#i don't even know if this thing has any evos or what

[front-facing-pokemon]

[vasiktomis]

Loophole (Zayne x F!Reader, 18+)

Summary: Zayne has an Evol flare-up while you’re visiting Snowcrest. You’re a good friend, so you help him out.

It doesn't mean anything if you don't move, right?

Rating: Explicit (Minors do NOT interact). Word Count: ~6800. Tags/Warnings: Female Pronouns and Anatomy for Reader, Reader is MC, Caretaking, Friends to Lovers, Inappropriate Doctor/Patient Relationship, Childhood Friends, Bickering, Cock Warming, First Time, Vaginal Sex, Photography, Unsafe Sex, Porn with Feelings, Switching. Post-chapter 4 spoilers. Read it on Ao3 Here!

“Let’s get you inside.”

The cold weather poses something of a threat to Zayne, you've realised.

He'd never admit such a thing, of course, but if he hadn't wanted you to make such an observation, he shouldn't have made it his responsibility to impose such an unexpectedly strong presence in your life.

A year ago, you barely knew him. To say he kept you at arms' length was an understatement, but with everything that's occurred in recent months — with such a void left in your life from the loss of Caleb and Grandma — and the ugly mysteries eclipsing once-happy memories — your doctor, of all people, is the one dedicating almost every minute of his time outside of work to trying to fill that void. It's not like he talks your ear off — he's Zayne, after all — but he makes a noticeable effort to make himself accessible to you whenever he can.

He's been a good friend to you at the sacrifice of his own comfort.

In the seven months that have passed since the explosion, you've had more exposure to Zayne than you've had any of your other friends. He rarely strays from his quiet stoicism, but it's far easier to read him. These days, you can't believe you once thought him intimidating. The softer aspects of his personality aren't offered willingly, but accidentally. A slip of the tongue here, a too-long stare at a community cat there, a smile he doesn't think you notice. He masks his requests for you to visit him in his overtime hours as nagging reminders for you to water the plants. He never asks you to bring him dinner, but there's always an extra seat pulled up at his desk when you arrive with it unannounced.

You’re sure he likes it well enough; getting to know you after all these years. You’re just not sold on how fond he is of you knowing him.

It shows stark on his typically taciturn features. Streetlamp light bounces off fluffy snow at all angles in the little village laneway, illuminating the man with an almost healthy glow as he walks stiffly beside you, right hand clutched against his side and his left doing all it can to keep from crushing the bones in yours.

“I’m fine.” He insists while you lead him up to the cabin, grimacing at a sudden chill of wind passing over the porch. There's a certain tone he uses when he's putting on the bedside manner. As a patient, you'd be soothed. As a friend, your patience wanes. He's not fine.

”I’ll get a fire going.” You mutter, ushering him inside. He tries amidst obvious pain to be gentlemanly, waiting for you to enter first, but a scowl on your part has him conceding defeat and ambling through the door. “Get in the shower. Can you turn it on by yourself?”

There’s no more warm light from the street in here. Dr. Noah likely would have fallen asleep hours ago, shortly after you’d left for dinner. Still, even in the dark, you can sense the irritation in him.

“You act like I’m frozen solid.” He retorts on his way to the bathroom, knowing better than to stick around despite the attempt to uphold his pride.

”Get your butt in the shower before I throw you in there myself.”

The warmer months gave you no initial reason to suspect anything, but as the weather worsened and temperatures dropped, Zayne began to feel more on-edge. You’d bore witness to his attacks in the past, but he was no more willing to share his condition with you beyond the odd occasion of being unable to switch it off after a battle. You knew what it looked like when his Evol was acting up. It almost caused a fight, the first time you asked about it. Then, when it became clear you weren’t simply going to leave him to his own devices whenever he was displaying the signs, Zayne steadily, reluctantly, began to let you assist. He couldn’t stand it — he still can’t, you’re sure — not playing caretaker for once, but the two of you found a rhythm; keeping an eye on his temperature, steering clear of fluctuations, little remedies that help him bounce back quicker when his Evol gets the better of him. It became second nature to you, like carrying an Epipen for a loved one at risk of anaphylaxis.

You won’t lie, though. It pisses you off. He’s a constant nag when it comes to your health regarding your heart condition, but there was no allowable mention of his  condition when he brought you to Dr. Noah. Not that your opinion counts for anything, apparently, but what idiot cashes out his annual leave for an extended stay in a tundra when he's so prone to such reactions?

It had shocked you even more when your friend declared he’d be staying back for the foreseeable future, conducting research for the old man on a solo expedition on Mt. Eternal. Your friend — the one who'd taken it upon himself to be a stand-in for your lost family — alone, in the worst possible place he could be in his condition.

It was unthinkable.

Four weeks was your breaking point after you’d returned home without him.

Sure, he responded to your texts within seconds. Reception wasn’t good enough for calls, but he made sure to give you no logical reason to worry about him. It didn’t help. Once your dreams started to take the shape of him disappearing into the mountains, you cut your losses and decided to visit for the weekend.

Just as well, considering he’d been massaging his wrist in your periphery for the entirety of your first day. Still, he'd insisted on showing you around Snowcrest, spending as much time away from Dr. Noah's cabin as possible. You knew his tells. He was bordering on a flare-up and hiding it from you. Had he mentioned it and agreed to stay in tonight, you might not of had to drag him home with frost seeping out of his clothes and a foul mood. Instead, he chose to be proud about it.

Idiot.

God knows what could have happened to him if he hadn't come down from the mountain to spend the weekend with you.

He’d never let you get away with such stupidity, and it’s hard not to hold it against him. You came here out of worry in the first place, and the visit isn’t doing a thing to set your mind at ease.

You tend to rekindling the dimming embers in the fireplace, content to mind your business once you hear the shower turn on. At least he’s doing what he’s told.

The living room heats up steadily. New flames settle into a longer-lived glow. You get yourself changed into more suitable bed wear; a commandeered hoodie from your doctor’s medical school era, large enough to reach halfway to your knees. The frayed cuffs have since lost their elasticity and there are a few choice stains, and most condemning, the drawstrings have been chewed to tassels — but god, if it isn’t comfy. Time stretches on, and while the worry gnaws at the back of your mind, you leave Zayne to his privacy. So long as you don’t hear a thump, you’re content to imagine he’s probably just in there being mad at himself over not being the sensible one for once.

Zayne keeps himself locked away for the better part of an hour, in the end. Even Pie pads out into the living room to investigate what you’re doing up alone in the middle of the night before a scritch sends the fox on its way back to bed.

You’ve slid most of the way off the couch by the time the man emerges from his room in fresh pajamas. With your back to the rug, you watch him approach stiffly, slowing to a halt upside-down. He’s still rubbing at that wrist, you note.

“You’re still up.” He mutters, brow knitted in discomfort.

There’s frost on his neck. His lips are blue. It wasn’t even this bad when you were outside. A pit forms in your stomach.

Then, his wake hits you. Cold air, chilling you to the bone, and you sit up in a flash.  

“Zayne—“

He silences you with a little hand motion, stepping around you to seat himself as close as he can to the fireplace.

“You’re half-frozen.” You continue when he offers you nothing else. Crawling onto the couch beside him, you reach up to tug at the collar of his sweater, trying to inspect the severity of the attack. “God, you should have said  something.”

“I thought you were asleep.” He replies quietly. “I’ve seen — how much it takes to wake you-“

Zayne flinches from your touch when your fingertip skims his neck. The most aggressive warning to stay back that he can risk without waking his mentor. You ignore him, of course. You always do. Sitting close, you press yourself to his side on the couch, guiding his right arm between your thighs. Your fingers lace between his from both sides, covering as much surface area as possible as you use your body to fend off the cold.

A moment is all it takes to see some of the tension in his face disappear. He breathes through the pain, eyes closed, and you shift your gaze to the fireplace to give him his privacy with it.

”You’re in so much trouble when this passes.”

A short, sharp chuckle slips through Zayne’s teeth. He nods once. “I know.”

You sit together like this for a long while, letting him sap the heat from your body to combat the flare-up. If not for the fire, you’d be shivering. It takes time, but eventually Zayne’s breathing evens out. His face relaxes, bit by bit. His half-frozen arm feels just a little cold to the touch.

Neither of you part. Not just yet. There’s too much left unsaid, and Zayne takes far too much solace in quiet to make the first move.

You let your temple drop to his shoulder. “Snow village dates are nice, but most girls would say yes to ‘Go Fish’  and hot cocoa if it means their date makes it through the night.”

After a second, Zayne rests his head against yours.

He inhales.

He pauses.

Then…

“I wanted you to have a nice time. I didn’t think it through.”

…God, he’s such a sweet man. It’s not wonder he’s got you wrapped around his finger.

There’s such a sense of finality to the way he says it. You suppose it’s not necessarily a wrong way to think of it, but it’s not his fault. Sure, it’s your last night together for what may amount to months, and he was stupid enough to think he could get away with poking the bear, but you’d rather have him come home alive and well. Not a victim to his own Evol.

It doesn’t sit right with you to let it end like this. The moment he’s recovered, he’s going to insist you both go to sleep. You’ll take the guest bed, and he’ll take the pull-out trundle, and he’ll remain there, soundless with his back to you. In the morning, you’ll say your goodbyes, and that will be that. The next time you see him will probably be for a check-up, and he’ll spend the entirety of the ECG acting like you’re mere acquaintances again.

No, you’re not losing momentum.

You’re not sure if it’s warmth in general, or if it’s a reaction specific to you — through trust, or the Aether core — there’s just no telling. Zayne keeps his cards too close to his chest for you to ever be sure, but you do know for certain that you hold the quickest remedy. If it’s just warmth, he never lets anyone but you get close enough to supply it. If it’s trust, likewise. The Aether core? You’re the only one.

“What are you—“

Zayne stiffens when you climb into his lap. He winces in discontentment; at such an intimidate proximity, at the physical danger he still poses, at the feeling of your thighs astride his. He doesn’t look pleased in the slightest, but still, his knees shift together, offering you a more comfortable perch on which to explain yourself.

You can feel the cold still radiating from him, fighting his body to keep from regulating its own temperature. It’s unpleasant, the way the chill claws at you, reaching across the expanse of your front. The joints in your hands already ache just from holding his arm to your chest. It’s imaginable, what it must be like to host such an Evol. What it must be like to have your own flesh freeze from the inside-out on a whim.

“Not done keeping you warm.” You answer simply, making a conscious effort to keep your teeth from chattering for his sake. He’s exercising enormous restraint not flinging you off of him already. You shouldn’t push your luck by sending him into any more of a panic.

“It’s not safe for you to be this close.” Zayne protests.

“Then I’m making you safe.”

This time, a growl escapes him. Pain cuts his patience with your impudence short. “You’re going to get yourself hurt—“

Zayne’s words die in his throat when you drape yourself over him, chest to chest, arms languidly curling over his shoulders. He goes completely silent.

“Aren’t you always telling me you can control it, anyway?” You muse, relaxing into him, moulding yourself to his body. The white frost that blooms beneath his skin begins to fade from his throat, unable to contend with the warmth of your breath. “If you didn’t want me doing this you shouldn’t have shown me how well it works.”

“That was after the aid of a hot shower.” Zayne argues. His logic might apply for that aborted attempt at an early-morning hike, but it falls flat tonight. “I was trying to warm up after the shower.”

Yeah, look how well that turned out. He’s as bad at lying as you are.

“So you’re saying I ought to have—“

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“If it’s not helping, Zayne, tell me.”

“…It’s helping.” He mutters.

You declare your victory with a hum, tucking your face into the collar of his sweater.

Even his scent is cold, somehow.

Beneath you, Zayne shifts, conceding defeat. You feel his lips ghost the side of your head. Considering — then retreating from a kiss — opting instead to rest his chin on you. His affected arm remains wedged between you, while his free hand comes to rest on your waist.

Minutes pass. Zayne’s breathing steadies to a resting rhythm. Eventually, the ice retreats into his flesh, disappearing with only a lingering chill. It shifts, marking the man’s return to normal, but he doesn’t announce anything. Instead, he tugs his arm out, only to wrap around you, surrendering to the moment.

“Do you have plans, while I’m away?” He asks.

“Tara’s been looking at the blank spots on my calendar, so I’ve probably got things on without knowing, yet.”

“Blank spots.”

”Yeah. Some of us have those.”

”Sounds like you don’t know what to do with yourself without me.”

“Please. I won’t have to worry about you bullying me. Maybe, y’know, I’ll do just fine without you.”

A chuckle escapes him. Tentatively, he toys with the fabric of your hoodie. “You’re not going to wash this at all, are you.”

Heat climbs up your neck at the suggestion. Of all the night clothes you had to bring, why did it have to be something you’d stolen from him?

You’re no coward. You rise to challenge. “Can’t miss you when it feels like I’ve got you with me.”

“I know  you’ll miss me,” Zayne retorts, and wow, he’s really  angling for a comeback after having you subject him to being taken care of, “But that’s no excuse for poor hygiene.”

“Poor hygiene—!”

You lean back to glower at the man, only to find him smirking up at you.

“I’ve half a mind to expect to find you asleep on the platform when the train pulls in, simply because you were too excited to wait at home for me to drop by.”

Your ears are positively scalding. You feel yourself shrinking, suddenly not so confident taking up as much space in the room. How does he have you so well figured out? Are you really that much of an open book? Compared to him, sure, but you’d hoped you carried a little more mystery about you than sitting on a station platform for a quasi-boyfriend-without-benefits  like a dog.

Even if that is  the case — does he really have to rub it in your face?

He can’t get away with this.

Speaking plainly, Zayne’s warmed up plenty. There’s no real reason for either of you to remain this close, and yet — despite lauding himself as the rational half of this friendship, his arms almost keep you from moving any further away.

His expression doesn’t falter with your silence, remaining ever-undisturbed. It unnerves you. His smiles never last more than a second, and you can count on one hand the amount of times he’s looked you in the eye with a pleasant face on. He’s on a power trip. If you don’t cut him down right this second he’ll go nuclear. He’ll leave you hanging with a ‘goodnight’  and a kiss on the forehead and you’ll both never speak of tonight again.

This is it. This is the last straw. Tonight, you leave him  hanging. 

“You want me to miss you so fucking bad, huh?” You accuse him, tapping a finger to your chin as you pretend to wonder. His eyebrow ticks. “Is that what you’re into? Man, you medical staff are all so power hungry.”

Zayne looks thoughtful for a moment. A thumb idly traces back and forth along your skin, barely tucked beneath your hoodie. It’s such a cautious touch. You wish  he wasn’t just all talk. “Perhaps you’re easier to deal with when one considers you might actually like getting bossed around.”

There’s no hiding the erection that sits wedged between you. There’s no ignoring the heat that pools in your core every time it strains against your cunt, blocked only by his sweatpants and your underwear.

There’s no way he can’t feel your heart beat throbbing against him.

And yet — he pretends not to be taking part in any of it.

You think about it for a moment.

Then, you roll your hips forward, slowly, gently. Your nerves spark as your clit finds the pressure it needs against the underside of his cock.

It takes everything in your power to keep from doing it again.

A tiny shiver makes its way out of Zayne. Frustration, perhaps. You angle a knowing little smile at him, and his throat bobs. He knows he’s been caught.

Checkmate.

“Doctor Zayne, are you getting off on this?” You ask, and his face flushes scarlet. His eyes widen, caught off-guard by you finally crossing the threshold.

”I…don’t know what you’re talking about.” He answers lamely, pointedly avoiding looking down.

“You are!”

“Not so loud. It’s n-… it’s nothing.” He insists in a hushed voice, shooting a look over your shoulder before he’s satisfied that the coast is clear of anyone who might be privy to what the two of you are doing. “Just a biological reaction to stimuli.”

“Which stimuli?” You ask, feigning curiosity. “The cuddling, or this?”

To stress your point, you do it again, biting back the swell of enjoyment at the way his lips part of their own accord. A little hum spills forth, and his own hips chase the motion, just for a second, before he halts.

“Please.” Zayne murmurs, moving to hold you still. Inching you back onto his thighs, condemning himself to reveal two little damp patches. One where the grey fleece of his sweatpants pulls most taut. The other a little lower, where you’ve been rubbing your cunt along his clothed shaft.

“You need to learn when you’ve teased enough.”

What — fall back? Now? When all your nerves are alight?

Your tongue wets your lips as you take in the sight of him. Well on his way to wrecked, but not quite there. His expression remains otherwise impassive, but his pupils are far too blown to help him maintain the facade.

“You’re one to talk. Can’t hack it when it’s not you in charge?” You challenge him. “You’re not usually one to shy away from uncharted territory.”

You can’t help but reach out, itching to touch him. Fingertips smooth along his length, feather-light from the bottom up. His cock twitches when you reach the tip, begging for more.

“Ah—“ Long fingers snatch at your wrist, holding you fast. “Try no man’s land.”

“It’s nothing.” You assure him. “You said it yourself.”

Nothing. No different to how he so often strays into treating you, with all his dates and touches. Nothing, midday naps and linking your pinky-fingers as you walk together. Nothing, like the spare clothes you both reserve a drawer for.

“Just warming you up. That’s all.”

Zayne’s chest expands. His gaze fixes on your fingertips curling insistently at his waistband despite his grip keeping you at bay. “That’s all.”

Disbelief? Determination? Disappointment? You’re not familiar enough with how each of these sound in his throat to properly identify it, but Zayne’s grip on your wrist releases nonetheless. He opts to help you make more comfortable work of his track pants, pushing them down just a little to allow you easier access. There’s no presence of approval at how greedy you are about it, pawing and snatching at your prize while he tries to remain nonchalant.

You do try to give him the dignity of privacy by not looking down when he settles and you finally wrap both hands around his cock. He’s already indignant as it is, and the rumble that vibrates deep in his chest as your fingers close around him isn’t helping.

Oh — maybe just a little tease.

“Hey.” You chide, grinning. His eyes crack open, just enough to narrow at you. “Don’t make it weird. I’m a professional.”

It earns you a scoff. Zayne’s fingers, settled on your thighs, give a retaliatory squeeze, thumbs pressing just hard enough into your adductors to skirt on discomfort. He watches you tense at the feeling, and sensing an opportunity to shift the attention back off himself, decides to squeeze harder.

You finally flinch with an “Ow!”, and the man smiles to himself. Mission accomplished. He lets go.

”You’re the professional? How many surgeries have you performed?”

”How many have you  performed?”

”…A lot, genius.”

“Didn’t you tell me that some of your worst patients are doctors themselves?”

“Your point being?”

There’s no point — at least not in arguing with him. He’s only trying to distract you. You shift over him, and his attitude dissolves. He leans back, maintaining as much distance as he can — or perhaps to watch, as you tug your underwear to the side — line yourself up — and sink down onto his cock.

Zayne’s chest expands, but he makes no noise. His eyes close. His lips part. A minor crease forms between his eyebrows. It might as well be a sob. You’d use such a reaction against him if you weren’t more concerned with suppressing your own, lest he catch you out. Your cunt burns from the sudden, full intrusion, and his diverted attention gives you the moment you need to grow accustomed to it.

Once you’ve gotten over the initial shock of the feeling, you brush any intrusive thoughts aside. It doesn’t matter if he’s one of your oldest and closest friends. It doesn’t matter if he’s your doctor. You were already squarely planted in conflict-of-interest territory the moment he took you on as a patient.

You try to ignore your own desire. Your body catches up with your actions quickly, igniting touch-starved nerves that you’ve long-fantasised him satisfying. Heat builds inside you at a nervous system realising you’re finally giving it what it wants, and it only screams for more. Of course you’ve wanted Zayne. You adore him, but he’s not the kind of man who could balance a friendship with benefits; if anything, he finds a way to be the inverse of such a thing. He gives you everything in the way of a relationship except sex, and with him steering so clear of crossing that boundary with you, you have to tread carefully.

As much as you want to, this is delicate.

“My point is: zip it and let me take care of you.” You manage.

Besides, its not like you’re actually having sex with him. He’s continually pushing the boundaries of platonic with all his touches and hugs anyway. It’s not like he has a leg to stand on if he wants to protest what sitting on his cock might mean for your relationship. Hell, this isn’t even the first time he’s been hard when you’ve had his hips pinned down with your own.

If anything, you’re doing the guy a favour by taking the responsibility off him to go this far.

Zayne doesn’t bounce back as quickly as you do. His eyes remain scrunched shut, his core engaged beneath your palms as you brace your weight to settle into a more comfortable position in his lap. He looks worried. Apprehensive.

“Doctor Zayne?” Concern begins to creep in, just a little. “Okay, you can say something now.”

“Please,” He grits between his teeth, and relief floods your body as some semblance of calm returns to his expression, “Don’t call me that — like this.”

“Like what? I’m just warming you up, remember?” You offer a smile when he opens one eye, mood shifting to quizzical.

“You’re so immature. And for the record, this constitutes malpractice. You’re a terrible doctor.”

”Trust the process.”

”Fine. What’s the course of treatment?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing.”

You can’t help but chuckle at such quiet outrage. It’s getting easier to read him. Relaxing against his front, you ignore a little gasp on his part to loop your arms around his neck again. Dishonest pretences be damned, this really is doing the trick. “All you need to do is stay still.”

Zayne weighs up his options for only a moment before giving in. His arms slip around your waist. His chin hooks over your shoulder, just barely nuzzling into the crook of your neck. He’s breathing in your scent, and the following exhale into your skin has you stifling a shiver.

Then, there’s a flex within you.

“Hey!” You choke, “I said stay still back there!”

“Quiet down. It was only a reflex.” Zayne defends, a little too cavalier to fly under the radar. “Besides, I’m not the one squirming.”

“I’m just getting comfortable. Your hips are pointy.”

Zayne’s hips slot up into yours, and the feel of him nudging just a little deeper has your eyes stinging. You fail to stifle a little squeak, and you’re shushed for it immediately.

“Just getting comfortable.” Zayne’s words lick at your ear, and the sound of him sends shivers through you, pooling between your legs, pleading with you to satisfy the ever-nagging want to start riding him. “You’re like a vice.”

He has to know how much of an effect he has on you. There’s no way he doesn’t.

You don’t respond to his attitude — however, the condemning, responding, constricting  of your insides around his cock surely doesn’t go unnoticed, and with a hollow breath, he lifts you, just a little, enough to draw back and push back in. He’s slow about it; infuriatingly so, almost like if he inches in and out at enough of creeping pace you’ll either not bother to be strict with him, or you’ll simply abandon your own rules in favour of crossing the boundary he’s silently begging you to cross for him.

No. He’s not getting the upper hand here. Not when he gets to pretend all his little actions are forgettable. Platonic. Accidental. Misunderstood. There’s only so many times a guy can subtly grind on someone during a spooning session and claim ignorance when called out about it.

You lock your feet beneath his knees, and sink down onto him, hard. Pleasure blooms. Your cunt aches for more. A sharp breath escapes Zayne, threatening to blossom into an appreciative groan that would only serve to tempt you without your hand clapping over his mouth and a ‘shh!’.

“You can keep still, or this stops.” You announce in a whisper, and he watches you defiantly from behind your hand.

Zayne’s gaze eventually breaks away from yours. Conceding. For now, at least. You lower your hand from his mouth, and relax, reaching across the cushion to pluck your phone from the couch and check your messages.

Already, he’s bothered by your lack of undivided attention.

“You’re on your phone.”  He huffs.

“I’m not rewarding your behaviour.” You reply simply.

“You’re not implying that behaving differently would warrant a reward, are you?”

That’s for him to figure out.

You shift your weight maybe just a little more than you need to, indulging in the feeling of his cock shift with you, within you, pressing insistently against that one spot that almost has your constitution coming apart at the seams. Zayne trembles momentarily beneath you, swallowing hard. He’s keeping his cool well enough, but as you settle into the new angle, no longer moving, his frustration makes itself known with another twitch inside you.

If he keeps doing that, you’re not sure you can hold out.

“You really  think this is helping?” He asks, voice tight.

“You don’t believe me?” You pout, tapping your home screen and opening your camera app. “Fine, let the expert see for himself.”

Switching to selfie cam, you watch as the man glances at his image on the screen for half a second, before tearing his gaze away. Not a shocker, you reason. He’s probably never seen himself with a hair out of place. Flushed cheeks and dilated pupils? You might as well have shown him a traffic collision.

“Aw, come on. Look how much colour’s come back to your face.”

Zayne musters the courage to look up, but not at the phone. His eyes narrow at you. Accusatory. “I’m not interested in giving you blackmail material.”

“What? Get real. There’s nothing incriminating going on. Especially not when you angle it like this.” You switch on a filter and lean down into the man. “See?”

Curiosity gets the better of him, and his head tilts to get a better look at whatever scheme you’re cooking up. On the screen, both your flushed faces smooth out, blushing perfectly. Cat ears and whiskers. Cheek to cheek. Just another one of your countless selfies with completely platonic friends.

You take the shot. The shutter clicks.

“Cute.” Zayne mutters drily.

“You think so?”

“Only how much fun you seem to be having of it.”

Your brow knits. “Oh yeah? All right, stick in the mud, you take over.”

He gives too much away at that response. His long fingers immediately slip over your hips. He’s readying to flip you onto your back before he notices you’re holding the phone out to him. Then, knowing he’s shown his hand, he has no choice but to recover his pride.

Much to your chagrin, Zayne plucks the phone from your hand, aborting whatever miraculous step he’d been about to take. A corner of his mouth ticks, minutely. He angles your phone away from you, tapping and swiping. His own phone buzzes. Then, he casts the device at the other end of the couch, out of your reach. “I think it’s getting a bit late for screens.” He murmurs. Fingers smooth up and over the swell of your hips. His long arms uncoil from your waist, releasing you as he leans back. Leaving you with a lonesome chill.  “And you ought to be going to bed.”

Is that…rejection? Has he just been humouring you up until this point?

You tilt your head. “I’m sorry. Is this not okay?”

“This is fine.”

He looks at the fireplace. Stoic as ever.

“Then what?” You frown.

He doesn’t respond.

Your throat runs dry. Dread creeps up through your heart.

“Hey. Talk to me.” You urge, smoothing your fingers along his jaw, and he leans into your palm.

Seconds pass. Zayne finally regards you again. There’s an acknowledging incline of his head — almost a polite bow. A pre-emptive apology for what he’s about to say. 

“What happens after this?” He asks. “Do we part ways at the train station in the morning and the next time we see each other, it’ll be as doctor and patient?”

Oh.

“Is that what we are to you?” You ask, not entirely sure if you want to know.

He dodges the question the best way he knows how: with rationality. “I feel that if that scenario is what you want, we should say goodnight. My understanding of our relationship won’t change, I promise you, but if this goes further, at least one of us is going to feel differently. It would be better if there were no misunderstandings between us.”

Something tightens in your chest. Something dreadful and lovely all the same, anxiety and anticipation at the prospect of a tipping point, at least before saying goodbye. Trust Zayne, of course, to turn to smoke and mirrors when it comes to a confession of feelings, but you’ve known him long enough to see how far out of his comfort zone all of this is.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” You ask, aborting an attempt on his part to avert his gaze with a finger beneath his chin.

His expression remains inexplicable. Then, there’s that little tilt of his head. The quirk of an eyebrow. “Your assumption is correct.”

The apprehension that’s been building in the back of your mind disperses the moment he says it. Your resolve all but disappears.  “My understanding,” You begin, reaching up to cup your hand over the other side of his face, “is that I’ve wanted you ever since I walked into that restaurant last year.”

Zayne doesn’t hesitate. His mouth finds yours in a heartbeat. Previously unsure hands pull you against him, locking you in his embrace. He’s so awfully gentle about it all despite your combined strength. Such a gentleman. It comes as no surprise that he shudders at the intrusion of your tongue past his lips — what does surprise you is how quickly he catches up to your pace. Inviting you in. Slipping an arm lower to brace your weight, and you feel yourself being pulled up off of his cock, just until only the head remains at your entrance. 

The loss of him has you incensed. He keeps you from sinking back down, and your protesting whines are suffocated with another kiss. All he’s left you with to express yourself is your hands, and you seize the opportunity, combing your fingers through his hair and tugging, just slightly at the roots.

He breaks away with a little noise. Not pained, but shocked. Another one of his spots, you reason, and he’s just as displeased that you’ve found it. 

“You don’t know when to quit.” Zayne pants. His fringe dusts your forehead. “What — what were we saying about bad behaviour going unrewarded?”

You’re too mindless right now to play any games. There’s no more thrill of the build that you can handle. Not after this long. 

You break, instantly. 

“Please —“ You whimper, almost trembling in his grip, trying in vain to take him back in again. “Zayne, I need it — please—“

Zayne relents right away. He gives you what you want, lowering you, burying himself in you to the hilt. Then he lifts you again, building into a steady rhythm.

”You’re so — you’re so frustrating.” He manages between kisses. “Should’ve told me this is all it takes for you to do as you’re told.”

More. You need more. Heavenly as it is, it’s not enough, just having him in you. You push back, and Zayne takes the hint. He’s said his piece. He lets you take the lead again without a fight, admiring the view as you roll onto the balls of your feet, gripping the back of the couch to keep yourself stable. The new angle feels deeper, each stroke rolling drifting sharply over your nerves as he brushes that spot inside you. It takes a moment for Zayne to kick into gear, brain short-circuiting as he watches you squat on his cock, taking what you need from him. Then, he leaves you to support your own weight. Fingers wrench at the front of your hoodie, yanking it up to your sternum, and his tongue sweeps a nipple. In the time it takes for you to react, his other hand has snaked between you, between your legs. His thumb rolls over your clit just as he latches onto your nipple and sucks. The keen barely escapes your lips before Zayne’s hand claps over your mouth, continuing his assault. 

It goes from too little to too much. It creeps up on you so fast, so suddenly, and there’s nothing you can do but ride through it. A muffled hum is all the warning you can give him. Your pace staggers as the burn in your thighs catches up to you, but Zayne only goes faster, rubbing merciless little circles into your nerves. His hips roll up into you, compensating as best he can for your loss of control. Finally, the band snaps, and you sob against his hand, spasming around him, tears pricking at your eyes with the intensity of it all. You go positively boneless, and Zayne breaks away just enough to let you collapse into his chest as he carries you through it, breaths quickening as the lingering spasms of your orgasm invoke his own. 

“Fuck, I’m—“ He barely stammers, releasing you only to coil his arms around your torso again, readying to pull out.

“Not going anywhere.” You promise, clinging to him. Your fingers comb through his hair, tugging again, and a whimper dies in Zayne’s throat. He buries his face into the crook of your neck. His hips roll up into you once, twice, thrice more, and then he goes still. Buried in you to the hilt as he tips into oblivion.

He’s so subtle about it that you barely even realise he’s coming. Maybe it’s the effort not to wake Dr. Noah. Maybe it’s like this every time. Having him hold you with such desperate reverence while he does his best not to judder in stark contrast to to the feeling of him pulsing within you, you reason you’d like to find out. He hides his face from you throughout, only pulling his forehead from your clavicle when the aftershocks have come and gone.

Zayne looks lovelier than ever like this — coming out of a blissful haze, gazing up at you with cautious adoration. His focus flickers between your eyes and your lips. His chest expands and collapses like he’s like a 5-miler, but his breaths are smooth.

Even now, he’s trying to maintain a cool composure.

“Forgive me.” He mutters, not quite meeting your eye.

Your head tilts. Chasing him. “Huh? Why?”

“I exercised poor judgement. That was rotten of me. I should have known better, given I’ve never prescribed birth control to you.”

“You really think I’d come to you for birth control?” You snort.

Zayne’s brow creases. An incredulous look totally undermined by how positively wrecked he looks right now. “I am  your physician. Or has your other doctor friend decided to become real after all?”

Your fingers comb through his hair again. Despite a pleasant sigh on his part at the sensation, his expression remains steeled.

“Hey.” You finally manage to capture his gaze, only for any tells to evaporate. “Could you tell me something?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Are you more jealous that I might have had sex with someone who wasn’t you, or that I might have gone to another doctor?”

Zayne considers his answer for a long moment. His head tilts in that particular way it does when he has to make a decision, eyeing you expectantly. Punishment for daring to push him out of his comfort zone.

He presses a hand to your forehead. 

A thoughtful hum escapes him.

“Curious. Your temperature’s dropping. On second thought, you should stay another day so I can observe you.”

“You’re avoiding the question!”

“Here. I’ll keep you warm. You can install those camera filters on my phone to pass the time.”

[trashrattt]

I totally think Code lyoko should have it's talked about reboot, mostly because

- when it came to Carthage, the most canon explanation from Franz himself, the explanation only lasts about 1 minute and 25 seconds, and nothing else comes of it

Sure, we knew why Xana was created, but like, Franz never really said Xana stopped it as it was his main intended purpose, why Xana was made to begin with, so like, that's a real issue in canon consitering Franz wanted to stop the project but never got to consitering Xana gained autonomy and all

And like, Carthage was kind of hinted at to be a bad thing too, you'd think that could be a real issue in universe

- spent 3 whole seasons building on this one character only not to do much with it at all and give him a really bad rep in universe afterwards

Okay, you know me, I like William an abnormal amount, but with all things considered, he wasn't a character to begin with, neither was a plot device imo

Yeah, he absolutely has no personality, argue with the wall if you need to

So like, yeah, he got posessed, but then what? Sure he was used to try to throw Aelita into the Digital sea, but like, tarantulas could do the same thing with those long ass arms, they could just use them as bats

And you've literally seen megatanks push her closer to the digital sea when she used a energy field as a sheild of sorts, so really, what was the point of him to begin with of other monsters could do the same thing no problem

And after a whole season of dawdling around, the writers rushed the whole "set him free" arc after ignoring it for basically the whole season, like there wasn't any episodes besides cold sweat where the characters actively try to break him free, you'd think there would be a little more give from the characters considering how #depressed Yumi was

(and yes, I know the show says, "I made ___ program" but let us see the FAILURE!!!!)

Even then, when he came back, the characters all decide "fuck this, you ain't shit to me" and dropkick him back to his life without any support, like dude lost months of his life without something he either remembers or blanked out on

- character writing in season four

Okay, this isn't really a reason why, it's more of saying "Why did you make your characters worse, we deserve better"

Because Odd in season four just became an absolutely terrible person, man

Constantly throwing his freinds under the bus just for some scheme he pulled or literally abusing the fact that he knows about Lyoko as a point to say to the others "This is why we're friends!!!1!@1!!" Even though at this point their friendship is downright terrible, like to the point where they just want to get Lyoko dealed with so they can fall apart like a poorly put together cup with scotch taped all over it

Imo nobody seemed to like each other as opposed to season 1 and 2 where they talked casually, like they had an actual friendship going on, not like "so, what's new on Lyoko, I want this shit dealt with today..." they were actual friends who did stuff together and had fun, I miss that :<

Anyways that was a more personal take, but season 4 just leaves a bad taste in my mouth with that rushed ending of theirs

Uhm oops, this was a long rant of what I dislike about the show, I was supposed to make this post simply to tell you guys what I'd propose for a continuation

Here's what I'd do:

Consitering Carthage was an abandoned idea from the depths of season 2, we build on that again

I'm imagining a non-terribly written Evo mixed with the chronicles, like bitch I actually love the idea of Ulrichs dad being tied in with Carthage simply because like, it would make so much sense (absolutely don't pull a chronicles though making EVREYONES mothers under the sun being tied in, that was stupid)

I'm also thinking, the antagonist we have is still a program, but it isn't Xana like in main series

Sure, they're simular, but it's a remnant from Carthage that has the same ideas as Xana, but worse (this is all first draft, but that's like the main idea that could work)

Also, give Will and actual personality this time, not just this "I'm soooooo sad" attitude that any traumatized character has, he has the potential to be COMPLEX!!!!

Kids cartoons nowadays are getting complex so don't say "Oh no they can't, it's a kids cartoon"

Anyways I'm hoping they build off of Carthage because that would be a PERFECT continuation aauaghh

Enjoy (?) My unexpected rant, idk

[ghostyclay]

Web of Lies hermitcraft AU (Summary/info post)

Grian is surprised when Jimmy contacts him, especially since they haven't spoken in years. Back then, Grian was still a journalist who secretly worked with villains and Jimmy was a young adult who got accepted into a hero program...

Apparently Jimmy had become a vigilante instead, and the reason he contacted Grian was because he and his civilian friend Joel were creating an underground fighting ring and they needed workers for the bar above it that functions as a cover up.

He's hesitant to accepts their offer, since he's been trying to stay out of any... Crime "Shenanigans" for the past few years since quiting his job as a journalist, but agrees after they assure him that they just need a civilian worker that won't rat them out to the heroes.

Everything goes well at first and Grian slowly gets to know the other staff members better, that is until he starts to overhear more and more strange conversations between his co-workers, mentioning a strange type of magic that has been causing chaos in the city recently. It sounds awfully familiar to a cult Grian knows from his time as a journalist in Evo.

Grian is determined to stay out of it, ESPECIALLY if it turns out he's correct about the watchers being involved, but he has to at least do something, right?

Or, Grian has to make a choice between his quiet life as a "civilian" and saving his friends. Determined to do both, he tries to influence the watchers games from behind the scenes without anyone finding out, even going as far as creating new secret personas. Too bad the watchers think identity reveals are incredibly entertaining...

!!Masterpost is here!!

more stuff below!

(These things might change slightly, but I'll keep updating this post as i write the fics/comics!)

Characters

Major characters: Grian, Joel, Etho, Mumbo

Important side characters*: Jimmy, Gem, Pearl, Evil X, Ren, Doc, Xisuma, Scar,

Other minor characters: Cub, Zedaph, Skizz, Beef, Tango, Bdubs, Cleo, Martyn, Scott, Impulse, Joe, Iskall, False, Stress

(*still count as major characters, but they r either only relevant during one arc, don't get much screen time, or don't influence the plot that much)

Relationships

The main ones r just.... All of the major chars ig? Like, Grian&Mumbo, Grian&Jimmy&Joel, Joel&Etho, Grian&Etho, Grian&Gem, Grian&Pearl,...

Side ones / only relevant during one arc: Grian&Evil X, Grian&Xisuma, Grian&Scar, Etho&Bdubs, Etho&Doc, Pearl&Scott, Cleo&Scott, Skizz&Beef,...

Theres also some side (friend)ships that im not sure about yet, mainly boat boys and rendoc, since i can't decide whether i wanna make them platonic, ambiguous or romantic 😭 feel free to tell me what u prefer!!!

[solargeist]

I’m new here and I love everything you’re making already ! I’m just wondering what the story here is?

hello !!!! thank you !!

the story here is uh, an AU of Evo Smp by Grian ! My tag is [here]

i assume thats what ur asking ?

The short version: The story is abt a young man leaving his life behind and joining a bunch of angels, but its not what he thought it'd be like and he regrets it and goes on the run for a long time.

The long version: The angels, known as Watchers, are known to watch players, only interacting to give them new things and updates, or punish them for breaking rules, such as being greedy.

They originally did not like Grian, seeing him as too robust, but over time he catches their (many) eyes, a diamond in the rough... He shows many characteristics of a promising Watcher, he enjoys setting pranks and stalking people, finding entertainment in explosions and traps, and always craving more.

So they start talking to him, they usually don't speak directly to players, only leaving notes, but they talk to him, he's special they say. He calls them the Audience.

The Watchers talk to him often, giving him compliments on his building skills, on his pranks, or they just listen as he rambles abt his life.

Grian is an orphan, I mean he is 25 at this point in time, but he grew up without parents. He has a little sister he took care of, but shes also grown now. Theres a small part of him that has grief over this, that ache, or longing, to have grown up with a regular family, to be taken care of. The Watchers catch onto this, its their job really to notice. They already think of him as a child, but they start acting more familial now, asking if he ate, or slept, or checking him over for any scratches, (much like a mother would--but he swallows these thoughts down, insisting this is how angels are to every player, but its not true, they let him know how much potential he has, so promising ! so special !)

That small part of him really starts to ache and grow.

This isn't the only thing the Watchers do though, they also make a tiny little effort to separate him from other players, quietly isolating him so the transition will be easier. It works, Grian notices his friends not coming around as often, they're probably busy, so he doesn't want to bother them. This goes on for awhile, any negative thought Grian expresses, the Watchers will agree with, in a gentle way... Sometimes people grow apart.. Sometimes you outgrow people.. Its for the better. He festers in these ideas, sometimes just laying on the stone floor of his basement, having not spoken to anyone in days. He looks forward to when the angels come around, even if they're just small floating eyes, sometimes a hand will split through reality and ruffle his hair. (if he leans into the touch, he doesn't realize)

Grian thinks that small aching part of him has outgrown his body.

One day, after who knows how long, the Watchers encourage him to meet up with his fellow players again. He questions why, but they tell him it'll be good for him to go play, theres a portal for them all to go through, a dragon on the other side. Its actually quite nice talking to everyone again, a bit awkward, but they're joking around, and when they find the portal, Grian jumps in before anyone can finish speaking. He was always rather impulsive ! He jumps through and stands alone on a platform, laughing to himself in the dark void, waiting for everyone else to go through. But no one does, the Watchers didn't tell him he'd be alone after jumping through, separated from the group, he feels abandoned. That ache rises again, hurt and anger twisting together, forming embarrassment. The Watchers were right in telling him he doesn't have anyone else to rely on, but them. So he does his quest, he kills the dragon by himself, an arrow between its eyes and it hits the ground behind him, dragging.

Hes sweaty, his clothes are burnt and torn, he's exhausted and he just wants to go home and climb in bed, no matter how dirty he is right now, but before he can go through, an angel statue catches his attention, it slowly moves off its pedestal, having watched his entire fight.

He didn't realize how tall they were off the pedestal, they also wear dark clothes that hide their faces and form, but two large dark wings peak out, its not exactly expected from angels. (Grian is 5'0, every Watcher towers over him)

They talk, and She offers him a place with the Watchers, if he wants to join them..... He's tired, hes hurt, and he's still mad at everyone, how could he say no ? He agrees.

Upon becoming a Watcher and being welcomed into a new world, he gets a haircut, he gets new clothes, and he gets a new room. The buildings rly are beautiful here, he gawks at the architecture, THIS is what he wanted, what he craved, he wanted to do this work too, the tools he could get his hands on has him bouncing on his heels and barely paying attention to the Watcher.

This excitement doesn't last too long, after hes introduced to others and settled in, theres new expectations on him, hes a Watcher now, not just a player, so things are gonna be harder to impress now. The Watchers have to shape him into a Watcher, so they don't let him sleep for a few days, to soften his attitude, they only stop this when he breaks down in exhaustion and tears, but his manners are better like they wanted.

Grian's not allowed to go out by himself, he can't leave the island even if he wanted to anyway, so most of his time is spent within the main few buildings, exploring the halls and library, its a good thing, bc they also make him study a lot, theres a lot to learn abt Watchers and their history, their magic, and their culture.

They don't give him glasses, instead teaching him enchantment magic to use instead, its good to always have Watcher magic flowing through your blood. His eyes are a constant soft purple.

Watchers, being angels, don't rly have to eat, so if Grian wants to eat, he has to ask a Watcher to summon food for him, the fruit tastes good, but anything cooked is always off or completely wrong. If he asks, they'll give him raw ingredients to cook by himself, with supervision of course. (not that he needs it, he is 25 years old and raised himself)

The one particular Watcher that has responsibility over him is named Aether, also known as Watcher Mum, shes the one that makes sure he has food, clothes, and is generally taken care of. She's a lot softer on him than expected, he's so cute ! and tiny ! She can't be strict on him ! She cuts his fruit into little shapes for him, even though he didn't rly ask.

The thing abt having Watcher magic flowing through his body near constantly, is that its slowly changing him. He grows wings, and it hurts so bad he thinks hes dying, they rip out of his skin after a few weeks, splattering blood across his room and bed. Aether cleans that and him up, tending to the wound. She doesn't have worry in her voice when she comments on how bright and pretty his wings are under all the blood. Its moments like this where Grian wonders how much of a mistake he's made, as he stares at the Watchers' extra eyes, and talon hands, he wonders when that'll happen to him, and how much it'll hurt, and how its his fault.

Ah, i'll stop here, its getting very long and I haven't even touched on his run away, or the Listeners, or what Watchers are, or the s6-s8 recovery and relapse arc, or the different timeline connections and his God self he accidentally created and doomed-- i ahve a lot stored in my head *explodes*

[fireflies-are-kewl]

Children of Evolution

So... this has been written, rewritten, and spiraled into something different, but here it is! I had been listening to Harpy Hare a lot with this fic, along with watching this amazing animatic by Solarock! Enjoy!

Words: 1,952

Somebody had been whitelisted recently.

Grian knew that, but he knew a good many of things.

For one, he knew who was whitelisted long before he logged in. For two, it had been him who had asked Xisuma to whitelist him.

Xisuma knew a few things too. Not many, not that he minded. All he had said was that he hoped Grian was alright. Grian had smiled and winked, saying that there was nothing to worry about.

InTheLittleWood joined the game. Grian: heyy! Martyn good to see ya InTheLittleWood: It's good to be here! InTheLittleWood: Where you at?

After a brief visit and showing him where he lived, Grian settled in for a talk he knew had been coming for a while. Universal messages took time to reach servers and other universe hubs, so when Grian saw the message sent by Martyn... he knew he had only a few days to prepare. Hence his whitelist request.

"So. Have you told Pearl?" Martyn started, leaning against the wall of the half-done house Grian had been pretending to work on. Despite how relaxed his lean was, Martyn's arms were crossed over his chest and his head was lowered. Never a good sign.

A flick of Grian's wing, and he turned to work on something on his crafting bench.

"No, l ‘aven't. I don't want to tell her either, I told you that at the Secret Keeper." Grian said, and he heard Martyn scoff. Grian didn't turn around as he continued. "If she hasn't remembered, then she should be left to that. I don't want her to be mixed up in all this again."

"This is getting too big for us to handle our own. There’s been, what, six of 'em now, for Void's sake, Grian!" Martyn exclaimed, gesturing with a hand. Grian moved to a chest, digging in it for something. Martyn shook his head, pinching his nose with his fingers. "They're not blumin' children. They should know."

"And what, exactly, do you plan on telling them?" Grian snapped, slamming the chest's lid down. Martyn watched him, and Grian waited for an answer. When he didn't get one, he finally turned to face his old friend. "'Sorry to remind you, but those monsters from Evo? Yeah, they've been trapping us in death games for the past three years and erasing your memories! Surprise!'”

"...Don't take the piss, mate, you're being awful."

A scoff, and Grian rolled his eyes with a frustrated smile. "I'm being awful because that's the only way I can get this through to you: telling them about this, any of them, is a bad idea. It puts so many more people in danger."

"So, what? Are we supposed to just keep taking it from Them? I've been running for who knows how long, and that hasn't worked at all." Martyn moved off the wall, stepping towards Grian with a serious look on his face. Grian's tense smile fell with his approach. Here we go. "I refuse to just lay down and take it any longer."

"It’s not like we even have an idea to stop Them. I've tried to before! You have too! Look what good that's done for either one of us!" Grian yelled and gestured between the two of them. A sharp silence, a Watcher and a Listener glaring at each other. History repeats itself, no matter who’s involved.

From above, someone cleared their throat intentionally, and the two snapped their heads up to see who had been listening in.

Pearl was up in the rafters, her ladybug wings twitching behind her as she pushed off from her hiding place. She was smiling a little, playful and knowing, as she fluttered down from the beams with little fanfare. Martyn and Grian backed off from each other as she stepped up.

"I knew it was serious when he popped up online. Are we finally going to talk about the games?" Pearl asked while looking down at Grian. Grian nearly squawked at the blunt question, and Martyn, shocked as well, bit his lip at the look on his friend's face. He snickered, and Grian shook out of it.

"You knew?! For how long?"

"Since I won the soulmate one. I woke up at my base and just... had to think and write everything down." Pearl, though looking vaguely uncomfortable, shrugged a shoulder. She tucked a loose strand of hair back under her postmaster's hat.

"That's been... gosh, Pearl, why didn't you tell me?" Grian asked, and Pearl snickered. She gently punched him in the shoulder with an arched brow.

"The same reason you didn't tell me, dummy. I didn't know if you knew. I remember what those things could do, so... I was waiting to see if you'd come to me." Grian rubbed his arm and muttered something about that being stupid but fair. Martyn rolled his eyes with his own smirk on his face.

"This is why we talk. Emphasis on the 'we' there, Martyn." Pearl fixed Martyn with a Look, daring him to say something in defense. Martyn, with his hands up, didn't dare.

"You could've just as much told me or Jimmy about all this too, you weirdo. Unless... they’ve been keeping you away?" Pearl's voice softened at the end, remembering. Martyn and Jimmy had been taken by the Listeners, unlike how the others had been scattered across the universe hubs. Jimmy must've slipped through the cracks, ended up back in the Overworlds, but not Martyn. She had hardly seen him since Evo’s collapse.

"Not for long. Wasn't keen on being a bird in a cage, so I skipped out. Been runnin' through a few worlds for a few years now... until the games started." Martyn rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't meet Pearl's eyes despite the smile on his face. Always good at dancing around the truth, he was.

"Once they started, I noticed... something? Like I was waking up in worlds I didn't go to sleep in. Then these memories of conversations with Them... I didn't remember much until I won the time game. I knew I couldn't really hide anymore, but... I didn't know what to do." Grian hummed his sympathy, sitting against his crafting bench as they talked.

"You could've come here. The Hermits would've taken you in." Pearl said with that same steady softness, crossing her arms. On one of her wrists, she wore red and teal bracelets, something beaded and homemade. On each of them, three charms spelled out, ‘P.E.T.’.

Martyn waved her off. "Nah, I can't hide myself as well as G has. Tried a few times and they found me like that,” He said while snapping his fingers, "Besides, I'm better suited for world hopping. It's fun."

"As much as l'd love to keep catching up, we should probably keep talking about the whole games thing," Grian interjected with a nod of his head. Martyn shrugged and leaned against a wall of books. Pearl simply stood straighter before speaking up.

"I think we should tell Jimmy and Bigby," She started, making Grian predictably stutter a denial. "They were just as much a part of Evo as we were. Just because we're winners of those games, doesn't mean we should be the only ones that know."

"I get what you mean, but I, I really don't think it's smart. What if it draws Their attention to them?" Grian hesitated, feeling the eyes all over him itch at the prolonged talk of the Watchers. Martyn arched a brow and rolled his eyes, but spoke with more gingerness than he cared to admit to.

"I get why you're worried, mate, but look. They already know where we all are. They take us and put us back all willy-nilly without us really noticing. We have, actually, more than a surplus of Their attention."

"I get that," Grian bit out, fingers curling at his sides. "I'm meaning more of Their attention on our home servers. The ones we’re apart of are the least touched by Them that l've ever seen. I don't want to risk another Evo happening to more people."

"Evo happened because a lot of us were out of the loop, G." Pearl reminded him, making him glance over to her. Shame flashed in his expression, through his body, but he didn’t deny it. "Hels, I barely knew Listeners were a thing until you told me about what happened to Martyn and Jimmy."

"Don't you think I was keeping this all a secret for a reason?" Grian stepped towards her then, wings tense and hands out in front of him. "I brought all of you into Evo, I made a gods-awful deal with them, and then practically shattered the server with everyone still inside. That could have deleted your very code, Pearl." A glance back. "Yours too, Martyn."

Martyn's brows furrowed then, reaching out. "G, this isn’t—,”

"Why should I risk that with you guys again? With even more people now?" Grian continued as he ran a clawed hand through his hair. Slowly, purple lines along his face started to appear on his face, his brown-gray eyes fading steadily into a similar hue. “This, what, ‘playing along’? Void, it's the only damn way I can see that keeps the servers and everyone safe. I-I, ah, I can't give Them any reason to devour my friends again!!"

Grian shouted, and the purple lines along his face opened up, looking like drawn-on eyes that actually moved. Pearl gasped softly as Martyn stared in surprise. Neither had seen Grian in his other form since he first escaped the Watchers, and to see it bleed into his human form…

The avian looked between his old friends before putting a hand to his face. A sound, barely a breath, and he forced the eyes to close. Martyn looked away, then. He didn't need to be reminded of those eyes, so painfully similar, or what laid beneath his own player disguise.

Pearl's expression was hard to read, yet regardless, she stepped closer to Grian and pulled him into a hug. It was a strong one, arms wrapped around Grian's shoulders and tugging him close. "It's not just your call, Grian. Frankly, if it was, you'd be doing a miserable job at it."

"Hey—,"

"And... it's not just your responsibility, because it wasn't your fault." Pearl finished, pulling back enough to look Grian in his eyes. Wholly purple, uncanny and inhuman, yet somehow still him. "You know They will do what They please. Let us help you, buddy."

A shaking sigh. Martyn spoke up as Grian rubbed his face to hide all the purple under something more human. "To be honest, I'll still find a way to deal with the Watchers even if you say no, so," He hissed a bit, sarcastic, "Might just want to let all of us in on it, G."

Grian chuckled, rolling his normal eyes. The audacity. "Yeah, yeah, alright. You've wrung it out of me." He hummed, a tad dramatic. "Can't ever let me do anything on my own."

"Excuse you?!"

"Mate, you literally ask me and the other Hermits to help you a lot, like what?!"

Grian cackled as the conversation, finally, rolled into their usual banter. He could only do so much seriousness at a time, and he had honestly been reaching his limit. Now it was time for some calm.

Calm that would, hopefully, last until the inevitable storm.

===

Jimmy's wings twinged at his back. He was being watched.

...no, Watched.

He turned his head, hand on a build he was messing with and stared in horror. This was his private server, how did—?!

Hello.

SolidarityGaming has fallen out of the world. SolidarityGaming has left the game.

[youremyheaven]

Can you elaborate on your experiences with goddess worship? 🩷🩷

I started my journey with goddess worship in 2022. Chanting has always appealed to me and chanting mantras (beej mantras of the deity in question) while visualising the deity is how it started for me. I was drawn to a certain Goddess almost instinctively even though I did not know much about her up until that point and connecting with her energy made me feel really good. I felt bodily sensations that felt powerful and by chanting, it's akin to embodying the energy of the Goddess within yourself and making yourself sacred??? I remember how during the height of my practice, I'd get told often that I emanate a certain "glow" and that I had a very sage like aura lmao. I just remember being stared at often and being perceived in an almost exalted way.

However late 2022- much of 2023 was a tough time for me and I fell out of touch with my practice and really suffered as a result. I felt myself go haywire, I gained more weight, my hair was falling out in chunks, my skin was breaking out and it's like I did a 180 😭 I felt really lost spiritually and otherwise and struggled to feel any kind of balance. And these had very physical repercussions for me.

Then obviously, I found my way back and I regained fresh perspective and how important my practices including Goddess worship have been in shaping my internal landscape. Several months ago, I struggled with severe anxiety and it was prayer that helped me get through it. During those times yoga did feel a bit mechanical or robotic but I kept doing it simply because I'd rather do it than not do it.

Finding my way back into the practice has taught me so much. Spirituality is truly a calling and no matter how much you read/research/practice, unless the Divine calls you, you will remain blind to the true nature of living. This is not to discourage anyone, in fact I suggest deep diving into it yourself and see what you gain from it. It's worthwhile to keep showing up everyday until you're called in further.

Also no spiritual practice makes you invulnerable. You're still human and you'll still make mistakes and be hurt/upset but you will have more grace moving through these experiences. You'll suffer less than others who make suffering their entire personality. One cannot embody the Goddess without also embodying her boundless mercy, infinitude reservoir of strength and tranquility.

It's always amusing to me when people say things like "oh why did the goddess not give you $5 billion and your dream life, what's even the purpose of worship them???" or "how can you be spiRitUaL when you watch movies/listen to music/are involved with men???". Being spiritually evolved does not mean you turn into a Zen master who lives in a cave.

The Goddess is not a vending machine. You want xyz things bc we live in a capitalist society where you're taught to value them. The Goddess gives you internally and when you're sorted within, you can make strides in life. Obviously she also often throws miracles your way but it's important to understand that the purpose of prayer and worship is not making $$$ or whatever. Im not saying you shouldn't pray for money or material things just that you shouldn't look at prayer as some kind of quick fix for financial woes???

You can still have a life, hobbies, interests etc and you don't have to "transcend" beyond them. You don't become less Zen by shaking your ass to Nicki Minaj 😬

However it will be hard to be a part of stan culture and celebrity worship because you won't care anymore and it won't feel right?? We worship money, fame and celebrities because our soul craves for connection and worship is inherently a part of our making. But it's important to not worship false gods (like money, fame and celebrities). Remember you are what you worship.

My personality has changed remarkably in the last couple of years and maybe even every few months, i feel like a new person and that's another feature of one's evolution. It's easier to accept and imbibe fresh insights and be comfortable with growth and change.

The concept of mantra purusha (which is different but similar to all the chanting ive been doing all along) is still very new to me (thank you to that anon who lmk about it) but Im reading David Frawley's book and it's all kind of coming together.

Goddess worship helps me feel connected to a profound nurturing spirit, a tranquil cosmic bliss, divine sensuality and ultimate peace and abundance.

All that said, do not start your Goddess worship unless you're prepared to commit to it daily and tbh once you start and feel its effect, you probably will want to worship everyday hehe

its actually helped me embody femininity in a way that did not feel limiting instead more transcendent, powerful and beyond whatever society tells you to be.

[isolarya]

The Watchers

I think it's high time we talked about the Watchers, don't you? They're the monsters with a thousand eyes all in purple, seeking to hurt, to destroy-

Except they're not. These are Watchers told through stories and tales, passed down and down again. These are the Watchers we know, but there are others.

So let's talk about them. Let's go back.

Who are the Watchers?

(note from iso: these are my own opinions and headcanons! in no way take them as rules or me saying any other interpretations are wrong. they are all perfectly valid! this is just me making a fun headcanon and story based off an interesting fact i learned! but with fancy talk! this is honestly me just rewriting a lot of watcher stuff for personal headcanons)

This is my history of the Watchers, one piece at a time...

The Beginnings - PRE-EVO

Before Third Life, before Hermitcraft, there is Evo. The Watchers don't come from Evo. They come from before it, taken along on Grian's wings. They watch him, revel in his joy and take amusement in his falls. For now, they care about Grian, just like us. For them, there isn't much else to care about. How they found Grian, we may never know. But they did, and that's what matters. For a while, it is just a pesky bird- although he isn't quite that yet- and his many-eyed "friends". And then Grian lands in Evo.

The First Cohort - EVO

Before we remember the Watchers are gods, we must remember they were players first. When they land on Evo, they are still attached to Grian. in a way, they are part of him. His powers as admin seeps into them, and theirs into him. They watch the players with great interest, at first. But eventually, they do get bored. And so, the first portal is created. It hops them just a bit forward in time, into a slightly different universe, and the Watchers watch enjoy the new show. Then it happens again. And again. And again. Grian is the favourite, they soon learn. Chaos incarnate. The Watchers need entertainment, just like us, and Grian provides all the fun they could ever hope for. They like him, just as they used to. They play with him, even if he doesn't like it. He needs them, right? And they need him. It's fair, until it isn't. Finally, the Watchers have enough of this too. After long last, the players make it into the End. We all know the story. They find themselves alone on the pale yellow island in the void, with the black dragon looming above them. But there's something interesting about the End.

The Void - THE END

See, the End is in a void. A deadly void, full of stars that swarm you and kill you the moment you sink too deep. In the end, there is a portal, starry and shining and born of death, as dark as the void itself. And you jump in. You wake up, fresh in your bed, your anchor, your spawn. Do you wonder why? You died. But you wake up, because the universe loves you, blesses you with the precious gift of respawn. And here is where things change. Grian jumps into the portal. He dies.

With the Eyes - WITH THE WATCHERS

For a while, Grian is theirs. They take him away from Evo, claim him, pretend that everything is alright. After all, how is Grian supposed to be fun if he's upset? For a while, Grian is with the Watchers. It's fine, at first. The day the Watchers show him Evo again is the day they make their mistake. The one that changes everything. Grian refuses to toy with his friends. And so, he runs.

The Listeners - AFTER GRIAN

In the gap that Grian left behind, something new creeps into Evo. They know what the Watchers did. They know what needs to be done. And now, they aren't the only ones.

A Refuge - HERMITCRAFT SEASON SIX

For Grian, everything changes here. For the first time, he's not the focus of the Watchers' eye. Sure, they still swarm him and watch him, but that is nothing compared to Evo. Now, he has Scar and Mumbo and all the hermits and everything is going to be alright. Grian is safe. Sure, the Watchers may call for him to wage a little prank war, but what's the harm in that? Certainly nothing compared to Evo, that's for sure. Grian is free. The bird spreads its wings, and at last, it takes flight. His heart sings and sings and sings and he doesn't think he's ever been so happy in his life.

Canary Call - END OF EVO

Back in Grian's old home, the last remnants of the First Cohort linger. They've been dispersed, destroyed by time. And with their end comes Evo's end as well. The First Cohort dies that fateful night, forgotten by the Watchers that had left them behind. The Listeners escape the ruins of Evo, and they take the players with them. But it wasn't just the First Cohort that was left in the ruins. A second, older Watcher emerges from the darkness, and they change everything. They're going to go home.

Red on the Horizon - HERMITCRAFT SEASON SEVEN

At first, everything seems normal. The season starts like any other. They welcome Etho and Beef back, they have a bit of a base swap, Grian breaks down at least once- not necessarily in that order. Near the end of the season, Grian comes up with an idea. It'll be glorious. A game with three lives to live. Maybe he doesn't realise that's exactly what the Watchers want. Entertainment. They're excited, buzzing in their little corners of the world and watching with bright eyes like ours. Either way, Third Life begins.

To the Death - THIRD LIFE

The thing is, we all know what happens with Third Life. Loyalties are sworn, alliances are made, death is in the air. Whether the Watchers have a hand in this entertainment, who knows? When Third Life ends, the Red Army has fallen. The desert is a wasteland. The flower valley is abandoned. Dogwarts is silent. And above it all, there stands Grian, over a dear friend- perhaps more- who lies dead in the sand. Grian overlooks it all, and it is him the ghosts watch, accompanied by a thousand eyes. But Grian’s end is not the important thing here. No, it only brought a beginning to a new era of watching. The Watchers had followed Grian to Evo. To Hermitcraft. They had clung onto those players, twisting their tales to be entertaining. Why shouldn’t that happen with Third Life? It does.

Skyfall - HERMITCRAFT SEASON EIGHT

The Watchers are powerful. Where the First Cohort was passive, the new generation of Watchers take pride in leaning down and writing the story themselves. The beginning, the middle, and the end. The players are their puppets now, actors in a play until the end of time. And still, the Watchers are kind. The players are happy. No one knows why the moon fell. They weren't told then. You didn't know then. I can’t blame you. But let me tell you now. It was always going to be a means to an end. A world event, to bring the players together and a chance to weave new stories from the ashes, to test their control. To let them write their own stories too. The death of Season Eight was entertaining, if nothing else. And isn't that the only thing that matters? Are you happy yet? Entertained? Do you know what you have done?

The Rapture - EMPIRES

For the Watchers, the point of Third Life was never the game. It was the possibilities, the new players pulled from every corner of the world. It had never just been the hermits. When the game ended, the players went home. The Watchers followed. Here we stand, in Empires, where a new land was created by these players. Here, there are gods and deities, emperors and empires. There are Watchers. I call them the higher beings of Empires. They are not like the Watchers of Hermitcraft, who only twisted the strings of fate, nor the First Cohort, which only sought to be entertained. No. These new Watchers will create the story with the players as their puppets, even if they have to end the world to do it. You guessed this would happen. Are you pleased you are right? They listened to you. It only took a stroke of bad luck for Empires to end. An explosion, an earthquake, fire and ice and blade and ash. It could have been a coin flip. Heads, they survive. Tails, the world burns. But as we know, the coin was always going to land tails anyway. If it didn’t, what would be the point? Empires burns. The Watchers have won.

Martyn - ALONE

Sometimes, the last blessed one of the Listeners calls out. Jimmy has forgotten, and Martyn isn’t brave enough to fight them. So he turns to you. Is this what you want? Look at the fires of Empires, at the ruins of Season Eight, at the friendships shattered by the promise of lives. Look at the hurt you’ve caused. Can you still believe you didn’t care? This isn’t a show. This is a story, with real souls and real lives and real people. Why would you want this? So you will be entertained? The players are not happy anymore. It is your fault. Stop watching. Write your own story instead. Their book is closed.

Never the End - YOU

It was a good game, they say- you say. A good story. One that needed to be told. The players have done their part, and you have repaid them in good times, fun times, moments of joy. The hurt had always been there. It was a price that had to be paid. Now, they are happy. You are happy. It was been a good show. But are you happy? The players are not. Are you? When you look back on this tragic tale, will you be happy? Will you want more? Will you write them a happy ending? There are no happy endings in this story, you say. Only bittersweet ones. And really, isn’t it Grian’s fault that he’s hurting? After all, he was only ever meant to watch.

[shandit]

My Current Guesses on Legends: Z-A Starters

So with Pokemon Legends: Z-A being announced, since we now know from PLA that Pokemon will gain a special final evolution based on their new environment. I wanted to toss my hat into the ring of predictions for which 3 previous starters we're gonna get.

First off let me say which ones I'm sure we're not gonna get and why.

Gen 6 Starters

As with PLA, Gen 6's Starters will not be part of the starters in PLZA. More than likely, they will be caught in the wild just like the Gen 4 Starters were in PLA.

Gen 1 Starters

I think it's very safe to say the Gen 1 Starters are not going to be picked. But, let me explain my proper reasoning.

With the reintroduction of Mega Evolution, and the likely fact PLZA will have our Protag & Crew be the ones to discover Mega Evolution, it's very likely the Starters we get will gain Mega Forms. This said, It's very unlikely GameFreak will use Pokemon with existing Mega Forms, even if said mons get a regional form. Because of this, I can safely say Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur are not going to be on the roster, and same goes for...

Gen 3 Starters

Same thing here, with the fact these guys already have Mega Forms, I find it highly unlikely GF is going to give them both a new regional evo + a new Mega.

PLA Starters

This one's kind of a given. Pokemon isn't going to reuse any of the starters from PLA cause that would just be odd to keep giving starters other regional forms (That said I am sad at the loss of Mega Typhlosion :[ )

Gen 9 Starters

The simple answer to this is just, the Paldea trio are just, too new. While I don't think that entirely rules them out. I do think it makes them less likely to be chosen for the next mainline game.

Now with the obvious removals talked about, let's go down the line of who's left and talk about why or why not they're likely to be chosen.

Chikorita

I didn't originally have anything to say about Chikorita, since I felt their odds were snuffed out by the other grass types here, however upon doing some more research, specifically on Meganium, I learned the daylily (the flower theorized to be what Meganium's flower is based on) was actually brought to Europe around the late 1750's-early 1800's. And with France's Urbanization having occured around the mid 1800's (Which is the time period people are guessing PLZA will take place in) There actually is a good chance for Chikorita to be chosen as their plant actually fits with the location and time period! However I cannot think of what type changes would make sense for this, so I do have to dock some points for that.

Overall chances - 6/10

Totodile

Totodile sadly doesn't seem like a great fit for PLZA. It is essentially just what it is, a Crocodile. And, a quick google search will show you, that besides the barren ice land of Antarctica, Europe is the only continent to not natively have any form of Crocodile or Alligator. GameFreak would have to get very creative here with something of French history or folklore to make Feraligator work for this.

Overall Chances - 1/10

Turtwig

Now Turtwig is an interesting one. Not only is there the fact the extinct turtle species Torterra is based was discovered in North-West Europe (Though mostly Germany & Switzerland) but Torterra as a Pokemon has a lot of potential when it comes to regional forms, thanks in part to the tree on it's back. France's national tree is the Yew, specifically the European or Common Yew, it's an evergreen tree that sprouts red berries (these berries are also very poisonous, meaning we could get a change of typing here to Grass Poison). I could see a Kalosian Torterra having an Ancient Yew tree on their back sporting a great harvest of berries. But, potential put aside, I don't see Turtwig being here simply cause there's another Gen 4 starter that fits the bill of this game much, much more than them.

Overall Chances - 4/10

Chimchar

Chimchar is one I just can't vouch for out of the few fire types we have here. Their Sun Wukong relevance is way to impactful on who the mon is, and Sun Wukong, while being from a story of "Journey to the West" only went to India, and never actually went to the actual west of the world. I also once again have to toss them to the side because of the face there is one more Gen 4 Starter that only makes sense to be in this game, and it's not them.

Overall Chances - 1/10

Piplup

THIS, THIS RIGHT HERE IS A GUARANTEED PICK.

Piplup is absolutely going to be the Water Starter of PLZA, you cannot change my mind about this, and for those of you not in the know, I have one name that will explain why.

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

Empoleon, as obvious as their name is, is in fact based on the Ex-emperor of France, General Napoleon Bonaparte. And, if we go back to the prediction of PLZA taking place in the mid 1800's... Guess what historical events seemed to also take place in the mid 1800's. Oh you know, just THE NAPOLEONIC WARS!

Piplup is my only and 100% has to be there guess, it would be a crime if they were not the chosen starter for this game. I legit would actually be angry if GameFreak missed this opportunity. As for potential typings... Water-Dark "could" make sense since Dark Type is just Evil type in Japan, and Napoleon is an evil dude in history. But I think Water-Fighting is much more likely, with Empleon probably going to take on much less of an Emperor Penguin look, and more of General Bonaparte, give him the Hat GameFreak, it would look funny.

Overall Chances - 10/10

Snivy

Snivy is also pretty much a guaranteed pick, and this is just from the simple fact of Serperior. Who is (supposedly) based on King Louis XVI of France & other European aristocrats, and that the fleur-de-lis, aka the French insignia used by many Noble families is visible in their design... Honestly, along with Piplup I would be flat out shocked if Snivy was not the grass starter for PLZA, like I would be baffled at how much of a lost chance that would be. As for potential regional typing, I could see it being Grass Ghost to represent the death of the French Monarchy... But that's it for my brain lmao

Overall Chances - 10/10

Tepig

Tepig is an odd one. On one hand, Snivy being basically guaranteed makes me obviously think another Gen 5 pick isn't going to make it into this group, but on the other hand...

Nah, I got nothing. Tepig is based way too much Chinese Culture and the tale of Zhang Fei to really fit into French culture. Just like Chimchar's inspiration from Journey to The West, it would feel wrong to change Tepig for the exact same reasons.

Overall Chances - 1/10

Litten

This one was more of a wildcard pick here for me, simply cause none of the fire types left had any real connections to France like Water and Grass had, I just found the idea of a regional form for Incineroar to be interesting. Though I had no idea how they would change a professional wrestler into something more fitting for early 1800's France... THAT IS UNTIL I DID SOME RESEARCH BABY!

So French Wrestling is actually really interesting, while it started in the 1830's, their style of wrestling, titled Graeco-Roman, was invented by a soldier FROM THE NAPOLEONIC WARS! Not only that, but it's even named "Classic Wrestling" meaning there actually is a good chance for Incineroar to be based on this style of wrestling for their Regional form! What better thing for the Wrestler Starter to use what is to many people the first style of wrestling that was used in the First ever Olympics! As for typing, Fire Normal could make some sense... I just really don't want it to be Fire Fighting, I think a lot of people would be disappointed if it somehow got the infamous Fire Starter typing.

Overall Chances - 9/10

Popplio

What can I even say about Popplio? I mean I guess maybe the fact Sirens originate from Europen folklore? But even then it's mostly Greek origins for that. There's nothing really tying Popplio in to fit the bill here, they're outclassed by a certain penguin of french origins.

Overall Chances - 2/10

Grookey

I think the Galar Starters are going to be the hardest to even justify, really the only thing any of them have going for them is the fact they come from Galar, which is based on Great Britain, a country that was France's rival in the war to own the world.

However none of that has anything to do with Grookey, the drummer monkey really doesn't have anything to offer! Rillaboom could maybe play a different instrument, but I don't think going from a pair of drum sticks to a bugle is probably gonna work out well. Perhaps though I'm just not putting my mind into it well enough.

Overall Chances - 3/10

Scorbunny

Again, I've got nothing. Realistically I guess you could make a pun here and have Cinderace being a French foot soldier. Though French hares are a common animal, and rabbits in of themselves are abundant all across Europe. I'm just personally wondering what exactly they could do with the fella that makes them properly unique enough to earn that spot, and right now I just don't see it.

Overall Chances - 4/10

Sobble

Last but not least, We have Sobble. Now surprisingly, I could actually see them being used, Intellion is based on James Bond and 007, and being a spy, well French spies obviously existed, there's also the fact a spy can also be an assassin if need be. Water Poison Intellion that shoot poisoned bolts of water from fingertips, yeah that could work.

Issue here though you have to put Sobble up against the other water types here, and well... Piplup.

Overall Chances - 3/10

And that's it! So TL:DR for anyone not reading here are the rankings most likely to least likely by types

Grass :

1 Snivy

2 Chikorita

3 Turtwig

4 Grookey

Water

1 Piplup

2 Sobble

3 Popplio

4 Totodile

& Fire

1 Litten

2 Scorbunny

3 Tepig & Chimchar

Meaning the most likely Starters for PLZA are going to be

Snivy, Litten, and Piplup.

[stupidsketchpad]

hey guys. im here to rant about how 2econd 2ight 2eer (second sight seer) by will wood is secret life bigb's song because god its eerie how similar the song lyrics are to his character. AHEM (also spoilers for secret life)

My grip on my secrets slipping while I'm speaking in tongues

ok. this is a really good start lol. basically bigb's task don't mean much when he does weird shit anyway for fun and, quote from grian, "writes his own tasks"

Screaming at the top of my lungs in the confession booth

he's saying stuff that litterally makes no sense. even after his task is done he wont tell anyone (confession booth is kinda like people asking about your task after it's done. your confessing your task to someone)

Take it with a pillar of salt, H.A.L.T., it's not my fault

i got nothing man

The devil made me do it, but I also kinda wanted to

THIS LINE AHSHDHSHAH. THE SECRET KEEPER GIVES HIM THE TASKS CAUSE HE HAS TO BUT HE WANTS TO DO THEM ANYWAY ANDDDD MAKE THEM AS CONFUSING AS POSSIBLE. SECRET KEEPER COUNTS AS THE DEVIL HERE

I'm cut from a different kind of meat

More than you can chew, hard to swallow me

"what the hell are you doing??" is a common question he gets asked. hard to swallow. y'know

Forget bored stiff, I got rigor mortis, call it morbid curiosity

How I cannot commit to reality, when my third eye's open and I like what I see

he's doing shit for the sake of doing shit.

Baby, I may be crazy but I didn't lose it, no I set it free

AAAAA THIS LINE TOOO!!! ok so he didn't just randomly start lying in secret life. it was weird before that too! i cant speak for double but LIMITED LIFE he was also confusing people about being the boogeyman. basically that one meme with the "guy weird about everything but its drowned out by how weird about everything the other people are"

I can't ignore what's under dance floorboards, the rhythm of my heart a dead-as-disco beat

But I still move my feet

To slip out of this groove, I'm free

dont got much here but i think this is just him having fun, yknow

Now to row, row, row my boat over the falls

And maybe wake up from but a dream, yeah

"but a dream" is the games. there are three rows in the line. lose your lives to get the game over with.

I'm just a psycho, babe

Come and go out my mind

I didn't lose it babe

There wasn't much to find

once again, this wasnt the first time he was being weird!!!

I'm just a psycho, babe

Come and go out my mind

I'm only passing through

say weird shit, refuse to elaborate, leave.

Oh, oh, o-o-oh

If you knew what I knew, if you saw what I see

You'd look through illusions, hallucinations, and lucid dream

And I know that meaning can be such a pretty thing to keep

But I got facts and I'm not afraid to use 'em, take the good with the bad, take off the back you make a new front

evo, anyone? anyway this man knows about watchers and doesnt care. he knows! he just doesn't give that any meaning.

Some days I'm glad that I am a madman and I'd rather be that than

An amicable animal, mild-mannered cannibal

red lives and how bigb doesn't have the same bloodlust as they do. this guy doesn't kill much, he's like the most passive on the server. /srs

But I'm more level-headed and clever than ever and I'm getting better one forever at a time

how many people guessed any of bigb's tasks? that's right, zero! (if i remember correctly.) he's getting better at the games (btw the games being referred to as "forevers" is just ahshahdghs)

And if sick is defined by what's different, well then pull the plug out and let me die

not much here

Vice-versa, vice versus virtue

Well who I am I choose through all the things I do

AAAAAAAA HE CHOOSES HOW HE IS PERCEIVED BY THE OTHERS BY SAYING HIS STUFF YA GET WHAT IM SAYING

And if it rhymes, it's true, but I hate poetry

contradicting himself. easy peasy analysis here folks.

Now with my moral compass pointing south, I'm going down

With no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no respect for reality

could say this is going red! but also. "going down?" LIKE A HOLE? HE MADE A HOLE?????

I'm just a psycho, babe

Come and go out my mind

I didn't lose it babe

There wasn't much to find

I'm just a psycho, babe

Come and go out my mind

I'm only passing through

I'm just a psycho, babe

Come and go out my mind

I didn't lose it babe

There wasn't much to find

I'm just a psycho, babe

Come and go out my mind

same stuff

A tourist passing through

Well that was fun, goodbye

he died. but hey, he had fun!

anyways thats all thank you for listening to me ramble about songs and minecraft i WILL do this again. sorry if this is incoherent i wrote it at 10:00 pm.

psst... moot... @bigb-enthusiast... would you like this?

[front-facing-pokemon]

[sweetbabymantykes]

urgent wuestion: mom bought me a sharpedo ive never trained pokemon before what do i do

Wait wait wait, time out. She...bought you a Sharpedo? As your first pokemon??? Has- has SHE ever had a pokemon before? Have you ever expressed interest in raising a Sharpedo? Where the hell did she go where they were just SELLING SHARPEDO???? I have so. So many questions. Anon, if she didn't get this pokemon from a certified breeder or a shelter, PLEASE look into the legality of wherever she got it from, there are VERY FEW places that will just sell fully-grown pokemon to someone, much less one as care-intensive as a Sharpedo.

That being said, it sounds like you want to make sure this pokemon is happy and healthy regardless, which is a good thing to want! There's a few basic standards of care to establish first- food, habitat, and trust.

Luckily, food is by far the easiest part of caring for a Sharpedo. Sharpedo, unlike their juvenile pre-evos, are obligate carnivores- which means they NEED to eat a diet of primarily meat in order to live. Outside of this requirement, though, they're some of the least picky eaters I know. You should keep them primarily on a seafood diet, and you can feed them any fish you want. There's standard water-type carnivore food they sell at the Pokemart, if you're able to get them fresh fish you can feed them almost anything, but in my experience their favorites are Lanturn, Veluza, Lumineon, Squirtle, and Wishiwashi fry- you don't even need to get stuff from an aquarist, you can just buy some fish at the store. Any seafood that's safe for a human is more than safe for a Pokemon. You can also feed them land meat, but most kinds tends to have much higher fat content than their natural diet of fish. Keep burgers and fried Combusken for occasional treats, rather than their main diet. Try not to let them eat wild pokemon, either. It may be tempting to let them just act on their instincts, but you cannot possibly know if that wild Lanturn it just ate had parasites or a communicable disease. If it eats one anyway, get it to a pokemon center asap to be screened.

For their habitat, you'll ideally want access to the ocean. If you're worried about them swimming off- don't be, they can go really fast, but only in short bursts. You should be able to keep up with them on foot. If that's not an option and they don't have a ball, consider getting them one, it'll make it a lot easier to train them. If you don't have access to the ocean, you will at LEAST need access to a clean body of water large enough for them to go full speed for a while- a quarter to a half mile long in either direction. They can zoom around on land too, but vastly prefer the water. That's just for enrichment, you won't be keeping them there while you're at home. If you have them in a ball there's a lot of habitat building you can gloss over, but as a matter of good husbandry you'll still need a saltwater tank for them to rest in. If they only swim in freshwater, they can swell up and get sick, if you keep them on land for more than 8 hours a day they'll shrivel up and get sick from dehydration. You'll need, minimally, a 500 gallon saltwater tank. Remember, this is a pokemon roughly the size of a grown adult, even if a lot of the height and width is just fins. You could maaaaaybe get away with 400 gallons, but it's gonna be tight. At the very least you won't need to worry about tank decoration. Aside from substrate/sand/gravel, you at least won't need to worry about decorating the tank. Sharpedo isn't that concerned with having hides or rock, they're more content to just swim around aimlessly. If you don't have the room or access to a tank like this, a lot of aquarists and aquariums have spaces for people to let their friends recharge in the water- but this is usually for people who are travelling and are away from their usual tank, not for people who live in the area and don't have a tank.

The hardest part, more difficult than finding the space for your Sharpedo, is building trust. The most common way trainers will build trust with their Sharpedo is by raising them from a Carvanha, but you unfortunately don't have that kind of luxury. And depending on where your mom got this pokemon, you could be at an even worse disadvantage, potentially having received a pokemon that has already learned to be wary of people. The first thing you'll need is a lot of patience. It takes a lot of time for even a wild Sharpedo to trust a human, but once you have that bond they're fiercely loyal. Despite their reputation as fearsome violent killers, they're generally a lot more curious or energetic than they are malicious. At the very least, their 'bloodlust' tends to be pretty well sated after a filling meal. I don't know how your Sharpedo will react to you, but here's my advice for getting it to trust you. Firstly: Don't touch it. I mean it, do not touch this pokemon unless you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, and if you DO have to, wear gloves, and do it fast. Sharpedo skin will absolutely tear your palms to shreds if you aren't wearing any protective gear, and getting your hands in biting range of an already-stressed predator is a very good way to lose your fingers. Actually building that trust is going to depend a lot on what your Sharpedo's personality is. More energetic and aggressive natures will want to spend a lot of time doing things- battle training, agility courses, learning tricks, whatever. The more quiet and contemplative ones will just need time, there's not much you can do there except calmly spend time in their vicinity, feed them, and regularly bring them places where they can zoom around in the water to their heart's content. My own Sharpedo didn't really see me as someone worth trusting until after I had already won two badges with them- not all Sharpedo will be like that, but most of the stories I've heard from other trainers have had that similar thread of taking a looooot of time and effort until they truly trust you enough to exhibit that loyalty and comfort.

I just dumped like eight paragraphs worth of advice here, but I'm barely scratching the surface. For sure take this Sharpedo to the pokemon center to make sure they're up to date on their innoculations and see if there's any medical issues to be aware of, bring your new friend to a local aquarist to get a one-on-one professional opinion, spend time with your Sharpedo as an individual and pay attention to their likes and dislikes. They're far from mindless killing machines, they're complex, intelligent creatures with a discerning eye and sharply honed instincts. If you find yourself unable to care for your Sharpedo and are unable to find a friend or trainer able and willing to care for it in your stead, make sure whatever shelter you bring it to IS prepared to care for it- though I do still encourage you to try caring for it, anywhere that will just...sell pokemon FOR MONEY without any real vetting process will probably not leave their pokemon with strong senses of trust or very good mental health. Please care for this Sharpedo as best you can, and see what in arceus' name your mom was THINKING when she picked this up, holy hell.

[salemoleander]

I don't watch the life series, but from what I'm getting from the BigB Task Situation is this iteration still potentially has boogies, just with an extra step

For sure! I don't think it's Boogeys in the same way obvs, but 'randomly assigned detrimental task' is very much the same line of thinking as 'randomly assigned murder task'.

It seems like there's four options, and I don't know which I believe, or even which is more likely:

BigB screwed up his resource pack install specifically, Grian wrote one poorly considered task, and coincidence has decided to rear its ugly head. Evo hints are because Grian is still fundamentally the same person and he likes making big ominous statues tell people to solve little riddles and puzzles for prizes.

BigB's actual task was to dig a big hole, but the red envelope wasn't an accident. Red envelope tasks are special in that they suck/require antisocial behavior. The Evo stuff is ditto 1, just coincidence because it's made by the same guy and every storyteller has their favored elements.

The red envelope tasks are some kind of Plot Thing or communication from an entity opposed to the Secret Keeper, as mentioned in my big red string theory post. Evo hints here point to some kind of plot.

He's lying to us. BigB actually had a different, more detrimental task to complete, and 'dig a big hole. all the way down' is a decoy task ala Amongus. This would be the most similar to Boogeyman, where there's a secret mechanic but not necessarily any 'lore' beyond that. Evo hints are just included to prompt audience doubt and investigation, slightly more intentional than in 1/2 but not leading anywhere as in 3.

[tubbytarchia]

Self indulgent Jimmy & Martyn & Netty Evo insanity thoughts sorry

I'm not usually into big grand storylines to explain away the connections of multiple SMPs, especially watchers, I care very little for them, but I can't stop thinking about what happened after Evo... Why was Jimmy so alone for so long afterward... where did Martyn and Netty go, and what took so long for Martyn to come back, and why didn't Netty...

Can't help but think about Martyn taking up responsibility. Of him being Jimmy's first friend, of them knowing each other when they were little wee kids. And then finding a creature in the woods (Netty). How Jimmy and Pearl were spared from whatever happened right after Evo and went on to be part of other Worlds shortly afterward. How Jimmy largely had no one - had to fend for himself, and told himself he could do it. And in the end of Legacy and X Life he died all alone. How much he must have missed Netty and Martyn and the stability they brought

Can't help thinking about where Martyn was and why he acted the way he did towards Jimmy in 3rd Life. Why he accused him of not caring for Property Police anymore, how he proclaimed they weren't "friends like that" anymore. Yet evidently he still felt some of that self-assigned responsibility to be the caretaker, evidently he still cares so much about Jimmy. What if he's thinking "why did I have to go through that, and not you?" (even though I never wanted you to), "you don't know what it was like, you don't know what I had to go through" (akin to the way Martyn also votes for Jimmy to stay in Southlands in Last Life even after making a big show of how Jimmy should be exiled). Whatever it was, that happened after Evo, that also seems to have just fucking taken people like Netty away from them, he doesn't want to tell Jimmy, for Jimmy's own good, because he cares about him. It can't be helped that Martyn sometimes treats him poorly or says insensitive things, it's for Jimmy's own good, even as Martyn has no one to talk to about it. He thinks things to have been unfair and they WERE unfair. He took on the role of caretaker, and he's not in the wrong to feel frustrated. Jimmy doesn't know how hard it was for Martyn, and Martyn doesn't know how hard it was for Jimmy. How much Jimmy waited for him, how much he needs Martyn right now. How much he needed Martyn when Martyn set the ground between them on fire, declaring his chance to have passed. How much he wanted to prove himself to be capable so Martyn could be proud when he returned

How Jimmy would always retain dwindling hope each new world even after 3L that Netty would be fine too, and come back. Martyn had, Martyn was there, but their early Evo trio is incomplete. If Netty returned, surely they'd be able to go back to how things were and Martyn could be happy too. But with the way Martyn treated him, would Jimmy, at any dwelling of the thought that Netty could still be out there, think that maybe Netty wouldn't want to see him again? Hasn't wanted to for a reason?

Sorry I'm. ailing. I fucking hate minecraft

[fogwitchoftheevermore]

Do you want a better understanding of (part of) Evolutions SMP but don't want to watch it? Then this is the post for you!

I just finished Pearl's POV of Evos, and wrote notes on every episode as I went, so that if you haven't watched Evos yet and/or don't plan to, but still want to understand what happened in it, you can reference this!

It's important to note that Pearl joins a good few months into the series. By that point, a lot of the classic parts of the server like the Property Police, the Mafia, and the Grian Empire have been well established. Taurtis is already gone from the server by the time she joins. However, she experiences a lot of the important stuff with the Watchers and Listeners near the middle and end of the series, so you're not missing everything. I'm planing to watch either Martyn or Jimmy's POVs next, as they were there from the beginning, but any notes I do for them will take longer, as they have many more episodes.

The notes summarizing all of Pearl's episodes will be below the cut!

Also, whenever I wrote down messages from the Watchers and Listeners I transcribed the exact grammar and spelling. I promise. This is only really relevant for one word the Listeners use at one point, but they also use some weird capitalization.

Episode 1: Pearl enters Evos by falling out of the sky (and promptly dying). Grian greets her at spawn and gives her some materials to get started. Both of them are resigned to Steve skins because the version they're on is so old, and Grian asks Pearl how it feels to be a guy. She says she feels like she’s “missing a few things” while looking down. This isn’t important I just think she’s hilarious. They are briefly distracted by Grian attempting to tame an ocelot to make it into Maui (he fails). Grian talks about how Pearl has been watching the series so she’s up to date, as she joined about halfway through. Something something watcher moment. Pearl gets started on her base, and explains the concept of Evos, including the Watchers. She says that no one knows what they are, but they are always watching and build the portals to help the Evolutionists through the versions.

Episode 2: Pearl continues work on her base, and talks about how she’s going to build a large phoenix on top of it. She does not do this. She talks about the Elmo prank she and Jimmy pulled on Grian on his stream and shows it off. Pearl arrives back at her base after getting levels and enchanting to a message from the Property Police (Martyn and Jimmy), telling her she needs to give her coords to the police within 3 days or they’ll “let Elmo loose. Pearl decides she just wants to see what they do if she doesn’t listen. Pearl decides to give an “anti-welcome gift” where she leaves every member a present as her welcome to the server. Most of the gifts aren’t really important but I need you to know she makes BigB cookies. 

Episode 3: Pearl shows off the sheep she built on stream to make fun of Grian and his “sheep escaping the pen” issue. She FINALLY starts eating bread consistently instead of rotten flesh and cements herself as the server’s crazy cat lady with her many cats. She goes to show off another prank, inside Grian’s head in spawn, and finds that Martyn has taken over Taurtis’ house with his own face and dubbed himself “Mayor Morty”. He even changed the signs on Pearl’s gift to Taurtis to refer to him. The prank on Grian’s head was a squid Elmo hanging out on top of him (she calls it a squelmo). Pearl continues work on her base and adds some vines and flowers and builds a large hummingbird statue to drink from them. MiniMuka (hereafter called Mini) shows up and they start talking about the fact that Systemzee (hereafter called Zee) locked him in a basement for two weeks because he’s in the mafia. Pearl is disbelieving, saying she doesn’t think Zee has the heart. Mini concedes, joking he wanted to be locked in the basement. Mini punches Pearl’s cat and then attempts to recruit her into the mafia by giving her a silk touch diamond pick. This is ineffective. They visit Netty’s flower forest on the way to a nether fortress, though Netty isn’t there (😔). Pearl doesn’t show them in the Nether fortress, but he probably figures it out, idk, I haven’t seen his POV. 

Episode 4: The episode starts with Pearl mentioning that she’d just graduated from university, god damn. She has also amassed many more cats in between episodes, as well as another set of signs, this time from “Pete Bills” (Jimmy) warning her not to join the mafia and to “stick her head in the sand”. Jimmy has also given her some assorted wool. Grian has put up a LARGE sign on the back wall of his base, facing hers, that reads “THE EMPIRE NEEDS [image of a pearl that looks like a snowball]”. Pearl decides to give her response (a yes to joining) in snowballs to make fun of it. She says that she might be biased towards Grian when it comes to making a decision on who to join, but she feels bad that Grian is lonely without Taurtis on. Pearl’s comments have been complaining about the fact that the back of Grian’s buildings are terribly bland (yeah), and Pearl offered to decorate them since Grian won’t. Grian agreed, and she asks the commenters for ideas. She continues to work on her base and then builds a sheep walking up the walls of a building in downtown Evo. Pearl leaves her “yes” to joining the Grian Empire at his building in downtown Evo.

Episode 5: Zee and Pearl are now collaborating on part of the back of Grian’s base, so Pearl’s plans for the episode have changed. Taurtis’ house has been destroyed and walled off (Pearl suspects a meteor hit it). Pearl’s gift for him is still there though. Turns out it’s part of a Watcher quest. In attempting to follow the clues, she accidentally finds a Watcher's message for Taurtis. However, she gets lost trying to figure out the second clue in the quest, so she returns home to continue work on her base. 

Episode 6: Netty has left Pearl a rainbow trail of wool to follow. It leads her to a large wool tower and platform with a chest containing a lot of gold as a gift. It’s lovely but she does fall off and die, so. Someone has set up a sign at spawn for “EVO PRIME”. You can leave a request for… something and when it is fulfilled you can head to a locker at the coords listed to retrieve it. Pearl goes to check out the locker, and when she activates the dispensers, she is dropped into a lava trap and loses all her stuff. She dies in lava again while on a mining trip to restock. 

Episode 7: Pearl adds an Evos logo to the back of Grian’s base to make it less of an eyesore. It’s really cool especially considering the limited build pallet. The Watchers have built a large flower in front of it in the MIDDLE of her path. It is surrounded by her cats and has a set of coordinates on it. Netty was apparently the person behind the locker, so she has given Pearl an apology gift of diamonds, gilded melons, an eye of ender, and many fire res potions. Pearl starts her quest at spawn, where she finds a hole leading down to an area filled with bedrock and an unlit nether portal. There are directions on how to light the portal and move to the next version- for Pearl, her starting clue is the flower. She finds the location the coords lead to and there finds a long clue.

It reads: “A good builder must understand all aspects of Minecraft. Challenge your survival side and discover your clue. Below you will find a maze inhabited by Skeletons, Zombies, and Creepers… OH MY! There are also 3 rooms containing coordinates. In order to see them, however, you must first find the heart of the empire and use it to unseal the three rooms. Once done, XYZ will reveal your clue.”

Why is it not rhyming? Dw about it (seriously). “The Heart of the Empire” is three TNT and a flint and steal, which tracks. She remarks that “as a builder” using TNT is painful which I think is very funny. She collects her new coords and moves on. This leads her to the clue she's meant to put at spawn, four dashes, and she returns to spawn to replace her name on the clue board with the dashes. The video ends with Pearl returning to the now completed clue board and the lit portal below spawn, finding that the rest of the Evolutionists have left without her. She jumps through the portal, and the moment she is in the next update she gets a horse. Finally. Transportation.

Episode 8: Pearl relocates her sheep prank so they are no longer in the way of her base. She works on it some more, and she has a skin now! Jimmy, AKA Pete Bills, has come by to steal some wool in exchange for five diamonds. Pearl is concerned by how much he must have taken to deserve that much payment. The group gets together for pig racing and it’s a good time for all involved (also crumbs of BigB and Pearl interactions let’s go.) Pearl wins the race and wins some diamonds and a lot of other stuff.

Episodes 9&10: Pearl’s episodes 9&10 are spliced together for some reason. She starts the episode enchanting all her diamond armor in preparation for her Ender Dragon fight. The Evolutionists gather together at spawn to prepare, and Grian gives everyone a ton of materials (he over prepared, he and Tom are the only ones who had never fought a dragon). They enter an edited stronghold with a completed portal (thanks Watchers). Despite everyone entering the same portal, they fight the dragon individually. Pearl’s fight is uneventful, and then the Evolutionists all get the same message from two Watchers in place of the end credits. I really recommend watching this yourself, it starts at 14:39 and is very interesting. Pearl does cut the credits themselves, though. Instead of the actual Minecraft creator credits, the Watchers have added all the players, including Grian, who’s name is grayed out like he’s in spectator, BUT NOT INCLUDING JIMMY LOL. Pearl then has a montage of her and Grian hanging out with Grian slowly fading from each moment because she’s MEAN TO ME.

Everyone, sans Jimmy, Mini, and Zee, falls into new spawn. If you want to know why Jimmy isn’t there- go watch his Evos EP 98 for context. Zee and Mini eventually show up at new spawn, but later than everyone else for some reason. They figure it out dw. The group starts to go back to old spawn to get their stuff, and talk briefly about the fact that Grian is a Watcher now. They all agree that he’s not necessarily the best choice, but whatever he pulls as a Watcher will probably be par for the course.

They find old spawn- and all their builds- ruined and broken by time, and a structure from the Watchers is there for them, alongside a book called “The Future”, reading: “Our meeting was short and your victory grand. Now 10 become 9 and you must leave this land. Our reasons are just though you won’t understand. Your actions have caused this, accidental or planned. Tread now to your homes, carry only what you can. Any more will be frowned on and the sentence, a ban. We The Watchers Have Spoken.”

The Evolutionists are… kinda upset! They all return to their homes to collect their things, and find that anyone’s houses that were a good distance from spawn (including Grian’s downtown area) are untouched.

They all find ender chests that they didn’t have before as well, which contain a book titled “Greetings” from the Listeners. The book reads: “There are some who watch. We are those who listen. And we do not agree with their most recent decision. “Carry only what you can”, what you deem here is best. We grant you more space by making use of this chest. SHHHhhh…..”

To be clear: THIS IS NOT THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE LISTENERS. As Martyn tells the group, the Listeners previously contacted Martyn and Jimmy and said they would give them a mission soon. Martyn didn’t hear from them again until this moment, and Jimmy received his first mission from them when he returned from the end- to deliver everyone their ender chests so they can bring more with them. Everyone agrees the Watchers have been kinda rude, so they’re willing to disobey with the ender chests. They all collect their things and reconvene at old spawn before heading out. 

Episode 11: Pearl begins by collecting items for her brand new base and starts it. She also builds a Mumbo Jumbo certified redstone contraption. Thank you Mumbo for your service to the “bad at redstone” community. 

Episode 12: Pearl continues work on her new base and makes a guardian farm. She builds a chicken bomb at Jimmy and Martyn’s place and has her Poultry Woman moment. The group meets up at spawn and finds the community billboard has a set of coordinates on it, so off on an adventure we go. Martyn and Netty have set up a game show- called the Double Deity Dummy Dash. They’ll be put in pairs for two challenges where they use their eyes and ears to recreate some art. It’s a fun game but it’s not important so you can watch it for yourself to enjoy it. However, Netty says it was designed with the idea of “the Watchers and Listeners working together” in mind, so, there’s that. Pearl also sings a bit in this episode and she has a very nice voice :)

Episode 13: The episode opens with Pearl receiving an invitation to the mansion of Alfred Bottomsworth for a dinner party. The Evolutionists arrive to the party and meet the butler- note that the Butler is the only NPC that talks, and only talks in the chat- and they all enter and take their seats at the table. The butler begins screaming for help, and then runs downstairs and announces that the master of the house has been murdered (who could’ve seen this coming in the murder mystery episode). Salem, BigB, and Pearl split off to investigate with the gardener. They eventually find a letter from the gardener to their lover, Alfred Bottomsworth’s daughter, and learn that they had a forbidden romance. Intrigue! The group reconvenes to discuss who the murderer could be, and decide on the gardener. They successfully solve the crime, and that’s it, lol. This episode is entirely irrelevant to the rest of the SMP and and I’m obsessed with it. More SMPs should do this.

Episode 14: Pearl’s episode begins with a sign from Jimmy reading “What’s that sound at spawn?” The sound in question is a strange ticking and music, and the Evolutionists all gather to see what it is. They find a piece of glass in the center of spawn, and they break it in order to drop down into something resembling the area the Watchers used under old spawn to give clues and portals. However, it opens into a labyrinth, and the Listeners symbol is there in white bedrock. Zee received a book when he got down there because he was the first one down, and he gives it to Jimmy, who then gives it to Martyn because he’s laughing too hard to read.

It’s titled “Freedom” and reads: “There are some who watch. We are those who listen. If you flee, you’ll be free, and complete your recission. Single versions are slow. New adventures in store. Come with us and we’ll give you lots more to explore. Make haste through this maze, as a portal awaits. Make the choice quick, and take control of your fates. SHHhhh…..”

The Evolutionists split down the tunnels to try and find the end of the maze, encountering many mobs and more symbols of the Listeners. Netty quickly finds a large nether portal, and they all meet up at it. Martyn takes attendance to make sure everyone is there, and is the first to run into the portal. Pearl cuts it very quickly after he runs in, and then cuts to her, BigB, and Jimmy alone in the room, which implies, but does not state or show, that the other members followed Martyn through. Pearl then runs into the portal as well. As we can see in most other POVs of this scene, everyone eventually runs into the portal.

Episode 15: Pearl’s next episode starts with her absolutely struggling with Australian ping. Pearl explains that the Listeners brought them from 1.8 to 1.12 (hence “single versions are slow”), and unfortunately her Minecraft is struggling with the new version (and the 900 chickens in her basement). She updates her base with another tower with all the new blocks as well.

It should be noted- this is the second to last episode of Pearl’s series, and the next episode is Evo’s official finale. Most of the server is empty, at this point. Taurtis hadn’t logged on in months, Grian left after the dragon fight, BigB, Salem, and Tom all unofficially ended a few episodes after that, Zee ended around Halloween just before the Listeners' portal, Martyn’s ends with him jumping into the Listeners' portal, and Mini’s ends with a farewell episode after the jump to 1.12. The only people who are still on are Jimmy and Netty, who both played with her to the “finale” of the server around Christmas.

Episode 16: The episode opens with Jimmy, Netty, and Pearl celebrating Christmas and the finale of the series. The three of them spend the finale playing games and enjoying themselves to end the series. At one point, all of the snow golems they’ve summoned start fighting a random skeleton and then each other, and Jimmy makes a remark about how they didn’t want to end Evos with a war. You can make angst out of that if you want, kings. Pearl’s finale ends with an aesthetically pleasing series of shots of the sever overlaid with happy memories from the server, including clips from other people’s episodes to tell the story properly. It’s very bittersweet.

[adobe-outdesign]

Any thoughts design-wise on the Beldum line?

(This is the last request in the inbox right now. Send 'em if you got 'em, otherwise I might just do some randomly generated picks.)

I find it disappointing that GameFreak did a non-dragon like pseudo-legendary one (1) time and then never again. I like dragons as much as the next person, but why exactly does every pseudo-legendary have to be one nowadays? It would be like if every legendary was a psychic-type.

But part of the reason I find it disappointing is that the one time they did do a non-dragon pseudo, it absolutely slapped. Beldum hear is this bizzaro, alien-like magnetic creature with a single eye and claws on its end. I'm not even sure what it's supposed to be (I guess it's vaguely dumbbell-ish, based off its Japanese name), but it's such an interesting monster that's almost ultra-beast like in its presentation.

Visually, the body shape has this great scraggly look to it that I really like (Gen 3 has a lot of these. Solrock and Regirock are two other examples), and the red eye with a black background really pops against the blue body. I'm not sure why it has another hole by the eye, but it does give it a nice sense of visual asymmetry.

Metang makes it clear what this line's going for, and it's really cool—each stage fuses together, so two Beldums make a Metang, two Metang's make a Metagross, etc. I'm not a huge fan of evos where they just copy/paste the same Pokemon twice, so this is a good solution that's in the same spirit but actually gives us a unique design.

Also, because of this gimmick, Metang does a good job of transitioning between stages but also being its own thing. It's the only one of the line to sport only two arms, each one obviously a former Beldum, and it also sports these claw-like structures and horns that none of the rest of the line have.

Visually, it keeps most of the things I liked about Beldum, like the striking red-and-black eyes and the chiseled body shape. The only thing that I don't care for is the horns on the front and back of the body; they feel a bit tacked on, and I don't think it needed them considering it still has the claw structures on the sides of the body.

And, unsurprisingly, Metagross itself is really cool. It now has four legs, arranged less like a quadruped and more like an arachnid of some kind, which makes for a really distinct body shape and silhouette. The four limbs also help convey the combination theme, with it being made of two Metangs this time.

Another cool thing about it is that it has the intelligence of a super computer, now having four brains working in tandem. That's a nice extension of the concept and gives it a bit of personality beyond just being a cool metal thing.

Per the other stages, it also keeps the same good elements, creating a sense of consistency. The new element is a large X across the face, and while I have no idea where that came from, it really works. Just a great 'mon all around, very refreshingly abstract and plenty powerful looking.

Metagross also got a mega form. It's not terrible, but I do think it's the weakest of the line, on the grounds that it's just entirely too messy and visually busy. I get what they were going for, as the 'dex states that this is another fusion between one Metagross, one Metang, and two Beldum (why not two Metagross? that would've made more sense given the previous patterning):

This is a good idea in theory, as it gives it a meaningful theme and reason to exist, instead of just being a regular Metagross with Stuff tacked onto it. However, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense lore-wise with what we know about mega evolution (needing others from the line to mega-evolve a Metagross would actually be a cool mechanic, though a bit of a pain), and it's just way too much.

In addition to rotating the front limbs so they face forward (probably to match the X shape on the face, also because this debuted in XY), it also adds four extra limbs in the back (because of the combo thing), Metang's extra claws and horns, two holes on the face (probably Metang's eyes), and it's all just A Lot. I think the problem is that it tries to integrate too many elements; Metagross just keeps the limbs but none of Metang's accents, so the mega probably could've just had the eight limbs (maybe the four in the front are reflected in the back, to create a pattern) and dropped the extra claws and horn.

All that said, it is good conceptually, the addition of gold to the palette works nicely and makes the X really pop, and the actual arrangement of the limbs is interesting. If you can ignore the excessive details, there's a good concept here.

So overall, the main line is incredibly strong—cool design, strong concept, unique design and body shape. There's a good sense of consistency between the stages, and each stage is distinct in their own way. The only weak part is the mega, and that's just due to a bit too much detail.

(Also, final side note: the shinies for this line slap.)