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incompetent-witch · 1 year ago

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About The Blogger;

Eclectic Witch

I am here, and I am 🌈QUEER

She/her pronouns (That could change)

Bisexual (With a huge preference for girls)

Bipolar type 2. (haha. Double Bi…)

Narcolepsy type 1

25 years old

🎂 Birthday; February 12th :D

♒️Aquarius- 🌙Virgo moon🌙

My beliefs are a mix of;

polytheism, (all the gods exist simultaneously)

Agnosticism; (I don’t know anything for sure. You gotta stay skeptic for things that can’t be proven by science. Everything should be taken with a grain of salt.)

A preference for the greek gods.

*Side note on the Greek gods thing. as basic and edgy in a cringe sort of way, I have a shrine to Thanatos and Hypnos. Due to my love for them and researching them i discovered the hades game because when trying to find YouTube videos on Hypnos, one of the only thing that showed up was the game hades. They’re obscure so i was really excited to see that they both had a pretty big role in the game. So you might see some posts here and there about the game.

Magic should be for fun!!! If it becomes distressing, then you got to take a step back

It’s really important that you understand that I absolutely hate hate hate pseudoscience and crystal healing and the current bastardization of chakras. If you want to learn about that stuff, probably don’t get new age books on it. (Herbs are good though. Lots of vitamins lmao)

If a white lady with dreadlocks starts talking about spirituality, RUN.

If something directly contradicts science in a way that dismisses it, That just not the vibe. Science above all else please, that seems contradictory but it just loops back around to things like crystal healing. If you wanna use magic and spirituality to heal yourself, whatever man, that’s fine just take your meds first then do whatever you want.

More About Me, and What Posts You’ll See.

You’ll see a lot of reblogged art. I’m not sure if I’ll post much of my own. Most of my work is unfinished, and likely never will be finished. But I’ve been a serious artist since I was. Teenager. I’ve illustrated books, (I’m nervous to show it, because it could dox me… that and it’s really old work, and is not a good representation of what I’m capable of now.) And I’ve won a congressional award for a sketch I did at… 17? Can’t remember exactly how old I was.

I had to temporarily dropout of school due to the disability and mental illness I didn’t know I had at the time. It was rough, and I blamed myself for being incompetent. I thought everyone was as tired as me all the time, and could just function better. I was homeschooled, so I wasn’t in an environment where they would have noticed something was off about me. My parents weren’t exactly qualified to teach, and were incredibly medically neglectful. I came from a very “walk it off” and “Pull yourself up from your bootstraps” environment. So you’ll see a lot of vent posts too. I’ll tag it with trigger warnings just in case. But the good news is! I’m going back to school! I’m gonna be an art major again 🥹

I have a cat named Salem. No, I wasn’t dabbling in witchcraft when I named him, I’ve always just had a witchy aesthetic but never actually looked into the occult, western esotericism, or witchcraft. However, I’ve dabbled in tarot cards for about 4 years now. I’m studying it pretty hard now. I’ll post about the meanings as best I can as a way to study. I believe that If you can’t teach it, then you don’t understand it. That’s my philosophy on learning anything.

I’ve been practicing and studying witchcraft for only half a year. And I’ll be real with you, it started because of a HUGE hypo-manic episode. (Honestly it was probably true mania, which means my bipolar 2 diagnosis will probably be changed to type Bipolar 1 if my psych finds that it wasn’t due to a medication change.) The manic episode was so bad, that I actually don’t remember any of November of 2022 besides thanksgiving. As I remember it, I just kinda knew a bunch of stuff in December and was talking to entities I had no business talking to. It was really bad. So i will be VERY open about the ugly side of Bipolar mania that people don’t seem to understand, as well the dangerous side of spiritually both in occult spaces, new age shit, and established religions. (Pretty much only christianity if I’m being honest.)

BUT! I’ve always liked the occult, but I was never able to really study it due to my religious and controlling environment and the confidence to read about it anyway. I give no shits now, despite still being in that environment. The manic episode really just gave me the confidence to get started. Now that I’m stable again, I still love the occult, and am honestly kinda grateful that it happened the way that it did. I’ll talk more about all the weird shit I did while high on mania. It might be helpful to some people. Trigger warnings will be added to that too.

You’ll probably see some memes and whatever show/movie/game/book I’m into at that moment. It changes frequently lol

I am NOT a fan of new age spirituality. You’ll see me complaining, but you’ll never see me bullying anyone. I believe in gentle nudges in the right direction. Nobody TRIES to be problematic or misinformed.

I especially hate Star-Seeds. Or at least the belief system. I worry about the people who believe in it.

That’s gonna be a common theme. I hate a lot of belief systems but never the individuals who believe it. I just pity them, and also worry about them. Especially when it comes to Christianity. I have A LOT of religious trauma. (It’s the various churches and its history I hate. But the catholic aesthetic??? I love it. That can stay.)

But due to being prone to spiritual psychosis, at this moment I’ve decided not to cast any spells, besides the occasional candle spell for luck or something. Just small stuff and like, one a month. I’ll only be doing research. Mostly historical researching as I’ve decided I don’t like contemporary books on witchcraft. It’s a huge risk for misinformation, and doesn’t always explain where the spell came from or why and how it works. I want a better foundation for magic, and history is the way to go in my opinion. Folklore, old superstitions, old religions, (Religions especially so I know whether or not it’s opened or closed practices.) You’ll see a lot of posts on whatever I’ve read about that I find important. I’d also be super happy if someone adds to it, especially if they’re correcting me. But if you’re correcting me, please either add your source or give me a few key words so I can look into it myself. I’d be very grateful if Youre right but I won’t attack you if you’re wrong or we simply disagree.

And what I’m most excited about, is listing all the books I’ve read and reviewing them! I’ll keep a library, and update it here and there. I’ll also link any scholarly articles I find interesting.

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sourkitsch · 3 years ago

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Five books to read this year !!

Tagged by @saintbronte :)

1) Choke by Chuck Palahniuk

I absolutely adored Fight Club (obviously), so I’m interested in reading more of Palahniuk’s stuff!! Also. Medical school dropout named Victor (who sucks) … very interested to see if that’s as far as the Frankenstein references go.

2) Selected Poems by Marina Tsvetaeva

She is my emotional support queer woman poet… I really just want to sit down with her and have an experience.

3) Watership Down by Richard Adams

This was recommended to me a really long time ago! Definitely intrigued by the description of how the characters are anthropomorphized (and how they’re also not). The world building sounds very thorough and I’d love to loose myself in a novel like that! Also it’s a classic.

4) The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

I’ve only ever read his short stories and some of his letters (fake fan 😔) so I’m excited to read the definitive Kafka novella!! Also bc it contains themes I always feel drawn to in literature like human nature and monstrosity and characters who loathe themselves. Normal things to enjoy in a book.

5) The Lost Shtetl by Max Gross

Fiddler on the Roof is my favorite musical, and last year for my 20th century Jewish Literature class I had to read David Bergelson’s End of Everything which … I didn’t love… but it definitely got me more interested in the Shtetl. The Lost Shtetl is about a Jewish village in Poland that was so isolated that it completely missed out on the entire 20th century— the Holocaust included. So this perfectly preserved version of Ashkenazi life circa 1900 is suddenly thrown into the 21st century, and everyone has to deal with the outside world and modern life— including wrestling with assimilation and what traditions to keep holding onto and what to let go of. Also I think there’s a murder subplot. So!

I have so many books I wanna read this year it was hard to choose which to share!!!!

I’m gonna tag @virgoturea @blood-and-breath @cithaerons @vivisecti0n and @woundthatswallows. I don’t know which of my mutuals do and don’t like to read so!!! If you want to do this and I missed you please go ahead and say I tagged you anyway :)

#sorry this took me so long lmao!!!!#but this was fun thank you for tagging me!

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pricemarshfield · 3 years ago

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i dig you

A fluff & angst Amberprice fic. Chapter 1/2. Read on AO3 here.

Chloe still seems shocked every time Rachel sits next to her at lunch. She hides it well, snarks at anyone who questions them, teases Rachel about the plays she still brings to read and reread again and again.

But Rachel's pretty insightful, and she notices when Chloe's eyes widen, when she shifts like she's not quite sure what to do, when her smile dims a little when Victoria loudly questions why Rachel's still hanging around the soon-to-be-dropout.

She's not sure what to do about it. If she just tells her no, Chloe, I do want to be here still, she's sure Chloe'd find a way to take it the wrong way, question why she needed to bring it up, deny she ever doubted it in the first place. One or all of those things. She loves her, but her abandonment issues run deep. Rachel could punch Victoria, but she'd definitely get kicked out for that, and she doesn't want to risk law school.

So she makes an effort to include Chloe in everything. Chloe sits in on rehearsals, ignoring Mr. Keaton's increasingly desperate attempts to get her to join or at least take the intro elective class. They get high in the junkyard, find a little room and make it their own with graffiti (with actual spray paint, thank you, not a Sharpie). Rachel watches Chloe's weird movies, Chloe watches Rachel's Broadway bootlegs, they listen to punk and drive around in the truck, fabric of the seat replaced so they can't see the deep, dark red stain from when she got stabbed.

It doesn't change anything. Chloe still looks at her like it'll be the last time they hang out every time they have some minor disagreement, texts a hundred times in a row begging her not to leave her every time she gets drunk without Rachel there to reassure her in person. It's...a little exhausting, if she's being honest. She loves Chloe, she wants to help her! But it's...sometimes she's just trying to have fun with some other group, and it's been three parties of that in a row.

"You texting your girlfriend?" asks some well-meaning newbie to the Vortex Club. Rachel opens her mouth to deny it, already dreading having to make herself heard over Victoria's snide commentary and Nathan's barely-veiled homophobia, but then her phone goes off again, and again, and one more time for good measure.

"I do have to take this," she says, and pretends she can't hear the conversation that kicks up before the door's fully shut behind her.

The cool, fresh air outside is refreshing, and she takes a couple deep breaths before calling Chloe.

"Rachel," Chloe says, voice slurring enough that Rachel's heart immediately kicks into a higher gear.

"Hey, Chlo," Rachel says, a nickname she has not used once in her life. "What's up?"

"Wher're you?" Chloe asks instead. Rachel doesn't hear the sound of the train, so probably not in the junkyard? But it could just not be passing.

"At Blackwell," Rachel says, which isn't, technically, a lie. She's on school grounds, and she says it casually enough that Chloe doesn't immediately push. "Do you want to come over? We could put on a movie, light some incense."

Chloe laughs, and the sound is light and easy before it cuts out abruptly. She can't hear anything on the other end.

"Chloe? Are you okay?"

"I'm fucking fine," Chloe says, and she keeps her voice quiet, so that means she's at her house. Rachel's tipsiness from earlier in the night has long since faded, she's probably good to drive, and she really, really doesn't want to leave Chloe alone. There's an edge to her voice that Rachel doesn't trust, reminds her of the fragility in her mom's voice the last time she visited before apparently disappearing off the face of the earth.

Rachel hopes she's in rehab. But she thinks Rose would tell her if that was the case.

"Okay," Rachel says. "I'd still like to hang out, if you're free."

"'Course I'm free," Chloe says. "i don't have any fuckin' friends, do I." It's not said like a question.

"You have me."

"Right," Chloe says. "Just the best of friends."

Rachel's already in the parking lot, trying to remember where the hell she'd parked the car. (Her dad's: knowing how much evidence they have on him working with Damon, he's been inclined to give her everything she wants, especially now that she's already met her mom. Rose still tries, too.) "Yeah. We're best friends, Chloe. You're the person I care about most in this shithole town."

"Yeah," Chloe says. "Yeah, when are we leaving, again? Thought you wanted to leave more than anything?"

"I did!" Rachel says, then corrects, "I do. I had to heal up after getting stabbed, remember?"

It's shitty and manipulative, but it works; Chloe's irritation switches to concern. "Yeah. I remember."

"But I am feeling better now," Rachel says. "I'm ready to go when you are."

"Now?"

"Sure," Rachel says. "Tell me where you are."

"Step-dick's house," Chloe says, quieter now. "Do you mean it?"

"Of course I mean it," Rachel says. "Do you still have all the clothes I packed you?"

"Yeah," Chloe says, voice hitching a little like she's about to cry. "I do."

"Awesome," Rachel says, excited despite herself. "Then I'll see you soon."

---

Rachel wants to be ready for the grand adventure with her friend at her side, but Chloe's house is more than a couple minutes' drive from Blackwell, which gives the logical parts of her plenty of time to ask her what the fuck she thinks she's doing.

They have no money. Rachel's barely gotten her first credit card, and it has, like, 1500 dollars on it. Which is a lot of money, but she's already spent some of it on alcohol, on their half-decent fakes, on Venmoing Frank for their weed or the other things she's tentatively tried. So they have about a thousand, which will cover gas to LA, at least, and probably food, and do they really need hotel rooms?

But of course they need hotel rooms, they can't just park by the side of the road in the middle-of-nowhere freeways. Those are like...fifty bucks? A hundred bucks? They can share a bed, that should make it cheaper.

So. A thousand will get them to LA. Then they'll...get jobs, Rachel guesses.

She's got this idea of herself working at a diner, wearing some cute outfit with pops of red, serving coffee and making small talk with the chefs while she waits for her big break. But that's only good for the modelling; she wants to go into law one day, too.

Maybe she can transfer to a school there? Showing she's independent enough to live on her own (with Chloe, of course, but without her parents there) has to look good on an application?

Or reckless and irresponsible, like her dad keeps calling Chloe.

All-in-all, Rachel's doubting everything in her entire life as she pulls up to Chloe's house. Chloe isn't outside, and she's about to throw some pebbles at her window when the front door opens with barely a creak.

"Did you oil the hinges?" Rachel asks, trying to keep the tone light. "Handy."

Chloe beams at her, wearing Rachel's old tarot shirt. Fuck, her tarot decks, she wants to bring those. All her things. At least some clothes. Probably some food, too?

"Do you have all the stuff you wanna bring?" Rachel asks. "We might need to stop by my place."

"That's what you said last time," Chloe says, but looks at Rachel, wearing her party outfit--only a tank top and some high shorts, which are cute but not great for the only outfit to have in a big life change--and shrugs.

Rachel breathes a sigh of relief. "Plus, they'll get mad if we steal the car. And gas is gonna be expensive enough."

"Don't care," Chloe says. "I'll take the truck."

Chloe, who is visibly swaying on her feet, is absolutely not good to drive. Rachel thinks for a second--if she drives her dad's car back, Chloe can be in the passenger seat, but then they'll have to walk with all her bags back to the truck. If they take the truck, Rachel can leave the keys and a note explaining where it is. They'll be mad, but whatever.

"Can I drive your truck, actually?" Rachel asks, and Chloe shrugs again. It won't be the first time behind the wheel of the truck, but it will be the first time on actual roads, not the paths they'd cleared in the junkyard. "Thanks, Chloe."

"Sure," Chloe says, tossing her the keys and yanking at the handle on her side. Rachel opens her door, reaches over to unlock the passenger side so Chloe can climb in. "What are we getting?"

"Clothes," Rachel says. "Maybe my tarot decks."

A couple of the plays she has physical copies of. Any and all drugs left in her room. Her flashlight that Chloe made for her. The important things.

"Okay," Chloe says. "You mean it? We're gonna leave?"

"I do," Rachel says, and she should kiss her. She should. She has before. She wants to. But she looks at Chloe, eyes still wide with disbelief that Rachel will follow her, will help lead the way out. If she pushes this, and she's wrong...

Rachel grabs her hand instead, smiles at her. Chloe squeezes it, and they keep holding hands the whole way to the Amber house. Rachel hopes she won't ever let go.

#amberprice #rachel amber #chloe price #life is strange #my fics #OKAY done crossposting sorry for spam everyone

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active-galactic-nuclei · 5 years ago

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Rewrite Your Memories

Zuko x reader

warnings: none except like Zuko’s tragic backstory

Inspired by the lovely @zukochi who gifted me this wonderful prompt!!

You were looking for a roommate. You were broke, and you could hardly manage to pay the rent each month. As a college dropout, your career prospects weren’t looking too hot, and as a starving artist that didn’t seem like it would be changing anytime soon. So you put out an ad on craigslist. What’s the worst that could happen? If someone tried to murder you then at least you’d have a good story to tell at parties.

Zuko was looking for a house. Or an apartment. Or anywhere to stay that wasn’t the streets tonight. He had been kicked out of his dorm for “dangerous, unlawful and reckless activities.” Of course, he hadn’t meant to set his curtains on fire. It was just a mistake. They didn’t care much whether it was an accident or not. He was as good as gone as soon as his roommates walked through the door. He figured he’d just have to sleep in a crappy hotel for the night or god forbid he’d have to ask to stay with his uncle. Of course uncle Iroh would say yes, but his pride would never survive a blow like that. He was eighteen years old. He wanted to handle it by himself. He sat in his car and started searching for the places to stay.

Suddenly a message came through on your phone. An unknown number. You figured it would be just another spam text trying to sell you something, so you almost didn’t even bother reading it. Then you remembered the room listing. You’d only posted it two hours ago, surely that couldn’t be it, could it?

“Unknown number: I heard you’re renting out a room. When's the soonest I can move in?” it said. Laughing at the bluntness you quickly typed back.

“And just who are you?” you responded.

“My name’s Zuko. I need somewhere to stay asap,” he shot back quickly.

“Well if it’s really that urgent then you can come by whenever. I’m home for the rest of the day,” you offered, puzzled at his predicament.

“Perfect. I’ll be over with all my stuff soon,” he responded. Well that wasn’t weird at all, right? Maybe you would be getting murdered after all. The universe just loved to punish you.

An hour and 35 minutes later on the dot, a knock sounded at the door. Well, time to meet your new roommate (or as you supposed, murderer… or…. both?) Dragging yourself away from the couch, you meandered warily to the door. When you opened it you were expecting a terrifying thug, or maybe a creepy old hag, or any other person that your mind coupled with the word murderer. You certainly weren’t expecting a tall, dark, handsome, young man with brooding eyes and a scar taking up half his face. Well, maybe the scar was a little more on brand with what you were envisioning… but regardless, you were more than surprised.

“I’m Zuko, and you must be Y/N right?” he asked meekly. Wonderful, his voice was gorgeous too. You were starting to wonder if the universe was cursing you in a much different way now.

“Um yeah… That would be me,” you responded hesitantly. Why were you so awkward?

Now the universe really was cursing you.

“Great, I have my stuff with me so if you could, like, show me to my room that would be… wonderful,” he prompted. You had been so lost in his eyes you’d hardly even recognized what he’d said. You quickly snapped out of it, realizing what an idiot you looked like, and started walking toward the spare room.

“Sorry there's still some of my stuff in here. I’ll move it out by tomorrow, it's just that some of the paintings are still drying,” you told him. He started unpacking things from his suitcases and you decided to take the moment to sit down on the floor next to him.

“So uhh… What made you decide to move in with me so fast? I barely had the listing up for two hours,” you asked, trying not to push too hard and make him uncomfortable.

“It’s kind of a weird story,” he trailed off, “Are you sure you want me to tell it?”

“I’m the master of weird stories, Zuko. Trust me, you can tell me anything,” you answered.

“I’m um… kind of homeless I guess. I got kicked out of my dorm for uhh… setting my room on fire…” he confessed, looking embarrassed. He looked down, fearing your reaction. Would you be mad? Scared? Instead you surprised him by… laughing?

“I understand, I got kicked out of my last apartment for painting on the wall and ruining it. It was an accident, I just hadn’t realized I needed to put a tarp up. What about you? I mean… Did you mean to set the fire?” you asked.

“If I'm telling the truth then… yeah. I guess I did. It was just a spur of the moment thing. I was just so angry I started lighting stuff on fire. I didn’t mean for it to spread to the curtains or anything though. That part was really an accident. I just didn’t notice until it was too late,” he explained. You smiled sympathetically.

“I get it. I mean, everyone makes mistakes sometimes,” you told him. “So, what do you do for a living?” you asked, laying back and resting your head on his now empty backpack.

“I’m uhh… unemployed. I mean I’m a full time computer science student but my uncle pays for everything,” he told you.

“Your uncle pays for everything but you’re homeless? How does that work?” you asked playfully.

“I just didn’t want to bother him by asking to stay with him. I mean I know that he would say yes but… I just couldn’t do that to him after everything he’s done for me,” he sighed. “How about you, what do you do?”

“I work at a bookstore with some of my friends. I dropped out of college last semester. It just… wasn’t what I really wanted, you know? My passion is art. I just want to make the world brighter in that way,” you explained.

“I get it. I’m studying to work with artificial intelligence. I just want to help people. If I can do that with my life… i think everything will be worth it,” he told you.

“No way, my friend Toph is studying AI too! Have you ever met her?” you asked excitedly.

“Toph Beifong? Yeah of course I know her. She’s one of the smartest people in my engineering class. The way she works with metal to build stuff… I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

“That’s Toph for you. She’s always talking about the newest thing she’s built when we’re working together. It’s her and I, and three of our other friends at the bookstore. Katara’s studying business, Sokka’s studying communications, and Aang is working on philosophy. Don’t ask me what he’s gonna do with that degree once he graduates, but he seems pretty happy whenever he talks about it to us,” you told Zuko. He was listening intently, hanging on every word. It seemed like he really cared. Suddenly you realized that you were in way over your head with the mysterious man. The universe was just so cruel that way.

The next day Zuko was in class. He sat next to Toph, hoping to get to know her better. In all his time in class with her, he’d never really taken the time to talk to her. To his surprise, once he got past her sarcastic and calloused exterior she was sweeter than he’d imagined.

“Have you gotten the book we’re studying yet? The annotations are due by Sunday night,” Toph asked him.

“No I… haven’t even thought about it yet,” he confessed.

“You should get on it or else you won’t finish on time. Why don’t you go to Katara's Books? That's where I work. Just tell them Toph sent you and they’ll give you 25% off. I mean, not like you need it, rich kid… but still, you should get it there. The money goes to my friend Katara. She owns it and she’s doing everything she can to keep it running,” Toph explained.

‘Yeah, I'll be sure to stop by,” Zuko said, standing up to grab his things. Katara? That name sounded awfully familiar. Maybe he’d know where he’d heard it once he got there. Making his way across campus, he couldn’t get you out of his mind as he walked.

Walking into the store he looked around, quickly finding his way to the nonfiction shelf.

“Hey, I’m Aang! Do you need help finding anything today?” came a voice from behind making him jump. He wheeled around to see a little bald kid wearing what looked to him like monk robes. Aang… now that name seemed familiar too. He told the kid, Aang, what book he was looking for.

“Ah, I love that book! I love the part discussing the philosophy that metal is alive. It’s definitely great food for thought. It should be right… here!” he said, pulling the book off the shelf.

“Thanks for the help… Aang,” he said, trailing off. He walked up the counter, ready to pay when he caught sight of you. Ringing up the customer in front of him. Of course that’s where he’d heard those names from, you had told him about them last night. He studied your face carefully as you smiled and laughed at the woman buying a copy of The fault in Our Stars. You looked… beautiful. He scolded himself for being creepy. He knew better than to start being vulnerable for you.

“I can help the next guest in li- oh, Zuko! Hey!” you called out.

“Hey Y/N, how’s it going today?” he shoots back.

“It’s good. We’ve been kind of slow so that’s been nice. Oh, I love this book! Autobiography of a Yogi is really amazing. Aang told me about it after he studied it in class. I read it after that and I loved it! I think you’ll really enjoy it,” you told him. You were so adorable when you were excited. Zuko scolded himself again. He needed to get you out of his mind. As he paid and said goodbye though, it seemed an impossible task. A spark had caught in his heart, and he knew it would soon be a raging forest fire. Uncontrollable and insurmountable, too great to ever find his way out of. As he walked back to your shared apartment, he began to realize the thought didn’t scare him nearly as much as it should have.

Walking in the door and setting your keys down, you saw Zuko on the couch. As peaceful as he looked, you needed to ask him about dinner.

“Hey, are you hungry?” you asked, setting your bag on the counter.

“Yeah, are you making dinner?” he responded. He turned around to face you.

“I was hoping you’d help out but, yeah. All I have is macaroni and cheese, is that fine with you?” you asked.

“Yeah, I’ll get the stuff out for it,” he said, watching you put a pot of water on the stove to boil. He grabbed the milk and butter from the fridge, trying to put his anxiety to the back of his brain. He was a grown adult, it shouldn’t still scare him. He had zoned out and before he knew it, the pasta was done.

“Hey, move you dork. I need to pour this in the strainer you said. Seeing that he didn’t seem to notice you tried to move around him and pour it out anyway. Evidently, that did not go very well as you accidentally scalded his hand by pouring boiling hot water on it. He let out a yelp, sounding like a kicked puppy. Your heart sank.

“Oh my god Zuko I’m so sorry!” you apologized. You tried to grab his wrist to inspect the burn, but he snatched it away from you with a squeal and sank down against the refrigerator. You knelt down in front of him as he folded in on himself. You reached up to grab an ice pack from the freezer and handed it to him, noticing him start to cry. You sat next to him and tried to calm him down. He sounded like he was hyperventilating, which you didn’t take as a good sign. You knew a panic attack when you saw one, and this was most certainly one of them.

“Hey, calm down. It’s alright. You’re going to be okay, alright? Just breathe,” you reassured him softly. You rubbed his shoulder tenderly as you brought him back down to earth. It took a few minutes, but eventually he calmed down enough to speak.

“Hey, can you tell me what just happened, Zuko?” you asked softly, trying your best to sound reassuring.

“Panic attack… I just panicked… too much like the accident… too scary,” he blubbered almost incoherently.

“What accident? Can you tell me what happened to you Zuko?” you pushed, trying your hardest to stay gentle. Your heart broke when he spoke up.

“My dad… when I was little… my face… he poured boiling water on my face… that’s why I have my scar… It hurt so bad, Y/N, it just reminded me of it,” he explained. You were horrified, but even more than that you were angry that someone could do that to him. To such a sweet person. To a child.

“Is he in jail? Your dad?” you asked, pushing your voice to stay flat.

“He’s… he’s gone now. Thankfully. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever had to see him again.” Zuko explained, wiping his tears on his sleeve. “I’m sorry I freaked out, I didn’t mean to…”

“No, don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. Not at all,” you told him, holding back tears of your own.

“So umm… you think the pasta’s still good?” he asked, a watery smile teasing on his lips.

“Fuck the pasta,” you told him. “We’ll just order out.”

“I’d like that... “ he trailed off.

“We’ll get whatever you want, my treat,” you said, watching his face.

“Can we go eat at my uncle’s shop? He makes great tea and we’ll probably be the only ones in there,” he asked.

“Of course we can,” you told him. You got up to grab your keys, not noticing how his eyes flickered over to you with longing as you turned around.

Stepping out of your car, you looked up at the sign for the Jasmine Dragon. A quiet little tea shop by the edge of campus, sitting alone next to two closed buildings. It was cute, you thought. You were surprised you’d never been before. You walked in behind Zuko, who instantly got called up to the counter by a man you could only assume to be his uncle. You spat out an order to him and he cheerfully wrote it down and handed it to the cooks. You couldn’t believe someone so sweet could be related to a family as awful as the one Zuko had described.

As the only ones in the shop, you got your food quickly. You eyed your soup appreciatively, thanking the server as he walked away.

“This colour is so pretty. I need to paint something with it sometime,” you told Zuko, gesturing to the soup.

“It reminds me of your eyes… they’re pretty too,” Zuko said, instantly kicking himself for it. You blushed as you looked up to see him looking at his food intensely, too embarrassed to look back at you.

“Thank you… You know, your eyes are pretty nice too,” you responded rather awkwardly. The universe’s vendetta for you knew no end.

As you got up to leave, Zuko stayed put.

“I’m gonna stay here to help Uncle close up shop. I’ll be home in an hour or so,” he explained. He watched you say goodbye and walk out, making your way to the car. He walked over to the counter, vaulting over it.

“Zuko! How’s my favourite nephew doing?” Iroh asked him, smiling as he finished drying off a glass.

“I’m… confused. I need help, Uncle,” Zuko responded.

“It’s about that Y?N, your new roommate, isn’t it?” Zuko nodded, “I knew it. I’m always so good at reading you, Zuko.” Zuko sighed.

“I think I really like her, but I don’t know what to do. What if she thinks I’m weird or something. I don’t want to ruin us as friends,” Zuko confessed.

“You’ve got to do what makes you happy, Zuko. If she makes you happy, tell her. If she’s really your friend she’ll understand,” Iroh told him, pulling him into a knowing hug. Zuko let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding as he sank into it. Everything always had to be so complicated.

At home, your mind raced with thoughts of Zuko. Calling your friends, you sighed as everyone picked up.

“What am I supposed to do about Zuko?” you asked dramatically.

“You could always just kill him,” Toph offered, earning a laugh from everyone else.

“I’m serious. He's literally… perfect. I think I’m in love with him or something,” you said to her.

“Let me get this straight: you let him move into your apartment without even knowing him, he tells you he burnt down his dorm room, and now you’re in love with him? Maybe I’m just spoiled by being in love with the nicest person ever but that sounds kind of fucked up,” Katara told you.

“Ok first of all, yes you are spoiled by being in love with Aang, but second of all yes. I know I’m an idiot but I can’t help it. You’d only understand if you were in my shoes,” you responded.

“I think you should just do it. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? He says no?” Aang said.

“No Aang, the worst he could do is be totally creeped out and move out and I never see him again,” you spat out frustratedly.

“If that happens, I’ll yell at him in engineering for you,” Toph offered.

‘Thanks Toph, but I doubt it’ll come to that. I’ll probably just suffer dramatically until the end of time,” you lamented flopping down onto the couch to agonize about life.

When Zuko walked in, he was surprised to find you on the couch. He walked up to the sink and dumped the forgotten macaroni in the trash and rinsed out the pot. Drying his hands on his jeans, he walked over to where you were sleeping. He debated for a second before picking you up and carrying you back to your room. He set you down in bed and turned off the lights in the hallway. He took note of the stacked canvases in the corner, and saw the painting still drying on top. A boy with half of his face obscured by a deep red scar stared back at him. It couldn’t be meant to be him, could it? Surely he wasn’t that beautiful in your eyes, was he?

Waking up the next morning you were confused. You had fallen asleep on the couch talking to Katara. Why were you in your bedroom? Had…. had Zuko brought you in here last night when he came home? Your heart sped up at the thought. He must have, right? As you got dressed and walked into the empty living room, you couldn’t get the thought out of your head. Zuko was already long gone, the crazy morning person that he was. It was your day off, and you knew it was Sokka’s too, so you decided to call him.

“Hey, do you wanna go get coffee or something today?” you asked him when he picked up the phone.

“Of course, dork. Meet me at the coffee house by the campus library in half an hour,” he responded. You smiled as you hung up the phone and went to go get ready.

Half an hour later and you were walking into the coffee house to see Sokka sitting at a table in the corner. You sat down across from him to see your favourite drink already sitting in front of you. Taking a sip, Sokka piped up.

“So about this Zuko character, I know you really like him. Tell me more about him,” he told you, punctuating the sentence with a smile that you couldn’t resist.

“He’s so gorgeous, Sokka. Plus, he’s the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. Aside from you and Aang. But seriously, he’s amazing. I painted a picture of him last night while I was on the phone and it was just Katara. He has the most paintable face. I just want to get lost in it,” you rambled on. He was starting to overtake your mind, you couldn’t get him out of your brain.

“Look, I’m just saying. If he’s that great, you should just tell him you feel. If anything else, you know I’ll kill him if he breaks your heart,” offered Sokka.

“Good luck,” you laughed, “He’s been training in Tae Kwon Do since he was a baby,” you replied. Sokka groaned, smirking as you laughed at him. You took a sip from your coffee mug. Things were always so complicated.

Walking back into the apartment, you saw all the lights were turned off. That was… strange. Zuko should have been home by now. Maybe he was sleeping? You walked with light footsteps down the hall, making your way towards Zuko’s room. Seeing his door cracked open, you decided to go in and check on him. You found him sitting in the dark, holding a lighter. A little silver Zippo he was using to pass over the ends of his fingertips, and holding to his palm. He looked lost in thought as he watched the flames dance across his skin.

“Zuko… are you ok?” he whispered trying not to disturb him too much. He flinched and dropped the lighter onto the carpet, wheeling around to face you.

“You scared me, I didn’t even hear you come in,” he told you.

“Sorry I just… didn’t want to make too much noise in case you were sleeping or something. Anyway, what were you doing?” you asked.

“Oh I was just messing with my lighter. You know, typical pyromaniac behavior,” he smirked.

“I knew you were an amateur arsonist, but I didn't peg you as the masochist type,” you giggled.

“It’s just in my blood I guess. I’ve always been fascinated by fire as long as I can remember. So was my sister, and my parents, and my cousin. My uncle is too. I guess that’s just how it goes with us,” he revealed.

“I didn’t know you had a sister. I’m assuming she uhh… wasn’t the best?” you said knowingly.

“She was sick in the head. It wasn’t her fault. An upbringing like we had would make anyone crazy. She’s in a mental hospital now. I still visit her sometimes but… not as much as I used to. It’s just hard to see her like that. It just reminds me too much of my mom,” he confessed.

“Is that… bad?” you asked, trying hard not to sound rude.

“I loved my mom, she was the best part of my life when she was in it. After my dad disowned me and kicked her out though… it’s just too hard to think about…” he trailed off, his voice cracking with a sob at the end.

“I’m so sorry, Zuko. I can’t imagine how you feel,” you responded, pulling him into your chest as his body shook with sobs. You held him as he let out strangled sobs, and you stayed like that until his breathing evened out.

“We’re gonna get through this. We can rewrite your memories together,” you told him.

The next morning as you clocked into work, you couldn’t stop thinking about the night before. The way he’d been so vulnerable with you. You had grown so fond. It was impossible to stop your heart from racing every time you thought about him. Walking over to where everyone else stood sorting through books, you sighed.

“I need to do something about Zuko. I can’t keep thinking about him like this. It’s all I can think about,” you said, punctuated with a groan.

“Ok well, your only options are to either tell him or die miserable and alone. I don’t know about you, but I would take the first option,” Sokka told you, turning around to face you.

“Seriously. I know Toph isn’t here but I’m sure she’d agree: we all want you to be happy. The only way that’ll happen is if you just tell him how you feel,” Katara remarked.

“I guess you’re right. But what if he thinks I’m creepy or something?” you asked self consciously.

“Y/N, you’re gorgeous. Zuko would be lucky to have someone like you. Trust me, if he says no he’s delusional,” Katara responded.

“I think I’ll tell him tonight and get it over with,” you stated.

“Finally! I’m sure it’ll go well,” Aang told you, smiling from behind the book he was occupied with.

Zuko couldn’t believe he’d been so stupid to be so vulnerable with you last night. Once was more than enough, but twice? You had such an effect on him. It was like he could really be himself around you. It was the first time he’d ever felt that way, and he knew he’d have to capitalize on it. He knew he had to tell you how he felt. He sat down next to Toph, as had become his routine in class everyday.

“Toph, I need to ask you something,” he said, setting down his backpack.

“If you’re going to ask me on a date, just know that I’d rather kiss Momo,” she said, motioning to the dopey eyed guide dog that sat at her feet.

“No, it’s about Y/N. It's just… they make me feel so different. I’ve never felt the way I feel about them,” Zuko confessed.

“Happiness. You’re describing happiness,” Toph replied sarcastically.

“Yeah, I guess I am. I guess what i'm asking is… would you be alright with me asking her out?” he asked.

“Of course, idiot. As long as you don’t break her heart. Then I’ll have no choice but to kill you,” Toph said, raising her eyebrow. Zuko shuddered. If there was anyone he was truly scared of, it was Toph Beifong.

Sitting on the couch, you turned your head at the sound of a key turning in the door. You smiled inwardly when you saw Zuko’s face emerge from the door frame.

“How was class?” you asked him.

“It was… good,” he responded, walking over to you, “I uhh… really need to tell you something,” he said meekly.

“What’s up?” you asked as he sat down on the couch next to you.

“I just… you’re the first person that’s made me feel loved in so long. You’re always so happy to see me, and you always know just what to say, and you’re so gorgeous, and you have the most beautiful laugh and… I guess what I’m trying to say is… I really really like you, Y/N,” he confessed. He had no idea what to expect but he certainly hadn’t expected you to… laugh?

‘I know, Zuko,” you giggled, cutting him off with a kiss. He was taken aback, but he relaxed into it before you pulled away, keeping your hand on his cheek.

“How did you know?” he asked, breathless.

“You think Toph can keep a secret? Of course she told me,” you smiled.

“Of course she did,” he laughed, pulling you in for another kiss, “So, can I call us official?” he asked.

“Of course, my love,” you told him, sinking into his arms.

#zuko x reader #fire lord zuko #zuko x you #zuko x y/n #avatar: tla #avatar the last airbender #toph #sokka of the southern water tribe #sokka #avatar aang #avatar alternate universe #atla aang #aang the last airbender #fanfic #x reader

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deepwaterwritingprompts · 4 years ago

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ooh ask day! are you working on any of your own writing at the moment? what excites you about it? is your writing similar to your prompts in any way? or do the prompts fulfill something else for you?

mainly im working on getting my first novel published, which you can read about HERE. otherwise, the sequel, an adult fiction project, and an urban fantasy type YA about a town called florida. in florida. Florida, florida.

Florida project, working title BORDERLINE, is the most in line with my general prompt vibe here. a little cosmic horror, bent reality, just generally odd.

I never write stuff based off the prompts, but I DO write prompts based off my own stuff, very occasionally. for me, writing prompts is like scales for a musician. keeps my brain well oiled.

*still taking asks, no requests please*

anyway, ive been working on Florida project a lot lately. have an excerpt:

Backpage:

Lin O’Leary was born and raised in the town of Florida, Florida, tucked away into a corner of the state’s forgotten coast. All the locals know Florida is a strange place, rumored to stand on a borderline, where the veil is thin and mysterious forces wander alongside the human population. The daughter of Irish and Mexican immigrants, Lin knows you can only find trouble if you go looking for it, and like the rest of Florida’s residents, lives comfortably alongside the supernatural. This is before Momoko Kasahara disappears into thin air, frightening the town of Florida into a new, ultra-cautious existence. Five years after Momo’s disappearance, Lin is seventeen, a highschool dropout now working at a convenience store, her once vibrant town still plagued by fear. The days drag by, mundane as they come in Florida, occasionally punctuated by unpleasant visits from Bo Kasahara, brother to Momo and full time asshole. Then, one fateful late shift, Lin sees the missing Kasahara twin standing in the aisles, gone as quickly as she appeared. Meanwhile, a stranger arrives from California, claiming to be a paranormal investigator hellbent on uncovering the mysteries of Florida, and suddenly Lin is faced with a choice. Be smart and keep her head down, or dive headlong into the strange mist that so often covers Florida, to rescue Momo Kasahara, and return her town to the way she remembers it.

1. 100% humidity feels like breathing underwater.

L I N

Florida ate Momoko Kasahara on the most miserable day of the year, and washed her down with a thunderstorm. A lot of other important things happened that day, but Momo’s disappearance overshadowed them all. Momo was the coolest girl in our class. She had shiny black hair that ran down to her waist. She liked to wear a different flavor of lip gloss every day of the week, and could sing in Japanese. I was on my way home from the beach when I saw the police cars in her driveway, and her twin brother sitting on the porch, painted purple in the twilight.

He shook his head, at me, slow, and all the sound seemed to drain out of the world. The flashing police lights distorted his face, as bright white clouds passed too quickly above us. The whole scene drove a stake of wrongness hard into my chest. Sometimes even now, I dream about it. Bo and I watching each other. The dead silence. The purple light. The too white clouds. And Momo, eaten. For the first time in my life, I was afraid of my own town.

My name is Lin O’leary. I live in Florida, Florida, a nothing sort of place crammed into an extra forgotten corner of the state’s already forgotten coast. Some days I can forget about Momo, and everything that happened in the hours before she vanished. Heff says I’m good at keeping my eyes closed, even when they’re open.

I really wish he were right.

2. Cloudy with a chance of hotdogs (haunted).

J U L I E N

I was standing in front of the worst building I had ever seen. Slab grey and full of sharp edges, additions had been slapped onto every side until it resembled an impossible puzzle piece. The front windows were crowded with signs for cold beer and hot food, but the glass itself was opaque. It was a convenience store from hell, a collection of stationary parts so nonsensical I was worried it might grow a few new alcoves if I blinked. Above the door, an unintelligible sign in complicated neon cursive flashed electric blue. There was a neon clock too, flickering wildly, just striking twelve.

I must have walked halfway across town, and as far I could tell this was the only place that sold food at all, let alone past three in the morning. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to go inside. My stomach was a mess, and haunted convenience store hot dogs could only make it worse. I fished my phone out of my pocket, but the little service I had was, like the midnight clock above me, barely clinging to existence, my map application nothing more than a collection of beige squares. There was no one around. The sky was intensely dark, a pitch black blanket of clouds. Water hung thick in the air, the night time street so quiet I could almost hear beads of sweat sliding down my already slick face. No, there was nothing for it. I needed directions.

The bell above the door made a strange, flat sound as I pressed inside. If the building was weird from the outside, that was nothing to its interior. The shelves, tall and numerous, had been arranged like maze walls. The overhead lights were blinding, stark white, and every other tile on the floor was mismatched. Some were squares of carpet. The only thing really visible from the entrance was the register, a fortress made of dark wood and surrounded by lottery advertisements. Behind the counter, a girl was reading something intently. As I got closer, I saw it was the back of a box of oatmeal.

“Hi,” I said, adjusting the duffel bag that had been crushing my left shoulder for an hour.

The girl nodded, but didn’t look up. She had thin black hair, pin straight and chin length. Her skin was a warm, golden brown. Her shirt said something in miniscule writing, but my glasses were a little foggy, so I would have had to practically press my face to her chest to read it, which didn’t seem like a great first impression.

“Can you help me? I’m looking for the Fahrenheit Motel. I think it’s supposed to be around here.”

Finally, she glanced at me.

“It’s just around the corner. See the glasses store across the street? Go straight past that and make the second left, you’ll run right into it.”

She pointed out the window, and I realized they were one way.

“Who built this place?” I asked.

She shrugged.

“We’ve had a lot of owners. Everyone adds something new.”

There was something off about her. Like we were talking, but mentally she was still

reading the box of oatmeal.

“I’m Julien,” I said, sticking out a hand. She raised her eyebrows before taking it.

“Lin,” she said, with another small nod.

Her face was round, but her features were knife sharp. I wondered what she looked like angry. Maybe that was a really weird thing to think.

Not wanting to ask for a second set of directions, I wandered around the store for thirty minutes before returning to the counter with a gallon of chocolate milk and a bag of seaweed flavored potato chips.

“I can’t believe you have these. I didn’t think you could find them outside of California.”

Instead of replying, Lin held up the chocolate milk.

“There’s no fridge in your room at the Fahrenheit. You know that right?”

“I was told on the phone… ” I started.

“There’s a fridge, but it’s in the lobby, communal. Kimmy’ll drink this.” She gave the milk a little shake before scanning it. “Just warning you.”

“Thanks,” I said, as she stuffed my things in a smiling shopping bag.

I paused on my way out.

“Goodnight,” I said, “Or, good morning I guess.”

Lin stared at me, then glanced at the box of oatmeal and back.

“Morning,” she said, with a sigh.

***

I followed Lin’s directions, and wound up at last in front of a long, low building sporting a vacancies sign. Even in low light I could see about a hundred sad looking plastic flamingos had been stuck all over the lawn, the bushes, even the gravel path that led to the front door. I had to pick my way around them on approach.

There was no one at the front desk. The reception area was lit only by the green blue light coming from an enormous fishtank that didn’t seem to have any fish in it. As I approached the counter, I noticed someone had left the key to my room out for me, next to a scrap of paper bearing the wifi password. I picked up the key, old and brass, then watched the fishtank for a second, before turning around and experiencing heart failure.

A very old woman with wiry black hair was standing there in her nightgown, arms crossed and frowning at me. She didn’t apologize for nearly sending me to my grave.

“I’m up. I can check you in properly,” she said, shuffling past me. “I’m Kimmy, but you can call me Miss Kimmy. You got ID?”

I dug it out of my wallet while she opened a dusty guest book.

“The reservation is for Julien True,” I said.

Miss Kimmy glanced at the ID I had just handed her.

“That’s not what this says.”

“I know. It’s a stage name,” I admitted, “everything else is correct.”

She raised an eyebrow to herself, but didn’t ask any more questions.

“Now listen,” she said finally, shutting the guest book with a snap. “I’ll be honest, there’s not much to do around here. There’s a bus runs to the state forest during the day, and the beach isn’t going anywhere. If you’re hungry that’s too bad for the most part, unless you feel like walking down to Morton’s.”

“Is that the weird looking building? One way windows?”

“That’s the one. Midnight Morton’s, never closes. This late at night you’ve got Lin at the counter, nice girl.”

I don’t know what I would have called Lin, but it probably wasn’t ‘nice girl’.

“Thanks,” I said, glancing around for the hallway that led to my room.

I bid Miss Kimmy goodnight and lugged my things to Room 7, at the very end of the dark hall. Inside was simple, but stunningly clean, which I had in no way expected. The bed had a sunken spot in the middle, and there were a lot of paintings of tropical fish on the walls. Home sweet home. I changed into pajamas, and took a huge swig of chocolate milk before glancing at my duffel, still full of equipment.

It could wait. I was exhausted, sweaty, and more alone than I had ever been in my entire life.

3. Welcome to my grocery store how may I assist you.

L I N

“I want to drop out of high school,” said Roach.

We were sprawled out on separate tartan sofas, both angled towards the ancient television. It was after midnight, and the only light in the room was coming from the nature channel.

“No you don’t,” I said. “You’re not even in high school.”

Roach was a weird little girl. Eleven years old, she wore oversized thrift store t-shirts, and big chunky glasses, and cut her own hair. I loved her the most in this world.

“Yeah, but when I get there, I want to drop out. You did.”

I sighed.

“You’re smarter than me. You have to finish school and work in a laboratory anywhere but here. Those are the rules.”

Roach crossed and uncrossed her skinny legs without arguing. I knew she just wanted to hear me say she was smart.

We continued to watch the nature channel in silence. A documentary on the arctic ocean was playing, which I found devastatingly boring, but Roach was clearly glued to. I could hear dad snoring upstairs, a pleasant sort of nightly white noise, and tuned out completely until Roach clapped an inch from my face.

“Jeez,” I started, pushing her hands away.

“You were way out there. It’s freaky.”

I had been practicing my zone out since I was Roach’s age. On my best day, I could have an entire conversation without hearing one word the other person said. Call it a life skill.

“You’re doing it again!” said Roach. “Don’t you have work soon?”

That snapped me out of it. I looked at my watch.

“Oh, yeah. Thank you.”

I rolled off the couch as Roach sat back down with a huff. The arctic documentary was ending, and she picked up the changer to scroll through a long list of similar recordings. Roach loved animals, all of them, even fish that ate your insides, and grubs, and parasitic worms. Especially parasitic worms.

“Don’t stay up too late okay?” I said, tugging gently on her massive ponytail. Roach got dad’s curly, reddish brown hair. I got mom’s.

“Mmhm.”

I glanced in the hall mirror to see if there was any food on my shirt. Then I stepped into the mosquito ridden, muggy Florida night, and headed to my shift.

***

You might be thinking: where does a seventeen year old high school dropout work after midnight? And the thrilling answer is: the grocery store, sort of.

You might be thinking: what?

But that’s Morton’s.

The sliding doors opened smoothly for me upon arrival, which was always a good omen. I straightened the newsstand and went to look for Barry.

My manager, a small, Dominican man who loved to party, was in the produce section with a woman I assumed was his latest girlfriend. He was chucking the moldiest vegetables into an open trashcan.

“Our fresh produce is a travesty,” I said. “When was the last time someone bought an eggplant here?”

“I’m thinking of moving the veg,” said Barry, “they don’t like the energy in this corner.”

Barry was constantly moving things around the small labyrinth that was Morton’s. At least once a month he would take an hour long stroll from shelf to shelf, while I wrote down what was going where. I made a new map of the store for every big move.

“What are you guys up to tonight?” I asked, as Barry followed me to the register, bag of moldy vegetables in hand.

“Dancing,” said his date, with an endearing round of jazz hands, as Barry broke into a stationary samba while he gave me a list of stuff to work on. He treated me to his own enthusiastic jazz hands, and a few notes of a Juan Luis Guerra song as he samba’d in the direction of the door. As it swung shut behind them, I let the intense silence of Morton's wash over me. The fluorescent lights hummed gently. The food sat well behaved in slightly crooked rows. I turned my brain down to its lowest setting, and consulted my list.

...

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kinetic-elaboration · 3 years ago

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OMG drop the deets on the DOLLHOUSE AU! I watched that show last year and I tried so hard to come up with a fic idea for it but i couldn't ever get it right! Such a cool concept!

(Wip nudge game)

Okay first off YESSS Dollhouse! I love that show. I feel like it’s way too underrated / poorly known. But it’s so good. I love hearing that other people like it too!

So, I had this idea pretty early in my involvement in T100 fandom, like probably when S3 was airing, so it reflects both the canon and my own personal feelings and interests at the time. I did a lot of planning / brainstorming / note taking and I got really into it in my own head; I really enjoyed playing out random scenes as daydreams and stuff, just for fun. Sometimes I still use the universe for daydream fodder, tbh.

Unfortunately, when I tried actually writing it, I didn’t like what I came up with. I don’t know if it’s because the beginning concept isn’t strong or just bad luck or even if the openings I tried are better than I thought, but I wasn’t feeling it. I have two beginnings written but I think if I were to ever try this fic again I’d start again entirely.

Basically the idea was Bellamy as Echo and Clarke as Ballard (but not in the FBI). At the start of the fic, she’s a disgraced med school dropout going through a post-breakup, post-burnout slump. Abby, secretly the head of the LA Dollhouse, tries to break her out of it by sending her off on a fun night out, during which she meets purposefully planted doll Bellamy, who will remind her of the good parts of life again. (That this is an immoral idea bothers me less than that it seems a long shot idea lol--it’s also very hard to write, in part because writing a shippy fic with known characters while simultaneously giving one of them a purposefully fake personality is... a new sort of challenge!)

She does meet Bellamy, she does have a good time with him, but while they’re together, he glitches and remembers, very briefly, who he really is. Then later she sees him disappearing into a mysterious black van. This makes her very suspicious, obviously, and as she and her friends (Wells, Monty, and Jasper) try to figure out what happened, they end up going down the rabbit hole of the whole Dollhouse legend.

Parallel to this is a story line involving Bellamy, going on various engagements and starting to glitch more frequently, etc. Eventually, they’d meet and uh... I don’t know, score some kind of victory one assumes. (I’m not looking at my notes so I don’t remember how much of that I worked out.)

Other stuff I wanted to include:

Raven as Topher... obviously

Miller as a Doll who finishes his term of service during the fic itself; Clarke and co. follow him as he reunites with his husband, Bryan, not aware of what’s going on (this was my favorite scene to imagine in my head for some reason)

Jasper, with his S3 characterization, somehow signs on to be a Doll without telling anyone, then becomes a sleeper agent, dramatically revealed

Octavia as, obviously, Bellamy’s sister, who was also involved with activist work with him (similar backstory to Echo’s in the show) before he was caught by the Dollhouse and is still looking for him

Murphy as an ex-Doll who lives out in the desert (for the Aesthetic mostly) and trolls people on message boards about what he may or may not know.

Obviously this is a multi-chapter fic. I never consolidated all the notes into a proper point-by-point or chapter-by-chapter outline. At some point, I decided I knew the beginning and I was excited to actually write--and then it went so badly I kind of soured on the story. It would be suuuuper ambitious for this point in my t100-fandom life but I still think of it fondly, so I added it to my wip list.

#answers #wip nudg game #dylanobrienisbatman #dollhouse au #this got long whoops

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ophiexb · 4 years ago

Text

Christmas 1994 (Ch2)

Ch 1 Here

No pairings, very platonic love. Alex centric, sickfic - Final Chapter :)

--------------

Gifts appear under their shoddily constructed tree, at first it’s one, then two, and slowly it grows to a handful and no one says anything about it, but it’s also exciting to see the bright foil under there and know they're having a real holiday this year together. No one's fighting, no ones getting something that shows no one knows a thing about them. It’s going to be all packaged with love and that adds a warm note to all of it.

Winter break rolls up quickly, meaning Reggie and Bobby are around all the time and Luke’s glad to see a lot of that tension leak out of Alex’s shoulders and face. It helps to have regular company of his friends to distract him from the racing thoughts and they spend the time writing music, practicing for gigs after the holidays, and watching endless amounts of late night tv curled up on the couch all together in a pile.

It’s...it’s perfect. It’s just how living in a dorm would be like, or an apartment and yeah sure- Two of the four of them were officially high school dropouts, with nothing but a dream keeping them going. They just had to keep playing, keep showing up around the city and getting their name all over the town and eventually it would all come together. It wouldn’t matter anymore, and Luke could show his mom. He could show her-music really was worth it. Music was important music was everything and they’d made it.

“Staying the night?” Bobby asked Reggie as he cleaned up some of the plates from pizza. Sinking back down on the couch careful not to wake Alex who was snoring softly against the pillow he’d wrapped around.

“Yeah-If that’s okay?” Bobby rolled his eyes tossing the blanket to the other and laughing as they’d adjusted around to be comfortable and warm all together.

“Silly question dork.” He teased before turning the volume down a little on the tv. Peaking over at Luke fast asleep over his notebook to the side, it wasn’t long before he was fast asleep the sound of the soft buzz of tv and all the others fast asleep in his ears.

Reggie woke them getting some breakfast together with the limited choices they had around the studio. Luke was the first up, moving up to sit in a better spot and jumping right back into his writing with a yawn. Only extracting himself to grab a drink and wander back. Bobby isn’t far behind yawning as he stretches and leaves the small space all together to head up into the house. He comes back with some more food and fresh fruit. Laying it out on their makeshift table.

“Someone wake Alex-he'll be pissed if he misses breakfast.” Reggie joked getting a paper plate together for the drummer and Luke gently leans over to nudge the other. Shaking him a little and Alex shifted, a rough cough coming from his lips followed by a few more that Luke gently pats his back for before he’s being waved off. He seems okay after a drink, but there’s a soft crackle to his breaths they're all aware of.

“Here’s some juice.” Bobby says softly, giving the teen the drink and taking his empty bottle of water. “Reggie made us some food.”

“I wouldn’t call it so much made as I microwaved some oatmeal and sausages.” The other said, rolling his eyes a bit, giving the blonde his plate. Alex settled back down near Luke, but they didn't miss him idly picking at the food, taking a bite or two before he’s dumping his portion onto Luke’s plate. He takes the juice though curling up at the end of the couch to watch whatever cartoons the guys left on.

They don’t say anything and no one is sure what to say. Unsure if it’s just one of those days and he’s struggling or if more is at play but for now they let Alex have his space. All of them falling into a simple routine and existence around one another. “I was thinking we could start to get some set lists together for some shows after the Holidays?” Luke suggested showing Bobby some of his idea notes.

“Yeah-yeah I like this.” The teen said tilting his head and flipping between them. Alex coughs next to Luke, it’s that same wet, rough cough from earlier and Luke simply climbs up refilling his Juice and brings it back to him before he’s turning back to their work. Bobby makes a note to go on ahead and get some medicine next time his Mom asks what they need. Just in case.

“You should add Now or Never.” Reggie points out catching sight of the list. “It’s a good song to open up with and it gets the crowd excited.” Luke makes a note up top with a soft thanks showing him the papers a little more closely to get some input. It’s all so-simple. There’s no yelling, there’s no fighting, they are all just doing their own thing and working on some band stuff without fear or worry of saying the wrong thing. They really have built an incredible family in one another.

It goes through most of the day like that, Bobby goes instead and brings them a nice lunch his Mom made all of them. Alex is fast asleep curled up on the chair so they set his aside not wanting to bother him if he’s not feeling hot. Instead the three gather around him watching cartoons and various shows together as the time passes.

Reggie has to head out first as the sun slowly sets. He can’t stay more than one night in a row unless it’s for school, and with the break he can’t use that excuse, and Bobby’s parents end up calling him back to the house to have dinner and a family night. Telling him to take a break from his music for now. Luke shifts scrounging around for what to make him and Alex for dinner settling for just some regular ramen noodles.

“Lex.” He says softly when they're ready nudging the other a bit. Alex stirs and coughs roughly into his arm and Luke winces sympathetically. “Come on, you can drink the broth if you want but you’ve got to drink some soup and have some water.” He encouraged. “What are our symptoms looking like Chief?” He teased softly but this isn’t a depression or anxiety induced nap Alex is having, he knows the difference and this is definitely Sick Alex .

“Cough, headache.” Alex said roughly, and Luke adds sore throat to that list realizing that this was the first time he’d heard Alex talk today. “Exhaustion? Nothing serious “ He confirmed firmly to the other.

“Drink your soup, have some water.” Luke encouraged. “And then you can go back to sleep. Probably just need to sleep it off.” He teases taking a moment to really clean up after himself and head up to their shared bed to get things ready for Alex. He grabs some clothes and sets a water bottle by their bed making sure everything he needs is up there for him. Heading back down to check on the others progress. “Good! Better.” He encouraged, glad to see the other taking in fluids, it was probably the drop in temperature. Alex was always getting winter colds every year so Luke wasn’t too worried. Alex finishes off the water and most of the soup, and Luke makes sure he gets into bed. Once he was settled he heads down to finish up some of the music he’d been working on, and some of the ideas for venues.

“Here.” Bobby says softly, it’s pretty late and he’s wearing pajamas. He’s holding some half usedNyQuil and DayQuil and Luke thanks him probably about ten times. “My mom also got some chicken noodle soup and stuff. I can heat it up tomorrow.” He yawns.

“Thank you man, yeah that’ll be great. I’m sure a day or two and he’ll be just fine. He always gets these little colds in the winter.” He shrugs. “Goodnight man thank you.” He feels better having medicines in hand, and decides to head to bed for the night. He shuts everything down and locks up heading up to their bed and crashes.

He wakes up because someone turned the heater on way too high, his sweaty and uncomfortable and he groans pushing himself free of some blankets. Only he realizes that moment they don’t have a heater and jolts, only dim street lights coming in lighting their room as he scrambled to touch Alex. He’s burning. Soft raspy sounds from his lips as he breaths and his skin his pale and yet somehow flushed all at once. “Damn.” He swears grabbing the bottle of medicine Bobby gave him and reads the back before opening it up. He’s got to get the fever down, he doesn’t know much about medicine but he knows it’s not safe. Alex whines softly as Luke jostles him but he doesn’t do much else and Luke’s careful sitting him up against his chest.

By some miracle he gets the medicine, and a few sips of water down before letting the other lay back down. Pulling some of the layers off the other. He wished he’d had something to monitor it, know when it reaches the point of getting help. Regardless of the situation at home or not at home. Luke would never put anyone in danger, and sometimes that means making a call on if it’s best to go to the hospital or let it sort itself out. There’s no way he’s going back to sleep, but he’s not about to leave Alex alone so he quickly moves to grab some of his things before sliding back in bed next to him.

He’s not equip to deal with this, he’s sixteen years old, he doesn’t know what to look out for. What’s dangerous-what’s to much or when it’s safe. It’s these moments that make him angry. That positive attitude fades-Alex should be home. In his warm bed with his Mom checking on him constantly and taking care of him. Calling him out from school sick and taking him to his doctor if needed. He shouldn’t be shivering, moaning from a fever and coughing so hard it shakes the bed in some cold garage converted to a studio.

Alex only gets worse and Luke’s heart sinks. All their hopes and plans for this amazing Christmas, better than ever. The best they’ve ever seen-he’s not sure that’s going to happen. If they have to take him to a hospital or doctor it’s going to quickly turn into so much more. Luke won’t be able to go with him, the police will be brought in. He’s only a minor-

“Jesus” He jumped not even having realized Bobby had come in. Making his way up to them likely when he heard everything. “Luke that sounds bad.”

“I know.” Luke protested, gently wiping away some of the sweat from Alex’s hair. “I know it is-I dont know what to do.” His voice cracks a little and he’s not ashamed.

“He might need a doctor.” Bobby checks the labels of the medicine before coming around to check on Alex. “I don’t even know….Have you tried to give him his inhaler? It might help the cough.” Luke’s surprised he hadn’t thought of that, beating himself up mentally as he digs through Alex’s bag. Giving him a few hits that definitely helped some of that raspiness. But only slightly-the main irritation. Likely mucus-was still very much there.

“We can’t.” Luke whispered. “Not unless we know for sure it’s an emergency….if we take him they’ll take both of us away…..” He mumbled softly rubbing Alex’s back as he moans pitifully coughing into the pillow. “He’s a minor, and he got kicked out so if his parents don’t come for him they’ll put him in the system we know that…” He whispered, and Bobby frowns looking at Alex. Luke grabs the wash cloth again gently getting it wet with the bowl of water he'd grab and wringing it out to wipe away the sweat from Alex’s face. He’d seen it in a movie once and it seemed to help.

“Let me see what we’ve got in the house…..” Bobby said softly, moving to climb down and head inside the house. Alex makes a noise, and Luke frowns turning to him fully the heat radiating off of him is unsettling.

“It’s going to be okay….” Luke whispered softly, his eyes burn and he pushed it aside it’s not about his feelings right now. He shifts carefully grabbing some of the water and pulling Alex up against him so he could encourage the other to drink some more water. He gets the other to thankfully drink some before Alex coughs, choking on some of the water and coughing roughly. Luke sets the bottle aside, rubbing over his chest a bit to try and get him to take a breath and realizes when he does those blue eyes are open. Looking at Luke-there a little glassy. Luke can tell he’s still out of it. “Lex….hey. Hey you okay?” He whispered, running his hands through the blonde hair and shifting to lay him out again.

“I-No.” He fumbled out weakly and he’s crying and Luke feels his own tears burn his eyes again. He doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t know how to help. There’s noises to the side and Bobby is back with a bag.

“I raided our medicine cabinet, fridge-pantry. You name it.” He said pulling some stuff out. “Oh hey-Hey Alex.” He said softly leaving it for the moment as he came over to check on the other.

Alex squeezes Luke’s hand coughing as he curls a bit it’s impossible to miss those tears. Bobby frowns, grabbing some of the medicines and between the two of them they get Alex to take them, and get some more water down before he’s out. “I know it feels and looks bad….but I’m sure in a day or two he’ll be just fine…” Bobby reassured feeling a lot better once he saw Alex awake even for a mokejtS “I called my Mom at work and let her know I needed some stuff, she said she’d go to the store on her way home.”

Luke has never been more thankful for Bobby and his family ever before, between the two of them they keep Alex hydrated, and the medicine seems to finally start to bring the fever down. He still wasn’t sure aware or awake-but they managed. Reggie shows up mid afternoon with an overnight bag and a bag full of snacks, the four of them hanging out upstairs around Alex keeping a close eye on him as they talked about shows and movies they’d been watching and just music. As always- Luke feels a little more at ease having the guys around and Bobby leaves for a moment when his mom gets home to grab the medicines from her, she doesn’t question a thing already back on the phone for work.

Between the three of them now, they are on top of making sure he gets medicine every couple hours, that he’s drinking plenty of water, that he’s getting some small sips of broth. He’s still coughing pretty heavily-but with the fever gone Luke feels like it’s going to be okay.

Alex is more aware and around the second day, it’s easier to get water, and food into him despite the fact he weakly protests he’s not hungry. He still does it, to ease the lines of worry from the others' faces, he still takes the regular does of medicine but he’s awake for longer periods of time, and by the third day he’s only got a lingering cough. The fevers gone, and the body aches. Bobby sneaks him in while his Moms at work to shower up and get fresh clothes on. Taking the sheets and comforters from the bed to wash. Bringing out fresh new ones for them for the night.

With Alex doing better, and it being Christmas Eve and all-Bobby leaves early and has to spend most of the day with his family. Reggie reluctantly leaves as well knowing he can’t miss the holidays with them completely. They’ll be back-the 26th is what Luke officially declares their Christmas but tomorrow it’ll just be him and Alex. Which is fine, the blonde needs more rest and it’s hard with all the guys around.

Luke wakes up early Christmas morning-but the bed is empty. It smells like pancakes- and He’s up and down the loft to see two small paper plates and Owen looking a hundred times better, smiling at the other. He’s got a mug of what looks like tea. “Merry Christmas.” Alex says happily. “Bobby brought these-I just microwaved them to melt the butter and warm the syrup.” He joked, coughing lightly into his hand and Luke frowns.

“Did you-“

“Yes I took my medicine.” Alex rolled his eyes. “Eat your breakfast-and open your gift.” He grabbed a box, bright green metallic wrapping paper on it and he slides it over.

“Alex-“ He protested the food forgotten. “I thought we were doing gifts tomorrow.” He joked.

“This is different-it’s not much. Obviously but….I wanted you to have something Christmas Day….” He said softly. “I got it for you last month-before everything….” Luke pulls the paper away it’s a small box with a white lid and he tugs it off. It’s a stone necklace, it matches his other one but this ones lighter, and slimmer and he tugs it out slowly.

“Alex...I love it…” He pulls it over his head playing with it for a moment before smiling at the other. “I don’t have anything-“

“Eat your pancakes.” Alex laughs pushing the plate over to him. “I’m glad you like it Luke….” He said happily, the fact the other liked it so much, that he seemed so happy with it- that was more than enough for him. “You were right…” The other tilted his head as he shoved a bite full of pancakes into his mouth. “It is the best Christmas ever.” Luke smiles so wide around the mouthful of food and Alex sticks his tongue out at him laughing filling the small studio.

#Alex Mercer #reggie peters #bobby wilson #luke patterson #julie and the phantoms #jatp

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shikai-the-storyteller · 5 years ago

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Homestretch....the final Cyberverse episodes... :’(

Season 3: Episodes 21 - 26

Episode 21

Ok so before we start, I gotta fess up and say I got spoiled for something because Twitter Sucks, so I know Tarn is in this series. Here are my predictions about that:

Megatron said he rescued Astrotrain from a tyrant. I thought he meant an Alt!Universe version of him, but now that I know This Bastard is gonna be in it, I’m guessing it’s Tarn

If Megatron DID save Astrotrain from Tarn, it’d be hilarious if Tarn & co. weren’t actually planning to kill Astrotrain, they were just using him as transport, in which case Megatron essentially car-jacked (train-jacked?) them.

As much as I rag on Tarn and the DJD I actually do genuinely love the idea of an Autobot + Decepticon teamup against the DJD THAT WOULD BE SO FRICKIN COOL....

Anyways, on to the episode!

Pics taken 10 seconds before disaster, rip Cosmos.

MEDIA BOT and Cosmos! :D GOSH COSMOS REALLY IS CONFIRMED FOR BABY THAT”S ADORABLE.....I’m so glad he’s finally back in a cartoon

OH WHOOPS I FORGOT WINDBLADE WAS FRICKIN DEAD (ish)

LUNA 3???

The “FORBIDDEN” moon?

Chromia: You can go there anyways! Bee: Huh? Chromia: When have the rules ever stopped you before? Bee: Fair point

BRO WHY DO YOU HAVE A TOY OF SQUIDSCREAM

aw I love all those photos of him and cosmos, that’s cute

Oh no did he quit the business because he lost Cosmos???

METEOR-FIRE what a cool name

I like this dude a lot

I love that he’s obviously depressed about losing his partner but immediately gets convinced to go break into Luna 3 lmao

HE’S GOT CUTE CAMERAS WITH HIM I love that

LMAO I was gonna say “Wow you just flip the switches alright” THEN HE JUST RIPS THE CORDS OUT I love this guy

Hmm suspicious

Aw I love the space-shots of Cybertron, what a gorgeous planet....

Oh hello cannon-fodder #418

SHOCKWAVE SHOCKWAVE SHOCKWAVE!!!!!

IT”S THE GRUDGE LMAO

It’s probably a sim that shows you the scariest thing you can think of

BLURR!!! AW THAT’S SO SAD

Ok I take it back, it’s probably like MTMTE’s “Cyberutopia” thing where it reads your memory files

Watch the cameras Bee!!!

“Bee, I don’t mean to alarm you, but the alien presence has taken over my circuits” *HEAD DOES A 180* GOSH I LOVE THIS FRICKIN SHOW

The facial expressions in this show are SO FUN Bee’s so expressive I love that

I like that Meteor-Fire is so chill about this, this ain’t his first rodeo

He just snaps his neck back into place that’s so freaky and they play it off so well lol

PRETTY SPACE BALL???? PRETTY SPACE BALL!!! HEY HASBRO CAN YOU MAKE A TOY OF THIS I WANT IT!!!!!!

Gosh I’d legit buy a gem like this if it had constellations engraved on it THAT’S SO PRETTY I LOVE IT

It’s a good thing that Bee’s got Meteor-Fire with him, this is his field!!!

Oh lmao JUST KIDDING I GUESS

Well so much for the alien, rest in pieces

I think Saling already said this in their liveblog but I love that Bee’s collecting Windblade’s parts a-la-Megaman X2 style

COSMOS!!!!!! Yay I’m so glad they got him back!!!

Meteor-Fire: Look everybody, Cosmos is back!!! :D ME TOO BUD I’m so excited to see my space-baby

RODDY AND ARCEE!!!! I love that Percy took over for Maccadam, but that’s also so sad!!! ALSO WHY HAS HE NOT FIXED HIS EYES, RATCHET PLEASE HELP THIS POOR GUY

Episode 22

OHH PRETTY PLANET

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The background designers on this show are great

Rodimus: That place has nothing but bad memories for me Every Drift fan simultaneously: Mood....

I really don’t think they’ll bring Drift back (unless he’s like, a zombie, which would still suck) so that’s a bummer

Rodimus: *Talking about his trauma* Me, very distracted: Wow Bee looks really cute here

SERIOUSLY THOUGH THEY NEED RUNG IN THIS SERIES They need a therapist in every Transformers series, all these bots need therapy (though tbf they tried to give Starscream therapy and that sure didn’t help, pft)

GRIMLOCK MAYBE DON’T--oh ok too late WELL THERE THEY GO

Repugnis?? I don’t remember who that is

A CITY?????? PRETTY

INSECTICON

lmao the frickin voice actor for that grey dude cracked me up

BEE MAYBE DON’T IMMEDIATELY TRUST THEM

Energon masters???? What

Interesting that they used “She” for Grimlock

Affluence??

Oh great these guys are the Cybertronian bourgeoisie

Oh boy they’re just wasting energon huh

THE SHOCKS????

That’s a pretty bubble but JEEZ

OH NO WHY CAN”T HE TRANSFORM??

WAIT WHERE”S THE AUDIO oh wait no OP did mention there was an audio dropout

Is Grimlock gonna make friends with the bugs!!!

OH RIGHT the bug is Repugnis

Aw the bugs are way nicer than the bourgeoisie, surprising absolutely no one

HELL YEAH, EAT THE RICH GRIMLOCK

“If we let you go, things will change! We like things the way they are” jeez

I wonder how the Shocks came about

It frickin figures

PRISON BREAK BEE!!!!

EAT HIM GRIMLOCK!!!

“Well this is quite astonishing” cute....

YEAH I WAS WONDERING IF THEY HAD THE SAME ALT MODE they looked like they had bug-bits, I didn’t realize that thing was keeping them from transforming though

Episode 23

Oh right Megatron has a Matrix of Leadership I FORGOT ABOUT THAT

I ALSO FORGOT WHIRL WAS IN THIS SERIES, MY BABY.....

JETFIRE WATCH OUT YOU BIG NERD

“Rack ‘n Ruin and Ratchet” OH IS THIS GONNA BE A RATCHET EPISODE??? PLEASE?????? PLEASE SAY RATCHET EPISODE

Aw poor Rack n Ruin...

RATCHET BABY BOY!!! I forgot he was a New Yorker in this series lmao

“I LOVE Jetfire!” “I know, me too!” CUTE....

I love that every continuity has Ratchet stuck with someone who annoys him in a ship

I love that Ratchet’s not even concerned

RATCHET’S DESIGN IN CYBERVERSE IS SO CUTE...

Wait UNSPACE???? Isn’t that where they sent a bunch of bad people????

Different Quantum Frequencies??? Dimensionally aligned??? MAN I LOVE THIS GOOFY SHOW

“It’s a blue-purple” CUTE....

UH OH HERE COMES ASTROTRAIN throwing dead-end??

I love that Astrotrain is so HUGE compared to everyone else, thank you Cyberverse for my life

“Every time..” LMAO GOSH THIS SHOW IS LITERALLY THE BEST someone please make a gif of that. I love that this implies that every time someone rides in Astrotrain they get ejected at 100 mph and skid 50 ft face-first, that’s such a delightful mental image. I think this 5 second scene is legitimately one of my favorite goofs / scenes in this show IT’S JUST THAT GOOD

You can tell I really enjoyed something when I make a meme of it

IT”S ILLEGAL TO BE THIS CUTE!!!!!!!!

OK IT’S LEGITIMATELY A LITTLE FRIGHTENING TO SEE HOW HUGE ASTROTRAIN IS WHEN IN ATTACK-MODE, HE SO EASILY PICKED THEM UP but that’s why it’s cool for him to be SO much bigger than they are, I LOVE BIG CYBERTRONIANS

LMAO I LOVE ASTROTRAIN he’s such a turd to DeadEnd

“Time to pay Ratchet a house-call. ‘Cuz he’s a doctor!” I almost snorted my drink up my nose, I LOVE THE DORKY HUMOR IN THIS SHOW

I swear this series was made with me in mind

TWO HEADS, NO BRAINCELLS

You wonder if Shadow Striker and Soundwave ever just rock-paper-scissor to see who has to deal with the latest Autobot bs that day

“And we don’t” OH SHOOT THEY’RE BEING LEFT OUT OF THE DECEPTICON’S PLANS TOO...This is more dire than I thought

Man I really do love Shadow Striker and Soundwave, they’re the only competent Decepticons

OH NO NOT RATCHET!!! NO!!!!!

Ohh so Astrotrain is still a triple changer in this series!! :O

WOW A SHOT TO THE HEAD REALLY DIDN”T DO ANYTHING HUH

REST IN PIECES DEADEND lmao he and Percy both have good survival stats it seems

NICE MOVES GRANDPA glad your hips still work lol

Oh good I’m glad they actually kept the purple thing

RIP Rack n Ruin

DEADEND YOU DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS

YEAHHHHH SHADOW STRIKER AND SOUNDWAVE!!!!!

“You’ve been told this area is off-limits” Oh shoot so Megatron really doesn’t trust them with this huh??? Must be some serious stuff they saw while universe-hopping

“Make us” SOUNDWAVE I WOULD DIE FOR YOU MY SASSY BOY

Love that he’s pissing off this dude who’s literally 4 times his height, love my son

Shadow Striker & Soundwave are Goth / Jock solidarity

Ratchet: Yeah yeah yeah I know Cuteeee

Wow they’re really not gonna help Shadow Striker and Soundwave????

THEY’RE LITERALLY JUST DOLL-SIZE IN HIS HANDS which is probably a not great reminder for Soundwave after that Dr. Tentacle Dude incident

Astrotrain: *bops their faces together* heehee Soundwave: BI Shadow Striker: >8(

JEEZ, BYE ASTROTRAIN

THE STYLE IS SO JARRING I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE UNSPACE AND HOW IT LOOKS (especially when contrasted with the regular drawing-style of the show. Really great artistic choice!)

Oh shoot so Astrotrain can just leave whenever huh

Aw what cute high fives, man this show has such good vibes

Episode 24

NOOOO ONLY THREE EPISODES LEFT.....

:(((((

WINDLBADE!!!! I hope she’ll be ok

DID it work?? Wait you guys still have two frickin shards left, YOU”RE SO BAD AT THIS

A SHARK????? WTF

HE JUST PICKED HER UP AND DIPPED WTF WHO IS THAT

It’s not Skybyte obviously but he’s a shark too so WHO IS THAT

OHH IS THAT THE HALL OF RECORDS????

Wait wtf the Decepticons are attacking?? Oh wait RACK N RUIN DID YOU REALLY TELL THEM THAT

OH NO HE FROZE

WHOA WHAT”S HAPPENING

WHAT OPTIMUS NO

WHAT”S HAPPENING!!!!! WTF

I WAS GONNA MAKE A BSOD JOKE BUT I TAKE IT ALL BACK OPTIMUS PLEASE BE OK YOU CAN’T DIE IN THIS SERIES

Is this referencing the other time when he glitched oh no....I knew that’d come back to bite us

In other news, I love that we’re learning more about the life and (cyber)biology of Cybertron, I’m so glad we got to have pretty much almost the entire series set on Cybertron

I MEAN JUST LOOK AT THAT!!! THAT’S SO COOL!!! This is the stuff I want to see in Transformers shows!!!

Hasbro could literally make a nature documentary set on Cybertron and I’d be ecstatic. Gimme more details about their world and architecture and city stuff

“Fellow Primes, why have I been summoned?” Oh shoot so the other past primes can just jack OP’s consciousness whenever??? That frickin sucks. I do love the Atlantis vibes I’m ge HOLY FRICK IS THAT MAC

AHHHHHHHH MACCADAM!!!!!!!!!!! GRANDPA!!!!!!! PLEASE GIVE OPTIMUS DAD ADVICE!!!!!! IM SO GLAD WE GET TO SEE HIM AGAIN

Chromia: Bee are you crazy?? Bee: YES! *jumps off the ship*

I love that this weird storm cloud area is basically like an ocean, that’s so cool

OH NO BEE!!!!!!!

Jeez that startled me, the shark sounds just like Bee

“Well you’re doing a scrap job” lmao Chromia please

Oh it’s the Argon Sea, it IS an ocean pft

“An ancient evil” hooo boy

BEE he’s so cute. Wait don’t just jump down a random hole AT LEAST WAIT FOR CHROMIA

CREEPY TENTACLE STUFF AGAIN, JEEZ CYBERVERSE

KICK HIS BUTT CHROMIA

Aw man, not you too Bee

MISTRESS OF FLAME!!!! I get so excited about every IDW reference haha, I love Caminus and I love that they’re letting that still exist

JEEZ THAT”S NOT CREEPY AT ALL

Is this a Titan???? IT IS A TITAN

It’s like a Cthulu titan huh

Chromia: That is THE creepiest thing I’ve ever heard THANK YOU CHROMIA, SAME THOUGHT

Chromia’s just like “This doesn’t even come close to my Top 10 list of BS I’ve had to deal with lately”

More weird smoke, oh great

JEEZ THAT’S A FREAKY TITAN

Me, crying softly: GAY RIGHTS....(and Bee). MAN THE FRIENSHIPS IN THIS SHOW ARE SO GREAT :’)

ALCHEMIST PRIME!!!!!!!!! I FRICKIN KNEW YOU WERE A PRIME

“But this is not about me” I WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU THOUGH

Wait why is a part of Windblade in Megatron’s Matrix

WHY WOULD THEY ALSO BE IN THE OTHER MATRIX oh they mean alt-universe them

It’s frickin HYSTERICAL that every time Optimus has some ~deep spiritual~ conversation with the past Primes he’s just standing there frozen while the Autobots wait for him to unfreeze like he’s some kind of ancient computer doing updates. Like, that’s legitimately one of the funniest pieces of information canon’s given us so far, thank you for my life Cyberverse writers.

I wonder if Arcee and the other bots ever take selfies with him while he’s frozen like that THERE’S SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR COMEDY HERE

Optimus: *is frozen for a couple hours while talking to old Primes* Autobots: *put on PJs and unroll their sleeping bags so they can have a slumber party while waiting for him*

Heck now I’m just imagining them playing truth or dare or some similar game while waiting for Optimus to wake up.

I’m sure at some point during their voyage on the Ark, Optimus froze and they all played the “who can do this silly / embarrassing thing in front of Optimus and get away with it before he wakes up” game. Like, Rodimus somersaults down the hall while spouting fire in front of Optimus, Bee does a handstand while singing the alphabet backwards, etc, and whoever’s in front of Optimus when he “wakes up” loses. (It’d be even funnier if Optimus kept pretending to be frozen while they played until someone did something REALLY embarrassing and he unfroze to freak them out. Then again, the Matrix going back into his chest would probably be too much of a giveaway huh)

OH NO I WAS SO CAUGHT UP IN THE EUPHORIA OF THIS IDEA I FORGOT THERE’S ONLY TOO EPISODES LEFT NOW....

Episode 25

I love Astrotrain’s design (both in bot-mode and his alt mode) because he just looks like a grumpy evil train and that makes me so happy.

Also RAIN!!! I love rain and this looks so pretty

LMAO ASTROTRAIN YOU’RE SUCH A TURD I had no opinion of him before this show but now I frickin love him

HE PULLED THE CHAIR OUT FROM UNDER HIM

“I HAVE HIS MATRIX” OH NO DID HE STEAL THIS FROM SHATTERED GLASS’ OPTIMUS OH FRICK

Megatron running like that while holding the Matrix in his hands reminds me so vividly of a younger sibling stealing their older sibling’s diary and fleeing at top-speed from said older sibling and that’s hilarious to me. Megatron is so petty

Dang, so that’s how his eye got messed up. Ngl it’s a good look

CYBER COWS!!!!

Wow that wall is so WEAK the Decepticons are so dumb lmao

Oh yeah they have a new furry on their team

Rodimus: Math isn’t my strong-suit.

Arcee: Especially me! Arcee you are ADORABLE

OH SHOOT MEGATRON CAN TALK TO THE PAST PRIMES TOO...DANG

WINDBLADE!!! MAKE WINDBLADE A PRIME YOU COWARDS

Ok I know I said “Shattered-Glass Optimus” earlier but based on that spoiler some moron on Twitter posted, IT’S PROBABLY TARN...man I wish I hadn’t seen that spoiler but despite that IM STILL EXCITED

Makes you wonder how TARN got the Matrix though (not that I can’t guess 8( )

Oh my gosh I just realized we have the potential to see Windblade kick Tarn’s butt in this series. Cyberverse PLEASE, I’D LOVE TO SEE THAT

Ah so Astrotrain is the new scientist

Ur bugs are probably dead dude

LASERBEAK!!!!

RAVAGE??? Oh no that’s the furry dude MAN I GET SO EXCITED EVERY TIME, I KEEP FORGETTING

As much as I Die for loyal Soundwave, it’s really cool seeing him being his own character and acting on his own in this series and trusting his own judgement / surveillance! It’s so good. Soundwave you’re so smart (and I love that he loves Laserbeak :’) )

*SOBBING* CASE IN POINT...HE PET THE BABY..

OHOHO IT”S *THE* INSECTICONS

Oh shoot the Insecticons are deserting

“No one can stop him. Not even you” dang son

“He doesn’t want us. He wants you” OH BOY

MY BABY WHIRL!!!! THAT’S MY BOY

SEEKERS!!! I forgot we still had a few who Starscream didn’t frickin kill

NICE JUMP-ATTACK OPTIMUS I love that he cuts the dude’s weapon in half meanwhile Grimlock just frickin eats the guy lmao. So much for Optimus’ mercy

FRICK FRICK FRICK IT IS TARN

OK TARN OBJECTIVELY SUCKS BUT AT THE SAME TIME I ACTUALLY DO LOVE HIM BECAUSE HOLY FRICK IS HE A DANGEROUS CHARACTER AND THERE’S SO MUCH TO PLAY WITH THERE, I CANT WAIT TO SEE HIM AND HOW THEY USE HIM FOR THE STORY AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dead End: Yeah, I see your point Lmao I love this guy

Everyone’s gonna frickin die in this series

OH NO WHIRL oh wait yeah he and Dead End know each other, Whirl’s fine

SOUNDWAVE CAN YOU AND SHADOW STRIKER CHILL FOR 2 SECONDS

I love Skybyte’s voice

WOW MEGATRON, YOU”RE ONLY PROTECTING HALF THE PLANET, JEEZ

OH SHOOT

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh so that’s why they had a wall, Megatron you turd

WHIRL NO!!!!!!! oh he’s fine thank goodness

Did Megatron get taller??? He looks taller than Optimus now

Just use Optimus’ matrix you big baby

“It’s time I called in that debt you owe me. Now it’s time for you to save me” I LEGITIMATELY SHRIEKED OUT LOUD, AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

THERE HE IS, THERE HE IS THERE HE IS!!!!!!!

SCREW PAST ME’S OPINION, TARN IS FRICKIN COOL AS HELL

OH SHOOT THERE’S A TON OF HIM WTF

WHERE’S THAT FRICKIN “THERE IT IS, THERE IT IS, THERE!!! IT!!! IS!!!” MEME BECAUSE THAT’S BEEN ME THIS ENTIRE EPISODE HOLY HECK

Episode 26

MORE PRIME NAMES!!! A) that’s very pretty B) LEGIT THOUGH IF WINDBLADE’S THE ONE WHO KICKS TARN’S BUTT I’LL GO APE

OH FRICK IF OPTIMUS IS THERE THEN TARN REALLY DID KILL HIM or it means he beefed it in that universe, as he usually does

“I wish I’d gotten to know you better” 8((((((

What happened to Alt!Universe Optimus!!!!!!! How did you die!!!

Windblade: Optimus, you’re speaking in riddles... Optimus: I always do, it comes with the job of Prime. Windblade: Oh right

“A perfect Decepticon race” HOO BOYZY.....

“All because I spared your life” MAN THAT HURTS

At least they aren’t attacking them right now?

HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY RESOLVE THIS SERIES IN 10 MINUTES

ASTROTRAIN YOU COWARD not that I blame him, every bot for themself I guess

OH NO THE HURT PUPPY WHINE MAKES ME SO SAD

HELL YEAH SOUNDWAVE SAVE MY BABY BEE

I TAKE IT BACK TARN IS CANCELED, HE HIT SOUNDWAVE

*AND* HE GRABBED CHROMIA, YOU”RE CANCELED, ALL THESE CLONES ARE CANCELED

SOUNDWAVE IS THE ONLY VALID DECEPTICON

Optimus: Can’t keep-- Megatron: WE MUST! Me: *SOBS*

OPTIMUS AND MEGATRON BACK-TO-BACK FIGHTING AHHHHHHHHHH, IT”S THE LITTLE-THINGS

Definitely not the right time for this joke but: AU where instead of saying “Powers of Cybertron, unite!” they say “GAY RIGHTS” to activate their Matrix powers

Frick what if they kill MEGATRON in this series

HECK YEAH EVERYONE’S GETTING AN UPGRADE

Megatron: We must join our Matrixes together! Optimus: Now REALLY isn’t the best time for a marriage proposal Megatron: What Optimus: What

Thank you for telling Optimus to get down for once instead of just blasting him AND the Tarn-copies, Megatron

OH FRICK IT IS ALT-UNIVERSE MEGATRON NOT TARN WHO’S THE BIG BAD

I LEGIT STOPPED BREATHING DURING THIS ENTIRE SEQUENCE AHHHH

THIS IS INFINITELY BETTER (AND WORSE) THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

THAT MEANS ALT!UNIVERSE MEGATRON DID KILL OPTIMUS...MEANWHILE OUR UNIVERSE’S MEGATRON SPARED OPTIMUS...MAN THAT HURTS ME SO BAD

MEGATRON NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OPTIMUS SAVE HIM SAVE HIM PLEASE SOMEHOW SAVE HIM!!!!!

OPTIMUS LITERALLY FRICKIN RAN ACROSS THE ROOM TO CATCH HIM, MY HEART CAN’T TAKE THIS DRAMA

NO!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CAN”T DO THIS TO ME CYBERVERSE

“Prime...one shall stand...one shall....” THIS IS THE SADDEST FRICKIN THING THAT”S HAPPENED IM LEGIT GONNA CRY, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Hold on...my friend...” IM GONNA BAWL MY EYES OUT OPTIMUS

I legit had to take a moment to get up and do a lap around my room while processing what happened LIKE OK I KNOW THEY PROBABLY (???) WON’T PERMA-KILL MEGATRON BUT FRICK DUDE THAT WAS SO EMOTIONAL

MEGAOP RIGHTS....BUT AT WHAT COST

What’s fricking me up rn (granted, several things are fricking me up right now) is that this universe’s Megatron knew he could’ve achieved his goals if he’d just killed Optimus. He said so himself; he could’ve had it all but he failed “all because I spared your [Optimus’] life”. Whatever he saw in that other universe convinced him that killing Optimus just wasn’t worth it (or perhaps, deep deep DEEP down, he really doesn’t want to kill his old friend).

I’m rewatching that last minute and this feels like a frickin fanfiction. I’m Living but also Dying

I KNOW THIS IS A VERY TENSE SCENE BUT MEGATRON’S “I won’t pay for anything!” MADE ME LAUGH

SOUNDWAVE STANDING BETWEEN SHADOW-STRIKER AND MEGATRON!!!!!!!!! STANDING UP TO MEGATRON!!!! SOBS I LOVE SOUNDWAVE SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT ALSO PLEASE BE CAREFUL MY SWEET BOY!!!!! IF YOU GET HURT ILL NEVER BE OVER IT

Two reasons he could’ve done that: to keep Shadow Striker from getting super pissed off and lashing out at this enemy who’s way above their level, or because the “jacked up Frankenstein experiment” thing is a sore subject for her and Soundwave recognizes that (and frankly I’m leaning toward option B because SOBS....I LOVE THEIR FRIENDSHIP)

GOTH FRIENDS!!!

OH OK THANK GOODNESS, MEGATRON ISN’T DEAD DEAD YET

Dang so Megatron did kill Optimus

OH NO WE’RE GETTING A FLASHBACK

FRICK THAT”S SO GRUESOME, HE JUST RIPPED OPTIMUS’ CHEST OPEN

YOU ALREADY KNOW THE MOST PERFECT DECEPTICON, HIS NAME IS SOUNDWAVE!!! YOU JUST DON’T APPRECIATE HIM YOU BIG BULLY

Oh shoot so the Quints came to that world too

DANG HE JUST WRECKED THEIR SHIP HUH....

I’m loving this throwback to the IDW design

WOW Y’ALL JUST IMMEDIATELY WENT “SURE WE’RE ONBOARD” (I mean, good way to stay alive but C’MON GUYS....)

“I have no need for any of you” WHOOPS SO MUCH FOR THAT should’ve seen that coming

THIS SUCKS SO BAD

NONONONO!!!! MEGATRON!!!!

HECK NOW HE HAS THE MATRIX

wow you guys really just let Megatron fall to the floor COME ON OPTIMUS WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR SMOOTH MOVES

NICE ONE BEE!!!!!!

YEAH WERE ARE ARCEE AND HOT ROD

FRICK YEAH WHIRL, MESS HIM UP!!!!!!!!!

YEAH SHADOW STRIKER!!!!!!

RATCHET PUNCHING TARN HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

FRICK HE CAN JUST MATERIALIZE LIKE THAT TOO

WELL THAT DIDN’T LAST LONG

BEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“And now you will pay the price...for being a hero” DANG THAT”S A COOL LINE BUT DON’T HURT MY BOY

FRICK HIM UP OPTIMUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WINDBLADE NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO SAVE EVERYONE

YEAHHHH WINDBLADE!!!!!!!

Yeah don’t turn your back on the body please

YO Astrotrain came back

ASTROTRAIN THAT SOUNDS SO CREEPY AND ALSO THAT’S SUCH A BAD IDEA, JUST KILL HIM

I know this is a kid’s show but PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE HE WON’T POP BACK UP IN A FEW YEARS WITH ANOTHER ARMY

IM GLAD WINDBLADE IS BACK AND IM LOVING THE HUG BUT DID MEGATRON LEGIT FRICKIN DIE????

WHAT!!! WHAT THAT CAN’T BE IT!?!?!? HOW COULD YOU END IT LIKE THAT NO!!!!!!! THAT WAS SO ABRUPT nO!!!!!!!!!!

The last few episodes were such an adrenaline rush I CAN”T BELIEVE WE CAME DOWN FROM THAT HIGH SO QUICKLY....IS MEGATRON ALIVE??? KICKSTARTER TO FUND ONE MORE EPISODE???? SPARE ANOTHER EPISODE FOR A POOR FAN???

MAN I wish we could’ve stayed in the universe of this show for a little longer but dang!!! That was really really good!!! I’m so grateful we got to have such a wonderful series like Cyberverse! :’) Thank you to everyone who worked on this incredible show!!!

Man now I gotta wait for WfC for new Transformers content....at least I can look through the tag w/out getting spoiled now

A few more thoughts now that I’ve re-read my liveblog:

If Megatron could hop into the Matrix of Leadership he possessed, I wonder if he ever had a chance to talk to that universe’s Optimus Prime... :( based on what he said, probably not, but that makes me so sad!!!! Did they ever get the chance to work things out!!! IS MEGATRON ALIVE OR NOT.....

#i talk #I'm watching Cyberverse #Primordial Robot Hell #Cyberverse spoiler /#I feel like I got a shot of adrenaline right to my heart

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shadowofthelamp · 5 years ago

Text

Fandom Trades: Tips and Tricks

I’ve been running a secret santa for five years now, and a few people expressed interest in a sort of ‘guide’. It does take some elbow grease to get things up and running, but it’s very rewarding and gets easier as you go. Click the ‘read more’ for some stuff I’ve picked up over the years! It’s a bit general to try and cover anything, but if you have any questions, you can ask! (And if you’ve run one yourself, feel free to add on!)

FAQ: Something that’s a really good idea to have. Here’s the most important stuff on it that would probably be applicable to most trades:

-Basic summary of what the trade will be- some could be fic-only or art-only, or even specific-ship-only. Mine’s general to ‘all sonic sfw content’, but setting guidelines so people know what they’re getting into is a good idea so you won’t have to answer the same question over and over.

-Deadlines. Make them clear. Mine’s easy (Christmas Eve) but depending on what size the gift is expected to be, the time frame can be adjusted.

-Related, set up rules for if people need to drop out. It happens, so be prepared. (This is why I ask now if people are alright giving a second gift.)

-Any particular rules for your trade- is it sfw or is nsfw acceptable? (In that case, set age limits.) Are there ships that will or won’t be allowed? Is there a punishment for violating the rules or turning things in late, like not being allowed to participate in the trade again?

PROMOTION:

A promo image is a good idea! I’ve been using the same one for a few years that was put together by a friend no longer on tumblr, but images catch people’s eyes faster than a text dump. Make something that’s easy to understand but gets the point across, and the text below should have enough information without overwhelming the casual scroller.

Space paragraphs often to make it less intimidating. Include links to the FAQ, the sample entry, and the submit box right in the post, as well as a way to contact you- you want things to be as easy as possible for anyone interested. Here’s my promo post.

You also want to start promotion early- I start posting and reblogging my promo a full month before the entry deadline, to give as many people the chance to see it as possible. Any earlier, and they might not care- (who wants to see a Christmas trade post in October when you’re hyped for Halloween?) and any later and you might not get as many participants as you could have. A month-ish is a good time frame. (I also have a tag for the promo post, so people can blacklist it if they aren’t interested and don’t want to see it 15 times.)

SAMPLE ENTRIES:

Also something that’s good to have. Having a template for what you want entries to look like will make sorting easier for you. Here’s mine. It’s a good idea to scout around for other trades to find out what would work for you.

MAKING ASSIGNMENTS:

Next, setting up how to arrange who gets assigned to who. I personally use google spreadsheets. These are the categories I use, feel free to steal them: Username, medium (art, writing, amvs, ect), whether they’ll work with fan characters, what they’d like to receive, what they won’t do (one year I even added ‘if there’s anyone you won’t work with’ so if it’s a fandom with drama, that one might be good), who they’re gifting to, who they’re receiving from, if they’ve submitted their piece yet, if their piece is in the queue, and if they’re alright with doing backup.

I also had a category for if they’ve confirmed they’re still in once assignments were sent out. (Boy, was that one nerve-wracking during the whole tumblr purge debacle of last year- I didn’t know if anybody had just quit tumblr mid-month.)

You will run into people who only want two or three things nobody else wrote on their sheet. If you can’t find even one match, then just put them with someone who had a wide variety on theirs, or who doesn’t have anything on their ‘won’t do’ list. Trying to match with multiple likes is a better bet, though, so encouraging longer lists of what people want makes things easier for you in the long run!

I personally just went in a line- I picked one person, found who they would give a gift to, and then found who THAT person would give a gift to. Rinse and repeat down the list, and it’ll end with everyone paired. I ended up making a closed loop and then sorting the last 8 or so, which was fine. An easy way to check that you didn’t double-classify anyone is control-f and searching names. If their name pops up 3 times, you did it right.

SENDING OUT ASSIGNMENTS:

Just copy-pasting the part of the entry that includes the person’s name and their likes makes this way easier for you over trying to type them out individually. Ask for confirmation that people got their assignments so you don’t have to worry if they missed it.

HOW TO KEEP THINGS ORGANIZED:

My system is this: I’ve mentioned it before, but I utilize a combination of my spreadsheet and the queue function. Let’s say Sally’s making a gift for Jake, Jake’s making a gift for Taylor, and Taylor’s making a gift for Sally. Sally submits her piece of art for Jake. I mark that off on the sheet, so when Taylor submits the gift for Sally, that gift will go in the queue to be posted whenever the deadline is up because she turned hers in already.

This keeps people motivated to complete their parts of the trade, since they won’t get their gifts until they do. If someone drops out, tell the person making the gift for them- if you’re lucky, they can rework what they have for the person that the drop-out was supposed to make something for, but if not, bring in someone who didn’t mind making a second gift. Person making the gift for the dropout can choose if they want to continue making it or not- if it’s mostly done and not a fan-character, they can just post it on their own blog unrelated to the trade.

It’s also a good idea to have a ‘hub’ where things are posted. If it’s a fic trade, ao3 has a function specifically for this, but I’ve found having things submitted directly to you makes it a million times easier to keep track of who’s finished their pieces, as well as keeping things ‘secret’ until the big day. (People have gotten confused or excited and posted early before.)

If people want to post elsewhere after it’s posted on the main hub, set your own rules- I say it’s fine as long as it links back to the blog and links the giftee, particularly if it involves fancharacters. You make your own judgement.

BE PATIENT:

This is one that’s very important. Some people don’t check the FAQ, and some people are going to be new, asking questions that you swear you’ve answered before or thought would be obvious. They generally just want to know, so take a deep breath. They don’t know they’re the fifth person to ask that question. Answer politely, or steer them towards the FAQ. (Running the same event year after year, you run into this a lot- they’re just new, be nice!)

Don’t start an event that you expect to have plenty of people participating if you aren’t prepared to hear the same questions a couple of times. Things might get a little annoying- take a step back for a few minutes, cool off, but try to remain professional. You signed up for this. For me, it’s always worth it to see how happy people are about their gifts, but know yourself and your limits- running a themed week where people post art at their own pace is less hassle, so you could try that if you don’t feel up to organizing a full trade!

If you can have a friend to bounce things off of, that can help too, but don’t use them as just a dumping ground. Tumblr allows multiple ‘mods’ on a blogs, so splitting work can make things easier, particularly if it’s your first run doing something like this. I had a friend who helped me the first few years before leaving tumblr. Be sure you trust the person, though! They’ll be able to edit posts and delete submissions, so if any drama happens, beware. (This never happened to me, but it doesn’t hurt to be careful.)

TAGGING:

Add tags to the submission box. I don’t know why this took me four years to think of, but it saved me a lot of time last year. If it’s a trade that covers an entire fandom and dozens of ships, you can add the shipping tags as they come in, but adding the ten or so most popular character tags helps a lot. If it’s going to involve potentially triggering content, common trigger tags are a good idea too. (A Halloween trade might need this, for example, or one that involves nsfw content.)

PEOPLE TURNING THINGS IN LAST MINUTE:

It’s going to happen. I think one year I was panicking on the 23rd because I only had half the gifts, and all but one had been turned in by the time I went to bed on the 24th. People procrastinate- if you get in most of the gifts ahead of time, you can thank your lucky stars. Try not to stress over it, but feel free to post reminders in the week before/days leading up to the deadline. My family travels around the holidays a lot, and I managed to get everything queued up properly through airport and hotel wifi more than one year, so you’ll be just fine if you try and stay calm.

OTHER/GENERAL:

It’s absolutely worth it, in my opinion- I’ve been doing this for years for a reason. My favorite thing is knowing I’ve done something that made others happy. Going through all the excited responses Christmas morning is equal or above getting presents from my family, because I know it’s on some level because of me facilitating the trade in the first place. I hear over and over this is something people look forward to, and it genuinely warms my heart.

It might take a few years to get established, but if you find a niche (there was a blog called sonic secret santa, but it hadn’t been updated in years) you might be surprised how fast you can gather people! I like seeing people show up year after year, it’s how I know I’m doing something right.

It is definitely work, and there is stress involved, (especially if people drop out or don’t send in their gifts on time) but the benefits outweigh the negatives, I say. People are generally understanding if there’s a problem, as long as you make it known you’re working on it.

You have to commit to the responsibility if you do this- people who are making gifts are putting their trust in you that you’ll keep things organized and they’ll get something for the gift they’re giving. You can’t guarantee everything will run exactly as planned, but you can be as transparent as possible when you hit a bump- ‘I’m sorry, but your person said they’ll be late because they were having internet problems/personal life issues and is doing their best’ is going to get a lot better of a response than radio silence. Be sympathetic, but be firm on the rules if need be.

I hope this helped a bit, and thanks for reading!

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screamingatanemptyroom · 6 years ago

Text

Superhero School Part 3

I finished this story for now!

Part 1 / Part 2 linked here.

Hope you enjoy!

“I’m bored.” Liam sighed dramatically as we searched the last of the missing student’s rooms.

“Well, I don’t see anything else to find here.” I was disappointed. The best clue we had found over the past few days of searching was the day planner from the first room. It was hard to avoid the feeling that we had just wasted time.

Time that they had spent planning their next move.

“Why don’t we try to team up with the ST high student council?” He suggested with a hopeful expression, scuffing the carpet with his foot as he stared idly around the room. “Not only are they probably more experienced with these kinds of issues, they could give us advice on making it into S.T!”

I couldn’t hold back a derisive snort. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Don’t you WANT to get back into ST high?!” Liam was stunned, but the biggest reaction I could muster was a bored shrug.

“Seriously?” He groaned, “Couldn’t you be a little more motivated?”

I patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry so much! Trust me, we’re much better off by ourselves than working with those guys.”

“I don’t know…”

I sighed. “Would it help if I gave you a candy bar?”

Thinking it over, Liam grinned. “It couldn’t hurt.”

Once he had consumed his chocolate bar, we moved out of the dorms and sat down in the library to plan.

“So really, the only clue we have now is this day planner.” I tapped the book in question.

“Does it even count as a clue?” he shook his head as I turned thought the pages. “ I looked through it, Tess. There’s nothing but normal day-to-day activities. Going to class, eating meals, bullying students, going to the principal’s office for bullying students…”

“Yeah, a completely normal schedule.” I laughed. “Is there anywhere that the bullies like to hang out in this school?”

Thinking it over silently for a few moments, Liam spoke up. “They tend to hang out behind the school near the utility shed. The teachers don’t patrol back there so they can smoke or lurk or whatever it is that school bullies like to do.”

“Sounds lovely, let’s go.” I stood up.

“Really? Why?”

“Well whoever is doing this is targeting bullies, right? If we can’t find any clues by investigating the kidnapped victims, then we just need to find out who the next target is.” I grinned. “And my guess is that they hang out near the utility shed.”

“Alright! The mystery solving is back on!” Liam pumped a fist in the air, getting to his feet as well.

Just as we were about to leave, however, we ran into two people entering the library that I really didn’t want to see.

Eric, the ST High student president, stopped, looking slightly startled at the sight of us, before letting out a relieved sigh. “See, I told you if we went to the library we’d find somebody who’d know stuff.” The student vice president beside him let out a disgruntled noise, ignoring both of us.

“You, LP students!” He called out with a loud, dramatic voice. “We need your assistance!”

“No.”

“Sure!”

Liam and I answered at the same time. We then turned to look at each other, both of us annoyed for different reasons.

“Tess, don’t blow this for me. It’s a chance to hang out with the ST guys!” Liam whispered.

I shook my head. “We don’t need them. It will only slow things down.”

“Why would they slow US down?! I feel like I have to repeat myself, they’re future heroes! They’re from ST high!” Frowning at me, he continued. “If you don’t want to go you don’t have to, but I will.”

I felt like crying with the absurdity of it. I was the actual student president of ST high… but who would believe it if I just said that now?

Maybe I should just let him do what he wants. I have a job to do… The errant thought in my brain triggered a memory, one I wished I could erase with all my strength.

My first day of ST high. I went to all my classes, talked to a few new people, overall feeling excited to be at the place I had been dreaming about for so long. I felt a sense of unease at being separated from Mia. She and I had grown up together, with no one but each other to rely on. I second-guessed my decision not to switch schools to stay with her constantly, especially as she refused to talk to me for the month between our testing and our first day at school.

I’ll go pick her up! I’ll buy her some ice cream, let her rant, and everything will go back to normal! With this optimistic thought, I waited outside of the LP school entrance, watching the student file out for the day.

One by one they left, chatting happily between themselves, until only I was left, facing an empty school.

Where is she? Still there? Curious, I snuck into the school, searching room after room without seeing anyone, much less my best friend. Getting increasingly more worried by the minute, I broke into the records office. After a few hours of searching, I finally found a slim manila folder marked with her name.

The first paper within it was a withdrawal notice.

If she didn’t go to LP high, where…? I felt a sickening weight within my stomach. I went by her home, our old school, every hangout spot I could think of… but she was nowhere to be found.

“Tess?” Liam’s whispered call broke me out of the terrible memory, leaving me shaken and pale.

“I’ll go with you.” I responded, clutching my shaking hands tightly together.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure, let’s go.” I pushed him towards the public student council, breathing out a sigh of relief. It might end up delaying my investigation a little bit, but it would be better than the idea of him possibly going up against them without my help.

I could at least make sure of that.

“We’re hoping to interview students regarding the disappearances.” Eric sighed with relief once we confirmed we would help him. “Can you take us around to where the senior students are?”

Liam nodded. “Yeah, they’re on the fifth…”

“They’re in the shed behind the school.” I interrupted in with a confident smile.

“Tess!” Liam elbowed me with an annoyed whisper, “What are you…?”

“Shhh!” I grabbed Liam’s arm and pulled him forward. “Follow us!”

No reason to put my investigation on hold too much.

We headed towards the utility shed behind the school. Multiple students lounged around the area, smoking, drinking, gambling. I recognized Eyepatch in the corner, taking bets on a fist fight between two students that hovered over the ground.

“These… are the senior students?” Eric asked with an incredulous expression.

I nodded. “Many of them have been here longer than most, yes.”

“Hmm… I guess I set my expectations too high for LP.” He wandered in, immediately grabbing the attention of many of the rougher looking students as he began accosting them one by one, asking them where they were on certain dates and similar accusatory questions. The vice president trailed behind, not deigning to talk but silently glaring at anyone who got too close to her.

I used the distraction they provided to wander around the utility shack. A dart board, a trash pile, a broken tv… there were a lot of things just strewn about, but nothing that seemed out of place, other than a dainty cup on a broken table that was filled with steaming tea, sending a sickly sweet smell into the other foul smelling atmosphere. I started to look closer.

“Hey, dropout!” It was John, the eyepatch wearing bully. He called out to me, wandering over with a smirk. “Don’t look now, but your buddies are in trouble.”

I rolled my eyes. “They’re not my…”

“Don’t worry! I’ll protect you!” I heard Liam shout out, I turned to see him jump in front of the ST high students, brandishing shaking fists. A group of the bullies had surrounded them, all holding various weapons and looks of vicious anticipation.

“Crap!” I ran back towards the group, ignoring John’s called out “You’re welcome!”

I slid across the floor towards the wall, reducing the friction below my feet, catching my balance now that I was behind everyone, I reached out a hand, feeling the world around me.

Everything is connected. I whispered in my mind, feeling for the contacts, the points where objects touched.

The bully in the front lifted a baseball bat over his head, ready to strike down on a cowering Liam. I reduced the resistance between his hands and his weapon, causing the bat to slip between his fingers and strike him on the head. Stunned, he tried to stumble backwards, but found his feet sticking to the floor. The bully lost his balance falling backwards into his friends and knocking them into the ground.

As soon as they all fell they slid across the floor, not stopping until they hit the wall with a sickening crack.

I let out a sigh of relief, audible in the shocked silence that followed. Eyepatch caught my eye as I straightened up, giving me a grin and a thumbs up. Ignoring that sarcastic gesture, I moved closer, just in time to hear Eric congratulate Liam for his abilities.

“That was a smooth fight! You took those guys out with a single move!” He clapped Liam on the shoulder, looking impressed. “With abilities like that, I can’t believe you didn’t make it to ST high!”

“Well, I… Actually…” Liam guiltily glanced over at me, where I stood silently, interested in his answer.

He seemed to come to an internal conclusion and let out a sigh, straightening his shoulders and speaking confidently. “I’ve been working on improving my abilities since I arrived. I work on my powers, practice hero scenarios… I even meet with Mr. Lepford, our principal weekly to discuss how to become stronger.”

“…” everyone stared at him a few moments in surprise.

A quiet feeling of disappointment settled in my stomach as I watched Liam chat happily with the ST high council.

“Are you going to just let him take credit for your fight like that?” John walked up, his one eye narrowed thoughtfully as he watched the group as well.

I shrugged. “Why not? Not like I need it.”

“Don’t want to go back to ST huh?” He laughed. “I get you. Still, feels wrong to let the nerd get the glory for your skills.”

“Just let it go.” I walked away, reaching out to grab Liam’s arm, pulling him out of his conversation with Eric. Liam turned his head, his eyes flashing at annoyance at the interruption.

“What is it, Tess?”

“Let’s talk.”

“Look, I’m kind of busy.” Leaning closer, he whispered gleefully. “I think they’re really impressed!”

I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, your ‘fighting skills’ were really impressive.”

He at least was honest enough to look embarrassed. “I know, it was stupid, but you’re not interested in going back to ST high anyways. I was telling the truth about doing all that stuff to get stronger, maybe this is just the reward for my hard work!”

Looking at his face, it seemed to merge with another in my memory. I shook my head, trying to dispel it.

“No good comes from chasing this, Liam. I don’t really care if you take credit for my fight. But what are you going to do when they want you to show off your ‘powers’?”

Liam stepped away, pissed. “I’ll think of something. Just let me enjoy this, Tess.”

He turned back towards Eric, ending the conversation. I watched them walk away, feeling tired.

“You just don’t get it, Tess!” Mia glared at me, her eyes haggard, her face pale. “You’re strong. You don’t get what it’s like to be weak. To wish your powers were different. So if someone gave you the chance to be strong… to be wanted… “

She leaned forward, whispering quietly as her hands grasped my shirt. “You would take it.”

“This was a mistake.”

I rubbed my forehead, heading back towards my dorm room. I put thoughts of Liam out of my mind and looked over the planner, flipping through it with increasing frustration.

“Classes, bullying, meetings with the principal. Liam was right, there’s nothing here.” I leaned back in my chair closing my eyes, wishing something new would occur to me.

DING.

My communicator.

I picked it up, answering it. “What is it?”

Mr. Lepford frowned, taken aback at my tone. “Why are you so angry?”

“Ignore it. What are you contacting me for?”

“…” He seemed at first like he wanted to argue, but gave up with a quiet sigh. “You’re not going to like this. We found one of the missing students...”

“That’s great.”

“Near-dead and almost torn to pieces by his out of control powers.

The forming smile wiped quickly off of my face. “Not so great.”

“It was Cameron.”

“Swirly guy?”

He shook his head. “He was in the center of a hurricane, one made from his powers.”

“That doesn’t make sense… his power was making toilets flush…”

“Tess…” He paused, looking grave. “They had used the power up drug on him.”

No.

I dropped the communicator, my fingers numb.

“Tess!” Mr. Lepford was yelling, but I couldn’t hear him. All I could hear was her screaming, the flames around us...

It took weeks to find Mia after she dropped out from LP high, but I finally tracked her down. She had joined the super villains, after they promised to make her stronger. Unable to convince her to run away, terrified to abandon her, I had joined as well.

At first it was simple pretense. I thought I could just pretend to be a villain on the surface while trying to change Mia’s mind. I thought it would be easy.

I was a fool.

It took six months for them to break me, to mold me. To teach me to use my powers to the utter limit, perfecting myself and my abilities into a killing machine. Six months of pain, of fear, of constant, mind-bending, soul-crushing terror.

Mia didn’t see it. Didn’t understand it. They kept her on the lighter activities, an unknowing hostage to guarantee my good behavior. She was frustrated that she hadn’t grown stronger, but they assured her they were working on it.

Six more months, of fighting, killing, blood. They pulled me into a room, I thought for a new assignment. I didn’t care, couldn’t care. I was a machine for them, my last surviving purpose to protect a friend I barely ever saw.

Instead of a new target, I was handed a pill.

“What’s this?”

My handler laughed. “A power up drug. It will make your abilities grow ten fold.”

I tossed it back at him. “I’m not your guinea pig.”

His face contorted with rage. “We own you. You’re whatever we tell you to be.”

“What if this drug kills me?” I laughed at his suddenly thoughtful expression. “You lose your best assassin, just for the slight chance of making me stronger?” I reached a hand gently across the table, grinning as he turned pale and gasped for air. “I’m already the strongest you’ve got.”

He tucked away the pill, and I thought that was the end of it.

But of course it wasn’t that simple.

It never was.

“TESS! ANSWER ME!” Mr. Lepford was yelling when I finally focused on his words. I picked up the communicator with a shaking hand, a strange smile on my face.

“This ends now.”

“Tess…”

“No more wasting time. I’ll figure out who’s behind this, and if they are using that drug…” I laughed, but it didn’t sound like a happy sound, the agony behind too clearly heard. “Then there won’t be anyone left for you to worry about.”

“You promised you wouldn’t kill anyone anymore.”

“Don’t worry.” I was whispering now, my hand tightening on the communicator. “There won’t be any bodies left to find.”

I hung up the call before he could protest further.

I had to find them. Now. Before it was too late.

But first...

Closing my eyes as I tried to push the memories that had overwhelmed me back, I blinked to clear the tears that formed.

I needed to find Liam.

He was gone.

His room, the common grounds, the classrooms. He wasn’t anywhere. I even tracked down the ST high president and vice president, cornering them in the library.

“Where is he?”

Eric looked like he would argue with me, and so with a grin I reached out a hand, calling out my powers…

“We haven’t seen him for about three hours now.” The vice presidents stepped forward and answered, a scared expression on her face.

“Why did you…?”

“Just shut up and answer whatever she asks!” Was her hissed response to Eric’s discontentment.

I smiled at her, and she shuddered and stepped back. “Where did you last see him?”

“He said something about a meeting.”

Lowering my hand slowly, I turned back towards the door. “Thanks. You should go back to ST high. For your own safety.”

Eric let out a strangled yell. “Wait, who the hell are you to say…”

“We will.” Again he was interrupted by his vice president. “Thanks for the warning.”

As I left I heard her whisper to him. “Remember what I told you about there being people you don’t piss off? She’s one of them.”

I left them behind.

I still needed to find Liam.

“Why bother me?” John groaned once I tracked him down in the utility shed once more, holding up his hands helplessly as I stopped him in place with my powers.

I tapped his eyepatch gently. “What’s your power?”

“Do I have to…?” He trailed off, looking at my expression. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Clearing his throat, he pointed at the eyepatch. “If I look at someone with this eye, they have to tell the truth to the next question I ask.”

“Useful.”

He shook his head. “Not really. It only works once per person. And if you ask the wrong question you can accidentally learn a lot of disgusting things.” Shuddering he looked down at the ground, as if too disturbed to continue.

“You need to help me.” I pulled him to a chair, opening up the day planner in his lap. “You know the people who disappeared. You can tell me what they had in common.”

“What the…?”

“Just look.” I flipped through the pages. “This is Cameron’s day planner. He had everything written down on it. He disappeared.”

“So…?”

“He was found, half dead. It may already be too late for the ones who disappeared before him.” I tapped the pages with my fingers. “Do these guys all take a similar class? Join a similar club…?”

John shook his head. “Most of those guys hung out, they were in a lot of stuff together.”

“What about Liam?” I leaned forward. “What does he have in common with them?”

“Liam? Nothing! He never spent time with Cameron and his gang unless he was getting beat up by them. Why do you care?”

“I can’t find him. I think…” I rubbed my head, sighing. “I think he’s been taken too.”

“That loser?” John laughed. “It’s more likely he’s hiding in his room.”

“Checked there.”

“The libarary?”

“Looked there.”

“Well, are you sure he isn’t in one of his ‘get stronger’ meetings with the principal?”

I paused. “What do you mean?”

“He said it himself earlier. The dude was obsessed with getting stronger. Had regular meetings with Mr. Gleason and everything.” He made a disgusted face. “Why anyone would willingly spend time with that man, I have no idea. He smiles too much, and makes you drink his disgusting tea.”

“Tea?” Gleason had offered to make me tea multiple times, now that I thought about it.

“Yeah, and it’s not enough just to drink it there, he sends you back with a cup.” He pointed to the teacup I had noticed on my last visit, now empty. “I brought that back from my last meeting with him.”

Standing up, I picked up the porcelain cup and held it between my hands. A familiar sickening sweet smell wafted from it.

The same smell from Cameron’s room.

I looked at the planner again.

“That’s what all the bullies had in common before they disappeared. What they shared with Liam too.”

John look confused. “What?”

I smiled. “They all went to the principal’s office. “

As we headed towards Mr. Gleason’s office, I questioned John further. “What’s his super power?”

John snorted. “He can heat water with his mind. Just the kind of impressive power you would expect from the principal of LP high.”

“Has his tea always had that weird sweet smell to it?”

“No… not always.” He thought it over. “He used to give me a choice of what kind of tea I wanted, and brew it for me right then and there, but lately he just hands me a cup.”

“When did he change?”

“I don’t know… six months ago?”

“Right around when people started disappearing?”

Shaking his head, John sped up, trying to catch up with me. “Slow down! I mean, do you really think our principal has something to do with it?”

“That’s what we’re going to find out.” I tugged on his arm. “I need you to do me a favor…��

Mr. Gleason was sitting on his chair when we arrived, sipping from a delicately twisted porcelain cup.

“Tess, welcome back!” He smiled at me, “Can I get you a cup of…urgh.” His voice ended on a gurgle, his face turning red.

I smiled back.

“Careful, Mr. Gleason, you wouldn’t want to choke on your tea!” I released my powers increasing the resistance of the fluid in his throat, allowing him to cough it back up with a painful expression.

“What the…” Mid protest, he froze into place, his eyes wide open with surprise.

I sat down across from him, picking up his cup and sniffing it carefully. His tea didn’t have that distinct scent that all the others had.

“We have a question for you.” I sighed. “Actually, John, has a question for you.”

Mr. Gleason’s eyes teared up, as if he were desperately trying to close them.

But of course I wouldn’t let that happen. I simply made the resistance in his muscles too high to move.

John sat down carefully in front of the principal, his face pale. “I can only ask one question.” He whispered. “Are you sure…”

“Ask him.”

“But don’t you…”

“Ask. Him.” Unable to meet my eyes, he turned back towards Mr. Gleason, and slowly lifted his eyepatch. His covered eye, unlike his dark uncovered one, was a bright green.

“Mr. Gleason.” John asked quietly. “Are you one of them?”

I released my powers on the principal, causing him to close his eyes tightly, shuddering with fear. He was obviously resisting answering, but it was too late.

“Yes.” He whispered.

I let out a sigh of relief, but Mr. Gleason began to laugh, quietly at first but then a full bellied guffaw.

“You idiot.” He shook his head at me with a sneer. “You could have made me spill any secret they have, but instead you chose such a simple question?! His power only works once per person, you know.”

I reached out a hand towards his face with a gentle smile.

“I know.”

His face turned bright white. He gasped for air, but there was no sound, struggling to his feet, his stumbled across the room, beating at his chest and grabbing his throat.

“Now that I know for sure that you’re one of them, I don’t have to hold back.” I stood up and walked closer to his stumbling form at a leisurely pace. “You think you have secrets? Don’t worry, you’ll tell me.” I chuckled. “I was the best they ever trained, you know.”

His eyes widened with shock, and I shook my head with disbelief. “They didn’t tell you? They must not have trusted you very much after all.”

He pointed at his throat with a desperate gesture, his face now turning blue.

“Oh, that’s nothing, I simply increased the resistance of the air moving through your lungs.” I waved a hand and he collapsed to the ground, his breath now whistling in and out in gasps. “The human body is surprisingly delicate you know.”

“Please…”

“Did you use the power up drug on them?” I asked in a whisper.

He shook his head, and I sighed, activating my power once more.

“Feel that pain in your chest?” I pointed. “A little increased resistance in your coronaries, and all of a sudden your heart has no blood.”

Mr. Gleason curled into a ball, pleading. “No, please.”

“All I have to do is wait, and your heart will stop.”

“…”

“Did. You. Use. The. Power. Up. Drug?” Each of my words came slowly, I watched as he tightened up more and more on himself.

“No.” He whispered. “I just had to use a suggestion drug on the kids, to make them more agreeable, more likely to work for them. I don’t know anything about this power up drug!”

I released my power and he sobbed with relief. Reaching out a hand I lifted his chin. “One truth, and one lie.” I shook my head. “I’m so disappointed. I think I’ll just kill you.”

Gleason covered his face with a scream.

“NO WAIT!”

I ignored him, my grip tightening.

“TESS!” A hand grabbed my arm, and surprised, I looked over to the pale face of John.

“What?” I released the principal, letting him sag to the ground with relief.

“You can’t do this! You’re not…” He trailed off, unsure and I found myself smiling.

“I’m not what?” I laughed coldly. “A villain? One of them?” I shook off his hand. “You’ve spent all of an hour in my company and you’re willing to bet on that?”

“Then why are you trying to save the missing students?”

I paused. “Do you know what the power up drug does?” I asked quietly.

John shook his head, his single uncovered eye uncertain.

“It gives your power a boost, ten times, sometimes a hundred times your normal ability. It can make anyone, anything, a living, breathing weapon.”

John’s gaze widened with surprise. “Did you…?”

“No. This is my true power.” I looked down at Mr Gleason with a cold expression. “Because what they don’t tell the guinea pigs, the experiments, is that the while the power up drug makes you stronger, it causes your powers to go out of control, killing the subject and those around it.”

Mr. Gleason’s head shot up, “You’re lying!”

“No. Did they tell you it would work on you?” I laughed. “You should have known better than to believe them.”

“I refuse to believe you!” He screamed, trying to lunge upwards towards me. I locked his leg muscles into place, increasing their resistance with a single thought. “They promised if I gave them some students that they would change me! Make me powerful! I will be powerful! I will be feared!”

I leaned down, and he stopped, whimpering with fear.

“Where is Liam?”

He shook his head silently, refusing to answer.

I sat down on the ground before him, patting him on the shoulder. “Remember that little heart trick? How about I do that, but to the blood vessels feeding your brain?” My hand grazed his neck and he shuddered. “Just a little resistance in the right spot and all of a sudden you will never move your right leg again. Never talk. Never hear.”

He tried to pull back, but I grabbed him by the throat.

“Last chance. Where is he?”

He gasped, pointing towards the room in the back. “He’s back there, but it’s too late, they gave me my first dose to test here, and he used it.”

John leaned forward. “What do you mean?”

Mr Gleason laughed but didn’t speak further. I dropped him back to the floor and walked towards the door he had pointed at.

I opened it with a shaking hand, and confronted my worst nightmare.

“Tess?” Liam was laying on the ground, crying. The world around him was warping.

He recognized me, his eyes wide, and yelled. “RUN AWAY, I CAN’T CONTROL IT!”

I stood there, stunned and silent. This was the silly guy who showed me around the school? The one who kept slinkies and trading cards and candy bars in his pocket space? Who laughed and made stupid jokes but deep down just wanted to be stronger and make his mother proud?

No.

“What’s happening?!” John grabbed my arm, but I could barely hear him.

“He gave Liam the power up drug.” I whispered, shaking my head slowly. “He’ll lose control of his power.”

A large dark sphere surrounded Liam, spreading to the world around him.

“What does that mean?”

“It means the whole school is about to be swallowed up in an uncontrolled, airless portal to nowhere. “

John stepped back. “Do something!”

I stood there, frozen.

“Tess?”

It was the same.

I went by to check on Mia, I did it every week. The visits were painful, as she grew increasingly more sullen and frustrated, wanting to be more powerful. But this time, instead, I found a cold, empty dorm. I searched everywhere, frantically, finally forcing myself into the experimental facility, where I found her in the deepest cell.

“I just wanted to be powerful like you.” She sobbed, her power no longer a small fire on her finger, but all consuming flames.

“MIA!” I shouted, trying to reach her, but it was too late.

The world around me was on fire.

“No.” I whispered the single word, reaching out a shaking hand toward Liam. I could still feel the pain in my arm, the burned skin that never truly stopped hurting, long after the grafts had grown in. My only wound from a fire that killed hundreds.

The day I left them.

The day I lost my best friend.

“I won’t watch you die.” I closed my eyes, feeling the world around me. The space around Liam was consuming everything at an ever quickening pace, coming close to the floor beneath me. It was not a part of this world, nothing like anything I had ever tried my powers on before, but I couldn’t stop.

“Everything is connected.” I whispered. I could feel the points of contact between his space and the world around us. “Every connection has resistance.”

I increased the resistance along the spreading border of his portal. I was stretching my power out farther than it ever had been, my head felt like it was tearing itself apart.

My heart was beating madly, my lungs gasping for air. My body was breaking down, trying to power an ability to stretch beyond its limits. But still I held on.

For Liam.

For Mia.

For myself.

Slowly, painfully, the portal contracted back towards Liam, stopping its advance. I pushed it back towards his pocket, and let it go with a sigh.

“Tess?

I heard John call out, but everything was fading into darkness.

“Strong work.” Mr Lepford smiled at me as I woke up, confused. I looked around at my surroundings. I was in the infirmary at LP high.

“Liam?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “He made it?”

Mr. Lepford chuckled. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

I looked up at an uncomfortable looking Liam, being held into place by an expressionless John.

Liam fidgeted in place, “So umm… thanks for saving my life. Your powers were awesome!”

John elbowed him. “And…” he prompted.

“And…” Liam thought it over. “I brought you a candy bar!” He held something out towards me.

I looked at it with a smile. “That’s an empty wrapper.”

“Oh.” Liam’s face was crestfallen. “I got hungry.”

“Not the candy bar, dumbass!” John sighed. “Apologize.”

Liam rushed through it with a bright smile. “I’m sorry I got duped by the principal and almost destroyed you and the entire school.”

“…”

“Anyone else hungry?” He finally asked as we stared at him in shock.

I laughed. “I’m glad you’re alive.” Looking around, I added. “Speaking of which, Mr. Gleason…”

“Has been arrested and handed over to the appropriate authorities.” Mr. Lepford’s face was stern. “He had only asked for our help once the student’s disapearances had been noticed, and even then tried to hinder us by getting the official ST student council involved.” Shaking his head, he added. “I should have seen this coming.”

“It’s fine.” I patted his shoulder. “We got it figured out in the end.”

“So what next?” John asked, his face uncertain. “Are you staying here?”

“Wait, why would Tess go anywhere?!” Liam broke in, panicked. “She transferred here, right?”

“Idiot, she was obviously just here to solve the missing student’s cases. She’s way too powerful for LP high.”

Liam slouched down, disheartened.

I couldn’t help it. I smiled. “Lepford?”

He grinned as well. “Yes?”

“I think I might have more work to do here for a while.”

“Really?” He raised an eyebrow, “Like what?”

I shrugged. “I’ll think of something.”

“Sure, you were due a break anyways.” His face was gentle. “Go have fun with your friends.”

“Wait, what just happened?” Liam looked back and forth between us.

“It looks like I’m staying here a little longer.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

He smiled. “Great, let’s get something to eat, I’m starving.”

Laughing, we left the infirmary, and for the first time in forever…

I felt hopeful.

In a hidden location...

A file hit the table with an slapping sound as the man sat back in his chair with a smile.

“So it failed.”

A robed figure knelt on the ground. “I’m sorry, it was a miscalculation, we thought that the principal would be a better investment.”

��A miscalculation?” The man whispered, still smiling.

“An error, that won’t happen again. “

“You’re right.” He raised his hand, and the figure fell over with a terrified scream. Thrashing around on the ground for a few moments, it finally stilled.

The room was silent.

“But on the bright side, we found her again.” The man picked up the folder once more, opening it to show a picture of a young woman standing at the entrance of LP high. His finger reached out, stroking the face on the paper briefly.

“Tess, at last, we’ll bring you back.” His laughter filled the empty room, echoing long after it should have fallen into silence.

“Back home.”

#writing #short story #part 3 #superhero #villains #violence #fighting #torture #death #friends #experiments

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katedoesfics · 5 years ago

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Shadows of the Yiga | Chapter 32

“Why did you tell us all of that?”

Rusl glanced at his son. They had made it back to the ranch, and Aryll had hurried off to help Talon with the evening chores. Link leaned against the paddock fence, watching as the dogs chased the goats, nipping at their heels.

“Because it’s something you should know,” Rusl said. “And I promised no more lies, remember?” He shrugged. “You wanted answers. Well, that’s why things are the way they are. That’s why you and Zelda have a responsibility to keep Hyrule safe, no matter what the future may hold.” He leaned his elbows on the top of the fence and turned to his son. “You don’t really believe that it’s all for nothing, do you?”

“No,” Link said. “You’re right. We buy Hyrule time. We fight until the end.” He sighed. “If I’m gonna be used, it sure as hell won’t be for nothing.”

Rusl straightened. He glanced over his shoulder as Revali made his usual loud entrance with Kit and Daruk following close behind.

“There you are,” he started. “We’ve been looking for you all damn day.”

“He wasn’t,” Kit said. “In fact, his exact words were, ‘Don’t tell Link I got the good stuff.’”

Revali grinned and flashed two cigars. “I saved you both one, alright?”

Rusl frowned. “That’s it?”

“Do you know how much these cigars cost?” Revali sneered.

“You said you had the good stuff,” Rusl said. “In my day, we didn’t waste our money on fancy cigars.”

“Oh, alright, I see how it is.” Revali crossed his arms and turned to Kit. “My stuff isn’t good enough for the dead guy.” He turned to Kit. “Why don’t you whip out your stupid tin for these two losers? They’d rather get high like little girls.” Revali shook his head. “No one appreciates a damn good cigar anymore. Well you know what? I’m not sharing my whisky with you idiots.”

Link snatched the cigars out of Revali’s hands. “You’re rolling in dirty money,” he said as he handed a cigar to his father. “You’re not high class because of that.”

“Then give ‘em back. They were bought with my dirty money.”

Link shrugged and lit the cigar. “I’m already a criminal.” He sucked in, then blew out smoke. “Which means I guess I can work for you now.”

“Yeah, about that,” Revali started. “Now that you’re not some innocent little hero, you’ll only raise more suspicions. You’re out.”

Link frowned. “You can’t take back your offer,” he said. “I want those six numbers.”

“Six numbers?” Rusl repeated. He turned to Revali. “You know he can’t even flip a damn burger, right?”

“Fortunately for him, his pathetic college dropout ass doesn’t need any reputable skills for this job,” Revali said. “The only requirement was to keep his nose clean, and he couldn’t even do that.”

“That wasn’t what we discussed,” Link pointed out. “All I needed to do was sign my name on all your sketchy documents.”

“Well, I don’t want your name on my documents anymore,” Revali said. “And I don’t think you could even sell that signature of yours anymore. You couldn’t even sell your damn blood.”

“Sperm,” Kit pointed out.

Revali rolled his eyes. “Like anyone would want his damn babies.”

“This is nice,” Rusl said. “You’re all fucking twisted.”

“I’m kind of an expert on heroes,” Kit said. “I’ve been serving them alcohol and helping them drown their problems for years. You don’t know the half of it.” He exhaled smoke. “And those sperm-bank babies are probably the only grandkids you’ll get.”

“Charming,” Rusl said. “Your mother had money on you and Mipha. Guess she’ll be disappointed.”

“Oh, they’re a thing,” Revali said. “You can rest assured that if anyone will settle for Link, it’s Mipha.”

“Watch it,” Link sneered.

“Right,” Rusl said. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

“I guess she has kind of been avoiding you since you got back,” Kit said.

“Why’s that?” Rusl asked.

They fell silent for a moment. Rusl looked between them warily. To their relief, they silence was interrupted by Riju’s voice as she bounded around the corner. Her eyes lit up when she saw Link and she bounced to his side as Mipha and Urbosa rounded the corner behind her.

“There he is,” she said, draping an arm over his shoulders. “We sent these idiots out looking for you but they never came back.” She looked Revali up and down. “I guess they thought it was more important to drink and smoke.”

“Bait,” Revali said simply. “Bring alcohol and Link comes running like a good boy. And now he got a treat.”

Riju ignored him and turned her attention back to Link. “You know, this hero business is way more exciting than our laser tag games.”

“No,” Link said simply. “Go away.”

“Hear me out,” she said. She pressed a finger to his nose, sending a light shock through her fingertips. Link lunged toward her, but she jumped out of his way with a laugh.

“Will you give it a rest?” Urbosa said, putting a hand on her hip. “You’re not a part of this.”

“Oh, but I am,” Riju said with a grin. “Just you wait. I’ll have my moment, and ya’ll will be in my debt!”

“She is deadly with a laser gun,” Link said dryly.

“You’re not helping,” Urbosa sneered.

Riju crossed her arms and turned her attention to Mipha.

“What do you want me to do about it?” Mipha said, meeting her expectant gaze.

“Be on my side,” Riju pleaded with her. “I don’t care what you gotta do. Withhold sex. Guys will do anything to have their stupid dicks touched. Even name me a Champion!”

Mipha’s cheeks reddened, but to her relief, Link came to her rescue.

“You know,” he started, “it’s not even my call. Zelda’s the boss. Take it up with her.”

“Yeah, no need to give Link any grief,” Revali said. “If it weren’t for Mipha, no one would touch his dick.”

“Really?” Daruk shook his head. “Are we in high school again?”

“Do they talk about their dicks regularly?” Kit asked.

“Revali has to remind us daily how big his is,” Riju said.

“He over compensates with money and fancy cars,” Link added.

“You know what?” Revali said. “I’m gonna let that slide, because I’m above this immaturity.”

Urbosa pushed her sister along. “Look what you started. Are you happy?”

Riju grinned. “Just like the good ol’ days.”

Mipha hesitated, meeting Link’s gaze briefly before hurrying to catch up with Urbosa and Riju as they made their way to the house. She paused when Link called to her and waited for him to catch up. They stood alone on the edge of the driveway in uncomfortable silence for a moment before Link finally spoke.

“I’m, uh, sorry I haven’t… I mean. I wasn’t trying to avoid you. But I was. Because. You know. But I’m sorry I left like that. And I know you don’t trust me. I don’t trust me.” He sighed. “I don’t know what to do here.”

“Yeah,” Mipha said softly. “I don’t know, either.”

Link frowned. “Mipha… I’m sorry. It wasn’t -”

“I know,” she said quickly. “I know.”

“You shouldn’t be near me. No one should be.”

“We can handle it,” she said. “You need to trust us to handle it.”

“But I don’t trust me.” He met her gaze. “I can’t be responsible…”

“We won’t let it come down to that,” she said. “Link… We’ll get through this.”

He didn’t feel as confident. But he missed her. So much had happened over the last few days; it was all just a chaotic blur. He needed her reassurance. But he didn’t trust himself around her. Around anyone. He was sick to his stomach just thinking about how easily he could have ended her life. He couldn’t live with himself if he did that, even if it wasn’t him. But when everything seemed to be falling apart around him, she was the only one that made everything better. He needed her.

Mipha pressed her lips against his gently. She lingered for a moment before pulling away and meeting his gaze once more. She hesitated, then her lips pulled into a smile. “So, what do we do when this is over? I mean, no offense, but I don’t want to live with your dad.”

“You’re just assuming he’s not gonna take off and fake his death again,” Link said. “He has no legal rights to that house anymore.”

“Kicking him out?”

“He would have done it to me.”

Mipha’s smile widened. “I was really enjoying the fact that I didn’t have to listen to my neighbor’s pizza guy fantasy every night. The material was really getting old.” She made a face of disgust. “And who gets pineapple on pizza?”

“Don’t hate it until you try it,” Link said.

“Come on, Mrs. Hero!” Riju called from the door. “We’re ordering pizza!”

“I’m not trying it,” Mipha said with a grin. She kissed Link one last time before joining Riju and Urbosa in the house.

Link shoved a hand in his pocket as he watched the door close. He absentmindedly fingered the ring box he still carried with him. He didn’t exactly have a plan as far as proposals went, but he certainly didn’t expect to get kidnapped by the Yiga Clan. Naturally, that set his plans back. Even more now that he was aware of the very short timer left on his life. He let the end of his cigar drop to the ground as his friends joined him once more.

“You oughta put a ring on that before she has the good sense to leave your sorry ass,” Rusl said with a grin.

Kit snorted loudly. “He’s had that weight in his pocket for years.”

Rusl turned to his son and raised a brow. “For real?”

Link sneered at Kit. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This guy,” Kit said to Rusl, throwing a thumb over his shoulder at Link. “I’ve been tellin’ him the same damn thing. He doesn’t have the balls.”

Rusl shook his head. “I don’t believe it.”

Kit moved toward Link, shoving his hand toward his pocket, but Link lept back, shooing his hand away.

“Get the fuck outta here,” he hissed.

“Stop being such a girl,” Kit said with a grin, chasing Link around and reaching for his pocket. “Let use see it.”

“That’s what she said,” Revali giggled.

“I don’t have anything,” Link insisted.

“Liar. I’ve seen it.” He finally succeeded in pinning Link’s arms and shoved his hand into his pocket, pulling out a small, black box.

Rusl’s eyes widened, but at that moment, the door opened once more as Riju poked her head out. Link shouted at Kit who yelped, juggling the box in his hands before Rusl snatched it and closed his fingers around it, hiding it behind his back. Alerted by their shouts, Riju, Mipha, and Urbosa stepped out and turned their curious gazes to the men.

“What’s going on?” Urbosa asked.

“Kit tried to get in Link’s pants,” Revali said with a grin.

Link glared at Revali.

They chose to ignore this, disinterested in their shenanigans.

“What kinda pizza should we get?” Riju asked.

“Does it really matter?” Daruk said.

“Pineapple it is,” Riju said with a grin. Mipha groaned loudly and headed back inside the house. When all three were safe inside, Rusl pulled the box back out and opened it, peering at the ring. Link snatched it out of his father’s hands and shoved it back into his pocket.

“He didn’t even buy that,” Rusl said. “Cheap bastard.”

“That’s true love, man,” Kit said. “Stealing a ring for a lady.”

Link muttered under his breath. “I didn’t steal it.”

“You sure as hell did,” Rusl accused. “And I want it back.”

“Hey, you’re dead,” Link snapped. “You get nothing.”

“You know how much that damn thing cost me?”

Link rolled his eyes. “Guess you should have kept it with you.”

“Wait,” Daruk started. “You’re giving Mipha hand-me-down rings?”

“I can’t do anything right, can I?” Link sneered.

Kit shook his head. “Are you so surprised?”

“It was Aryll’s idea,” Link said quickly. He crossed his arms. “She says it’s romantic.”

“Right,” Daruk said. “Because you’re real smooth in the romance department.”

“At least I get laid,” Link said.

Revali raised his hand. “I do. I get laid.” He turned to Kit and grinned.

Kit sighed. “I don’t.” He turned to Daruk.

“I… have been a little busy keeping all of you alive.”

“And you’ve been dead,” Revali said to Rusl. “So, that makes two of us. Except Link doesn’t count because He’s only had sex with Mipha.”

Kit snickered and Link elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

“Oh, right,” Revali said. “And Zelda.”

“Zelda?” Daruk said loudly. “The fuck? When was that?”

“Nothing happened,” Link muttered.

“I can neither confirm nor deny this,” Kit said. “However, I could name several others.” He paused. “No, wait, I can’t. And I don’t think Link ever got their names, either.”

“Knock it off,” Link hissed.

“Seriously?” Revali said. “We all leave and you turn into some Playboy? Where was that guy? I could have been friends with that guy!”

“Anyway,” Kit said. “We should warn Mipha so she can make her escape before he pops the question.”

“I’m a hero,” Link said. “I saved Hyrule. Why do I still have to deal with this shit?”

“Because,” Revali said with a grin. “It wouldn’t be the same, otherwise.” He stretched his arms over his head and yawned loudly, then made his way toward the house. “Someone has to stop them before they order pineapple pizza.”

“So, what’s the deal with this job?” Kit said. “How do I get into that applicant pool?”

“There’s no one in the world that could be that desperate,” Daruk said.

“Oh, then you don’t know me very well,” Kit grinned. “In fact, I can’t believe I haven’t thought to sell my blood or sperm.”

“No one wants your children,” Link said. “There isn’t enough money in the world to get a woman to have your children.”

“Harsh, but fair,” Kit said. “Babies are real chick magnets, though. Could I borrow yours once in a while to pick up chicks?”

“Oh, dude, me too,” Revali said.

“I can’t be trusted with a baby,” Link said. “Never mind the two of you.”

“Well, get used to it,” Kit said. “Because if she’s dumb enough to marry you, she’ll be dumb enough to want your babies.”

“No babies,” Link growled.

“Well, I might as well go back to being dead,” Rusl said. “I only came back for the grandkids.”

“Everything was much simpler before you came back,” Link muttered.

Rusl grinned. He draped an arm around his son’s shoulders. “Someone has to keep you dumbasses out of trouble.”

“We did just fine before,” Revali said.

“Besides the fact that Link took a sword to the gut,” Daruk reminded them. He shrugged. “But, sure, we totally know what we’re doing.”

“Dumbasses,” Rusl said. He waved an arm around. “Dumbasses everywhere.”

#loz #botw #legend of zelda #breath of the wild #fic #fanfic #soty #shadows of the yiga #soty32

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arlingtonpark · 5 years ago

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Winter 2020 Anime Round-Up

I decided to do a round-up of all the anime I’m watching this season because, turns out, most of the shows I was interested in were bad!

I.D. Invaded.

This is a psychological thriller sci-fi mystery type show. It’s about a police unit who uses this sci-fi technology to detect a killer’s murderous intent and create a sort of virtual reality projection of the killer’s mind.

They then take a special agent and insert him into the projection to hunt down clues and find the killer’s identity and whereabouts.

Enjoying this show is not cheap. It asks a lot of you.

1. Don’t laugh at how ham-fisted the exploration of how a killer’s mind works is.

2. Don’t laugh at the special agent’s official designation being “The Brilliant Detective.”

3. Don’t question the ridiculous premise of the show; they use a killer’s particles to create the projection of their mind to hunt for clues, but are later shown using those same particles to pinpoint the killer’s location.

4. Don’t laugh at one of the police unit’s agents being a teenage girl.

5. And, of course, don’t notice all the expository monologuing for the audience’s sake.

The show is silly, but there’s some intriguing stuff in it. The conflict between the unit’s field squad and the desk workers can be good, though the locus of that conflict being about what seems to be a bureaucratic oversight is pretty weak.

The teenage girl is the most bald-facedly ridiculous thing about this show, but she is unironically the best character. She does some daring, crazy shit in this show and I was legitimately shocked by it.

Oh, yeah, I forgot.

6. Don’t laugh at the OP using recycled production materials and footage from the first episode.

Signs of a quality production right there.

Plunderer.

>.<

This. Show.

I feel bad for Sarah Wiedenheft. She voices the main heroine in the dub. The in-over-her-head, naïve, helpless heroine, Hina.

God, help us!

Hina is a woman with a mission. She is bubbly and naïve, but stubborn and she gets in over her head by the end of the first episode. Why?

You know why, fool! So she can be rescued by the hero.

This show puts a creative spin on the typical shonen formula. Many shonen shows are designed to be wish fulfillment for teenage boys, with Mary Sue main characters for them to project onto.

The crazy spin on the formula here is that it’s wish fulfillment for sexual predators.

That’s not a joke.

The show takes place in a magical world where everyone is branded with a “count,” a number that increases whenever they complete a task specific to them.

Hina’s count goes up whenever she walks 100 km. Another’s count goes up whenever her food is complimented.

The count is denoted by a number that’s branded somewhere on their bodies. Hina’s count is located on her inner thigh, just below her crotch.

Meanwhile, this is what the hero does to Hina the first time they meet:

This is them at the end of the episode after he rescues her.

You know how in Dragon Ball, Master Roshi was this old pervert? The hero here is like that, except he’s young, not old, and a predator rather than just a pervert.

Licht is the hero; his count goes up whenever he dates someone, I guess, but the thing about him is that he’s a predator, so his count is actually -999. If your count reaches zero, you’re Kylo Ren-ed off into an abyss never to be seen again, so negative counts shouldn’t even be possible.

The reason the hero isn’t dead is because he’s actually.

Wait for it.

The Legendary Ace!

A badass fighter spoken of only in legends!

Who is this show even for?

It’s clearly supposed to be a wish fulfillment kind of show, but the only people I can see projecting onto the hero are, like, really, really pathetic people who fantasize about sexual assault.

(Another female character’s count is located on her left breast.)

The heroine is looking for this legendary ace, but even though she’s lived in this world her whole life, and has traveled throughout it her whole life, she knows nothing about how the count system works.

That was necessary, you see, for two reasons: so the system can be explained to us in monologue, and so the heroine can be made helpless and in need of rescue.

Those with a higher count have a high social status. This could have been a cool exploration of how luck is underappreciated as a factor in one’s social status, since how counts are determined is completely arbitrary and some are easier to increase than others, but no, we don’t get that.

People with a lower count must obey people with a higher count. But you’re in the military, there is an appeals process: if you have a lower count and are ordered by someone with a higher count to do something, you can challenge the high count to a duel and if you win, you can ignore their order.

You can then take the loser’s count and add it to your own.

These duels are called “star stakes.” >.<

Hina, naturally, is suckered into one of these duels and is about to lose everything when Licht saves her by agreeing to duel Hina’s opponent on her behalf.

And just to emphasize how infantilized Hina is in this show, Licht not only saves her physically, he even provides her with some emotional support, but phrased in a way that totally talks down to her.

Asteroid in Love.

I’ve already seen the first episode three times, and I have no shame!

Doga Kobo is the Kyoto Animation of the past few years. Just as KyoAni made a name for themselves with a string of shows about cute girls doing cute things, Doga Kobo have sort of taken on that mantle.

Three Leaves, Three Colors; Gabriel Dropout; New Game; Senko-san; and now Asteroid in Love are all shows with good characters with good design work and animation better than they had any right to have.

This show is about a girl named Mira who meets a boy named Ao during a camping trip. He has a thing for astronomy and Mira is completely won over by it. They promise to discover and name an asteroid together.

Tragically, that one camping trip was the last they saw of each other.

Comically, they happen upon each other at the start of high school and wouldn’t you know it? Ao was a girl the whole time!

She was very tomboyish at that time in her life, so Mira mistook her for a boy.

But whatever, Mira’s friend still ships them.

They’re both passionate about astronomy, so they reconnect and become good friends real quick.

The friendship between Mira and Ao is by far the best part about this show; unfortunately, everything else is very generic.

High school club? Check.

Club member who’s boisterous and excitable? Check.

Club member who’s serious and down to earth? Check.

But in spite of all that, I could watch this show all day.

The presentation is excellent. The character designs are lovely and the direction and animation are amazing.

Magia Record.

A spin-off of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Magia Record takes place before Rebellion, but in an alternate universe where the events of Madoka Magica haven’t happened yet. There’s a new cast, but the main cast of Madoka Magica will be back as major characters.

InuCurry, who did the artwork for the witches’ labyrinths are back, this time as series co-directors and co-writers.

The Magica Quartet, the brain trust of people who created Madoka Magica, Gen Urobuchi, Akiyuki Shinbo, Ume Aoki, and Atsuhiro Iwakami, are back too. The four are collectively credited with coming up with the story.

Shinbo, who co-directed Madoka Magica, is back as an animation supervisor. Aoki is back in her role as character designer. Iwakami is co-credited with series planning.

Yukihiro Miyamoto, who co-directed the original series alongside Shinbo, is back as assistant director.

This show…it’s just good to see it all back. The character designs are a bit different from the original series, but they nailed the aesthetic otherwise.

Magia Record draws heavily from plot elements first used in Madoka Magica, but it’s not what I would call uninspired. Anyone who’s seen Madoka Magica will notice the callbacks, but they’re fun, not cringeworthy.

It reminds me of how The Force Awakens brought people back in to the Star Wars universe by heavily echoing A New Hope, but Magia Record is much more creative in its echoing than Force Awakens was.

Everyone who likes the OG series should check this out.

There’s already much intrigue in the story. A magical girl whose wish was granted, but also apparently simultaneously erased from existence, rumors of a city where magical girls can be “saved,” and a Kyubey who is a separate entity from the others.

The show is an adaptation of a mobile rpg. This is from a cutscene.

Iroha Tamaki, the main character of Magia Record, and Homura Akemi.

Get excited.

Bofuri.

This show is like Asteroid in Love, in that it would be totally boring if it weren’t totally charming.

This is the type of show that takes a silly phenomenon in the real world and makes it the premise of the whole show. Maple is a girl who’s just gotten into video games. Because she’s a newb, she puts all of her points into defense at the expense of even basic stuff like speed and strength.

Thus ensues hilarity.

There’s not much to talk about here. Maple is endearing as a video game noob. The artwork is great. The writing is legitimately funny in a subdued way.

A+

Darwin’s Game.

I watched this show because the premise reminded me of King’s Game.

For those who don’t know, King’s Game is widely considered to be the worst anime ever made. It sucks.

King’s Game is about a death game administered over the phone and it the point is that everyone dies. It tries hard to do horror and it fails hard. I watch it every Halloween. :D

Darwin’s Game is about a mobile app game that pits players against each other in death matches. You win by killing all the other players.

With some shows it’s clear the writer can’t decide what they want to do. This show can’t decide if it wants to be trash or legit good.

Immediately you can tell this show is going to suck because the artwork is terrible. This is an ugly show to look at.

The show opens with a cold open clearly made to make the audience ask questions. It succeeds too well.

The opening depicts a random person being chased through the streets and then killed by an invisible furry.

Seriously.

By God, the fanservice in this show…

This doesn’t even fully capture the shamelessness of it. If you watch the episode, you’ll notice her dress has frills from the waist down.

Except for when we see her kneeling down, when her dress is suddenly a single piece of cloth. So we can better see her ass outlined through it.

Things temporarily get good when the main character has to fend off the furry from the opening. It really is thrilling, but everything goes back to crap when the mc has to fight the dress woman in the above picture.

He doesn’t kill her though. Oh, no, he doesn’t.

She becomes smitten by how strong he is and the episode ends with her asking him to bed her.

-barf-

#anime #winter 2020

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meteorite-aria · 5 years ago

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OC Have you ever noticed that ARIA VULCAN from the MARVEL UNIVERSE looks a lot like LIZ GILLIES? But SHE also goes by METEORITE. Having the ability of PYROKINESIS AND FLIGHT sure makes them a force to be reckoned with. Rumour has it they are TWENTY EIGHT and is working as a FREELANCE ARTIST.

TW: Fire, Death, Gangs

Names are supposed to represent who you are, they are a title that your parents plan for you to go by for the rest of your life. Sometimes they chose names or sometimes they having meaning. They can change though, due to self discovery, or due to fear. Aria’s story is a story of names, changing and evolving throughout time.

Aria was born as Stella Davis, to William and Alexandra Davis, two renowned rocket scientist employed by NASA. They wanted nothing more than for their darling daughter to follow in their footsteps. And she tried, she really did. It wasn’t that she wasn’t smart enough, no she was pretty intelligent, she just didn’t have the same passions or desires. Her parents wanted to explore space and make space ships, she wanted to paint starry nights. She loved art, and she was quite good, but her parents couldn’t accept it. When she was getting ready to go to college, she decided she would leave, get a job somewhere, and save up for art school, but her parents had another proposition. If she went to the college by where they worked, which they pulled many of their future employees from, did a year in the aerospace department, and decided she hated it and still wanted to pursue art, they would pay for her to go to any art school of her choosing. She felt that is was an easy decision to make and took them up on their deal.

About 6 months in she was woken up in the middle of the night by her roommate and friend. Apparently a meteor that had crashed not to long ago had been given to the head of the aerospace department, after nasa had inspected it all they could. It was for the graduate students to look at, and do tests on. Her roommate wanted to try and sneak into the room where it was kept, just to see it. Stella would be lying if she had said she wasn’t intrigued, and agreed to help her friend. They snuck to the lab where it was held and saw the gigantic meteor. Stella felt drawn to it and began to walk towards it until she was right in front of it. When she reached out and touched it, the meteor exploded into bright flames, engulfing Stella inside.

The next thing Stella remembers was blinding bright lights. Stella woke up 2 months after the incident, in the hospital. Apparently she has quickly collapsed in the flames, and went into a coma. It didn’t make any sense to the doctors though. Her friend had told them they were just finding a place to study when she collapsed. She returned to her home, hoping for time to recover, but her parents wanted her to return as soon as possible, saying that she was too behind, that their daughter couldn’t be caught slacking. The argument continued to escalate, and in the heat of the moment her hands ignited into flames. Her parents were astonished at this display, and immediately rushed to start taking notes, attempting to call coworkers, muttering about the test they would need to run, finally a super powered human they could test. The more the talk continued, the larger the flames got and the more of her body they engulfed. She wasn’t going to just be some lab rat. No, she was terrified, she needed parents, not the scientist that stood before her. Soon the flames grew so large that they began to engulf curtains and the furniture. She was too far gone in her terror and rage to realize she had set her own house on Fire, leaving nothing but ash in the end. Stella panicked as the firemen arrived, and took off running, eventually finding herself in the air. She blindly took off in a random direction, hoping to escape what she had done. That was were the book closed for Stella Davis, and opened for Emma Smith.

Stella had flown all the way to Detroit from her home in Florida, before crash landing in an alleyway. She was found by a man who called himself Hawker. She said her name was Emma, Emma Smith. A generic enough name that there had to be plenty of others. She was taken in by Hawker, and his gang. They quickly found about her abilities, as she had no control over them, and often found herself igniting when stressed and frustrated. Instead of being scared though, hawker decided that she could be their secret weapon, an enforcer of sorts. If people didn’t want to pay up and tried to cross them, all they would have to do was send her in and she would handle it. She lived like this for almost 2 years until she got an assignment she refused to do. Up to this point she may have done a lot of property damage, and hurt a lot of bad people, but she never had been put in the position where she was asked to hurt innocents. But when a former member tried to rat the gang out to the cops, she was told to light his house up, as a warning. This was a common request. But she got there, and heard the loud laughter of children inside, there were bikes in the front yard. She got angry, and started to ignite, but instead of launching it at the house, attacked hawker, leaving him alive but severely burnt, before taking off once more.

Aria Vulcan is now her name, it is the name she has gone by for the past 7 years, since she landed in Chicago after Detroit. She met her two best friends, twins named Bella and Victor. They were the ones that helped get Aria back on her feet. They aren’t super powered, but are super smart and between the three of them, they helped her learn to control her powers, at least more than she had, they developed fire immune clothing, giving her the ability to practice with her abilities in things other than an old fireman’s suit. She was happy.

They were also the ones that convinced her to take up the name Meteorite, and become a hero for the city. Now she doesn’t ever see herself of a hero, more a vigilante/anti hero. She killed people, her own parents, you don’t see Captain America doing that do you? She wants to help though, to make up for what she had done.

She left Chicago to head to New York to protest the registration acts, and while she does plan to go back to Chicago eventually, especially now that everything is over, she hasn’t yet, and got herself a little apartment in New York, for the time being at least. She misses Chicago, and flies back to visit when she can, she just can’t help but feel like everything isn’t done just yet.

She is a freelance artist by day and vigilante by night, she has a fantastic art studio, and has an orange kitten named Supernova, Nova for short, and these days she finds herself happy, for the first time in years.

But yeah so that is kind of long, sorry, but basically Aria is

A freelance artist, so come hit her up if you want art work done, she mainly works in sculpting and water color, others tend to go up in flames if she gets too frustrated.

Her powers are Pyrokinesis and Flight. Her weaknesses though are that she can not create fire if she is wet, she just sizzles and steams, and she can’t create fire if she is anywhere where the air is thin, so she has to be careful how high she tries to fly. Her pyrokinesis is also attached to her emotions. She has learned to ignite on command, but if her emotions get too out of control she will end up singeing everything around her.

She was against the registration acts, and went to New York to protest them.

If asked, she just says that she is a high school dropout. She did finally find someone to get her fake identification though.

She is a total superhero nerd, always following the exploits of heroes like the avengers (if she meets black widow or captain America she may die of excitement.) she tries to emulate them in what she does, but on a scale of thanos to Superman, she is a solid Deadpool. She had the right intentions usually, but knows that her way of doing things will end up with people, bad people, dying.

She is Ace. She figured that out in her earlier 20’s. She loves cuddles, and if she is in a bad mood, she will totally find any of her friends and do a snuggle fest. She isn’t repulsed, she just has no real interest in all that stuff. Why do it when you can make a blanket fort on the ground and watch movies.

Plots!!

So girl needs some friends, because even introverted hot heads need friends!

That being said, she had a horrible temper, and probably has a few people that just tick her off so much that she gets to her breaking point.

Still with the temper, I would love to have someone who would be willing to help her learn how to control her emotions, as her powers are triggered by passionate emotions, like anger or frustration.

Someone she had confided in about her past. She rarely ever talks about it, but I’m sure after a night of too many drinks or when her guilty conscious caught up with her she would let something spill.

Customers, she is a pretty great artist, and specializes in watercolor scenes and portraits, as well as small busts and statues.

Other vigilante/heroes she teams up with from time to time. She typically works solo, but will work together with others when she has too!

Big name heroes that she knows and is a little star struck when she meets them, because man she acts all tough, but she is a big nerd.

#thephoenixintro #aria intro #tw: fire #tw: death #tw: gangs

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