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sage-nebula · 4 years ago

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For whatever reason, I started thinking about what I would want to see from a Yu-Gi-Oh! sequel on my drive home from work today. (Note: I’m specifically talking about a sequel to the original manga; the various anime adaptations, sequels, movies, et cetera will have no bearing on this whatsoever. No hate to anyone who likes them, they’re just not my jam. I’m just invested in the manga and the manga only.) Obviously I’d want a female protagonist, particularly since I think it’s pretty ridiculous that we still haven’t received one in the various anime sequels in all these years, but that train of thought led me to think about what that protagonist’s name would be, and from there what her character would be like and what her story would be, and well, these are the thoughts I have so far, though be warned they’re not the most fleshed out in the world.

— As a sequel series, I’d like this series to take place at a specific point of time in the future from when the original story ends—say, ten years. So by this point, the original cast of teenagers are all in their mid-twenties, Mai is in her thirties, so on and so forth. Should they make any on-page appearances, their designs would be updated accordingly, i.e., no one is going to be stuck in a time loop of looking exactly as they did in the previous story.

—— On that note, everyone who died in the original manga is still dead for this story. RIP, Pegasus J. Crawford. —— Also, since the original series ended ~1997 in-universe, I’d imagine that this series would take place in 2007 as a result.

— So, our protagonist. I imagine she should be a teenager, just like our previous protagonist, and we can make her the same age as he was, 15. Her name would be Kusakabe Yuuna, with the kanji for her given name containing the kanji for “play” as Yuugi’s did, as well as the kanji for “bird cage” for some spoiler related symbolism. (I looked this up in a kanji dictionary, it checks out even if I’m too lazy to copy-paste the kanji here, just trust me.)

—— Since Yuuna is 15, that means she would have been 5 when the original series started, aww. —— Also, yes, I’m aware that the . . . Zexal? . . . protagonist’s name was Yuuma, which is close, but it’s still not the same name, so let me live. (Unless the kanji match, but I don’t think they should, but also I’m too lazy to check, so this is where we’re at now.)

— Along with having a name that contains “Yuu” in some form or another, YGO protagonists must also have ostentatious hair. For Yuuna, I’ve decided that her hair is something that actually plays into her backstory and therefore shapes her personality. When she was a child, Yuuna was in an accident with her parents (car accident or train accident, something along those lines). Her parents died (since having present parents is also a no-no for most shounen protagonists, not just YGO ones), but Yuuna was left heavily scarred. She has burn scarring all down the right side of her face, as well as along that side of her scalp which prevents her hair from growing in on that side, at least to any real degree. (Like she might have some stubble there but that’s it.) The stress her body underwent as a result of the accident also drained pretty much all pigment from her hair, so while her roots might still be black (or like a really dark grey), her hair looks white when grown out. So it looks like she’s rocking a half-shave with the hair on her left-side going down to her chin, but it’s not intentional. That’s just how her hair has been ever since the accident.

— When her parents died she was taken in by her aunt and uncle. Her aunt home-schooled her through the rest of elementary and all through middle school, because she felt that the scarring was unsightly and would lead to Yuuna being bullied by her classmates and perhaps even her teachers (which isn’t necessarily wrong; bullying is a real problem). Because her aunt impressed upon her that no one would want to see her scarring / would treat her badly if they did (and because Yuuna herself did receive a lot of staring and whispers whenever she went out without some sort of hood to pull up over her head), Yuuna never ventured out to try to make friends. Instead, she stayed inside almost all the time, entertaining herself with a myriad of games (though she had no one to play with), cartoons, comics, and the radio. (Here’s where a past-series cameo can come in: Yuuna loves games, so she likes to listen to Jounouchi’s radio show since he talks about games a lot, and given that his style of broadcasting is so relaxed and friendly she often likes to pretend he’s talking directly to her, even when she knows he’s not.)

— The problem is, Yuuna’s aunt and uncle had an unhappy marriage. There was never any outright abuse, but due to having to take on the burden of running the household, working part-time, and homeschooling Yuuna due to her husband’s apathy, Yuuna’s aunt was unhappy in the home and was essentially counting down the days until she could leave. You see, school is only compulsory in Japan through middle school. High school is optional. So once Yuuna graduated from middle (home) schooling, Yuuna’s aunt packed her bags and left, leaving Yuuna behind with her uncle. And again, there was never any outright abuse . . . but when he wasn’t at his own job, Yuuna’s uncle usually drank himself to sleep in front of the TV. He never abused Yuuna, but that’s because he was never really aware of her presence enough to abuse her. (Never mind that neglect can be its own form of abuse.) So Yuuna was left without a home school teacher, and thus had to enroll herself in a high school if she wanted to continue her education. Which, she did, but . . .

— Yuuna attended high school for a grand total of one (1) day. The staring, the whispers, the stage-whispered name calling — all of it was too much for someone who wasn’t used to it and whose years of insecurities built up by everything her aunt told her could and would happen whenever anyone saw her magnified everything and made it ten times worse. She ducked out before the day was even through and decided she was never going back.

— Of course, games have to be brought back into this at some point, and also there needs to be a plot, so . . . on her way home from school (hood up over her head, probably crying a little) Yuuna sees a little pouch in front of her on the sidewalk. She picks it up and looks inside to find dice — specifically the kind of dice that you use in tabletop games. Yuuna enjoys tabletop games just as much as she enjoys all other types of games, so she shakes the dice out into her palm to examine them . . . and they start glowing as soon as they touch her skin.

— If no one approached her then, Yuuna would figure they were cool trick dice and just take them home with her, no biggie. But at that moment another teenage girl around her age runs up to her, and while Yuuna’s first instinct is to clam up and back away, she doesn’t get much of a chance to do so before the girl is telling her those dice are hers and—oh. They’re glowing? They don’t normally do that . . .

— Long story short, the dice are magic, but they only light up like that when held by someone who has the capability to use the magic within them. So far, no one has been able to get that particular set to light up until now. Yuuna, of course, is skeptical, but the other girl — who tells Yuuna that her name is Kujou — urges Yuuna to follow her to people who can explain everything. Yuuna doesn’t really want to, she’s very much not used to interacting with people, but Kujou isn’t reacting negatively to what she can see under Yuuna’s hood, and Yuuna doesn’t have much else to do, and magic dice sound cool . . . so she agrees.

— Even longer story short, there’s an underground organization dedicated to making change via gaming. They’re made of people from all over the city (perhaps even all over Japan, perhaps even farther than that) who believe in the cause, or have a goal they feel that the organization can / will help them reach, or perhaps have no one else who will accept or have them and so they’ve found a sense of belonging with each other. This organization can and does use magic; Kujou hurriedly tells Yuuna that it’s not cheating or anything like that, but rather, there’s true magic in gaming and that when there’s a special connection between a player and the tools they use, they can draw it out to make a difference. It’s like, Kujou goes on, how certain Duel Monsters specialize in certain cards, like how Mutou Yuugi used magicians and Kaiba Seto relied on the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

—— “But this is . . . real magic. It glows.” —— “Well, yeah, but have you ever seen the recordings of the Duel Monsters matches from like, Battle City? That was real magic, too.”

— Kujou brings Yuuna to at least one of the leaders within the organization, who sees that she can activate the magic in the dice and, as a result, does a very good sales pitch to lure her into the organization; tells her about the people they help with the winnings they make from tournaments, how they’re all like one big family, how they’ll care for her and help her reach her goals, etc. And since it’s not like her uncle will even notice if she’s gone anyway, and since both Kujou and this leader person are being so kind to her (and Kujou even says her hair looks cool), and since she would like to, maybe, at some point have enough money to get surgery to change her face . . . Yuuna agrees and moves into the base this organization operates out of.

— Of course, unbeknownst to Yuuna, she has just joined the villains, dun dun dunnnnn. This “organization” is actually more of a crime syndicate or cult; think like the Ghouls from the original manga, with perhaps a dash of yakuza thrown in. (Could there mayhaps be a Hirutani cameo at some point? Knowing me, if I can get away with it, abso-fucking-lutely.) For about the first third of the series Yuuna is put into tournaments where she essentially crushes characters who would otherwise be the heroes or protagonists of a more straightforward shounen series. You know how people have commented that in recent Pokémon games it feels like you’re the asshole rival? That’s essentially Yuuna. She’s sent in to sabotage tabletop tournaments (despite how bad she feels doing so because she’s a big fan of Spirits & Sanctuaries, a TRPG created by one Bakura Ryou), collect the winnings from Duel Monsters tournaments, etc. (Dice games are her specialty, given her magic dice, but she can draw magic out of other game pieces as well.) Though she feels bad about doing things like this, she has a real sense of belonging in the organization, a nice room, people who are kind to her and want to be around her. While at the beginning of the series she was very withdrawn, she starts coming out of her shell more and being genuinely happy. We’d get to see this unfold over the chapters, the juxtaposition between her performances in game tournaments and the like and how she is with the other members of the organization.

— So Yuuna pushes away any doubts she has over what she’s doing in favor of how happy she is with her new family, and even resolves to stop listening to Jounouchi’s radio show when he warns people about their organization and their “crimes” on a broadcast, because they’re not criminals, that’s not true, and she knows about his history and how he came from poverty himself, so who is he to judge? But then at some point Kujou, whom she’s grown very close to during this time (spoiler: Kujou is both her best friend and love interest) comes to her and is like, hey, I’ve been suspicious for a while, so I’ve done some digging and I think this whole thing is evil. :/

—— “That’s ridiculous. How could you say that?” —— “I’ve got the receipts, on tape, right here on my phone. See?” —— “That’s a flip phone. How am I supposed to see anything on that?” —— “This story is set in 2007. Work with me and let me live.”

— Yuuna still doesn’t want to believe it, so she goes to talk to the leader person about it herself, and whoops, overhears him being evil with other higher-up members in the organization. So she goes back to find Kujou and is like, you were right, they are evil, and Kujou is like, I know, I already packed our bags, let’s bounce.

— So Yuuna and Kujou run away together (perhaps bringing a few other trustworthy teens from the organization with them), and then the remaining two-thirds of the story are spent with them fighting against the organization to bring them down, using their own magic (because Yuuna does still have magic and now she knows how to use it . . . kind of . . . mostly . . . she’s trying) to do so.

And that’s all I’ve got for now, but I think it’d be a cool successor to the original manga, with cameos here and there from the adult versions of the original cast. I’m especially quite married to the idea of featuring many games over the course of the story, since YGO was a manga about many games originally, before it became obsessed with Duel Monsters (though a TRPG did play a big role in the last arc and we will forever stan that).

(Oh, and in case you’re wondering: the symbolism in Yuuna’s name is because the two kanji together bring to mind a playful bird in a cage. It’s symbolism because at the start of the series Yuuna is in a metaphorical cage due to all her insecurities and issues and the circumstances of her life, and then even in the organization she’s still caged by them because they’re using her, but her personal journey is breaking free of both cages to release the spirited (playful) person that she is within, becoming more confident and, yes, never getting cosmetic surgery because her personal growth gets her to a place where she owns it and loves herself, scarring and all.

And if you’re wondering why there’s at least a handful of teenagers in this organization, if not more: It’s because they prey on young kids who come from bad homes or have nowhere else to go by offering them a sense of community and belonging, which is something gangs do in real life, and is yet another way the organization is shown to be evil aside from the Board Game Crimes they commit on the daily.

Anyway, stan a YGO manga sequel with wlw protagonists, good night.)

#yugioh #inb4 ''Yuuna sounds like a Mary-Sue'' pls look at every protagonist of every YGO iteration ever #and tell me they're not all equipped with some combo of tragic backstory + unbelievable games talent #being talented with a sad backstory is like a shounen protagonist recipe #not even just within YGO but in general #that doesn't change just bc the protagonist is a girl #so sit down please and thank you #also it didn't come up organically in the summary but yes Yuugi and Jounouchi are married at this point #Anzu's got a successful dance career #everyone's living their dreams and are happy #since we're eliminating DSoD from existence even Kaiba got therapy & his act together & is a good brother to Mokuba #in this universe the miracle did happen

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pinespittinink · 5 years ago

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11/11/11 Tag

I have so many of these but I’m gonna finally get through them-- you all ask such good questions, I genuinely want to answer ;;--;;; tagged this time by @carrotgirl-1 <3

I’m gonna hold off on tagging others until I get some more of these done lmao, so look out for a tag in the future

1. How do you pick character names?

Depends! I’ve been known to use baby names websites, digging around in meanings, taking from irl people I know, cobbling my own together off of aesthetic sounds and other language roots, and any combination. A lot of the time though, I really just comes down to sound. I have an ear for that sort of thing, and if the first name I land for a character isn’t quite sticking, it usually does if I change a letter around. (i.e. how Eames became Eaves)

2. Which OC would you like to meet irl?

Cleophas. I just want to share space with him. And honestly, I’d fall in love.

3. Sunset or sunrise?

Sunset.

4. Would you rather explore the deep space or the deep seas?

Hhh, had to consider a moment, but deep space. Both of them are scary, but I think being down in the sea would really freak me out-- at least in a different way than deep space-- space feels like it would be more freeing.

5. What inspired your latest WIP?

Latest as in newest or current? Because..... the freshest idea is probably either my “taemin/hozier inspired primeval gods in the dirt” waste wip, or my “girl who buys an egg from an attractive magical shop owner and ends up having to chase them down again because now she has a dragon” wip, which was inspired by taheyung’s aesthetic in the airplane pt 2 mv, the moving castle part of howl’s moving castle, my memories of jeremy thatcher dragon hatcher, and my love for asra.

6. Happy endings or sad endings?

Happy. I can take bittersweet-- in fact I love bittersweet because of the hurt, but I can’t do total unfettered tragedy or grimdark.

7. Do you believe in ghosts?

Yesss? I think so. In some form.

8. What’s the first line from your favorite WIP?

At this point first lines make me want to role over in my grave. I’ve posted Bloodlines’ multiple times by now-- here’s Star White

“ The ship moves slowly through the dark satin of space, almost iridescent in the starlight. ”

9. If you could shapeshift into any animal, which would it be?

My first thought was a bird, but I really just want to fly as I am. I want to be a dog. Let me turn into a golden retriever or a labrador. That would make me happy.

10. So if you’re heading to a lovely garden buffet, with every cuisine imaginable, and you had free-flowing drinks and a chocolate fountain and desserts galore, and you’re wearing a nice dress or suit, right, and there’s a line in front of the roasted meats area, but you’re drooling and you just can’t wait to bite into that juicy steak so you go–you go to the seafood section, and then you see this person, this person who’s hogging all the lobster, just smiling at you as they keep piling on lobster after lobster, they can’t hold it anymore, they don’t have enough hands or plates, so you help them out, and after you help them out they smile sweetly and ask if you’d care for some lobster.

Who is this person?

Someone who needs some help. (Carrot what in the world prompted this one)

11. What’s your favorite line from your favorite OC?

okay... okay....

so there isn’t one single line of Cleophas’s that I love above the others; if it’s possible, I love every line he appears in. He speaks so carefully, so wholly, but his eloquence is so simple. It’s really at odds with the sheer prose of The Witch Market.

but... here’s a scene I love.

“ At the end of the street, the silver clad body of a police officer appears. Cleophas moves discretely behind the nearest building, pressing his back against the wall and not daring even to breathe. He does not move until the officer passes by the sour-smelling bakery; then he closes his eyes for a long breath, tension unraveling from his body. When he opens his eyes, he notices a long pink coat trailing from the fire escape of the building adjacent to the bakery. Blue hair drapes over the collar, long and damaged by dye.

“Blathnat?” Cleophas whispers, and though there is no way she can hear him, she turns and looks down.

“Cleophas,” she exclaims, and she descends the fire escape in a flurry of limbs, pink coat billowing out like a sail. She flings her arms around him when she reaches him, hoisting him in the air and holding him to her as he loops his arms around her neck. They clutch each other tightly, Cleophas’s legs cinched around her sides. When she puts him down, her hands move to his face and she kisses him a hundred times, enveloping his lips over and over as she kisses him quickly and repeatedly. Her hands frame his face like the covers of a book.

Hello, I love you, how are you, what happened, I’m so glad to see you, I love you, I love you.

Eventually the kisses slow the way rain does as it reaches its end. The touches of their lips become tender and long, and Cleophas’s mouth opens up like a rose beneath Blathnat’s. He is reminded of a poem he read long ago.

“I love you,” he tells her, his words like unrolled parchment. “I’m in love with you.”

“I know,” she says softly, and he closes his eyes as her smell soaks him, as her voice wraps him up like a package in brown silk. “I love you too.” ”

#anyway now i'm emo #catherine’s talking again #tag memes #oc: cleophas #my writing

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suburban-satan · 6 years ago

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shit my friends say

So I made a list of all the wild shit my friends say, started in January 2018 and still going. It's one year old I guess? Well, enjoy what I have so far!

2018 -d a d d y w i s e -well there’s chains on the ground so that must mean this was a kinky sex dungeon -GORSH MICKEY NOT MY G SPOT -I can wait until I turn 40 so I can troll Japanese Girls on roblox -what if we all looked like mike wizowski but our heads were the same size as they are now -I wanna give pot to a bird -I take pills without water -daddies cummie wummies are the best cummie wummies -enjoy your nonexistent stomach acid -cum glaze -I hope you choke on MY meat -who hasn’t been on pornhub -(wipes tears away and starts belting despacito) -MY GAY IS BEING TRIGGERED -that omelet looks delouse -is semen a liquid or solid -iTs nOt aQuaNauTs yOu uNculTurEd fOoK -vaginas are scary -what is menstruation -you should change your name to pussy something -my gay has been activated -“have you ever owned a vibrator?” “No” “would you like to rent one” -“do you like glazed or cream filled” -wHaT dOeS cUm sOuNd LiKe -he is on too much fertilizer -sometimes cum is hot I know from experience -if you jerked off at the speed of sound would your dick be on fire -I don’t have a sonic fetish -can your dick ignite because of the heat of your cock -aren’t dicks like cannons -who the fuck draws a glowing peepee on a skeleton -honey Freddy freaker is dancing in the living room -does penis smell like garlic -she don’t swallow in this household -*downloading garrison nudes* -don’t you realize that tentacle porn is just using octopus arms as a dildo -frickle my nipples -Minecraft porn consists of the male genitalia replaced with a stick -OOPSIE WOOPSIE!! Uwu We make a fucky wucky!! A wittle fucko boingo! The code monkeys at our headquarters are working VEWY HAWD to fix this! -“I’m big for an asian” -cockilicous -“His anal glands need milking” -fready flipper -FREADY FAPPER -daddy better make me choke -does Freddy freaker have a mutated alien dick -sonic breaks the sound barrier by beating his meat -the sun looks like it’s gon vore you -bootyhole exploration -is megalovania sex music -i like to drink cock -cum is just genital snot -penis musk -Shid piz and farbt -Bull + shit = sis it don’t add up -Hey don’t tell me at least once in your life you haven’t thought about being gently caressed across the genitalia by the kraken -I swallow boba like i swallow cum -I wuv fungus kun, the way he waps a awond my tosie wosies so tight! He’s gibing me a huggie!!!! Fungus kun gibes my tosies a new color too!!!! Wat a good fungus kun make my doki doki go “ UAU” heeheehee -eating banana with the banana peel -orang juce -father I want cheddar -don’t you just look at someone and think about how long their neck is -breathing is just boneless vaping -get outta here juuling criminal -yall ever succ a dick for juul pods -unironically drawing miss piggy -“Jack don’t let go 😱🤭🤭, jack sweetie 😐👀 if you let go 🙊🙈 you’re weave 🙀🙀 gone 😇😘💅” -I've been watching spooky movies for 5 hour -omg it’s daddy sans undertaker!!! -bröther -I ate my sister -are you'd's't've kidding me? -oh youtube please don't show me the shrek movies rn -My brother is calling me out on the family group chat for eating a bowl of peanut butter -Hamilton is best girl -get outta here you fuckin loyalist -what doesn’t cum have -drink flex seal and you won’t have to worry about a marriage -I feel water. -“Superfood or supergross? Is Sperm good?” -coochie hands gucci bands -just imagine trying to cast a spell and then you get disturbed by a banjo -toto africa is sex music now and everytime they say rain it’s just cum -y'all ever burp in your mouth and exhale it through your nose like a vaper -how dare them make my green senpai an honorable member of society -If you didn’t search big boobs video on google at least once are you really a Gen Z kid????? -laugh pussies -i’m watching the history of japan on pornhub -we have the same name because we are secretly the same person -what if you eat your phone and it’s all in your tummy -why would you ever think i’m not serious all the time you silly dragon but we’re both (my name) so we can be the silly dragon together -why would you wash your face before you go to bed when your tears wash it off for you *wooshing noises* -I want to drive a bus because I like busses -my shoe broke -why does everyone talk about the drugs i’m eating -i’m going to break her because she’s talking about smoking cocaine and I don’t like drugs -(stage whisper) metal heads live among us but we don’t know because they look like normal people -oh bye mr music teacher -the pussy? designer. cucci, if you will. -DID I HEAR S A N S P O R N -"i'm about to nay nay on your dead fucking corpse" -alert alert the toes are coming -you got a fucking problem with my ��𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐬? -imagine using an oven for something designed for a microwave this post was made by the doesnt have much motivation gang -Please take my Minnesotan snow Wait that sounds like Minnesotan cocaine -when you funny scream -"dating the Bill of Rights for fun" is now exactly how I'm going to describe my hyperfixations -the penguin from fruit loops is a twink (bitch its a toucan) -if white cheese exists is there black cheese -What’s rosum opossum -whale cum -dicko mode -(GETTIN SOME CHRISTMAS SPIRIT UP IN THAT PUSS) -pennies more like penis amirite -It’s Sunday don’t forget to squeeze cheese on the cat -the grinch is dr seuss’s fursona -everyone is gangster until the trees start speaking vietnamese -big chungus is my dad -“if the apocalypse happened what would you do” “eat bees” -I'm tired as fuck but I gotta wait until it's 4:20 to go to bed -mom: you need to be reasonable and wait two hours before having another brownie me, stuffing my mouth full of brownie: br o w n y s -This honey in whole foods is in fucking comic sans -it's more likely that I'll guess someone is gay before I remember the existence of women -im gonna say it again for the people in the back:

i eat bees -Thanos penis, it's actually called a thenis -yort -uwu its the mowst thorstiewst time of the yeaw uwu -It is I Teh gromc -The gronk is here to say eat all the dish soap in the house -the grinch but he's wearing crocs the entire time -answer my question or else i will establish sans porn -You make him doki doki uwaaaaa!!!! -birdbox but all the bird sounds are replaced by cardi b noises -THE GROMPK IS TOO POWERFUL -consume ocean sauce -square up in judge judys court -half consumes ocean sauce -ice juce -frick stick -you guys wanna read undertale fanfiction -2019- -it might be 2019 but thats not gonna stop me from terrorizing my family's groupchat -(pineapple voice) first date idea: digest eachother -Wait dennys will arrest you for doing illegal things?? -pls purify me -my toes are very succulent today -two succs having flex two succs having sex my muscles my muscles involuntarily checks -f u r r y , N a s h . -Perfect for all occasions! Spill something on your nice shirt, give a messy blowjob, and sphagetti!!! -Do you want cum on your nice shirt??? -it would be nice if i had cum on my shirt -cocc succ machine -I KNOW TONGUE JUTSU -I feel like i’m in a meat prison -hi you obese elephant -plant porn is just flowey porn -We all love the out of the box 4am messages we get -YOU LIKE SNAS PEEPEE

#shit my friends say #shitpost #please help me #sans #I guess???#theres a lot of sans sorry #too many about peepee #enjoy #please dont be offended #bees #thanos #so sorry

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duders48-blog · 5 years ago

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8-6-19

Can't sleep. I’ve got a job interview, a meeting, a day working next to my ex while she’s thinking about her current girl, I boss to impress, a three-hour drive to see my sister, and I can’t sleep.

You’d think that I’d be nervous about my interview... but I’m thinking it’s the one thing I DON’T have to do. I have a job and I’m doing pretty well at it, hence the impressing of the boss; this interview is just for a better paying job.

I actually can’t sleep because my ex, who grows and paints her nails long and well decorated, bit them off yesterday at work. Let me paint a picture. Imagine a rainbow of colors, beautifully gradient-like and all unique. Some with shining rocks on top of it. Probably closer to 2 inches in size. Half of it on her finger and the other half, coming out of her finger. Very girly and well groomed. Acrylic I believe, but I don’t know enough about nails because I cut mine off as soon as I get to see any growth significant to hide dirt underneath them.

I’m coming back from a meeting and I see her sitting down when she usually sits, laptop open, reviewing calls. She is one of the supervisors of the Bridge team; we work at a call center. I walk past her and notice that this time, there is no laptop, so I figure she is just hanging out because we have about 2 hours before we all get off. I try to do small chit chat but get pulled to go answer some questions. I’m a team lead, sort of like an assistant to the supervisors in my department. I help their team mainly by answering questions but also by leading meetings, reviewing calls, and coaching advisors. I’ve been doing this for about 6 weeks now. When I look back at her after answering that question, I see her putting her head down. I go and I asked if she is fainting because she told me she wasn't going to eat lunch. She hasn't been eating much because she is broke; all her money is going to pay for her new place that she is moving into next week. I offered to take her to lunch but she thanked my and declined. I go answer another question and when I look back I see her head is now up again but her eyes are staring into an emptiness that I don’t think I’ve seen before. Now I worry.

I try to go back to her but more questions pull me away and I walk around the advisors going as quickly as possible answering the best I can. I keep glancing back. It doesn't get better. Then, I see something I thought I would never see... she is very vain and loves having long nails, a full face and high heels on. But she takes one finger into her mouth, and bites the nail into two like-size pieces. I don’t believe my eyes. She pulled the trash can next to her and started “removing” each of her nails. I finally get away and try to talk to her. Nothing. I have always been at a loss when it comes to communicating with her. It’s hard. So then I just sit there, looking at her, waiting. I ignore the next hand that goes up, waiting. Finally she looks at me. She had clearly noticed me before but had chosen to ignore me and continue biting her nails off. But I’m staring into her eyes and she eventually asks “what.” I ask what's wrong and she brushes me off with “that's not your concern.”

She’s right. Technically.

In my head I agree and get pulled to answer another question. I then go ask her best friend what is going on with her. He doesn't tell me much, only that the place the was moving into was not going on as planned. But that can’t be it... I’ve never seen that look on her face, much less at work, where everyone can see it.

I go back and decide to let it be; she isn't gonna tell me what's wrong, but I stick around close by to see if she talks to someone else about it. She doesn't. people come and ask what is up. Our boss comes and asks what is up. She is a tomb. I start coaching some of my advisors on the tools they will need for tomorrow and finally I see her heading to a group of friends. She starts talking to another close friend of her. I don’t know what she says but I see her talking. I talk to my advisor some more but I keep glancing back at her, she doesn't stop talking. This has to do with a woman, I thought.

I pull all my advisors away and have my meeting, which is stressful enough because they are feeling unsupported by the supervisors and they are getting written up by things they find petty and stupid. I can’t blame them for thinking that way but I’m not gonna jeopardize my job because they think the company is wrong in doing this. After my meeting, I talk to my supervisor and her. My team is going to be her team next week so she wants to be kept in the loop of their performance. She seems to have pulled out of the “zombie” mode but we still don’t talk about anything significant and its clocking out time so she leaves shortly after.

Side note: it just started pouring outside my window. The sounds of the keys and the raindrops are somewhat soothing. If only I could sleep.

I left work and felt shaken. I got home and played in bed for what seemed like an hour. I knew I was hungry so eventually I got up and grabbed some food. I was supposed to pack some clothes for my trip but didn’t really feel like it. So instead I walked back mirror. the new season came out and I walked the miley episode. It definitely took me out of the weird mindset for a minute but after that, I decided to masturbate and my ex’s name came out of my mouth.

I don’t know what feelings I have for this girl. I’ll use her middle initials for reference from now on. LC.

To make a long story short, we met at work, we had a lot of chemistry, we dated for 10 days, had lost of great sex, then she moved on and decided to be with a guy, then she came back and we almost got back together, until she met this other girl.

I think the main reason why we didn’t work is because we did not communicate. She is black and I’m hispanic so there are things that are very different about our cultures. Also I think our races are discriminant against each other; I know for sure mine is.

A few months ago in march, we were almost about to get back together but she asked me some questions and I couldn't answer. I had just never really given them much thought but now thanks to her, I have thought about these questions a lot. She said things like “do you see yourself with me for a long time?” “marriage?” etc.

Being gay and growing up hispanic is hard. I put high expectations for myself and I never want to disappoint my family, even if on the outside I act like I am a free bird and do what I want. I mean, I do what I want but I never wanted to disappoint my family or hurt them in any way. If being gay was a choice, I would not have chosen it.

But back to my issue. I guess I’m upset she is upset. I miss her sexually. I want her sexually. But it was never just about the sex, I just had so much chemistry with her. I feel a fire around her, because I know that she is going to be honest and loyal. Despite her player-like behavior, I know she doesn't mean to play me or have bad intentions for me. I know she cares about me and possibly loves me as a friend. To this day I know I can’t give her what she wants or needs and she isn't exactly what I asked for.

Maybe that’s the thing. I haven't asked for someone specific. And I don’t mean just looks... looks help but they aren't everything. I mean I haven't asked for someone to come into my life. I haven't prayed about it. I simply believe that God has control of things and he/she knows best and I put my life in the hands of God.

I want someone to build something awesome with. Someone to travel with. Someone to play dungeons and dragons with or to cook dinner for or to have date movies with pop corn and wine. I want someone to cuddle with. Someone who my dog with cuddle with. I want someone who will communicate with me and talk to me about their issues and get me even when I don’t get myself. I want someone who will cherish me and I want someone who doesn't insult me or hurt me physically or emotionally. I want someone who will spend the night. I want someone who I can cry with, cry in front of, and who won't think I’m weak. I want someone who will take me by the hand and walk down the boardwalk with me, proud. I want someone that looks at me and feels blessed to be with me. I want someone who makes me feel like I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I want someone who balances me. I want someone strong and delicate. I want someone who likes nature, going on hikes, going to the beach at night just to look at the stars. I want someone who isn't afraid to show their most intimate side. I want someone who is open. I want someone who is smart and beautiful, inside and out. I want someone who I can admire. I want someone who has ambition for themselves and for us as a partnership. I want someone who I can raise a kid with, if that happens. I want someone who I can sing with. I want someone who laughs with me and not at me. I want someone who loves themselves and is able to love me.

And she isn't that someone.

#tumblr pride #lesbian #self love #can’t sleep

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avegetariancannibal · 7 years ago

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“Je me souviens”

PLEASE NOTE: There is character death below. But life after that, as well.

Hannibal was no longer aging.

Will pointed it out to him one day when they were walking through the market and had stopped in front of a shop window.

"Look at us," Will said, looping his arm through Hannibal's. He nodded at their reflection. "When did I catch you?"

"The moment we met," Hannibal told him.

Will laughed and elbowed him playfully. "I mean my hair is as gray as yours now. When did I catch up to you? You look just the same."

“There’s a plateau when it comes to aging,” Hannibal said as they resumed their walk through the bustling market, still arm in arm. “A man of fifty looks quite different from a man of forty, but a man of fifty could be the twin of man aged sixty years. It is like a period of idling, when the face, hair and body are deciding just how quickly they want to barrel towards complete entropy.”

"By my count, you're sixty-four now," Will said. "That's past the idling stage."

"Am I?" Hannibal asked, genuinely surprised. "I suppose I stopped counting. That means you owe me a rather sizable backlog of birthday gifts. I can't remember getting even one from you."

"You said you had everything you could ever want," Will reminded him. He lowered his voice. "The night we killed the Dragon together."

"So I did," Hannibal agreed. "No birthday gifts ever, then?"

"Perhaps one," Will said, moving to step around in front of him and press a kiss to his lips. He winked and added, "Young man."

***

Of course, he didn't believe at first that he'd stopped aging. Everything aged. Even diamonds would eventually degrade to graphite. But one night, as Will lay sleeping beside him, he had to consider it. Will was as beautiful to all of Hannibal's senses as he ever was, but no longer appeared to be his junior. If anything, a stranger might deem Will the older of them both.

If he had to make an estimate, he would say he'd stopped aging some time after he was arrested. He might have been fifty-one when it---whatever “it” was---happened. He might have been a bit older. If he were still a practicing doctor, or had access to one he trusted, he could perform tests. A bone density screening might have given him some clue, or not. He didn’t have quite the scientific curiosity he once did.

What he had was Will, and that was infinitely better.

***

Twenty-two years and just over four months passed from the day of his realization to the day he had to keep vigil at Will’s bedside.

"You're not going to fight off the Grim Reaper," Will said. His hand was so small and frail as Hannibal held it between his own. "I'm going to die in this terribly boring, usual way."

"Nonsense," Hannibal said. "You'll live forever."

"In your memory palace," Will said, rolling his pale eyes. Sarcastic even then.

"I can't guarantee there's an afterlife," Hannibal said. "So I'll have to live forever and keep you. What is a soul but the memories we hold inside us?"

Will laughed until he began to cough. Hannibal moved to fetch the oxygen mask, but Will waved it away.

"Imagine me as a young man," Will said when he'd caught his breath again. "Leave this rickety old body in the past where it belongs."

"I love your rickety old body," Hannibal said. "I love every possible iteration of your body because it is yours."

Again, a roll of the eyes. "As a favor to me, then. I want to be thirty-nine or forty again. And get rid of this forehead scar, would you? That's the one I never cared for."

Hannibal brought Will's hand to his face and kissed his knuckles. "Shall I keep the belly scar? Or only the ones we sustained together as we killed the Dragon?"

"I'll leave it up to you," Will said. "One last birthday gift... from me to you."

Hannibal crawled into bed beside him, careful not to jostle him too much, and lay his head on the bird-thin breast that shuddered with every weakened heartbeat. Will started to make a joke about being in bed with a much younger man, but gave a sharp little gasp before he could finish it, and then nothing else.

***

The world shifts.

Hannibal's world shifts. He lives only in the present tense now.

He takes Will's ashes to Giardino delle Rose and pays a gardener to look the other way when he buries them under the feet of Folon's sculpture of a man seated at a bench.

Will appears beside him, young again and dressed unseasonably in a heavy winter coat. He looks around, squinting at the mountains in the distance, then at the sculpture.

"So this is Florence," he says. The sun is bright and golden on his face. There is no scar on his brow. "Wish you'd brought me when I was actually alive."

"I thought we had more time," Hannibal says. When regret wells up, he pushes it back down and focuses again on the now. "This garden is an old favorite of mine. Inspired by French gardens of the 1800s, yet not so antique that it didn't welcome a Japanese oasis designed by the architect Yasuo Kitayama."

Will nudges the sculpture's foot with his own. "And this guy?"

"A piece titled Je me souviens."

"'I remember,'" Will translates. "Very meaningful, you sap."

"I've always been fond of symbolism, as you know," Hannibal says.

"You could've just tossed my remains in the ocean," Will says. "Or you could've eaten me, as unappetizing as I was. If I'm going to live in your mind, does it really matter?"

"If I'm going to live forever," Hannibal says with a shrug, "it might matter to me someday."

***

For the first hundred years, he shows Will everything he's ever wanted to show him. Some decades and places are more open-minded than others. They hold hands in public when doing so in the flesh would get others chased off the streets or even arrested. They make love in the sanctuary of Hannibal's mind, rutting on chapel floors and up against museum walls, invisible to all but one another. Which isn't so different from how they were together all so long ago.

Over the next hundred years after that, Hannibal finds himself defying his own commandment to live in the present.

Or perhaps it's not so much a defiance, as it is a kind of exercise. He wants to make certain he can still recall the entirety of his past with Will. He wants to know all the details are still there, just where he left them.

He meets Will for the first time all over again. He doesn't allow himself to change a single detail, as tempting as it is to imagine himself reaching out to brush the hair off Will's brow, right there in the middle of Jack Crawford's office.

He also enjoys going back to the night Will confronted him in his kitchen, his eyes cool and dark, hands steady as they held the gun. He wants to ravish Will then and there, bite up and down the length of his throat and be grasped so tightly in return that his flesh bruises. But it wouldn't be true to what actually happened.

He ducks out of the memory and into the autumn woods behind Will's old house. Will is waiting there for him, ankle deep in leaves as he strips out of his clothes. The belly scar is gone, but the scars on his cheek and chest are still there. They fuck so obliviously and for so long that the falling leaves all but bury them.

Afterward they doze side by side until they find their voices again.

"Have you tried to meet anyone else?" Will asks.

"You would know if I had."

"Humor me."

"I haven't and I don't care to. I have you."

"In your mind."

"There's no difference between body and mind. Not for me, or us."

"So, you haven't gotten laid in over two hundred years?"

"Nobody calls it that anymore," Hannibal says. "I find my liaisons with you more than satisfying."

Will laughs up towards the trees. "Surely nobody calls it that, either!"

Hannibal rolls over onto his elbows so he can gaze down into Will's face. His gleaming hair reflects glints of red from the setting sun and his cheeks are ruddy from exertion. His eyes are the darkest slate blue of the cold Atlantic.

"I'm fond of you," Hannibal says.

Will grins up at him. "I should hope so."

"I would forget every piece of music, every work of art, every magnificent landscape I've ever seen just to make room for you in my memory. You may become as expansive as you like. Live dozens or hundreds of lifetimes. I'll remember them all."

Will reaches up to trace Hannibal's mouth with his thumb. "Don't be lonely."

"I couldn’t be," Hannibal says. "I have you."

He bends down to kiss the crooked bridge of Will's nose, crooked precisely to the same degree it was in life because Hannibal remembers him down to a fraction of a millimeter.

"Do you remember my dogs?" Will asks.

"I believe so."

"Can you bring them to me?"

Suddenly six dogs come spilling out from Will's old house, tails high and waving like flags as they bound through the leaves. They tackle Will with slobbery kisses and happy barks. They haven't seen him in centuries. Hannibal conjures a chain of sausages from his memory and hands them to Will for the dogs.

"If this is your afterlife," Hannibal says, "then I suppose it's theirs, as well."

***

More centuries go by. Hannibal spends a much of the time on one beach or another with Will, sometimes with Will's five dogs and sometimes not. They go to Greece and Italy hundreds of times, and Australia, too. They visit Japan often. Once in a while Hannibal brings them to his best approximation of a beach in Florida, as he's never bodily been there.

He also takes Will to rivers and streams where the fishing is good, and he thinks up wonderful catches for him.

"Bring me to Havana again," Will says. "Go there yourself, for real, and bring me with you. Smell the food and hear the music for me, and not just in your memory. Live there for me."

"It doesn't exist outside my mind anymore," Hannibal tells him. "And in the dusty pages of whatever books still survive."

Will frowns. He's up to his hips in the water of some fabricated stream, casting his line in arcs like a spider throwing out a strand of silk. "I notice you don't take me with you into the real world anymore. Is it that bad?"

"Not everywhere," Hannibal says. "There are still beautiful places, centers of some culture. They're simply harder to reach than they once were."

Will smiles at him. "Good thing you have such a good memory, then."

"Good thing," Hannibal agrees.

***

Hannibal meets Will again for the first time in John Crawford's office. They talk about eye contact and building bridges, just as they did a thousand years ago.

"I loved you from the start," Hannibal says, and brushes the hair off Will's forehead.

Will frowns at him. "Is this how it goes?"

Hannibal thinks. He's revisited this memory so many times, turned it over in his mind as he would a pleasingly smooth stone in his palm. Each time, he replays it just as it truly happened.

"It all changed so slowly," Will says. "I bet you don't even remember when my voice started to sound like your own."

Hannibal gets up from his chair and paces the length of the office. John Crawford gives him a quizzical look, so Hannibal dismisses him from the memory.

"You don't remember exactly how my voice sounded," Will says. "You naturally replaced it with your own, over time."

"I only need to focus to bring it back!" Hannibal snaps, louder than he means to. He kneels down at Will's side and takes hold of his hands. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't lose my temper."

Will smiles down at him. "I've missed arguing with you."

Hannibal bows his head into Will's lap, lets his hair be combed through with gentle fingers. "I'm sorry."

"It's been a thousand years, Hannibal," Will says, his voice mostly his own again. "You've replayed and reenacted every conversation we've ever had, over and over and over again. Not even you can be expected to have a perfect memory after all that time and repetition."

He looks up to meet Will's eyes. "Then what do I do?"

"Revisit the one memory you've been avoiding for ten centuries," Will says. "Revisit the truth."

Hannibal scoffs. “Avoiding? I’ve never been one to run from the truth.”

“Says the man who never went back to his family home,” Will says. “Who is, incidentally, the same guy who jumped on a plane to France after gutting me.”

“I was running from the law.”

Will laughs, but it's not a cruel sound. “Oh, come on. Your memory can't be that bad even now.”

Hannibal stands up and takes Will's hands in his own to pull him to his feet. "Fine. Then tell me where we're going."

"To my grave," Will says.

***

It takes him a little over three weeks to get to Florence, but that's barely any time at all to a man who seems to be living forever. He hasn't ever been back to the precise spot he buried Will, despite his love for the gardens.

Of course the gardens are long gone now. The roses most likely stopped blooming nine centuries ago, or more. Je me souviens is long gone, as well, although there are scraps of what might be bronze in the place that might have been the bench.

He sits amid the rubble and calls forth Will's spirit.

Will gives a low whistle. "Wow. What a dump. It's really fallen apart since last time, and it's hotter, too."

"Have some respect," Hannibal says, gesturing beside him until Will sits. "This is sacred ground, after all."

Will bumps shoulders with him. "Wanna make out? Close your eyes."

He does as he's told and feels Will climb into his lap, feels Will's solid weight settle against him, and feels familiar lips against his own. They kiss under the blazing sun, in afternoon temperatures that anyone still living nearby is wisely avoiding. Hannibal digs through the sedimentary layers of his memory to call forth the smell of the cologne Will used to wear. Instead, he dredges up the salty, metallic tang of blood.

Will pulls back and gives a satisfied sigh. "I only wish we'd done this when I was alive."

Hannibal pushes away the memory of blood and gives him a soft smile. "What, kiss on your grave? I don't think that's the sort of thing one can do when one is still alive."

Will holds his face in his hands, looks deeply into his eyes. "Oh, Hannibal," he says. His expression is so kind, and so sad. "This isn't my grave, and you know it."

***

The past came rushing back at him like a rising tide and deposited him on the rocky beach far below the bluff house. He spat out a lungful of the Atlantic and picked himself up despite the pain that gripped his body.

He found Will twenty yards away, face down on the rocks. The waves relentlessly came for his legs, reaching a little further with each surge, trying to pull him back into the sea.

Hannibal stumbled toward him, pressing a hand as best he could to the bullet wound in his gut. He was certain his collar bones were broken, and several ribs, but it hardly seemed to matter. If he could just get to Will, everything would be all right again.

He dropped to his knees and forced himself to take a moment to feel around the vertebrae in Will's neck. If anything had broken, moving him could be disastrous. If he had even survived...

Will jolted at his touch and turned onto his side himself. His face was flayed open from his right cheekbone nearly down to his jaw, but he was alive and nothing else mattered.

Hannibal laughed with relief and moved to lay Will's head in his lap. "We're alive," he said. "We're alive together."

"I feel like I'm drowning," Will said, his voice hoarse.

"You've surely taken in some water," Hannibal told him.

Will gave the smallest shake of his head. "No, I---"

Will coughed then and a great quantity of blood came up with it. The smell of it filled Hannibal's senses, as salty and vital as the sea. Hannibal's doctorly calm abandoned him. Panic rose in a spike that made his body feel colder and more numb than even the sea had left it. His hands shook as he pressed them against Will's ribs, exploring.

"I can barely breathe," Will said, his voice little more than a wheeze.

"Your lungs are punctured," Hannibal said. His gaze went to the house far above them. If he could get back up there... "I'll call for help. I'll turn myself in again. Will, I'll get help, you have to hold on."

He started to move, but Will clutched at his hand. "There isn't time for that, Hannibal."

"There's time," Hannibal said. "We have our whole lives ahead of us."

"In hell, perhaps," Will said. He laughed weakly and brought up another cascade of blood. His face was paler than the full moon that watched over them from its loft perch. Still, he managed to smile. "Promise you'll meet me in hell. Or... or heaven, if we even remotely deserve it. Do... do you believe in an afterlife, Hannibal?"

"Not with any degree of certainty," he said. "We live on in the memories of those we leave behind."

"Then one of us will have to live forever," Will said. He winced and gasped as something in his body failed him. "Oh. I don't think that's going to be me."

"You will live," Hannibal said. He brushed the wet hair off Will's brow and held the left side of his face in his palm. He could feel the pulse fading under the pale skin at Will's temple. "I'll give you an entire life---an entire life and an afterlife, as well."

"W-with you in your memory palace?" Will asked.

"If you wish," Hannibal said. "You can grow to be an old man."

Will nodded. "A good, long, boring life, just the two of us sounds...it sounds..."

"He's gone," a voice says behind him. "That was the moment he went. The moment I went? It's all a bit confusing, if you ask me."

Hannibal glances back to see Will, as he looked in his seventies, in the pajamas he'd once conjured for him.

Will settles himself down onto the rocks, sitting beside the body of his younger self and Hannibal.

"I forgot you died then," Hannibal says.

"You didn't forget," Will says. "You ran from it. Don't try to tell me you don't do that, either. You can let him go now."

Hannibal kisses Will on his cold lips, wishing he'd done it just once when Will was still alive, and eases the body out of his lap. It doesn't take long for the frothing waves to reach them, and to take its prize to a watery grave far out to sea.

When Hannibal looks up again, the Will sitting beside him is young. There are no scars on his face. Most of the bluff has long since eroded and there's no sign at all of the house that once perched there.

"Can you bring me my dogs?" Will asks.

A small white terrier with brown ears and a larger, auburn-haired dog appear before them, grinning and wagging their tails. They bound through the shallower edges of the water, splashing each other in some joyous game.

"I know you had more, but those are the only two I remember with any clarity," Hannibal says. "I'm sorry. After a thousand years, the details escape even my mind."

Will calls the dogs over, rubs their heads and scrubs over their fur with his fingers, laughing and happy as if they were truly there.

"We are truly here," Will says. "Or truly enough. If there's no difference between body and mind, then there's no difference between your mind and my body, is there?"

Hannibal leans to the side and rests his head on Will's shoulder. "What happens now?"

Will shrugs. "I dunno. Nobody's ever lived forever before. I guess we'll just find out, won't we?"

"Together?" Hannibal asks.

"Together," Will promises.

-end-

#my fic #hannigram #hannigram fic #cw: character death #this is NOT crack

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jloves-pp · 6 years ago

Text

The Lassie in the Cove-part 3

Chapter 3

Hiccup didn't know what he was more worried about the next day, the swimming or the undressing. He got a large cloth and wrapped up a couple of apples, knowing that they were Merida's favourite. He and toothless arrived at the cove, they went toward the enterance and saw the Selkie, lying on the grass and the bright sunshine on her beautiful skin. Hiccup noticed Merida's hair was dry for the first time since he had met her. It was extremely curly and reminded him of dragon's fire.

He was mesmerised by her, until Toothless nudged him out of his trance. The two climbed down carefully, Merida sat up and greeted the friends as they came closer.

"So are you ready for your swimming lesson?" she said with a smile. Hiccup gulped,

"I still don't know Merida," he said.

"Come on now, you'll be with me".

"And another thing. I'm not...not" Hiccup began, but when their eyes met, he forgot his worries and started to feel calmer.

"It's ok, I promise it will be fine" , Merida said softly.

"OK" Hiccup replied feeling scared a bit nervous and a bit excited. Merida smiled before slipping into the water.

Hiccup was just about to remove his fur vest when he noticed Merida resurfaced and looked at him.

"Can you please not look" Hiccup asked. He never felt comfortable about his body because he didn't look like any of the other Vikings in the village.

Merida nodded and turned her head away but her curiosity made her turn back. Toothless saw this and lifted his wing, blocking her view. Merida annoyed slid her face into the water, blowing bubbles.

Soon Hiccup removed his vest, shirt and belt. When Merida saw him, her cheeks turned pink. She was used to seeing Selkie men and mermen bare chests but Hiccup's was different. Even though he was thin, he had some muscle building in his arms and chest. Probably from all that dragon training.

After taking a breath, Hiccup walked to the waters edge with Toothless following closely by his side. He sat down and took off his boot. Merida swam to him as he placed his fake leg down. She remembered Hiccup telling her about how his lost his leg.

"Did you make this?" Merida asked as she took his leg and looked at it closely.

"No, Gobber made it" Hiccup said with a smile.

She put the fake leg back down,while Hiccup pulled off his pants leaving him in his underwear.

"Are you going to...?"

"This is as far as I want to go," Hiccup answered. The young Viking pushed himself into the water. The water was quite warm, he took a deep breath."Ok, I'm ready..."

Quickly the Selkie took his hands and slowly pulled him gently into the water. Toothless watched, hoping that his best friend will swim again. They stayed close to the shore but Hiccup just wanted to go back, he told himself that he could do anything, and with Merida holding his hands, he felt like anything was possible.

"Ok Hic, start kicking," Hiccup tried to kick but he began to sink, swallowing water as he did. Merida never let go of Hiccup's hands, she felt him squeeze her hands in fear and desperation. He started to work his leg and managed to keep his head above the surface and relaxed.

"I...I'm doing it, ha! I'm doing it" Hiccup said excitedly.

Merida smile and laughed with him, Toothless jumped with joy at his best friend. Glad that Hiccup over come his fear.

"Ok, now you're afloat, let's try some actual swimming," Merida said, Hiccup couldn't help but smile because now he knew he could do it.

When the Selkie thought that Hiccup felt confident enough she put her tail under his body, he kicked and pushed through the water, he was a bit wobbly at first but he gritted his teeth and kicked and pulled with his arms, he was feeling more buoyant Merida lowered her tail, when he nodded to her, she removed it. She felt really proud that she had helped Hiccup to swim, he wasn't a great swimmer but it a good start.

"Well if we keep swimming like this everyday, you could be swimming like a Selkie in no time," Merida said as they swam to the centre of the lake.

Hiccup couldn't help but chuckled softly.

"Well, I have a great teacher,".

"Thank you kind sir" Merida giggled, she moved in front of him.

"Your welcome, I just thought I...I...I.." Hiccup realised just how close they were, so close their bodies were almost touching. They couldn't help but look in each other eyes. Merida really loved his eyes, they were a deep beautiful green. Hiccup just couldn't help but admire Merida both inside and out, he wanted to reach up and touch her cheek. Toothless watched the two from the rock. Was something growing between them, Toothless thought so.

Hiccup cleared his throat

"Well what's next?" Merida blinked and was brought back to reality.

"Did you used to dive?" He gave her a small nod, "Follow me," Merida said with a wink, she dove underwater as she had done many times before, Hiccup felt he had to be brave, held his breath and went under the water. He managed to open his eyes and discovered it was really beautiful beneath the water, the fish, the plant life and the sun shining through the water, was an amazing sight to behold. He turned and spotted Merida, rolling freely, her hair flowing everywhere, she was enjoying the freedom the water gave her. He watched and smiling dreamily at her, seeing her underwater was the closest thing to being in her world.

Merida swam to Hiccup giggling, he realised that she could speak underwater. Hand in hand, they swam together. Toothless could see them from the shore, it was a few moments until Hiccup needed to go back up for air. He surfaced took a huge gulp and returned to Merida. The Selkie Was nowhere to be seen, he looked around, he saw her smiling up at him for beneath.

Merida's body lined up with Hiccup's, unable to speak the two friends swam, played and explored for hours. Soon The couple resurfaced.

"That was amazing" Hiccup said catching his breath.

"See, I knew you could do it" Merida replied smiling with joy.

"Well, It not everyday that a human has a swimming lesson from a Selkie "

"Aaah, you're so sweet" as Merida said that, she accidentally splashed Hiccup.

"I'm so sorry" to her surprise Hiccup splashed her back, this led to them splashing, laughing and chasing one another. Hiccup managed to catch Merida, he wrapped his arms around her, she froze in his arms.

"Merida, is there something wrong?" Hiccup asked with concern. The Selkie didn't pulled away, she didn't know why, because she liked his arms around her. She loved his gentle touch, it made her heart skip a beat.

"I'm er..I er don't ..er know" she whispered as she turned to face him, she suddenly hugged Hiccup. He was surprised, but returned the embrace.

"It's ok, you can tell me if anything's bothering you" Merida smiled at his kind words, it was nice just to have someone to talk to. She could feel Hiccup shivering next to her, they swam back to shore and saw Toothless collecting wood to make a small fire. Hiccup wrapped the large cloth around himself, he and Merida sat next to the fire. The Selkie watched in amazement, she had never seen anything like it in her life.

"It's so bright" Merida whispered she reach out toward it.

"Don't!" Hiccup cried grabbing Merida's hand away from the flames.

"You'll get burned" they realised that they were holding hands, they looked at each other and smiled before slowing letting go. The two began swapping stories of how things worked in their worlds.

"So why don't you get cold?" Hiccup asked. Merida shrugged.

"I think we're just born like that, it helps especially if you live near the north and south poles" she took a bite of an apple.

"So why do humans wear so many clothes?" Merida questioned. Hiccup pulled the cloth closer.

"Well they keep us warm, protect us and...for er..modesty..." He turned red at this but Merida sweetly smiled. Just then Merida heard a bird and saw it disappear high into the air. Hiccup watched her, then he smiled as he remembered that Merida wanted to fly.

"You still want to Mer?" he asked. As he gestured towards Toothless.

"Want to what?"

"Fly of course"

"Honestly!" Merida asked her eyes widened excitedly.

"Honestly" Hiccup replied and began to dress. "You've shown me your world, so I thought I'd show you mine".

The Selkie was now really excited, she had dreamt about this for a long time. "Ok let's do it!"

"Great" he replied, he finished getting dressed and went to her "First things first, we've got to get you on Toothless" Hiccup put his hands underneath Merida's tail, Merida held onto his neck nervously. Hiccup began to lift, but it was hard to pick her up. Hiccup wasn't very strong and he had trouble carrying heavy things.

"Are you ok,Hic?" Merida asked in concern.

"Yes, I'm fine" Hiccup lied, not wanting her to worry.

"You sure?" she could see his face turn white, like the air was leaving him.

Seeing this, Toothless ran to Hiccup's side as he saw his friend's legs began to give. The Viking gently lowered the Selkie on the saddle making sure she wouldn't fall off. Hiccup then climbed on and got himself ready. Merida couldn't believe it, she was going to fly. She imagined the look on her family's faces if they saw her.

"You ready bud?" Toothless nodded as if saying yes. Before Merida could say a word, they were up and away. She wrappped her arms around Hiccup tightly, her face burned into the Viking's shoulder as they climbed higher and higher until they were high above the island of Berk.

The Selkie opened her eyes and she stared in amazement. It was so much more beautiful that she had ever imagined, Merida couldn't believe her eyes. Hiccup and Toothless smiled happily, she reached out to touch the clouds, it was like a dream that she didn't want to end. They flew toward the cliffs, near the rocks. When they got out to the sea, Toothless dove in and out of the water, the teenagers laughed as they were drenched.

Hiccup and Toothless displayed some of their tricks, like spinning, loop the loop, climbing up high and head diving. Merida loved the feel of the wind in her hair, going fast, ever wanting to go faster. The Selkie gave a huge 'Woo!' with her arms stretched out, Hiccup couldn't help join in and let out his cry.

The sun slowly set, the two watched the sight from Toothless's back. Merida placed her head on Hiccup's shoulder which he liked, he placed his hand on top for hers. It was a romantic sight.

They returned to the cove and said there goodbyes. As they walked home, Hiccup noticed his dragon was giving him a wide smile, like he knew something that Hiccup didn't.

"Can you stop that. It's making me uncomfortable" He said to Toothless. Merida came into his mind and he couldn't help but smile. Toothless purred and his grin grew bigger, the Viking saw the Night Fury and realised he knew why his friend was smiling.

"No,no,no,no,no,no,no." Hiccup cried waving his hands, but it only caused Toothless to smile even more.

"Toothless, we're just friends. She's a...and I'm a...' It was really hard for him to say anything because he wasn't sure himself. Hiccup sighed as he rubbed his hair.

"Look, even if we did really like each other, how could that work?"

It took a moment before Toothless's grin disappeared, he purred as if saying,

"I understand, I'm not going to do it anymore".

"Thanks bud" Hiccup said before scratching his dragon under the chin. They continued the journey home.

Hiccup couldn't help but wonder, was Toothless right? Was he in love with Merida?

He did like her and he really liked being with her but he wasn't sure. He just delt with one love problem and wanted to focus on training dragons, But little did he know that fate had another plans.

#mericcup #Merida #hiccup #brave #how to train your dragon #selkie #fanfic

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xurkitips · 7 years ago

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On Writing Child Characters

So someone in a Discord chat I’m in asked for some advice on how they could get more in character when writing a young child.

A lot of media tends to depict children as either really obnoxious, or basically just small, slightly less mature adults, and neither is really completely right. While there’s really no specifically right way to write a child character, I have some things I always keep in mind whenever I sprinkle children in my own written works that I feel may be helpful to other people.

How did they grown up?

Just like with any character, considering their home life, family, and friends will tell you a lot about how they may act and where their behavior comes from. A child from a loving/open home that nurtures their personality and allows them to grow will probably be more outgoing. A child raised by strict, cold, or even abusive parents may opt for being quieter, shy, more dependent on their parents. The behavior of the parents or guardian will definitely reflect in the child’s personality, as children look to their parents as role models.

Did they have a lot of childhood playmates? Pets? Or did they have to resort to things like movies/TV and books to make up for feeling alone or for having few friends? Friends or pets from childhood may bring happy memories and further promote their growth, while the lack thereof might promote a more distant or lonely personality, or even a child who is obnoxious in an attempt to draw attention to themself.

What makes them happy?

Legit, every single kid has Their Thing, no matter how old they are. They are ALWAYS happy to talk about it, play pretend with it, draw, write, etc. Some kids are more shy about showing it if they've been dismissed by a friend or family member, but others are open with it to the point where everyone knows it.

I personally have a cousin, who's twelve, and she talks on and on about Minecraft. She’s a budding artist who draws pictures of the game's animals/characters, often adding her own personal touches to them. My other cousin originally loved angry birds, but has now he's moved onto the Detroit Lions. He collects merchandise, catches every game, and knows every scrap of sports terminology to the point where when he talks about it, it sounds like another language.

What do they dislike?

Everyone has something they seriously cannot stand, whether it's a fear or just "Ew, Brussels sprouts!" While an adult would say, "I don't like that," kids tend to be more expressive and vocal about their distastes. Depending on the kid’s personality, they'll react differently and it’s something I think it's important to consider.

One might stomp or yell or scream and run away, another will be polite about it or very matter-of-fact in how much they don’t like it. Others may brag about how terrible or gross something is, or hide the thing they hate.

Please Don't Do The "What's Sex?" Joke Thing

I really wish people would stop doing this.

I see this a lot in writing and roleplay, and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. If you’ve never seen it or aren’t sure what I mean, I’m talking the moment where the eight year old walks in on their parents, who are talking about sexual innuendos, and asks what they’re talking about. 99% of younger children genuinely don't care or just think the names of bits are funny ("Haha you said boobies" "Haha butts").

Think back to your own childhood. There's a reason all those adult jokes in movies and TV soared over our heads when we were younger. We didn't understand them nor care and just kept going. We pick up on them heavily as adults, as we’re more familiar with them and more, but we simply don’t focus on them in our younger years since we ignore the confusing line for what we found funny. It's adult stuff and boring and what we like/want to do matters more than that.

What makes them laugh?

If anyone else has been around kids extensively, you’ve probably noticed that they bond so easily to you if you do things that they find funny (or exciting, fun, or cool. It's not difficult to make friends with kids if you respect them, but I digress).

A lot of simple, quick-witted or blunt jokes from come off as absolutely hysterical, and will stick like glue. Some things I personally found exceptionally funny were slapstick, silly things you wouldn’t expect to happen in the situation, and toilet jokes (because haha poop).

It's pretty easy to make kids laugh, all in all. They might recite a joke they found funny to many, many other people because it makes them laugh so much. They may try to surf off the hilarity of the joke and make a similar, but ultimately failure copy as the process of why it’s funny is often lost. Kids tend to be not very good at making their own jokes from scratch, or at least they aren’t often funny in the way they meant them to be.

(That said I want this one to hang immortalized on my wall.)

If a child has been abused or treated badly, they may not recognize it as such

There's a surprising amount of people (myself included, unfortunately) who only just realized as they became adults that how they grew up was not normal, and that how their caretaker or friend or family member treated them wasn't okay.

Children growing up typically look to their parents for guidance on how the world works. Normally this is fine. But when you were born and raised in a more hostile environment, you straight up don't realize that your situation is not the way other kids live. You normalize it because, well, you don't know better by no fault of your own.

It feels like a pretty common thing on the Tumbles to see abused children in roleplay or writing immediately going, "My parent is abusive and I hate them," and perhaps in some cases that happens. But it seems to be more common for children to be willing to forgive their family because they're family. As they age it might become vastly different as they process what's happened to them.

However, the younger they are, the higher the likelihood that they don't want to leave the people they grew up with. It's a familiar environment and they love their family despite everything. That, and new people, places, and things can be scary to a younger child.

How do they express themself and their passion?

Looping back to likes and dislikes again:

Kids are often way, WAY more expressive than any adult. Usually because they've been allowed to roam free with their imaginations and their freedom of expression. They love a wide variety of things, but they express them in often more vibrant ways.

For example, when asked why they like dragons, an adult might respond, "They're elegant, scary, metaphorical, the designs are beautiful, etc."

A kid who loves dragons might pretend to be one, making sound effects while they stomp around flapping their arms. When asked why they like dragons, they might say, "They blow fire and they eat people and they're green and this one time i was watching The Hobbit and Smaug was like--"

A high energy kid may love sports or running, might be a bed jumper or love to play pretend. A quiet kid may love reading or writing and be great at reciting facts about what they read.

(Kids seem to love reciting facts in general, honestly. It’s fun to show off knowledge.)

One who likes bugs or frogs might collect them in containers to play with, or gross out their friends with a surprise frog in their hands because they think it's hilarious. One who loves singing may be into musicals/plays and performing arts, and may straight up sing or hum whenever they please.

Kids are so morbid

Listen, I know everyone loves to be like, "Kids are so pure and must be protected," but when I was growing up there were at least three different Barney murder songs (among other horrible rhymes and tunes) that would cycle through out ears and out our mouths. Haha, Barney is for babies and he gets dead.

Honestly it was hilarious. It’s still hilarious.

My guess is that kids are curious about things we think of as "unsavory" topics; death, violence, gross-out stuff, war, predatory animals hunting down their prey, natural disasters, all that good stuff.

Adults often try to not bring up these particular topics, whether because it’s sensitive, heavy, or they don’t know how to answer it. Which...only makes the taste of forbidden knowledge that much sweeter. You're not supposed to talk about it, so of course they're all gonna talk about it when the adults aren't watching.

Late night Llamas With Hats. Haha, he got stabbed 37 times in the chest.

Kids are spontaneous and goofy

One of the things about "lol randoom XD tacos" humor that draws in the younger crowd is that you don't expect what's coming next. The protagonist shouldn’t be stepping on ducks. The situation doesn’t call for a musical number, but there it is.

It's always good to consider how playful and silly your child character is, especially if they're on the younger side, since that tends to be when most kids are filled with that boundless energy to do things. They’re are louder than they intend to be, love games and play pretend (which I mention a lot but I've never met a kid who didn't love pretending to be giant monsters or superheroes. My cousins loved Horrible Water Zombies: The Revenge).

Me personally, I used to keep notebooks and draw really weird things. When I was thirteen I had a character whose favorite pastimes were, and I quote, “smashing watermelons on the mayor’s house and falling off cliffs.”

One of my cousins will literally walk up to me and say the most off the wall things. On one occasion, he just walked up, looked at me, then squatted while making some weird mumbling noise. When I asked him what he was doing, he told me, "Bulgarian Spit-Squats," and did that for like twenty minutes straight.

Acceptance and learning with kids

I think a lot of people write children off as "dumb kids" but they will take a surprising amount in their stride and learn ridiculously quick.

True, children can also be cruel if they don't know any different. Like all people can succumb to mob mentality, not know to pull their punches, or know what words or actions have serious consequences. Most kids politely told right from wrong or talked to with respect instead of being just yelled at do change their behavior. Often quicker and easier than adults do.

When spoken to calmly and patiently and a good explanation of disability, disfigurement, why someone looks or acts the way they do, or why they have this tool or that tool to get around, kids will just accept it for what it is. And after learning about it, they might even start fact parroting, telling others what they've learned or telling them off when an adult says something bad.

"No, Mom. It's because they have [disability] and that's why they [thing]."

I've heard lots of stories of kids doing this when told someone is gay or trans too, where they're quick to tell off adults who get nasty with those topics or correct them on someone's pronouns. Society has yet to imprint on them that these things are bad.

What do they want to be when they grow up?

Lots of kids are excited to grow up and do the cool job they really really like. Doctor and policeman and firefighter seem to be the "common" responses since those are obligatory "helps people" and "exciting hero".

But a child with a passion for something specific may be like, "I wanna be a marine biologist," "I want to be a painter," "I want to be like the guy on TV who talks about wildlife." It's also not uncommon to hear about a really specific or little known job that they've spent hours reading about. Oftentimes when sharing this info with adults they share it proudly and with enthusiasm, because at that point kids don't realize the misery of jobs they can't wait to walk in the footsteps of their heroes who are doing these cool things.

There's also the kids who answer that with, "I'm gonna be a dinosaur," which sounds like a joke to us, but most of them truly believe if they work harder at pretending to be a dinosaur, they can achieve that. Later on those kids end up discouraged by learning that’s not possible.

(I’m still disappointed.)

#writing advice #writing #milo's writing advice #hi guys

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notspoondere · 7 years ago

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Rocky Shocky Dracos - May 2018 Banlist

Banlist season is kind of savage when you think about it; everyone’s out for blood, and they turn to tournament results for donors.

Spoiler: we didn’t get much blood, but this list was fairly solid nonetheless.

The best decks of this format were Pendulum Magicians (notable variants included the Magician FTK, which copied the effect of Lyrilusc - Independent Nightingale twice with Supreme King Dragon Starving Venom to burn for 4000 twice; and the Zexal variant, which used Chronograph Sorcerer to make Beatrice in order to dump Rank-Up-Magic Argent Chaos Force, then overlay Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger to add it back to hand, then discard it to turn Number 39: Utopia into Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL) and True Draco (almost entirely Demise, though the Metalfoes variant also faired well). Almost nothing else came close to these decks, though the format was fairly diverse apart from that: 60-card variants, Dinosaur variants, 60-card Dinosaur variants (wow!!), SPYRAL, Burning Abyss, Zefra, Metalfoes, Mekk-Knight Invoked, and sometimes ABC and Trickstar all made significant tournament placements during the format, and for a while, it seemed like everyone was happy.

Of course, that’s ignoring the two legal FTKs. In addition to the above Pendulum FTK, Gem-Knights got a Link Monster last set, and as a result, generated some easy combos to burn 8000 on turn 1 by making Lady Lapis Lazuli and copying her effect with Gem-Knight Master Diamond. If you interrupt it, they end on True King of All Calamities instead, for an equally interactive experience.

Oh, and Draco was pretty uninteractive as well. You could spend your entire turn building the biggest board of monsters ever conceived by man, but any board without backrow could more or less be outed with good old Rocky Shocky (Amano-Iwato + Raigeki), down to the point where it was the default answer to any “break my board” post on Zodiac Duelist. Once they got in, or if they went first, they spiced up the experience by flipping two or three of the exact same floodgates every single time, so you’d have to deal with outing a Master Peace on top of obscenely powerful backrow. Oh, and Amano-Iwato also prevents the activation of handtraps (except for Infinite Impermanence), so you can’t do anything about them drawing cards!!

Mind you, this is on top of an already GOOD archetype. Imagine telling someone playing 2016 Monarchs that they made an archetype where all of the continuous spells were Eidos and drew cards, and all of the traps were Escalation, and one of them was also Monster Reborn, and all of the monsters went plus if your opponent tried to play the game, and every time you Tribute Summoned, you also destroyed stuff, and the field spell was BETTER than Domain, and...

But that’s over now, right? Did they finally do Draco dirty this time? We’ll see.

Forbidden

Astrograph Sorcerer

Astro, Astro. It’s funny how long it took for this card to become good: it wasn’t played at all until Electrumite came out, but I guess that makes sense, since Electrumite is the reason this card had to go straight from 3 to 0. Let’s get into why this card in particular is so ridiculous, and why it was obviously the best hit.

Astrograph Sorcerer does three important things.

You can destroy it in scale to summon Stargazer Magician from the deck or hand. This makes half of Electrumite without a Pendulum or Normal Summon.

If a monster is destroyed, you can summon Astrograph from hand to search another copy of any monster that was destroyed this turn. This isn’t even once per turn, and can activate even if Astrograph wasn’t in hand when it happened.

Astrograph is level 7, so you can overlay him for Odd-Eyes Absolute Dragon, which can float into Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon or Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon when it leaves the field; this comprises about 1/3 of the ending board of any Pendulum deck.

Best part is that putting it to 1 doesn’t stop you from being able to loop it at all! You can resolve it multiple times per turn with just one copy thanks to Electrumite’s effect.

Yeah, this was a great hit.

Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King

Yep, this is Luster Pendulum. He’s now Zoodiac Drident crossed with Apoqliphort Towers, and naturally he’s on the banlist again. Feel old yet?

To continue on that analogy, I fully expect this deck to go the way of Qliphorts and continue to see play as a stun variant. Note that nerfed Draco is still a better deck than Qliphorts, unfortunately.

Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis

Woohoo, we won’t get Plant FTK! With that, I have the feeling we’ll be getting the Aromage Link Monster next set, since that’s the card that enables this FTK. Once again, a good hit.

Supreme King Dragon Starving Venom

Magicians lost two cards, it turns out. Did I mention when you copy Independent Nightingale with this, it becomes unaffected by card effects? And it’s a 3000 beater with piercing? And you don’t even have to use Polymerization?

There were people making the case for Nightingale being banned instead of this, but I’d like to make the argument that copy effects limit design space even more than random Level 1 birds that can burn do.

I actually think the FTK more or less dies with Astrograph, but this helps to make that certain.

Ancient Fairy Dragon

Remember how everyone laughed at that Fairytale archetype and then, on the same day, an FTK was discovered off of the field spell?

Remember how ABC-Dragon Buster is a 1.5 card combo off of any Field Spell?

Remember Fieldspell.dek, which ends on UCT + Mechaba or Naturia Beast with no trouble whatsoever?

Yeah, you can thank this card for all of that. There are people that think Ancient Fairy is innocent, but this card is absolutely the culprit. I bought a copy not too long ago, but I’m glad I’ll be putting her into the “banned cards” page of my binder, hopefully never to see the light of day again.

Rank-Up-Magic Argent Chaos Force

And here’s the first case where I feel like they picked the card to hit at random, as Konami used to do. The Zexal combo required a bunch of cards to exist within the game:

RUM ACF

Chronograph Sorcerer

Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal

Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL

Gaia Dragon, etc...

It seems like Konami spun a wheel for this one, since I can’t imagine Utopic ZEXAL coming up in any non-degenerate strategies, and it certainly prevents them from printing any searchable non-Quick-Play Rank-Up-Magics, but who cares, buy Links!

That Grass Looks Greener

I’ve been a 60-card player since around this time last year, and Lightsworn is my favorite deck of all time, so I’m sad to see this one go, but it was absolutely responsible for 60-card decks’ most unfair hands. “Oh, you decided to drop Ash Blossom on my Lonefire? Here, let me just mill a third of my deck real quick and end on Naturia Beast or Void Ogre Dragon with Fairy Tail - Snow and Shiranui Spiritmaster in the GY. Oh, and you only have three cards in hand. Sorry, not sorry!”

Limited Cards

Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter

This is the best card in Draco that isn’t named Master Peace, and is the sole reason for why I think the deck isn’t totally dead. Return and Apocalypse are still absurdly strong cards going first and this card searches them.

Gem-Knight Master Diamond

Here’s another “spin the wheel” hit; the Gem-Knight that actually burns is Lady Lapis Lazuli, but hitting this hurts the deck’s attempts to play legitimately, too. Problem solved, I guess, but at what cost?

They can’t make Calamities anymore, either, but that matters much less when they can’t actually kill you, either.

Chain Strike

And there’s a strange hit! Chain Burn has been a nuisance since, well, the release of Chain Strike, and this hit is kind of out of nowhere, but who cares. Chain Burn is dead if you don’t draw an insane hand. Better now than never.

Semi-Limited Cards

Apoqlihport Towers

Ring of Destruction

I’ll take “Cards that have seen no play” for 800, Alex.

Unlimited Cards

I’m doing these out of order so I can sort them into tiers depending on how much discussion they actually deserve. Without further ado:

Neo-Spacian Grand Mole

Compulsory Evacuation Device

Fairy Tail - Luna saw no play and Solemn Strike is still at 3. Who cares.

Grandsoil the Elemental Lord

The functional errata is effective already, though we won’t get it in print until FLOD: SE. Elementsaber buff, though the deck really isn’t good anyways.

Mathematician

This is still a solid card, honestly. I could see it seeing play again in decks that don’t need a Normal Summon, or if they finally unban Construct. I don’t think that deck’s in the game right now, but it could be soon.

Atlantean Dragoons

Dragoons was tearing through boards years before SPYRAL Tough was, and honestly, there’s very little stopping it from doing so now with Light of Sekka in the game (Abyss-scale is a brick and chances are that you don’t run any spells that do anything more impactful than drawing two cards and fixing your hand). This is kind of like when Charge of the Light Brigade came back to 3: It’s a fairly solid buff to a fairly solid deck. Add onto that the imminent reprint of Moulinglacia and the new Mermail Link Monster, and the deck is looking like it’s soon to be in a very strong place.

Ignis Heat, the True Dracowarrior

This means virtually nothing compared to Dinomight coming back to 1.

...

Okay, hear me out. Ignis was the deck’s best play going second since it grabs Heritage, which plusses off of disruption. That’s fine, but:

Amano-Iwato stops your opponent from doing anything to stop you already.

You are going to search your spells with Diagram anyways, and you don’t need your opponent to be using effects on your turn to do that.

Heritage is still a disruptable card itself, and the proper play with Ignis is usually to let him hit the board and swing over him later in order to give the opponent Heritage on a turn when they can’t immediately use it.

For these reasons... yeah, Ignis doesn’t actually matter that much. Draco would still be fine with Ignis at 1, and I don’t really expect that he’ll be run at more than 2 at MOST due to the way optimal ratios work with Card of Demise.

END OF LIST

And that’s it. So what happened here?

Magicians nerfed. FTK and Zexal builds murdered. Pure deck is still viable.

Every other pendulum deck nerfed, though pure Metalfoes arguably lost the least. (Zefra didn’t use Astrograph at all, but really needed AFD.)

Draco nerfed. Still viable, mark my words.

60-card is dead outright. The best playmakers are still there, but Left Arm into Grass is no longer valid backup for Lonefire Blossom. You may see 40-card Dino or Zombiesworn lists in the future given good enough hands, but there’s no good way to fit the Lonefire combo in 40 cards without bricking too often.

Gem-Knight FTK dead.

Plant FTK pre-emptively dead.

Chain Burn, for some reason, also dead.

Every deck that plays Destrudo into AFD is nerfed or dead. I expect ABC and Zefra to survive through sheer power, though both lost much in consistency.

Invoked are fine, though invoked hybrids lost AFD, I guess.

World Chalice untouched. If you think you’re good at this game, try this deck and realize how wrong you are.

SPYRAL untouched. Easily a top-tier contender.

Burning Abyss untouched. Still a solid deck with proper backrow.

Paleozoics untouched, though the worst part of their worst matchup is totally gone, and they’re very solid versus Altergeist. Budget players, keep an eye on this deck.

Mermails buffed. Remember to respect this deck, since anyone who’s still got it has probably been holding onto the cards for years (especially if they have Moulinglacia, that shit went straight up to $40 a pop).

...

Neo-Spacians tier 1, obviously.

EXTRA: Cards that Did Not Get Hit, Somehow

Card of Demise

Normal Amano-Iwato, set 3, activate Diagram, Demise. Your opponent looks you straight in the eye as if you could respond, but he knows the truth. In the pursuit of victory, he lost whatever part of his heart that was capable of compassion. Even now, there’s no saving him.

This card provides way too much advantage in the right decks and has deserved a hit for like four or five lists in a row now. I’ll be happy to see it gone, but Konami seems to think not. Maybe LC Kaiba still needs to sell?

Trickstar ANYTHING

This deck has fallen off a bit, but Drollcarnation is still legal and the deck is still a threat based off of that alone.

Scapegoat

Free 1-card Borreload if your deck doesn’t SS on the opponent’s turn! That’s fair, right? Kill me.

#yugioh #yu-gi-oh #yugioh tcg

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art-now-ukraine · 6 years ago

Photo

dragon, Mykola Hurmak

Honourable spectator, I invite you to look into the unknown world that can be given by the abstraction, allowing personal sense of reality to draw in details complete image. You will be able to distinguish certain creatures such as: birds, dragons or fish, and then to glimpse into the abstraction concerning ancient myths about the aspiration to see the unknown in a non-existent world (djinns, kobolds, salamanders and other fictitious beings) that are in our genetic imagination can be interpreted as the echo of distant ancestors who had been telling their legends in front of the flame of fire deep in the caves. Abstraction allows you to behold a particular song, or a fantastic creature inserted into the structure of our own vision, as if it is a dance of tongues of fire it draws personal story for someone who is willing to look into it. The size of the paintings gives the viewer an opportunity to gain a glimpse into the world of the unknown, as if a slip is deliberately left in the door, it invites you to reveal a secret. Moreover, this format will also fit well in any close or large interior, without taking much space and if your house has a low ceilings it will create the illusion of a large space. …It is performed in three stages: pencil sketch drawing on paper, computer-generated graphics, high quality UV-print on the 3 mm panel thickness, waterproof, can be in the exterior, stands well rain and sun rays. It can be washed, wiped with a moist rag in aesthetic combination with the aluminum frame that gives the painting a very modern and perfect look. The frame is aluminum and easy to hang on the wall by using loops.

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/New-Media-dragon/773439/3412325/view

#modern #abstract #illustration #conceptual #mykolahurmak #Folk

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verdigrisprowl · 7 years ago

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May 7 Dancitron Movie Night - Alien 3

Prowl and Soundwave are Completely Frigging Exhausted.

On the bright side, Prowl figured out that he can send his alternate visual feeds of the movie so she can watch too.

Today ItsyBitsySpyers 7:46 pm *Soundwave's tired as Pit from barely recharging - when he's brave enough to try - but he's here and attempting to be alert. He has plans for another of his favorite pieces of content and by Pri... by Solus, he will watch it.* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:47 pm *So he's in his seat, slouched down more than usual, but trying to stay upright nonetheless.* VProwl 7:49 pm *on the other hand, Prowl shows up, sits down, leans on Soundwave, and immediately falls asleep.* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:51 pm *Soundwave leans into Prowl right away. It's so nice to not have to rely on his own strength to stay upright... ish.*

*One feeler slips out to form a protective loop over Prowl's lap, up the back of the couch, behind his shoulders, and back down. To Pit with what anyone else sees. It's kind of hard to care when you keep having nightmares about dark energon infesting your loved ones.* Specs 7:52 pm *In comes a slightly-frazzled looking dragon! For Ravage, she's got energon fish with tinsel skeletons. For everyone else, it's the usual assortment of mercury cakes, rust sticks, and other delightful draconic goodies. For Soundwave, she has a carefully-made gummi version of the dancing chestburster from last weeks movie. And, since this is SPECIFICALLY for Soundwave, she's approaching him with it before putting everyone else's goodies on the table.* Um... ItsyBitsySpyers 7:53 pm *Ravage is strolling down the stairs and sniffing before she even gets to Soundwave. He smells tinsel. Don't mind him licking his chops.*

*Soundwave lifts his helm to look at the dragon, and then at the chestburster gummi.*

[[...Is that...]] Specs 7:54 pm It's the one from last week's movie. I, uh, I didn't quite get the hat right, but it should still taste good... *hopeful dragon grin* If you'd like it, of course... Magnum Ace 7:55 pm -pings Soundwave for entry- ItsyBitsySpyers 7:57 pm *He keeps staring at it, unable to process its existence all the way. It's so - it's so ridiculous. He can't believe the dragon actually reproduced that damned thing with energon.*

[[He won't be able to eat it, but it is...]] *Finally huffs, if quietly. Mustn't disturb Prowl.* [[It's amusing. He will keep it. Thank you.]] *Ace gets a bridge, albeit a little slower than usual. Calculating bridges is hard when you're sleepy.*

*He also gets a warning.*

@M: [[Frightening content tonight.]] *Well. Frightening for anyone who isn't him, anyway.* Magnum Ace 7:59 pm -Don't worry. Hopefully him and Bull are too tired to register much- Specs 7:59 pm *the dragon made seven iterations of the damned thing. she was determined to give this to Soundwave. sometimes, it's not talent, just spiteful determination.* You're very welcome, Soundwave. *with a happy churr, the dragon heads over to the rest of the snacks, stopping at the bar to give Ravage his tinsel fish* VProwl 7:59 pm ((sw voice: [[Well, mark him down as scared AND horny.]])) ItsyBitsySpyers 7:59 pm ((LMAO)) Specs 8:00 pm ((bless u prowl)) Magnum Ace 8:00 pm -But he's going to ping back that he got the warning, and trot through the bridge- Bull 8:01 pm *Bull comes in after Magnum looking tired and still has a patch to cover up the fresh repair to his left side* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:01 pm *Ravage is practically getting high just off the THOUGHT of tinsel at this point. He actually goes so far as to bunt the dragon before pulling the fish under the bar with himself.*

*Soundwave just tiredly toys with the gummi, wiggling the tail. He nods at Ace and Bull. Noting the patch, of course.* [[Hurt?]] ItsyBitsySpyers 8:03 pm ((TEN MINUTES grab ur snacks and stuff)) Specs 8:04 pm *a ravage bunt! she is... blessed... the dragon chirrups delightedly, getting to placing the snacks in their rightful place with vigor* Bull 8:04 pm Yeah, had a rough game today. *Bull was just happy for the pain blockers in the patch* Magnum Ace 8:04 pm -is standing below the table and just looking up. Kinda hard to climb when his leg is still healing- Some teams still like to rough their opponents up ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm *Oh. Oh, he should... hold on.*

*Soundwave stretches the other feeler out to the opposite side of the room and pulls it back with a small stair set in tow.* *Plop. There you go, both of you.* VProwl 8:06 pm ((when is somebody going to address ravage's terrible addiction)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm ((whenever someone actually realizes that bird's food hoarding is unhealthy and addresses that)) Magnum Ace 8:07 pm Thanks. -that makes this easier. Now they can climb stairs instead of table legs- Specs 8:07 pm ((in all fairness to the dragon, food hoarding is PERFECTLY NORMAl in her culture, which is why it's such a big thing to give other people food- of course Bird hoards food, everyone hoards food)) Bull 8:07 pm Thank you. *makes sure to stay close to Magnum incase he needs a hand. Specs 8:07 pm ((she has no excuse for dealing tinsel to ravage, tho)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:07 pm [[Gave them a rough time right back, he hopes.]] Magnum Ace 8:10 pm -Bull, he's stubborn. He'll be fiiiiine- You mean us? We don't do that. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:11 pm [[What do you do?]] Magnum Ace 8:11 pm Dodge ItsyBitsySpyers 8:11 pm *He can't imagine telling the owners that they're being attacked helps, since the humans seem to think them replaceable objects.* [[...That is all?]] Bull 8:11 pm And play the game as it's meant be played. Specs 8:11 pm Why not? Eat those who would harm you. *the dragon hops onto the back of a couch, and gets into a comfy loaf* Magnum Ace 8:12 pm I....don't think that would work Specs 8:12 pm Well, you don't have to ACTUALLY eat them. The point of the phrase is that you shouldn't just let people beat you up. Omicron 8:13 pm *big predacon comes in, walks outside after the bridge and carefully, shakes herself out there of clinging ice crystals and once sure she got ride of most of it, comes in and sits. oo, she's foggy, nice* Magnum Ace 8:13 pm We won the last championship without attacking the other teams ItsyBitsySpyers 8:15 pm [[The point is to stop them from attacking you at all, championship or not... but as you like.]] *As long as they aren't murdered.*

*Soundwave tilts his helm at the steam rising off Ice Queen. How dramatic looking.* [[Greetings.]] Magnum Ace 8:16 pm -So, best not to bring up more of what can happen on the field. Got it- Swoop 8:16 pm *teeeeeeeeeeeenntitively pings soundwave* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm ((WARNINGS: I already packed the DVDs so I couldn't prewatch this and am going based on memory. I might miss some things here. Outdated incorrect beliefs about extra chromosomes, violence, blood and gore, deeply unpleasant death, animal death, mentions of and attempted rape, prisoner abuse, mentions of drug use, probably some flashing lights or flickering somewhere. Tonight is not an easy watch.)) Bull 8:17 pm *Keeps silent since he's sure they wouldn't understand their reasons* Magnum Ace 8:17 pm They 're slowly realizing that their way isn't working...we can take a few injuries VProwl 8:17 pm ((sounds like a barrel of laughs)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:18 pm *Soundwave pings Swoop. Solus have mercy on his head, he is not alert enough for a rampaging Dinobot. Please let him behave...*

@S: [[Greetings.]] Omicron 8:18 pm *biiig fanged, happy grin from Icy back at soundwave, she's so cold that the air is making fog more then steam but hey, it works, happy predacon* Hello Swoop 8:18 pm *is unusually hesistant over the comm with Soundwave* Bird watching movie? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:18 pm @S: [[She is not down here. He can call her if you intend to come and behave.]] Swoop 8:19 pm Kay... Bull 8:19 pm ((Boy this movie brings back memories. It was the one Alien movie my dad didn't want me watching... even though I had seen far worse as a kid)) Magnum Ace 8:20 pm -carefully sits on table, wincing slightly- Considering the game we have tomorrow, I'm glad they didn't aim at my shoulders ItsyBitsySpyers 8:20 pm [[What is tomorrow?]] Magnum Ace 8:20 pm Baseball game Swoop 8:20 pm ((I don't love how much of this movie's plot comes from contractual decisions but tired, don't give a fuck Ripley is wonderful.)) Magnum Ace 8:21 pm Today was soccer ItsyBitsySpyers 8:21 pm [[No arms in soccer?]] Swoop 8:21 pm *wanders into dancitron in pterosaur form, low to the ground, head twitching around as he looks for Laserbeak* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:21 pm *Laserbeak is on her way down. She's as tired as the Boss, but if she can perch-sit with Swoop, she will.* Magnum Ace 8:22 pm Right, only goalies can use their arms and hands when it comes to the ball Everyone else cannot Swoop 8:22 pm *makes a beeline for her* Bird. Bull 8:22 pm *Bull raises his hand* I'm our goalie for soccer. Prowl 8:23 pm *arrives immediately after Swoop* Omicron 8:23 pm *icy waves a wing* VProwl 8:23 pm *Doesn't even stir as the movie starts. He's still sound asleep.* Swoop 8:24 pm *doesn't know what to do with himself* Magnum Ace 8:25 pm . . . ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm *Bird pats him gently with a feeler.* {{Swoop.}}

[[Then your arms are more important?]]

*Glance at Prowl. Hmm.... slight nudge.* Swoop 8:26 pm *leans into the feelers and closes his optics* VProwl 8:27 pm *doesn't stir.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:27 pm *Sleep it is. He'll just curl the feeler a little tighter and resume watching.* Magnum Ace 8:27 pm In soccer he's the one that keeps the other team from scoring points if the rest of us fail ItsyBitsySpyers 8:28 pm *Nod.* Bull 8:28 pm Need every part of my body for that. Just hoping my side will be good enough to still bat tomorrow. Specs 8:29 pm ((sorry, cat tried to turn off the computer)) Omicron 8:29 pm *chrips* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:29 pm ((np)) Magnum Ace 8:29 pm -pats- You'll be fine, don't worry VProwl 8:29 pm ((is the stream going in and out or is it just me?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:30 pm ((audio wise?)) Swoop 8:30 pm Bird Miss you VProwl 8:30 pm ((whole stream)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:30 pm ((no problems here)) Swoop 8:30 pm ((doing okay for me)) VProwl 8:30 pm ((video is stuttering)) ((boo)) Magnum Ace 8:30 pm ((all good here ItsyBitsySpyers 8:32 pm {{Bird miss Swoop too. Away long, long, yes.}} ((close browser and restart?)) Swoop 8:32 pm *perks up a little, bird missed him!* Omicron 8:33 pm [I had my laptop muted *turns on and listens*] Swoop 8:33 pm *but then his brain catches up with him* yah... Bob dead Omicron 8:33 pm (seems fine here)) Specs 8:33 pm ((audio's fine here, for the computer having been nearly restarted by a horrible goblin who I love and cherish)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:34 pm {{Bird remembers. Very sad, so sad. Poor, poor Bob bug.}} Swoop 8:34 pm *shrugs uncomfortably* Omicron 8:34 pm ((*releasing the noodles here*)) VProwl 8:35 pm ((why doesn't she just tell them)) Prowl 8:35 pm ((newt ;v; Omicron 8:35 pm ((scared to?)) Swoop 8:35 pm ((doesn't want xenomorphs on the books?)) Magnum Ace 8:36 pm ...... VProwl 8:36 pm ((also you might want to WARN this guy that a tiny alien might be inside of the corpse waiting to pop out)) Magnum Ace 8:36 pm -doesn't like where this is going- Prowl 8:37 pm ((well it should be dead at this point yeah? Swoop 8:37 pm *shifts his weight from forelimb to forelimb* Specs 8:39 pm ((mr. clemens has one of Those Voices that I have to lip-read to understand. im die.)) Omicron 8:39 pm (*patpats*) VProwl 8:40 pm *suddenly starts upright with a shout.* Specs 8:40 pm ((it's fine lol. I just get to squint at his face a lil more)) Swoop 8:40 pm *HOPS and turns reflexively at shouting* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:40 pm ((i'm sorry, this movie has a real problem with too soft/too loud audio, i never watch it without subs))

*Soundwave jerks upright and reflexively squeezes the coil, but quickly loosens it again* VProwl 8:40 pm *where the hell— what— who— where— what— how—* Magnum Ace 8:40 pm -shifts around a bit more uncomfortably at the sight of the furnace- Prowl 8:41 pm *startles* Swoop 8:41 pm ((okay NOW I'm getting jumpy video)) Omicron 8:41 pm *gives a chirp to the smaller mecha* Bull 8:42 pm *is just not watching at this point* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:42 pm *Bird just keeps petting Swoop. Nobody needs him to start breathing fire in a startle or something.*

*Soundwave pings Prowl.*

@P: [[Calm, calm. Prowl: safe. Prowl, here.]] Magnum Ace 8:43 pm -ducks head- Omicron 8:43 pm *fans her wings* VProwl 8:43 pm ((hell of a flower)) Omicron 8:43 pm *Icy's warming up, if someone needs to hide under wings they can* Swoop 8:43 pm *is a big fan of Bird pets and easily distracted to boot* Specs 8:44 pm *she's got a fur coat, she can take advantage of the Safe Wings anytime she wants. which is about now.* Swoop 8:44 pm *wanders somewhat aimlessly looking for where to camp himself, giving a wide berth to places he usually goes* VProwl 8:44 pm *grabs Soundwave's arm as he looks around, trying to orient himself. Right. Right. Movie night.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:44 pm *Picks the upstairs remote out of his subspace and stretches it over to the baseball players. Just in case.* Omicron 8:44 pm *Icy carefully lays her wings in a loose flop, she does chirp to the dinobot from the back* Prowl 8:45 pm *sits back down slowly* Swoop 8:45 pm *chirps back reflexively* VProwl 8:45 pm *looks around the room.* ... Sorry. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm *Soundwave rests his other hand atop Prowl's to try to provide comfort, not minding the grab. If it's necessary, it's necessary.* Magnum Ace 8:45 pm -give them another scare like that last one, and they just might- Prowl 8:45 pm It's fine. Swoop 8:47 pm *wanders into an unfamiliar corner and climbs on top of a table to perch* Magnum Ace 8:48 pm -hope it's not the table him and Bull are on- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:48 pm {{What you going here for, eh?}}

*Spins a hovery circle around Swoop, curious. Is it easier to see from here?* Swoop 8:48 pm For sit Omicron 8:49 pm *if he's near, Ice Queen stretches out her neck to sniff at* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:49 pm {{Why sitting so far?}} Swoop 8:49 pm *hope you like the smell of dust and caves and burnt metal* Dunno VProwl 8:49 pm *lets go of Soundwave and slouches back down.* Omicron 8:50 pm *she's smelled worse, and there's not a lot thats truely 'bad' to her* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:51 pm @P: [[Resuming recharge?]] Omicron 8:52 pm *checks on fluffy dragon?* Specs 8:52 pm *fluffy dragon is the fluffiest loaf. it's safe here.* Magnum Ace 8:52 pm ........... Omicron 8:52 pm *gives them a lick then* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm {{Kay. Want snack?}} VProwl 8:53 pm @S «No, I'm up now.» ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm @SProwl: [[Are you all right, there?]] Swoop 8:53 pm Huh? Oh. Nah. *pauses* Bird want snack? Omicron 8:54 pm I dislike that warden ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm {{No, no. Bird fine.}} She was in the middle of pigging out when Soundwave called her down.* {{You change mind, you letting Bird know, kaaaaay?}} Specs 8:54 pm *licks Icy's snout right back. she's okay! just a little nervous after seeing something more her size get chestburst.* Swoop 8:54 pm Kay : > Prowl 8:54 pm @S: Hm? *she didn't expect to be asked after* Yes, yes, I just wasn't expecting anyone in the room to shout. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:55 pm *Soundwave nods to the Prowl at his side and lets his hand drop. Seems to be all right now.*

@P: [[Can he do anything to be of service?]]

*Confirmation ping to the other Prowl. All right. He wasn't sure.* Prowl 8:57 pm *a ping of concern to her alternate* Omicron 8:57 pm yeah, I don't like this warden ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm [[Neither does he.]] *May he get himself infested and serve as a host to a better life form.* Swoop 8:57 pm *has no idea what's happening and doesn't particularly care to try to catch up* VProwl 8:57 pm @P «... Yes?» @S «No, I'm fine. Sorry for being disruptive.» Swoop 8:58 pm *instead he rocks a little on the table so it ends up going off balance and then falling back in place, not a wild rollercoaster but still a little bit of a balancing act for a dinoborb* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:58 pm @P: [[No apology needed.]] ((it's going to be very rough in a moment iirc so people might want to be afk as needed)) Prowl 8:58 pm @P: Your status? Omicron 8:59 pm I've dealt with that kind, type when younger. *rumbles, and folds up one wing, helping to keep specs braced under and let them peek out better, other wing is streached out.....and then low growling* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:59 pm ((and clear)) *Bird whistles in surprise at the sudden movement and grabs the table with feeler claws. Don't fall...* Magnum Ace 9:01 pm ohno Swoop 9:01 pm *isn't the best at a lot of things but being in the air is his jam, this is easy peasy* VProwl 9:01 pm @P «Normal. Sorry for disturbing you, I'd been dozing.» Magnum Ace 9:01 pm -hides face- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm *Ahh. Even if the rest of his life is a sleep-deprived shambles, he can still have this moment to appreciate a delightful alien.* Omicron 9:03 pm well *closes wing on specs* VProwl 9:03 pm ... Oh, it's one of these movies. Omicron 9:03 pm *she still has another free wing to hide under if anyone needs* Specs 9:03 pm *thanks* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm [[It is.]] Swoop 9:03 pm *gets bored with his self-imposed earthquake and flops down over the table, wings ending up on either side* VProwl 9:04 pm *SLJDFKLJ NEEDLES IN HEAD* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm ((lmfao and here i thought this movie was safe for prowl as far as needles in head go)) VProwl 9:04 pm *HWY THIS* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm ((*just gives up and facepalms*)) @P: [[...He apologizes. He did not know.]]

*Well, if Prowl wasn't going to sleep before, he definitely isn't now.* Swoop 9:05 pm *is now a tablecloth* VProwl 9:05 pm *not going to watch the screen.* @S «Yep.» Prowl 9:05 pm @P: No apology needed. Specs 9:06 pm *blinks* It was me? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:06 pm *Bird decides to see if she can get Swoop to stay still by going to grab treats to put them on his tablecloth wings.* [[What was you?]] Omicron 9:07 pm ?? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:07 pm [[Oh. He sees.]] VProwl 9:07 pm *looks tentatively at the screen.* Swoop 9:08 pm *makes a sad little noise when Bird zips off but is quite content to watch her set up a tea party on his wings* Omicron 9:08 pm can someone smack that warden? *loosens wing for fluffy dragon?* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm [[Perhaps the alien will.]] Specs 9:08 pm *peeks out, to see if there's Actually A Dragon* Omicron 9:09 pm good Prowl 9:09 pm *scowls* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:11 pm *Blips.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:13 pm *There. Bird has arranged a full smorgasbord on Swoop's wings.*

*...Maybe she'll take a FEW things. But the rest is just gonna sit there.* Swoop 9:14 pm *looks at what she arranged sideways and gives the littlest of snickers* Omicron 9:14 pm that's a big needle....*clamps wing again* Swoop 9:15 pm Now Swoop table Specs 9:15 pm *nope nope nope nope nope nope nope* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:15 pm *One of the first times he's seen one with a changed shape based on the host. How fascinating.*

*...But, hmm.* {{Swoop not Dinobot. Now, Swoop Tablebot.}} Swoop 9:16 pm Keehee That BORING altmode, Bird Prowl 9:16 pm Did it get him? Omicron 9:16 pm ....HAH VProwl 9:16 pm It got him. Prowl 9:17 pm ...Good. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:17 pm [[...He's tired. He thought he heard you say]] [][][]Good.[][][] Swoop 9:18 pm ((that expression of hers)) ((goddamn)) ((so far passed unimpressed)) Specs 9:19 pm ((I'd let her punch me)) VProwl 9:19 pm *... hmmm. pings his alternate; offers a video feed from his optics.* Prowl 9:19 pm You heard correct. *oh! accepts* VProwl 9:20 pm *it's got Prowl's HUD measurements and calculations riddling the feed, sorry about that.* Omicron 9:21 pm -oh yeah loosens wing again- Prowl 9:22 pm *it's almost familiar the calculations and everything* Swoop 9:22 pm *for once isn't wiggling enough to send goodies everywhere* Prowl 9:22 pm @P: Many of these Earth documentaries have audio description but these Alien ones do not. Thank you. Swoop 9:22 pm *most of his twitching remains from the neck up for now* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:23 pm *Soundwave's hands twitch.* VProwl 9:24 pm @P «You're welcome.» *glad his alternate can process visual data.* «Let me know any other time you want a feed.» Omicron 9:24 pm hmmm Prowl 9:25 pm @P: I will. Magnum Ace 9:25 pm -NOPE!- VProwl 9:25 pm *he's just gotta hold very still for the rest of the movie. no problem.* Omicron 9:25 pm *twitches slightly and tilts head before giving out a poof of cold-cloud like a smoke ring.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm *Can sense the cold from here. He twitches again. No cold, thank you.*

*And then a third time.* Omicron 9:27 pm *its not much, just a poof, she won't make ice inside* Prowl 9:27 pm @S: You heard me correctly earlier. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:28 pm @SProwl: [[You cheered a warden's death?]] Magnum Ace 9:30 pm -whelp, if Bull doesn't mind he's taking the remote and going upstairs, possibly pulling Bull with him- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm [[...He thought so.]]

*Slump.* Bull 9:30 pm ((I'm gonna head off. Got headache and too tired; so night all)) VProwl 9:30 pm ((gnight)) Magnum Ace 9:30 pm ((g'night! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm ((night <3 rest up, hope your head gets better)) Omicron 9:30 pm (rest well!) Prowl 9:31 pm @S: He was clearly a terrible warden. The conditions of this prison are abysmal. If he had listened to Ripley when she tried to warn him the first time, he wouldn't have died. Swoop 9:31 pm Bird ItsyBitsySpyers 9:31 pm {{What what?}} Swoop 9:32 pm Tell a story Omicron 9:32 pm hmmm Swoop 9:32 pm please? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:32 pm @SProwl: [[...That is fair.]] *Bird flops on Swoop and folds her wings up.*

{{Bird tiiiiiiired. Not want story telling.}} Swoop 9:33 pm *lays his head down so his beak is hanging off the table too* Kay *is now a combination snack tray and bed and is totally fine with it* VProwl 9:35 pm *he rests an arm on Soundwave's feeler.* Omicron 9:36 pm (has anyone seen the isolation game based on these earlier movies?) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:36 pm *The whole thing slithers a bit more to allow for the part under the arm to scooch into a loop and cling to it.* ((i have it but have yet to play it)) Omicron 9:36 pm [I was playing some of it] VProwl 9:39 pm ((how convenient, to need to die, and be in a base full of murderers)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:39 pm ((i hope it's as good as it looks)) Windchill 9:40 pm (( I hear it's good once you get into it. Haven't played though. )) Swoop 9:42 pm *chirps and murmers to himself, it's not really a song, it's just a way of not being totally still* Windchill 9:42 pm *Windchill is here. He has two heads tonight; one stacked on top of the other. The top one is Blue, riding around like a jetpack baby.* Swoop 9:43 pm *is a tablecloth covered in goodies and a borb friend* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:43 pm *Bird whistles tiredly to Blue and goes back to being quiet, listening to Swoop carry on with his sorta-song.* Windchill 9:43 pm *Swoop...has become a tablecloth?* Omicron 9:43 pm *big dragon predacon with fuzzy dragon under a wing over here* Swoop 9:43 pm ((ngl that is actually one of my favorite movie "rallying the troops" speeches)) Specs 9:44 pm *fuzzy dragon is fuzzy* Windchill 9:44 pm *Blue cheeps, it's almost polite....* Swoop 9:44 pm *is draped right over that table, wings and beak over the edge* Omicron 9:44 pm *fuzzy dragon gets another lick* *chirps at Blue, hello young wiggly one* Specs 9:45 pm *Icy gets another lick onna snout* Windchill 9:46 pm *Windchill gives Swoop a once over...and decides it's better to not have noticed. He's gonna take his squeaky spawn and make for a seat.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:47 pm *Clutches the arm tighter.* Windchill 9:47 pm *But he's interrupted when Blue spots Food and cheeps her demands.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:48 pm *The ship is coming...* Swoop 9:48 pm *isn't looking to socialize beyond Bird and is quite content with his spot* VProwl 9:48 pm *... pats feeler with his other hand. is he stressed for the humans or for the xenomorph? ... or excited for the xenomorph?* Windchill 9:48 pm (( Well, that's didn't age well but I'mma ignore it. )) Swoop 9:49 pm ((yeah this was during that "we tried real hard" period of cgi)) Windchill 9:49 pm (( Yeeeep. )) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:49 pm ((yeah they had some problems with the Runner, and this was apparently better than the puppet)) *Oh, a little of A, a little of B... pinch of C...* Swoop 9:49 pm ((it'd be a REALLY complicated animatronic)) ((it makes sense to use cgi)) Magnum Ace 9:50 pm ((wow, did they really screw it up? VProwl 9:50 pm ((i'm blessed by a cruddy internet connection, it keeps stuttering and the image is low definition.)) Magnum Ace 9:50 pm ((shit, they did)) VProwl 9:50 pm ((i can't tell CGI from a jim henson puppet rn)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm ((i'm sorry ;; )) Windchill 9:50 pm *Blue slams her chubby hands over dad's eyes. He grunts, his mouth forming a firm line of patience.* *Can he see anything? No.* Prowl 9:51 pm ((it's for the best honestly Swoop 9:51 pm *is a lazy boy* *still twitchy and making constant noise* *but lazying with borb* Omicron 9:52 pm sparkling you'll get things faster if you're calming most times Windchill 9:53 pm *Tries to gently pry off one hand at a time, but with limited success. As in, none.* Swoop 9:53 pm ((fuckin brutal)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:54 pm [[They are all in trouble now...]] VProwl 9:54 pm Mm. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:55 pm *The Ripley human is dying, they're running out of bait, the Company is arrived...* VProwl 9:55 pm ... Why is it hunting them so fast? It's just using up its own food source. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:55 pm [[It came from a dog. Perhaps it doesn't have the intelligence the human-hosted ones do?]] *Shot in the dark. He has no idea why.* VProwl 9:56 pm The others hunted just as fast, didn't they? I just didn't notice at the time. Specs 9:57 pm ((oof, as a CGI animator, I feel the struggle making that beast, but at the same time...)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:57 pm [[Mm... true. More prey, here.]] Windchill 9:57 pm *Chirps plaintively, trying to coax his spawn into releasing his eyeballs. She does, and crawls down to rest on his shoulders like a fat scarf.* Finally. Specs 9:57 pm ((it definitely looks like they wiggled a rubber alien in front of a camera)) Windchill 9:58 pm (( It is a thing of beauty. )) Swoop 9:58 pm ((I love him taking his glasses off. He's ready for a real fight.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:58 pm *Bows his helm a bit.* Omicron 9:59 pm dramadic VProwl 9:59 pm Unless the xenomorphs are secretly domesticated and provided prey at regular intervals by their owner species, they would easily and rapidly slaughter any natural range they live in, both by overbreeding and overhunting. Unless prey species are far more durable on their home planet? Windchill 10:00 pm *He picks up a few snacks to the tune of excited peeps and licks one before offering it to her.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:00 pm *Perk? It survived molten lead?* Omicron 10:00 pm I thought those things were spread out? Prowl 10:00 pm *not for long* Windchill 10:00 pm *She gobbles it down GREEDILY while he finally takes a seat, if only for a little while.* VProwl 10:01 pm *oh, they killed it with thermodynamics. Prowl's delighted.* Prowl 10:01 pm Ah, the lead on its body reacted to the cold water. Clever bit of thinking on their part. VProwl 10:01 pm *hey alternate hope you don't mind half the screen being covered in a fuckton of calculations pertaining to that maneuver because Prowl's delighted by it and wants to mull it over.* Prowl 10:02 pm *not at all, she absorbs the data along with him* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:02 pm *Slump. Never mind. It's dead, and now they've come for the Ripley human.*

[[They might hibernate, away from home. Wait for new hosts. New locations. The eggs last...]] VProwl 10:03 pm He's definitely lying. Windchill 10:04 pm *Blue snags another treat out of Chill's hand. She's rude.* Are you gonna watch the movie now? Omicron 10:05 pm ((soundwave mun, did I miss a posts from you from the trip to icy's ship? *poking things on tumblr*)) VProwl 10:05 pm Seems a poorer strategy than just evolving to not overhunt. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:05 pm ((i think you did? i don't remember seeing one from you after my last one)) Omicron 10:05 pm [bugger *goes to look*] Windchill 10:05 pm *Chill gets yelled at for daring to ask such an impertinent question. He'll be quiet, then.* Gross. Omicron 10:06 pm blah ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm *And it's bowed again.*

[[A brave human.]] VProwl 10:06 pm ((i appreciate that a frigging alien is bursting out of her chest and her first instinct is to grab it by the neck.)) Omicron 10:07 pm *nods* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:07 pm ((time marker: 10:28pm)) Swoop 10:07 pm *looks at Bird sideways* Windchill 10:08 pm Well. They made another one after that. VProwl 10:08 pm *movie's over, he gets to look around again without depriving his alternate of the view.* Windchill 10:08 pm *He's trying to ignore the gross eating noises in his ear.* Specs 10:08 pm *the dragon squirms out from under the safety of Icy's wing* I need to go. Thank you for the movie, Soundwave! ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm [[You're welcome, dragon.]] Magnum Ace 10:08 pm -peers down the stairs. It safe?- Prowl 10:09 pm A pity she had to sacrifice herself. *will end the connection with her alternate with a grateful ping* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:09 pm *Soundwave pings the baseball mechs. Yep. It's safe.*

[[Another? He knows of the fight with the Predators, but...]] *Shakes his helm a little.* [[He will look for it.]] VProwl 10:09 pm *acknowledgment ping.* Indeed. It was unfortunate. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:10 pm *It won't be the same without the Ripley human, though. She was one hell of a fighter.* Windchill 10:10 pm Yeah, or...so I hear. I haven't seen the entire thing. *Might have tried to watch and took a nap instead...maybe.* Omicron 10:11 pm *gives dragon one more lick in farewell, getting back up. paaauses, winces at some water of the floor* oh...sorry about that. Windchill 10:11 pm I think that's the order they go in. Swoop 10:11 pm Bird ItsyBitsySpyers 10:12 pm [[He appreciates the data.]]

*To Ice Queen.* [[We will clean it later.]]

{{Eh? What? What want?}} *Bird twitches awake.* Magnum Ace 10:12 pm -okay, good, he and Bull need to be going now- Swoop 10:12 pm Me Swoop want to nap too *twitches* Windchill 10:12 pm *Peers at Swoop from the corner of his optic. but is sure to not make eye contact. * Omicron 10:13 pm *Icy is still in a really good mood, so someone gets a headbump- carefully on her way out* [I'm apoofing] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:13 pm {{Oh. Come on, us go. Upstairs lounge good nap spot. Warm.}}

((bye all who are going!)) Windchill 10:13 pm (( 'Gnight! )) Swoop 10:14 pm *fidgets* Me Swoop.... other Dinobots. Windchill 10:15 pm *With a mouth full of half-chewed snacks, Blue peers around Chill's head at the rest of the room.* Magnum Ace 10:15 pm ((and g'night from me too)) ((thanks for the stream!)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:15 pm {{Ohhh. Kay. Hold on. Bird fix Swoop table.}}

*She'll start picking the snacks and things off of him so he can move without making a mess.* Omicron 10:16 pm (good night! and I'll hunt for that last post) Swoop 10:16 pm *nods his head and shuffles awkwardly in place once he can move* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm *She pats his cheek.* {{You Swoop go nap. Bird tell story after wake up.}} Windchill 10:17 pm *Are these people...edible?* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:17 pm *Ravage thinks so. Of course, he's out of his head on tinsel right now, and you probably shouldn't take advice from a cannibal anyway. Bad life decision.* Windchill 10:18 pm *Her dad is a cannibal, it runs in the family.* Swoop 10:19 pm *puffs up with a little bit of excitement* Kay. Windchill 10:19 pm *Everyone is too far away to hunt down for more snacks, so she'll go back to the ones in Chill's palm. Windchill, for his part, seems largely unaware of her malicious thoughts. Mostly.* Swoop 10:20 pm Me Swoop love You Bird : > ItsyBitsySpyers 10:20 pm {{You Swoop funny.}} *Pat pat.* Swoop 10:20 pm yah *and, with that, he hops off the table and out of Dancitron back to sleepy town in the Dinocave, the other Dinos will surely thank her for putting Swoop to bed* Windchill 10:21 pm *He has to wave bye at Swoop without turning his head, making him look like more of a weirdo than usual.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:22 pm *Bird cackles softly and floats back upstairs. Time for her to crash out as well. She doesn't sleep well unless the Boss sleeps well, and lately...* Windchill 10:23 pm I should take the bitty home, too. *Stands...CAREFULLY. Spawning requires having a sense of balance, apparently.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:23 pm *As a carrier unit, he'd believe it.*

[[Do so safely.]] Windchill 10:24 pm Mmmm. *Gives Soundwave a Look, as if he can't quite decide what the funniest response to that is.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm *That's probably for the best. Soundwave's being 1000% serious for Reasons.* Windchill 10:25 pm We'll try. I'm sure she'll keep me straight. Windchill 10:27 pm *He prods his spawn's pale underside; she's eaten enough to put him to shame today and he has to be careful with that, too.* Say bye, Blue. *The room at large gets a gross grunt and a yelled "BAH." Good enough.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:27 pm *Soundwave copies Windchill's "bye" and parrots it at Blue, whether she says it or not. Might as well be nice to younglings.* Windchill 10:28 pm Well..We tried. *Gives a mental shrug, and heads for the door.* Bye, suckers. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:29 pm [[Goodbye.]] Windchill 10:29 pm *Blue stares rudely back at Soundwave as they leave.* *The End.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm *Nobody here but him and two Prowls. He finally stops trying to look like he's alert and upright and leans into Prowl rather heavily.* VProwl 10:32 pm *meets him in the middle.* Prowl 10:34 pm *will leave with a ping to them both and drop it down to just one Prowl in the room* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:34 pm *Returns the ping goodbye.* [[...How tired are you.]] VProwl 10:35 pm *bitter laugh.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:36 pm [[You too.]] VProwl 10:37 pm Me too. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:38 pm [[Do you /feel/ like trying to recharge?]] VProwl 10:38 pm I'd better. Do you? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:40 pm [[...No. He'd rather not.]]

*Soundwave shakes his helm.*

[[He still hasn't figured out where to go on that... vacation. The one you suggested. He will look into that.]] *Rubs fin against Prowl's shoulder.* [[But you should. One of us should.]] VProwl 10:43 pm Mm. When did you last recharge? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:47 pm [[He tried th... four days ago.]] *Shakes his helm.* [[It's fine. He's gone longer.]] VProwl 10:48 pm ... What's AVERAGE for you? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:50 pm [[It used to be longer.]] *But Prowl's not going to let him have that answer, is he. Long vent.* [[Post-multiverse, twenty hours.]] VProwl 10:50 pm *Prowl stares.* ... What would help make it easier. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:51 pm [[Time travel.]] VProwl 10:51 pm What's plan B. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:53 pm [[Chips from - someone else. A few years ago. They'll give him another three days.]]

*He's banking on being so exhausted at that point he won't dream and can catch up on rest.* VProwl 10:54 pm "Chips"? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm *Pinches the air with thumb and a finger, leaving a tiny space.* [[Small devices. Plugged in. Temporary hack.]] VProwl 10:58 pm *DARK look.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:58 pm *Leans back.* VProwl 10:58 pm Side effects? Physical AND psychological? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm [[Slowed internal function in all but brain module, longer physical response times, processor overheating, chilling elsewhere, faint visual auras if optics move too quickly, increased paranoia, spark strain with use beyond recommended timespan, occasional docking program glitches. The glitches aren't suspicious; he investigated them himself and they are all a result of not sharing full process data with the creator.]] VProwl 11:07 pm Uh-huh. Go to sleep. Wake up screaming a few times. It's better for your system. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm [[Mph.]] *Soundwave buries his face again. He really doubts waking up terrified that he's become a zombie or that he's enslaved again or that he's had his spark ripped out or that he had to kill all of his minicons again is better for his spark than the chips.* VProwl 11:13 pm *... sighs, and leans more heavily on Soundwave.* Or get some software that'll regulate your defrag cycles or something. Staying up like that isn't healthy. /You/ know that. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:16 pm *Equivalent of a mutter.* [[Was trying to avoid going back to Ratchet.]]

*But he's not denying that it's unhealthy.*

[[Fine. Only if you rest as well. You were--]] *Spine twitch.* [[You need it, too. Sleeping through that crowd.]] VProwl 11:19 pm ... I've been sleeping. Just—not very well. Or long. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:20 pm [[As he said. You still need it too.]] *Sits up enough to look at Prowl.* [[Can he - is there /any/ way to help? Few see him working, but you are - you're the face of the police.]] VProwl 11:24 pm The face of the police spends most of his time in an office. They know I—well. They're under the impression that I personally fought a Megatron directly channeling the Dead Universe. They've been forgiving if I've had to reschedule a few meetings. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:27 pm [[As they should be.]] *But even now, he has his worries.* [[You're sure none of them want to try it themselves? The channeling. And the Constructicons - are they helping?]] VProwl 11:29 pm Channeling the Dead Universe? God no. Unicron might have been mythologized as a dangerous source of immense power in YOUR universe—but in MINE, the Dead Universe is associated with nothing except danger. *doesn't answer the Constructicon question.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:30 pm *He hears - or, more appropriately, doesn't hear - that dodge, there.*

[[If you need somewhere else to be...]] VProwl 11:31 pm ... You don't need to—to make a special offer out of it. Thought you always set aside movie nights for me. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:32 pm [[He does. He meant other nights.]] VProwl 11:33 pm You're not sleeping. *half shrug.* I think I caused your berth enough trauma the last time we were left together without supervision. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:38 pm [[/That./]] *Strange, low, electronic warbling noise.* [[He didn't - /doesn't/, care about that. It was just a berth.]] *And it's been fixed, besides.* [[He only meant to offer you the right to stay in the apartment alone if you needed it. He isn't using it right now. Won't be, on vacation.]] VProwl 11:39 pm I was joking. My point is—there's no point in sleeping at your place if I'm not sleeping with you. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:41 pm *...That reminds him. He's been wondering all about Prowl's breakdown that night. There isn't time to ask about it right now, and he doesn't want Prowl to think he'd only brought it up to escape talking about the rest of everything anyway. But he will, soon. He promises himself that much.*

[[Oh.]] *Lifts his head and looks at the stairs.* [[...Come with him, then?]]

*Ravage and Laserbeak could use the break from being in the room with him when he tries to rest anyway.* VProwl 11:43 pm *pauses, then nods.* Are you going to try to recharge tonight? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:48 pm [[He supposes so.]] *Faintly playfully, in that really exhausted and sort of resigned way:* [[The law frowns on his intended alternative.]] *And just in case, a humor tag.*

*He carefully extricates himself from Prowl, gets up - that is definitely a wobble - and stares a moment longer. A reassurance must be given before he can go on vacation in a couple of weeks. Or try sleeping tonight.*

[[You'll tell someone if you do require more assistance? Himself, Tarantulas, Ratchet, his alternate... somebody.]] VProwl 11:49 pm They're illegal, too?! *Soundwave. Soundwave please. Soundwave you're killing him.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:51 pm [[...You. He meant you.]] VProwl 11:52 pm ... Oh. *can you tell how sleep-deprived he is.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:53 pm *About as much as him, it seems.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:54 pm *He's still staring.* VProwl 11:55 pm *he gets to his feet as well, and automatically puts a hand to the small of Soundwave's back; he saw that wobble.* I promise. I'll talk to someone if I need it. I've—already talked to Tarantulas, a little. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:57 pm *Silently appreciative. He doesn't need it while standing still, but they'll be going upstairs in a second.*

[[Good. Good. Did he - did it help?]] Yesterday VProwl 11:57 pm *... nods.* Some. VProwl 12:01 am ... You tell someone if you need more help, too. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:02 am *Relieved. At least he isn't keeping it all to himself.*

[[Then he owes Tarantulas his gratitude.]] *Straightens up some.* [[He won't pry unless you open that door first.]] *Prowl talked to someone. If Prowl doesn't want to tell him right away, or ever, that's fine.*

[[Ravage and Laserbeak have been watching over him. The others as well, but - mostly them. He will tell them.]]

[[For now... yes. Recharge.]] VProwl 12:03 am *a weary nod. And up the stairs they go.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:05 am *He'll be asleep before he finishes getting comfortable.*

#chat

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magic5ball · 4 years ago

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Nature Trail to Hell Arc IV: Megamart of Darkness (1)

Chapter 1: Dorkheads and Dragons (er, Dinosaurs)

Little fun fact about the Pennsylvania Elves: they’re not actually elves. Heck they’re not even Pennsylvanian most of the time! They’re just a flock of geese that are way too into live action roleplaying for their own good that, for some odd reason, decided that their homeland was some Pennsylvania backwater they only visit during the summer. I’ve heard tales from up north, talking about how they’re just regular geese up there, but I’ve never seen it. What I did know back then was that geese were right nasty little pricks if you get them in a bad mood, with a bite that could crimp chromium steel. I also knew (and this is what saved me) despite all their defects as both elves and Pennsylvanians, they were birds, which are dinosaurs, which meant I shared DNA with the turds. Which meant I just might be able to reason with them.

I’d been formulating how to best negotiate with my captors for a good half hour when we arrived at their camp. Granted, my stomach was empty, and my mind works five times slower without my morning bowl of Lucky Loops, so it was kind of a futile effort. Most I came up with was the ol’ puppy dog eyes, and if that trick couldn’t get me anywhere with raptor gangsters, it certainly wasn’t going to get me anywhere with these persnickety pricks. At the very least, Camp Wood-Elf looked festive. Ominously so, but worst came to worst I could pretended I was at a party while they ate my soul alive (‘alive’ relatively speaking, of course).

Not much to say about place, really, besides it was a round clearing in the woods; probably (definitely) once an old campsite. Like I said, the place looked festive: party streamers, balloons, gaudy polka dot table cloth hung everywhere. Only instead of a cake, in the center of it all was a cat climber so new it still had the price tag surrounded by a stone circle filled with strange smelling wood. Above the thing hung a banner reading ‘CONGRADULATIONS! IT’S A BOY!’ in colors that made my eyes bleed.

Not missing a beat, the honky little turds tied me up Joan of Arc style to the climber using the power of duct tape (or as they called it, geese tape). With the last of my energy, I asked them what in the hey was going on (in the dinosaur tongue, of course). You should have seen their stupid faces when they realized I honked their lingo! They were just staring at me dumbfounded, like this was the first time anything unexpected had happened to them their entire lives! Shame the moment only lasted a few seconds before one of the geese (little me couldn’t tell you which. They all looked the same to him) spoke up in an archaic version of the dinosaur tongue. And considering this is the dinosaur tongue we’re talking about, that’s saying something!

It went something like “Be silent, knave! Thou hast interloped upon the bountiful realms of the wood elves of Keystonia! Have all the patience for now, for with the passing of chrono sands thou shalt receive judgement from the Indelible Monarch of Potter County!”

As if trying me to a cat climber wasn’t bad enough, now they were back to forming a circle with their shopping carts. A bit much if you ask me, seeing how the most I could do was wriggle like a snake in a vice, the climber teetering, but never quite tipping over.

Then they stopped. A new circle was formed, shopping carts on the outside, a single elf in front of each on the inside, all looking at me like I’d been the guy to buy out the Butterfly Farm and turn it into an oil field. From beneath their feathers they took out pointed party hats, wearing them over their beaks like masks. The one directly facing me, who wore a particularly festive hat reading ‘BIRTHDAY BOY’ in bright yellow letters, waddled up to me.

“Fiendish cur! Who amongst our vile enemies has sent you to taint this blessed land?!”

“Wha-“

The little turd (whose name might have been Kelly Fitzpatrick or something, but for simplicity, let’s just call him Birthday Boy) bit me right on the knee! Have you ever been bitten by a goose before? Because believe me, it is a whole other realm of agonizing pain. Fortunately, one of the first things A-Hole made sure to (have F-Bomb) teach me was how to keep my cool under interrogation. Sure, maybe I screamed loud enough to spook every squirrel within a five mile radius, but the beans (whatever they were) remained in the metaphorical can. Not that this stopped Birthday Boy any.

“Hast the divine word of the Indelible Monarch fallen upon deaf ears? I asked you, o wretched hybrid- Who hast sent thee?! Tako Shak? Milky D’s? WEGMART?!! Answer at once, or I shall subject thee to the most eldritch forme of thine archaic tounge, upon which even the most scholarly citizens undergo cessation from sheer inspidness-“

“I’m from Tako Shak. And I’m not here to ruin your happy little elf paradise. In fact, I’m a refugee that escaped.”

The campsite grew so quiet you could hear the crickets chirping… in Canada!

One of the geese in the circle spoketh (really no other way to put it) first:

“’Twas an interrogation most underwhelming. I find thyself unamused.” Several other geese bobbed their heads in agreement.

“Crap.” Whispered another. “This was supposed to last all afternoon. Now how’re we going to kill the next three hours?”

Birthday Boy didn’t miss a beat. With a bite to my other knee he got the crowd’s attention.

“Thou maketh claims grandiose! But as they say in the colloquial- canst thou walk the walk?”

I nodded, confident in my testimony. “Take off my shoes, if you dare!”

Two geese immediately waddled up to do the deed, pulling as hard as geese could until my shoes came off with a POP!

Sure enough, there were still deinonychus feet under there. The crowd ‘ooh’-ed as well as geese can, which came off as more of a honk. I was living in the moment, at least until Birthday Boy decided to be a total buzzkill and ruin it!

“Silence, thou reckless wastrels! Hast thou forgotten how Wegmart hast attempted to use dinosaur human hybrids to infiltrate our divine kingdom, and how similar creatures were utilized in the first great kingdom in times of old? In just the past five months, twelve similar attempts have been undertaken in an attempt by Wegmart to seize our remaining LARPing grounds!”

I tried to imagine twelve other half dinosaur boys walking into this forest and getting captured. Then I tried not to think of what must have happened to them.

“Still, there be-eth a single test upon which to determine where this vagrants loyalties lie! He must speketh the Elvish Tongue in its’ most divine incarnation! The Tounge of old Kanata”

He turned to face me. I could tell that, were it not for his stiff beak, he would have been smirking.

“So, o wastrel, dost thou speaketh French?”

If there was ever a time my four years in Honors Spanish had felt like a giant waste of time, it was now.

“Uhhh… Parez vouz… IlikebigbuttsandIcannotlie!”

I offered a silent prayer to the Lord, hoping that by some weird coincidence, that actually meant something. Didn’t get my hopes up, though. The geese were honking like crazy, which probably wasn’t a good sign.

“You… you unruly cur!” Honked Birthday Boy, barely maintaining his archaic accent. “How dare you! How dare you combine the blessed tongue with the mindless dread hymns of Sir Mix-a lot! Such a crime will not go unpunished!”

The geese hissed, just like a snake about to pounce, but even more bloodcurdling. They demanded my blood, and nothing could quench it but my death (I was dead, but you know what I mean).

Several demanded I burn at the stake, to which Birthday Boy said

“Burning at the stake will do no good! We will not have the ghastly smoke of this villain clog our migration skies. This soul must be purged in the most paramount of fashions. Take him to PARADISE!”

There was a chorus of honking as they loaded the cat climber onto their backs, carrying me away on the world’s fuzziest coffin.

#My writing #Nature Trail To Hell #geese #dungeons and dragons

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lokiarsene · 7 years ago

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A Bird in Need of Grounding - Akeshu.

Rating: T (brief descriptions of panic attacks/anxiety, PDA, cursing) Summary: Goro doesn’t consider himself the best person to reach out to in times of need, but for Akira he’ll make an immediate exception. (Soundtrack was just Imagine Dragons’ “Monster” on loop)

Notes: Obviously indulgent fic is indulgent, but I needed some hurt/comfort, and figured I’d take it out on these two. But I was tired of Goro being the miserable one in my fics, so I figured I’d explore an oft overlooked aspect of Joker’s personality. People who dedicate so much of their time and energy into helping others are in danger of falling apart when it comes to taking care of themselves (hello, I know this through experience), so--here you go.

Also on AO3 if you’d prefer.

Goro felt his phone buzzing away like a hornet in his pocket. His brain immediately took a long leap, bypassing guesswork, and started building up little safe houses of assumptions.

It’s nothing important.

And it probably wasn’t. It couldn’t be Sae—they had spoken last night, and she had mentioned something about afternoon meetings that would take up her time well up through the evening. It couldn’t be Shido. He was busy going on street tours, shouting his policies to any rapt, eager crowd that would hear him. It was a wonder he’d have any voice left once all that was through, but the man was gifted with a preternatural fire. A burning in his heart and mind that refused to let a little thing like simple weakness drag him down.

And… that was it. The full extent of his call list. Pitifully small, all things considered.

So naturally he took his time in answering the call. Even considered ignoring it totally, letting the voicemail pick up what was bound to be a wrong number, or some kind of scammer who got through to hassle him about credit debt he didn’t have.

It’s nothing important. And yet, something tugged at the edge of his thoughts, insistent, incessant, pulling hard on the sharp, nagging teeth of his hope. But what if it is? Important.

With his lips pressed tight against the breath he needed to take, Goro dug his phone out of his pocket and peered at the screen. He didn’t recognize the name or the number—but still, he took a chance. His hope demanded it.

“Hello?”

“Akechi-kun? It’s Akira.” A pause. “Kurusu.”

“Oh? Hello.” Goro cleared his throat. His voice was getting too frayed, too weak. He looked at his empty hand, watched it shake from tip to wrist, and curled it up into a protective fist. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting you to call.”

Akira laughed. It was a sharp sound, lopsided, uneven. Goro frowned to hear it. There wasn’t any joy in the noise at all.

“Nobody ever expects me to call them,” he said, although that didn’t explain the laugh. It didn’t explain anything. It only made Goro want to probe deeper.

“I consider it a nice surprise, if that means anything,” Goro said.

“Akechi-kun—Goro.” Akira struggled to speak, was stumbling over the words and the distance demanded by formality. “Can I see you for a little bit? Right now? Unless you’re busy.”

Goro stared around at his empty apartment. Stark white, spartan bare, meticulously clean. The only thing he had left to do for the day was talk himself out of going to Leblanc yet again, and yet here Akira was, giving him a perfect excuse to go against even that.

“I’m not busy at all. Are you all right?”

“No, no I’m really not, but I’ll try not to be too obvious about it.” Akira’s voice picked up speed, each word crashing into the ends of the one before it, like a trainwreck. Goro tensed up at the word, at the image, at the memory. Don’t think about that right now. It was easy, too easy, to overlook that when Akira was on the line, clearly in need although Goro couldn’t quite figure out why.

His lips pressed down tight on instinct, trapping more words inside. “Has something happened?”

“Something is always happening to me.”

“You and everyone else in the world.” Goro flexed his free hand and took a breath. Strong, steady, grounding. It made his chest ache. “Where are you right now?”

“Heading towards the underground mall in Shibuya.”

“I’ll meet you there. Sit tight.”

“Thank you,” Akira breathed, his words like smoke—thin, weightless, desperate. “Thank you.”

It didn’t take long for Goro to get to Akira, nor to find him. All he had to do was look for the tall, gangly boy in a Shujin uniform with ridiculously oversized glasses and messy hair. It was like a beacon, drawing the eye in and making your attention focus hard, riveted.

Or is that just me? No one else seemed to stare at Akira with the same intensity and razor-keen focus, and that was an issue Goro knew he’d have to tackle at some point, perhaps late at night with only himself and a nagging, scraping need for company. But he didn’t have to get into that now, yes? Not in public, surely.

He took a quick look around. The other people in the mall were going about their average day, muttering to their friends or else keeping their eyes riveted to the floor, their faces slack, blank, lifeless. Akira was leaning against the wall in front of the flower shop, one shoulder hunched up to brace himself against the wall, the other sinking low, slack, limp.

Goro watched as Akira kept kicking the ground in an uneven rhythm, matching the beat to a song in his head—or perhaps he was just nervous. Akira was an uncommonly fidgety person, always moving, always touching something—the back of his neck, his phone, twirling pencils, testing his grip on his backpack. At first, Goro thought the boy just had too much energy to burn, but now he wondered if it weren’t something worse than that, like warning signs or the stark red countdown on a clock before the fuse ignites.

Quite simply, the other boy looked stressed out—worse than stressed, he looked strung out, unraveling at the seams, every knot and cord and thread that made up his person now pulled past its limit and fraying down to its threadbare essentials. Akira’s eyes were hollowed and dull, and his jaw was clenched tight as if he were afraid to even breathe for the air he so clearly needed.

Goro’s stomach dipped low and twisted with a surge of guilt. What the hell am I supposed to do about this? Walking over to him could work, for a start. Strike up some small talk, maybe carve out a safe, quiet little space for them to breathe in before the panic spilled over—as long as Akira was willing. Yes, that sounded like the right thing to do, if not the only thing.

“I hope you weren’t waiting long,” Goro said when he was close enough to be heard.

Akira’s eyes swung up from the ground and pinned their gaze to Goro’s face. “I didn’t notice,” he said, his teeth half clenched. “It’s fine. It’s not a problem. I don’t mind.” The words were fired off quickly, as if Akira wanted to get rid of them. And sure enough, Goro watched as Akira turned his head briefly to the side and snapped his mouth shut again, his jaw clenched tight like a trap, as if these movements could rein in what was coming quickly undone inside.

This wasn’t an assumption. Or rather, it was, but it was a safe assumption, rather than a baseless, rude projection, because Goro knew all the signs of a panicked mind trying desperately to free itself from itself. He knew from experience, had become something of a veteran of his own tangled up panic and anxieties, like every thought was trying to walk through tripwire. Had watched himself go through all these same tense, wound up motions in the mirror, watching as his face shifted in ripples and twists as he succumbed to every trap and trick and catching, clawing thought that pulled him down deeper into worries and misery.

You look as bad as I alway try not to feel, Goro thought, but he knew better than to say such a thing here, now, to Akira of all people. His heart let out a low, burning throb, like the sting of a wound trying to heal. The last person he’d ever want to see suffer exactly how he felt was the boy standing before him right now. But trying to tear that thought of his mind was too difficult, and to lay it out in words was an even weightier task that Goro hadn’t quite figured out how to do.

Goro watched the other boy’s mouth, noting the way the lips pressed tight, and the oppressive, rigid flex of muscle that kept his jaw almost naturally wired in place. It looked about as bad as it always felt, and a pang of sympathy pain resonated through Goro’s face as he cleared his throat and tried again to speak.

“I’m here right now. I’m here, and I’m listening.” Goro waited for Akira to look at him before he moved, just a few steps closer in, so the two of them could whisper if they had to. No one around them noticed; no one was even looking. That was in itself a blessing and a curse. Hiding pain in plain sight was the worst kind of talent to have. “But if we’re going to talk, then I’m going to need you to do something.”

“Everyone always needs me to do something,” Akira spat out, but there was no heat to the word, no real anger, just something limp and harsh and heavy. His smirk was too wide, his eyes still too dull, and his words trembled, walking out of his mouth on legs that were uncertain of the weight they carried or their ability to bear the burden. “Everyone’s always asking me to do shit for them.”

“Yes, but that’s different from this,” Goro said, keeping his voice level and his eyes focused. His gaze didn’t move once from Akira’s face. He would be steady and true, even if Akira couldn’t be.

“How? What is it? Just tell me.”

“I need you to breathe. Slowly. Deep.”

“I am breathing.”

“And you’re choking on it.”

Akira scowled, his eyebrows folding down. “What?”

“I can hear you,” Goro said. “I can hear you, and it’s obviously difficult for you right now. So try something else. Something small and easy. But don’t do it because I asked you—do it for you.”

Goro watched as the words cast their magic on the other boy’s face. His jaw unclenched, and his lips, once pressed down so thin and tight, gave way to a small, surprised o. It didn’t last long, but it was long enough to make a difference—long enough for some air to get in. Goro listened to Akira take in a deep, shaky breath and felt his own lungs flood with life just the same.

“There’s so much of the world,” Goro heard himself say. The words came spilling out of a quiet corner of his mind, a place that he had long since tucked away and didn’t let out except in his weakest, most private moments. But standing here, looking into Akira’s eyes, listening to him struggle to do something so simple and necessary as breathing, gave him… not the courage, but the need. The need to speak from a place deeper than the heart. “There’s so much of the world that it’s almost suffocating, isn’t it? There’s so much to think about, to face, to stare down and deal with each and every day, and there’s only so much of you to put up against all that.”

Akira nodded slowly, tearfully. Goro checked the urge to reach out and wipe the tears away. “I can’t—settle in. I can’t fit or twist myself down to make myself safe. That’s how it feels and no I can’t explain it so don’t ask. Don’t try.”

After a shaky, quick breath, Akira continued. “It’s like having teeth in my head, but the teeth are my head, or maybe they’re the thoughts inside it, and I am both the animal caught in a trap and the trap itself, tearing myself apart and having only myself to blame. I’m doing it all to myself and I don’t—I’m not—I’m not trying to. I don’t mean it, but there it is, the blood’s on my hands and it’s my own blood, and I am both the murderer and the weapon and—”

Akira’s words were still shaking, but at least he was breathing, at least he was speaking. “And yet all the fucking time, every fucking day, I have to shove all that aside and let everyone else work their problems out on me. Me.” He laughed, and each note of the sound was like a thud of a stone striking a pond and sinking down deeper to drown. “I’m supposed to help put them all back together, and no one stops to wonder if they should return the fucking favor.”

Lightning quick, Akira reached out and placed his hands on Goro’s shoulders, squeezing tight. Without thinking, acting only on instinct, Goro planted his feet on the floor and withstood the other boy’s weight. There was a need in those hands, a need and something deeper, raw, aching and open, bleeding honesty and the pure terror of vulnerability.

“Why did you come here?” Akira demanded, his eyes sharp and glinting like a knife.

Goro kept his voice steady. “Because you called me. You asked to see me.”

“And that’s it?”

“That’s all there is to it,” Goro said. “We might be new acquaintances, but that doesn’t mean I’d ignore a cry for help when I hear it.”

Akira studied him, his dark eyes shifting across Goro’s own gaze in quick, nervous shifts, like a bird in need of grounding. Then, with a concentrated effort, his eyes trailed slowly down, lingering on Goro’s mouth.

They stayed that way for a long trail of seconds, seconds of silence that then bled out into a minute. Still, no one looked at them, no one stopped to stare or whisper beneath their hands. They were safe, hiding out in the open where no one thought to look.

The knot in Goro’s stomach and the pain in his chest merged to meet, and in the joining, something… strange begin to blossom. Something warm and heavy, as if honey were a mood that could spread through the chest and coat every nerve along the way. Goro watched as something similar unraveled in Akira’s eyes. It was a different kind of undoing: this was softer, gentle, almost hypnotic. His gaze, once so sharp and bared, shifted gently, so gently, becoming instead a look that searched and sought.

The suspense of the moment was terrible. Goro hoped it would last.

“I’m not doing this to work a favor out of you later,” he said, hating to break the silence, but knowing the words needed to be said. Akira had to hear them, and that alone was reason enough to speak. “I don’t know what sort of friendships or people you’re used to, Akira, but I’m not interested in fitting into their pattern. I’d like to be something different for you, if you’ll let me.”

“Like what?” Akira asked, his voice pitched low. There was something intimate about the question, something so vulnerable and raw that it made Goro shiver to hear it. Akira’s voice was whisper soft and wet, like a tear or a kiss.

Goro looked at the boy’s eyes, dark and shining bright. He took a quick glimpse at his mouth, which was no longer tense and pressed down flat, as if trying to smother the life from himself. He reached out and placed his hand on Akira’s chest. The movement was slow and cautious, giving Akira ample time to stop him if that’s what he wanted. But he didn’t—didn’t stop, that is. So Goro slid his palm up and to the side, searching for the boy’s heartbeat. And there it was—thumping fast and steady against the cage of his ribs.

Akira swayed at Goro’s touch, as if the weight of that hand and its gentle search were almost too much to bear, but bear it he did. And that moment, that small moment, was enough to break Goro’s hesitation clean through, and let something like courage take its place.

“Like this,” Goro said, leaning in. His other hand curled up and around the back of Akira’s head, taking hold of that mess of unruly black hair and steadying himself in its grip.

When their lips met, the kiss was at first a hard little smash, about as awkward as they both felt. But they soon shifted, adjusting pressure and positions, tilting their heads just so until they found just the right space and place to fit together—and they did fit. They settled into each other and into the kiss, until just the one soon became a series, slow, soft, and searching.

Rest here, stay here, relax and breathe, Goro thought, thought and clearly could not say, not only because his lips were currently occupied, but because there was no way in hell these thoughts could translate well into words. Make a home out of me. Settle in and stay as long as you’d like. He might not be able to put these thoughts into words, but he could press them into each kiss and deliver them to Akira, the boy in clear and painful need.

And in that moment, in that small bit of time suspended in between seeking relief and finding release, Goro thought he understood Akira’s kisses, too. He could all but hear the unspoken words that passed between Akira’s lips over onto his. You’ll need me like they do��you’ll lean on me twice as hard as they ever will, but I will take it, I will endure it, because I would bear the world and more for you. Just you. Only you. If you’d only ask.

Goro stepped back and away first. Alright, that’s it. That’s enough. Once you started imagining what someone else’s kiss could mean, that’s how you knew you were in too goddamn deep. And Goro would at least like to pretend he could walk away from this encounter with something like his composure intact.

The kiss was broken, but his lips tingled in the aftermath, as if Akira were still pressed against his mouth, matching kiss for kiss and touch for touch. Goro closed his hand into a fist, feeling the boy’s heartbeat inside his palm. It thundered out of time with his own, making Goro mindful not only of his own frantic pulse, but the unsteady rhythm that countered it. It was an odd feeling to carry around, especially after a kiss. The beat didn’t buzz like a hornet, but it stung twice as hard and hurt ten times worse.

Akira cleared his throat. “That was unexpected,” he said. And for the first time all evening, he sounded like his usual self. Casual, laid-back, consistently amused and almost a little sore about it.

Goro felt himself smile. “It got you to calm down, didn’t it?” he asked.

“I… sort of?” Akira scratched the back of his head. “I mean, talking to you was already doing that just fine.”

“I see.” Goro’s heart was a thunder in his chest, slamming hard against his bones, ready to smash them to powder. This isn’t happening. This didn’t happen. I didn’t—

“I’m not complaining about it,” Akira continued, taking note of Goro’s pinned-on smile and the tightness around his eyes. “How could I? I kissed you back and more. It’s just…”

“Yes?”

Akira laughed again. It was a light, easy sound, the kind that made Goro’s smile slip from the edges and fall flat with hunger and need. He wanted to taste the sound of Akira’s laugh on his lips, wanted to have his full of that ease and charm—but they couldn’t. Not now, and certainly not here.

“Now I’m wishin’ I had called you over to Leblanc,” Akira said, his voice low and thick. Goro shivered as the words poured into his ears. The other boy’s low tone was like a new kind of kiss, taunting, tempting, and terrible all wrapped up into one. “So we could work out the rest of this in private.”

Goro suppressed a shiver. He closed his hands tight, trapped his shaking fingers in his palms. “So ask me,” he heard himself say.

“Come home with me,” Akira whispered, his eyes burning bright and his words like a flame burning their way down to Goro’s heart. “Come home with me and let’s finish what you started.”

“I—” Goro began, but the words got jumbled on his tongue and knocked out of order. I can’t. I won’t. I shouldn’t. We shouldn’t. It was a mistake—it was bold, brash, too stupid. I should have asked, should have waited. I should have hit you instead. If I go home with you now, then a part of me will never leave. I’ll grow in your life like a weed; you’ll have to tear me out by the roots, and I think that just might kill me.

“I can’t. Not now. Not yet.” Goro closed his eyes. It was easier to lie when he didn’t have to look at the person suffering from it. “But you can always call me if you’d like to—that is, if you wouldn’t mind…?”

“I hear you.” Akira pushed his hands into his pockets and adopted his usual slouching posture. Why didn’t Goro notice it until now, that this in itself was a kind of lie, a mask that wrapped up his whole body and trapped the truth of him inside? “And yeah, you’re probably right. It’s a school night and all. Might be worth getting some rest instead.”

“We’d both be better off doing just that,” Goro said. And this wasn’t a lie, not entirely. They would be better off separate and distinctly removed from each other’s reach—but they both were so clearly deadset against it, if all those kisses were any indication.

“Thanks for the help, Goro.”

“Thanks for being so… receptive.”

Akira smirked and shook his head. “You make it easy,” he said, looking Goro over. “It’s hard not to give in to you. Remember what I said the other day, about fate?”

Maybe fate meant for us to be together. “Yes, I do.”

Akira’s fingertips curled around the edge of Goro’s hand. They squeezed around his pinky finger, his touch pressing tight around the gloves on Goro’s hand. He offered Goro a smile, crooked and shy.

“Thanks for picking up the phone,” he said.”

“Of course.” Goro cleared his throat, determined to make his voice steady. “Any time.”

And with a wink, Akira pulled his hand back and walked away. Now it was Goro’s turn to struggle to breathe on the whole train ride back home.

You did this to yourself, he thought, struggling to fit his key into the lock of his apartment door. You did it to yourself and you enjoyed every minute of it. Goro laughed. The sound crept low and ghost-like through each dark, empty room. He was right. Of course he was right. And he didn’t regret a single thing.

He smiled in spite of himself—no to spite himself. He forced the smile to stay on and locked in place as he stripped for bed and slid beneath the covers. I did this to myself, and I wouldn’t trade this feeling for anything. Except, of course, for one person. Just one. Only him.

Goro hoped it wouldn’t take too Akira long to call. But he could wait. He could tarry. He could endure the hell of it. The hanging suspense between need and release was a terror of a new kind, a terror whose name was not quite love but just about, and Goro hoped it would last.

#akeshu #shuake #goro akechi #akira kurusu #akeshu fic #fanfic

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purelydraco · 8 years ago

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I don’t know why, but I kept thinking about Harry’s first tattoo this morning.

It happens a few years out of Hogwarts, after Auror training when Harry has enough experience to lead some missions or go onto the field on his own without an older supervisor.

He, Ron, Hermione, and a smattering of others from their lines of work gather every other Friday at their favorite bar tucked into the edge of Diagon Alley. It’s how they unwind after a long week at work, catch up when life becomes too hectic to know what everyone’s up to. And it’s not too popular which allows them to relax without worrying about press or excited citizens.

It’s late, and mostly everyone has decided to head home, but Harry is just tipsy enough that he knows he may get sick after floo-ing home and he can’t concentrate enough for what’s required to apparate. So he exits the bar and wanders down the darkened streets of Diagon Alley to clear his head, thankful that everyone is too wrapped up in their own business to care that Harry Potter is in their vicinity. A few people gasp, nod, and wave at him, which he tries to minimize and keep moving.

He stumbles upon the tattoo shop by accident, ducking into the nearest door when he hears a sharp “Oh! Wait! Is that--?” from behind.

The shop is empty save for a light coming from a back room, and Harry considers leaving again before whoever works here comes out to see him in their shop, but then movement against the wall catches his eye and he’s mesmerized into stillness. The walls are covered with prints, various small designs and occasionally larger pieces scattered all over in a similar aesthetic common in muggle tattoo shops, except these tattoos move. They twirl and interact like the paintings in Hogwarts, though they’re silent while doing so. He sees tiny broomsticks zooming across the walls, butterflies, birds, owls, and even dementors flying alongside them. There are hearts that actually beat, flames that flicker, typewriter text that repeatedly appears and disappears. There’s a whole section of ladies who giggle together, waving and winking when they notice him noticing them. One of the mermaids whispers to her friend and Harry finds himself blushing at artwork, wondering if they can actually gossip in whatever plane of existence these things exist in.

“Sorry mate, we’re closed,” a gruff voice announces behind him and it takes all of Harry’s training to prevent him from flinching or looking like he just got caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to do. The man from the back is dressed very casually for Diagon Alley, in a sweater with rolled up sleeves and dark jeans. Before Harry can even register his face, however, his eyes zero in on the moving images on his forearms. He’s not close enough to see details, but he thinks he catches sight of a rose blooming and wilting in a continuous loop. An actual moving tattoo.

“You hear me?” the man asks again, his tone making it clear that Harry isn’t welcome at this time.

“S-sorry,” Harry stutters, still feeling the after affects the drinks. His brain feels slow and clumsy, like he can’t keep up with this new process of information.

He knows he’s recognized as soon as the man’s eyes flicker to the scar on his forehead. Thankfully, the man doesn’t seem to care all that much about who he is. “Boy savior or not, we’re closed. I know I didn’t lock up yet but we aren’t open until 11 tomorrow. If you want a tat I suggest you come back then.” There’s a pregnant pause and the man’s eyes seem to see through him. “When you’re sober.” “I wasn’t looking to get a tattoo,” Harry tries to explain.

“Then you’re really in the wrong place.” He gestures to the door and Harry turns to leave, not wanting to get on this guy’s wrong side or continue invading a closed shop.

Right as he’s about to open the door, a flash of gold jerks away from the handle and Harry’s eyes (tipsy or not) are fixed on the familiar movement. He follows the shiny blur as it streaks across the walls, avoiding all of the other designs with ease before settling in the back corner, nearly disappearing within a pot of gold at the bottom of a rainbow. A snitch. He hasn’t played quidditch in so long...

“If you change your mind you can come back tomorrow, kid. Closed means no more customers.” Harry considers making a comment about not being a kid anymore but decides against it, leaving the shop and walking out onto the thankfully empty street.

Harry returns to the bar and uses their floo to make it back home. He thankfully doesn’t throw up but he lays awake in bed that night thinking about that tattoo shop, imagining all the different pieces of art people could have moving on their bodies.

He can’t stop thinking about the shop. It’s been a month and he’s still thinking about it. His brain has started to imagine different moving pieces on his own body and he spends a much longer time shirtless in front of the mirror considering what it might look like. He asks around, and not many people seem to have these sorts of tattoos. “I’ve heard about it,” Auror Johnson tells him, “But I think it’s new. Tattoos have always been more popular with muggles.”

Hermione tells him that tattoos, permanent markers, have always been something wizards are cautious of. Something about ancient runes and the connection between artist and canvas.

Ron scoffs loudly and explains the story of Bill and Charlie’s little adventure to get tattoos years back. How his mom had been furious and forbade any of the rest of them from even thinking about doing the same. “She’s popped in on us in the shower before, just to make sure.” Harry doesn’t have to ask to know that Charlie probably has a wicked dragon tattoo somewhere on his person.

The more he thinks about it, the more anxious he is to return to the tattoo shop.

He goes back three months after the accidental entry. He’s walked past the outside numerous times, always passing it when he’s in the area getting drinks. The bright neon TATTOO sign out front is magical, the winding neon strands changing fonts and colors as it hovers in front of the shop. It’s calling out to him, literally and metaphorically.

He makes an appointment that night, right before closing, and the shop owner warns him against drinking beforehand. Because 1) he won’t do a tattoo Harry will change his mind about and 2) it doesn’t actually help you ignore the pain like people think it will. Magical tattoos don’t hurt any less than muggle ones.

Harry figures if he can die and come back to life that a tattoo won’t be so bad.

He’s right.

That night he goes home and immediately strips off his t-shirt, standing in front of the mirror, smiling at the reddened flesh on his ribs that’s wrapped up and in a still position until it’s healed enough. It should be ready within a few days, the shop owner had said. Harry stares at the design in the mirror, giddy with excitement at his reckless decision for the first time in too long.

It becomes a game of sorts for Harry to play a Seeker’s game in the mirror after a shower or when he’s brushing his teeth. The golden snitch flits around his body with speed that’s startlingly accurate, wings fluttering at a pace that’s nearly invisible to the naked eye. It disappears behind his back, around his arms, hides itself in his hair. His hand jerks out to catch it right as it ducks down his neck, chest, under his pants. Harry laughs, feeling comfortable in this skin with it’s new companion.

He wakes up the next morning with the sunlight streaming into his bedroom through the light colored curtains. His vision is blurry without his glasses, but he sees the snitch tucked in his right palm, wings folded inside almost as if it too is sleeping. Harry curls his fingers, mouth twitched into a sleepy grin, and falls back asleep.

#harry potter #my fic #tattoo #tattoos #hp tattoo #drabble #hp fic #in which a tattoo helps harry feel more self confident in his body gdi

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roamrevival-blog · 8 years ago

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The Red Dragon: A Study in Madness While Being Stuck in Customs

by Evan

It smelled of puke, because there was puke, lots of it. It was being blown into the only receptacle available to Xian Customs: a trashcan, half-filled with discarded ’Lychee Candy’ wrappers and cans of Kěkǒukělè. A female customs agent watched us, careless of the smell or condition of the person vomiting up what food poisoning brewed of the day’s breakfast and lunch, as she stood at the doorway of our room like a prison guard wishing we were hatching an escape so she could finally see some action. Another round of intestines being squeezed of its halfway-digested food and sent spelunking into the trashcan that’s being cradled like a priest’s bible during an exorcism and yet another layer of putrid smell is laid down onto the ever-thickening atmosphere of our room that was growing colder by the minute. This room would be forever known to Vanessa and I as “The Icebox.”

I said to the female agent: “Is there any way to warm it up in here?”

…

“When��will…the…Airline Stooge…from…Sichuan Airlines…be…back?”

…

“Do you have internet so I can use Google translate and tell you what I just said in Chinese?”

…

Before imprisonment in The Icebox, before the granite-faced guard trying to suffocate the last ounce of humanity from her soul as she she watched us with disdain as we froze, before the puke, there was this:

“Hello, ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking. Due to weather (SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOG), we will not be able to land at Changdu. We are diverting the plane and will be landing in Xian in about 30 minutes.” Click.

The stewardess informed us that the airline would hold us up at a hotel for the night and then figure out a new flight to Phoenix (layover before Mexico).

“Thirty minutes” (an hour) later and we land in Xian.

Mark the time: 1am. We’re standing in line at customs and when we finally make it to an agent he says something in Chinese. We explained the situation about being diverted. He tells us using a series of hand-motions that we need to wait in a designated waiting area. He holds on to our passports and passes them off to some boss, then they’re passed off to another boss, and so on until they disappear (forever?). The minutes go by and every single one of the passengers on our flight stroll past us in the waiting area and on to their comfy hotel stay.

Mark the time: 2am. Customs is empty save for Vanessa and I and a few agents walking around, shuffling paperwork at a desk; trying to look busy at 2am. Vanessa and I, as the minutes continue to go by like they’re struggling to walk through a swamp of knee-deep mud, plead…beg…for an answer. Every cuss word in the English language (even a few in French) has been practically shouted to the Heavens! What the fuck is going on?! And for an entire hour we were ignored. We were paupers trying to get the attention of some royalty as they strolled down a cobblestone street paying us no mind. Filthy, beggars! Be gone!

Mark the time: 2:30am. Finally, mercifully, an agent that speaks a bit of English approaches along with a rep from the airline. “Him from airline,” said the agent of the rep. “He help you.” (I’m not being racist; I’m not picturing Mickey Rooney from Breakfast at Tiffany’s when I recall this conversation. This is how I remember it to the best of my muddy recollection and that is what he sounded like). Airline Stooge: “You cannot leave.”

“China?!”

“Customs.”

“Why?”

He more or less explained that because our layover in Changdu was only eight hours and we didn’t get a visa (because there wasn’t a need for one), they couldn’t let us “into the country” after our plane had been diverted and our stay in China forcibly extended. “Into the country” meaning into the airport, anywhere out of customs.

“What about our bags?” I asked him.

“They go to Changdu.”

“With us?”

“…Maybe. If we get you flight.”

Vanessa: “I’m not feeling so good…”

Mark the time: 3am. The Icebox: Vanessa is huddled over an empty trashcan, feeling queasy. I’m talking with a customs agent, the one that speaks the best English. “My wife is sick. Is there any way to get her into another room that isn’t meant to keep beef shoulders cold?”

The agent, smiling: “No.”

“Please. There has to be another room somewhere.”

He just laughed: “Hahahahaha. No.”

I repeated, accentuating every syllable thinking it’ll help him understand somehow: “There has to be another room. My wife is sick, if you couldn’t hear it or smell it already.” I pointed to Vanessa heaving into the trashcan.

“Hahaha.” Then, with a wave of a hand, he motioned to the room next door. I opened the door and saw…a padded room, set to the same frigid temperature as The Icebox. The floor though, wasn’t padded.

“Why isn’t the floor padded?” I asked the agent.

He just shrugged.

“I mean, if someone crazy wanted to kill themselves in here, couldn’t they just hit their heads against the floor?”

Another shrug.

I mocked his shrug and said: “The Icebox it is… But, bathroom first?”

I did what we all do in the bathroom: pretended to take a leak but cried tears into the toilet bowl.

“Wanna give me a shake, dipshit?” I asked the agent waiting for me right outside of my stall.

“Yes.”

“What?” I peeped through the crack of the stall, seeing if he had any idea what I said, and thankfully he did not.

Mark the time: 4am. Back to where the story started. Still no idea what’s happening. The Airline Stooge mentioned trying to help us get on another flight to Changdu a few hours ago. We’ve heard nothing since. Not a peep. None of the agents around us spoke English so I busied myself by trying to win at a staring contest with the stone-faced agent guarding the door as I held Vanessa’s hair back. Not even the slightest turn of one corner of her mouth. Steel.

Mark the time: 5am. The cold inside The Icebox starts to feel like I’m being frozen by Xian customs to preserve American specimens for research, or for a study in madness. How have they lasted this long? I wonder, says the lead scientist. Mark the time: 5am. ‘Four hours in Cryo-Chamber and still alive. Not one ounce of information given to them about their predicament and what’s to happen next. Remarkable. I kept picturing all those people on our flight asleep in cozy beds, dreaming like babes of frolicking through any of a number of warm climates, free as birds. Those bastards.

Alright, Chinese Ashton Kutcher, now’s the time to come springing out and yelling ‘You’ve been 刺!’

“Hey, Terminator 2 Linda Hamilton, go get the Airport Stooge,” I told the female agent guarding us, The Dangerous Prisoners of Xian Customs. I knew she didn’t speak any English, but my frost-bitten mind denied me the kind of recognitive power that God gave the Blue-Footed Booby (and look where they ended up). “Get the Airport Stooge!”

Steel.

“Dammit! Get the damn Airport Stooge!” Vanessa interrupted with a forceful shout before I could repeat basically what she said as she dropped the trashcan that’s been filled up to the halfway point. If there was a mirror, I imagine we must’ve looked like monsters—pale, dark-circles-around-the-eyes, puke-breathed, abominable monsters. Defeated, we sat back down and continued in our Freezing to Death…

Mark the time: 7am. Nothing’s changed. We’re still suspended in a time-looped nightmare. Hallucinations began, slipping in and out of consciousness as we’re hugged harder and harder by the freezing touch of impending death seeping from the vents above us. That’s right, it says with a hiss, you’re almost mine.

I turn to Vanessa, and she turns to me, very slowly, and I say to her: “I just want you to know, that if we die in here, I’m glad you’ll be by my side.” I take her hand in mine, thinking I could warm it up, but realizing my hand was just as cold.

“…Shut up.”

“Hello?” We knew that voice coming from the doorway behind us; the Airline Stooge.

We turn and look at him. He looks at us like he stumbled on a crime scene and both dead bodies had suddenly come back to life. “Uhhhh, here your new flight.”

The flight was leaving in thirty minutes…from the other side of the airport, headed for a layover in Hangzhou and then off to Phoenix.

“What about our bags still going to Changdu?”

“So sorry.”

“That’s it? So sorry?”

“Yes. So sorry.”

After stumbling through the airport like a pair of half-dead/half-drunk dogs going through some agility competition at the Westminster Kennel Club, we barely made it to our flight.

I have to hand it to the Chinese, they are a resilient folk; seeing the density of the smog layer hanging over Xian as we flew away made me think: There’s no way a human being could live in that. (Applause). I pictured myself struggling to breath like an astronaut on Mars after having his helmet struck by some small projectile from space, cracking it open and sending in the carbon dioxide, my eyes bugging out like Schwarzenegger’s in Total Recall.

Mark the time: 8am. We waved goodbye to Xian, China’s cruel mistress sent to make our one and only time with The Red Dragon a time we’ll never forget, no matter how hard we try.

#roamrevival #blog #travelblog #travelstory #travel

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