#is things like 'what technology you had as a kid' 'what tv shows did you watch'

[elftwink]

i know ive said this exact same thing ten thousand times before but it actually boggles my mind that we have just sort of accepted "generational divides" and the resulting discourse. generations are not real on the population scale. there is no dividing year where one generation starts and the next begins. the closest you can get to this is specifically BABY BOOMERS. who were born during the BABY BOOM. because a huge large amount of people had children immediately following the second world war. thats it. since then there has not been another clear generational divide and the things you think are clear divides are probably divides between specifically your age demographic and specifically your parents age demographic. because that's what a generation actually is when we stop trying to form stupid little clubs. im no longer participating in the legitimization of these terms & if i see the word zoomer one more time i'll detonate the explosives

[voxtechofficial]

What was your life like before you died?

Cw, discussion of child abu$e, neglect, and mentions of alcohol below the cut! Be advised!

Well. I mean, I was the 4th kid out of seven. Heh, yeah. Catholic families and shit.

Anyway, I was sort of on my own most of my life. Mom would rather scream at me or lock me out of the house and Dad barely even acknowledged my existence.

My siblings were alright for the most part. My oldest brother, Mark, was always a bit stuck up, but mostly tried to take care of the younger kids. Oldest sister, Vanessa, always tried her best to pick up where Mom failed. Her and Mark were always making sure we had food, water, sunlight, all the shit a kid needs.

Then there's my baby sister... Violet. She found me when I died. But... I'm getting ahead of myself.

By the time I was in Middle School I was a troublemaker by design. Usually it involved destruction of school property. Graffiti, throwing rocks at windows, all that shit. Usually landed me in detention.

This carried over into High School. But one day, while I was in detention, they were talking about career paths and shit like that and they mentioned some brand new technology. Television. And people would get up on the TV and present the news, weather, you name it! Some people even had their own shows where they did whatever they wanted for the audience! I was hooked.

I went home that day and told my parents I wanted to be a TV star. Yeah, I slept outside that night, heh.

Anyway, years go by and I manage to get this internship for some program at my Church. Everyone starts somewhere, so I figured I'd take it. The show lasted for a few years before they just couldn't afford all the actors and editing costs. The show was shut down. I lost it, threw a fit and broke a whole bunch of shit. Beat the shit out of my costar too.

I went back home and basically started drowning my problems in alcohol. It was during the holidays, so I was staying at my folks' place. I lost track of how many by the time the next morning rolled around.

Next thing I knew, I was dead. But before I went to Hell, I got to stick around my body for a bit. And I see Violet... Walking over to wake me up to tell me that breakfast is ready.

I never woke up. And she had to see me like that. I don't think I'll ever forget that terrified look in her eyes. I really ruined Christmas with that whole stunt, heh...

[ollieoliver910]

*In Regards To Wong Creating The New Avengers...*

Yeah, I'm done with Marvel. I'm tapping out. Any lasting hope I had, especially when it came to Doctor Strange. One of the last pre endgame characters left that is still popular and relevant is now completely gone.

Benedict Cumberbatch man...he was so fucking robbed of something more. It also doesn't help that he had acknowledged in a podcast that M.O.M. did not feel like HIS movie...which it wasn't...which is why it sucked major donkey balls. Trust me, you do not want to suck donkey balls, but I wouldn't doubt that the people at marvel are getting high writing this shit just by doing that.

I don't even know where to start because I was processing the "Wong will create the Avengers" information for a couple of days...So I think I will begin things with this.

STRANGE should have replaced STARK as the leader (or one of the leaders) of the avengers. Infinity War and Endgame almost hinted at the fact that this was going to be the case...AND THAT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE FOR HIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! Strange has problems working as a team, something that Tony himself had to overcome for almost ten years! The fact that they had this fantastic set up for Strange, especially when he is the exact opposite of Tony when it comes to his powers, and they didn't jump for it, like...ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? As a writer, this hurts me SO BADLY because it was the OBVIOUS thing to do! Even a high schooler who knew enough about the marvel cinematic universe would probably want Doctor Strange to go in that direction too! This isn't even a college level writing class thing, or a college class that trains you to pick apart every word from a book and analyze it. This is, simply, the most EASIST SHIT TO CONNECT. Even if you don't write for a living, you can just see and feel where they should have taken Doctor Strange and or the rest of the movies that followed Endgame. If it was me, I would have put Doctor Strange and Black Panther together as the next Iron Man and Cap dynamic, which again, with them being opposites (magic vs technology) would have worked so damn well! Sadly, because Chadwick Bosemen passed away, that will never come to be and with how bad the writing has become overtime. I don't think marvel would have the mental capacity to try to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

THIS, one top of my seething list of issues of how they disposed and misused Doctor Strange is why I am done with marvel, PERIOD. M.O.M wasn't even a Doctor Strange movie, it was a Wong and Wanda road trip movie that FORGOT they had set up something with Mordo and NEVER followed though on it. Plus, it didn't even feel like a Doctor Strange movie VISUALLY! That's what I loved about the OG movie. It was a trippy, surreal film with AMAZING effects that were also present in Infinity War, which to me, made that fight with Thanos my favorite scene in the movie.

In M.O.M, all that is GONE! Or is limited to a 10-20 second scene when Strange and Chevz travel to another dimension. I read a while back that Scott Derrickson wanted the second Doctor Strange film to be a horror movie, which sounds fucking awesome! But Disney was so against the idea that Derrickson left due to creative differences...and we got what we got instead...damn.

What makes everything a thousand times worse is the Wong pandering in every fricken film/tv show that comes out, and I used to like Wong! Mostly because in Infinity War and Endgame, he was robbed of any substantial screen time in those movies and I kind of felt bad for him because of that. Now, he has WAAAAY too much screen time, to the point where ALLEGEDLY, Wong might be the one creating the new avengers too...sigh...push an agenda.

Doctor Strange has only been demoted from Sorcerer Supreme once in the comics (I believe) in order to save the whole damn universe, but outside of that. Sorcerer Supreme IS his title. This is what makes him DOCTOR STRANGE, and to give that title to, essentially, your sidekick who does nothing other than berate your actions because your a straight white man is just like...FUCK. HOW DID WE GET HERE??? HOW???

I have no hope for Doctor Strange 3 if Marvel decides they are going to pursue it, why? Because there is no way a writer on that film can develop Strange and Clea's relationship within a single movie right before Cumberbatches contract is about to end. I literally guarantee you when Secret Wars is finally released. He will be one of the first ones to die. Without going too much into the comic itself, he was done justice there. With Secret Wars, his death will be agenda based, I would bet money on it.

So yeah, that's it. I'm done. I'll just sit behind my computer screen and continue to watch Disney burn. They already ruined all the other franchises they own, I guess pain is nothing but a flavor for them at this point...

Rant over.

Edit: Spider-Man: No Way Home is the last movie I felt Doctor Strange was phenomenal in. I wished they pushed the father/son dynamic with Strange and Peter so much more since Tony is no longer part of Peter's life...but don't worry. Marvel will revive everyone and none of this will matter in the end...barf...

[immeasurablesaladagere]

can u write about lil house and cg Wilson playing video games? :3

- @tummy-rubs-for-wilson-pup

Here you are! This also includes little!chase playdate hours, hope you don't mind!

-----

Word Count: 965

Summery: Wilson is looking after a regressed Chase and House while they play video games, and House learns how to lose.

-----

“Yes!” Chase cheered, doing a little victory dance from his spot on the floor. House rolled his eyes and huffed. His cheeks were puffed out like a grumpy squirrel, and if Wilson didn’t know any better he might have thought he was exaggerating. But to a regressed House, it was a completely warranted reaction to tying with Chase in Mario Kart.

“Oh ho-ho! Looks like Robbie is making a comeback!” He declared in a dramatic announcer-voice. House shot him a death-glare over the shoulder, but it always lost its bite when he was little. Instead it just made him want to pat House on the head and say ‘Aw, it’s okay little buddy’.

Chase was already past his victory and was eagerly asking House about the next circuit they should choose for the final race. He was glad that Chase finally seemed to have relaxed and settled into the playdate. It had taken him a while to regress in the first place, and after that he looked so hesitant to take up any space that he and House couldn’t really play together. But once the N64 was put in front of them they were off to the races, rotting their brains away with video games as all kids should. Thank God for technology. 

“Are you boys hungry?” He asked, already standing because he knew House’s answer would be yes, “I can grab us some snacks from the kitchen. What do you want?”

“Chocolate bar.” House replied without looking up, too distracted with picking the best possible track. Chase didn’t say anything and stared him owlishly, like he wasn’t sure if it was okay to ask for anything.

“Robbie? Do you want something? We have apples, chocolate bars, apple sauce, and cheese and crackers.” He figured giving Chase a list of options would make the choice easier. That way, it was a direct offer instead of an open-ended question.

“Um… cheese n’ crackers, please and thank you.” He said shyly, and Wilson smiled.

“I can do that. I’ll just be in the kitchen if you need anything, okay?”

And that should have been it. One simple trip to the kitchen, Wilson would only be gone for maybe five minutes, probably less, and Chase and House would be very responsible five and six year-olds while he was gone.

But of course, nothing could ever be that simple. He was just re-wrapping the block of cheese and putting it back in the fridge when he heard a clatter from the living room and Chase yelp.

“Hey! Why’d you do that!?”

Wilson let out a long breath, abandoned the snacks on the counter, and walked at a something-is-probably-mildly-to-moderatly-wrong pace back to the living room. House was still in front of the TV, looking uncomfortable and staring holes into the screen that showed his character cheering in victory and Chase’s sitting still on the track, race unfinished. The second controller was across the room near his feet, disconnected from the system, and Chase was sitting by the couch scrunched up on himself and visibly upset.

It didn’t take a genius to piece together what had happened, but he had to ask anyway. “What happened?”

House shrugged and stubbornly kept his eyes on the TV, and Wilson watched as Chase observed  House’s reaction for the right thing to do and then copied it exactly. 

“Uh huh.” He walked over and slowly sat down in front of Chase, blocking his view of House. He wasn’t crying, but he did look teary. “Robbie, do you want to tell me what happened? You’re not in trouble, I promise.”

The internal battle in Chase’s head was visible on his face as he went between telling on his friend and being upset with what House had done. “I… I was winning an’ then, um, House unplugged my controller a-an’ threw it away…” He mumbled. 

That’s what he thought. “Thank you for telling me.” He said gently, then he turned to House, who had finally turned around but was averting his eyes shamefully.

“House?”

“I didn’t wanna lose…” House grumbled, obviously embarrassed. Wilson didn’t think he would ever get used to just how open House’s face became when he was regressed, how every emotion was broadcasted loudly in his expression. Big-House wouldn’t be caught dead with his face that shade of red.

“I think you know what you did was wrong, don’t you?”

He didn’t get an answer.

“Alright. Well, I think we should spend a few minutes in timeout, and then when you’re ready, we can—“ Wilson was cut off by Chase’s hand grabbing his shirt. 

“Wait! I thought you said we weren’t in trouble?” He asked, looking confused and almost betrayed.

Wilson raised an eyebrow. Was he really defending House? He was certainly more sympathetic than Wilson would’ve been at this age. “You’re not in trouble, but House did something mean to you, and he needs to apologize.”

“Then he can just say sorry, right? He doesn’t need’a go to timeout, that’s not any fun!”

“Well…” He turned to House, who was obviously just as surprised as he was that Chase wasn’t happy to banish him to timeout for his crimes. “I guess so. House? Do you want to apologize?”

“I… I guess. I’m sorry, Robbie.”

“For?” Wilson prompted when House seemed to decide that was enough.

House huffed. “For knocking away your controller when you were winning.”

Chase smiled, all wrongdoings apparently forgiven. “Thank you!” He turned to Wilson, “Can we go back to playing now?”

He chuckled and stood up, ruffling Chase’s hair. “Sure. I’m proud of you boys, that was very good problem-solving. Now, is it over? Have we solved the world’s problems for the day?”

“Don’t forget our snacks!” House piped up, before freezing and smiling up at him sheepishly. “…Please.”

[sweethoneyrose83]

Nostalgiacore Ask Game:

What was your favorite childhood cartoon?

Which snack from your childhood do you miss the most?

What song instantly transports you back to your early school days?

Do you remember a toy you always wanted but never got?

What’s your earliest memory of the internet?

What was your favorite video game as a kid?

Did you have a favorite book series or author when you were younger?

What was your go-to school lunch?

What’s a movie that makes you feel nostalgic every time you watch it?

Do you remember the first movie you saw in theaters?

Which trend from your childhood do you secretly miss?

What was your favorite childhood playground game?

Is there a specific smell that reminds you of your childhood?

Which TV commercial from your childhood do you still remember?

Did you have a favorite stuffed animal or toy you brought everywhere?

What show did you always watch after school?

What’s the first CD or album you remember owning?

What was your favorite place to go for fun as a kid?

Do you remember your first sleepover? What happened?

What was the coolest gadget or device you owned back in the day?

Which room in your childhood home did you spend the most time in?

Which fashion trend from your childhood would you bring back if you could?

Do you remember the first time you ever got online or used a computer?

Did you have a favorite family tradition or holiday memory?

What was your favorite thing to do during summer vacations as a kid?

Is there a nostalgic piece of clothing you wish you still had?

Which Saturday morning cartoon was a must-watch for you?

What was your favorite childhood board game?

Do you remember what your first cellphone looked like?

What’s a discontinued product or food that you miss?

What’s a TV show from your childhood that always made you feel cozy?

What’s your favorite toy or game you used to play with?

Which old commercial jingle still randomly pops into your head?

What’s a snack from your childhood you wish they still made?

Which movie from your childhood could you watch over and over again?

What was your favorite playground game?

Do you remember a song or album that reminds you of a specific time in your childhood?

Which video game from your childhood do you wish you could play right now?

What kind of backpack or lunchbox did you have in elementary school?

What’s a cartoon character you remember loving as a kid?

What was your favorite candy to get during Halloween?

Which family tradition or holiday always filled you with nostalgia?

What’s a toy from the 90s or 2000s that you still have or would love to have again?

What’s the most nostalgic place (like an old playground or store) that you miss visiting?

What’s an old website or online game that made you feel happy as a kid?

What scent instantly takes you back to childhood?

What’s the first phone or piece of technology you remember being obsessed with?

Did you ever have a favorite VHS or DVD that you watched until it wore out?

What’s a board game or card game you used to play with family or friends?

Which theme park or family vacation destination brings back the best memories?

[listening-to-thunder]

City Hunter 2024

Don't mind me I just watched a live action adaptation of the show I absolutely imprinted on as a little fan sprout in the late 80s/early 90s and I have feelings?! (Tl;dr - the adaptation is so faithful I am so happy.)

So yeah. I watched the (censored) French version of the City Hunter anime during summer vacations and then languished as Sweden did not have City Hunter (or anyone who had heard of City Hunter, other than my little brother). So I did stuff like...record it on VCR, pause the VCR, and trace character portraits off the prickly cathode-ray tube TV. (Screenshot technology has come a long way!)

Later on I read the entire un-censored manga (with the original names restored!) in French, and downloaded the Japanese songs from some pages I found on AltaVista (which took forever on modem), and brough the full set back in Japanese after I lived there for a while. And then I found out there is an official "megafan gets transmigrated into the story"-manga about City Hunter, and I read that, too.

Basically: I have had this story in my life forever, and watching the live action movie now gives me echoes of all those feelings I had as a lonely fannish kid. Which is a weird feeling, but not in a bad way, because the live action adaption (not the first, but the first Japanese one!) is...good? It's fun! And it's as faithful to the original story as it could possibly be while also being updated for the 21st century in the best ways?

Okay, I'm just gonna dive in!

I love how prominent Shinjuku is in the live action. It's gorgeously shot, and you can really feel a sense of place. The characters always talk about "this city", and Shinjuku is that city.

And right off the bat Suzuki Ryohei gets to shine in a fun, fast fight scene with a manga flair to it!

Everyone in Shinjuku knows Ryo-chan! And here's where I will admit to my own ignorance, because reading in translation at a young age I honestly don't know if the manga touched on how Shinjuku as a place where the queer community meets? But here the owner of the bar Ryo rushes through is a glorious okama!

Saeba Ryo and Makimura Hidekyuki and HI MY FEELS. (I will probably get back to how much I adore that Ryo is played by an actor who's hit 40 - but Andou Masanobu is nearly 50?! HOW.)

YES GOOD the iconic coat from the manga (that I like a lot more than the silly little anime jacket) running down the streets of Shinjuku as the equally iconic red car (an old Mini Cooper?) races past the neon lights.

Oh man I have cried about this scene so many times. And here I just love how they got the dramatic rain in, despite the circumstances and setting of Makimura's death being different. That's what a good adaptation does: keeps things recognizable to the existing fans, while transforming it to something new and exciting. (I almost didn't see it coming because I kept thinking "It's not raining"...!)

Not to be shallow or anything but...HOT DAMN. Suzuki Ryohei!!!!

This was so delightful! Everyone was having such fun with the Mokkori Dance, and I am thrilled that they found a way of showing this side of Saeba Ryo without making him a sex pest. The mood whiplash from drama to the most frivolous silliness is extremely City Hunter, and the movie wouldn't have felt right if they hadn't nailed this. (With Ryo nudity. I am. Not complaining at all.)

Kaori's stare. Ryo's confidence. Perfect. No notes.

And then we get some T&A... and it's QUEER AS FUCK?! Instead of a strip club, in 2024 the Shinjuku nightlife scene is beautiful people voguing with a fabulous drag queen MC!

Showing off Ryo's impossibly good aim by following the bullet through a crowded nightclub was fun but again: look at this Shinjuku!! It's queer and diverse and I love it.

I could not believe how Suzuki Ryohei somehow manages to move like a manga character? He is so fast and so believable as a supernaturally good shot! I also liked how Ryo hid his gun as soon as he'd fired it - the enemy had already spotted him, so it wasn't that he was afraid of giving himself away? But he doesn't want to have a gun out at a queer nightclub, where it could start a very understandable panic.

Again with the Shinjukuness of it all...! Ryo's car is parked outside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (it was my favorite place to go hang out if I had time to kill in Shinjuku) - I think they're up in the observation deck, too?? The layers of nostalgia for me... it hits hard...

SPEAKING OF HITTING HARD I love that they gave Kaori her mallet!!! YES. (And they made up a cosplay event for it, where there was a tiny bit of T&A - but where the cosplayers themselves were making sure they looked as good as possible, showing off their assets!)

This is art to me.

Saeba Ryo. Stallion of Shinjuku. Blocking creepy otaku and audience alike from getting panty shots while not peeking under her skirt and also the horse head is his penis and...

This will take some processing. (While I giggle.)

THE most City Hunter shot of the entire movie. The crosshairs! Ryo shoving someone (Kaori) out of the way of a bullet! The bullet grazing his arm!! SHOOTING BACK AT THE SNIPER. Everything. Everything is perfect.

I am looking...respectfully...?

Their poses, the city... this whole scene felt like watching the manga come to life. Kaori needs a hug and Ryo hasn't gotten to the point where he can do "emotional support" in any other way than "revenge". Ahhhh the angst.

The movie's fights are so much fun to watch, because they have Ryo being a superhero with a gun (or: several guns), and then Kaori running around terrified but also so determined to actually fight. She shoves things on people! She hits that one guy with a pipe!! I love her so much.

IT'S THEM

FEELS ARE HAPPENING

(Ryo still doesn't do "hugging", but at least he's letting Kaori sob on him this time?)

Yes shooting a guy with an upside down revolver pointing behind you is exactly what I want from City Hunter, thank you! (Also the intensity Suzuki Ryohei brings out for Ryo's protective streak... It's so good...)

I just know that I am missing a ton of Easter eggs...! (I would be surprised if the framed drawing of a revolver isn't Hojo Tsukasa's art, though.)

And here we go! Now they're roommates! Kaori has her mallet! And her 80s manga outfit...! Aaah!!!!

Though they both wear shoes indoors which... I suppose even though they live there, the building isn't..."home"-coded? (I mean having that much real estate in the center of Shinjuku actually requires more suspension of disbelief than the gun magic...).

Anyway: it's THEM!

Sequel when? I really, really want one. They did such a fabulous job with this story, I want to see them do more!!

[knightotoc]

The Fall of the House of Usher spoilers:

I was wondering if there were any way for any member of Roderick's family to escape from their curse. The deal is that "your bloodline dies with you;" "bloodline" seems like a precise word, but there are a couple interesting qualifiers in this (unreliable Google) definition:

The first thing that stands out here is that "bloodline" is a modern word, increasing in use, not the kind of ancient language you'd expect in a demonic contract with an immortal being. If this timeline is correct, Verna wouldn't have been making deals using this exact phrasing in the past; the one with Roderick might be the first one.

The second thing to consider is the example phrase: "the survival of a legitimate royal bloodline." "Legitimate" and "royal" often contradict "bloodline;" all three concepts are social constructs that depend upon a culture's definition of fatherhood, motherhood, law, and power.

A king might have illegitimate kids but invent a new religion to make them legitimate, like with Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Or a queen might have illegitimate kids and keep their true father a secret, like the James Hewitt rumor. Medieval upper classes in Europe and Japan commonly adopted/raised each other's kids to maintain a peaceful balance of power.

Modern ideas about genetics are based in science, but deals with the devil certainly are not. The Ushers made the deal in 1979, and the technology for and social trust in paternity testing did not become common until the late 80s.

What makes this curse so particularly twisted is the same thing that makes the TV show so fantastic: Roderick did have many illegitimate kids, but he claimed them all and made them his heirs. If he had been ignorant of or rejected his illegitimate kids, would they have been safe from the curse? In my opinion, yes.

The question reminds me of the phrase, "Blood is thicker than water," which is a misinterpretation of the Biblical quote, "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." The former means genetic family is stronger than social bonds, while the latter means the opposite. Both phrases and Verna's deal invoke "blood" as the source of their power, but they all mean it in a different way.

The "covenant" of the Ushers, Roderick's promise of wealth and power in exchange for obedience, is signed in blood -- the misery and deaths of all the innocent victims of Ligodone. This tragedy has a far greater social, physical, and spiritual impact on the world than the fact that a handful of people have similar genetics.

I think if a character truly wanted to escape this "bloodline," they could. It would be difficult, but people have been rejecting their families for as long as families have been worth rejection. It makes me think of Ruth in the Old Testament ("where you go, I will go"), or Elon Musk's daughter, who changed not only her first name but her last.

The most tragic aspect of this possibility of escape is that it would still be impossible for many people, especially children. In the show, the only character who I think would escape this way is Lenore, but the curse comes too quickly. If she only had five more years, she might have been able to create a new identity for herself.

I love stories of inescapable tragedy, and it breaks my heart that Lenore's fate reflects the reality of so many kids trapped in bad families, so I appreciate what her death means. I wouldn't want to change anything in the show, and I don't think my interpretation cheapens the curse, just adds to it.

A final story that I want to consider is the recent Bob Marley biopic "One Love," which has a motif of a childhood vision of a pith-helmeted horseman in a burning field of sugarcane. At first, this horseman is his white father who rejected him, but eventually he transforms into Haile Selassie, the Messiah of Rastafarianism. While Marley is able to escape the mental hold his father had over him, the movie also implies that Marley inherited a rare form of cancer from him, which led to his early death. It's not demonic, but it is still unfair.

[plutos-w0rkshop]

chap.4 - the start of an empire

A/N: sorry for the long wait... writer's block (screaming crying i finally finished it)

Word Count: 1.8k

Content Warnings: N/A

Finally… There was his house. That felt like years it had taken to find Vox’s house. Casmir was silently following suit behind Austin as he walked, on the lookout to protect him from anything that might’ve happened. Luckily nobody came too close. There were definitely attempts to do so, though. Thank god he had a switchblade on him.

Austin walked up and knocked on the wooden door, happy to finally be back. He watched as Vox opened the door, looking down at him. He raised an eyebrow at Casmir beside him, but not commenting on that directly. He glanced back down at the shorter aphid in front of him. "Cmon, I wanna show you something," he remarks plainly, before spinning around and walking elsewhere, back into his home.

The singer glanced over at his brother, silently inquiring if he wanted to stay. He simply shook his head, a grin on his face. "Możesz iść. Nie mieszkam daleko, tylko kilka przecznic dalej. Trzymaj się, Aussie," he reassured, a broad smile on his face. Austin stood in silence for a moment, before spinning around and giving his brother a tight hug, just about suffocating him in the process.

Casmir tensed at first, but slowly leaned back down and hugged him back. He wrapped his arms around his relative, a fond smile on his typically rough and deadpanned face. He truly loved his brother, he really did. Just the feeling alone of knowing his sibling is alive, healthy, and okay fills his body with the best feeling anybody could ask for. Contentedness.

The end greeting of their encounter seemed to last for hours upon hours, until slowly concluding, releasing each other from their somber yet ecstatic embrace. "Więc będziesz na końcu ulicy?" Austin asked once again, as if needing reassurance. Casmir nodded, his gaze locked onto the significantly shorter person. "Kiedy tylko będziesz mnie potrzebować."

Austin waved goodbye as he started walking off. He needed that... badly. Some sort of resolution of this twisted universe that never seemed to end. It was like a mouse on a wheel; running yet to end up in their own paused tracks. They had a need to get to some sort of destination, but only went in hesitation of footsteps to reach that ending point they oh-so wanted to see the light of.

That was what Hell felt like.

Digging the sole of his shoe into the ground, Austin spun around and faced the door, pushing it open once more, getting greeted by the comforting, lukewarm temperature of his shared residency. He exhaled, walking in and being sure to close the door behind him. Gazing around, he wondered where the TV demon could've gone off to. He began to walk once again, the sound of his firm shoes clicking against the ground. Checking the rooms, looking through hallways, before finally finding him once again. Vox was in some sort of indoor study room, and he seemed to be working on something.

Austin peeked over his shoulder, wondering whatever it was he was fixing or making. He was greeted with some sort of incomplete technology, Vox's hands messing with it. His eyes widened a little bit when he stared upon it, intrigued. He had always been infatuated with technological objects. They were neat things; they really were. "Woah.." he mumbled, causing the TV demon to let out a low chuckle.

"You like it, dear?" Vox responded, not looking up from it.

...Dear? Despite his instinctive reaction of disgust for seemingly romantic pet names, he felt something else. An odd feeling. Ah, who am I kidding, all feelings are odd. Humans are odd, Austin always ponders on. Strange creatures. Specimen. Lab subjects that had broken out and gotten normalized by society. They were strange, so strange he always had surrounded himself by music, technology, and anything nonhuman he could find.

Austin shook off the wave of emotions that occurred from nothing more than a casual nickname. It was probably nothing more than a platonic sign of appreciation. Most likely.

Vox raised an eyebrow a bit as his sudden change of mood, but preferred not to question him. He didn’t wish to upset him or any of the such. Staring back down at the piece of tech in his hands, he pondered on what he was going to say, and then, he spoke up.

"I’m uh.. I’m thinking of starting a tech company," he mutters, not looking away from the object. This concept interested Austin.

"A tech company??" he repeated, seemingly finding the concept alluring. "What would you call it?"

"VoxTek. Like a pun of my name, kind of. I’m not too sure actually, but that’s what I’m thinking of. It sounds neat to me," responding, he looks up at Austin once again, who was now reaching his hand out to the piece.

Vox handed it to him, and he inspects it. Reading it like it were some kind of novel. "Is this for a TV?"

"Yeah…" he says, his voice dragged out. He didn’t expect him to know what that specific part was for, especially at how undeveloped it was. "Are you interested in technology too..?"

"Yeah.. I actually got a Doctoral’s degree back when I was alive. Class of 1951," he thinks about it, and every time it’s a good thing. Though he did miss his professor… He was like a father to him, honestly. One of the only men that seemed to care for him, and didn’t just blindly admire him.

"Oh wow. Doctoral? I only got my Master’s… Died before I could finish it."

"Hm."

Austin set the circuit board back down on the desk, before walking around in the room, staring at the walls. It was very clearly a study; there were bookshelves on bookshelves of a giant variety. Non-fiction, gothic literature, etc. He seemed to get a little twinkle in his eye as he noticed a certain book, reaching out to grab it. No dust, surprisingly. All the bookshelves he found on Earth were all coated with dust, this was different.

He held the book in his gloved palms, feeling the full weight of it. Running a finger over the title, he seemed to muse it. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

"Oh my god.. You read this?" he questioned, turning to look back at Vox.

"Hmm? Oh, that? I read it like uh.. once or twice. I don’t know, it doesn’t really interest me," the TV demon responded.

"I love this story!!! I’ve been obsessed with it since I was a little kid, reading it in my father’s basement… Oh, all the time I would spend reading it! It truly is a perfect story—"

"You can have it if you’d like." Austin freezes. Did he just.. give it to him?? He stares at him with widened eyes, staring at his crimson gaze. "I- What?"

"I said you can keep it," he repeated plainly, not seeming to care.

"Oh my god, thank you!!" Austin grins, baring his teeth in happiness. He really was grateful for this, he would probably read it every night. He suddenly sets it down on the desk Vox was sitting at and gives him a tight hug, making the TV man flinch.

"Wh- Y-You’re welcome-" he stutters out, caught off guard. His eyebrows were raised on his screen face, clearly not expecting that highly of a reaction from the aphid.

"THANK YOU!!!" he yelps, overreacting. It was a bit cute though, he had to give him that. Austin backed up, his body practically vibrating. He reaches down and grabs the book once more, hugging it up to his chest. Vox simply admired the aphid, watching as he embraced the novella excitedly.

He held it almost firmly in his arms as he opened his eyes once again, gazing once again at Vox with his eyes squinted; a big sheepish smile on his face. "Ah, sorry… I just love it so much. It’s my favorite story," he mumbles, seemingly embarrassed at his outburst. Vox responded by leaning back in his study chair, staring as if he were observing the person in front of him.

"It’s ok… That was cute. What you just did there," he admit, raising his eyebrows almost smugly. Clearly amused, judging by the look on his digital face. He gently tapped his clawed fingers on the desk he was sitting at. Austin felt that strange feeling again.

He set the book down, before spinning around and checking more of the books that the TV demon had stored on the dark, hardwood bookshelves. Nothing else seemed that interesting, so he stepped back, his voice in use but not audible.

He turned his head as to look over at the clock. 11:30 pm. Damn, it was late.

"Oh shit it’s getting late," Austin pointed out, though he didn’t feel tired.

"So?" Vox questioned, looking over at the clock himself. Austin just shrugged, not seeming to care about the time, honestly. "Mm, good point."

"Wait. Do you have a pen and paper?" he suddenly asked, causing Vox to give him a look of confusion. "Yeah… huh??"

"Can I have it? Not have, but you know. Borrow it," he requested, holding his hands together behind his back. The TV demon reached over and nudged a piece of paper over, and set a pen atop it. Austin grabbed it.

"Thanks," the aphid smiled, before walking off without another word. That was odd. Vox thought, before shrugging it off and moving his legs back underneath the desk, continuing to work on the idle circuit board he had rested on it, the lamp he had shined over it illuminating the fragment.

It had been about thirty minutes by time Vox was ready to call it a night, the clock hitting 12:00 am now. He pushed himself back from the desk, standing up from the chair. He grasped his overcoat he had folded over the top of the chair, picking it up without putting it back on his body.

For some reason he felt the need to check up on Austin, making sure he was okay. He didn’t know how he felt about him, but it really was confusing to the technological man. He flipped the lamp to turn it off, before leaving the study.

He made his way up to where he was letting Austin rest, carefully opening the door. He turned the metal knob of the door, pushing it open with gentleness. He stared at the aphid that was very clearly asleep, before smiling. He looks so peaceful… He’s pretty.. No. No; God what’s wrong with me??? he thought to himself, before shutting the door.

The trip back down to the living room was fairly quiet. He sat down on the couch, leaving himself to his own conflicted thoughts. Letting out a sigh he eventually laid down, staring at the ceiling for a moment. What's wrong with me? Why do I keep feeling like this..?? He didn't even know the feeling. It was most likely just the gratefulness of not having to live here alone anymore.

No. Yes.

He doesn't know. They're just friends. Nothing more. Platonic relationship. Friends. Friends. What more could they be???

Tags

@maxipad-eater / @roach-master / @echobeez / @throat0fdelusion / @zh4rkbyt3

@drh3nryj3kyll / @inrodwetrust

[bitchkay]

Does MC ever get home sick?

Like actually homesick

Even when you move to a different houses, change schools or get a new job to something that serves you better you'll still end up missing it a little bit or at least the memories you made

Does she ever miss watching the morning news before going to work? Or even just tv in general

Does she miss her phone, even if you dont have a borderline phone addiction or chronically online modern technology has become a staple/necessity if not a prominent part of many people livesn

Does she miss her neighbors? She said she was pretty much alone before she was fucking isekai 'd into the magical realm and in her words, theres no one there waiting for her but she did live in an appartment, probably had a landlord, neighbors or neighborhood

Maybe there was a park she frequented when she wanted to go outside for some fresh air

MC is Japanese and we dont know what part of japan she live but she lived in a city so assuming its Tokyo(because it usually is in voltage games??????? Like why cant shawty be from Osaka or the goddamn country side) maybe she saw the lights of Tokyo tower at night? Maybe she didn't

Maybe she had a restuarant she went to frequently when she didn't feel like cooking

What was Robin favorite cat food? In the magical realm, she cat now a magical cat can eat pretty much the same foods as she but does she ever miss the time when she had to go get him more cat food? Was he on a specific diet? Was he picky about it?

I wish MC would talk more about her life on earth in a less reminiscent and nostalgic way like when ever she talks about it shes talking as if it was such a long time a ago like almost like how you talk about memories when you were a kid

Can't she be sad about it? Is she even sad about it?

Like even at the beginning of consort paths where shes freshly fallen out sky and confused, she seems to accept it quite quickly even after she gotten used to it

Even when she trying to improve her magic to potentially go back where she came from she very calm about the whole thing

Does she ever wish she could lay in her own bed?

No not the dorm bed, but the bed she bought with her own money

Does she ever miss wearing normal clothes?

Well I guess normal isn't the word

But does she ever miss wearing sweatpants? Perhaps a crop top? Jeans? Leggings? Sneakers?

DOES SHE EVER MISS WEARING A NORMAL BATHING SUIT CUS THE BATHING SUITS IN SALIGIA ARE FUCKEN KNEE LENGTH DRESSES????????????????????????

does she miss condoms--

like I'm sure magic takes care of that need for protection aswell as pregnancy prevention plus STD's/STI's but sometimes it's the reassurance you know, like just knowing it's there

I wish they showed MC being homesick ever once in a while

Like you can be happy and satisfied with your new life and still miss your old one, it's okay, it doesn't mean shes gonna run away from you

If anything her consort wants to see her happy and will likely put the effort to recreate the experience or find something similar because they know she misses it

[1ddiscourseoftheday]

🐒25 Dec '22🚴‍♀️🦴

Twas the night before christmas Louis' birthday when suddenly I recalled- I sat bolt up in shock- I'd forgotten a promise to yall! It was a christmas day, you see, back in 2018, that Simon Cowell dramatically demonstrated exactly how brilliant he is when thinking things up all on his own rather than taking credit for a woman's ideas- he would be starting a new band he said, of CGI monkeys!! One of them would be modelled after Harry Styles! Sadly someone slapped him out of whatever drugged stupor led to telling the press about that brainstorm, and we never heard about it again... except from me, who had made a vow to Never Forget and to bring it up every xmas forever and ever (because I can only assume Simon would hate that.) He still hasn't learned though, just this year he hyped up an AI deepfake of himself made with that very same technology- he really just so transparently wants a band without any pesky rebellious humans in it, yikes. The fact is, the man is a clown all year every year, so may I present… a 2022 review!

Sadly, the year's biggest Cowell news was but a hoax- he did not in fact die, yet. However, he did lose a tooth, get COVID, and fall off his electric bike and end up in the hospital AGAIN, proving that ill wishes (mine) can come true to some extent! And not to worry, there's still hope for next year- apparently he still bikes around without a helmet daily. A recent TV appearance had his fans (??! sounds fake but okay) "distracted by his incredibly smooth visage"- allegedly his botox and other modifications got to the point that his son was "in hysterics" at the site of him, a clever turn of phrase that implies tears but could also mean he was laughing his ass off- me too kid, me too. Although The Sun continue to print only flattering and respectful articles- almost as if they had some kind of relationship or agreement with him?! wow this is Brand New Information- the Daily Mail definitely got the brief that tis the season for making fun of Cowell, and have been running an endless series of articles about his "many faces through the years" and "melting mug". They were denied the opportunity with his most recent TV appearance however, as he did that interview with a shadow strategically cast across himself like a low tech witness protection gambit. Perhaps, I thought, some of the issue was with the confusing and scary sounding 25 pound face masks he was reportedly doing, but it turned out that was merely an audio based misunderstanding- it was sponcon for a £25 face mask, boring.

He continues to talk up his son in interviews, bragging that the kid is a great talent spotter and he "leans on him" for opinions (that I can believe) but if you're skeptical that Simon would actually let himself be upstaged, you're quite right! Consider: he also had some things to say about what his cancelled show The X Factor would look like if it came back. The tabs report that he "is adamant that the judges should be industry insiders such as A&R people rather than artists because they are better judges of talent and less jealous of bright young artists.” Sounds like SOMEONE is jealous all right but it's not an artist judge! I think we all remember who stole the show and the hearts of multiple nations- not to mention those of scores of allegedly straight men- on the last season of TXF while spotting and nurturing the talent who went on to win it all, all while making fun of Simon at every opportunity: yes indeed, it was bright young artist and Guest Judge Louis Tomlinson! Gosh who could have seen THAT coming? Possibly the actual visionary of TXF, Nicole Scherzinger, another guest judge who upstaged Simon- most recently when footage of her forming 1D was finally released on the 10th anniversary. She said she was surprised it had survived, that she assumed he had "burned it" (to bolster his decade long lie that it was he who had had the world-changing idea.) But no, she says, in fact it was "the way that my mind grapes were working" which is, um, a very weird way of putting that, but it WORKED OUT GREAT so who am I to quibble with the way her grapejuice flows.

Meanwhile just when you thought we were free of NFT type annoyances Zayn invited us to join the metaverse, no thank you, but get that cash babe and a happy holidays to you and to all our boys: to Liam, acting like he has to make up for the few months off the radar by posting an equivalent amount of insta stories before the end of the year, to Niall, taking a break from taking over tiktok to tease about how busy he'll be next year, to Harry, dousing himself in freezing water in the UK while pap pics of him in LA were dropped, and to Louis, 31 (!!) now and hopefully with some wonderful plans over his long awaited break before another jam packed year of winning. And to all out there, a very let me be your good night and all the love!

[gyubby99]

@disneyanddisneyships I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE

Emma opened up the door, revealing her father's office. With multiple cameras, every technology that has existed since he came in hell. The screens showing the surveillance of every part of the house, and a big screen in the middle. It was safe to say her father had fully embraced modern technology, and is evolving it with every year, every decade, every generation..

It was one of the things she admired about him.

"In here.." Emma said, whispering to her friend who was walking beside her. The doors slid themselves shut once both of them were completely inside.

"Whoa.." Theodore gawked at the sight. He'd never seen so much technology in his life!

"This is my dad's office. This is where he does his work, obviously. But.. this is the place where he keeps all the information he puts out to the public. Everything. He can corrupt, manipulate and control what everyone sees. He also has his own products that shows up on tv whenever they can." Emma stated, before turning to smile at Theodore.

"He never let me in here as a kid, until one day I accidentally got the door password right and I went in to touch his stuff. I broadcasted frog pictures all throughout hell because I love them.. and dad instantly found out I did it. For one, he wouldn't broadcast random stuff, and two, he knows I liked frogs. He and Mom scolded me for it. I thought it was funny!" She laughed.

Theodore laughed as well. "Yeah, I remember that. Your dad was so angry! Even dad was confused about it."

Emma grinned. "All of them were confused."

Theodore chuckled, smiling fondly at his friend. He just liked her enthusiasm when she talks. She made everything exciting.

Emma looked around the office. "You've gotta admit. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Theodore stared not at the office, but at her. "Yeah.. it's very beautiful." He found himself saying, his eyes fixated on her face.

Emma looked up at him, making him snap his head at one of the screens. "I mean.. I've been to my dad's radio studio.. it isn't anything like this."

"Classic radio demon. Sticking to old time technology." Emma chuckles.

"You tell me." Theodore agrees.

Emma's mirth died down and she got her eyes off of him, her cheeks having a shade of pink. "Although.. old time radio's not that bad.."

Theodore smiles at her statement, his eyes still remaining on her. "So is new technology! I don't know what our dads are fighting about."

Emma giggles. "Hey, atleast our mothers get along swell!"

Theodore laughs as well. "Our moms' friendship led us to being friends, so.. I'm glad they do."

Emma stopped in her tracks, taking in Theo'd words. "I.. I guess I'm glad too."

Theodore's smile turned into a soft, warm one. He cast aside a bit of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. "Uh.. I hope you don't mind."

Emma blushes. "No, um.. I don't."

They stayed like that for a while, and the feeling of his hand brushing through her cheek made her stomach turn.

Emma looks away from him, upon feeling that. "I.. I promised myself that one day.. one day I'm going to be the one to sit and work at this place. I'm going to be just like him. An overlord. I want to be able to lead the next generation's technology."

"That's ambitious!" Theodore says, putting his hand in his pocket. "I don't even know what I wanna be yet.."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out!" Emma put a hand on his shoulder, smiling reassuringly, a warm.. friendly gesture.

Theodore couldn't stop looking at her. Her red eye.. her voice.. her hair.. her smile..

He didn't know why, but it was probably just because he cared for her as a friend. They did grow up together despite the feud between their fathers.

Theodore smiles. "Thanks, Emma."

[firewolf-pyro]

10. BETRAYAL

Henry rested unyielded by the medical technology he had been strapped into beforehand. On his lap covered in a soft strangely starchy feeling blue blanket rested a pale Dalek mutant. On a stool beside the bed sits Rose who is turned towards a small tv that has been brought in and set on a cart of sorts. Both of them seem to be watching the mutant on Henry’s lap while the creature's eye is turned to watch the screen. On the screen is a children’s show similar to blue’s clues which has absolutely grabbed the attention of the strange alien.

“It has barely moved.” Rose observes as she looks to the screen that the mutant was staring into. The screen had some kind of stop motion kids show playing. It seems to be interactive of sorts as the character looks out of the screen at them. Each pause the character performed as if waiting for a child to answer only seemed to draw the creature's attention back to the show if the eye looked away to some other part of the room.

“You should feel his mind right now, completely blank. Usually it’s nothing but stress and rage and hate but- just… Zoned out… Nothing but static.” Henry linsists as he rests a hand on the head mass of the creature. He glances down then back up at the screen. The silence was actually very comforting. It let his own mind wander, let it process what was going on around him without the constant screaming coming from the other’s mind. He let out a sigh of relief.

“Is he always in your head? Can you always feel what this thing is feeling?” She leans over to look at Henry who had started to fall into the same trance-like state the more he looked at the tv. He was still so exhausted from the crash. He didn’t deal with trauma as well as someone like Olesia did.

“Agh? Wh? Oh, kind of? I can’t always hear what he is thinking- he can block my thoughts … But I can’t block his- if he wants me to know something or he wants to know something in mine- he can just… Dig for it… The feeling is- not painful but- it’s like someone yanks the steering wheel away from you.” He explains softly as he pets the form of the Dalek mutant resting on his lap.

“Oh…” Rose stares down worriedly at the mutant resting there.

Days passed by in a slow creeping way. The storm that had been predicted had hit the facility hard, burying the doors in feet of snow. Far below the snow in an open laboratory sat a damaged blue casing which rests beside the island counter. Olesia is standing by the counter laying down battery packs as she watches Blueton move from shelf to shelf. He was searching for something to repair the wiring within the casing with.

“So… Why does your empire hate you so much?” Olesia asks as she begins to hook the power cells up into the now opened casing. They were going to kick start the core to see if that helped the nanotechnology begin healing the damaged metal.

“You already know the reason, they believe me to be insane.” Blueton insists as he clambers back down from one of the counters holding a small container of some sort of silver powder.

“I know the gist of that but, you haven’t gone into detail on what exactly provoked you into doing what you did…” She murmurs as she sits back to observe her work. The energy source at the base of the casing barely let off a glow. Every ounce of energy being pumped into it was being synced somewhere else.

“Why? Why I went against them?” They clamber into the casing and open the jar of silver powder. He began pouring it into the basin of the energy source. The core quivered and let out a burp of the silver powder in a soft poof.

“Please…” She squats down to observe the other as they work. She wanted to know more about this Dalek. Maybe she could figure out how to help them if they explained more about their past.

“Everything was fine- fek what I recall… From- very early on. Just- fine… Monotonous - repetitive. Science projects, studies on war to better eradicate the Thal- … Hmmm.” He closes the energy source. The basin begins to admit a very strong blue glow. Refueling it had been successful it seemed.

“The Prime and… The old emperor. Both are still so foggy in my recollection- I held no ill will towards them, towards my others… Until the debate began- on what status we held over the Kaleds around us- what we felt was correct to do with the species that made us… The man that made us.” He moves up and begins removing burnt out slides from the neck section of the casing. The fuses desperately needed replacing. He let the ones far beyond saving fall to the floor below them.

“So it was both a moral debate and the start of a political debate?” She asks as she pulls the burnt out sections over to herself and sets them on the counter beside her. The scrap metal could be salvaged and used later.

“Yes? No? I… Do not recall. I will stand by my beliefs however, Daleks are their own rulers. We will not bend to any who wish us to - not even the one who created us. They are not a god, we are not his pawns.” Blueton turns to face Olesia, his tendrils keeping him centered in the casing. She could see their outline through the neck slats.

“Some did not agree… That was my first taste of a political break. It was… Also my first taste of Dalek on Dalek warfare.” He gestures towards the power banks on the counter.

“Flick the first switch, the central power needs to charge before the rest can absorb the flow into the nanotechnology.” He states idly. Now with the basin refilled the charge should properly flow into it rather than wherever it was currently draining into.

“Wait- so you went through a revolution? Daleks had a revolution? Huh… Somehow that does not make sense to me.” She turns and flicks one of the switches on the power bank. A soft hum fills the room as the glow in the power source begins to glow brighter.

“Correct… It was not… It still is not. Sure we can keep a close watch on genetics and mark who is more superior than who based on them but…. We were also focused on motivations and alliances…. It was- unbelievably confusing. It brought up some questions that no one has answered to this point. Past that, those questions only burned brighter the further off-world we got.” He turns towards the central slots in the neck section then began poking at the slots. He was feeling for any breaks in the central spiral of wired the slots sat around.

“Power levels are remaining stable.” Blueton hummed as he read over the internal code of the travel machine.

“Sorry… I don’t get it.” Olesia admitted referring to Blueton’s previous story.

“Neither do I. Something happened during one of those planetary battles that really messed with me- I.. Do not know what but - none of the other Daleks seemed to take notice. The repetitivity of the hive mind was agony. The drive to explore further out of our solar system was the only thing keeping me sane… I wanted to know more, more about the stars and the life surrounding them…” Remembering the attack on the Dalek’s whole internet like system that had broken him from his repetitive mentality really made him think. He stares down at the ground for a moment before continuing.

“More about how they battled, how their war worked- how their civilizations worked around their wars…” He believed that was the point where his science focused kind switched to one more interested in strategy.

“So that was what started it then? Something you experienced in one of the wars on your homeworld?” She stood up on her knees to look over the power levels on the power cells. The tiny lights along the neck section’s structure were starting to light up one by one.

“Yes?” In all honesty he couldn’t pinpoint exactly why he was like this. He just was.

“Blueton… How old are you, exactly?” She had known he was old but now she was beginning to suspect he was ancient. She sits back down and leans in on her knees to stare into the eye of the Dalek mutant itself.

“I… Anyways- the Mechanoids really proved to push whatever was … My creativity along with the creative opinions of the others were tested to their limits and expanded upon. I earned my title as strategist then and there.” He glares down at Olesia for a long minute feeling the triumph of tricking the learning machines all those years ago. He pauses then to ponder something here.

“Why am I telling you this?” He begins to pull back, their tendrils coiling as they clamber further up towards the dome of their casing. It frightened him how willingly he had just given up that information.

“Because you like me, you find comfort in me. But if you are as old as I think you are… Why aren’t you a pile of black mush?.” She questions as she reaches her hand up towards Blueton. She looks very confident in her abilities now to get the other to open up to her. If she could keep him talking she might be able to convince him down the line to bring them back home.

“Disgusting. I can personally thank the Mevolans for that.” He stares at the offered hand. Hesitantly he reaches a single tendril but barely lets it touch the tip of her fingers. The debate raging through his head then and there was sending his internal stomach into knots.

“I can not do this- you are not a Dalek - this is wrong-“ He pulls back completely, getting a soft frown from Olesia. With the silence the full pull back left in her mind she knew she had gone a bit too far. But it did confirm her suspicions here. It was infatuated with her for some reason.

“One step forward, two steps back.” She huffs and stands up. She dusts herself off and peers over the energy levels again. By this point it would take the tank ages to recharge and thus heal itself.

“It’s okay Blueton, I Won't push it any further than that.” She sighs and watches just over her shoulder as Blueton scrambles off of their casing back towards some of the cupboards. They pause briefly to look over the symbols on a fridge before continuing on.

Later that day, far above the lab in the wide open facility’s first room the snow pushes inwards on the windows. The area is mostly empty, only a few people are sitting with their tablets or laptops on sofas in the wide open space. Olesia and Henry walk slowly through the communal space with a freshly healed blue and silver casing strolling along behind them. Henry is back in blue jeans, a colorful t-shirt and a bright orange sweater with the facility’s logo on its sleeves pulled on over it. They all had needed a good wander around the place after days of rest and recuperation.

“So- this is definitely not the planet we were meant to land on - right?” Henry looks up at the ceiling watching the rafters creak and groan as the wind howls outside. Snow was building up all around the metal beams above them causing snow to block out the light from outside.

“I doubt it? Daleks really do not do well in the cold.” Olesia cackles before finding an open couch and claiming a spot for herself and Henry. She lounged with a fwumf letting out a satisfied sigh. They had been walking around the facility for a few hours now looking for something to do.

“To be honest, neither do humans- I’m lucky to still have all of my fingers and toes after being stranded out in the snow and ice like that. I was out there for hours.” He grumbles and sits down next to her. He looks up to the casing in front of him and cackles.

“Hah! No room for the drone here- move along move along!” Henry smirks to the eyestalk that turns to stare down at the both of them. They are silent before turning and continuing towards the windows.

“He’s still touchy about our conversation earlier… I think he came to some odd conclusions about himself.”

Olesia sighs and rubs her face as she watches the Dalek pause at the windows. She lets out a grumble as she watches the Doctor and Rose stroll towards the lone Dalek. Just what they needed- a confrontation in a public place. With how agitated their Dalek was currently she knew things would escalate far past yelling if she didn’t step in. All she wanted to do was relax.

“Aaaannndd now we’re going to have to go save him again from the clutches of the ruthless Oncoming Storm.” She makes to stand but Henry grabs her shoulder. He wanted to see how this went. If push comes to shove they could always intervene but he felt if they stepped in now the Doctor would come to the conclusion that they were indeed under full control of the Dalek. Plus- Henry just wanted to see how or if the Dalek could keep things from becoming violent. And again, he wanted some time alone with Olesia. With the Dalek distracted they could actually converse without the sense of someone watching them over their shoulders.

“Stop… He talked to you? Like, actually talked to you?” He holds onto her arm until she relaxes back into her seat.

“Yes, he did.” Olesia stretches her legs out in front of her as she gets comfortable on the couch beside Henry. She couldn’t look away from the Dalek who had not yet noticed they were being approached.

“Like, not just barking orders or accidental mental

flashes of memories or thoughts? Just- straight up talked to you?!” He looks in awe glancing from Olesia to the Dalek then back again. Through the year of living under the rule of that Dalek it not once had stopped to talk with him. It had always been nothing but orders or critique. He sits up a bit as he listens to her.

“Yes, he started to explain why he was doing what he was doing- or… Well, less of why and more of like- giving some backstory as to why he was like what he is like now? I don’t know- it was confusing. I think he is just as confused as we are.” She whispers and glances over her shoulder back towards the Dalek who is now against the window with the Doctor talking at him - keeping him from moving away. She grimaces at this scene really wishing she could step in right here and now.

“Man- then we really are puppets to an insanely broken entity.” He leans back with a huff, just watching the eyestalk of the Dalek turn from the Doctor to Rose then back again. If Blueton really was insane that meant they were in even more danger than they would have been in with a sane Dalek. It meant he was unpredictable- it meant they should expect him to be irrational and erratic.

“Yup… But- he is starting to open up, which- I suppose is a miracle for anyone to experience with any sort of Dalek.” She smiles then looks at Henry, poking his side a bit.

“Do you remember those little things in the bio-tanks? I think the planet we were meant to land on would have had something more to do with them.” She insists idly, ignoring the mess going on behind her. She assumed the planet they had meant to land on would likely have been some kind of Dalek paradise. Maybe a tropical world with hidden structures buried far below the surface or a warm dead radioactive world with towering city scapes set around old decrepit rubble. A perfect place to raise their young.

“The tiny squids…” He nods and keeps his eyes looking past Olesia to the situation unfolding over by the blue casing. He didn’t really have the capacity to care about the infants at the moment. He was still very worried for himself and his own safety.

“Yes, I saw the files the Doctor opened, I knew the planned trajectory of our craft… But I didn’t know the history of the planet. It was some kind of mining planet- an abandoned attempt of conquest from the old Daleks.” She turns to look over her shoulder one more time before looking back at Henry.

“Why would we want to go to an abandoned sector? Wouldn’t the Daleks of all creatures have abandoned it for good reason?” Henry begins to stand when he hears shouting coming from the direction of the Dalek. It sounds as if the Doctor is shouting about how manipulative the Daleks are and how dare he command two people like they were puppets. It was time to step in if they didn’t want laser fire loosed in a public space.

“Maybe that’s the point? Hide in plain sight or… Right under his empire's nose?” Olesia suggests and stretches as she stands. Both of them start walking towards the red in the face Doctor who was being pushed to the side by Rose. As they walked they could hear the last bit of the argument- Rose hushing the Doctor as she tried to play the mediator. They had started arguing over what was manipulative or if the Dalek was lying about its control over the two.

“So raise an army right there- but if they abandoned it, it has to be dangerous…” He picks up his pace to a careful jog along Olesia’s side. The yelling had turned to screaming in such a short period of time the both of them knew they didn’t have much time to stop this argument before it became violent.

“Better that than have them find him now- right?” She slows just as they get to the Doctor who is still shouting at the Dalek.

“You are a slave owner, how can you not see this?” The Doctor snarls pointing his finger at the Dalek. He is being pushed back via Rose who is trying to call him down. Neither had noticed Olesia or Henry run to their sides.

“Doctor stop, you’ve tried to explain to it the morals of what it’s done - it clearly doesn’t get it.” Rose says sternly as she pushes him away. Olesia walks to the left of her while Henry is at the right, with all three of them they pull the Doctor a few good feet away from the Dalek letting the Dalek move away from the window it had been trapped up against.

“Or it just refuses to believe it itself!” He shouts as he glares over Rose. He did not want to leave this situation. He wanted to kill this Dalek, to free the two it had kidnapped and prevent it from whatever the sick mutant was planning.

“It doesn’t matter, Doctor- we’re stuck with him until I find a way to prevent the nanotechnology coursing through our veins from messing with our brains.” Olesia says in a hushed and quick tone. Both Henry and Olesia release the Doctor and step around to Rose’s side to keep him walled off away from the Dalek. Olesia wasn’t lying about the nano-technology either. Even if they did manage to escape the vicinity of the Dalek the being would still be able to flip some sort of switch in them and force them back to his side.

“You aren’t helping by getting into a screaming match with him.” Henry sighs and glances over his shoulder to the casing. Blue was half turned away from the group making a slow escape along the wall towards the more open part of the community area.

“You’re only causing stress- stress will only make him violent.” Henry continues, gesturing behind him with his thumb. The limbs of the Dalek casing were all twitching about- especially the gunstick which twisted and turned in its socket as they moved away from this situation.

“Ex- ex-ex-“ Came a soft muttered phrase from the Dalek as it tried to reduce whatever internal stimulus it was experiencing. Emotions were high- and high emotions really fucked with the trigger systems in the gunstick.

“If you really want to help- just help us get off of this planet.” She whispers and walks over to the casing, resting a hand on the dome and stands in the line of sight of the eyestalk to break eye contact.

“So you’re just going to side with that monster?” The Doctor asked, flabbergasted by these two. How could they stay sided with the very creature that had ripped them away from their homes? He just couldn’t believe it.

“It’s safer than siding with you, Doctor.” Olesia sighs and looks over her shoulder to him. She believed if she ran to the Doctor’s side the Dalek would only retaliate- and retaliate in such a violent way it would endanger everyone around them. It was safer to keep quiet and calm here.

“Just… Be patient, okay? And tone your Dalek hate down- it’s already painful enough to witness. I don’t need you sending him into a full out war fury.” Henry turns to leave the Doctor where he is, the man still fuming as he paces from side to side as he stares the trio down.

Olesia and Henry stand beside the blue Dalek. They speak at a whisper, hands on the casing as they throw glances at the Doctor. The Doctor is at least a yard away at this point with Rose resting her hands on his shoulders to calm him down. She is trying to hold his attention on her. All three, Olesia, Henry and Rose felt like weird handlers for a war focused alien.

“I can’t just let them-“ The Doctor started but was quickly shut down by his companion.

“But you can, you and I both know if that tin cann wanted to hurt anyone it would have already. Just- hear it out already… If you don’t - I will.” Rose presses herself into the Doctor. With an all too serious stare up into the Doctor’s eyes she dares him to challenge her on this. When he blinks and looks away from her, her posture relaxes into him. She really did have to act like a handler on the other side of a leash with him sometimes.

“If they are insane to other Daleks, then maybe that is a good thing for us. Maybe because they are, they will be…” She was trying to reason with the man. If they weren’t right in the head for a Dalek- then maybe that meant they were right in the head for humans.

“What? Nicer? No. This is just another manipulation tactic- it is up to something. It has to be plotting something big-… We need to get back to that ship- to destroy that infant army growing there.” The Doctor turns to stare towards the exit. With a grumble he shuffles past Rose leaving her in a huff standing there in the room alone. He just could not risk this going any further than it already had. There were no such things as good friendly Daleks.

Rose watches the Doctor rush to one of the entryways as he tries to find a way out. However the doors are stuck shut by the weight of the snow and ice that had accumulated against them during the still frigid storm. Rose wraps her arms around herself then hesitantly walks towards the trio. Olesia has her arm wrapped around the neck and shoulder section of the casing while Henry has one hand resting on the Blue one’s dome. Both are using the casing to lean against as they talk quietly to one another.

“So… You three need help getting off of this planet?”

[fredseibertdotcom]

Emil Rensing, photographed by Elena Seibert, 2001

My mentor: Emil Rensing 

Emil Rensing changed my life. I’ve been lucky that as I’ve gotten older instead of completely settling in (though there’s naturally a lot of that too) there are folks around me that kept me from thinking “old.” Scott Webb and the Nickelodeon promo team, the Fred/Alan gang, the great artists and writers in my cartoon lives. But, I must say, I think when the consumer internet came buzzing, I was just about ready to turn off my brain to it and let the yung’uns take over. Jed Simmons tried to stop me, but I was tired, I was done. Then came Emil. 

For many years, like everyone else, my mentors had been older me (excepting Bob Pittman, my original MTV boss, who was two years younger). But when I was almost 50, it flipped on me. And the first kid that started teaching me a lot of stuff was... Emil Rensing. 

Emil has a number of super powers, not the least being a superior, raw intelligence. He’s a computer engineer, sure (he was one of the early employees of the then-revolutionary AOL), but... My experience has been there are engineers who know how to invent things, build things, fix things, but there are few who understand the human who use those things. On the other hand, the folks who can comprehend humans, don’t often have grasp on where technology is going, they can only figure out where it’s been (I’m probably on that spectrum). Emil, he can connect the dots. It’s seems simple when I’m writing this, but trust me it’s not. Emil appreciates, deduces, discerns, interprets, recognizes, penetrates. Emil sees. 

Emil and I met in 1999, but here’s the quick backstory. 

After a try at becoming a record producer, a stint in country radio and cable television, I had somehow or other found myself happily, thrillingly, in the cartoon business. Then, a few months after insisting to a friend that I was happy just learning to be an independent cartoon producer, the internet was for others, I became the first/only president of MTV Networks Online. Just like any other occupation I’ve had, I had no idea what I was doing. 

A friend from the animation biz, Charlie Fink, someone always interested in ‘what’s next,’ had left Hollywood and joined the early, money losing, what-the-fuck-is-this-internet-thing. He suggested I meet a young engineer –Signore Rensing– he’d worked with. I did, and even though –maybe because!– Emil was 25 years younger, I asked him to join my team, he did. 

It’s hard for me to say what happened in the next year, but for me, it was confusing. The company didn’t really want to succeed in the internet, they just wanted some of that internet moolah that was floating around, and I still didn’t know what I was doing other than occupying space. Soon enough, it was clear to me I couldn’t move the company in any useful direction, so it was equally clear I had to quit. When I told Emil I was leaving he announced he’d quit earlier that day. 

Frederator/NY announcement posters by Hatch Show Print, Nashville

Spontaneously, I blurted, “let’s start a company together. You keep showing me what the internet will mean to me and I’ll you how to make TV shows.” He agreed and we were in business. Frederator Studios –Eric Homan and Kevin Kolde– kept the cartoon fires burning (My Life as a Teenage Robot, Random! Cartoons, Fanboy and Chum Chum, Adventure Time, et cetera) and we started a media/internet consultancy in New York.  The details don’t matter, we did some good work, we made some TV shows, we started some of the early internet video successes, eventually we started, then sold, yet another new company that paced the world in the new vision of streaming video. 

Next New Networks, founded by Emil Rensing & Fred Seibert, posters by Frank Olinsky

Most importantly, Emil kept me young, kept me smart, helped set my stage for the next 20+ years. Emil Rensing changed my life. 

Thank you buddy. xxoo 

I’ve posted often about my mentors, the people I’ve learned the most from. And I’ve noted how often how many of them beg to differ as to whether or not I should credit them as such. So, I’ve calmed down in my titling. But still…

[toxictoad]

awh haha, thanks for looking out 💕 things are actually kind of good, but that terrifies me a lot? i hope you're alright, too! sorry for bugging you in your dreams, though! if i show up again i hope it's not to bother you for something 😅 lmao when i was a kid i had a dream interpretation dictionary! looking up dreams about being unable to find shoes now without it though, some themes are insecurity, lack of confidence, and anxiety... but someone else messaging you, and just about the left ones, hmmmm that's a different thing altogether! which now makes me wonder how dream interpretations have been altered by the advent of specific technologies... you say you have weird dreams, so have you ever had recurring characters? i have recurring characters in my dreams and people tell me that's not normal lol. one of them is a runner i always meet on walks, so the dreams begin when one of us is tying our shoes or something like that. usually he's overly cautious (he's been in my dreams for years), but in the last one a couple months ago, he made a detour onto a construction site and us and the guy working there all nearly died. i also felt bad because in the beginning i walked by and just ignored him, and he had to run to catch up to me. we have no bad blood so i'm not sure why i did that. i haven't seen him again since that dream but hopefully he's alright!!! or, do you have any other specific weird dream features? (:

(sorry for sending you a really long separate ask, i wanted to keep yours in my inbox lol)

No worries for the ask lol. I just constantly have weird, vivid dreams idk why. And they're always about very mundane things

Like I've had very convincing dreams of going to class, and then woke up confused because I thought I already went to class. This does mark the second time I've had a dream about a Tumblr mutual tho (Or the third but I knew that person irl first so I don't count it)

I used to have a lot of dreams about family members disappearing or like turning into objects, but I chalk that up to general anxiety stuff. When I was still in school and got really into bg3 I would have dreams as my tav, which was kind of funny but also I took it as a sign to not play as much lmao. I don't think I've ever had recurring characters? Or if I do I don't remember them. I've tried to lucid dream before but I never managed it

It is weird to think about how dreams have changed with technology. I think I read somewhere (so don't quote me on this lol) that people before technicolor would sometimes dream in black and white because that's what tv looked like and they were used to it. Like I said my dreams tend to be very vivid, but also relatively boring, so I see my phone and computer and my family and stuff. I have very frequent dreams of sitting at my computer looking at a blank word document, which for a writer is... apt. I don't know if i would consider it a nightmare but it certainly doesn't improve my mood lol

Yeah idk what you messaging me about left shoes could mean, if it means anything. I just feel the need to tell people when I dream about them because like... 8/10 times something is going on. It's awesome you're doing well tho, and I totally get being anxious about it. The eternal curse of anxiety is that worrying about bad times can ruin the good times, but we trek on. I'm proud of you <3

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond! Scripting: Dangerous Domain

(Based on Friendly Enmity Episode 3/Lord X VS MX Round 4)

Sometime after falling through the portal in an alternate universe, Chris Smith woke up in some kind of mechanical fortress.

Chris/Nitro.DLL: Oh... Where am I?

Close by, Toxinfect was working on some machinery, before he saw Chris wake up.

Toxinfect: Ah, brilliant. You're awake. Welcome... to my domain!

Nitro.DLL: What's with it being all mechanical?

Toxinfect: I've themed it specifically on numerous Eggman fortresses.

Nitro.DLL: Urgh... I already don't like the look of this place. Tell me the way back out of here.

Toxinfect: Aww, no need to rush. You're my guest for the time being! Now, come along, kid.

He led Chris over to another room with a huge TV display, showing a recording of events that had transpired.

Toxinfect: Do you remember this creature?

Nitro.DLL: He called himself "Sonic.exe", clearly a nastier incarnation of Sonic.

Toxinfect: Yes indeed. He killed the little fox boy here. But when you wound up facing him, the changes to your DNA kicked in that prevented you from dying. When you were holding your own against him, you were taking the opportunity to catch his teleportation off-guard. And thanks to that, Tails's body ended up corrupted, all because your escape before breached the current state of things.

Nitro.DLL remembered this encounter, having almost gotten killed by Exegod, but thanks to the EXE blood he had, it rendered him impossible to outright kill, albeit at the expense of a pretty rough headache for a couple of minutes afterwards. After he held his own for some time, the corpse of Exegod's Tails was getting overly glitched before it got up and charged at both of them, getting them separated in different worlds before now.

Elsewhere at the time, Toxinfect was planning things out before a tremor shook his base. He went to investigate the source, and discovered a portal to that dimension had opened, so he went in to discover just what went on.

Toxinfect: But it's such an honour to meet you.

Nitro.DLL: What do you want from me?

Toxinfect just grabbed him and hauled him back through to the room he was at before.

Nitro.DLL: Hey! You'd better let me go! What do you think you're doing?!

He walked past a chamber with an unconscious black-and-red Classic Amy and another with a computer monitor inside, before putting Nitro.DLL on one of the capsule bases.

Toxinfect: You're going to stay here for now. Perhaps you'll be of good use to me.

Nitro.DLL: Look, can't we talk about this? What do you want?!

Toxinfect: To create a perfect world, where all hope is non-existent!

Toxinfect laughed sadistically as the capsule closed on Nitro.DLL, as he got to see his reflection for the first time; he saw how much he had changed in that frame of time.

Later on, Toxinfect managed to bring Exegod into that same domain, the variant of which is an alternate self made from Toxinfect killing Corrupt before he could do the same to Exegod.

Toxinfect: Welcome to the Chaos Nostalgia dimension.

Exegod: Why is technology your main motto here?

Toxinfect: I created this virtual world that is properly implemented using a PC, and it's pulled from various zones from the Genesis.

Exegod: That I figured. Now, why did you bring me here?

Toxinfect: I'm going to show you something. You might remember a thing or two from this...

They emerged into the prison chamber room as Exegod took note of the glass capsules.

Exegod: What is all this? How many entities have you been storing in these?

Toxinfect: Oh oh oh! Don't touch that. Come over here.

He did so as Toxinfect reversed the Sonic 3 filter on his body to return to his default TTS state.

Exegod: What's going on? Who the hell are you?!

Toxinfect: Now, THIS is my proper form, Exegod. You may call me "Toxinfect"!

Exegod: And... where's the way out of here? I don't like this place.

Toxinfect facepalmed, as if he's getting used to people asking that.

Toxinfect: Hehehehehe... You can't just waltz out of here THAT easily.

He walked over to one of the chambers and lit it up to show Exegod.

Toxinfect: Do you remember this child?

Exegod: That's the kid I was trying to attack before! Why did you stuff him inside that capsule?

Toxinfect smiled sinisterly as he sealed Exegod inside one of the capsules.

Toxinfect: HAHAHAHAHA! He really thought of you as a fool, but I didn't believe him... until now.

Exegod just responded by smashing his capsule apart before going to choke Toxinfect.

Exegod: If we ever meet again, infect, don't you even THINK about trapping me in any of those capsules of yours!

He ripped Toxinfect's head off, leaving his seemingly dead body on the floor before walking off. However, Toxinfect quickly recovered, albeit in a glitchier state, before warping in front of the demon.

Toxinfect: Actually THINK before you act on impulse! (with a twisted smile) You know... If you keep attempting to kill me, any hope of you returning to YOUR dimension will be forfeit. Everything here is under MY control.

Exegod looked back to the capsules.

Exegod: Well, what would you do... if I smashed one of your capsules to shreds?

Toxinfect: W-What?

Exegod charged straight at the one holding Nitro.DLL...

Toxinfect: NoNONONO! Wait, don't do that!!!

...and smashed it apart, before cracking the glass of one of the other chambers in a feral rage as Nitro.DLL came to.

Nitro.DLL: Oh, my head... What's going on...?

He looked back, seeing what was going on.

Nitro.DLL: What the-? That's the Sonic.exe I fought before?!

He watched as Exegod and Toxinfect fought each other, with Exegod being the victor of this clash. As the infect got back up, however, Nitro immediately hightailed it.

Toxinfect: HEY! Where do you think you're going?!

Exegod stomped on the ground to get his attention.

Exegod: Well, come on, then! If you're that big of a guy, why aren't you doing anything about it?!

Toxinfect: Okay, okay... Listen. If you can bring that child here, I'll give you this pendrive, and then you can go back to your dimension.

Exegod: But... I've little reason to trust you.

Toxinfect: Just GO!

Exegod angrily growled at him before walking off. However, before he fully left, he noticed the (seemingly) random computer monitor in one of the capsules.

Exegod: Wait... Why have you got a computer monitor in here?

Toxinfect (baffled): ...

A little later, after a short minecart chase, Nitro woke up in the depths of the fortress as Exegod approached.

Nitro.DLL: But how?!

Exegod: I don't think we'll be permanently separated THAT easily, kid. This time, don't even try escaping me-!

Nitro.DLL: *sigh* Not again.

Exegod: Hehe... What's up with your family back home?

His eyes widened as he glared at Exegod.

Nitro.DLL: DON'T. YOU. DARE. TALK. ABOUT IT! *sigh* Just get out of my face.

He started walking off as Exegod's smile faded.

Exegod: Don't beg for me to treat you any harsher, kid. I'll give you another chance. Now, come on!

Nitro.DLL: Hmph. Blood-crying faker.

Exegod was pretty much through with this, leading him to chase Nitro.DLL through the depths of the facility. At the end of it, Nitro managed to lose Exegod by tricking him into going down a spindash chute before he continued on his way. However, when he emerged in the next room, Toxinfect awaited him nearby.

Toxinfect: Welcome back... little child. HAHAHAHAHA!

And on cue, Exegod busted through, frustrated that it took THIS to complete his task.

Exegod: Finally. You got what you wanted. Now, hand me that pendrive!

Toxinfect, ready to be true to his word, prepared to provide him one.

Nitro.DLL: Seriously? You've been chasing me all over this place just for a dumb USB stick? Pft! Come on. I've got my own way of getting out.

He threw a warp ring, which materialised into a way back out.

Nitro.DLL: See you two never.

He walked off as Exegod was ready to stop him.

Exegod: Hey, stop!

Toxinfect held him back.

Toxinfect: Just let him try.

When he made contact with it, however, it just disappeared, much to his shock and horror as Exegod laughed at him. He then glared back at Toxinfect as he approached.

Toxinfect: You're so funny! I think I have to make the point clear one last time; you're in MY world, where everything works to MY liking.

Exegod (plain fed up at this point): Okay, never mind. Just give me that pendrive. I'm done with this.

Nitro.DLL: And what of me?

Toxinfect: You already know what I need you for.

He passed the pendrive to Exegod.

Toxinfect: Now, connect this to the first teleport machine you see.

However, Nitro.DLL quickly swiped it and bolted it.

Exegod: HEY! GET BACK HERE!

Nitro quickly plugged it in and warped himself away, as Exegod barely missed the attack.

Exegod: Now what do we do?

Toxinfect: Right. Let's split from here. He shouldn't be too far.

Exegod: So... where did he go?

Toxinfect: Not to fret. The pendrive he took lacks any data.

Because of this, Nitro got warped to a different area of the domain.

Nitro.DLL: Guh-?! It was all a lie?! *sigh* Alright, then...

He just pressed onwards, coming across a secret database where he could search up where each pendrive led to. However, while he was looking up information, Exegod switched off the monitor.

Exegod: Is your work done?

Nitro.DLL: God damn it!

He got kicked into one of the shelves and pinned there.

Exegod: Listen! Do NOT keep getting on my nerves so much. Otherwise, I will remove you from existence!

Nitro just reached for the shelf and pulled out a pendrive.

Nitro.DLL: Just take this with you and get going. It's what you were looking for, right?

Exegod: ...How will I know where this is taking me?

Nitro.DLL: If it doesn't give you the correct result, just come back here and pick up another pendrive.

Exegod: Just shut your mouth and quit lying to me!

Nitro.DLL: Okay, cut this out! We don't have much time right now. I just want to get out of this joint and not have to see any of you lot again.

Exegod released Nitro and took the pendrive before waltzing off. Nitro then took the opportunity to get his own pendrive before continuing on his way, returning back to the room with the glass capsules in the process.

Nitro.DLL: Wait... Haven't I see her about before? I'm gonna get her out of there.

Elsewhere, Exegod had the pendrive on hand ready to leave with, though Toxinfect's technology was more advanced than he was willing to admit, and he was baffled trying to work it out. Back in the capsule room, Nitro smashed the girl's chamber apart and pulled her out of it.

????: Oh... Where... am I?

Nitro.DLL: Hey there, ma'am!

????: Oh, hello! Oh, er, there's no real need to address me like that.

Nitro.DLL: Oh? What should I call you, then?

????: A lot of people prefer to call me... Roze!

(Roze by SilverWho)

Nitro.DLL: Well, it's an honour to meet you, Roze! Heh, you know, you've been the most positive thing to come out of today so far.

Roze: Hehe, thanks! And... thanks for saving me.

Nitro.DLL: Anytime! Say, do you know why he went and put some random computer monitor in one of those chambers?

Roze: Umm... Nope. I don't really have a clue.

Nitro.DLL: Maybe we should open it and find out.

They examined the glass, getting ready to do the trick.

Nitro.DLL: One…

Roze: Two…

Toxinfect: THREE!

Roze (panicked): Uh oh! What was that?!

The two were quickly grabbed by Toxinfect, who was unaware of the monitor switching itself on with familiar imagery on it.

Toxinfect: So you two are STILL actively trying to screw things up for me, huh?! Now listen. I'm not in the mood right now to put EITHER of you out of your misery, so just stop testing my patience.

Roze: W-We did NOTHING!

Toxinfect: Maybe not you, girl, but Christopher, I think you're begging to lose your head since you've defied me repeatedly up to this point.

Nitro.DLL: My s-siblings better be alright if you know what's good for you!

Toxinfect: Oh, don't worry. They're still out away from my grasp. For now, anyway…

Roze: We just wanted to figure out what was inside that last capsule.

Toxinfect: It's none of your business. I have a very good reason to keep that specimen inside there.

As he said that, the glass of the chamber was smashed apart as said "specimen" walked up right behind Toxinfect.

Nitro.DLL: So, uh, would you mind explaining that to, er…?

Toxinfect: You see? He's starting to get it now, but you still seem not to, Roze.

Nitro.DLL: I didn't mean Roze.

Toxinfect: What DO you mean, then?

Roze: You, uh… might wanna look… behind you?

He did so, shocked by what he saw.

Toxinfect: What?!

And before his eyes was…

SoniTOR, itching to get back at him.

Toxinfect: Oooooooooh… SHIT!

SoniTOR: >Let's dance, inferior being!

SoniTOR attacked, freeing Nitro.DLL and Roze from Toxinfect's grip.

Nitro.DLL: We'd better get out of here!

The two took the opportunity to leg it while SoniTOR beat the ever-living HELL out of the infect, even throwing in a loud jumpscare for good measure before beheading him.

Back in the deeper corridors, Exegod was on his way back, Roze accidentally bumping into him as Nitro arrived.

Exegod: Oh! It's you two!

Nitro.DLL (sarcastic): Nice to see you too.

Exegod: A-Anyway, how am I meant to use this pendrive in this place?

Nitro.DLL: Follow me. We'll find somewhere to use it.

They headed off. Back in the chamber room, SoniTOR was done with the massacre, but Toxinfect wouldn't stay down and, with his guard right back up, attacked the computer-sealed demon directly. And back with the newly-formed trio, they arrived in a secret lab area based on the interior of Wing Fortress and found a big computer that could do their job.

Roze: Erm... How is this meant to work?

Nitro.DLL: I'll work it out. You two just make sure Toxinfect doesn't get in here.

Exegod: Got it.

Exegod passed Nitro the pendrive as he got to work buying them their ticket out. And back at the chamber, Toxinfect finally managed to neutralise SoniTOR by smashing the computer screen and throwing him back in his chamber. Now knowing that three targets were still out there, and with his patience in tatters, Toxinfect got back to his hunt to find them.

Back where they were, Nitro was almost done in inputting the pendrive's data into the computer.

Exegod: So, what's our plan if this transporter DOESN'T bring us to the right dimension?

Nitro.DLL: At this rate, any location's better than here. Besides, if HE'S coming, we don't have much of a choice.

The power on the room's barrier cut out as Toxinfect bursted in, glaring at the trio in front of him.

Toxinfect: Any signs of friendship AND enmity on your part is nothing but an illusion, fools. You could've just followed along, but I guess you prefer resistance over compliance! Well, that ends today!

He started slowly approaching.

Roze: H-He's getting closer! Quick, do something!

Exegod: I'll stop him!

Toxinfect continued his approach as Nitro.DLL stepped up his game.

Exegod: Come on then, diet Junter! Come and FACE ME!

However, Toxinfect, when touching some of the objects in his path, glitched them right out of existence.

Exegod (suddenly panicked): We screwed up...

Roze shook in fear, but in good time, Nitro.DLL managed to input the coordinates for the Pendrive's connected destination; Safety Savestate Zone - World-11515, as a bright flash temporarily stopped Toxinfect in his tracks. The three looked back at the monster one last time.

Nitro.DLL: Heh! You suck, Infect!

Toxinfect: Do not go into that portal!

Exegod and Roze leapt through as Toxinfect tried to pull Chris in with red strings, though he yanked free and jumped into the portal, leading to…

The title screen of Sunky the Game as the trio fell from the skies. Not willing to let all of them escape, though, Toxinfect angrily threw some strings down to pull Exegod BACK into his domain.

Toxinfect: And just where do you think you're going, dark-fur?

Exegod: Oh, crap!

And down below, Nitro.DLL and Roze shifted into the Sunky art-style as they made a landing in the equivalent of Green Hill Zone.

To be continued... at some point.

So, after the duo's escapade with Toxinfect, they formed into a sort of independent party not aligned with the Blur Gang or Quill Society, but still actively on the side of good regardless. Nitro.DLL and Roze had since set up their own HQ close to the centre of the multiverse as an easy link to anywhere, even alternate timelines, while also keeping an easy link back to Roze's dimension so she's never far from home.

Through this, they've since worked together to face down the more hostile horrorbrews out there, like Lost Guardian Nitro was also doing, helping survivors out and containing "malware" (entities that have done terrible things in their virtual worlds) before they can cause further harm. And no, Nitro.DLL and Roze aren't dating; they're just really good friends after what happened.

[theheckle01]

Some Thoughts About the BIONICLE.com Galleries

Recently, I tried to see if the old BIONICLE.com galleries were archived. For those unfamiliar, on the old BIONICLE website there used to be a gallery where folks could submit their own MOCs (My Own Creation). I vividly remember spending many hours browsing it when I was young, and even submitting some MOCs of my own.

Anyway, I checked the Wayback Machine to see if I could find anything, and didn't have much luck. I went to the TTV Message Boards and asked about it, and basically was told that the old galleries were barely archived.

Weirdly enough, this both saddens and fascinates me. Let me explain the latter emotion first. The thing about the BIONICLE fanbase is that it's one of the most archive-heavy fandoms I've ever been a part of. Pretty much every piece of BIONICLE media, from the obvious to the ridiculously obscure, has been found and archived, mainly on BioMediaProject. You remember an old BIONICLE game you used to play online? You can very easily find and play it. You want to see a video going over Lego's thoughts on BIONICLE's audience (which includes the assumption that BIONICLE fans had a 15 minute attention span)? You can find that pretty easily. Want to play lost or unreleased BIONICLE games? The fandom has dug them up and you can now play them on an emulator. The archives of obscure BIONICLE media are extensive, which makes the fact that the galleries are lost rather bizarre. Fans can dig up an early appearance of BIONICLE on some random Russian TV show but not something that was a pretty big facet of the BIONICLE fandom and fan experience while it was around, and that's just weird to me.

It's also sad to me, because in a weird way it represents a loss of history. This may sound overdramatic, but it feels like the best way to describe it. People today still make and post MOCs, which is cool as hell. I love seeing all the wacky and downright impressive things people make. However, here's the thing about the modern MOC scene: most of the folks making and posting them are hardcore BIONICLE fans who have been making MOCs since they were kids. They're mostly adults, and as such are able to make more complex and breathtaking creations. Modern MOCists are hobbyists with disposable income to buy the pieces they want and have the benefit of the modern day. This benefit includes the benefit of new technology, like 3D printing, and just the fact that BIONICLE is over and we have all the types of pieces that came out during its run. There's more around for folks to build with than just a Mata torso, y'know?

Let's compare this to those who would use the old BIONICLE.com galleries. The biggest difference is that the gallery community was mainly made up of children who were fans of BIONICLE as it was being released. The MOCs were less refined, and were mainly made with whatever the kids had around/could convince their parents to buy for them. Since the line was still producing new sets, kids of this era didn't have access to all the pieces modern MOCists do now since many did not exist at the time. All of these factors affect the flavor and vibe of what would've been made. They aren't going to be incredibly dense and large sets that blow you away with their complexity. They're just gonna be something some kid made for fun. That's not to say that incredibly complex and meticulously designed MOCs didn't exist at the time; it's just that to see them you had to wade through a lot of kids simpler MOCs. You don't quite have that anymore, since the community now is made up mainly of dedicated hobbyists and not 10 year olds who just got Gadunka for Christmas.

That old vibe of kids making whatever isn't quite around anymore in the modern fanspace, and I'm a bit sad that even the archives of that aren't around anymore.

I know this was a long ramble, but I just had to get it off my chest.