through my hair and stare down at the blond man on the ground. “And which god am I speaking to?”

Unimportant. Get him into your vehicle and get him somewhere safe. Don’t forget the hammer.

“What?! He’s supposed to be six hundred something pounds! I don’t have the bodily strength to lift more than eighty, not to even mention that I’m probably not even close to worthy enough to lift Thor’s hammer!”

You yourself may not be worthy, but your companion animal certainly is. Send her to find it, and don’t worry about his weight. It won’t be an issue.

I sigh and look around the clearing, trying to find something that I might be able to roll Thor onto to drag him out of the crater. Daisy barks once, and shoots off around the crater, momentarily slowing now and then to sniff the ground before running off again. She disappears into the trees and, at first, I feel a pang of worry before realize that the disembodied voice said that she would be able to carry Thor’s hammer and that she’s probably gone off in search of it.

“This would be easier if campers would litter more often,” I huff out a breath, and fold my arms across my chest.

What were you hoping to find? Human rubbish?

“I was hoping for a trashed tent or even an abandoned tarp,” I answer, circling the unconscious god in the middle of this mess. “Something that would at least help me drag him out of here without breaking my back or giving him about a million splinters.”

Have you tried picking him up?

“I told you I have zero upper body strength. There’s no way I’ll be able to lift more than his arm.”

I thought I told you that his weight wouldn’t be an issue. Now the voice just sounds annoyed and I roll my eyes. You would do well to listen to me, human. I’ve told you twice already, and I’d rather not repeat myself a third time.

“Fine, I get it. Three strikes and you’re out and all of that.” I stare down at Thor, wondering about the best way to pick him up, thinking back to the videos I used to watch when I was seriously considering joining the military. “Fireman’s carry.”

What.

“I’ve watched videos of women who were five three carrying men nearly three times their weight long distances using the fireman’s carry. If what you’re saying is true and I don’t have to worry about my lack of strength, then I should be able to carry him back to the car the same way.”

As long as you can safely get him out of the crater, I don’t care what you do.

A loud thump followed by a round of excited barking pulls my attention away from Thor. Glancing around the clearing, I can see Daisy in the distance, standing next to what I can only assume is Thor’s hammer, shaking her tail excitedly.

I rub my hands together and crouch down and haul Thor up, my hands under his arms, sling one of his arms over my shoulder and push him up with the other, hooking my arm around one of his legs. I struggle to stand up momentarily before he seems to lighten immensely and I almost fall over due to lack of weight.

“Well that was unexpected,” I mutter. “Couldn’t have made him lighter before I picked him up?”

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

I roll my eyes. “Of course you don’t.”

I begin the trek back up the crater wall, occasionally having to kick the toes of my boots into the soft soil to get a firm foothold. It takes longer to get out than it did to get in, but I thankfully manage to avoid any falls this time.

As soon as I make it over the lip of the crater, Daisy is right there with the hammer in her mouth, her tail wagging faster than I’ve ever seen before.

“Did you do a good job, pup?” She moves her head around like she wants to bark, but doesn’t want to put the hammer down. “Good. Can you show me how to get back to the truck?”

She takes off into the underbrush without warning and I have to carefully pick my way through the bushes to follow after her. I try my hardest to avoid any tree branches and blackberry vines that we come across, but as soon as we set foot back on the trail I can see multiple small scratches, scrapes and cuts along his arms and hands.

It isn’t long after we find the trail again that Daisy and I are at the trailhead and standing in front of the truck. Shifting Thor around so that I can hold onto his arm and leg with the same arm, I dig around in my bag for the keys and unlock the passenger door. I try to very carefully place him in the passenger seat, only managing to bang his head once he’s actually in the truck when his head lolls back and smacks against the back window.

I heard that.

“Shut up,” I mutter. “Alright, Daisy lady, you have to ride in the back on the way home, okay?”

She just wags her tail and heads around to the bed of the truck without waiting for me. I quickly follow her and pull down the back gate. Crouching down, I pick Daisy up and lift her into the bed of the truck before closing it up again. I giggle as I circle back around the truck to the driver's side.

What are you laughing about?

“I just lifted Thor’s hammer,” I answer, closing the door and starting the engine.

No, you didn’t.

“Oh yes I did, I just put it in the bed of my truck with my dog.” I pull a U turn and head back to town.  “Technically I lifted the hammer, and that totally counts.”

I’m not sure that counts, but whatever makes you happy.

“Thank you,” I drive on in silence, occasionally checking on Daisy in the rearview mirror to make sure she’s doing alright. “I’ll still be able to carry Thor once I get back, right?”

I would think so, yes.

“Well, that’s good because there’s no way he’ll fit on my couch so I’ll have to get him up to the third floor.”

Three floors sounds a bit excessive.

I laugh. “You’d think, but I live in a lighthouse. There isn’t really anywhere to go but up.”

When we turn onto Main Street, most of the debris from the storm has been cleared away and everyone seems to be back to their normal daily schedule. I wave to Diane Crawford as she crosses the street to Grover’s Grocery about six blocks away from the lighthouse.

Then I hope the enchantment holds long enough for you to get him upstairs.

I laugh. “So do I. I’d rather not be the one who has to drag him up the stairs on top of the reason he’s got a headache.”

I can almost hear the disembodied voice laugh before they respond. I imagine that he would appreciate that.

“I’m glad that you think so, disembodied voice.” I pull into the driveway and kill the engine. I quickly get out of the car and let down the back gate so that Daisy can get down. When she hops down, I unlock the door to the house and push it open. Daisy brushes past me so that she can greet Charles. I shake my head and head back to the truck to retrieve the unconscious god in my passenger seat. “It’d be really cool if you’d tell me what your voice is so I don’t have to keep calling you “disembodied voice”. Just a thought.”

Perhaps in the coming days, if you treat him well.

I frown as I heft Thor up onto my shoulders. I kick the car door closed and carefully make my way into the house. Charles winds through my legs as soon as I’m through the door and I have to shoo him away before I can head for the stairs.

“I don’t really understand why you’re being so secretive,” I barely manage to miss hitting the inner pole of the spiral staircase with Thor’s head as I try to get up to the third floor as quickly as possible. “You obviously know a lot about me, and I have little to no knowledge about Thor and I know even less about you. If I’m going to be helping him, I need more information.”

It’s not mine to give.

“Great, well when you’ve got permission to spill the beans, I’m all ears.”

I hit the third floor landing and slowly pull open the door, trying my best to avoid dropping the god of thunder. As soon as we’re through the doorway, I’m hit with an almost crippling wave of nostalgia. I haven’t been in my father’s room since he passed. Everything is exactly the way he left it and it still hurts to know that he’s not just testing me to see if I really can take care of the lighthouse on my own.

I bite my cheek to distract myself from the memories and pull back the duvet so I can offer Thor some kind of comfort for when he wakes up. When he’s all covered up, I pull a set of clean clothes from my father’s drawers and set them on the wooden chair a short ways away from the bed. The jeans may not fit, but the fisherman’s sweater definitely will. I leave a note on the clothes, and when I’m sure that I’ve done everything I can, for the time being, I head back downstairs to find something to do.

Are you alright?

I shake my head and comb my hands through my hair. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Are you sure?

I snort. “Look, if you’re going to withhold information, I can do the same.”

Fair enough.

------

Part 3

Okay, Thor was quite unconscious in this part, but I can promise that the next part will be much more lively. Thank you guys so much for reading! If you liked the piece please reply to the post or shoot me an ask! Feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!

Tag listers:

(if you’d like to be tagged in future parts, comment on this post or just shoot me a message!)

@lost-yet-never-found, @tempestinatea-cup,@helmerfan43,@pokemaniac1,@baguettegirl,@ididnotseethatcoming,@chronolockcd,@creaturefeatures101,@wintcrcaptain,@arianaamaris,@nerdycinderella,@imagine-assembling-the-avengers,@wordstothewisereaders,@ptprocrastination,@1950schick,@neverenough24,@amayasymone23,@liladeldiamandis,@thebeutifulsunriseofmoi,@numbersdonotwinbattles,@super-potter-4ever,@kaykay0522,@arfrona-and-marvel,@ek823,@deansbaby67supernatural,@ilovebeingjoyful,@always-a-marvel-addict,@furrywerewolfcollector,@evansscruff,@theamazingworldofmarvelfics,@maurici65,@swing-dance-into-my-heart, @kissofvenom922, @not-that-type-of-person,@marvel-at-stucky,@arianaamaris, @dawn-phantomhive, @superwhovian80, @always-a-marvel-addict,@fangirlwithasweettooth,@lunalovegood2,@awesomeahwu,@thedoctorlivesthroughbooks,@kitkatgaming,@wordstothewisereaders, @mairhof1,@fantasiesfortomorrow,@leahhavoc,@awesomea102938,@samwinchesterswifey,@kaywolves,@anthonysfark,@childrenofhumanity,@bucky-barnes–winter-soldier, @gucci-zjm,@howdoesoneadult,@nyotapon,@redroomproperty,@sscarletwitchess, @saved-by-words-and-music, @thefandomplace, @themeechofitall, @yourbuddyyourpalyourbucky, @claws-of-vibranium, @here-to-wreak-havok, @gcneral-organa, @always-an-evans-addict, @sian22redux, @skeletoresinthebasement, @marvelbase001, @lady-thor-foster, @vanene20 , @chelzwwefan , @occamybarnes , @fandomlady-scar , @stormyfandoms

[tifonbellanariablog]

Weird crackfic I can’t name

  Valentines Day is fucking Valentines day I want to write for you dears feeling lonely.   This ...wow....It has been over ten years since I wrote something this erotic!  Also Roshini is a lawful good but tends to bend the rules when something needs to get done through underhanded means. 

^^; I feel so anxious whenever I post stuff.

‘So...little Par is too busy to show you a comfortable and safe hotel, isn’t she?’ 

You sigh as you watch the clock in a cheap Chinese eletric clock, likes the ones from Casio. It’s 2 in the morning and your friend hasn’t returned from her “night shift”.  

‘Talk about a stupid hour to be lost in downtown Bangkok.’ You comment almost to yourself. 

‘Look...I don’t have a family. There is no need for you to be embarrassed. I can borrow you my bed, Miss.’ 

A thousand thoughts run through your head.  One - the cook and owner of the restaurant is tempting with a tank top and boxers, in that lax way most East Asians dressed in the scorching summer nights. In fact he looked like he walked out of a weird porn movie with the theme of Asian food. He’s lean and muscular, the evening sand complexion resembling a statue in the candlelight. Oval and long features with a sharp chin make him look younger than he probably is. You cannot discern well in the dimness. 

Fanning yourself - either from the alcohol fuzziness  or from the humidity, you don’t know - you sigh.   

‘Do you have a mosquito net?’ 

Washing thoroughly his hands with a herbal-scented soap that seemed to have laying in one of the shelves since the dawning of time, the man smiled warmly.  

‘I tend to know how to make a traditional repellent for bedbugs and mosquitoes. Pine tree incense mixed with peppermint. The little pests hate it. Besides, it’s not like we will be sleeping out in the open. When one of the waitresses happens to forget the bus schedule, there’s always a spare cushion and a summer tunic.’  

‘Oh, dear...I don’t think I’ll be able to get used to this...’ 

‘Worry not, young lady.’ He teased in a surprisingly eloquent voice in English, the slight accent making the bass voice seductive and, yet, so chivalrous. 

A few minutes later, you are in an underground basement area. To the button left, there is a large cushion-like bed. It seems to be made of cushions. It’s colourful. A golden dragon shimmers in the candlelight, embroidered in the thin mosquito net. Eastern one, with three claws. You remember of your cultural mythology lessons - five or four would mean the art is Chinese. This one is Japanese. 

 To your relief, it doesn’t stink of fish or spices. In fact, his musky odor seems to permeate the place.  

He winks, as though asking for your permission. 

You smile bashfully, nodding. It’s not like all the middle-school girls wanted that...but they fantasized about it. Being with a stranger in a dark place...It was dangerous. It was thrilling!   

Placing one hand carefully on your face, he kisses you tentatively. He tastes of black pepper.  Panting, you tear yourself away. 

Wrapping your hands around his waist, you sink yourself to this tall man’s soft caresses. He seems to know how much you like to be touched and where.  

Achingly, you take off your long-sleeved, nearly transparent top. A breathable D-sized cup bra appears to his eager eyes. They seem to glow in the dimness. You pant a soft “sorry, I’m fat”.  

‘No...you’re perfect.’   He says before reaching out, hugging and stroking. It’s a slow, tempting touch. A deep, hungry whisper. That voice is reverent, as though he is in awe. ‘My little Goddess!” You feel two sharp teeth nibbling your shoulders. 

‘God...’ 

‘Not a God...’ He replied in a hissing, groaning voice.    

He rips out his boxers, a long and soft member springing. 

‘We’ll take it slowly, my goddess. Unless you want it otherwise...’  

****

Iran, Persepolis

Roshini woke up, the sound of a woman’s moan and a man’s coaxing and seductive voice filling her dreams. It was a little unnerving. Yet, she had done kinkier stuff with the descendant of the Immortal Emperor. 

Leaning her head against the pale sand chest of Hibiki, she combed back the stray dark strands of hair. 

‘Hibiki? Hibiki...’

‘Yes,. my little lotus nectar?’ The tenor voice drawled. 

‘I just...I remembered the days where there wasn’t a single care in this world or space-time. No warlords, no mighty necromancers attempting to overthrow the course of history...just...us.’ 

Hibiki laughed nostalgically. Embracing her.  

‘You know, I wouldn’t mind roleplaying a megalomaniac evil mastermind. After all, I had so much practice trying to blow up the Shajak dynasty. It’s practically in the genes.’ 

‘Should I bring the iron cuffs? I’ll be the powerful and kind goddess and you the crazed Human tyrant...’

‘Oh yes, dear! Punish me!’  Hibiki laughed as he patted his rear. 

‘Really...It wasn’t your fault - that dynasty was ruled by a corrupt king----’ 

‘A corrupt king who sentenced my poor aunt to death. It doesn’t take a small land to make a man a monster.’ 

Roshini brushed the toes of her left foot against the iron chains, once used by Persian kings to tame dragons. Or at least, to tame the magical creatures that weren’t as powerful to reduce towns to dust. Hibiki had often turned the table on any Human man - or woman - who desired to control him, whether for his skills as an assassin, or in his beast form.  He was a man...A man she loved. 

‘I’m glad we managed to receive these from the Ayatollah in time. Kato Yasunori would offer a billion of dollars for these. Then, he’d likely try to contact other types of dragons...’  

‘Don’t forget about the arms smugglers who would wish to get their hands on that. You know, little Kinnaree...You’re my own personal light. Fighting demons or thwarting evil megalomaniacs, you’re my lighthouse in the end of the tunnel...’

Roshini placed the chains next to him, a tender smile on her triangular face. 

She felt slightly ashamed of her own voice. Yet, it was that voice that mellowed the hearts of men. It was her female voice that have had been the  catalyst to getting to know the elite of Syria, Iraq and Iran. 

[bdfanfic]

Dodger: Continuation (11)

“So where do you live?” Dodger asked Donny once they got back in the city.

“Oh, come on. I’ll show you!” Donny said and they went clockwise northward from the gate till they came to an otherwise unremarkable building.

“We live on the third floor. There’s stairs just inside.”

Dodger looked around, sure that she recognized the area. “Wow! This is just a block from where I’m staying. You know Luther Broad’s place?”

Donny nodded, “Sure! It’s right down there around the corner. How long are you in town for?”

Oh, probably about a week I guess. Kinda hard to know for sure.“

Kitty’s stomach growled and she looked up apologetically. "Sorry,” she said.

“Hey, why don’t we go to Luther’s?” Dodger suggested, an inspiration striking her. “I won’t have to pay there, or at least not much. We’ve got a tab. And then we can buy Kitty some food for the rest of the week.”

“Dodger, you don’t have to do that. I’ve already eaten more than I usually do in days.”

“Tell that to your stomach. Besides, I saw you when you were wet. You could use some more meat on those bones,” Dodger replied.

“Not really, that’s pretty much how all Khajiits look when they’re wet,” Kitty explained. “We’re not as big as we look usually. At least, not my kind of Khajiit.”

“Well I’m going to anyway. Let’s go,” Dodger declared, deciding for the others, but they followed along gratefully.

Dodger stopped by the room, but it was still locked and no one answered the door so she figured Yellow-Eyes must still be out. Instead they went back to the common room where Luther got them a table in the back away from all the other patrons.

“Sorry guys, no menu here. You get what Luther brings you.”

“You know what they say, beggars can’t be choosers.” Kitty said with a little smile while they waited for Luther to come back with their food.

“This place is nice,” Donny said while looking around. “Not all prissy like the King and Queen and not as crappy as the Bloated Float. So, where do you live Kitty?”

“Pretty much anywhere I can stay without someone noticing me. Right now me and another couple of guys are staying at an empty house out by the lighthouse. But I just go there to sleep really. Mostly I hang around the city.”

While the stew Luther came back with was certainly no high cuisine, it was filling and he didn’t ask for any money even for the other two. After they’d finished, Donny came back from the restroom with an odd look on his face.

“What is it Donny? Are you alright?”

“Fine!” he snickered. “Let’s get out of here though.”

Kitty looked at Dodger who looked back at her with a shrug, and they left the inn.

“Ever been on top of the wall? I know a way up there. It’s a great view!”

“Donny,” Dodger said with a frown, “we just got out of prison. I don’t think they’d want us up there.”

“No, really, I know a place the guards don’t go. Come on!” Donny insisted, and led them back the way they’d come. But as they entered the next district, Kitty protested.

“Can we go around this area. There’s some people here I don’t like.”

Donny thought for a minute. “Sure. We’ll go towards the tower, then come back out on the other side.”

Kitty explained without prompting. “Just some girls I got into a fight with a while ago. But they’re pretty mean.”

Donny nodded. “I think I know who they are. Real bitches, but one of their dads is some high up guy in the Council, so they get away with anything. You’re right to stay clear of them.”

“Did they do that to you?” Dodger asked, indicating her ear.

Kitty nodded. “They called it ‘notching’. Said all animals need to be tagged. It hurt. A lot.”

“You’re lucky it didn’t get infected, Kitty!” Dodger said, examining the scar under her eye closer. “Donny, isn’t there anybody that could do something about them?”

Donny shook his head. “Not them. Sometimes it’s better to just avoid trouble. Sorry you had to run into them though Kitty.”

“Me too,” Kitty agreed.

Eventually they came to a section of the wall where a tall tree grew next to it. Though it was dangerous, Donny showed them how to crawl out on a big branch, then drop down onto the walkway of the wall when the guards were gone.

“Now, check THIS out!” Donny said, and hopped atop one of the openings in the crenelated wall and stepped out onto a little platform on the other side.

“Whoa,” Kitty and Dodger said together.

The platform apparently had been built for a statue that was long gone, but it made for a beautiful view of the landscape outside the city. The sun was just low enough now that the clouds were lit from below while the rolling hills and woods nearby gave way to mountains in the distance that were red with the color of the setting sun. The first stars were just beginning to show and they all sat with their backs to the wall, taking in the spectacle before them.

Dodger felt something cold and hard against her elbow. When she looked, Donny was grinning from ear to ear, a square-ish glass bottle in his hand that he was tapping her with to get her attention.

“Donny! What’s that?”

“Some hooch! Nabbed it from behind the bar at Luther’s!”

“Hooch?”

“Hell, I don’t know what it is. I just grabbed it. Want some?”

“Gimme that,” Kitty laughed and snatched the bottle from Donny’s hand. She opened the top, sniffed it a second, then took a long pull.

Her eyes bulged for a second as she handed it to Dodger.

“Wow,” she said between coughs. “That’s strong stuff!”

“Oh, you’re just a lightweight,” Dodger bragged, “We Argonians can take twice what Humans and Khajiits can take!”

When finally she stopped sputtering after her drink and handed the bottle to Donny, she concluded, “…or so they say.”

Donny took a drink every bit as much as the other two, and handed it back with no obvious reaction.

“What can I say? I have a lot of practice. It’s Whiskey. By the taste, it must be some good shit too.”

“Whiskey,” Dodger said, forming her tongue around the unfamiliar word. “What’s that made out of?”

“Wheat, rye, barley… who knows? I just know what it tastes like. And this is some primo stuff.”

Kitty crawled out on her belly to look over the ledge. “Damn it’s a long way down. You know, if we get drunk up here, someone’s going to fall and kill themselves probably.”

Dodger took up position beside her. “Wow. It is a long way. How about we just barf over the edge when we get too drunk instead?”

Donny was last and literally crawled on top of the other two, forcing them to slide to the sides a little to make room. He conjured up a rather impressive ball of spit and let it drop. A breeze grabbed it as they watched it fall, hitting a bush below.

“Oh no. See that man and woman walking this way?” Dodger pointed out.

“Those two?” Kitty asked, pointing at a couple that were walking on the path below, towards underneath them.

“Lovers for sure,” Donny speculated.

“Think I can hit them?” Dodger asked with a mischievous grin stealing over her face.

“Never!” said Kitty.

“No way,” said Donny.

The two were strolling slowly along below while Dodger estimated the distance, trajectory and wind speed before producing her own spitball, taking one last look, and letting fly in a strong outward trajectory. Then all three watched the speeding wad of lizard spit shrink with distance. It hit the lady square on her head and the three instantly retreated out of sight to the safety of the wall, snorting mirth in their every aspect.

“oh my god!” Kitty squeaked out in a whisper.

“what are they doing?” Dodger giggled to Donny.

“I’m not going to look!” he whispered back.

The sun set as the three continued to drink like drunken gargoyles against the darkening sky as the stars came out.

“I need to piss,” Donny confessed.

The other two looked at the edge of the platform.

“No, I’m not going to piss over the edge!” Donny laughed. “Let’s get down.”

Though it was a challenge, all three made it back to the walkway atop the wall without falling.

“So… how do we get back up to that branch?” Dodger said, looking up the way they’d come.

“We don’t. We’re escorted down by the Imperial City’s finest.”

As if on cue, a voice shouted “HALT!”

Donny stepped towards the voice.

“Oh, it’s just you. Come on, time to get down,” said a female guard’s voice as she came into view.

“I brought some friends to enjoy the view,” he said without slurring his words at all. Dodger was impressed.

“Well bring them along too. And stop doing this. You could get in real trouble. I saw your dad looking for you earlier Donny. You’d better get home.”

“Was he drunk?” Donny asked

“I don’t think so.”

The three climbed down through the guard station, which was thankfully empty, with Donny’s guard-friend ushering them along.

“I guess I’d better get going,” Donny said with a sigh.

Dodger looked at the night sky above. “Yeah. Me too.”

“I’ll go with you, if you don’t mind,” Kitty offered. “I’m not heading back for a while anyway.”

They ended up walking hand in hand with Kitty in the middle till they were standing in front of Donny’s building.

“Thanks guys,” Donny said, “I don’t suppose you’d like to get together again tomorrow?”

“Sure!” Kitty said enthusiastically. “I got nothing better to do.”

Dodger shook her head. “I think I’m going to be busy. Sorry.”

“Well, we’ll miss you. But drop by sometime if you can Dodger,” Donny said before giving them both a hug and heading inside.

Kitty and Dodger walked the block-and-a-half back to Luther’s hand in hand.

“Kitty,” Dodger said, digging into her pants where she kept her coins. “Here, have this.”

The coins sparkled in the eyes of the vagrant cat as much as in her paws. “Dodger… I don’t know what to say. Thanks!”

“No problem, Kitty. I don’t need it as much as you do. Spend it wisely.”

Kitty’s face turned dark. “You know, if I wasn’t a bum, I’d refuse it. That’s what they do in the books I read.”

Dodger took Kitty’s shoulders in both hands. “But you are a bum. For now. But only for now. Only people who WANT to be bums stay that way.”

Dodger hugged Kitty fiercely. “Take care of yourself Kitty. I don’t know if I’ll be around much more, but if I don’t see you again, say goodbye to Donny for me, okay?”

“I will. He’s fun, isn’t he?”

“You’re both fun. Goodnight Kitty.”

“Goodnight Dodger,” Kitty said as Dodger turned to step into the inn.

“Dodger?” Kitty said and Dodger turned back to her.

“Mmm?”

“Today’s been really special to me,” Kitty said stepping up to the Argonian.

“Me too, Kitty. Very special,” Dodger said, taking Kitty’s paws. They felt warm and soft and furry.

“I won’t forget you, Dodger,” Kitty said and kissed Dodger’s cheek, tickling her with her whiskers. Dodger’s hand went to the spot reflexively, but when she looked back, the cat was walking away quickly, her tail twitching in embarassment.

“What a sad cat,” Dodger said to herself, then turned back to go inside.

Once inside, she found Yellow-Eyes waiting for her, but once he’d let her in, she went straight to the window and looked out at an angle to see if she could see the street out front. But she couldn’t.