#is more dramatic XD

[teecupangel]

Ok, so I know there are allot of ideas for the bleeding affect becoming sentient and being the ancestors. But what if it wasn’t? What if when desmond bleeds an ancestor it’s really them from their time dreaming about desmond? So example. Desmond gets out of the animus and starts bleeding ezio, ezio has no idea what’s going on and can barely understand shaun/becs/Lucy. But when he snaps out of it when he sees his reflection or someone calls Desmond’s name. Ezio wakes up like wtf kind of dream is that? Later the name desmond will mean something and he might pay more attention to his dreams.

That’s going to be hard on Ezio though unless we make it that Desmond’s Bleed is special. That, thanks to Isu BS, he’s the only person who can actually connect with his ancestors like that. Otherwise, this brings us the frightening reminder that Desmond isn’t the only person to Bleed as Ezio.

This means Ezio would also know about Clay.

Just imagine the confusion that Ezio would have whenever he and Clay connected. Whenever he takes control.

Especially once Clay learned of Lucy’s betrayal and Juno starts hijacking his Animus sessions to push him into ‘understanding’ the part he must play in the calculations.

Confusion would turn to worry once Ezio starts taking over during those times, feeling Clay’s deteriorating state, maybe even noticing marks and wounds that looked self-inflicted.

Maybe, he was there when Clay finally takes his last breath, feeling it himself and angry at his own powerlessness to stop it.

Sees Lucy’s expression as Clay dies and knows… knows that something is terribly wrong with her.

So when he starts having dreams of another, of a young man named Desmond…

He knows that he cannot trust the blonde woman.

He doesn’t understand what they are saying but he could sense the hostility from the man as well as the kindness the black-haired woman tried to show.

But they were all wary.

Wary of him.

Because they know he wasn’t this man they call “Desmond”.

And it started out like Clay, just seconds before he would be awakened back in his body.

Then longer and longer.

Until Ezio could move for a minute or so without anyone realizing it.

Being quiet seemed to do the job, slouching and trying to make himself small.

This Desmond’s limbs were longer than his so it took a while for him to get used to his body.

He could stay in Desmond’s body for as long as 3 minutes when he heard of his name pass Minerva’s lips.

That’s how Ezio realized why he was dreaming of Desmond.

She called him a prophet.

He was Desmond’s prophet.

He was meant to help Desmond.

And how could he do it…

But the only way he knows how.

He does know if Desmond sees what is happening the same way Ezio sees what is happening whenever he takes over Desmond’s body.

But Minerva had looked behind him when she had directly addressed Desmond.

So perhaps Desmond could only see from behind Ezio.

Ezio wasn’t sure but…

He doesn’t mind doing this as many times as necessary.

He looks into the mirror and stares at the empty space just above his shoulder and he speaks…

“Desmond…”

“If you can hear me, I hope that you can understand me. What I am about to say may sound too ‘ridiculous’ and hard to believe so I will tell you things I have seen. You’re with three people. A woman with blonde hair wearing white. A man who always sounds rude. A black-haired woman with a kind smile. You’re in this strange place with so many different things but I always wake up in this uncomfortable red chair of some kind. I believe that’s what’s connecting you to me.”

I hope that would be enough for you to believe me when I tell you that I can see thru your eyes at times. And you’re not the only person I have dreamed of.”

“There is another man.” Ezio paused for a moment before he corrected himself, “There was another man.”

“And… the blonde woman you’re with let him die. She did nothing as he… as we die.”

“Don’t trust her, Desmond.”

“Whatever she tells you…”

“She’s not your ally.”

[sourtomatola]

Third-ish part to Light switched AU

All of you need to go thank @anangelcalledinquisitor for the ideas cause I had nothing for ideas until they gave me some. Both boys are suffering XD

Original parts of Light switched AU

Part4 | Part 5

Meanwhile, Y/n Be over here like: (flashing image warning)

[drama-glob]

Just look at this dramatic snake boi. ^_^ I love him so much. ^_^<3<3<3

*Also, I love the unimpressed expressions Angel Dust and Vaggie have at Sir Pentious apologizing. XD XD XD

[error-dark]

Eclipse never really kicked Bloodmoon out, didn't he?

I mean, yeah, he did pushed him off the building, but Bloodmoon kept doing that to him. It was more like punishment? or a "see how you like" type of thing. Of course, Bloodmoon's being very dramatic about all of it.

Got me thinking... how would Eclipse react when he realized they haven't been home in a while. Would he get concerned about his sons? (He most likely won't show it, but he probably would get a little bit worried where they're at).

Oh, how I can't wait to see Eclipse's reaction when he hears that Bloodmoon moved into the Pizza Plex. I have a feeling he'd be pissed like "YOU DID WHAT?! THAT'S IT! WE'RE GOING HOME THIS INSTANT!" and just drag them back to Evil Inc. xD

(hopefully we'll find out today or tomorrow).

[vvitchynerd]

an old art redraw✨

"Good evening, miss and sir Crowford" (promised meme lower)

[yuriyuruandyuraart]

annoyed

[michaelatmandelacounty]

Me: [just chilling]

[suddenly my tumblr gets filled with angels, fallen angels etc]

Me: ...😧

[Not even a few minutes later]

Me: [rapidly scrolling through tumblr looking at all the biblical art] oh boy I love angels!

[suddenly finds ebbil]

Me: YES GIVE ME ALL OF IT! OH HELL YES I HAVE REACHED HEAVEN!

[nine-blessed-hero]

Only Shadows Walk Beside

Universe: TESIV: Oblivion CW: Angst, threatening a minor Words: 600 Context: Written for the TES Summer Fest prompt: Companion. Tagging: @tes-summer-fest, @jacqueswriteblrlibrary Also read on AO3

On the hill above the Priory, Divine Crusader Lorinda Rue sits, hugging her knees, as twilight settles a shroud around her shoulders. Three of her knights gone. Her brothers, her comrades. Her friends. She repeats their names: Sir Areldur, Sir Brellin, Sir Geimund. Lorinda presses a face already puffy and eyes already red-rimmed into her knees. Dead, because she wasn't fast enough. Wasn't strong enough. Wasn't leader enough. They knew the risks, whispers a part of her. Did they? Did they? Brellin was so young-! Areldur, for all his faults, so pious and trusting. And Geimund, so skilled, looking for orders…

Lorinda had tried to say a few words about them. Standing over their freshly turned graves, the remaining knights and the new recruits clustered, expectant. But words had failed her; only a sob made it out. She fled. Mercifully no one had followed. Sir Thedret had been so excited on her return – stumbling, confused from the Undercroft. Had named her Divine Crusader to the other's cheers. Then she had learnt of their losses. Divine fuckup, another part of her whispers. Crusader of folly. Her hands ball into fists. No leader, she. This must not happen again. Never again.

–––

The Black Arrow stumbles from the bloodworks. The Basin of Renewal may have healed her physical hurts, but it does nothing for the hollowness of her 'victory' against the Grey Prince. The Raiment of Valor hangs heavy on her shoulders, Matron Andronicus's victory lap making it feel more like a millstone than a trophy. She wants nothing more than to go down to the lakeshore behind her house and strip it off, diving deep into the precious waters. A squeal sounds, somewhere behind her, to the right. Footsteps converge on her location. She reaches for an arrow, spinning– – to find a boy, yellow haired and dressed in green, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "By Azura, by Azura, by Azura!" he squeals, hands bunched by his chest, and looking fit to burst. "It's the Grand Champion! I can't believe it's you! Standing here! Next to me!" The Black Arrow drives her ammunition back into its quarrel. "What do you want?" The boy has a book and stick of graphite. If he just wants a signature… She thinks she could deal with that. "I saw your fight against the Gray Prince! You're the best! Can I…" He suddenly goes shy. "You want an autograph? Sure." "No! Well, I mean, yes, but…" "Spit it out." "Can I follow you around? I won't get in the way, I promise." Her head spins. "What?" "I could– Carry your weapon. Or shine your boots. Announce you to your enemies. Anything you need!" The boy is a bosmer, like Brellin. So young. Her guts churn. Never again. "Please? I just want to follow–" "No!" He stares at her with wide, shocked eyes. "Piss off!" she yells. He takes a step back, autograph book clutched like a shield. "I don't need some spineless, toadying little shit hanging around me." "Are…" His voice wavers, too much courage for his own good. "Are you sure?" "Fuck off. Go on, toerag, get gone!" He takes another step back. "But– I–" In a blur of movement, one of her arrows, with their special fletching, is nocked on her bowstring. Drawn back. Pointing at him. His trews darken at the crotch. "I said: Leave." He utters a wordless, fearful, anguished cry and flees. The Black Arrow relaxes her bowstring, replaces her arrow. Nausea fills her from head to toe. Crusader of folly. She grips at the deprecating moniker as hard as the bow in her bloodless hands. Never again.

[xiao-brothers]

There was just something very beautiful about how Fang Duobing was the defacto protector of the two strongest martial artists in the world purely because he was the only one that was not ill.

[screamingwiththewolves]

A lot of people say Jekyll's flaw is that he doesn't know when to ask for help, which like, I'm sure that's true to some extent. (which i could go on an entire rant about, but I wont, because I get a lil heated about the comment section under page 33...and no one needs to hear that XD)

But honestly, his issue with the lodgers not wanting to do the big showcase event...that strikes me as more of an non-communication thing. Maybe it's just the way I am, my experience in girlscouts, or my mom's attitude towards things like this, but I feel his mistake was not nipping it in the bud. Like the second he heard they didn't want to do the event, he should have found out which lodgers wanted to drop out, and had a talk with them about how basic finances work.

Idk, I just feel like Jekyll gets a bit too much crap for still being very much in a learning curve with the Society. He is a leader of a club that's less than two years old, and has gained 20+ members within that time. XD

But maybe I'm just defensive because I'm from the Midwest and was in girlscouts, and my mom was the troop leader for a while, and she very much had a Jekyll - Lodgers kind of relationship with the parents. XD

[huffle-dork]

Swap Beyond the Crystalverse Chapter 22: Space Inbetween/Epilogue

Co-written with @crystalninjaphoenix Read Swapboys | Read Crystal’s AUs

Other Multiverse Stories: SITCV | SATCV | GITHV

SBTCV Masterpost

The space in between worlds is the same as it's ever been. Empty blackness, lit by glowing green orbs of varying sizes. 

Crystal gasps as they appear here. "Oh! It looks just like I imagined it would! Well... maybe not exactly. Huh. I guess no accounting for what other people picture, too. Collective... shaping." They shake their head. "Anyway. I don't know what I'm talking about. I-is everyone okay?"

“I’m okay- are you?” Huffle asks Crystal as she looks around. “…wow- it’s like… strangely beautiful here. You know- if you ignore the fact it’s like… a void.” 

Bro keeps looking around in anticipation. “I’m good… but don’t relax yet.” 

Alt glitches over to them and pants, “He’s coming-“

Suddenly, a wave of light and heat and electricity surges forward, a concentrated blast of bright power. But before it reaches any of them, it suddenly disappears, and falling to the ground instead is the figure of a man, buzzing and glitching but certainly solidly there. The man lifts his head up, blinking in confusion. He can't be any more than 26 or 27, brown hair sticking up wildly, brown eyes darting around, a bit of a beard on his face and an angry red burn scar around his neck. He's wearing a gray jumpsuit of some kind, with a label on the chest. 001--Before anyone can read further than that he yelps in surprise and his appearance suddenly shifts, brown eyes being overtaken by static, the jumpsuit replaced by a green hoodie and ripped black jeans. "What did you do?!" he shouts angrily, glaring at Alt.

Alt staggers back, eyes wide. He’s- He’s his age? That jumpsuit… right. the rift world had that organization… Psyode. That means he’s… he’s like Alt that way too. Like him and Bro. Alt swallows shakily. Bro also looks a bit uneasy- coming to the same conclusion as Alt. 

Alt steps in front of the others, close to Anti as he stares down at him with bright glowing eyes. “Apparently, we evened the playing field, bitch. You can’t hide from us anymore.” 

"I wasn't fucking hiding from you, you idiots!" Rift Anti says, clumsily getting to his feet. "I wasn't there! I'm not--I haven't been--" He looks down at his hands, opening and closing his fingers. "I... h-have a body again?" His eyes go wide. "I... I, uh..." His body is shaking slightly. 

Alt blinks in surprise, “what…?” For a second, he almost looks sorry for Rift Anti. 

Inverted Anti forms nearby. "It's overwhelming to be physical after so long, isn't it?" 

"Sh-shut up!" Rift Anti snaps. "I-I-I--I have to--" He looks at Huffle and Crystal and suddenly lunges for them.

Alt shouts as he goes after Huffle and Crystal again. Huffle screams and throws out a hand in front of her- and a chaotic beam of teal-ish magic shoots out to push him back. She shakily looks out and tries to shout. “L-Leave us alone! T-trust us- getting rid of us won’t help you!”

Rift Anti staggers and falls backwards, down to the ground of the black space. "Shut up shut up shut up!" he shouts, climbing to his feet again. "It--it has to! I have to do this!" He growls, the air around him glitching and buzzing, and he tries again. 

"Whoa, there." Inverted Anti grabs him by his hood, yanking him back. Rift Anti chokes and grabs his neck in response. "It really, really won't help you. Do you really think everything will suddenly disappear if you kill them and take their creativity?" 

"Yes!" Rift Anti shouts.

Huffle looks terrified. “…I-I don’t… I don’t think that will happen- …I h-hope that doesn’t happen…” she whispers in fear. 

"It won't," Inverted Anti says, looking at Huffle. "Killing you doesn't mean he gets your creativity. And the worlds don't just disappear when you do, if you know what I mean." 

"Y-yeah." Crystal nods. "They still exist when we're not... looking at them." 

“I-I… I suppose so…” Huffle says quietly. She looks… unnerved by that fact. 

“Besides,” Alt says, glaring at Rift Anti, “Just because you were hurt in the past doesn’t mean you get to decide the fate of other universes!” He stands up tall, but his expression softens ever so slightly. “…I’m sorry you got left alone… I did too. I… I remember being so so angry at the world… at everything. I wanted to destroy my life and run back to the past where I thought things would be better… but that doesn’t do anything beside hurt yourself.” 

Bro looks proudly at Alt, feeling a little misty eyed. 

Then, Alt’s eyes slowly widen as he looks back at Rift Anti, “ …are you so desperate to destroy worlds… because you hope it’ll take you away with them…?”

Rift Anti continued to struggle against Inverted Anti as Alt talked, but the moment he says that last thing he freezes. "I--I don't--I--" He shakes his head. "You don't know anything a-about me! You don't! I-I wasn't alone. I wasn't." 

“You weren’t… alone?” Alt asks quietly. 

Rift Anti laughs. "But I am now! And if we all disappeared--if no one was hurt again--would that be so bad?! Would it?!"

“Yes it would!” Alt cries, “hurt is… j-just a fact of life! We can’t stop people from being hurt- but we can learn from it! We can grow from it! There’s some hurt that… shouldn’t happen- but that doesn’t mean not existing is better!”

"Oh don't tell me you've never thought about it, Sparky!" Rift Anti snaps. 

"Most people haven't, actually," Inverted Anti mutters. 

Rift Anti shrieks and turns around to lunge at him. The other Anti disappears before he can reach him, so he spins back around and lunges at Alt, grabbing hold of his hoodie.

Alt yelps in surprise, but he tries to stand his ground. He gives an even stare at Rift Anti before he whispers, “…of course I have…” He goes to put a hand over his. “…but if I did… if I had chosen to give up… t-there’s so much I would have missed… yes- maybe I wouldn’t have been hurt. But… I also wouldn’t have reunited with my brother- made friends… explored worlds I never would have thought of. I never would have found out I can do magic- I never would have found out that I can be… happy again.” He looks sincerely into Anti’s eyes, “…there’s a bit of human still in you, isn’t there? There has to be hope inside you somewhere, right? Maybe… things can still get better? Maybe you can make things better…!”

For a moment, the static in his eyes fade, becoming their normal brown again. Alt perks up a bit as he sees that shift. Something seems to hit... until that last statement. And then Anti starts to laugh. Slowly and quietly at first, and then louder and faster. Alt’s face drops. 

"Better? You--you think that I can just fix being a disembodied mind?! You think that's something that can be undone?! I don't know why I'm solid again here! But I don't think it will last! And I don't want to live in this black space for the rest of my life! I might as well not exist then!" His grip tightens and he pulls Alt closer, a wide grin on his face. Alt yells, trying and failing to hide the fear clear on his face. "You don't know anything about me. About what I've been through! About what my world did to us! A world like that--it doesn't deserve to exist! And I've seen the others, too! They're not much better, Anti! They're not much better!" 

Alt’s expression hardens, “D-Don’t call me that!” He tries to argue, his eyes flashing a brighter green. 

Rift Anti laughs again, the sound somehow sharper, angrier.  “if you don't get it--you'll try to stop me! And I can't let you!" His body starts to emit heat. 

Inverted Anti suddenly lunges for Huffle and Crystal, protecting them as Rift Anti suddenly turns to static and a concentric circle of electricity blasts away from him. 

There’s a flicker of fear in Alt’s eyes right before he’s blasted backwards by the electricity, skidding across the ground before slumping into a crumpled heap. 

As the electricity passes over Inverted Anti he grits his teeth and diverts the lightning to either side.

Bro manages to jump out of the way, then screams as Alt gets hit, “ALT!” He then growls and dives to try to grab Anti. Though- can he even grab him like this?! He’s too angry to be thinking clearly. 

Rift Anti yelps as Bro knocks into him, tackling him to the ground. He immediately starts squirming. His body is hot, like a man with a fever. 

"W-we have to get him back to his world," Crystal gasps out. "I-I don't know what will happen if he's missing from there for too long!" 

"As long as he has the energy from the TRVLR and Magnificent, he can leave again!" Inverted Anti protests. 

"Shit! Uh--c-can you take that out of him or something?!"

Huffle shakes, “…M-Mag could maybe do that but he’s not here! I-i dunno if that’s something Alt can do!”

Crystal's eyes dart around. "Maybe not alone?" 

Anti raises his eyebrows. "You know about Amp? You want us to try that again?" 

"Again?" 

"We did it yesterday."

Huffle looks between Inverted Anti and Alt, “t-that seems dangerous… w-what if it’s too much?”

Bro pins Rift Anti down to the ground and bares his teeth at him in feral rage, “You piece of shit! Alt was trying to give you fucking mercy- which might be more than you deserve!” He grabs him by his hoodie now, snarling in his face, “I always try to see bits and pieces of my brother in other Antis- but you-! Maybe you’re beyond fucking saving!” 

Alt shakily tries to push himself up and hears this, croaking out, “C-Chase…! No-!” He tries to glitch closer then cries out a bit- his body still aching from being hit with that blast. 

Rift Anti glares up at Bro, static filling his eyes again. The heat coming from him increases, burning to the point where it's starting to hurt. "I don't need mercy! I've never needed it!" His voice cracks a bit. "Don't you fucking lie to me about your mercy!" 

Inverted Anti glances over at Bro and Rift Anti. "It might be our only choice. No matter this guy's motivations, we can't let him do this. And we won't be able to hold him off forever." He looks over at Alt. "I'll only agree if you're okay with it, Alt."

Alt looks over at Inverted Anti with wide eyes. He hesitates, “I-I… I-“ Why is he hesitating? 

Bro winces but tries to keep holding on. “Clearly you need something! Something you’re not letting yourself admit! What do you want, Anti?!” 

"I want the people who hurt my brother to die!" Rift Anti suddenly screams. His body glitches and distorts, static hiding his face, and arcs of electricity fly from his body. 

Bro’s angry expression falls, “…y-your what? Y-you have a brother?!” He starts to let go from his shock- then jumps back as power rockets off Anti with a yelp. 

"Not anymore!" Rift Anti shrieks. "Not anymore!" He grabs Bro, holding him as the electricity continues to arc from him, shocking Bro. 

Bro screams in pain as he’s shocked, his body and arms jerking painfully in Anti’s hold. 

"I can try to do it myself, then," Inverted Anti says when Alt doesn’t answer, turning away and glitching towards Rift Anti. 

Alt panics then whips his head towards Rift Anti and Bro as he screams, “CHASE!” He clumsily glitches to try to get to Rift Anti.

Their glitches collide, and Amp reforms, grabbing onto Anti and pulling him away from Bro. "Get the fuck away from him!" he shouts, unharmed by the lightning Anti is giving off.

Anti is shaking slightly, his form still overcome with static. "You get the fuck away from me!" his voice says, crackling on every syllable.

Bro slumps to the ground, groaning in pain as his body still continues to jerk and jitter with sparse electricity. 

Amp’s eyes glow with anger, “I think not! We can’t let you have your way- you need to return to your own world and stay there-!” They shout. They go to hold out Anti by his throat while the other hand vibrates and glitches with building magic. Then they thrust their hand into Anti’s chest in a burst of multicolor glitches, trying to find the foreign energy in his veins and yank it back out.

Anti's body shudders and jolts, and he lets out a strangled noise. 

Amp feels a variety of power in Anti's newly physical body. Mostly electricity, but there's heat and energy of all kind that they have to sift through. But at the core of it--magic. Familiar, dark magic. And around it, something that's not magic at all. Red strands entangled with everything else. Gritting their teeth, they grab the dark magic and yank it out, throwing it across the dark floor of the space in between. A buzzing, swirling mess of dark purple splashes onto the ground. That's that done--but this red energy will take more. And something tells them that's more important. 

"L-l-let g-g-g-g-go!" Anti says, feet kicking. He grabs onto Amp's arm, trying to push him away.

Amp stays firm, even as his arm tries to jerk and glitch into pixels and tries to turn incorporeal without their say so. He grits his teeth and charges up the magic again, trying to shift their hands into claws to grab at those red strands of energy. They put all their power into trying to tear those to shreds, stabbing their arm back into Anti’s chest. 

Anti lets out another one of those strangled sounds, louder than before. Part of them feels bad for him. But they remind themself that this is important. The strands of power seem eager to slip away. Anti tries to hold onto them, a desperation in the way he does, but they persist. Until slowly, achingly, they withdraw their hand, the strands clinging to the claws, pulling out, longer and longer. Amp braces his foot against Anti's chest and pushes, and the strands finally let go. 

They pounce on the strands the moment they're free, glitches and electricity tearing into them, turning them into tinier and tinier pieces. Then they ball them up and throw the remains, scattering them to the winds of the space in between.

 Anti slumps to the ground, falling to his hands and knees. A wailing cry comes from his throat, and his expression can only be described as shellshocked. 

Amp shakily steps back, panting and heaving as they look down at Anti. They’re quiet for a long time- wondering if there’s anything they can even say. 

“…I’m sorry it had to be this way…” They finally say, quietly. 

Bro stares at the two of them with wide eyes, shakily trying to get up to his knees. “Is… is it… over?” 

"It should be soon," Amp mutters. "Sam?" 

One of the green lights on the horizon grows bigger. It doesn't get close enough to take up the whole sky, but it grows to the size of the sun. Maybe a bit bigger. "We need a rift." 

{OF COURSE.} A line of green lightning opens up a rift in midair. Through it, the group can see a city street. And standing on it, a man in a mirrored-eyed cat mask and another in a red and blue outfit. 

Bro stares at the rift then smiles a bit at the sight of the other two. 

Huffle gasps as she sees the rift. “That’s… h-his world? The rift world?” She asks quietly. 

"Y-yeah," Crystal says, nodding. "I recognize those two. The Magician and the Scarlet Blur. Uh, Marvin and Jackie in that world." 

Amp seems to hesitate then grabs Anti by his hoodie and holds him in front of his face. Their eyes burn with magic as they growl, “If you know what’s good for you, Y̵o̸u̵ ̸w̷o̵n̶’̷t̸ ̷t̷r̸y̸ ̶t̴h̷a̶t̷ ̵a̸g̸a̵i̴n̸.” Then they throw Rift Anti through the rift onto the street. 

The moment Rift Anti passes through the entrance the other two on the street turn and stare at him. His form shifts back to that green-hoodie-wearing version, and then the form loses its solidity, becoming just an image again. He looks over at the other two, and then disappears. In an instant, the one in red and blue is at the rift. He stares through at the others, noticing Bro and Amp. "Um--thanks!" He waves, and then the rift closes. 

Bro smiles and waves back at Jackie. 

Amp nods, waving back slightly awkwardly. His body twitches, static shivering along his limbs. 

{YOU SHOULD ALL GET HOME SOON,} Sam's voice says in their mind. {IT SEEMS THE CREATORS CAN GET BACK ON THEIR OWN. BUT LET ME GIVE YOU A WAY BACK HOME, CHASE, ALT... IF YOU'RE READY.} 

Amp suddenly cries out in pain and grips over their chest again. Their arms try to phase out completely, turning into pixels. Then their own body glitches wildly in place before snapping back painfully. 

“A-Amp?!” Huffle shouts out in worry. 

Amp doesn’t answer, breathing heavily before their eyes fill with white and electricity goes to forcibly break them apart, pushing them back from each other in a pixely bright mess. 

Alt skids across the floor, body sparking but- once he stops he… doesn’t move. …it doesn’t seem like he’s breathing. 

Inverted Anti forms again, still partially static. "A-Alt!" he gasps out. "What happened?! Oh! O-oh, he's--he used a lot of energy." Anti glitches to his side. "Maybe--too much energy." He puts his head down to his head to check his breath, putting one hand on his chest to check his heartbeat.

Bro scrambles to his feet and rushes towards his side, “ALT! No no no no!! c-c’mon…! W-Wake up!” 

Huffle gasps in horror, throwing hands over her mouth as terrified tears come to her eyes. 

Alt’s head lolls back as Anti nudges him to a better position, his eyes rolled up into his head. His heart is beating, Anti can hear it clearly, but it’s slow. At first… Anti doesn’t feel any breath… but then it comes- pained and shallow but it’s there. Now that they’re up close, Alt’s skin is very pale, even worse bags under his eyes. Glitches run across his veins but the magic that usually shows up after something like this is somewhat dull. 

Bro is panicking, “I-I don’t think I’ve seen him t-this bad before…!” He whispers.

Anti's eye widens. "We need to get him somewhere they can take care of him! Sam, open a rift to their home world! Now!" 

Sam doesn't even answer, they just cause another rift to appear. Through it is a clinic waiting room. Anti nods. He presses his hand against Alt's chest and sends a bit of electricity into his body, hoping that will give him a boost. 

Alt jerks and gasps, his body reacting to the shock, back arching. His heart starts up a bit more and his breathing picks up a bit more. But he’s still in pretty bad shape. 

"Bro, you get him through. Me and these two will follow." Anti says. 

"I-is he going to be okay?" Crystal whispers, an expression of horror on their face. Huffle is crying, watching all this with fear and panic. 

"He will if we get him somewhere safe!" Anti says. "Bro! Chase!"

Bro snaps out of his panic as Anti shouts at him. “R-Right, Yeah!” He scoops up Alt and with a burst of speed he rushes through the rift and into the waiting room. 

Crystal stares at Huffle with wide eyes, rimmed with tears as well. They won't cry. They won't cry. "I-it'll be okay," they say, grabbing Huffle's hand and squeezing it. "Let's go!" Huffle nods hurriedly and wipes at her face before following after Crystal, holding onto their hand tight.

As soon as the Brody brothers and the two creators are through, Anti glitches through the rift as well. It closes behind them, and the space between worlds is empty.

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

Bro stumbles into the waiting room, breathing heavily. He looks an absolute mess. But he recognizes this place- it’s the Doom Clinic. 

Crystal and Huffle run in. Crystal stops short, looking around. "H-huh. So... this is what it's like," they mutter. 

Dr. Iplier stands up so fast he almost knocks over his chair. “Chase?!” 

Bro almost breaks down seeing his face, his voice breaking, “H-Help- we need help- A-Alt is…!” 

Alt is slumped in Chase’s arms, too limp and gasping for breath. 

Dr. Iplier pales and then immediately fumbles for the intercom. “I need all available personnel stat!” 

The double doors to the waiting room burst open as someone with yellow scrubs hurries in. “Dad what’s-?!” Oliver breathes then his eyes widen as he sees Bro, the rift and, “A-Alt?!” Oliver cries, holding shaky hands to his face. 

Dr. Iplier tries to grab him by the elbow and lead him away, “O-Oliver you… you can’t-“ 

“No-! No I-I have to help! W-what the hell happened?!” Oliver shouts, a mix between angry and scared out of his mind. 

Anti appears shortly behind them. "He used too much magical energy," he says. "It was an emergency. Probably the only way to take care of that motherfucker." He looks down at Alt worriedly. Then back up. "Can you get him a room? Some sort of--of IV infusion, maybe?"

“Yeah c’mon-“ Oliver says quickly and disappears back through the doors, despite Dr. Iplier’s protests. Bro and the others rush after him. They go into the first available room. 

“Chase, set him down then back up,” Oliver says sternly. Bro does what he says, gently putting Alt on the table then backing up. Oliver hurries over, slipping on a stethoscope and putting it against Alt’s chest and leaning his head down to test his breathing. His eyes widen as he looks back towards the others, “d-did he get shocked?” 

“…technically yeah, w-why?” Bro asks quietly, “H-he usually can handle shocks alright…” 

“He’s showing symptoms of cardiac arrest-!” Oliver says, fumbling towards supplies. “Chase, tell the others we need the AED!” 

Bro straightens then hangs out of the door, calling down the hallway, “Oli says we need an AED!”

“Cardiac arr—he’s having a heart attack?!” Crystal gasps, immediately going white as a sheet. 

Huffle gasps and also pales, “no-!” Bro whips around, looking shell shocked. 

“No, he’s healthy, he shouldn’t be having one of those!” Anti responds, glitching to Alt’s side. “And it was Amp who got shocked, I—I-I should have protected him against that!” He looks more worried than anyone has seen him before.

“It’s not a heart attack-!” Oliver says quickly, “he’d still be conscious otherwise!” He pushes to Alt and starts to give him CPR, pressing down on his chest as he explains. “I-It’ll be okay- I-I think you guys got here quickly enough! We just need the AED and we’ll give him a-an IV with Antiarrhythmics..! He’ll be okay… h-he’ll be okay…!” He says the last part shakily, looking down at Alt’s face with clear fear. 

Soon enough, two other men rush into the room, Dr. Jayden and Rhett Doom. 

Rhett pulls Oliver away then hurries to Alt’s side, “Move Ols!” He pushes up Alt’s shirt to apply the AED pads and starts up the machine. 

Jayden goes to hold Oliver as he gently shushes him. The younger nurse is obviously shaking and trying to hold back tears, “it’s okay Oli- it’s okay… what is it? Cardiac arrest? Okay help me set up the IV, okay?” Jayden leads Oliver to the back of the room to look for supplies. 

Bro shakily goes to sit down in one of the chairs, eyes wide as he hunches over and holds trembling hands against his mouth.

Anti glitches back as the doctors approach. The worried expression stays on his face, but he puts a hand on Bro's shoulder, trying to reassure him.

Bro looks up at Anti with tearful eyes. He laughs shakily, “I-I don’t think I’ve ever s-seen you like this…” 

"I haven't felt like this for a long time," Anti says quietly. "About anyone other than Jack, I mean. Even so..." 

Huffle goes to sit by Bro too, staring out at Alt with worry. She wipes at her face then looks at the other two. “…I think… I-I get what’s happening…? Alt used up so m-much magic that… h-his protection against electricity was… cut off I guess. So when Amp… spilt- that shock h-hurt him more than it usually would…” She looks back at Alt sadly, “…. I’ve uh… seen in my own uh, scrying… that when he’s drained… his magic can’t funnel the electricity and -“ She looks guilty again, “…t-that’s one of the tests SCLERA did on him…”

Crystal can't sit down. They stand nearby, shifting from foot to foot nervously. "R-really?" they say in response to Huffle, watching the doctors work around Alt. "Th-that's uh... not 'interesting,' but uh... good to know."

Huffle shrugs, “…magic is… interesting. That’s why I… study it- you know?” She anxiously plays with her hands. 

Crystal glances at Anti. "I-I didn't know you got so... close to these guys." 

"I didn't realize it either," Anti says.

Bro chuckles quietly and goes to squeeze Anti’s hand. “…I mean to be fair- I-I think fusing with Alt probably made you… closer than you’d think, you know?” He looks back at Rhett working on him. “…he really admires you, you know. …ever since you saved us from your world the first time. To know you care… I think he’d like that.” He squeezes his hand again, “ …and I’m glad you’re here too. And that you’ve helped us so much…” He goes to smile tightly up at Anti, “…hopefully soon we can return the favor…”

Anti stares down at Bro. He blinks, unsure what to say for a while. Then he smiles hesitantly and nods. "That's... yes. Maybe you can. Buy you all don't owe me anything." 

"They don't want to return a favor just because they owe you," Crystal says. 

"No, I... know. But... I wanted to put that out there. I-I've been happy to help." He pauses. "And... I'd be happy to... have help too. From Alt and you." He gives a little laugh and shakes his head. "I'm not good with these sorts of things. But... I do care."

Bro laughs too, “It’s okay… I know you do. You wouldn’t have gone on this crazy journey with us if you didn’t.” 

Suddenly, they hear Alt gasp for breath, his eyes flying open. Then he starts to heave and breathe heavily, eyes darting around in confusion. 

Rhett slumps slightly against the table in relief. 

Bro scrambles out of his chair, “Alt?!” 

The others can see Alt’s eyes drift over to them- he looks very dazed and confused. 

"Alt!" Anti gasps, glitching over to the other side of the bed.

There’s the sound of something dropping as Oliver rushes over to Alt’s side, holding his cheek to get the glitch to look at him. “Alt? C-Can you hear us?”

A dazed smile blooms on Alt’s face, “Oli…” he reaches up to clumsily try to hold his hand, even though it’s shaking. “…told you… g-got home…” 

“You were supposed to get home safe, you idiot-!” Oliver says with tears in his eyes, trying to sound angry but his voice is breaking. 

“…m’sorry… sorry…” Alt slurs, eyelids fluttering. 

Anti looks up at Oliver. "It's my fault, I pushed too hard." Oliver looks at Anti with wide eyes. 

"I-I don't think it's your fault, Anti," Crystal says quietly. 

"I... don't know what else... there was to do there." Anti shakes his head. "Alt didn't have to join." 

Alt looks up blearily and tries to shake his head. 

"W-well, Bro was in danger, he would have joined no matter what." Crystal adds. 

Bro looks away guilty, “T-Then it’s my fault- I-if I hadn’t tried to hurt the other Anti then…” 

“Don’t say that Chase,” Huffle says gently, “You were trying to protect him- and he was trying to protect you.” 

“S’okay Anti…” Alt says quietly, “m’okay…”

“E-everyone always blames themselves for a thing,” Crystal says, voice shaking slightly. “A-and no one blames the guy who really deserves it. You know, the guy who wants to destroy the multiverse? If he hadn’t tried to do that, none of this would have happened! A-and, uh, everyone meant well except him, and that’s what counts.” 

Anti looks at them and laughs slightly. “You’re right. You’re so very right. I can see where I get it from.” He shakes his head. “Everything went as well as it could have. We have to remember that, and not regret. I don’t think any of us want the others drowning in regret.”

Bro laughs too, “Yeah… you’re right Crystal… thanks. N-Now that Alt is awake we… we should be celebrating…! cuz we did it!” He grins. “We got the TRVLR back and we saved the multiverse!” 

Huffle smiles, “You guys did…! I… I’m so proud of you guys-“ 

Anti nods, “In any case. Some of those wild rifts might still appear occasionally. But they won’t pose a threat to the structure of a world. They’ll seal up eventually on their own and this will pass.” 

Bro slumps back into a chair, “that’s good about the rifts… those things were so stressful when we dealt with them last time…” 

“Well, there still might be a couple,” Anti says. “But the likelihood of them sucking people in is very rare.”

Alt smiles dazedly and nods, going to hold Oli’s hand. 

Oliver sighs, “I wish saving the multiverse didn’t involve giving me a fucking heart attack…”

Anti nods. “Uh… sorry?” He says to Oliver, unsure if this is something he should apologize for. 

Oliver shakes his head, “It’s okay. Not your fault, remember?” He tries to smile. 

Rhett starts putting away the AED, “Don’t mind Oliver, he’s just being dramatic. S’not we don’t deal with this all the time.” 

“I-It’s different when it’s your boyfriend!” Oliver gasps defensively. 

“You’re the one who decided to date the hero wannabe-“ 

“Rhett!” Jayden gasps as he walks over, “That’s so rude!” 

“Hah?? No wait- Alt’s called himself that before when I’ve patched him up! I swear!” Rhett says, turning a bit red. 

Jayden snort laughs at his twin before feeling around for Alt’s vein and getting his IV set up. “Google should be stopping by soon to make sure you’re okay, Alt,” he says gently. 

Rhett looks back at Anti and gestures, “…by the way uh- hi? Oli told us about you but uh- different to meet in person… guess it’s lucky it’s like really late at night so there’s not too many other patients around.” 

“Hi,” Anti states, looking at Rhett and Jayden. “Yeah, that’s good.” He keeps staring. Unblinking. 

Rhett shivers a bit. “Well uh- I’m Jayden, that’s Rhett- wait no fuck-“ Anti’s staring is unnerving him. “I’m Rhett- that’s Jayden- we’re the PNTs here and Oliver’s older brothers.” 

Oliver laughs. 

“Um, s-sorry for… everything about him,” Crystal says. “He’s not good at being human.” 

“Not really,” Anti agrees. “I was just thinking how you all remind me of others in my own world.” 

Jayden blinks at Crystal with wide eyes, “wait …not human? …you mean he’s not magic like Alt is?” 

“And there’s other us-es??” Rhett says, dumbfounded. “I find that hard to believe. I’m one of a kind!” 

“Says the identical twin-“ Oliver giggles and Rhett elbows him.

“Uhhhh…” Crystal stalls. 

“Not human,” Anti confirms. “Not really magic, either. Long story. And yes, you exist in my world too. But you’re… very… different.”

Rhett and Jayden blink at Anti almost comically. “Fucking hell man- you guys can’t throw all this magic but not-magic shit at a bunch of STEM guys! My brain ain’t equipped for this.” Rhett whines. Jayden pats him on the back. 

Bro blinks and leans forward, “You have the Dooms in your world?! I don’t think I’ve heard you talk about them! What are they like?”

“Well they’re not called the Dooms there,” Anti says. “They’re the Googles. They live with a friend of mine in America and help out with his organization. Charity and shit. It was just the blue one for the longest time. But uh… I suppose you could say he found the other three recently.”

“What?? We’re all called Google there? That’s fucking weird-“ Rhett says. 

Bro blinks then smiles, “Huh- that’s neat! Glad they all found each other then.” 

Huffle gives Crystal a look, hiding a smile. Crystal smirks back. 

“Think of it as your last name,” Anti says. “I don’t know much about them in my world, to be honest. Been a while since I visited my friend. We both have a lot going on in our lives. He’s looking for a magic box, or something…”

Huffle smirks a bit more and covers her mouth. 

“Ohhh okay… still weird but okay.” Rhett nods. 

“Ohh magic box- that feels like a YouTube series I’ve watched…” Bro muses.

Anti raises an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t be surprised to hear that. They have a friend who runs a YouTube channel. Something like that might carry on between worlds.” 

“Heh, that’d be cool! I wanna figure out how to watch stuff from other world’s… I gotta watch Anti’s YouTube stuff- the anti from uh- JJ’s world… that doesn’t narrow it down.” Bro says. 

Anti glances over at Bro. “Sam might be able to help with that. The big one. I’ll talk to Them about it.”

Bro perks up with a big grin, “Dude! That’d be Pog!” 

A cheerful ringtone sings through the room. Crystal reaches into their pocket and pulls out that phone from earlier. “Oh, that means that the way back is unlocked, now,” they says. “Me and Huffle can leave when we want. I uh… might be rethinking this timer on the multiverse travel thing. I mean… what if I want to leave early in an emergency?”

Huffle blinks then laughs a little, “yeah… that might be smart… you gotta show me how you did this though!” She says with sparkling eyes. 

“I-I’m not sure how I did it myself to be honest, but yeah, we can talk about it!” Crystal smiles.

Alt tries to sit up but Oliver quickly tells him to stay lying down. Still, he blinks up at the buds, “…I… I guess you guys should probably leave… y-you went through a-a lot back there…”

Crystal looks over at Alt. “Oh… feels rude to leave while you’re in the hospital, though… are you sure that’d be okay?”

Alt shakes his head with a smile, “S’okay… don’t want you guys trapped in here all bored. Knowing these guys… imma be here for a bit.” 

“Damn right you are,” Oliver huffs, crossing his arms. 

Alt winces but tries to laugh. “It’s fine, Crystal… you guys have your own stuff to get back to, right?” 

Huffle hurries over to Alt and goes to take his hand, leaning down by him. “Y-You’ll message me, right? Lemme know when you’re out and okay?” 

Alt chuckles and squeezes her hand, “ ‘course. I’ll keep in touch more, promise…”

"Y-yeah, message Huffle," Crystal says. "And Huffle, tell me. I mean, you better." 

Huffle looks back at Crystal and smiles, “Of course- you’ll be the first to know!” 

"You guys really should get out of here," Anti agrees. "No doubt you'll be expected back home, if Huffle went looking for Crystal." 

"We, uh... we should keep in contact more," Crystal says. "You and me." 

"That might be weird." 

"Yeah. It might."

Bro laughs then puts an arm around Anti, “c’mon dude! Nothing wrong with keeping in contact with friends! “ 

Huffle gets up and laughs, giving Alt’s hand one last squeeze. “Y-Yeah Anti! Maybe you could give it a shot?”

"Hmm." Anti and Crystal glance at each other. They both shift around on their feet. 

"We've already met a couple times," Anti says. "Might be good to at least keep in contact. In case something... happens. To affect us both." 

"Y-yeah." Crystal nods slowly. "Uh... we can figure some way out. Sam can help with that, maybe? Y-you're talking about Sam from the Bad End, right?" 

"Not so much of a bad end anymore." 

"Hah. Yeah. Things are really looking up there... or, uh... I don't know what time the world is at now... they will be looking up?" Crystal shakes their head. "I dunno, man." 

"Either way. Sam can do it." Anti nods. "They're experienced with sending voices through universes." 

Crystal laughs. They take out their phone. "Um... okay. This is gonna stick around for a bit after we leave." They wave the phone. "So, uh. Put it somewhere safe. And I think it'll disappear eventually."

“Dude what? That’s so cool!” Huffle says, looking at the phone. 

Bro goes over and opens up his arms to Huffle and Crystal, “Well… if you two are gonna go, want a super hug for the road?” He grins.

Crystal laughs. "I-I'm uh, not really a hug person, but this is a special moment, so sure. Just this one."

Huffle bounces, “I’m a hug person!” 

Bro beams and then scoops both of the buds up and gives them a tight hug, lifting them off the ground a bit. 

Huffle giggles wildly, “Bro!” 

"Whoa!" Crystal's eyes widen. "Tall guy!" 

He sets them down then backs up, “Thanks for all your help guys… hope we’ll see you again sometime!!” 

“Y-You can visit anytime,”Alt says, smiling tiredly.

Crystal smiles. "That's good to hear. I, uh... I'll see if I can stop by occasionally. I want to visit other worlds, too." They take a deep breath and put the phone down on the ground. Its screen is glowing a bluish white. 

"You go first, Huffle. You just kinda... step forward and will yourself through."

“Oh! Okay- neat~” Huffle grins. She waves to everyone, “Bye guys! Feel better soon Alt!” 

Alt and Bro wave her off. She steps forward and follows Cry’s instructions, focusing on getting home.

The light from the phone flares, covering Huffle's body, and she disappears. 

Crystal looks back at the others and smiles. "It was nice meeting you! Goodbye! Get well soon!" And then they turn around and walk into the light as well, disappearing. 

Anti scoops up the phone from the ground, putting it on the table next to the hospital bed.

The others all stare at the light as the two of them disappear. 

Rhett turns to walk out the door. “I need a strong coffee-“ he mutters. Jayden snorts then follows after him. 

Bro, Alt and Oliver burst into giggles. Then, Bro straightens out and smiles at Anti. “So… guess you should probably get going too, huh?” 

Anti looks back at Bro. "You sure? I can stay if you want." He glances at Oliver and Alt. "Or not, of course."

Oliver laughs, blushing a bit. “You can do whatever you like… Alt is probably gonna be pretty out of it for a bit…”

"Heh." A hint of a smile traces Anti's mouth. "What about you, Alt? Would you be okay if I left right now?"

Alt blinks sleepily up at Anti, “Mmm? …y-yeah you gotta.. get home and try to find Jack right…? Just…. Try to contact us soon… wanna help…” he slurs a bit near the end, trying to force his eyes to stay open.

Anti laughs. "He wasn't kidding about out of it, was he? Alright, I'll leave you to get some rest." He gently grabs Alt's hand and squeezes it. "I'll reach out to you guys about Jack. I'd like your help, too. See you then?"

Alt looks up dazedly then smiles and nods, squeezing back Anti’s hand. “Definitely.” 

Bro claps his hand on Anti’s shoulder, “We got your back, dude! Whenever you need us!”

Anti jumps a bit in surprise as Bro claps his shoulder like that, and then smiles back at him. "I'm glad to hear that. See you soon." He walks across the room. "Sam?" 

Lightning appears on the opposite wall, opening up a black rift. Anti spins around and gives Bro and Alt a nod goodbye, then heads through. 

The rift seals up again, and he is gone.

Bro, Alt and Oliver wave goodbye. Once Anti is gone, Bro goes to slump into a chair and yawns. “…what time is it? I should let the lads know we’re home.” 

“It’s like 3 am… maybe wait until morning?” Oliver giggles. Then, he looks around, “Actually, let me go set up a comfier room for you too.” He hesitates then goes to kiss Alt on the cheek then hurries out of the room. 

Alt blinks after him then smiles in a love sick sorta way. 

Bro chuckles and goes to sit on the edge of Alt’s bed with him while they wait. “…crazy adventure,” He laughs, smiling down at Alt. He brushes back Alt’s sweaty bangs, feeling a bit of heat come off. Ah… course- fever usually came when he got like this. 

Alt giggles and smiles at Bro, “Yeah…” he then pulls the fixed TRVLR out of his pocket and grins, shaking it at him. “But at least it’s not our last~!” 

Bro laughs and ruffles Alt’s hair. “We’ll think about that later, dork. Get some rest… adventures can wait.” 

Alt snorts but then nods and curls up on the bed. “Mkay…” He holds the TRVLR close to his chest as he lets his eyes fall shut.

[robotnikholmescomicblog]

Yellow Devil appearance! Spaziante's art really emphasizes the goopyness of it in comic form. It really is the game come to life!

I'm also glad they went with its design Mega Man: The Power Battle and Power Fighters. It having a tiny eyehole and a bulky body makes it all the more threatening, especially with the crimson dot of an eyeball! Better than, like, it's Mega Man: Powered Up appearance anyway.

[pixelatedraindrops]

A story told in 4 images 🌡️

Yuma develops an almost dangerously high fever almost collapsing outside the agency and returns to the base per Shinigami's recommendation.

Yakou proceeds to check him, sit him down and get him a blanket to keep him warm (his own bed's blanket) as well as a thermometer to read his temperature. Shinigami remains by her master's side the whole time, with slight concern.

Then he lays him down and tries to cool him off with ice, cold water and uses whatever medicine the agency had during his restless sleep.

The NDA likely cannot afford professional healthcare or a hospital visit, so Yakou's on his own here ;-; Though he doesn't really know what he's doing, he's trying his best. He felt responsible for him. He wouldn't let anything happen to him.

~

Don't worry, it works out in the end c:

After hours of hard work, the high fever breaks down to being only slight. The medicine and ice water worked.

Yakou's relief felt is so immeasurable he practically almost cries, and a very dazed Yuma wakes up with next to no memory of what happened, confused by his chief's exaggerated reaction.

Until he recalls it later and thanks him for tending to him.

💕💊

[blackjackkent]

Rakha and the others trail behind as Lae'zel makes a beeline for the githyanki officer and the enormous dragon flanking him.

"Rider! My time is short!" she bursts out. "Lead me to--"

"Shhhh-sh-shh..." The kith'rak puts up a hand, clicks his tongue sharply. "Such a familiar tone," he growls curtly. "Were I not merciful, I would slice the skin clean from your meat. Yet you are not bleeding - for I am *nothing* if not merciful. Your name, child!"

Rakha can see how Lae'zel is struck by these words as if by a whip. She goes completely still, ramrod straight, eyes widening. Rakha herself feels a surge of anger on the other woman's behalf, anger the beast in her mind immediately clings onto. How dare he--

Images flash through her - of this officer's head severed from his body and fed into his red dragon's gullet. She sets her jaw, pushes the thoughts back and keeps silent through a force of tremendous will.

Nod to Laezel. Go ahead.

(A/N: We get a specifically [HALF-ORC] option here to insist on speaking on Lae'zel's behalf. I can think of some types of characters who would demand to take the lead here, but neither Hector nor Rakha are the type to claim it. Hector because he was a good dude who trusted his friends and Rakha because she has zero confidence that she knows better about the right path through any given conversation.)

"Lae'zel," Lae'zel says crisply, her eyes staring past the officer's left shoulder.

The man looks her over thoughtfully, then nods. "Lae'zel," he echoes curtly. "Proud. Regal, even. You will call me Jhe'stil Kith'rak."

The githyanki words mean nothing to Rakha, but Lae'zel clearly recognizes them and their implication; her head dips deferentially. All of the dominant confidence which she has brought to their battles thus far seems for a moment lost; she is subordinate to this man, instantly and entirely.

"Voss. Knight Supreme," she says respectfully. "The queen's silver. The queen's sword."

"I am who you say," Voss answers coolly. "A ghaik vessel has fallen from the sky, Lae'zel. Thieves aboard have taken a weapon most precious. It is polyhedric in shape, and inscribed with the sacred runes of our people."

It is perhaps a good thing that he is focused on Lae'zel, because Rakha's eyebrows shoot up. She realizes what he is talking about half a moment before the tadpole connection burns suddenly in her brain.

Narrator: You feel Shadowheart's anxiety. The weapon that Voss seeks is the same one the Absolute's followers are hunting. It's the artifact that she carries. Her mind focuses - the giths' suspicion cannot be aroused. They cannot discover that the weapon they seek is right within their grasp.

Well. This is an interesting development.

The Absolutists' hunt for the artifact made sense enough - a weapon that prevented their god from speaking would need to be destroyed. But the gith, it seems, are searching for a more personal reason - Voss's words suggest that the artifact itself is gith in origin.

This makes some sense, as Rakha's brain chews through the available information. Lae'zel has told her that her people have fought illithids for eons, and that the cleansing they seek at the nearby creche is designed to purge a tadpole infection. It is not surprising, then, that a weapon of gith design might also interfere with this cult of the Absolute, since it operates with the use of modified mind flayer parasites.

Voss is still speaking. "Take word to your creche," he instructs Lae'zel firmly. "You are to join our search."

And Lae'zel, whom Rakha has never seen flinch from anything, hesitates.

"Speak up, child!" Voss commands. "Affirm your mandate."

(A/N: TBH Rakha's instinct here is actually to just hand over the artifact. She thinks that the worms will stop being an issue because obviously the zaith'isk is going to work, and if it's a gith artifact why shouldn't it go back to the gith? Gesture of good faith and all that.

Surprisingly, if you do this, Lae'zel gets SUPER pissed and yells at you (and then yells again after the fight), and I'm honestly not entirely sure why? And then Voss just assumes you were the thief in the first place and tells Baretha to kill you anyway. I straight-up can't figure out how to rationalize Lae'zel being so angry, because she doesn't think Voss is a traitor until later in the conversation, and once you get to the creche she gets mad if you DON'T turn over the artifact to W'wargaz.

However, we have another option which still works for Rakha's thought process so we'll just stick with that rather than turn my brain into a pretzel trying to make the other one work.)

Rakha can feel Lae'zel's sudden nervousness through the tadpole connection, an uncertainty that is very unlike her. What is she waiting for? She has said from the very beginning that their best chance of safety was to reach out to her people, to inform them of their plight and obtain their help. Why does she wait?

Mouth a silent command to Lae'zel: 'Truth.'

Lae'zel straightens sharply. "My mandate, Jhe'stil Kith'rak," she says crisply, "is to locate this creche. I was infected aboard a ghaik ship and need to be purified. Your mandate is to aid me!"

Rakha waits for the kith'rak's expected agreement, for him to direct them to the creche and the salvation that awaits there. But he does not move. His eyes narrow and he peers at Lae'zel with sudden attentive interest - and dismay. "Purified?" he says disdainfully. "Soon your skin will go grey and your blood will run silver. You will shed your skin to become ghaik. Only in death are the infected cleansed."

Lae'zel stiffens. Her eyes widen so far that Rakha can see the whites in them.

"Shit," she hears Wyll mutter under his breath.

"Baretha!" The kith'rak lifts a hand, directing his underling forward. His eyes don't leave Lae'zel; he seems to be memorizing her face, her bearing, everything about her. "See that her skull is split and the tadpole crushed! Then examine her corpse. I will take word to the Undying Queen - our search continues."

He pivots sharply, backpedaling as the other soldiers come forward. As he does, his eyes cross Rakha's line of sight and lock there for a moment, and a chill shoots through her, mixed with a flare of rage from the beast.

He is lying.

Narrator: A current of deception carries Voss's words. Wherever he flies - it is not to Vlaakith.

Her mind whirls. This doesn't make sense. The kith'rak has heard Lae'zel's request and denied the purification that she claims is standard procedure - and wants them dead instead. He says he travels to the queen and goes elsewhere. Why?

"Wait--" she starts to snap, but it is cut off into a cry of pain as Baretha's sword sinks into her arm. And then she has no further time to think of anything as the beast insists on revenge.

(A/N: And then I struggled for like an hour to complete this fight without cheesing it, and then I gave up and cheesed it. XD )

----

The githyanki are perhaps the fiercest enemies Rakha has yet fought in the time she has memory of. They move in lockstep, completely in sync, attacking so rapidly that it is hard to keep track of. But even they are no match for Rakha's mad, wild magic that bit by bit tears their regimented battle apart.

Baretha is the last to fall, shredded apart by a cloud of daggers summoned from Rakha's palms, and Rakha's mind slowly clears as she stands over the mutilated corpse and breathes in the scent of its blood.

Emptiness follows the blood-rage, and a distinct note of fear. Now what?

She looks towards Lae'zel. Her gith companion is vibrating with rage and disbelief; her skin is flushed a dark olive and her eyes are narrowed almost to slits.

"Dammit all!" she roars, lashing out with a sharp kick against the head of one of the fallen officers. "A kith'rak demanded my head! He'd deny me a cure!"

She takes a sharp few steps back and forth in agitated pacing. "Bah," She mutters harshly, taking a grip on herself with brutal discipline and coming to a halt dead still. "This is a distraction. The kith'rak deserves the whole of my scorn. How *dare* he speak my queen's name! How *dare* he dishonor her child!"

Rakha listens silently, waiting for the flow of words to stop before speaking.

Lae'zel is furious - but beneath the anger Rakha thinks she detects a hint of something else. Fear. Puzzlement. This has not gone as Lae'zel expected and she is afraid. There is more going on here than Rakha is able to understand, except that Lae'zel - her companion, her... friend - is more rattled than Rakha has ever seen her.

(A/N: I'm 90% sure this dialog has been updated since I played through this with Hector. There are a few more dialog options all expressing more clearly than I recall before that Lae'zel believes Voss is a traitor to Vlaakith because he denied the SOP of purification. In the particular state of things between Rakha and Lae'zel, however, I find one of them particularly interesting. >:) )

She thinks for a moment, and remembers a moment from the previous night with Wyll on the beach. There had been confusion, awkwardness between them, and he reached out a hand and rested it on her arm and held it there for just a moment. Soothing. Comforting.

Lae'zel needs comforting now.

She tilts her head pensively, then reaches out towards Lae'zel's arm cautiously.

Reach out to comfort her.

"SHKA'KETH!" Lae'zel roars. She bursts backwards away from Rakha, knocking the offered touch aside as if deflecting an enemy weapon. The tension that has sat between them for weeks now suddenly explodes, and Rakha realizes too late that she has seen the gesture as mocking given the abrupt ending of their physical relationship.

"I will remove the parasite," Lae'zel goes on, snarling like a wounded animal. "I will see the kith'rak dead and present his corpse to Vlaaktih herself!" She rips her greatsword from its sheathe and turns the point towards Rakha's throat in a quick, spasmodic movement. "Show me pity again and I will present *your* corpse instead!"

KILL, roars the beast in Rakha's head and for a moment she feels her control slip. Were Lae'zel to make another movement, perhaps the beast would take over after all, and Rakha would find her hands around her friend's throat and everything over between them in one great fountain of blood and pain.

But neither of them moves. The two of them - all four of them - are still as statues amid the corpses around them. Rakha is dimly conscious that Wyll has a hand on his sword hilt and an eldritch blast held in the opposite palm, ready to strike - at who she doesn't know.

Lae'zel's eyes search Rakha's, and in that gaze Rakha sees a depth of pain and fear in the other woman that she had not known existed until this moment. She does not understand it, not entirely - except that somehow it is partially her fault. Partially her, and partially this kith'rak who has turned his back on the foundations of Lae'zel's life.

She says nothing, but nods slowly in acknowledgment. And equally slowly, the point of Lae'zel's sword dips, until it falls back to her side.

"A creche is near. That much is certain," she mutters. "We follow the path forward and seek signs of githyanki settlers. No one - not even the ignoble Jhe'stil Kith'rak, will keep me from my purification."

[hannah-heartstrings]

Thiefguard's height difference keeps shifting. Originally I was writing Lecrinn leaning her head on top of his shoulder, then she was leaning it against the side of his shoulder, and now she leans it against the middle of his chest. I have no idea which should be canon.