#like hey we'll give you a weapon and then defend you if you ever do anything wrong with it ^.^

[donothing-nothingworks]

inventing a job where you get to be in control of other people and get to carry weapons and act violently under the guise of protection and giving those people absolute immunity and protection so that they feel like they can do whatever they want and then also expecting those same people to act in good faith was one of the worst things we've done as a society

[stop-the-play]

> (Meek) Oh thank god, I thought I was going to die here. [Flee up the stairs and lock the door behind you]

"How well did that work out for you? Did it—"

You bolt midsentence, mustering a speed you didn't previously know you had to dash up the stairs. The door, fortunately, is still open, a rectangle of light serving as your beacon away from certain death.

You close it behind you, turning the lock shut and barricading it with the heavy wooden table that once held the blade.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Well, that wasn't the worst possible outcome of that situation.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: No, it was not. For one, we aren't dead! And for another, we've got the cabin door right ahead of us and can now leave this place behind forever and never think about it again.

VOICE OF THE HERO: But the world—it's still down there—Fine. I guess going back there without a blade in our hand is a death trap, and since he decided it would be a good idea to drop it...

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Hey, let's not go throwing around accusations of whose fault all this is. He did what he thought was best! As did both of us. Really, everyone here is equally complicit in what's happening right now.

VOICE OF THE HERO: (Frustrated grumbling)

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Anyway. Let's go. If you really want that thing down there slain, we can find someone else to do it. Or at least get a better weapon.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Fine. You're right. Let's go.

> [Exit the cabin]

You try the door that would lead you out of the cabin, but as soon as your fingers grasp the handle, you know it's too late. It's fixed in place, and refuses to turn no matter how much force you apply to it.

Locked, perhaps? Maybe not. You don't recall seeing a lock on either side of this door, nor hearing one close behind you, and wouldn't the handle have some give if it were truly only a lock standing in your way? The handle feels almost fused to the door, like a prop whose only purpose is to let you into the cabin. Not out. Never out.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: ...We're trapped.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Yeah. Looks like we are.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: We're trapped!

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...You doing okay...?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: No! No, I'm not doing okay! There's a locked door on one side of us and a locked door and some kind of... entity on the other side that'll tear us to pieces if it manages to get through, and we're stuck in the middle without a weapon, and even if we are safe in here, we don't have any food! Or water! We're going to die here either way!

VOICE OF THE HERO: Calm down, calm down, we'll... figure something out.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: SOMETHING LIKE WHAT—

The voice's panic is cut off by a piercing, wailing voice calling out to you from the other side of the door. It's different, you note, from what it was last time the being spoke.

"I know you're still there. Hoping for a slow end rather than a quick one? That's an interesting choice."

"You're awfully flighty for someone who approached me with a knife. What did I ever do to you?"

"Do you think I'm evil or something? Does it make me evil when I try to defend myself? When you held out freedom and then slammed it in my face, does it make me evil to want it back?"

VOICE OF THE HERO: It's the one that started threatening us!

VOICE OF THE MEEK: You think it cares!?

There is no sound from the basement when the being is not speaking, no pounding or shaking of the door, and yet you know it is standing directly behind it.

"Why don't you open this door and let me out? I won't bite... much."

VOICE OF THE HERO: NO!

VOICE OF THE MEEK: NO!

"Eventually, something is going to have to change. One of us is going to give—you, me, the cabin. And I think I can outlast both of you."

"I'm not going to forgive you for what you've done. And when I get out? You won't be able to forget it."

VOICE OF THE HERO: Let's just... try to get some sleep. We can figure things out once we're rested.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Yeah! Sure! Fine! Everything's fine! We're never going to be able to get back on its good side after this, and we're trapped in a tiny cabin with no blade, but sure! Let's sleep. It is literally the only thing we can do.

> "All I did was refuse to turn my back to you. I was even willing to let you out! I've done nothing wrong, and I won't let you make me feel guilty, especially not when you started threatening me afterwards."

"Then why did you have a knife from the start? You said it yourself. I'm such a scary thing, about to end the world. You were going to try to kill me sooner or later. Forgive me for not wanting to turn my back to you."

VOICE OF THE MEEK: You, ah, you sure taunting it like that is the best call?

VOICE OF THE HERO: It's the call he made. Let's just go to sleep before we start another argument.

You put the being's taunts out of your mind as best as you can and huddle in against the far wall.

You wake slowly, and for a moment can't tell if your eyes are open. They are. But no amount of blinking will make the pitch-darkness that now surrounds you any more permeable.

VOICE OF THE HERO: What happened? Why can't we see?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Because we're about to die.

An eye blinks open. In the darkness, you can't tell whether it's small and close up, or large and far away.

Another follows. And another. And another, until the room is full of staring things.

"Oh... hello again."

The darkness almost feels physical, seeping into your lungs and choking out your breath. You try to stumble to your feet, but your legs are weak, and you collapse forward before you can properly stand. The eyes continue to stare.

And then you begin to fade. Whether it smoothly envelops all of your body at once, or if pieces of you are flickering out one at a time, you can't tell. Something in the air has numbed you too much to tell.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Is this it? Are we dying.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I already told you. We are.

"Look at you. So... fragile. And here I really did think you were a threat to me!"

"It's probably for the best. Can't take any chances. You... clearly understand."

There's a clatter next to your head—the pristine blade, dropping to the floor beside you. You try to reach out, but you can't feel your arm enough to tell if it responds to your actions.

"Goodbye, 'hero.' I'd say it was nice meeting you, but at least one of us should make a habit of not lying."

You can't tell when you die, or even how, only that your senses have completely failed you. The last thing you're aware of—or is it only a memory of awareness? is an uncountable number of eyes, all focused on you.

But that cannot last forever. Eventually, they fade too, and everything is dark.

And you die.

This is the end.

[liviavanrouge]

Jing Yuan: *Lays asleep beside Romana, his hand resting on her waist*

Romana: *Grips Jing Yuan's shirt, trembling* Mmm..

Romana: *Screams, shooting up, her eyes wide* NO!!!!

Jing Yuan: *Opens his eyes, sitting up quickly* Roma!?

Jing Yuan: *Places his hands on her shoulders* Roma, what's wrong?

Romana: *Shakes her head, leaning against him* Just a nightmare....it's nothing-

???: GENERAL!!!!!! THE SHADOW LIONESS IS ATTACKING!!!

Jing Yuan: *Throws the blanket off, his eyes narrowed*

Romana: Ji-

Jing Yuan: *Looks at her, grabbing his armor* Stay here, if it sees you it'll attack

Romana: *Stands up, her eyes wide as he rushed out* JING YUAN!!!

~

March 7th: *Looks at the rushing Cloud Knights* What's going on!?

Yanqing: The Shadow Lioness is back!

Dan Heng: So soon...

Caelus: Jing Yuan killed it, we saw it with our own eyes..

Yanqing: It manifests whenever Ms Romana is scared, of course it'll come back!

Yanqing: *Hurries away* I have to go! I need to make sure nobody attacks it till the general gets there!!

Dan Heng: Ah! Wait!!

???: There you are!!

Romana: *Rushes over, one hand lifting her nightgown* Jing Yuan hasn't come yet?!

Dan Heng: He's on his way, why?

Romana: Please come with me!! I don't want him to get hurt! If he hears my voice he's getting the rush he needs to stop the lioness!

March 7th: But even so, it's dangerous, it's better you stay here, we'll go

Romana: *Grabs March 7th's hand, tears falling down her cheeks* PLEASE!! I can't lose him, I don't ever want to lose him!

Romana: Please, go with me to make sure he'll be okay! I trust him but there are times like this when he's up against that beast where I can't help but worry!

Romana: Please...I'm begging you..

Dan Heng: *Looks at Caelus and March 7th then nods*

Caelus: We'll go with you

Romana: Thank you...

Romana: *Runs towards the chaos with the trio, her hair flying behind her*

~

Yanqing: *Dodges a claw to his face, his eyes wide*

Yanqing: It's taking us all out!

Shadow Lioness: *Snarls, stalking towards them* Jing...Yuan.....Jing...Yuan..

Shadow Lioness: *Roars at them, blowing several knights back* JING YUAN!!!!!

Yanqing: H-Huh!?

???: I'M RIGHT HERE!!!

Jing Yuan: *Glares at the lioness, gripping his guan dao*

Shadow Lioness: *Snarls, starting to grow in size*

Yanqing: WHAT THE?!

Jing Yuan: *Stares with wide eyes alarmed* How...

Romana: *Hurries over, her eyes widening at how much bigger the Lioness got* What...

Shadow Lioness: *Snarls, looking over at Romana, heading towards her*

Dan Heng: *Quickly backs Romana away, his eyes narrowed* Stay back!

March 7th: Ah, why's it coming this way?!

Caelus: *Holds his arm out in front of Romana*

Shadow Lioness: *Snarls, coming closer, baring it's teeth*

Romana: *Grips her shawl, trembling as she moved back*

Jing Yuan: *Tosses his weapon down* HEY!!! I'M THE ONE WHO KILLED YOU!!! COME AND GET ME!!!

Yanqing: General-!

Shadow Lioness: *Turns its head sharply, lunging for the general, it's jaw opening*

Romana: *Hurries forward, reaching for Jing Yuan* DON'T GIVE UP THAT EASILY!!!

Shadow Lioness: *Freezes, closing it's jaw and lifting its head*

Romana: I WON'T LET IT HARM YOU, NOW OR EVER, YOU'RE MY HUSBAND!!!

Shadow Lioness: *Steps back, it's glowing eyes dimming*

Romana: *Looks at Jing Yuan, tears starting to fall* YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR ME THROUGH SO MUCH! YOU WERE PATIENT WITH ME AT THE START OF OUR RELATIONSHIP!!

Romana: YOU CHASED AFTER ME WHEN I RAN AWAY AND YOU BROUGHT ME BACK!! YOU ALWAYS MANAGED TO MAKE ME SMILE EVEN WHEN I'M NEAR MY BREAKING POINT!!

March 7th: *Gasps, pointing away* Look!

Shadow Lioness: *Closes it's eyes, patches of light appearing across its body*

Romana: *Grips her shawl, her hands trembling* YOU'VE SAVED ME SO MANY TIMES AND YOU BELIEVED ME WHEN NOBODY ELSE WOULD!! YOU DEFENDED MY HONOR WHEN I COULDN'T DO IT MYSELF

Romana: YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOVE AGAIN AND I ENDED UP LOVING YOU SO HARD THAT I CAN'T THINK WHEN YOU'RE IN DANGER!!

Yanqing: *Looks at the Lioness then at Romana* Ah....it was her still holding onto the past...

Dan Heng: She's letting it go..

Shadow Lioness: *Closes its eyes, starting to shrink as light comes from it*

Romana: *Grabs Jing Yuan, burying her face into his chest* DON'T EVER! DON'T EVER GIVE UP THAT EASILY, EVEN FOR ME!!

Jing Yuan: *Throws his arms around her, hugging her tight*

Romana: Don't...please don't ever make me have to lose you..

???: *Bumps it's head against Romana's leg*

Romana: *Looks down startled, her eyes wide* What...

Lioness: *Bumps her head against Romana's hand*

Jing Yuan: Hey, I've heard about these creatures *Crouches down, petting the lioness as it licks his face* They attach onto people they like and they turn dark when their attachment is going through dark times

Jing Yuan: *Looks at Romana* You've let go of everything and you're embracing the future right...

Romana: *Stares at him stunned, tears starting to fall* I...let it go......I've let it all go

Jing Yuan: *Stands up, hugging her tight* Roma....you've released yourself...

Romana: *Trembles, sobbing into his chest*

Jing Yuan: *Smiles, placing a hand on her back* You've done it...

~~~~~~

Romana: Thank you three for coming with me...

March 7th: It was no problem! We know how much you two love each other

March 7th: To think the general would throw his weapon down and just accept defeat

Jing Yuan: *Pulls Romana close, his arm around her waist* She's got my heart so tight in her grasp....

Romana: *Smiles, leaning against him* And mines is so tightly in yours..

[cha0ticy33n]

"Hey dad?" A young boy asked, looking up at the man cradling him in his lap, "Why can't we leave Origin?"

The blond man looked down at the boy, a smile creeping along his face at the sight of his son,

"Its becuase the outside world is dangerous my sunshine." The man softly answered, brushing his fingers through his sons golden hair.

"How?" The boy inquired leaning into his fathers touch.

The man sighed but quickly smiled again to not worry the boy,

"Well... Humans live outside." He told him.

"Humans?"

"Yes." The man answered pulling up a close by book and turning it to a page full of drawings of humans. Short figures without wings, or horns, or even tails, just human. They were the weakest of the two races. But. But didn't stop their destrucion. The man has seen their wars. He's felt their wounds. He's seen the blood. His son should not have to experience the same pain and torture other young origins have to endure to survive. He pulled his child closer, "Ruthless creatures." He commented, "They've developed ways to defend themselves, and to attack eachother."

"But why would they not use their talons?" The Child asked, "Surely they have them?"

"Humans don't have Talons." The man told him, "Nor do they have claws or wings or horns. They don't have the ability to explode or teleport or to phase. Thats why they created weapons. So they could keep themselves safe. Those same weapons have harmed many people."

"Will the humans ever come to Origin?" The boy asked, looking up at his father with wide, worried eyes.

"No my Sunshine." The man chuckled, rubbing the boys head and smiling, "They will never ever find Origin. If they do. Well, I'll keep you safe."

"And I'll never go outside Origin!" The boy vowed, "and when I'm big and strong like a big man I'll defend it with you!!"

The man smiled at the boys determination, "of course. We'll keep Origin safe togeather."

~*~

A man stood on the hillside, a well worn path lead down to a circus tent at the foot of the hill. Humans crowded around the entrance trying to get the best seats for the show. Crows flew in rough circles above the tent, some landing on the cages hidden behind the tents silhouette.

The man smiled, the same kind smile he'd give his son when he'd ask for stories or to play.

"Finally found you..." He murmured as he began to walk down to the tent, "Dont worry my Sunshine. I've found you."

Philza has found his son.

Tommy has found new aditions to the flock.

____________________________________________

A little Freakshow origins au story! I'll probably post more short stories/comics for this au. Have these crumbs for now