#is there a version of us where we don’t wind up killing each other

[theclaravoyant]

I’m currently choosing to believe that the Ed Izzy situation is a bit like the Ed Stede situation . because when is it not . because they’re falling into patterns they had before (just sometimes funnier). they’re falling into patterns where they never apologise and never acknowledge the pain , shits just fucked up, they’re just troubled , that’s how it be as a pirate . they just let it sit unspoken because they’ll be fine because they always are and they love each other because of course they do . but they’re also changing . they’re realising what is not healthy . they’re realising that they want things to change and that they have the power to change things between them . it’s hard work. but it’s what love is

[munchkin1156]

Shattered Code- Pt.1

. . .

Soooo, this is my take on.... Well, this is my idea of a universe with borrowers in it! It's a bit short, but I hope you like it. First fic since I came back from hiatus, which was.... Several hours ago. I've had this ready for a while now. Thanks to @i-am-beckyu for beta reading it! Story under the cut...

. . .

"As the leader of the Sageleaf Colony, I declare, you, Snapdragon, an Exile.” Spoke Rainburn, coldly looking down on the Borrower in front of her. “We will take back your Borrower name. You will follow the rules of the Exiled Code, with a burned Soul marking on your neck so you don’t break it. No Water, Nature, Sky, Colony or House Borrower will accept you.”

She sighed, before continuing. “You will be given no supplies. When you leave, the choice is yours to either accept Fate and die honourably for your crimes, or try to survive in a world where everything is against you. Should you return here, the Watch has the right to kill you. Farewell.”

The Exile was then pushed out of the borders, and, knowing that staying here and pleading would only result in a faster death, she ran. She no longer had a name. Snapdragon had been taken back, though, the reason why, in the name of the gods, wasn’t her fault.

Rules one, two and three were the same for each version of the Code.

Rule number one: Never be seen and/or caught by a Bean.

Rule number two: If you do, pretend to be dead, and if you can’t, pretend to be injured. Never let them know you can talk.

Rule number three: Never give a Bean any information over what you are, or how to find other Borrowers, like Colonies, House Borrowers, etc.

What to do now, though? She slowed down once she was certain she was outside of the Colony grounds, wincing at the permanent burn of her new Soul mark against her skin. It made sure that she, and anyone else she would meet, would know what she was. A forever reminding scar that cannot be covered up or undone. After all, Soul magic was sharp, and it didn’t go away.

Rule number four: Do not take back your old name.

As she walked, she looked down at a piece of shattered glass. It was darkish green, and must’ve once been a part of a bottle some Bean had dropped. Shatter… Shatter would do as a name for herself. It was a new name for a new world, and she had given it to herself, so only she could take it back. The Code couldn’t argue with that.

Rule number five: Do not trick non-Exiled Borrowers into helping you.

There was no use in trying to convince Cloven to help her. Shatter knew the moment he saw her Soul marking, even if he wanted to, there was no way he could help her without breaking his own Code. Rule four of the Borrower Code (the Colony version) stated that you never helped Exiled Borrowers. It said you could see it through the marking on their neck.

Rule number six: You may communicate with other Exiled Borrowers, but may not scheme with them to harm or hurt a non-Exiled Borrower(s) nor communicate with those not exiled.

Could she find another one like herself? One thing was certain, She needed supplies. In any case, Exiled Borrowers remained hidden, from both the humans and their own. Any Borrower, whether they be from a Colony, or a House, or a Wind, Water, Forest, or other area traits, would have their own way to try and be rid of her. Nowhere was safe, and everything wants you dead.

Rule number seven: Do not go near non-Exiled Borrowers.

Shatter picked up a pine needle on the ground. There were many of them, as well as pinecones, covering much of the ground. Pine needles wouldn’t work as weapons, and the pinecones, or at least their seeds, weren’t edible for her. Borrower allergies or something. She kept walking, unsure of her destination. 

The silence was awful because she couldn’t hear anything. She could still hear the sound of the birds, or the wind rustling the trees, but it missed the quiet, (near impossible to hear if you weren’t listening for it,) sound of Borrowers talking in Listhen. Outside the Colony was no one. It was a strange name for the language, come to think of it. Tarryl always said it was from Before. When they weren’t called Borrowers and were true brethren of the Faes. Then Tayrn would hit him in the head with the back of her hand and would tell him to stop making up stories. She missed those two.

Rule number eight: Do not enter a non-Exiled Borrower's territory.

She turned a sharp left, reminding herself that she couldn’t go to the trading market. She’d just get chased out. Across the sky, she could see clouds become darker. It was going to rain. She had to find shelter soon, but she wasn’t sure where she should go. Then she heard voices. Non-Borrower voices. Bean voices that were coming closer by the second. “Medo.” She muttered under her breath. It meant danger. Shatter crouched down, hoping the grass would be enough cover for her. It probably was. Beans were incredibly unobservant.

Rule number nine: Stay away.

“-and if you had just listened to me the first time we could’ve fooled them all!” One of the Beans complained loudly as they walked past. The other one sighed. “I don’t want to show them what I found! And it’s none of your concern how it will end..” Once the two had walked off, still bickering, Shatter emerged from her hiding spot. Human Beans were strange, curious creatures.

Rule number ten: Good luck.

Shatter reached a decision. As the sky grew darker, and stars flickered into view, she began to follow the path those humans had taken. Humans meant danger, but they also meant food and warmth. These humans didn’t seem to have any Borrowers living with them, since no remnants of Soul magic were felt around them. If there was a Borrower there, then they were incredibly incompetent for not using any Soul magic. Most likely, it would do as a temporary place to stay.

She couldn’t go back, so she would go forward. She would survive.

. . .

Oh yeah, I have a taglist!!!! I forgot about that!!!! If you want to be added, just comment/dm/ask me!

@i-am-beckyu, @da3dm, @brick-a-doodle-do, @faeiyn-cant-write.... I think that's everyone. Gosh it's been a while, can't remember stuff anymore :D

[a-dumb-sarcastic-bisexual]

I finally got around to watching the clone wars so here are some Ahsoka and Anakin headcanons that wont leave my brain

They both steal each other's stuff and complain when they catch the other one doing it 

As Anakin’s hair grows longer he finds himself looking for hair wraps or something to push it back 

And he stumbles on Ahsoka's stash he borrows them mostly when she’s off on a mission so she won’t complain 

But she suspects him of doing so cause they’re never in the correct spot he also steals some of her simpler hand wraps when he’s training 

Ahsoka's just as bad tho she’ll steal Anakin’s cloaks and shirts all the time cause for some reason the council failed to give her comfortable clothes  

It all comes to a head when Ahsoka is debriefing the council and Anakin and she stops and goes “Is that my head wrap?” 

The change of topic is so abrupt that no one reacts for a hot second 

And then Anakin goes into full-on defensive mode like “What? No your device must be defective cause this isn’t yours” 

Which Ahsoka calls him out because “Jedi’s don’t lie so just come clean sky guy I know that mine. And are those my kriffing hand wraps?! Take those off you’re gonna mess them up!” 

Anakin is still defending himself and Obi-Wan is stepping in scolding them for using this line for their petty and selfish arguments  

And then Anakin says “Wait snips is that my cloak” “Don’t change the subject just cause you got caught” “No no you can’t talk about getting caught you little hypocrite that’s my cloak!” 

Obi-Wan is still chiming in half-heartedly but he knows better than to stop a full-on argument between those two 

Especially when they’re throwing each other words back at them like “I thought you said I should keep warm” “And I thought you said I need a hair wrap with all this hair” 

The argument only ends cause Windu threatens to hang up the com 

After the debriefing ends Anakin calls Ahsoka back and the argument starts right back up again 

Ahsoka always gets ready with her music playing 

And Anakin in true big brother fashion doesn’t want Ahsoka to know he likes her music so instead he’ll just turn on their version of shazam and stands by the speaker in what he thinks is a normal fashion 

It always goes something like this “Master what are you doing?” “What do you mean snips I’m not doing anything” “Oh so you’re just standing in my doorway with your device on for no reason” “Yep” “Okay when well have fun”

And in bratty little sister fashion she turns off her music and lights and leaves him in the doorway 

Later on she makes a playlist of all his favorite songs and sends a link to it 

All she hears is a grumbled “thank you” from the other room 

Anakin also plays his music out loud sometimes and it took a small amount of time to realize the songs Ahsoka complains about the most are her favorites 

He adds them to their shared playlist and ignores her when she plays those songs more 

Over time they make a lot of joined playlists

Some to work out and train to, some to hype them up before a mission, some to wind down after a mission, some to play when they have nightmares 

It’s something that they both enjoy more than they probably should 

Obi-Wan jokes that some of those playlists will be the death of him 

Ahsoka runs abnormally hot to the point where she could wear shorts in winter and Anakin runs cold enough to be confused for a corpse  

Obi-Wan Padme and Ahsoka all agree that he needs to get checked out cause no way is it healthy to be that cold 

They're both fine in their rooms where Ahsoka can blast the AC and Anakin can turn the heater up as high as he needs 

But the common room is where the bickering happens such as “Jesus snips I didn’t realize we lived on Hoth” or “I’m so sorry master that every room can feel like Mustafar” 

I also know that they both get nightmares like Earth-shaking soul shattering nightmares 

Some where they get abandoned some when they can’t save each other in time and some where they have to kill each other  

Not a lot of words need to be said when Ahsoka wakes Anakin out of a dead sleep with tears in her eyes or when Ahsoka wakes up cause Anakin is checking in on her for the third time that night 

They both just grab as many pillows and blankets as they can carry so they can make the world's best pillow fort 

Obi-Wan has grown accustomed to finding them cuddled up on the floor while the credits of a shitty old movie roll in the background  

When they get older I feel like they unlock the childhood nickname status 

Don't get me wrong snips and sky guy are their normal nicknames and will never go away but those are mostly used when they’re out in public or on the battlefield 

When they’re around people they trust like Obi-Wan and Padme you’ll hear questions like “You good Ani?” or “Be safe Soka”

[atsadi-shenanigans]

Feeding Alligators 59 - Plans Within Plans

You deal with a couple of problems.

On AO3.

As y’all don’t got no bear around to announce yourselves, y’all decide stealth is the best option. You start on the peripherals, catch stragglers or small groups here and there. Gale can actually silence a whole room while the others move in and take them out. Astarion is as efficient with his knives as usual.

Y’all find a guy in a cage, lamenting the new cult. Goblins, turns out, have their own god. One this codger (you can’t actually tell his age, but little dude’s talking like an old-timer) refuses to abandon.

Gale lets him out, too.

Eventually, y’all wind up in the main hall at the front, where some goblin version of a biker granny tries to brand you. And then tries to mind-whammy you. So she’s got a parasite. She calls you a “true soul” like them people you fed to the owlbear, and she’s one of them leaders Halsin mentioned, so you suggest y’all talk in private and she goes right along with you.

You barely get the door shut when Lae’zel skewers her. Literally. Sword punches clear through her back, out her front as she gasps, and then Lae’zel kind of flicks the blade. And biker granny falls to the ground in pieces.

“Jesus,” you say.

“We waste our time,” she says.

Biker Granny has a bedroom with another ogress in it (you wonder if it’s the same one hooking up with Man-Wolf, but she don’t seem to recognize you when she spots y’all). The fight is short but mean, and as y’all are looting around, Karlach busts down a door that opens to a spooky hallway. Which leads to an inner temple that puts a sneer on Shadowheart’s face.

“Not a fan of this goddess?” you say, looking up at a statue of a woman in some ancient robe ensemble.

“Selune,” Shadowheart says like a curse. A moon goddess or something. Shadowheart calls her followers hypocrites and a few other choice insults.

Huh. You notice Gale eyeballing her all speculative, but he don’t say nothing.

And then Karlach finds and presses a button that opens a wall. Faerun really, really likes the whole “secret hallway behind a fake door” bullshit.

Below is a fuck off chasm with a ladder disappearing into the gloom.

“Hell no,” you say.

But Gale surprises you by offering to float himself down—y’all watch until he’s swallowed by the gloom—and then fly himself back up. “It’s a Selunite outpost extending into what I heavily suspect is the Underdark.”

You zone out a little. It ain’t murdering the two other ringleaders, and it ain’t getting the worm outta your head, and it ain’t fixing whatever inter personal fuckshit is going on between you and…and everyone and each other.

You ain’t sure how to deal with the other two leaders. One is their general—something called a drow, and the others looks real grim about that—and the other guy is holding a fucking pep rally with another dozen goblins in a room around a dead squidward.

“Fuck,” you say.

Which is when you catch the words “spark powder barrels” and “enough to light the whole place up.” You turn. Find two goblins chatting in the corner.

“What’s this about barrels?” you say.

***

The thing about modern Earth warfare is that people got real, real good at killing other people from a distance. Sometimes even killing people who ain’t in the same room, or continent, as you. Faerun ain’t primitive—that word is loaded with all kinds of racist undertones anyway—but they’re still more used to killing with blades and arrows and spells.

Y’all find a way into the bomb room through Biker Granny’s quarters. You give her cooling body a wide berth.

You and Astarion have been ignoring each other since he chose the lookout option, and he now stands at the edge of the group, cleaning his knives. But you seen him sneak, and you seen him climb, and he’s the best man for the idea brewing in your brain.

And maybe he’ll take it as an olive branch?

(You got nothing to apologize for in snapping at him about Rack Guy. You stood up for yourself, and for Rack Guy. Anybody who’s got a problem with that is the problem.)

“Astarion,” you say.

And he ignores you like a petty bitch. So that’s going great.

Losing your shit ain’t never accomplished nothing. So you reign yourself in, walk over to him, and stop right in front of him. You try to keep your body relaxed and your tone professional. “Astarion.”

He deigns to look up. Give you a smile. “Ah, our illustrious leader. What may I do for you now?”

Murder or lockpicks. His only contributions.

Your righteous huff deflates just a little. That part was uncalled for. Breaking people down to what they can be used for is fucked up farmstead shit.

You really look at him, the minute hunch to his shoulders, the flat eyes, the tiny tilt of his head. He’s a bitch, but that don’t mean you have to be.

Fuck. Damn.

Well, no time like the present. You breathe deep and slow.

“I’m sorry,” you say, trying to ignore the others around you. “About what I said earlier. You’re a lot more than I gave you credit for, and it was outta line for me to suggest otherwise. It won’t happen again.”

Y’all might not be friends, but he’s still a member of the group, and you’d feel like a giant fuckhead going around and making bad feelings.

But…he just stands there for half a second. His face does something complicated—a frown, confusion, narrowed eyes—before settling back on his usual, fake smile.

“Ah, for that, I can only assume you require something outside of my usual repertoire?” he says.

Which…how the fuck does the dirt potion translate something into French??

And ouch. He really took that insult to heart, huh? Fuck.

You close your eyes. “I deserve that. Yes, I’m gonna ask you to do something. And leaving that guy was a dickhead move. But I really am sorry for, for implying that you’re only your talents. Which you have more than two, and that was me being a jackass. But I’m sorry, and you deserve to know it.”

Again, that careful blankness. It only lifts when you show him your baby bird of a plan, all small and ugly and shaking around in the mental nest. He snorts like he can’t help it, and for just a split second, something genuine skirts along the edge of his smirk.

“You’re forming a pattern, darling,” he says.

“If it works, don’t break it,” you say. “It’s how the empire back home deals with everybody.”

“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned something like that,” Gale says. “When this is over, you and I desperately need to have another sit down chat.”

So you can spill U.S. military tactics you learned from the internet to a wizard. Why not.

“And if I run into anyone else skulking about?” Astarion says.

You want to sigh, but don’t. “Still hungry?”

“Always, darling.”

“I guess as long as you ain’t dropping bodies outta the rafters…”

The man lights the fuck up, a kid handed a hundred dollars and let loose in a candy store. He scuttles up the closest ladder with what you can only describe as sheer glee.

“Turning a vampire loose in a den of goblins,” Shadowheart says. “I’m not sure which part is worse. Do you think he can drink himself into a stupor?”

“He got pretty sloshed the night when soldier here stuck her soul in a jar,” Karlach says. Catches your silent question. “While you went wherever it is you went to, old Fangs came back drenched in blood. Looked like he got in a fight with a bear. He couldn’t even stand straight. Then he saw you, well, dead, and he stormed off. Tripped over a root, too, which I only noticed cause he don’t normally do stuff like that.”

…huh. Okay?

Well, he seems to revel in your ideas (when they involve murder or being a shithead). He stopped when you told him to. He was an absolute bastard about it, and he later tried again. But when you told him no, he fucked off (which hurt, you’re beginning to realize, because you apparently have the emotional intelligence of a potato. It actually hurt).

“I think I trust him,” you say, looking up to where he disappeared. “With this stuff, anyway.”

***

Astarion returns with good tidings. There’s a path along the rafters right over to Door Rags and his pep rally. Gale has enough juice to help float up the barrels Lae’zel and Shadowheart can’t hoist up (Karlach looks on like a dog told to sit while you throw a ball). It takes a bit to get everything where you want, but y’all manage it.

You have to step over three dead goblins stuffed into a corner. Astarion catches your gaze and gives you a proud tilt of his chin.

See? it seems to say. Not raining down bodies.

You give him a thumbs up.

Then you sneak off with Wyll to a wall ledge overlooking the rally room. Spot another room off to the side with some magic, floating crystal ball.

“A watcher,” Wyll says. Up close, he smells of mint and some kinda herb—you ain’t sure if it’s soap, perfume, or something he uses in his hair. “Someone is keeping an eye on all this. We’ll want to take that out before any fighting starts. Blind whoever’s controlling it.”

“Can you do that?”

He gives you a warm smile. “The blade will strike true.”

You roll your eyes, but you’re smiling, too. Then you catch voices, and inch further out onto the ledge. Across a wooden bridge, somebody moves. A woman in armor. An elf? Only she’s purple with a shock of white hair.

“The drow,” Wyll whispers, sinking into a crouch next to you. “She’ll likely be a powerful fighter. They’re known for their strength in battle. They kill any of their own who show what they consider a weakness. Which generally amounts to being kind or merciful.”

Because that worked so well for the Spartans.

Wyll must catch a look from you. You say, “I’ll tell you later. It’s stupid and impractical, and usually ends with a couple of people slapfighting each other for status while their nation can’t support itself anymore and collapses.”

And another idea blooms in your head. Which you share with him.

He considers a moment. Nods slowly. “Alright, it seems a sound strategy. I’m beginning to see a pattern with you.”

Which, what the fuck does that even mean?

But y’all need to move. The longer y’all camp out up here, the more likely somebody gets spotted. You both sneak back to join the others.

Previous - Index - Next Chapter

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers CHAOS LINEAGE ー Laito [15]

Monologue

Standing in front of the deep abyss,

a howling wind blows.

These lands are a closed space,

cut off from everything else by a cliff.

There is no exit anywhere.

Now that we have run out of time,

the only fate which lies ahead of us...

is one where we are caught and pulled apart.

As we are confronted with said reality,

it brings along an unbearable sense of hopelessnessーー

ー The scene starts by the border of the World

Yui: ( We have run out of options. )

( This was the last shot we had at escaping this place. )

Laito: These lands are blocked off by magic. I guess someone threw us in here for their own personal enjoyment.

Even by my standards, that’s just messed up.

Yui: Yeah...

Manipulating our memories, making us fight each other...For what purpose exactly...?

Laito: I don’t know. It frustrates me how little information we have. Butーー 

I just don’t want to be separated from you, no matter what. I don’t want someone else to steal you from me.

Yui: ...! I don’t want to leave you either...

( But even so, we don’t have any more time. With no way out, I know that eventually we’ll get caught. )

Laito: Do you want to keep running away until one of our pursuers catches us then? Inside this closed off world.

Yui: Eh...?

Laito: Ultimately, I will be declared a traitor and killed. While you will be taken away.

But want to keep on fighting till the bitter end...?

Yui: Laito-kun...

Selection

→ Let’s run away together!  (♡)

Yui: Let’s run away together. I don’t want to become separated from you ever again...

Laito: I see. I’m happy to hear those words from you.

But I’m pretty sure we’ll be pulled apart either way once we’re caught. I doubt I’ll be killed on the spot. 

I can only imagine that you’ll be the only thing on my mind once I’m chained up inside my cell.

Yui: No way...

→ There’s no point (🖤)

Yui: There’s no point in doing that...You’ve realized as well, haven’t you? Eventually they’ll find us...

Laito: I see. I honestly thought that the idea of eloping together sounded kind of romantic.

Then...I suppose we simply have to make up our resolve.

Yui: ...

Laito: I hope I can at least stay by your side until the moment I take my final breath.

Yui: Until you take your final breath...?

( Actually... )

ー Yui recalls his words from earlier

Laito: If we were to fall down there, I’m pretty sure it’d be game over, even for us Vampires...

ー The flashback ends

Yui: ( If he were to fall from here, even Laito-kun... )

Laito: What’s wrong? 

Yui: Hey...If you’re going to dieーー 

I want you to take me with you.

Laito: ...Eh? 

Yui: If the only other option is to be separated, then I’d much rather just stay together till the very end.

Yui:  With how steep this cliff is, even a Vampire like you wouldn’t survive a fall from here, right?

Laito: Aah...That’s what you mean, huh?

Yui: If there’s truly no other options left, then I want to stay with you at the very least...

-> BRANCH: EUPHORIA ENDING

The game does not tell you if you are in the Euphoria or the Labyrinth branch. In the Euphoria version of this chapter, this is what Laito’s first line after the branch looks like:

飛び降り...か。悲恋の主人公達としては悪くない結末なんじゃないかな。

Laito: You want to jump down...huh? I guess that wouldn’t be a bad way for us to end our tragic love story. 

Yui: Eh...? 

Laito: If that’s what you want, I’ll even drag you down to Hell with me. 

I actually won’t let go with you...You’re fine with that, right?

Yui: Of course!

Laito: Okay. ...Thank you, Yui-chan.

In that case...Let’s go together.

ー The scene shifts to the entrance hall of the Violet Manor

Kou: What is going on, for real!? I can’t believe the others suddenly stormed us like that!

I thought they were locked up in the dungeon!?

Azusa: I-I don’t know either...!

Ruki: You must be very confident to chit-chat about trivial matters in front of the enemy.

Kou: Why do we have to fight with this guy out of all people? ーー Kuh...

Azusa: Kou? What’s wrong...!?

ー Kou gets a dizzy spell

Kou: For some reason...I’m incredibly dizzy...Guh...

*Thud* 

Kou: Uu...What’s going on...? There’s several images...flashing through my head...Aaah...!

Azusa: Kou!? Kou, hang in there!!

Ruki: What’s this? I do not know what kind of act you’re putting up here, but you better not believe you’ll be able to catch me with it.

*Cling* 

Azusa: Ruki...san...! Stop, please! Don’t hurt Kou!

You can cut me down as many times as you want, okay...?

Ruki: Such ridiculous brotherly love. Rest assured, neither of you will make it out alive.

Azusa: No way...

Kou: ...Wait...Ruki-kun...

Azusa: Eh...?

Ruki: Hah...?

Kou: Why are you...pointing your sword at us...?

Can’t you tell who we are? ...Ruki-kun...

Ruki: Such nonsenseーー

ー Ruki starts to remember as well

Ruki: ...What is this...?

*SCENE SHIFT*

Subaru: Damnit! What happened to their fuckin’ plan, huh!?

The situation won’t hold for much longer!

Shuu: Haah...What a drag. I’d like to get this over with soon.

Subaru: As you wish!  I’ll crush you real quick!

Reiji: What are you doing, Shuu!? Hurry up and take care of them.

Shuu: No need to tell me.

Subaru: Two against one, huh? Fuck...!

*Woosh* 

Ayato: Woah there! Mr. Sleepyhead! I’ll take you on instead!

Subaru: Wha...!? 

Shuu: Haah? You’re from the Orange House...Why are you helping out the enemy?

Kanato: You still haven’t remembered? As the oldest of the family, the two of them act cocky all the time, yet you haven’t even grasped the situation?

Honestly, I am beyond disappointed.

Subaru: N-No...Explain it to me as well. Why would you two...?

Ayato: Shut up, we can do that later! We still don’t quite get what’s goin’ on either after all.

Subaru: Haah?

Kanato: I believe it was probably Laito. Also her blood. That is what helped us remember. 

Fake brothers and a pointless war. You better believe I am not letting myself get caught up in such a mess and die as a result.

Ayato: I don’t know what that guy’s plans are but...

If he ran away with Chichinashi, I’m sure he has somethin’ in mind.

In that case, I’ll hang on until then!

*CLING*

Shuu: Kuh...!

ー The scene shifts back to the cliff

Yui: ( You really can’t see the bottom. I guess this is what you’d call the ‘pits of Hell’? (1) )

Are you...sure? If we dive down, we’ll most definitely...

Laito: You’re the one who brought it up though. Getting cold feet now?

Yui: No! That’s not it, but...

Laito: I want to be with youーー

...Until the bitter end, no, for eternity.

I’ll be there with you no matter what happensーー So let’s go together.

Yui: ...Yeah...

Monologue

Grabbing hold of each other’s hand,

we stood by the edge of the abyss.

In front of our eyes,

stretched an endless, bottomless pit.

If we took even one step forward,

we’d fall straight down.

However...

Even though I was standing on the verge of death,

my mind felt at peace.

Laito-kun is right there besides me. 

The joy from being able to go together,

surpassed the fear of death.

We looked at each other one last time,

exchanging a tight embrace.

And then,

we dove into the abyssーー

Laito: Yui-chan...Let’s go together.

Yui: Yeah...!

*Rustle*

Yui: Ugh...ーー

( The wind pressure is intense...Almost as if my whole body is being ripped apart... )

*Woosh*

Yui: Kyahーー

ーー Ah.

( Swept away by wind...I’m drifting apart from Laito-kunーー )

Laito: No!

*Rustle*

Yui: ...Laito-kun...

Laito: I refuse...to let go of you...

Don’t worry...As long as we’re together, there’s nothing to be afraid of...

Yui: Yeah...I know...!

*Rustle* 

Yui: ( I don’t care how or where. From here on out, we’ll be together foreverーー )

*Twinkle*

ー The screen fades to white

Yui: ( Eh...? )

( The strong gust of wind from earlier is gone. )

Laito: ...Is this... a light?

Yui: Look at the sky...The landscape is slowly fading away.

Is this what dying is like...?

Laito: Good question. I’ve never experienced death before, so I can’t say for sure but...

It’s very pretty...

Yui: ...Yeah...

( The orbs of light are steadily increasing. My consciousness...is growing faint... )

[EUPHORIA END]

-> BRANCH: LABYRINTH ENDING

The game does not tell you if you are in the Euphoria or the Labyrinth branch. In the Labyrinth version of this chapter, this is what Yui’s first line after the branch looks like:

一緒に飛び降りよう。それで、終わらせよう。

Yui: Let’s jump together. And put an end to it.

I don’t want anyone else pulling us apart.

Laito: ...I can’t believe you’d come to that conclusion...You must truly feel like there’s no other option left, huh?

But I feel the same way. If there is no way back, I want to stay with you till the bitter end.

Even if that means choosing death.

Hey, Yui-chan...Will you die alongside me?

Yui: ( If we stay here under the current circumstances, I won’t be able to stay together with Laito-kun. In which case...I know my answer. )

...Yeah, of course.

Laito: I’m glad. I was worried what I’d do if you were to turn me down.

Yui: As if I’d ever do that?

Laito: Right.

Well then...Let’s hold hands, and go together?

Yui: Yeah...

*Rustle*

*Woosh*

Yui: ( We’re going to...jump down from here. )

( Even though I’m the one who brought it up...I’m a little scared... )

Yui: Laito-kun...Don’t let go of my hand, okay?

Laito: ...Yeah. I won’t let go, no matter what happens.

Yui: Thanks.

Laito: Well then, off we go? So we can be together forever.

ー They jump off the cliff

Yui: Ugh...ーー

( The wind pressure is intense...Almost as if my whole body is being ripped apart... )

( Oh no...I’m going to let go of his hand...! )

*Rustle*

Yui: ( Ahーー )

Laito-kun...!

Laito: ...Shootーー!

Yui: ( He let...go. )

( His hand is...moving further and further away... )

( ーー No! I don’t want to fall alone!! )

( Even though we promised to be together... )

( And that we’d be together until we both take our final breaths... )

( He said he wouldn’t let go, no matter whatーー )

( ...You...liar... )

[LABYRINTH END]

Translation notes

(1) 奈落 or ‘naraku’ is the Japanese word for the Buddhist concept of ‘Hell’, being ‘Naraka’. 

[jfk555]

Arcane Analysis: Jinx and Caitlyn

I keep seeing people mention this offhandedly, but I have yet to see a long-winded analysis about it, so instead I will provide it.

Jinx and Caitlyn are foils

I’m a firm believer that if Caitlyn had been born in Zaun, and Powder born in Piltover, they would have turned out just like each other. Caitlyn and Jinx are cut from the same cloth, and are wildly similar. Both are considered misfits and don’t have any friends, both rely primarily on intelligence rather than strength, both are talented marksmen, and both are deeply insecure. (I also think both are autistic, but that’s a whole other thing). And there’s also the obvious of them being the two people who love Vi the most and are the two most important people in Vi’s life.

But where they differ is in morality. Caitlyn hates violence and despite being a sniper, steadfastly refuses to kill. Jinx does…not, to say the least. But she used to. In Act 1, Powder is a pacifist who seems horrified by the idea of killing. And then she goes through unimaginable trauma and makes some poor decisions and becomes almost a funhouse mirror of both Caitlyn and the person she used to be. Caitlyn is what she should have been, she’s the future she was robbed of as a child. She’s what Powder was always meant to be. And in a way, Jinx represents the same for Caitlyn: a possible future if she’s not careful. If their positions had been switched, (Caitlyn being born in Zaun and Jinx being born in Piltover), they would have ended up just like each other. Caitlyn does not have the skill set to survive in Zaun, just like Powder didn’t, and probably would have been faced with the same choice Powder was: die, or adapt. As for Powder, she definitely would have become a scientist at the Academy, but I could definitely see her being enchanted by the Enforcers the way Caitlyn was, and maybe she would have primarily made bombs for them or other weapons and armor.

I also think this is part of why Vi falls in love with Caitlyn over the course of two days, because Caitlyn reminds her of Powder. She has all the qualities she liked but can no longer find in Powder. Vi herself even compared them when she saw Caitlyn’s conspiracy board ( which we need to talk more about as a fandom, because Caitlyn is canonically a crazy conspiracy theorist). “ And I thought Powder could get obsessed!” Vi sees it.

So why do they hate each other, and are they aware of this? Well, Jinx ruined Caitlyn’s life, so Caitlyn has every right to hate her. She also just doesn’t know much about Jinx and has no idea about this similarity. She would also be deeply offended and in denial if someone brought this up to her, so.

But what about Jinx? This may come as a surprise, but I say she is painfully aware of this. Would she ever admit it? Absolutely not, but she knows it. She hates Caitlyn for two reasons: the obvious one we’re presented with, that Caitlyn stole Vi from her or is manipulating her sister, and that she’s deeply jealous and resentful. She knows that’s part of why Vi likes her so much, because Caitlyn is a better version of her, and she sees Caitlyn as a representation of everything she’s lost. Not to mention the fact that Jinx hates everything about herself, but most notably her childhood self, so of course she’s going to hate someone who reminds her of her childhood self.

One of my biggest wishes for season 2 is that they explore this concept more.

[talenlee]

Speed in Pokemon

In the context of Pokemon competitive play, speed is not everything but it is a lot.

Pokemon is a turn-based game. In the context of a generic, simplified version of the game, acting first is a highly valuable advantage. If everyone hits everyone for 3 damage, and everyone has 10 health, the person who hits first will kill their first opponent, then score an extra hit on the next opponent, and this advantage cascades. Now, Pokemon isn’t that simple a game, and there are a lot of multiplying advantages but one of the things in that advantage space is wrestling over getting to be faster, because being faster is incredibly important.

Now there’s even more to this in that Pokemon don’t have fixed stats. In order to give the Pokemon more individuality, each Pokemon has what we call a ‘base’ stat value, but then a combination of factors – like their level, how they levelled up, and individual genetics of each Pokemon – they can have a range of how they express those stats. So Electrode has a base speed at all levels of 150, but at level 100, that can be a speed of 222 or a speed of 139, or almost anywhere in between. Now that is pretty quick, but consider that this means the slowest Electrode is slower than the fastest Gholdengo, a Pokemon that’s definitely seen as fast but certainly wouldn’t be in the running for what people consider ‘the fastest.’

But then there’s also priority moves. Some moves have as a trait of what they are, the ability to happen faster than normal actions. This system at first was just ‘these moves happen first’ but then, as with so many designs in Pokemon, this idea got permutations, so there are moves that happen firstest, thanks to extremely high priority, and there are moves that have to happen last, thanks to having ‘negative priority.’ This is useful for some moves that need to be able to work faster than other moves to make sense. Protect, for example, prevents you from being damaged by an attack – if it goes off after an attack that’s pretty useless. These create ‘priority brackets’ – the game looks for the move with the highest priority (which can be +5 at the highest point), does all the moves in that priority based on the Pokemon’s speed, then down the next Priority, then down down down. Now normally, with two to four moves being used, these brackets don’t really have to be complicated – people aren’t usually going to be using multiple moves in the same priority bracket unless it’s at 0.

But then also in addition to this, some Pokemon moves change the speed of the Pokemon, or of the Pokemon’s opponents. Moves like Dragon Dance improve the speed of the Pokemon that uses it, and moves like Tailwind temporarily improve the speed of your whole team. Some attacks bring speed reduction with them as well – the seemingly unimpressive Icy Wind doesn’t do a lot of damage, but you’ll see it a lot in competitive Pokemon, because it slows down both opponents by ‘one stage’ – it on its own, it reduces your opponents’ speed to 2/3rds of what it was. To use our Electrode example, the fastest electrode gets hit with a Icy Wind and suddenly they’re slower than that Gholdengo I mentioned.

Am I forgetting anything in speed –

Oh yeah! Ties! What happens if two Pokemon have the same speed stat? Well, the game flips a coin. And in the context of the top tier of play of the game, where people are making optimal choices and the Pokemon are all being sculpted to be perfect to their task, these can happen a lot of the time. It’s not as common for two Pokemon to wind up on the same speed when people have been doing things to mess with speed in these fractions, but it’s not impossible to happen.

Oh! Oh and uh, Trick Room! Okay yeah, Trick Room, so Trick Room reverses the order of everything within its priority bracket. Which doesn’t mean the lowest priority moves happen first; highest priority moves still happen first, but in reverse speed order. Then next priority, again in reverse speed, over and over all the way down the stack. This means moves like Protect and Helping Hand still do their job, and even in Trick Room, Prankster Pokemon –

Oh yeah, Prankster Pokemon are Pokemon with Prankster, an Ability, which isn’t a move. They get improved priority on some non-damaging moves, but only if they’re firing off on non-Dark pokemon. There’s some unclear wording here, but the point is, Prankster can grant some moves priority, which also can relate to speed.

Anyway, Trick Room is a way to turn the slowest Pokemon into the fastest Pokemon, for the five turns of Trick Room. If you increase speed in this, you’re going to make your Pokemon move later. But you might want to do that anyway when the Trick Room is fading because you can time it so you slow your opponent down or speed yourself up juuust as the Trick Room effect ends.

I didn’t actually know, when I started this, what I was going to do with this. At first I thought I’d give you a rundown on what speed tiers are, on the balancing math between being faster or tougher, and how they don’t necessarily work out between one another. But what’s really remarkable to me, now I look at this, just explaining the basics has taken all these words, all this time, and all that is just explaining how the speed system works.

This is all just one part of the combat system, and it’s a really important one. Speed is a mechanic that needs to function with all these details and layers in a way that the other stats – the two types of attack and defense and hit points don’t. For the most part, the math of how those stats work is just comparative. Attack gets measured against defense, special attack versus special defense and that’s kind of all it needs to do.

But speed?

Speed has to work a lot of different ways. And you need to be able to track these values real quick, consistently, every time, while people are doing things to change and adjust them.

Speed is really, really important to playing Pokemon well. It’s not everything.

But it’s a lot.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[user00142]

September 15, 2024 9:50PM

I’m so tired of this never ending cycle, these old repeating thoughts, and self-sabotaging behaviors. At this point, I no longer hold the same hope that I used to. I’m barely keeping myself afloat. I hate what I see in the mirror. I waste each day by being on my phone or maladaptive daydreaming the entire day. I’m hung up on my ex who only talks about sex with me. I’m not who I want to be. I’m nowhere near where I want to be. I’m miserable all the time and I constantly feel like I also make the energy in the room miserable just because I’m in it. I feel like the people who know me dislike me because I’m not a great communicator, nor am I friendly. I say words that I don’t mean. I’ve ruined my friendships because I don’t maintain the relationships I have. When I was a child, I imagined my older years to be full of life. Now, all I do is sleep and daydream. I wasted my youth daydreaming of a perfect world. I’m so fucking sick of myself. I’m everything I despise. I want to fix myself, reinvent myself, kill this version of me and wake up anew. These days I feel like I’m too far gone to ever truly be whole again which is so fucking dramatic btw because I have it easy in comparison to other people who actually have real problems. I’m privileged to be able to go to college, to get an education without having to work while studying, I don’t gotta worry about my tuition, my meals, etc. I am able-bodied, I am fortunate, I am young and I have so much ahead of me. So, why do I feel so black and white? Perhaps it’s because I’m constantly giving attention — power, to all this negativity. Sure, I struggled a lot with social anxiety as a kid; I have low-self esteem, I got bullied for being ugly, I felt unpopular and irrelevant because I only had small circle of friends while my friends had other friends. But I’m not there anymore. I’m not 13 anymore. I don’t feel as socially anxious to the point that I couldn’t talk to people, even my own family. I’m not 14 anymore, I’m not in the classroom sitting with my friends as they tell me about my flaws and pick me apart with their words that were like daggers to my skin. I’m not 15 anymore — 15, when my dad went to his hometown saying he was going to start a business there, but he didn’t come back and ended up having a child with another woman. I’m not 16 anymore, I don’t feel as scared to tell my mom that I love a boy. I’m no longer 17 — no longer at that time when I didn’t want to break up with my boyfriend but I felt like it needed to be done because my mom losing her job made me realize how poor we actually were and it made me feel like I shouldn’t have that much fun in life, that I needed to stop having my head in the clouds. I’m no longer 18 and definitely not 19. I’m 20 now and I don’t want all those negative experiences to define my 20s because this is the time when I should have fun, when I should live my life to the fullest and make each day count. I just wanna let go of this heaviness here, burn it all down and scatter its ashes in the wind because I’m 20 now, and at 20, I should rise like the fucking phoenix. 

[carlageddon]

Now where was I?

So, after a small stint in Arkham... I mean.. Hospital, I’m now back.

The day before I went in to Hospital, I had family over which meant my Brother-in-law and I could go into Games Workshop to have a look - he too hasn’t been in one since the 90s.

The miserable bastard that I had a run in with, that I mentioned on a previous post, was working. I’m not sure if he had caught wind of my rantings to a sister-store about his attitude, or maybe he just got laid recently, but it was like talking to a different person. Maybe he just hated me and liked my Brother-in-law? 

Any way. We talked about the same sort of things. I wanted to get into playing the games, but don’t really have any friends. The ones I do have, don’t want to buy anything themselves and don’t want to play games that take 12 hours and you have to use tape measures, templates, make sacrifices to the old gods, or anything other than, roll a dice and move... it’s why we stick to a simplified rule-set of HeroQuest. 

He was instantly showing us how Warhammer: Age of Sigmar had dramatically been “streamlined” since the days of Warhammer: Fantasy. He took us over to the table where he’d set up some starter sets, and briefly talked us through the combat, which did seem a lot easier (I appreciate there is still a tonne more to it than that, but with the refreshed attitude it made the world of difference). 

We looked through the different started box sets as well choosing which ones we should go for (I seriously think, if the guy at the store was like this on my original visit I think I’d of walked out with a few starter sets). 

Sadly my Brother-in-law lives on a different planet in a different country we can’t get together to play anything which is a shame. However, due to the marvels of technology, we are trying to come up with a game we can play, using something like FaceTime to video call with each other over a game, both buy the same game and extras and play that way. 

If anyone has any experience playing any of these sort of games virtually (doesn’t even have to be a Games Workshop branded game) let me know.

We looked through pretty much all the box sets that were in the store. We figured Warhammer 40K, Warhammer: Age of Sigmar and Lord of the Rings would be too ‘large’ to try and do this. Kill Team would be too long & Complicated for two people to try and copy what each other were doing. Blood Bowl was a possibility, but again, both of us would of had to manage each others players on each of our own boards... then he suggested Warhammer Underworlds.

It’s played over tiles, so no tape measures or templates. There are only a few figures each side (known as Warbands) so easy for two international players to maintain two “mirrored” games. The box set gives you standard figures. 

I told the fella in the shop that I was about to go into surgery, so there was no point in me buying anything yet. I don’t think he believed me. 

However once I got out of hospital, my girlfriend, feeling sorry for me, said that if I got a game, she would learn to play it with me (this is a big thing, she hates the hobby and I don’t think she quite understands it’s always going to be a little more complicated than snakes and ladders). So I brought a copy of the Warhammer: Underworlds Starter Box.

So the first step is done. I have brought the starter game. (I see there was a Warband of Crooked Moon Goblins.. I do like me a goblin or two... more on this Warband add-on later). Now to convince my Brother-in-Law to get the same starter set... he’s trying, but will have to come over to the UK later this month to pick up an English version.

So far so good. Let’s take it out the box. See what we got. Boards, Dice, Cards, Miniatures on Sprues.. rule book.. OK let’s spend the first half of the day, making the miniatures up.. (had to wait another day to Amazon some clippers and a knife).

OK the 8 miniatures have been assembled. They all clip together so no need for Superglue just yet. Really like the modern figures. I am going to avoid painting these until I am a little better.

Now on to learning how to play. Let’s have a look at the Rule book... I mean.. it can’t be that complicated can it? 

   “History of the Underworld... something, something, tree, something, something, undead ghosts, something, something, Gold Army, something, something, what’s in the box, something... to start a game of Warhammer Worlds first roll the dice, if it is a Thursday and the Sun shines brightly and there are birds in the sky and if you had egg for breakfast you can put a figure down but not before you clap your hands and do the dance of the midnight monkeys.....” 

  I’m starting to get a bit lost. Maybe i’m stupid, maybe it’s the pain medication, maybe I need to go to Wizard School for a couple of years?

I know I will go to my local Games Workshop and ask for advice. Surely anyone that works there will have to know the rules of the games they are selling?

Bearing in mind, this is the first time “out” for two weeks. I’m still not great on my feet. I meet up with my flat-mate for lunch first. We nip into Games Workshop and there is a little Canadian Dwarven girl, on her own struggling to stack the top shelves. She doesn’t seem to chatty.

...you know.. maybe it is me that’s the problem...?

 I ask if she knows how to play Underworlds. She didn’t. That ended that conversation. 

(I’d of thought due to the nature of the business, all staff should know the basics of all their games, so it makes it easier for them to sell them, when I asked which games she plays, she replied. None. She just likes to paint. Well Gimli, on that basis I could do your job). So I decided to show my flat-mate the game, which led me to buy the previously mentioned Grinkrak’s LoonCourt Warband addon. Who doesn’t love a good group of Squigs & Goblins.

A week later and we venture out further and I visit the Gloucester store, I like visiting this store. The staff in there are super friendly, knowledgeable and always make the time to chat. The younger lad there knows Underwolds quite well and invites me to come in on Sunday afternoon so he and another member of staff, will gladly go through the game and teach me the rules. 

Then because of how nice the guys are there, I ended up buying another couple of Warbands - to be honest, it wasn’t a hard sell... “Gryselle’s Arenai has only just come out today..” Yeah OK then..

The Exiled Dead and Gryselle’s Arenai. Wonder if there is a list of all the Warbands out there?

I’m looking forward to Sunday and I know I’m going to end up buying more... 

I’m hoping that I enjoy the game and I can pick up the rules so I can teach my girlfriend and my Brother-in-law how to play.

Stay tuned folks and I’ll let you know how this journey goes.

[dailyaudiobible]

03/02/2023 DAB Transcript

Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalms 45:1-17, Proverbs 10:22

Today is the 2nd day of March welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it is fantastic to be here with you as we get ourselves acclimated and adjusted into this brand-new month the third month of the year. Here in the rolling hills of Tennessee where we are we should be seeing signs of spring before this month is over. Maybe not in full swing. Who knows, but maybe not in full swing, but they’ll be signs that winter is coming to a close and a little bit longer days here. They’re…when the time changes daylight savings time changes it gets dark so early and so I’m looking forward to the longer days this month begins, or at least I start to notice. But enough about all of that. We are here around the Global Campfire today to take the next step forward in the Scriptures, and that next step will lead us back into the book of Leviticus. We are reading from the New International Version this week. And today Leviticus chapter 25 verse 47 through 27 verse 13.

Commentary:

Okay. So, in our reading from the Gospel of Mark today Jesus asks a question two times. He asks the same question twice in two different locations to different people in different contexts, revealing two completely different postures and we’re invited to examine those postures. So, Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem. He is going to die in Jerusalem. On His way to Jerusalem He's telling his disciples...and we experience this in the Gospel of Matthew as well. He’s telling His disciples what’s gonna happen when they get to Jerusalem. And then James and John, after Jesus tells them we’re going to Jerusalem and I am going to be handed over to the Gentiles, I'm to be beaten, spit upon, flogged and…and killed, but I will rise again in three days. That’s like such a weighty conversation when I think about it, walking along the road and this is what your rabbi is telling you. This is what the one you believe in is telling you. But He gets done with telling them what's gonna happen and then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come to Him and they say we want you to do whatever we ask you for. And it's here that Jesus asks for the first time, “what do you want me to do for you?” And what they want is to be elevated in position above the other disciples so that they sit, one on His right and one on His left in His glory. And Jesus tells them, “you don't know what you're asking for.” And He has a conversation with them that ends up saying this isn't what we’re going for here guys. This isn't a hierarchy. There aren't places of position that you ascend to in this kingdom following me. “If you want to be the great one, then you need to descend and humble yourself because the greatest among you will be your servant. And if you want to be first then become the servant of all because I didn't come to be served. I came to serve.” That is…that is so poignant that there isn't an experience of this in the Gospels that it doesn't make me stop for a second because we behave any other way but this a lot of the time. And yet this is how God's kingdom is set up. And, so, there isn't something to ascend to. We’re really trying to out serve one another. And if everybody is trying to serve one another than the lack is gone in this world and we are taking care of each other in big and small ways every day all day restoring and putting back together what is broken. This begins with this posture of trying to become a servant to those around us. And to put this in perspective, we believe Jesus to be one with the Father. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is God. God came here not to be served but to serve. God did that. God! And, so, this darkness of the reality is that if…if we aren't following in that posture, if that is not what's being cultivated with in us than we’re not following. All this is happening on the road and they wind up in the city of Jericho for the final push up to Jerusalem. And there passing through Jericho and a blind man who we’re told in the Gospel of Mark is named Bartimaeus is begging by the side of the road when he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing through. And, so, he starts screaming because he can't see and there’s people everywhere and he can hear all the commotion and he just starts yelling out for Jesus to have mercy. “Have mercy on me, son of David. Have mercy on me.” And everybody around him is telling him to shut up, be quiet. There’s to many people here. Quiet down. And he just keeps yelling have mercy on me until Jesus hears him and stops what He's doing and calls him and asks him the same question. “What do you want me to do for you?” And it's a very different response. “Rrabbi, I want to see.” And, so, this contrast between Jesus asking twice, “what do you want me to do for you”, once to James and John and once to Bartimaeus is quite a sharp contrast. And embedded into that contrast is a truth. Jesus didn't come to set up a hierarchy and a ladder for people to climb up to notoriety, He came to lift up the least of these. And, so, he tells James and John they don't know what they're asking for and that it isn’t His to give, but He gets to Bartimaeus who is the least of these, who is the downtrodden, who is the marginalized, who is being marginalized even in the moment by the crowd and He stops what He's doing and it He goes to this downtrodden person and elevates this person to wholeness. This is what God's kingdom does. This is what God's kingdom is like because this is what God is like, because we’re watching God do this. And we are to be imitators of this. We really need to think about our hearts posture toward our fellow human beings who are created in the image of God, especially those who are not in our tribe as we’ve talked about before. We also need to think about our expectations. Is Jesus our Savior because He might be able to do some magic, some supernatural things behind the scenes to get us what we want, to get us where we want to go? Because where Jesus wants us to go is to understand that the highest place in this kingdom is the lowest place of service. It’s a right side up kingdom, which reveals to us that the world we live in is upside down. And how does it turn right side up? One person at a time. One heart at a time that cries out, have mercy on me I want eyes to see. I want years to hear. I want to be in this kingdom more than anything. Let’s give it some thought.

Prayer:

Jesus, so often we are left with things to grapple with throughout the day to meditate upon your word and what is being said in your word. And, so, we invite you as we consider our own hearts posture and how it is that we perceive things and how backwards it may be to what you have revealed to us is the appropriate way toward wholeness, the narrow path that leads to life. And, so, Holy Spirit come as we consider this. Reveal to us places within that…that need to surrender to your authority. Come Holy Spirit into this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Song:

The Least of These – Matt Maher

I'm a stranger in a foreign land Passing through when will I be home again You remind me nothing here is permanent But Your word and Your faithfulness

I was hungry, I was thirsty I was weary, You let me in

When love became a refugee, He became my refuge When love became a prisoner, He set me free The widow and the orphan became the bride and children When He stole my heart between two thieves

That's when Love became the least of these

I'm a beggar on the pilgrims road Chasing echoes of a voice I hear among the poor I'm a stranger in a foreign land Oh the memories of the love that calls the broken things to mend

That's when Love became the least of these

I was hungry, I was thirsty I was weary, You let me in Where you're hungry, where you're thirsty Wherever you're weary, I will let you in

When love became a refugee, He became our refuge When love became a prisoner, He set me free The widow and the orphan became the bride and children When He stole my heart between two thieves

That's when Love became the least of these When He stole my heart between two thieves That's when Love became the least of these

[theclaravoyant]

how much are the English gonna be dicks about it though . that Blackbeard is dead . and Ed’s like , I promise you he’s ducking not mate .

So who’s dead

Is it worse if he can’t believe it or he has a terrible feeling he already knows

[melancholysway]

My favorite turtle duos (ranked) and why

OUT OF 5 STARS BC I CAN SORRY FOR BEINFG INACTIVE LMAO

Donatello & Raphael

OKAY.

This is my all time fave duo I’ve said it like 7 times already.

I don’t know why, but Donnie and Raph (especially in the 2003 version) go so well together. DONNIE CALLS RAPH “RAPHIE.” I LOVE IT. They also seem to together when fighting (there’s a small scene in the 2007 version where Raph asks Don for his help while fighting a foot soldier, it’s cute brotherly love y’all I love it)

ANYWAY

I also hc that Raph's favorite brother is Donnie, i don't know why, but i can really see it through every version of them

There’s literally a 2003 TMNT compilation of just Donnie and Raph moments, Donnie canonically calls Raph “Raphie,” and Raph seems to insult Donnie less if not barely. (although in the 2012 version he throws his lil nerdy jokes at him)

Donnie & Raph 100% gives off middle child vibes, so it’s only right they’re the best duo. We see Leo as the oldest and Mikey the youngest, but we never really talk about where don and Raph lie. It’s simply because they’re the

*shudders* middle children

& because they’re the middle children they do A LOT together than people think. They play video games together (as shown in the 2003 version,) have a sarcasm match together & anything else!

Raph also looks out for Donnie during combat since he knows he’s the weakest out of the four of them<3

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‼️

Leonardo and Donatello

Okay, rise!donnie & leo??? MY FAVORITE.

I feel like Donnie is the backbone of a lot of Leo's plans. If you think about it, a lot of the time Leo may rely on Donnie to either hack or invent something for them to use in their mission. Though in the 2012 he doesn't allow donnie to use the turtle mech because it was too risky, but a lot of his inventions seriously save Leo all the trouble of making a plan up and stressing him out

I also love the thought of them as twins bc it makes so much sense & I enjoy it A LOT!!!

Leo praises Donnie for a lot of his work, but Raph does it the most

5/5!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Leonardo and Raphael

Okay, I LOVE. In every installment, they seriously kill it together.

I enjoyed them a lot in the 2012 version, it wasn't like bayverse or 2003 where a lot of the screentime was taken up by them arguing. We saw how caring Raph was during the farmhouse arc and how he really missed Leo, and tried to help him get back on his feet as leader. Not only that, but 2007 Raph secretly really cared for Leo A LOT, i think the line where Raph says

"Youre gonna need these [katana] if youre gonna lead us out of here," & Leo says, "I'm gonna need you, too." LIKE BROOO????? *cries*

I truly love their small rivalry but brotherly love at the same time like wut

But anyhoo, I really like that although they may get into it (yuh) with each other, they still fight really good together regardless I love them wtf.

4.5/5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Leonardo and Michelangelo

AH

OkaY OKAY

I love the little brother older brother dynamic here seriously!

I feel like Mikey is a trouble magnet and Leo is just a worried mom friend who tries to steer him away from it yet winds up getting involved anyways

I also hc that Leo carries hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE he goes no matter what. They’re not touching anything foreign unless they slather a gloop of hand sanitizer on

Makes sure Mikey is safe during combat. I’ve thought about this for a while, but I feel like Leo will always watch Mikey’s back without him even realizing it. Mikey is pretty oblivious and Leo is always there to pick up the things he misses!

Also i 100% think that Leo and mikey discuss pranks to do on Raph, almost all of them are Leo’s idea but don’t tell Raph that

4/5!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[miminanoella]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭

Pairing: Regulus Black x fem!muggleborn!reader

Summary: Reader sacrifices herself for Regulus while getting Salazar Slytherin’s locket

Tw: Angsty, kinda panic attack as reader sacrifices herself, crying ( if u see any other pls inform me)

Author's note: not my best but hey it’s angsty, fluff at the end,

yeah, I know the after effects of the potion aren’t this bad but ANGSTT.

In the movie a cup was already in the cave, in the books Dumbledore conjured it. I did use the movies their version for my story.

Word count: 1941

~~~~~

‘Regulus Black!’ The boy stops at hearing your voice behind him. Echoing off the walls of the entrance hall. He had thrown on his cloak and stood at the door to leave, to get Salazar Slytherin’s locket. Try to destroy it. Make Voldemort mortal again.

‘Didn’t know you were awake.’ He lets his hand fall of the doorknob and tilts his head slightly your way. But makes no move to turn around.

It was over midnight and everyone in the house were still sleeping.

‘Where are you going without telling the order?’ When you and Regulus joined the order a few months ago, people were wary of Regulus. You might’ve trusted him but he was a death eater. But after he proved that he was really on their side they slowly but sure started warming up to him. He and Sirius started to rebuild their relationship as brothers.

You’d hoped that this new relationship would make Regulus change his mind of trying to get himself killed to get the necklace. But right now that hope was thrown out of the window as you saw your best friend and since two months, your boyfriend, standing in front of you ready to leave.

‘I don’t feel the need of answering that question. Seeing you already know the answer to it.’ He turns around, meeting your eyes. In the fire of the lighted hallway the flames of the candelabras casted shadows on both your faces. Making it look as if you were in a secret meeting.

‘Alone?’ You ask, raising your brows only slightly. Your face stands calm but the concern in your tone betrays your true feelings.

‘You’re not coming with me.’ He folds his arms in front if his chest and holds up his chin. Making no room for discussion.

‘You’re not going then.’ You mirror him.

You both stand there, staring into each others eyes. ‘I know you wished that having me here, with my brother and his friends, would’ve changed my mind.’ Regulus’ eyes soften as he walks over to you. ‘But I have to do this.’

‘Stop saying that. You don’t have to do anything.’ You feel your heart breaking as you see the determination in his eyes.

‘No, I have to.’ He cups your cheek, smiling as you melt into his touch. ‘For us. So we can go outside without fear. So we can be together like it should be. Not with me acting as if I don’t love you to my family. Even if it is to protect you from them. I shouldn’t have to do that.

‘I love you. That’s why I have to do this. To make sure no one’s going to hunt you or kill you. Or any other witches and wizards like you.’

‘It’s not fair.’ You lean your forehead against his. ‘I have to risk losing you so there might be chance for us to be safe again. That’s just cruel.’ You lean back to meet his eyes. ‘Let me come with you and Kreacher. It’s always better to be with more.’

‘You know if anyone’s going to take the risk, it’s going to be me. And I’m not even going to put you close to this situation. If anything happens to you it’ll be a much greater loss to the order. And me.’

You pull away from his hand and grab your own cloak, putting it on.

‘I love you, remember? If anything happens to you I won’t be able to live with me just staying here.’

‘Y/N, you’re staying he-.’ He grabs you hand and the second he does you apparate. Bringing Regulus with you.

Hard and cold wind hits your face and you have to gasp for air. Regulus is still holding your hand. ‘What did you?’ He asks as you grin at him. Both looking over the sea waves crashing into the rock you’re standing on, the cave in front of you. ‘Could’ve at least gone to pick up Kreacher.’

* * * * *

Regulus had cut his hand to get in the cave, refusing to let you do it. The little boat brought you to the middle of the cave. Where you were standing now, in front of the potion that’ll get you and Regulus the locket.

‘So,’ you look at it. ‘We just drink it?’

Regulus shakes his head, looking back at you. ‘No, I drink it. You get the locket and get out of here. Back to the order.’

‘We never agreed that!’

‘We never agreed you would go with me.’ He retorts back.

‘You’ll be happy that I came.’

He gently grabs her shoulders. ‘You have to get back.’ He looks from your one eye to your other. ‘I need to know you’re safe.’

You swallow thickly. You hated this. The thought of leaving him here. Alone. With Voldemort’s inferi lurking just beneath the water. ‘Fine.’

Regulus looked relieved by your word. Regulus caressed your cheek. ‘I love you.’ You don’t like the way he says it as a goodbye.

You take his hand and hold it there. Against your cheek. ‘There’s no way I can change your mind.’ It isn’t a question.

‘Not if it means you get in danger, no.’ You bring him in for a hug. Your arms curl around his waist as his press your head closer to his chest. With one last kiss to your head Regulus lets you go. He turns around but freezes. The cup to drink the potion is gone.

He turns around to see you drinking from the cup. ‘Y/N!’ He runs the few steps back to you and throws the cup out of your hands. But you already drank it. You’re knees buckled as you grip his arms tightly to hold your balance. He slowly sits down with you. ‘What did you do?’ He screams.

‘Making sure you can destroy that snake.’

‘You didn’t.’ He shakes his head, hoping this was just another nightmare. That he’ll wake up eventually.

His hands come up to cup your face.

‘Give me the rest of the potion. Reg, it’s okay.’ You smile despite the agonising feeling in your chest. ‘It’s okay.’

He gently laid your head down and begun giving you the potion. With every swallow of it you begun to sink deeper in the dark hole. You started screaming, pulling yourself away from him, begging him to make it stop. Tears were rolling of your cheeks like waterfalls. Regulus had to remember himself that you forgot what you were doing it for because of the potion. That it would stop in a minute.

‘I’ll make it stop, darling. I promise. Just a few more and it’s over.’

You shook your head rapidly. Pulling your mouth away like a toddler getting fed vegetables.

‘Sweetheart,’ Regulus puts a hand on your knee. ‘We’ll do anything you want to do after this, okay? Watch those muggle movies you can’t shut up about. Or going to Europe? We’ll go Paris or Brussels. Whichever you like more. I promise. Just 2 more.’

With some effort he got you to drink the rest. When you drank the last drop Regulus ran back and laughed bitterly as he saw the locket.

‘Ha! Y/N, we got it! You did it!’ He looks back at you but you don’t look back. In fact you weren’t even awake. Or it seemed like that. Your eyes were closed and you breathed hoarsely. ‘Y/N?’ Regulus dropped the locket in his pocket and fell down besides you. He cradled your body in his lap and laid your head against his collarbone.

‘Y/N? You hear me?’ He stroke your cheeks a few times with the pad of his thumb. But you didn’t make any sign that you did. ‘Sweetheart.’

It didn’t matter how long he called you, you just laid still in his arms. He could feel your faint heartbeat against his chest. ‘Don’t worry. You’re save.’ He brushes the hair from your face a few times. ‘You’re going to be okay.’ Regulus was on the verge of breaking down now. His eyes glassy and his breathing uneven.

He picks you up and gets into the boat. As the inferi starts to show themselves, Regulus casts a fire curse making them all burn the second they hit the surface.

Once out of the cave he apparates back to the order. You appear in the living room, in front of the fire place. It has been lit, signalling the others are awake by now. He hears his brother’s voice in the kitchen along with the others.

‘Sirius!’ He calls to his brother. ‘Sirius! Help!’ His voice cracks over at the last word.

In a few seconds Sirius comes running. ‘There you are! We were looking all over for -,’ he stops suddenly as he sees you in Regulus’ arms. He looks from your peaceful face to his brother’s distressed one. ‘Oh god, what happened?’ He sits down besides you, checking your wrist as the others fill the room quickly.

‘I discovered something and I needed to destroy it.’ Regulus starts to explain.

‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ Sirius looks up at his brother. ‘What even is this about?’

‘Why, that what he holds in his pocket.’ Dumbledore walks into the room pointing at the necklace falling out Regulus’ pocket.

Regulus holds it out to Dumbledore. ‘And what is that?’ Lily asks.

‘A piece of Voldemort’s soul. We destroy this, and he isn’t immortal anymore. But I guess that is not our biggest priority right now.’ Dumbledore looks back down at you. Regulus had pulled you tighter against him after giving Dumbledore the necklace.

‘If I’m right she took your place and drank the potion.’

‘I tried to wake her up but-,’

‘She’s resting.’ Dumbledore interrupts the boy. ‘All we can do is wait until she decides to wake up.’

‘So, she’s going to be alright?’ Remus asks Dumbledore.

‘Of course she is. I think the fear of you losing her made you overreact a little, mister Black.’ Dumbledore smiles at Regulus. He was still clutching onto you.

‘How would you react if your love doesn’t wake up.’

‘You have a point there. Losing a loved one is almost like losing yourself. But calm your nerves, it could’ve been worse.’ Dumbledore says before turning around and removing himself from the room.

Regulus stands up, you in his arms, and leaves for your room without another glance to the others.

Behind his back, Remus gives Sirius a silent look and he takes the hint. Going after his brother.

Sirius stands in the doorway. Looking at Regulus placing you carefully on the bed. Once he’s satisfied with how you lay Regulus takes a nearby chair and goes to sit by your side. He takes your hand and pulls it up to his lips and holds it there.

‘Gotta admit, you did gave me a scare back there.’ Sirius walks into the room and slaps his brother’s shoulder friendly. ‘Hey,’ he bends down to Regulus to meet his gaze that was fixated on your hand that he was holding. ‘She’s alright. You heard the wizard. It’s gonna be okay.’

He shakes his head. ‘I can’t get her voice out of my head, Sirius.’ Sirius sits down on the floor and listens to his brother . ‘She took the cup behind my back and drank before I could stop her. She couldn’t stand on her legs. I had to give the rest to her otherwise it would never stop.’ He lets out a sob and lets his forehead touch your hand instead. Hiding his face behind his hair. ‘She was hurting, shuffling away from me every time I gave her the cup.’ He shakes his head. ‘I should’ve done it but she’s-,’

‘Too stubborn?’ Sirius finishes his sentence.

Regulus chuckles bitterly. ‘Yeah, she is.’

‘She wanted to help you.’

‘I know that.’ Regulus finally looks at his brother. ‘She would always do that. And look where it got her.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, brother.’ Sirius nudged him. ‘She’s not dead.’

‘She might’ve been.’ Regulus’ voice is loud in the silent house. ‘You didn’t see her fall down. You didn’t see her just laying there.’

‘You’re right I didn’t.’ Sirius reaches out to Regulus’ arm but he slaps him away.

‘Just go.’

‘Reg.’

‘Go!’ Sirius stands and nods.

‘At least try to get some sleep.’ Sirius leaves the room as Regulus breaks down next to you.

* * * * *

You woke up in the dark, only the moonlight lighting up the room. Your lips were dry and you coughed as you tried to sit up.

‘Hey, easy.’ An arm was thrown around you and you meet Regulus’ dark eyes.

‘Reg?’ You look around and see you’re in your room. ‘What happened?’

‘What do you remember?’ Regulus lets his hand run over your shoulder, soothingly as the other holds yours.

‘The cave, drinking the potion.’ You think back but nothing else comes to mind. You shake your head. ‘Nothing more.’

‘That’s okay. You were exhausted. You were asleep.’

‘For how long?’ She looks at the bags under his eyes.

‘Half a night and a day. Now almost two nights.’

‘And you?’ She turns more to him.

‘Don’t worry about me.’

‘I always worry about you.’ She smiles.

‘It’s not funny, Y/N. I thought I lost you, you know.’ Regulus looks away from you. ‘I lost you. And I felt like I died with you.’

‘I’m sorry I scared you like that.’

‘Doesn’t matter.’ He looks back at you, his hand going up to cup your cheek. You immediately lean into his touch. ‘You’re here. You’re breathing and awake. There’s nothing more I need.’

‘I could think of something.’ He furrows his brows at you. ‘A glass of water because I swear if I didn’t die back there I will now from dehydration.’

‘Don’t say that.’ He scoffs but immediately conjures a glass of water for you.

‘I love you, Regulus.’ You say taking the glass from him.

‘I love you, Y/N L/N.’ He leans closer, giving your forehead a kiss.

[snubulous]

chapter 377 overview

spoilers ahead. also a long post as well, just a fair warning.

opening the chapter with another reference to violent weather - which is supposed to represent the turmoil our heroes and villains are going through right now. Also notice the hand closing when the wind “blew violently” - likely a visual representation of how both sides are hesitant to reach out or interact with each other in a positive way. And the cherry blossom tree tying everything back to where this story all began: UA.

the FEELS. can’t even imagine what’s going through aizawa’s head when he sees kurogiri roaming free - so many conflicting emotions. He seems quite horrified though, after all if kurogiri is here then the delicate balance keeping shigaraki under control is at serious risk.

based on the last panel, kurogiri seems to almost destabilize when he sees aizawa with his eyes going all wonky and his form losing all shape and human features. just food for thought.

aizawa and manual doing everything they can to shield monoma and ultimately failing is honestly heartbreaking. you can see aizawa reaching out, trying to keep the connection flowing even as he’s knocked over - but it’s no use. monoma and aizawa are definitely going to beat themselves up about this later.

shigaraki just fucking molts when his quirk reactivates. i knew that horikoshi likes comparing him to moths and butterflies, but this is a little heavy-handed in the best way possible.

UA just straight up explodes as well, hoping none of the injured or anyone present actually died in that explosion - though going by later panels, it didn’t seem to be as harmful as it looked, simply blowing away some of the cage trapping shigaraki. Though it looks as if UA’s destruction is pretty much inevitable at this point, and everyone present is going to have to get their asses out of there soon if they don’t want to die a fiery death.

shigaraki uses his shed skin as a new waist coat, seeing as he lost his old one. All jokes aside, that is genuinely terrifying and probably incredibly traumatic for shigaraki.

our #1 mom kurogiri is here to help and protect shigaraki while he’s vulnerable. dude is clearly floored by whatever the fuck just happened to him.

FINALLY, shigaraki is back! looks as if this whole skin shedding sequence was him emerging as a more mentally resilient version of himself, able to fight afo and take charge of his own body - though afo isn’t truly gone just yet.

Shigaraki making a callback to the mall encounter and calling himself midoriya’s nemesis is just perfect here - shigaraki has never cared about another hero as much as he does midoriya, and midoriya doesn’t care about the other villains like he does shigaraki. Their dynamic has become increasingly personal and this scene reflects that. Don’t forget that midoriya’s chosen to selfishly risk losing this battle by not killing shigaraki and instead trying to save him despite everything, while shigaraki wants to kill midoriya specifically because of how much of a nuisance midoriya has been to him in particular. The two of them have practically destined themselves to become locked in this battle, everyone else be damned despite their best intentions.

also note that shigaraki is doing the signature “crazy eye” thing, making a strikingly similar facial expression that instantly reminded of bakugo upon seeing it. shit is about to hit the fan.

we get our answer as to why to second’s quirk has a time limit, and i’m honestly a little disappointed. I expected more from the second’s quirk, as did most people - though perhaps I should save my criticism until the fight is actually over and we get a full explanation for this quirk. there’s still a lot of questions surrounding it.

as suspected, afo is losing control over shigaraki and now he’s resorted to coming to UA in person to fix things up before his original body dies. midoriya is about to have a very bad day.

overall, I really liked this chapter: lots of great Emotions and symbolism going on. can’t wait for the next one!

[from-a-reckless-writer]

38 Supercorp

"Fuck fuck fuckity fuck," Lena angrily chanted under her breath, hands clenched tight around the steering wheel as she slowed down. The officer behind her had thankfully silenced their sirens at the first sign that Lena was pulling up.

She forced herself to take deep breaths and calm her anger from explosive to just simmering below the surface. She really doesn't need this shit today.

The motorcycle pulled up next to her, if Lena played her cards right she could get out of this without giving up her license. She chanced a glance at her mirror, good thing she decided to wear a low-cut blouse. She's not above using her...assets if it meant getting out of this quicker.

The officer kicks down their stand and swings off. Lena collects herself, checks if her lipstick remains immaculate, she's played this game with enough business men before what's the difference with a police officer?

The difference, it turns out, is that the police officer happens to be a woman.

A gorgeous, blonde woman that made Lena choke on her own saliva, when she took off her helmet only to reveal deliciously perfect bone structure and luscious blonde hair flowed down her shoulders. It was like Lena was watching those pretentious shampoo commercials in real time, the only thing missing was a slow-mo effect.

Said gorgeous, attractive, beautiful--Lena needs more synonyms--knocks lightly on her window and Lena has to rub her three functioning brain cells in order to lower her window.

"Ma'am."

Oh, fuck her eyes are so blue.

"Ma'am."

Will I get more than just a fine if I invite her to my place?

"Ma'am."

Wait- Why drive back when we can do it here in the car? She looks like the car sex type, doesn't she?

"Excuse me, ma'am? Do I have your attention?"

Lena remembers a conversation needs a response from both parties if it wants to exist.

She snaps herself out of it--with the utmost effort, mind you--and clears her throat.

"Hi, officer."

Hi, officer? Hi, officer. What are you? A drunk bachelorette?!?

Lena fights the urge to bang her head on her steering wheel and tries to pay attention to the words coming out of the blonde's lips and not on how she's got the perfect Cupid's bow and what would it taste like pressed to hers?

She catches, "-license,", "-your fine." and at least three more Ma'am's.

Danvers, K.Z. She takes an important mental note.

"Ma'am your license please???"

"Oh. Oh yes. Yes. Right."

God, if she says please and ma'am one more time I'm going to commit a much bigger crime.

Lena fumbles for her purse, almost ripping open the zipper in her haste.

"Here, officer." She thrusts the card out of the window, wishing the blonde's hands would graze hers in the process.

"You can get your license back at the main office on Monday, ma'am. Considering it's the weekend today," she says absentmindedly, scribbling Lena a ticket.

"May I know the reason for your over-speeding ma'am?"

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck uhm uhm-

"Oh, uhm, I didn't want to be late for my daughter's birthday."

WHAT THE FUCk?

"Oh. A birthday huh?" The blonde breaks into a grin so bright it lights up Lena's entire useless empty lesbian soul.

The blonde much to Lena's gay panic, pokes her head in and looks at the assortment of gifts in her backseat.

"Looks like a lucky girl. You must be a great mom."

Okay, so what if she didn't know what Ruby wanted for her birthday and got her everything that Lena thinks a thirteen year-old wants? And so what if she used her goddaughter as an excuse, sue her, at least she got treated to this officer's smile right?

"Thank you. She's 13 today. Didn't know what she wanted so I uh- got everything..." she gestures weakly to the gifts.

"Well, I'm sure you're going to make her happy today."

Yeah, I'm also sure you can make me very, very happy, officer.

"Mm-hm. Yes, that's the goal."

"Well, I won't keep you any longer."

Oh no please you can keep me as long as you like.

"Just don't speed again next time, alright ma'am? Tell your girl I wish her a happy birthday."

Lena stays there seated like an idiot as her eyes remains glued to the officer's err, backside while she walks away and mounts her bike again.

God, what I wouldn't give for me to mount her instead.

She gives Lena a small salute goodbye that was not supposed to be as hot as it is, before fitting her helmet and making the bike roar to life.

Lena remains stationary for a few moments, replaying the whole exchange in her head again and again. Before getting shocked into the present by her phone's shrill ringing.

Sam's face lights up the screen.

Shit, Sam's gonna kill me.

******

Sam doesn't kill her, at least not directly.

She does make her heart stop though.

"Lena!" Sam greets. "Finally! Ruby's waiting for you. Here let me take these. I have somebody I want to introduce to you."

Sam grabs the gifts from her arms and doesn't even bat an eye at the number of it all. She's learned not to fight Lena when it comes to spoiling Ruby. The house is decked in streamers and confetti. Outside, you can hear the high-pitched giggling of teenage girls.

Sam drags her out into the garden where the real party is.

"Sorry, I'm late. I got held up by-"

Lena's entire being freezes. Her sentence remains broken.

"Ma'am? I mean Ms. Luthor? I mean Le-wait your Ruby's other mom?"

"Kara! This is Le- other mom? Wait what? Do you two know each other?"

"Ruby's got another mom?"

"OH MY GOD, YOU'RE FINALLY HERE!!!!"

Everything happens so fast, suddenly officer--named Kara, apparently--is standing there in Sam's garden, Kara is saying something. And then Sam is also saying something and then a red-head that Lena has no idea who the hell is, is also talking and before Lena could even process a single thing, she gets tackled by a thirteen year-old.

"Happy Birthday, Ruby," She manages to squeeze out as Ruby knocks the breath out of her. In the distance she can hear Sam go, "Ruby! Careful!"

"Your gifts are in the living room," she whispers in her ear and then Ruby is off dashing, with nothing but a yell of "Thanks Aunt Lena!!" into the wind.

And now, Lena is faced with the reality of being introduced to the officer she's been drooling over.

"Okay, so let me clear this up. You got pulled up, by Kara here," Sam shakes Kara, who she's got under her shoulder. "For overspeeding because, and I quote, 'You were late for your daughter's birthday'??? Did I get that right??"

"Uh yes, that pretty much sums it up," Kara mumbles, staring straight at Lena.

Sam's got a knowing look on her face that Lena wants so badly to slap out of her.

"Interesting." Sam smirks at her. "Daughter huh?"

"Oh my god, stop it. I only said it so she'd let me go faster," Lena bursts out. "Technically, I am Ruby's other mom. I'm the honorary cool mom."

She really wishes her face isn't as red as she feels it is.

"No, you're the godmother and I'm the cool mom," Sam says smoothly. "But, before we get off topic, this is Alex and this is her sister, Kara."

Lena has heard all about Alex, dashing FBI agent and Sam's recent object of affection. What she hasn't heard about is, Alex's younger, more gorgeous and Lena hopes not straight sister.

"Hi, good to meet you, Lena." Alex gives her a firm grip which she returns with a smile.

"Hi," Kara says shyly, turning to her, she's wearing glasses and it's such a far cry from the person Lena's met on the road. This version is softer, somewhat warmer.

The blatant difference doesn't really deter Lena's want to climb her like a tree, though.

"Hi," Lena parrots back, holding out a hand. Kara takes it so gently and Lena feels like she's going to pass out when the warmth of Kara's hand envelops her.

She's blushing from her head to toe and she doesn't really care if Sam--or Kara for that matter--sees notices.

"How come I got here faster than you did?"

Well, that's because I had to spend at least 15 minutes on the side of the road trying to calm my breathing, trying to flush out the fantasies in my head and wow you're really gorgeous, has anybody told you that?

Lena settles with, "Ah, well, motorcycles are faster than cars I guess."

Kara gives her that smile again and Lena feels her face breaking into one too.

"Well, doesn't matter. I'm just real glad you're here now, Lena."

"Me too, Kara, me too."

prompt list here

[gffa]

OKAY, I WILL DO MY BEST HERE, but it’s one of those cases where there’s A LOT of information and NOT A LOT of information at the same time!  We have a bunch of details and some good general ideas, but it’s not like it was a set-in-stone process, so there’s plenty of wiggle room if you want it. The Inquisitorius was started in 19 BBY, the same year as the fall of the Republic and the genocide of the Jedi, but seems to have been officially started after the Purge happened.  Sidious had been planning something like the  Inquisitorius for a long time, but this specific version of them wasn’t necessarily always the only version in development. The Inquisitors are all fallen Jedi, presumably ones that were captured by the Empire and tortured into becoming dark siders.  Several of them have mentioned that they were former Jedi, but the only one we’ve seen the process of is Trilla Suduri, who we saw being tortured for a very long time in Jedi: Fallen Order.  (Link of the relevant scenes here.  Warning:  It can be a bit of a tough watch, Trilla is physically tortured and some of it you see from her perspective, as the electricity is jolted into her body, which can be kinda disturbing.)  So, in theory, it’s possible that some of them fell on their own and agreed to join, but the one explicit example we have is where she was tortured into it and, while Cal is walking around their fortress, he talks about how multiple Jedi were broken there. (For another example, Prosset Dibs is a Jedi we saw falling to the dark in the Mace Windu: Jedi of the Republic comic, so he may have willingly joined or he may have healed while he was working in the Jedi Archives but not all the way and still had to be tortured into joining.) The Inquisitors are under the direct supervision of Darth Vader (after he’d discovered the program, he was put in charge of it), who trains them incredibly harshly--in Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, he’s shown cutting an arm off one of them and basically telling them to suck it up and keep fighting, to remember what loss feels like.

Sometimes they’d work with Darth Vader (the Grand Inquisitor went to the Jedi Temple in 19 BBY with Vader, where they confronted Jocasta Nu, the Ninth Sister went with Vader on a mission to investigate a possible Jedi sighting on Cabarria, Vader took them with when he went to kill Eeth Koth and kidnap his baby daughter, Vader had them with when he went to Mon Cala to confront Lee-Char, etc.), sometimes they operated separately from each other (all the times in Rebels or Jedi: Fallen Order that Kanan, Ezra, or Cal faced them when Vader wasn’t around, etc.), probably based on whatever Vader felt like or whatever Sidious felt like on a given day. The Inquisitorius as a group seem to have some degree of command over Purge Troopers, as they would often be seen leading a group of them (this happened often in Jedi: Fallen Order especially) and they could commandeer military assets (or probably civilian assets as well) if they needed to, so they had a certain amount of leeway when it came to their missions--so long as they didn’t piss off Vader or Sidious. Their main goals were to hunt down any Force-sensitives in the galaxy, whether newly discovered Force-sensitive children, former Jedi (whether they had left the Jedi Order or were Jedi in hiding, it didn’t matter), or even Force-sensitive adults who had never been trained by the Jedi.  They would turn them if they could, but otherwise it was to kill anyone who might possibly be a Force-related threat of any kind.  (What this means for planets like the Bardottens, they’ve never said.) They were greatly successful at their missions, so they wound up killing a great number of Jedi who had made it into hiding, along with Darth Vader being one of the biggest reasons the Jedi were mostly entirely gone by the time of the OT, which was helped along by Vader training the Jedi style out of them.  Part of why he was so harsh to them (including cutting off limbs, etc.) was to force them to be more aggressive and less defensive, to be sharp and quick and fast to overpower Jedi, who were used to a different type of fight. They still had unique talents (as all Force-sensitives are not the same), like Ninth Sister had a great talent for reading emotions (including Vader’s, where she could sense how much he wanted to die),

As well as they weren’t actually Sith.  Only Sidious, Vader, and Maul were Sith, the Inquisitors were dark siders or fallen Jedi or possibly a category unto themselves. They have some sort of headquarters, as seen in Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, where Vader is seen training them in issue #6 (same scene as above where he cuts off their hands or lightsabers their eye out), which is labelled as being on Coruscant, somewhere in The Works in the Industrial District:

There’s a training arena we see there and at least some sort of communication/strategy rooms that Vader and the Grand Inquisitor walk off into, while they discuss the other Inquisitors. Which means it’s a pretty big complex/building, but (according to Wookieepedia and I’ll trust them on this, instead of digging out my copies of the Complete Vehicles and Complete Locations book), it was a building of Sidious’ that he used as a hideout during the Clone Wars. To what extent Vader and the Inquisitorius took it over (whether they just had a few rooms or the entire skyscraper), I don’t think we know?

Later, in issue #20, we see there’s some sort of break room that Vader storms in on, when he returns to Coruscant, that the Inquisitors were sitting around and hanging out in:

From there, it would be reasonable to extrapolate that this was a base for their operations, the place they returned to after they came back from wherever they’d been sent, possibly even this is where they slept and ate and were sheltered in between missions.  But that’s just reasonable conjecture, not hard canon! There is also Fortress Inquisitorius from Jedi: Fallen Order and it’s primary use was that it was where they took the Jedi they were torturing into becoming Inquisitors.  I wouldn’t say it’s an academy, per se, but it was a place that they likely used as a headquarters. In issue #20 of Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, two of the Inquisitors rebel against Vader and he winds up chasing them down and cutting a huge swath of destruction in his path (LOL @ ANAKIN), which Sidious is not exactly pleased about.  He says that he’s going to move the Inquisitorious off Coruscant to another world so this won’t happen again:

The comic was written in 2018 and Jedi: Fallen Order came out about 11 months later in 2019, so the above isn’t necessarily directly referring to that the Inquisitorious were moved to Fortress Inquisitorious on the moon Nur, but it’s also a very reasonable (and probably likely) assumption. We don’t have an exact timeline for when this issue takes place, but it’s minimum three years after Revenge of the Sith (the Mon Cala arc earlier in the comic is set three years post-ROTS), so probably around 15 or 14 BBY.   However, Trilla seems to have been kidnapped much closer to Order 66, so it’s likely that Fortress Inquisitorius existed long before Order 66 happened, it was used to torture Jedi once their genocide happened, but it wasn’t the Inquisitor’s HQ until several years later. We don’t see a lot of Fortress Inquisitorious, the limited amount of areas you can play through it in Jedi: Fallen Order don’t tell you a ton about what goes on there, but it’s a pretty huge underwater skyscraper sized building and you do see several prison cells and at least one training dojo.

The galaxy at large didn’t know about Fortress Inquisitorious on the water moon of Nur or even the majority of the Empire itself didn’t know about it, it was a heavily kept secret. This is where Trilla and the other Jedi were taken, tortured, and forced into becoming Inquisitors and it’s likely that’s where the Inquisitors were based after the shitshow on Coruscant.  It’s a big enough building that it’s likely to have pretty much whatever kind of stuff your clubhouse needs for the Inquisitors!  But we don’t have much hard canon about it, no. As for the Inquisitors themselves, they’re complicated--some of them seemed almost loyal to each other, they would work together at times or even seem to avenge each other, but other times they would sneer at each other or mock each other, it seemed like they had a lot of shifting dynamics and probably a lot of it was fear at trying to survive being around Darth Vader. We don’t know for sure how many there specifically are or if, when one of them dies, they’re replaced by another, but it seems like there were at least twelve Inquisitors and we’ve never seen them be replaced, which I think implies that they were only ever meant to be a temporary measure and would be disposed of, as soon as Sidious knew all the Jedi were dead for sure/he could raise a new group of Force-sensitive children from birth. ANYWAY YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN:  LOTS OF INFO BUT NOT A LOT OF INFO.  😂