#like oh hey the leader of a murder cult who is set up in my old workplace/home that was abandoned after a tragedy I was partly to blame for

[quasieli]

Me: (gives my GM a piece of backstory for my character that I asked to be used in an angsty way in our horror game)

GM: (uses backstory tidbit in a horrifying way)

Me: *shocked pikachu*

[jeaneybean]

In tonight’s session:

-The group heads to a town there were pointed out to that Vera’;s childhood pastor is in, to go murder the shit out of him in a legal way

-Before they leave their current city, Vera goes into a church of Mal and sits for service and is very werided out on how very normal it is. The lesson she learns? She grew up in a cult. -’Yeah, I thought every congregation of Mal had to change houses every week because outsiders would persecute them, and my one uncle had a worship room behind a sliding book case and- oh my god I grew up in a cult.’

-'Hey Vera, you were in the middle of your cult rant. Is this halberd nice?’ ‘oh that’s really nice.’ Oz has again used the party’s gold to fabricate an item for Vera to sell to people for way too much money. It’s fine. We like gold

-Bip gets a letter from his pen friend, Count Von Rothrine. They have nice talkies. Vera gets a letter from Coot, the brass progenetor. Coot is like ‘hey I don’t know who made that ring, also, my post office is not dealing with any more mail for anton bellek. So his runin didn’t go well.

-We travel across Duermond so that Irving’s magic items can get done and so that Havilah can do a tour across the country and earn more money, stopping in the town where Seigfried is. We head up to the house and Isskol smells undead, for sure. So back to the caravan we go.

-we come back to make an apointment to meet Seigfried and Bip already is. So he gets a slot before hte party, vera makes one (And gets the butler to agree to let their ‘horse’ come in the house) and bip makes a second apointment after.

-Vera asks Volya if he wants to come along to watch the party murder their old cult leader, he agrees that sounds great. We work out when we’re going to go, and Bip has a response from Count Von V about his letter agian, where Count Von V tells Bip he likely knew the shadow of cruelty. The party talks for a while about who the shadow could be, and eventually the talk turns to an old party member from bafck in the early days of hte party, Jilly Jimbo, a hafling bard. But he disapeared after a certian point.

-A point that Vera has a very different recolection than the other early party members. She remembers him being there when they got Oz, he was the one who bent down so that Jake could trip Oz’s master down the stairs. And he was with Oz and Vera making fun of Havilah when Havilah brought the donkey into the Inn and the Inkeepers though he was gonna fuck it. He was there when Havilah was bitten by the werewolf, trying to pry it off him. He was there helping with the perform check to aid Havilah into beating lycanthropy.

-But she also remembers at the same time: No he wasn’t there when Jake pushed the man down the stairs. There was nothing there. It was just her and Oz making fun of Havilah in that wagon. She was the one desperatly trying to shove her hands into the werewolves mouth to save Havilah. She’s got two sets of memories jumbling in her head. Bip uses detect thoughts to look at her memories, and then over to Havilah to compare. The man in Vera’s memories is the same one that Bip remembers, the Shadow of Cruelty. But he’s not in Havilah’s memories.

-”It was the chair” A few weeks ago, Vera, Bip, and Irving destroyed a chair made up of modify memory arrows that Bip had made and were made into a mind altring chair. However, they destroyed it by breaking the chair when Bip temporarily dispelled the magic on it. When the dispel magic wore off, the chair exploded, hitting Vera and Bip and Irving (But magic doesn’t effect him he’s fine) with arrows. But they were fine. Their memories were fine.

-(You dispell modify memory by a second casting of it)

-Oz meanwhile is using a weird spell to use a spell he doesn’t know, modify memory. And he remembers Jilly too. So now Oz is P I S S E D and uses the spell again to use sending, and after a moment of thought he sends it to Lady Angathel. The highest level Bard we know, a level 20+ character we met very early in our adventures. He sends her a very simple message. “You helped us once. Convince me to be kind.” Her response is equally short, basically: “I had to stop you from chasing shadows.” Oz is not convinced and is now planning some awful stuff for Lady Angathel that Vera will likely convince him not to do.

-Oz once more does his weird spell and returns Havilah’s memories. The party continues to freak out for a while more, with Volya inside his wagon like ‘bruhhhh’ before Vera’s like WELL AT LEAST WE GET TO GO KILL MY CULT LEADER TONIGHT

-head over. Greet the butler. Get let in, no problem. Vera and Volya get brought into another room to meet with Seigfried. The party’s offered booze, but Vera advises against it because if it’s anything like what her father liked, it’ll be rancid.

-(Seiger kept the body of his first wife in a whisky cask int he basment and he fucking served that liquor to people he didn’t like)

-There’s blood in the whisky. Iskoll likes it.

-Meanwhile Vera and Volya vibe and wait in the room. But it isn’t Seigfried that walks in. It’s Seiger Medvedev, their dad. A man Vera was positive that had died a year ago- But she hadn’t stayed around to make sure he had, had she? She’d left the courthouse with Allahandra to walk her back because Allahandra Fell, and Vera felt it would’ve been better to walk back with a Sister than to stay and watch the man she hated (and so desperately loved and wanted to be loved by) puff into dust.

-Brightly, delighted: “Oh, time for round two?”

[fandom-with-no-hope]

Ranting about that pokemon rp because I can't be normal anymore. We've had this going for two years. And a lot of shit happened

-All the drama from Unova and the bw games is canon + some things that we added for fun. It was with our main ocs

-we created a new region called Akkosia, with two legendaries & all. Unethical experiments & shit happened, someone was fusioned with his pokemon (it was my best friend Polaris), we overthrew the government, had to murder some evil people, took over the damned league, and had about 16 near death experiences. The whole Akkosia arc was insanely fun except that I probably cried 17 times because of Polaris alone.

And this is where it gets messy because we have like. 5 perspectives, all at once.

- had a sort of "beach episode" where our main characters spent a few days planning a festival in Alola. One of my oc (Sacha, whose best friend is Hoopa), met the love of his life (Marisa, whose best friend is Celebi). They also met Fukaku (he'll be more relevant later) *

-while this was happening, a guy from Akkosia (Mizuki) went to Kalos with his girlfriend (a former member of the Akkosia league / she was a villain but then she was spared). Most events from the Kalos games happened except like. 10 times worse. There was a second criminal organisation at work.

-Eden (former team Flare member, who was badly injured when the Supreme Weapon fired) was saved by Ringer (former member of the Black Eagles, the second evil organization) and they both had a lesbian escapade in. Spain. Where, after they got engaged, lost their house to a dramatic incident involving Darkrai (note: Darkrai used to belong to Mizuki).

-Darkrai Was caught by someone who can casually break the fourth wall, who gave an existential crisis to Eden, before she tried to find an "entertaining solution" in order to avoid catastrophes.

*going back to the main cast for a second. They went to Kalos because Sacha is looking for Hoopa's vase. Did I mention there's a cult in Kalos? Marisa traveled back in time hundred of times, in order to prevent Sacha from getting KILLED and he couldn't remember any of it

After this, they avoided problems a bit. Oh. No they didn't. Sacha and Marisa left to go on vacations in Kanto. It ended up terribly.

-Ringer faked her death. Eden joined team Rocket alongside Livio and Ekuren. They took over Kanto, became literally the best trio. Until they found Polaris (who is an escaped experiment), so Livio went ballistic (he's an experiment aswell and used to know Polaris until he abandoned him) so there was an entire arc where team Rocket was after Polaris (and they succeeded in catching him)

-The leader of team Rocket was eaten by Giratina and thus set Polaris free.

*A big cult, calling themselves "The Family" gained in influence. A small girl ran away and met the main group. Unfortunately, she's always been a bit different, but she befriended Fukaku, and they had a sibling - like relationship.

-Fukaku hunt down. And killed. All leaders of the Family. With one exception, being Mei, since she was mostly endoctrinated and not beyond reasoning

-Got tracked down by one experiment / daughter of one of the leaders (Orion), who was, in fact, spared. And who had to live with them, in order to repair her mecha

-Every single character was invited to a wedding (Sacha and Marisa). Even team Rocket.

Team Rocket got their redemption arc when the leader almost died so it's fine.

ALL THESE STORIES HAPPENING ALL AT Once and it's so hard to keep track of everything. I can't I legit cant'.

I have been mentally ill about this rp for. Years. And. Lukas. My bestie. Has the audacity to kill Fukaku after shit went down

So many character I didn't even mention Arael & Prismo, nor the Kalos dlc with Lyn & Floyd. I didn't even mention Yumeko (my boy) & Mikoto (Livio's lost brother)

So many things.

And the main characters

None of them had died thus far.

Unti' NOW.

But hey, at least I get to be happy Sacha and Pola are finally together again and this time they have something in common: they're both trans.

[black-rose-writings]

I read Ruin and Rising because I’m bored

And I also hate myself

Like with the last book, I have a vague idea of the plot and stuff from tumblr and fanfics. I will also be refering to Darkling as Sasha for most of this.

I am still Darklina trash and don’t particularly like Mal.

On a different note, I’ve finally moved for college, but the internet here is trash, so I’ll probably have a lot more reading time now, since most games I play are online and will crash without internet.

Before

Cool story. Let’s hope Alina stays a badass.

Who am I joking, I know how this ends.

Chapter 1

So far so good. I hate the Apparat, per usual. Alina’s there basically dying and that bitch can’t wait to see her do so.

Cult leader to the core this one. He probably hates that his figurehead is alive and also not brainwashed.

Cult leader doesn’t like swearing. How surprising.

My boy David is completely right. What kind of irresponsible dingus keeps centuries old books in a fucking wet-ass cave? (Or a tree for that matter *cough cough* The Last Jedi *cough, cough*).

Genya is fun to be around.

Oh, shit, let’s go.

Chapter 2

Jesus Christ, Alina, Zoya isn’t that bad.

This is one hell of a shitshow.

I live for this version of Alina. Badass. Scary. I want more of this Alina.

Chapter 3

Out of all the random little details from crappy smut fics, I did not expect Oncat to be from the books, lol.

Mal actually has a supernatural tracking ability. Like, literally, they put a bug into the pouch with gunpowder so he could make the shot. I guess this was kinda said before, but never this directly, right?

Alina’s merzost-skyping Sasha now, yay.

Alina is horny for Sasha boy. Yay.

Alina canonically has a praise kink. Nice.

I hate LB with all of my heart at this very moment. How dare she bait us Darklina people like this? How DARE she? (Shipbaiting is the worst, seriously.)

Yes, yes, yes. These two lines. That’s what their relationship is all about. They’re each others foils, the yin to the other’s yang and... ugh. I am Darklina trash to the core and this hurts.

Darklina: You have a terrible taste in men.

Alina: I liked you once.

My boy Sasha walked into that one.

Chapter 4

Alina is a Queen. And we love her.

David, my beloved, my spirit animal.

It’s surprising they can read it at all, given it’s been centuries. Have you ever tried reading medieval manuscripts?

Honestly, with a father that crazy, it’s no wonder Baghra’s a bitch. And I’ve seen it said somewhere that the books imply Ilya’s experiments are what caused Baghra to be a shadow summoner and you know what? I can see how you’d make that connection.

Why is there so few Tidemakers in the books? Waterbenders are useful. I want more waterbenders.

Alina picking up some habits from Baghra I see.

Ah, yes, we love an educated giant.

I’m starting to think Harshaw is a bit nuts.

Shut up, Hershey. Or at least share the weed with the class. I’m not here for this “He’s mean to you because he likes you”. I might believe that in like, elementary school, but yall are (more or less) adults. Jesus.

Well, that was a bombshell of a twist.

Chapter 5

Oh boy, we’ve got some trauma bonding for out merry band of misfits. Yay.

Adrik has a crush on Zoya. And she hates it, lol. Cut the kid some slack, he’s like 15 or something.

That reminds me, I have a four-leaf clover pressed in books from close to year and a half ago. Time flies.

They’re really diving into the Mal has supernatural powers, huh?

Ghosts, let’s go.

Alina “I’m so happy to be outside I start to shine like a fucking fairy” Starkov and Mal is entranced. He’s definitelly nicer now. I’m not forgiving him for all the shit he’s pulled before and for using the silent treatment way too much, but hey, at least he’s improving.

I am not a Zoyalina person, but like... gay? Please? Rivals to grudging allies to friends to lovers, 300k slowburn? Sounds more fun than whatever Mala dn Alina have going on, lol.

(I’m starting to realize I’m not as much a Darklina person as I am anti-Malina person, lol. Like, literally everyone has a more interesting dynamic with Alina than tracker boy over there. Malina is at best boring AF and at worst toxic, codependent and emotionally abusive, while also being boring AF at the same time. It has literally nothing going for it except God herself liking it).

I can see why Nadia is gay in the show. The book version of her definitelly has a crush on Tamar. Homegirl likes a woman, who can murder her with the flick of her wrist and honestly? Same.

Alina has some big “coming out of lockdown after a year” energy atm.

The cat is one of the most realistic characters in this thing, lol.

And since Tamar is also heavily queercoded, our lovely ladies make off into the night, flirting. Or maybe not. Let me dream, though.

At least Blade Boy is aware that his tattoo is stupid. To quote someone ranting about him on tumblr: He’s embracing his identity as a tool.

Oh, boy, this will be fun.

Evil soldier is horny for Mal. Saints, is there a woman in this book who isn’t horny for Blade Boy?

And here comes Niki to save the day.

Chapter 6

Niki saved the day.

Fiberglass? And David being David. Genya being in love with her nerd of a boyfriend.

Jesus Christ, this one crazy kid has moved the technology in this universe a whole century on his own. So, when is David going to propose to him?

Baghra hasn’t changed much I see.

Baghra’s about to drop some truthbombs, but no, we have to be rudely interupted because Genya’s rapist is throwing a fit.

Chapter 7

How does Mal sound? Is she gonna say the Blade boy sounds like her dad? I mean, I know voices are partially genetic, but it has been tens of generations between them, probably.

So, we’re finally taking Genya’s trauma seriously after all this time? Good. Better late than never, I guess.

I wish that regicide was already finished and I’m pretty sure that Genya does, too. Stop defending the fucking king, narrative.

David’s a nerd in all things I see.

Someone please just kill the king already. And the queen, too, for good measure.

Now that’s a romance.

Infodumping and listening to said infodumps is a legitimate love language, Alina. Let them nerd out over poisons.

Wait, has Alina never directly killed anyone before? I thought she did... hmmm.

And just like that, it should have been over. Ugh.

Somehow, Baghra is a better teacher now than she was before. She half feels like a completely different character.

Nevermind, she’s back at it.

Chapter 8

Holy shit, Nadia and Tamar are canon. They have canon gays here.

So, which one of them is gonna die?

Chapter 9

We arrive at that scene. The one, where they should have fucked.

Jeez, girl, get a hold of yourself. Life is short, fuck a villain.

In other news, Genya and David definitelly fucked.

Chapter 10

Poor David. He just wanted to know.

Damn... I never realized just how young Baghra was, when she killed her sister.

I’ve already made a post about this, but it really does strike me like Baghra has already decided to end her life at this point in the book.

Why is that whole “but what if we’re related” thing even in there?

Chapter 11

We love a suprise attack.

When did Sasha boy learn that trick?

Baghra really just did that. Oh boy.

Chapter 12

No, don’t kill the kid... ugh.

Emotiona support cat. She should be friends with Milo.

Porrige for brains. Oof.

So Nadia was the one, who got bees set on her in the book. Cool.

That’s a good question. Why was it never brought up to Alina, that other Grisha get blocks, too?

David already thinking of steampunk prosthetic for Adrik is honestly kinda sweet.

Chapter 13

Back home... kinda.

Is that really... you really care about Mal bonking the Grisha school mean girl over a year ago? Okay.

Chapter 14

Angst! Yay!

And more angst.

Chapter 15

Sasha really went “My mom killed herself to save you? Well, I’ll kill the closest thing to parents you have.”

Chapter 16

Nikolai’s alive. Kinda.

And these two have such a sibling energy, I can’t.

And then they fuck. Ew.

Chapter 17

Wait, wait wait... so Alina isn’t even the one to destroy the Fold?

Okay. That’s... weird.

Holy shit. That was...

So, Aleksander is dead. Mal isn’t. Someone else destroyed the Fold for Alina and now she has no powers.

Okay.

That’s a weird-ass ending.

Chapter 18

The gays survived, so that’s nice.

Genya made good on her promise of making Alina a ginger, lol.

After

What emotion is this supposed to give me? Cause all I feel is kinda sad.

[scribble-blog]

Soulmate AU part 3!!

First • Previous • Here • Next

Side note, I’m a grandma in a 22 year old body who doesn’t understand technology. If somebody can teach me how to get readmores to work on tumblr mobile, and possibly how to start linking the posts together, I’d appreciate it!

Also, the taglist is now full! Though if people want, I could try doing a supplemental taglist? Either in a reblogged or in a separate post to notify you? Let me know in the replies!

Damian Wayne, as it turns out, is almost very certainly the son of Bruce Wayne, who sponsored their entire trip to Gotham. There are only two official pictures of him that are clear enough to truly check against, but Marinette sees the eyes and she nods. “That’s him.”

Trixx, Pollen, Kaalki, and Plagg are scattered about the bed, napping and lounging. Adrien also lounges, catlike and crosswise with the bed, entirely over the pillows at their back. Chloé holds the laptop that Marinette is hovering over, even from her seated position with her much smaller stature.

“It would be you,” Chloé snorts. “Oh, let’s just traipse over to America for a quick class visit! Oops, my soulmate is the incredibly handsome son of the incredibly wealthy man who invited us here!”

“Still more believable than you, Miss ‘My soulmate and I have literally been standing two feet from each other for weeks because not only do we have the exact same friends, but we’re part of the same superhero group and never realized until Ladybug allowed us to learn each other’s secret identities.’” Adrien doesn’t move as he calls her out, lazily curled into the warmth of his two friends and the pillows cocooning him.

“I don’t think any of us can speak,” Marinette groans. “I’m living a cheap rom com, Chloé’s got all the plot elements of a high budget Shakespearian drama, and Mr. ‘Didn’t know I wasn’t straight until my soulmate mark was a guys name” is straight out of a b movie comedy.”

“At least I got my act together pretty quickly once it occurred to me that I could like guys too,” Adrien points out. “And now Jon and I talk all the time, and he even comes to Paris sometimes to see me, or we’ll meet up for my occasional business trips in America. Which reminds me,” he pulled out his phone, sending off a quick text, “he wants to come meet you guys. Next week, while we’re all actually on the same continent.”

“Kudos to you for shaking off whatever Gabe tried to stuff your head full of,” Chloé says. “Took me ages to admit that I was gay, and that was even WITH my soulmark and both Marinette and Ladybug constantly in front of me.”

“Feeling pretty objectified,” Marinette protests.

“Oh shut it, I know for a fact that you’ve basically been the gay awakening crush of every not straight girl in our class. And several outside of it. And that’s not even counting all the dudes that fall in love with you.”

“I still object,” Marinette pouts at Chloé.

“Objection overruled.” Adrien sits up. “Marinette. You’re like, the perfect crush. They have a warning about you in the introductory packet for Mme. Bustier’s class.”

“They do not,” Marinette gasps, outraged. “I wrote that packet!”

“And then the class unanimously decided you were too dangerous to be walking around without a warning sign,” Chloé pinched her cheek. “If it makes you feel any better, it’s still in the packet despite Lila’s best efforts to get it thrown out.”

That does make Marinette feel better.

“Damian Wayne resurfaces after year of being believed dead,” Adrien reads from his phone. “Gotham’s Newest Wayne: The True Son! These all read like tabloids but as far as I can tell the Wayne’s don’t tolerate stuff like that. So I guess it’s true?”

“I’m tired of looking him up,” Marinette groans. “Can we just leave it be?”

“Nope,” Chloé pops the P. “Congrats, Dupain-Cheng, this is what friends are for.”

“I wish I could talk to Tikki about it,” Marinette sighs. “Especially because I have literally never heard anyone talk about that- electric feeling when we touched. Is it a Ladybug thing?”

Plagg opens one big green eye. “Cool it, Spots. It’s definitely a Ladybug thing. You’re literally the reason these marks exist.”

Marinette sticks her tongue out at the mini god. “I just miss her.”

“Join the club,” he grumbles, closing his eye and going back to napping.

“Good news,” Chloé says, bringing her attention back to the laptop. “Searching your name very easily leads to you, and our class, and the fact that we won the contest. So, unless he decides he’s not ready to meet you, you’ll have the chance to find him at the gala. Or at Wayne Enterprises. Or at any of the places the Wayne’s own, which is two-thirds of our trip destinations.”

“Oh god,” Marinette says. “What if he didn’t want to find me?”

Adrien, Chloé, and four Kwamis hit her at the same time, shoving her back into the bed.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Mari,” Adrien scolds her from his position atop the newly formed cuddle pile. “I saw his face too. If the boy isn’t already in love with you, he’ll be hunting you down just for the chance to fall.”

Trixx nuzzled into her side. “I may not be Tikki but all of us Kwamis know how incredible you are, Marinette.”

She sighed. “Alright guys, get off.”

———

Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Tim already knew who the girl was, because he’d been curious when his favorite artist had started talking about the source of his newest looks.

But having Damian demand his help in searching for everything he could find on her, and then only asking for the bare minimum of information about her trip itinerary- Tim wasn’t an idiot.

“So. She’s your soulmate.” Tim takes a sip of the coffee he’d been working on, making a face and instantly setting it back down when he realized it had gone cold.

Damian carefully did not change his expression, but it wasn’t fooling anyone. “And so what if she is?”

Tim looked back at the monitor. “So nothing. Congrats, Demon Spawn. I’m happy for you.”

He barely caught the edge of the scowl the younger Wayne tried to hide.

“Hey, no.” Tim spun his chair to face Damian. “Look, we’ve had our differences and disagreements-“

“You had me on the superhero equivalent of a terrorism watch list,” Damian interrupted.

“And you literally tried to kill me within the first day of meeting me.”

“A byproduct of my indoctrination from birth into a murder cult,” His brother kept his face still but the tone was wry.

“You kept trying to kill me.”

“I wasn’t trying to kill you!” Damian finally exclaimed, losing his collected demeanor. “Just-“

“Point being,” Tim stressed, “even if we haven’t always gotten along- haven’t ever, really- I’m still happy for you. Soulmates are a special thing. We all kind of thought you might not have one, with the way you always acted when Dick tried to ask.”

Damian forced down the immediate retort and looked at Tim. “I thought that maybe my dying would have prevented my name from showing up for them. And my teachings-“ he said the word with the inflection that meant he was discussing Assassin Upbringing rather than here- “were as such that most connections, be they familial, friendly, or romantic, were- unnecessary and even dangerous.” It felt tantamount to a betrayal of his younger self to confide anything in Drake like this, but... Damian really was, in many ways, a better and more mature person than the spoiled, aggressive, near sociopathic brat he’d arrived as seven years ago. He still kept the veneer of it up, but he was no longer the boy who needed to fight Drake to prove his worth as Bruce’s son.

Now he just waited for Drake to embarrass himself by passing out after staying up for far too long surviving on caffeine and energy drinks. Much easier.

And Drake didn’t ever seem as eager to blackmail and fight as Damian ever had, so he figured a small amount of vulnerability was a proper thank you for his discretion in finding Marinette.

Tim just took another grimacing sip of the cold coffee. “Man. In that case, even happier for you that you’re shrugging off yet another of the Child Assassin School’s upsetting and frankly terrible rules. Though as for the dying thing, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t matter as long as you don’t actively die now that you have the mark.”

Damian shrugged. “Irrelevant now, as I will not be dying anytime soon, and neither will she. And she clearly knows that we’re soulmates.”

“Still confused about that,” Tim frowned, looking back at him. “You said there was an electric current between you? Or it felt like that?”

Damian couldn’t stop his hand from twitching, the memory of it clear enough to feel. “Yes. I don’t understand it myself either.”

“I’ll search around. See if anything comes up.” Tim handed him a pile of papers. “Here, the info you wanted on her itinerary, plus things I thought would be pertinent without going over whatever line you seem to have drawn.”

Damian took them, and very begrudgingly said, “Thank you,” before ducking out of the room.

He waited until he was back in his own room before flicking through them, finding the trip schedule and the hotel rooms listed, the names of her class and teachers, and finally a list of her accomplishments and a copy of the paper that had won her class the trip, authored by her.

He read through it, noting the names of her classmates and their own community efforts, and the way her own section in the paper was minuscule compared to both each other persons section and the list of accomplishments Drake had drafted.

One classmate had, if no less written than than any other person, a distinctly different tone to what Marinette had written, and most of her community building and service events were merely echoes or assisting what another person had done. Damian shrugged it off, as there were sometimes people who simply tagged along, and never put their own effort out there. Followers, and not leaders.

All in all, he found himself more intrigued than ever about her.

TAGLIST:

@the-fusionist @rebecarojas07 @lowandco @kotaleartzu @resignedcatservant @alenee13 @mystery-5-5 @ladybug-182 @actual-disaster-human @loysydark @rumbelle18 @magic-miraculous @vixen-uchiha @athena452 @mochegato @ash-amg @worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @thestressmademedoit @sassakitty @doriebell @jessigurl-design @emotionalsupportginger @kceedraws @kuroko26 @moonystars14 @toodaloo-kangaroo @myazael @theatreandcomicfreak @mer-mel @dahjokester @northernbluetongue @area51qt @renscorpio @redscarlet95 @razzledazzle247 @rosep16 @tired-butterfly @catthhay @shamefullove @imanerddealwith @chaosace @captainmac6 @bigpicklebananatree @abrx2002 @cici-schnee @multplelifes @shreky-boi @purple-people-eaters-productions @crazylittlemunchkin @weird-pale-blonde-person

[yarrowleef]

Read Darkness Within all in one sitting last night and then passed out so here are my scattered thoughts i wrote down as i read, (afterthoughts in parenthesis)

Darkness Within Spoilers, obv

UGH GOD THE SECOND HAND EMBARRESMENT FROM SQUIRREL FAKE FLIRTING WITH ASHFUR IT HURTS

Just remembered Sandynose died and got a small boost of happiness (will Hawkwing and Plumwillow ever be allowed to talk again now? I mean probly not b/c they aren’t protags and non-protags don’t rly have friends but I can hope. Sorry, Hawkwhing and Plumwillow’s short-lived friendship in Hawkwings Journey was one of the last times I felt something)

Ghost fleas lol

Mothwing: i’m rude now. (but more importantly, Fuck Tigerheartstar for forcing his son to be around the cat that hurt him so badly, like he HAS to know how upset everyone is regarding Shadowsight and his accidentally helping the imposter, and he’s making him be the sole one to tend to him??? There is NO REASON Puddleshine couldn’t have done it. You think Puddleshine is going to try and murder someone?? )

Oh no don't make this a traveling book, and a ROOTBRISTLE traveling book this is going to be insufferable

BACON AND EGGS

Lightleap Is Good (Hey didn’t Shadowsight have another sister? lets be real we all knew Pouncekit was going to end up as the forgettable 3rd one)

Bristlefrost’s crush continues to feel unnatural to me. It’s like she’s grasping at straws romanticizing the most generic things.....wow....I love how ur just so...bare minimum competent....being polite to the loner we came all this way to ask for help like any somewhat reasonable person would....How admirable...I love the way you just *clenches fist* exhibit some basic traits of loyalty and skill that literally every warrior has (I s2g I’m this close to head canon-ing Bristle as a clueless aromantic who doesn't understand what romance is actually suppose to feel like so she just looks at feelings of low-bar admiration and assumes “oh I guess this is that “romantic attraction” everyone’s always talking about? guess I must be in love???” because both her crushes have felt out of nowhere and like. Idk fake/forced sounding like she’s just telling me that that she’s In Love Now while I continue to not actually feel it at all from her end. I know it’s just that I hate the way Erin’s write female characters in love but this head-canon makes me laugh)

Got scared because I thought they were going to villainize Spotfur for not wanting kits for a minute, but also excited at the concept of maybe exploring a female character that doesn’t want to be a mother, but it turns out she was just pulling a Sparkpelt and actually DID want the kits all along and was only hesitant because she’s sad. Shrug oh well.  (the only female character in warriors that was distinctly upset about pregnancy and motherhood was Lizardstripe and as we all know she was eeeeeevil and abusive and “overly ambitious” because why else would you not come around to being happy about motherhood?? YES I’M STILL SALTY ABOUT YELLOWFANG’S SECRET, BAD BOOK)  Whatever it’s fine so long as Spot doesn’t lose her rebel leader spirit forever and default to “soft mom” personality for the rest of her life, I gotta have hope because I actually like Bristle and Spot’s current relationship. Also I am actually very grateful they never made Bristle resentful at Spot for getting with her crush, as lots of middle grade/YA media has a very bad habit of demonizing female romantic “competition” and its super gross, so I rly do like that Bristlefrost is so protective and caring towards her instead. )

This series is trying to tell me that Rootspring is actually Big but I refuse to accept that. he has dumb scrawny bitch energy and we all know it

Sunrise: “Thunderclan may be better with a new leader” lol go off (i mean........they right tho...It’s unfortunate that the tension in this whole plot is a bit dampened by the fact that i DO in fact want bramble to die v badly. I don’t even have special hatred for him, I’m just bored of him.)

Yes Lionblaze beat the shit out of Ashfur

*HOLY SHIT THAT’S FUCKED!!!! (I wrote this in reference to the ghost summoning scene, this was all I could manage at the time, that scene was WILD and I am VIBING WITH THE HORROR OF IT ALL)

* Brashfur: Oh yeah? Could Ashfur fake THIS? *stands up with slightly better posture* Shadowsight: oh damn you got me there...... (asdfhhfhhgh im sorry that was really funny, how did that prove anything?? ONLY A ~REAL~ WARRIOR COULD STAND UP STRAIGHT WE ALL KNOW ASHFUR IS INCAPABLE OF GOOD POSTURE!)

End of the book: *LAUGHING NERVOUSLY* WHAT THE FUCK??? (I thought he was just gonna kill Squirrelflight right there holy shit can you imagine the RIOTS that would ensue in the wake of all this Squirrel/Bramble discourse I was so scared for a second.  

 But it’s fine, she just....went to super hell instead......Warriors has come so far lmao WHAT IS HAPPENING

Final Notes:

*On Mothwing, I don’t think her behavior struck me as “CHARACTER BUTCHERING” as much as it did for other people? I mean.....Warriors fans will say that literally any time a character does ANYTHING less then perfectly nice I think her actions just seemed that much harsher because we are reading from Shadowsight’s POV, and Shadowsight is taking everything 10x more personally right now (understandably so, but Mothwing isn’t inside his head) she wasn’t trying to hurt him. Also... like... Shadowsight DID get his name too early. It’s not Mothwing’s job to put his feelings above everything else, she’s not even his mentor, Puddleshine on the other hand, as his main mentor, I don’t understand what his deal is ignoring Shadowsight, that’s not how you help an apprentice but I suppose I chalk many of his mistakes up to also not being the most experienced medicine cat (he barely even had his own mentor.) Maybe he’s distant because he feels guilty and actually blames himself for not guiding Shadowsight better?? the two of them haven’t communicated about it yet so idk

 any way I give Mothwing a pass to be a little short tempered right now as a cat who has had her abilities periodically questioned all her life no matter how hard she works or how much experience she has, just because she doesn’t vibe with the spiritual cult side of the clans, I can understand why she’s a bit defensive of being questioned and frustrated watching so much hurt happen Yet Again due to reliance on StarClan visions over common sense, and I for one still stan her for slandering StarClan and refusing to accept Mistystar’s bullshit banishing like everyone else. Sometimes a character is at the end of their rope and can’t manage to be 100% nice 24/7 and that’s maybe not inherently bad writing? idk just my hot take. At a certain point we all gotta reckon with the fact that our perception of most popular supporting characters in heavily colored by fanon and we can’t always get mad at the authors for not adhering to it

*The sisters magic shit is my fav worldbuilding warriors has had in AGES, I love the way it’s described and it actually feels like it adds something to this world. I love this horror imagery with the ghosts, very excited for that. 

*still won’t be thrilled if Ashfur is working alone, because his motive doesn’t make sense right now. I mean the trying to get Squilf thing, sure, whatever, but the “I will make everyone pay for what they did to me”???? cause like?? Who??? they didn’t do anything to him?? Ashfur’s grievance was very specifically JUST Squilf. He has no other cause for revenge, he had no other beef or complaints about the clans to my knowledge? The cat that killed him is dead, and she’s like, the only other one that I could see as having “wronged” him?? I guess he also didn’t like Firestar much according to Graystripe’s Vow (and on account of how willing he was to kill him w/ Hawkfrost) but Firestar is ALSO dead. I don’t understand his angle. Will have to see last 2 books to judge i suppose.

*All in all I am interested to see where this is going!! but also the pacing as I feared is becoming a major issue. It’s better then ending the main conflict on book 3 like Vision of Shadows did, but omg. Hardly anything happened in all these pages. I realized I was over half way through and nothing about the situation had actually CHANGED or advanced at all in all that time. Similar to the past 2 books which I believe could have been combined, this plot felt like it should have been the first half of a book. Discussing whether or not to kill the imposter isn’t much of a standalone plot, it’s just the set up to a plot. Finding the sisters didn’t need to be a whole long thing, the debates about the Imposters fate didn’t need to be repeated 10 times, all those chapters illustrating that “Shadowsight is sad” were also drawn out, repetitive, and interchangeable, we probably only needed 2 or so chapters showing his struggles to get the necessary information across. It felt like a lot of padding, it was really slow and I did a lot of skimming. I am still very interested in the overarching plot and mystery behind the ghosts so that kept me reading but man this “will they won’t they kill him” plot did not justify it’s own whole book. Alas this is a persisting issue that will never be resolved while they continue to force 6 books into 1 series that doesn’t need 6 books. I’m sure the writers are doing the best they can with these unfortunate constraints but still, it’s a wonder this slow padding isn’t more of a detriment to their younger readers that the books are supposed to be marketed to.

[join-the-joywrite]

Hamish & Vera soulmate au headcannons

Sometimes I'm like a red traffic light and sometimes I'm like the Flash of writing. Would you look at that, another one for the collection! Seriously, please write these and tag/link me I'm begging--

For today's rambling, we have what you write on your skin appears on your soulmate's. I'm aiming for a little happiness, given I'm still upset about the colours one and the first/last words one. Allons-y!

Vera and Hamish were best friends as soon as Hamish finally learned how to write. They shared all their stories with one another and for the most part, told each other everything.

Their parents got them washable markers when they were 10 and 6 respectively because it was getting a little hard to stop children from writing on their arms with pens that were stubborn or toxic markers.

Strange thing was that they never actually introduces themselves and they never really noticed that they didn't know each other's names. It never mattered. This was the one person in the whole world that knew them better than anyone else -- and they had no idea who the other was. It was kind of special.

Hamish wrote about how he got bullied for wearing sweaters. They called him a nerd and teacher's pet in tones that said it was the most hateful thing to be.

Vera wrote back the most cunning ways to get back at the bullies until Hamish ended up being almost a poster boy for his school while still maintaining some kind of commanding aura. At age 8.

Hamish was the first person to learn that Vera was pregnant.

"WHAT? But -- but you are a child!!" "We are leading very different lives."

"I asked my mom and she said children shouldn't be having kids but I think you'll be okay. You're stronger than anyone I know and I think your kid's gonna love you lots." Vera never tells anyone that she finds the most support in a little twelve year old kid whose name she isn't really inclined to learn.

When Vera's baby dies, Hamish is the only person she speaks -- or writes -- to. He's the only person she's never afraid to spill all her secrets to.

"If you got invited to join a secret society that could possibly be a cult of murderers, would you do it?" "What do they offer, though?" "Free drinks and magic." "I'd say go for it."

Hamish thinks it's a joke and Vera knows a 14 year old kid isn't gonna know any better but she listens to him anyway and powers through initiation, catching the eyes of her Temple Magus and the then Grand Magus.

"Hey, remember that cult I was telling you about? I accidentally got the leader killed but I got a promotion." "I'm so proud of you! Hey, what do you think about law school?" "Absolutely not." "For me?" "Oh. Go for it. I believe in you."

And it's that message from Vera that makes Hamish push through his first year at Belgrave, despite being turned into a werewolf somewhere in the third month.

Vera is the most respected Adeptii in the entire Order. She has her eyes set on Temple Magus. Most would think she was after power, but Vera just wants to set things straight. She just wants to make the Order everything it promises to be.

She's staying late at the temple one night. She feels a light tapping on her arm and rolls up her sleeves. Had she imagined it or was she starting to feel her soulmate's thinking stage?

"Remember that girl I told you about from that club I joined?" "Yeah. Did you finally ask her to be your girlfriend?"

Vera's teasing smile vanishes when she sees "she's dead" printed on her arm. The ink starts to run. She knows he's crying. She waves her hand over her arm and the ink vanishes. If he notices and asks her about the sudden disappearance, she'll say it was just a wet cloth.

"Do you want to talk about it or do you want me to distract you?" There is a long pause and Vera feels her heart beat faster. He wouldn't do anything irrational, right? "Distract me, please."

Vera tells him all about her day. She tells him how she's mastering all the skills the cult (she only ever calls it a cult on her arm) requires and she's almost at the top of the food chain. She tells him she wants to get a job at the university and she tells him she's afraid she won't be able to make a change in the world.

Despite his grief, Hamish manages to slowly write to Vera how he truly believes in her and that he knows she can do anything she puts her mind to.

Years pass. Hamish tells Vera about two new family members he's found. Vera tells Hamish about how she's got the job of her dreams. Hamish tells Vera that if they met by chance one day, he'd ring her into the family. Vera tells Hamish that she would induct him into her cult. They laugh but still, they don't reveal themselves. The anonymity of it gives them a sense of security and strangely enough, safety.

With the entrance of Jack Morton comes a whirlwind of drama and action to both of them. Their stories are filled with tales of this new member and all the strange things he does.

"I'm his boss! I'm his boss and he just does not listen to a word I say! Today, I found out he's been practicing skills only for professionals. It's like giving a kid a gun for a pinata. He is driving me insane."

"You're telling me. Our 'gender-neutral collective's new member is having a severe mental breakdown and I'm pretty sure I saw him talking to a coat rack earlier. I gave him a drink and he took it like a shot so I gave him a shot to see what he'd do and. He. Sipped. At. It."

Neither of them are aware that they're talking about the same person.

"I think I have a soft spot for the screw-up."

"I know the feeling, we call ours the family screw-up. Affectionately, of course."

"Of course."

After the burning of the Vade Maecum, Vera lies awake in bed, unable to find rest. So she grabs her marker, only to find a message waiting for her.

"Dear Diary, today I met a girl unlike any other. She's sharp, strong, brave and powerful. She reminds me of you. She helped me defend my dumbass family from some pretentious assholes. Honestly, she's a force of nature on her own. I wouldn't want her to hate me because I'm pretty sure she'd kill me if she did."

Vera smiles. "Sounds like someone has a crush."

"Gross, don't be so middle school."

Vera manages to find peaceful rest after a few more minutes of talking.

A few days later, Vera asks about the girl. "What girl?" "Nothing. How was your day?"

Vera doesn't understand why she no longer hears stories about the family of oddballs.

Vera doesn't make the connection.

She tells him she's head of the cult. Hamish draws party streamers and balloons. They're absolutely terrible but they make Vera laugh. "I'm proud of you." "Thank you."

"Dear diary, today I joined a secret club." "What, like a book club?" "Well . . . there are a lot of books here."

Vera finds a welcome sense of familairty and faintly, home, when the stories start pouring in about the family again.

"So today I had to pull a thorn out of a baby's foot. Said baby is turning 19 this year."

"Oh, you poor soul. A couple of new members drank the entire cult's worth of booze last night. Who even drinks that much and can still walk well enough to leave?" Hamish thinks about the welcome party at the temple. "You'd be surprised."

"I almost died today." For a second, neither of them realise they've written the same sentence. They make the connection to Belgrave and Rogwan. Neither are sure that other is saying that because they met the demon and did stupidly dangerous things or because they knew about the Excidium. Neither asks that question. "I almost died today and one of the biggest regrets I would've had was that I never got to see the face behind all the stories I've come to adore." "I know." "We should try to find each other." "We should."

But they don't. Anonymity protects them, it keeps them safe and it keeps their soulmates away from the dangers of the Order and the Knights -- so they think.

Instead, Hamish talks about losing Lilith. He calls her his feisty, brash, smart and loving little sister. He cries. Vera watches the ink run. Vera thinks about Lilith, about the sacrifice she made so that the Vera wouldn't perform the Excidium. Vera's sure that Lilith didn't do it for her or for Belgrave, but for the Knight down in the corridor with her and the knights running around Belgrave with no fear. Regardless, Lilith is what stopped the Excidium and a great deal of people owe her their lives -- Vera included. Vera thinks about Jack watching the portal swallow Lilith up whole. Vera thinks about Hamish having to carry her loss. Vera thinks about Randall having to soldier on without one of the few people who have never judged him about anything. The ink runs on their arms, but not just from Hamish's tears.

Late one night, Hamish can't sleep and watches the words write themselves om his arm. "I thought about her today. But it was so so powerful. Like being physically hit with those memories. You'd think by now I'd have come to terms with it--" "You can't keep blaming yourself." "Knowing that doesn't change the fact that I do and I will." "I know. Do you want to talk about her?" And Vera talks about her daughter until she falls asleep. Hamish reads the words filled with love and loss and adoration and joy until he falls asleep too.

When Foley and Salvador attack, behind thinking about what the hell will happen to the Knights and the Order without them, Vera and Hamish keep hoping that their soulmate doesn't start panicking. Vera recovers from Foley first and leaves a message. She needs someone to talk to, someone who won't feel the consequences of knowing and someone she knows will never turn her weaknesses against her. Hours later, she tries again when there's no response. As time ticks by, she starts getting restless. Not only is Hamish missing, but now so is her soulmate.

Once Jack and Randall break Hamish out, to keep himself from storming up and tearing Foley apart, he lifts his sleeve. Shit. "Randall do you have a pen?"

"Why would I have a -- yeah, okay, I do. Here."

"Sorry," he writes, "got a little held up and I lost my marker. Are you okay?"

Vera is slightly relieved. One of them is okay. But Hamish is still missing. "Waiting on someone. He's not supposed to be gone this long."

In her worrisome state, Vera doesn't notice that the pen ink is vanishing just as fast as thr washable marker. If she had been paying it any attention, she would have come to the conclusion that Order member or not, her soulmate was a practitioner.

"Is everyone okay?" She stares at Hamish, relief flooding her body. Damnit, she wasn't supposed to get attached to someone. She didn't think she could do that. But what was there to do now?

"Hey, I've got something to tell you." "Go on." "Remember that girl I told you about last year?" "Yes." "I think" Vera waits for the rest of the sentence. "You think?" "I really like her."

Vers suddenly doesn't feel guilty about Hamish anymore. She sits up in her bed. "Tell me all about her." "You sure you won't get jealous?" Vera laughs to herself. "I won't if you don't." "Oh! Someone has a new boyfriend!" "Maybe. Now tell me about this girl."

And Hamish starts. And Hamish cannot stop. Vera's watched his wipe his arm already three times and he still hasn't stopped. When he pauses, Vera takes the chance to write "You don't like her." "I do, though." "No, you don't. You LOOOVE her!" Vera can't shake the image that if they were sitting together and speaking, she would have sprinted away by now to avoid the attacks her teasing would bring. It makes her smile.

"Shut up! Tell me about your new boyfriend." "He's not my boyfriend." "Yet." Vera pauses. "We'll see." "Tell me about him."

Vera starts. And Vera cannot stop. Hamish watches the words appear and can't help falling in love with the way she loves this man. "Someone's in luuurve!" "Am not." "Are too." "Whatever."

He thinks about Vera. You don't like her, you love her. Maybe. Yeah, maybe he does.

"I lost her. I could've helped her and I didn't." "I don't think there was anything you could've done more. You said she was attacked." "I drove her away. I pushed her into leaving the one place that could've prevented the attack. And I couldn't save her. I just I can't keep losing people. This cult is poison. I thought I could make it better. I thought I could take it by the reigns and guide it. Instead I keep getting the younger ones killed." "It's not your fault." "I could honestly really use a drink right now but I already sent the boyfriend home. He's gone some stuff to deal with too. His family is . . . hinging on broken."

Vera wonders if he fell asleep when there's no response. She lays her head on her upper arm, looking at the words on her forearm. And then they vanish. Like . . . like magic. How the hell had she never noticed before?? Very slowly, new letters form

V . . . e . . . r . . . a . . . ?

Vera shoots up and sits straight, holding her arm. What the fuck? What the fuck did I say that gave me away?? And who the fuck knows me well enough to figure me out based on something I said??

Vera is grateful for the distraction her phone brings as it lights up with a text -- from Hamish. "I heard you could use a drink."

Vera tiptoes downstairs warily, relieved to find Hamish behind her counter with a drink in front of him. A drink for her.

"I thought I sent you to the den. The knights--"

"Are all asleep. You, on the other hand, aren't."

Vera takes a seat at the counter, hands around the glass. As Hamish tidies up, she catches sight of his bare forearm, where her name is written in the same hand writing as on her own arm. When his back is turned, she uncaps the marker and writes, Hamish?

He laughs softly to himself. Then, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"About what?"

"Alyssa."

"Do you want to talk about Lilith?"

"You're right, a distraction would be better."

And distract each other, they did.

I might write this one out oop

See other soulmate aus I've attacked

[takaraphoenix]

Riverdale season 1: a suspenseful murder mystery that keeps you on your toes until the big reveal! a group of teens tries to investigate as one of their fellow students has been killed! the killer will be revealed in a SURPRISE TWIST that has you go “oh wow this was cleverly set up”!

Me: Oooh. This is such a good show. I love it. Can’t wait for season 2!

Riverdale season 2: so like you liked the murder in s1, right? that was the thing you all liked, the murdering? have more murders. there’s now a serial killer on the loose! Archie forms a club of vigilantes that’s very close to a cult! intense psychological drama around Betty and the serial killer! Veronica is busy getting involved in the criminal family business! Jughead is now the leader of an actual gang! but hey! lesbian!Cheryl for some rep since we actively erased aroace!Jughead from the narrative! you’ll love lesbian!Cheryl... going to conversion therapy! and the serial killer will be a SURPRISE TWIST but there was literally no way in hell to predict who it is because we apparently just threw characters at the wall and took what stuck!

Me: ...slow down. stop it. that’s too much. you went way overboard on everything...

Riverdale season 3: oh you think that’s overboard? watch me

Riverdale season 3: so after being framed by Veronica’s dad, Archie goes to prison where he gets involved in an illegal fightclub that’s run by the prison. while the town deals with MURDER D&D!!! YES D&D but there is now actual murder! lots of murder! even more murder than last season! Cheryl and her girlfriend now start their own gang! Veronica is incredibly busy with all the criminal stuff she has gotten herself involved in! Betty is very busy with her own family drama because her mom is getting involved with an actual cult! also there is a lot of drug dealing in this one! again there is no way in hell to predict this seasons’ twist reveal who the Big Bad behind it all really is, why are you even still trying lol

Me: ...this had so much potential... you managed to... really, really go overboard on... on all fronts... I should probably consider... not watching season, this has become... too much for me at this point...

Riverdale season 4: but Cheryl is still a lesbian though

Me: ah shit you got me there

(The level escalation of this show is unnatural but I am the kind of lesbian who loves to see lesbian rep and if you make my favorite character come out as a lesbian, I will put up with a lot. Still, pray with me that season 4 reigns it in even just a little bit. Less gang wars and drugs and serial killers and child murder and cults.)

((also I still have the hope that Jughead will come out as aroace at one point))

[stranger-who-writes-fiction]

SO HEY, EPISODE 5x13

Crops? Watered. Skin? Clear. Fifth Dimensional Imp? Redeemed, and here to help our Kryptonian Sunshine Child Learn Some Much-Needed Lessons on this Very Special Episode.

SPOILERS!

NEW AND IMPROVED MXY! He is excellent. Loved every second he was on screen, he had such a great dynamic with Kara, and the ENTIRE OPENING SCENE WITH ALL THREE OF THEM WAS HILARIOUS.

Give the Danvers Sisters More Comedy Scenes, Please

Man when he just walks across the furniture.

SO GOOD

And then J’onn w/ his casual ‘Hey girls.’ SPAAAAACE DAAAAAD

MAGIC PAINTBALL!

(Man Supergirl’s Attic podcast just nailed that, huh?)

Loved all of the different viewing methods--Projector! MyxFlyx! Betamyx! Also the popcorn bucket gag, and how Kara’s just like: ‘...Yeah alright.’

And then we get to the first of the alternate timelines and OKAY, OKAY I see now why they need the bad wigs...they gotta match pre-existing footage, FINE. 

But UUUUuuuUUUUgh bad wigs. BAD.

You know what else is bad? Lena blabbing Kara’s secret to Sam!

Because KARA DIES. 

And you know...we’ve seen Kara in some pretty gruesome fights, we’ve seen her in a coma, we’ve seen her die before but there is something final and painful and AWFUL about her flat-lining in the DEO. 

AND THEN ALEX AT THE GRAVE???!??!?!?!

*openly weeps* *just like Mxy and Kara*

Look I don’t wanna keep harping on the wigs but good grief, Kara’s ‘Supergirl’ hair looks like it walked right of the set of a 70s sitcom.

Right, okay, so the chat with Lena! I sincerely doubt that Lena would’ve let anyone help her with Sam. Just sayin’. 

‘I had to go through that alone!’ Yeah, Lena, that’s kinda your MO, and you do it even when people level with you.

(As much as I enjoyed the cathartic release provided by this episode, I still found some of the dialogue in regards to Lena a bit...trying.)

(Like this part, and Sam insisting that the Kryptonite manufacturing was totally fine! No big deal!)

(Reader, it was not fine, and was, in fact, a Big Deal.)

“Wait you’re skipping a lot!”

“So much exposition.”

Awww, Beard-of-Wisdom Mon-El is back!

And BOY OH BOY, HE’S GOT SOME WORDS O’ WISDOM INDEED.

“You know Lena and I have a lot in common.” MMMMM-HMMMMMM.

In that both your story line and Lena’s were/are extremely tedious

But no, for real, it’s a really lovely exchange.

“You deserve the same compassion that you show others.”

THREE CHEERS FOR OL’ WISE-BEARD!

Also, happy to report that the wig works best in the rain!

And speaking of Raineign... (har, har)

More Death! A recurring theme, with these alternate realities!

So, basically:

Back at the loft! Loved the Friends-esque VHS titles

The One Where Lena Moves to National City

The One Where Lillian Admits She Loves Lena

The One Where Supergirl and Lena Fight the Nanobot Lady

And then we get the ‘First Meeting’* reveal and may I just say, the score? Lovely. 

*Not really the first meeting but ‘Third-ish meeting that was retroactively added in “Confidence Women”’ is a bit of a mouthful, so. 

“I have to recall all those alien detective devices because they clearly don’t work!” Or...you could recall them...because they’re bad.

Just a thought.

Love 20s news announcer Mxy and the newspaper spins.

I also love that this particular timeline is a direct response to...a specific corner of the SG fandom, and their ongoing complaints. ‘Everything would be better if Kara told Lena right away!’ Well, no, actually! It puts a huge target on Lena, just like Kara feared. ‘Why does Kara even need a secret identity? Almost everyone knows, it’s barely a secret, why bother!?’ because IT PUTS A HUGE TARGET ON KARA’S LOVED ONES, JUST LIKE KARA FEARED.

Alsoooooo the one out there going hard for and stanning the Luthor/Super partnership...is a fanatical cult leader.

Which I’m sure means nothing and isn’t a thinly-veiled commentary, or anything. 

...Anyways!

EVERYONE DIES AGAIN.

And THEN we go to the darkest timeline.

Love Kara’s, “You know what? No thanks. Nope. Don’t need to see it.”

And then Dreamer! With a face scar! And as we all know, face scars are always code for Dystopian AUs. 

KELLY WITH THE SHIIIIIEEEEELD AGAIN!

And it looks like the good guys are winning their respective fights! But then METALLO!LENA JUST STRAIGHT UP TRIES TO MURDER KARA. 

To quote Kara: No thanks. Nope.

But Mxy gets Hat’s hat and they’re safely back in Kara’s loft AND THEN

AND THEN AND THEN AND THEEEEEENNNNNNNN:

After 13 long, (loooooong) episodes, we finally get some gol-dang character development.

♫Aaaaaat laaaaaaaaaast, the skiiiiiies above are bluuu-uuueee ♫

And not just any character development! KARA CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

THE CONTENT I CRAVE.

It was so good. EVERYTHING. SPELLED OUT. CLEARLY.

Whoop, wait, before we dig into that: Redemption for Mxy.

Who is now a FRIEND and not a creepy stalker! Which, lemme tell ya, really put a damper on the otherwise fun energy that a fifth dimension imp from the Silver Age should bring. 

I am very Pleased with these developments, is what I’m saying.

Okay, back to the good stuff. I’m just gonna quote it in full:

I recognize I made a mistake in hiding my identity from you for so long, but the past is the past, and I can’t change it. Forgive me or not, that’s your choice. Just like it’s your choice to work with Lex. I’m done blaming myself for your bad decisions...from now on, you’re accountable for your own actions. If you decide to forgive me, I will be there for you. But if you continue to work with Lex, if you go through with whatever it is the two of you are planning, I will do everything in my power to stop you, just like I would any other villain.

Amazing. Spectacular. Brilliant.

And to top it all off? SPACEFAM CONTENT. AND JUNK FOOD! A WINNING COMBO.

Kara’s happy face is so cuuuuuuute and the french fry toast!

And EL MAYARAH! STRONGER TOGETHER!

It’s just so beautiful.

So in conclusion! I think, given the constraints set up by the season long arc, this was a really nice way to tie it into that story but also honor a lot of what came before. I know a lot of folks wish it had focused more on the Spacefam, and that we had more Season One call backs, and that’s fair, but personally, I didn’t mind it. (Because we got a beautiful Superfriends reunion in 5x11/5x12 and Eliza is coming back at SOME point in the future so I am Content. XD)

...Also let us all be grateful that it didn’t fall within one of the crossovers, like Arrow’s 100th episode. Oof. 

[neshatriumphs]

II. She Had a Dynasty

Grace was always pampered. She was catered to, given gifts and practiced her magic with the most proficient of practitioners. She was regarded as the brightest young witch in this land, considered the heiress to an empire built upon magic - the Order of the One. The One was considered to be where all magic came from, where all magic returned to, where all magic flourished and died. Those who believed in the One believed that while it was not of this world, it was in charge of this world. The witches of the One believed that all real magic came from a merging of the universe and what's inside of us. Nature pulls out what it needs to complete a movement of magic.

Fake Magic manipulates nature and disregards the unity between mortality and spirit.  Fake Magic was creating a False Conductor, a Mock One, as a conduit for magic, stealing it from where it belonged and using it without being granted this privilege by the One...

Grace wasn’t really that into it, but as heiress and leader of all of the children of the One, she had to push the principles onto her flock and protect her properties. 

Another cavern had been hit. She frowned when she reached the site. “How does he keep doing this?” She wondered. “Spells this powerful, on fake magic?” She folded her arms and looked to her right hand, Lucy. 

Lucy frowned and said, “They steal enough natural magic that they’re beginning to grow stronger than us.”

“No! I refuse to believe that,” Grace said. She wasn’t an avid believer in the One, despite her position, but she was very confident that there wasn’t another witch as strong as her, especially not a fake one. “Stand back Lucy.” The smaller girl not only stood back but gestured for the other children with Grace to do so, as well. She didn’t realize what Grace was doing until she did it. 

Grace cut her own hands with her fingernails, put both of her hands onto the rubble, and sought out any portion of magic that may have been left behind. Anything… She noticed a paw print in blood on the stones. Something magic and still living left it there. She stooped and touched it, a light shone brightly from the spot, the pile began to rumble and Grace yelled, “Take cover!” They ran as the heap shook with the earth and Grace covered the others as the fallen rocks erupted and the blood sputtered up like a volcano and rained upon the nearby areas. 

Grace was tired, but she got up to go collect the fallen familiars that had been entrusted to this place. Her parents would be furious that she challenged a curse on her own, but she would have to remind them that not only had she challenged it… she defeated it. 

When the children cleared out the fairies and the mermaids, properly disposing of their bodies, Grace used the last of her energy to cleanse the grounds of their blood. 

“But… the Conductor’s cult will just come back and take this magic, too,” Lucy said, trying to give Grace some water. 

“You’re probably right. Create a protection spell until we can move in more denizens to guard it. Next time, we’ll place warriors here.” Lucy nodded and dug her hands into the ground, knowing that her magic was nearly as powerful as it needed to be to protect this place and hoping that they could get warriors here before those wizards came back. As a lit up shimmering green fence surrounded the remains, she smiled, proud of her work, then guided the weakened witch back to their own palace. 

.

Oh boy… were the Monroe Witches PISSED at Grace for her “scheme.” You’d think they’d be proud and delighted that she took back what was theirs from magic bandits, but noooooo… Danger, energy, usurping, etc… She was super tired and just wanted to go bath in the waterfalls. She yawned. “Yawning? Now, you’re yawning? She’s probably rendered her magic useless! How can she be tired at this time of day?” Her mother asked. She called out the names of numerous caretakers, giving them very critical instructions to replenish her daughter’s energy and her magic, and offerings to bring to the fortress of the One, on her behalf. 

Grace’s father sat next to her and asked, “How did it feel? To break the curse?”

Grace smiled deviously and she and her father secretly locked pinkies while her mother was stressing about her recovery. “It felt like I was meant to do it.” 

They dropped their hands and looked at the woman, with her hands on her hips, staring at them. “Don’t encourage her. She could have been killed. Then what would we have done?” She sat next to Grace, on the other side of her bed. “We know that you want to be a hero, but that’s not your destiny, Grace. You are meant to be a queen, preordained by the One. Your magic is special, elite, and pure. I hate that others were murdered, but it isn’t your job to make that right. You were only supposed to go and give your blessing to the memory of the fallen.”

“Their blood was just pouring out of the place. He put them in an endless cycle of death. How could I call myself a leader among us and just leave them there with some gifts?”

“The hardest part of this job is the fact that you can probably do other ones, but you shouldn’t, because your job is too important.”

“My job is to hold a title,” she complained.

“A very prestigious title that ONLY a member of our bloodline can! If something happens to you, the Monroe family dies.”

“I have cousins…”

“They are not set for the throne! Let THEM go and break curses, then!” Her mother got up, extremely angry. “Guardians, handle this, and report to me if she dares try to leave before her recovery process is complete!” She stopped at the door, shook her head and said, “Grace… Just… If for nothing else, take care of yourself for me.”

“Yes, Mom.” She thought she saw the woman start to cry before she left her sight. 

Her father sighed and cupped her chin, “She was raised to be my wife, to bear an heir, and to be the next queen. We never found a worthy witch child to make your king, and we lost the one that the prophets believed to be him… She feels like she’s done something wrong, that you aren’t a son, that you aren’t betrothed, that you aren’t a proper princess… Just… don’t think that any of it is your fault. She ultimately blames herself.”

“I don’t think any of it is my fault. I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with me being who I am. I don’t think I’d be a better witch or a better ruler if I had some husband or some son, either! Dad, I’m a powerful witch! I’ve got everything needed to protect and fight and serve inside of me! Why do I have to preserve myself just to find the right boy to do those things for us?”

“It’s the way that we do things, Grace. It has kept us in harmony with the universe for many generations. The one time that there isn’t is the time that this wizard from the Conductor has been able to hit us several times over the past few years can’t be a coincidence.”

“Yes it can! Or, it can be a sign that I’m supposed to be out there fighting his ass instead of teaching little kids light show tricks!”

“Hey! Those tricks are exquisite magic!” He gave her a playful smile. “We don’t want you fighting because we never want to see you hurt. Nothing more, nothing less. Even if you had a husband and a son, I would never want you out there trying to fight this wizard. He slayed over a hundred denizens this week. You wouldn’t matter to him more than a mosquito that landed on his arm. But you, Grace. You have a gentle heart. This is most likely a kill or be killed type of fight. You are not a killer, so you do not belong in that fight.”

“I haven’t killed anyone, but to protect our people, our familiars, I would do anything, Dad.”

“I wouldn’t want you to.” He kissed her on the forehead and left her to her caretakers. “Now, I’ve gotta go stop your mother from killing someone in a rage.” 

She smiled a little, then climbed out of bed. They were going to put her through a big process to heal, but the proud smile returned to her face. They didn’t know it yet, but she could do what needed to be done, if she had to, and she was confident that she was stronger than her enemy.

[fe8meta]

The War’s Legacy

As a volunteer archivist at a local historical site, I’ve worked closely with books and documents largely between 150~250 years old. (If you’re curious, mostly regarding the period between the American Revolution to the Civil War, plus the anti-slavery movement. There’s also more “domestic” stuff like agriculture, science, mathematics, and religion.)

It got me thinking: In Magvel, how will the war, and the people who participated in it, be remembered? Most characters have a good portion of their lives left to live after the war too, but for those who are remembered down the line, their participation in the war will probably be their biggest accomplishment.

To start things off: more likely than not, anyone who wasn’t royalty or an important military figure is probably going to get forgotten, especially if fighting in the war was their only achievement.

(From my experience as an archivist, I’ve noticed that a great deal of people who were seen as the big movers and thinkers during their time have been lowered to one-note and forgettable in some 150-ish years of history. That’s not a lot of time!)

I think the list of characters who are remembered decades after their deaths on a continental scale (some characters may remain important figures in their own communities) would be the royals, the generals (Seth plus the Imperial Generals), and the Demon King (plus his cult).

The Royals

Ephraim: Regarding the war, Ephraim will probably get his war strategies and accomplishments written about. I expect a great deal of historians (particularly Renaian ones) debating his decision to abandon his homeland and bring the fight into Grado, though his later decisions will probably receive praise.

Eirika: Honestly? I think she’ll largely receive praise from future historians. Despite getting tricked at Renvall and the blunder of losing the Sacred Stone (on her route), I think historians would agree that her calculations were solid based on the information she knew at the time. Even if she had Seth advising her, she had no formal training in tactics or the art of war, making her achievements even more impressive.

~ / ~ / ~

Innes: Like Eirika, I think he’d be validated by historians, particularly for being the only one to actually predict and prepare for a wartime scenario. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but based on what we know of him story-wise, he probably would go down as one of the best leaders of his time.

Tana: She’s gutsy and I think she’ll at least become a popular figure for young women. Some historians may lambast her earlier captures attributable to her inexperience, but hey, if she got out alive than it’s not too bad. I think later in life, being largely free to do whatever she wants (within reason), she’d continue onto a path of public service, which she can probably gather great acclaim for.

~ / ~ / ~

L’Arachel: I think a lot of attention will go towards her theatrics. If you go with the idea that L’Arachel doesn’t actually lead her country (see the Solo Endings JP vs. EN post for details), I think her relationship with the other royals and how she’s involved in continental politics will be the primary focus in biographies. (She also, perhaps not coincidentally, has supports with all the other ruling royals, discounting Tana as she canonically never lands in a leadership position.)

Joshua: Joshua’s reputation will be very, very mixed down the line. He’s still has wanderlust and a gambling addiction, and regardless of his accomplishments as a king and Jehanna’s glorious revival, neither of those traits are a particularly good look. Not to mention that he abandoned his duty as prince for a solid 10 years, and then left Jehanna to its own devices again while going to stop the Demon King.

Even in Joshua’s dialogue after the final battle, he talks about returning to Jehanna in an almost resigned manner; no doubt he knows full well that he might not be received with open arms.

~ / ~ / ~

Lyon: Oh boy, what to say about Lyon. There are a lot of different ways this can go, branching from 3 options: Lyon’s involvement in the war is revealed in full, Lyon’s involvement is revealed but doctored to paint him in a more sympathetic light, or it gets entirely covered up/omitted and he goes down in history as an unfortunate casualty of the war.

No matter how you slice the first two options, Lyon’s legacy would definitely be extremely mixed, leaning towards the negative side. Not only is he on the wrong side of history, he’s also forced basically half the continent into the wrong side of history and ruined their military and did some very amoral things (reviving his father to use as a puppet, and by extension lying to the public, etc). Even the best doctoring can probably only redeem Lyon’s reputation from “the deepest depths of the sewers” to “neck-deep in the sewers.”

In the case where Lyon’s involvement in the war is covered up, it’s still only a matter of time before someone figures out the truth. With enough time, it can be relegated to a highly plausible and hotly-debated theory, but even so, it’s simply a matter of time. For an additional dose of irony, in this scenario, perhaps Grado nationalists down the line twist Lyon’s war into something “assertive” and depict it as the “correct” thing to do, when it was really anything but.

Vigarde: He’s in the same boat as Lyon. It really hinges on how the royals choose to depict Lyon’s situation to the public, because that will directly affect how Vigarde is seen. There’s little doubt that puppet!Vigarde’s actions probably destroyed popular opinion of him during the War. Whether he is redeemed on account of his situation or not is up for debate.

(Because the game doesn’t delve into Fado, Hayden, or Mansel much, I don’t have enough input to say how they’ll be seen by future historians.)

The Generals

Seth: He’s going to go down in history as a badass, let’s be real here. Took an attack from Valter himself to protect Eirika, didn’t let the injury debilitate him from fighting on the frontlines, mentored Eirika in the art of war during life-or-death battles, guided the twins on their journey, and continued helping them after the war’s end. Guy got things done, regardless of his personal sentiment about failing to protect King Fado.

Syrene: Technically a commander and not a general, but close enough that I’ll consider her. She... honestly doesn’t do that much on-screen. Doubtlessly she’ll be best remembered (on the battlefield) for being overpowered by the remnant of Grado’s forces, but at least she lived and (by the player’s discretion) kept all the villagers safe, so that’s something. At the very least, a coward she is not.

Carlyle: He’s going down in infamy. Like, his story can be crudely summed up as “I was loyal to Queen Ismaire partially because I wanted to bang her.” Yeah, that is not a good look. There isn’t even any interesting speculation or interpretations to make of his situation. He probably ruined the reputation of the Jehannan Army while he was at it.

Honestly, the only thing that would salvage his reputation is the fact that everyone who heard his confession is dead by the end of that battle. (Technically the map was a Seize Throne and not a Rout, but let’s be real -- we killed those guards.)

~ / ~ / ~

Duessel: The only Grado general to make it out alive. He’ll probably get a mixed reaction; those who praise him argue that he made the morally correct choice and had the nation’s best interests at heart. Some may criticize him for not acting sooner, while others may very well despise him as a traitor to the nation.

Selena: Another set of mixed reactions, though inverse from Duessel’s. She remained loyal to Vigarde to the very end, but people will debate where a knight’s loyalty should lie. It would also invite much debate over the ethics of Vigarde’s recruitment methods and whether it was a thinly-veiled manipulation tactic that citizens from poorer areas will fall for because it’s the only way to improve their livelihoods.

Glen: He’s like Syrene, except he died without doing much. If someone is interested in finding out more about him before his death, at least they have Cormag to interview. Depending on whether his two adjutants survived against Valter’s goons, if someone tracked them down, they might get a story out of them as well. That said, his history with Valter would probably be of great interest to Valter’s biographers.

~ / ~ / ~ 

Valter: Historians, psychologists, and scholars will have a field day with him and his circumstances. From his upbringing to his descent into madness and subsequent exile, to his reinstatement and brutality during the war before his ultimate death, there is a lot to unpack with him. People tend to have morbid curiosities and oh, will Valter sate that appetite.

Caellach: Caellach will probably be praised for being good at what he did even if he was ultimately on the wrong side of history. Since he started off as a mercenary, I feel like people won’t judge him too harshly. His potential betrayal and murder of Aias will be an interesting chapter to write about, though, since historians may have access to more knowledge on their pre-war relationship that we players don’t have.

Riev: He’s ugly, a Demon King cultist, and directly responsible for Lyon’s (and by extension, Grado’s) downfall. He’s going to be reviled for sure, though he will spark some interesting discussion relating to his history with the Rausten Church. A lot of speculation on how he came to became an adherent of the Demon King... or not, depending how whether that kind of talk is suppressed.

After all, if a former bishop converted, it not only challenges the legitimacy of the Rausten Church, it would also pique the interest of those who want to see what made Riev change his mind. And should someone also adopt his ideology, the continent can’t take another Demon King revival attempt.

Which leads me to...

The Demon King

Now, this will be a little game called “How many generations will it take before the Demon King gets relegated to a legend that no one believes in again.”

It’s also pretty important that the Demon King is not completely destroyed; he just no longer has his huge menacing body to use and will have to make do with those fragile human flesh sacks. But his soul is still intact, and if nothing is done to get rid of it for good, it’s setting up for a Part 3.

Like with Lyon, how information about the Demon King is handled by the characters after the world will probably have a huge impact. Not to mention the many implications the circumstances around his possession of Lyon has. Dark/ancient magic will most certainly face a resurgent wave of discrimination, far more than seen before. (Magvel was, from what we could see, largely apathetic about dark magic before Lyon’s attempts to redeem its name. Ironically, his actions will rekindle hatred towards it.)

As aforementioned, educating people on the Demon King and how dangerous he is may help ensure that nobody tries to mess with him again. On the other hand, it may inspire copycats who for whatever reason want the Demon King to be revived. (The game also never followed up on the implication that there’s a cult that worships the Demon King; we killed Riev and Novala, and destroyed Fomortiis’ body, but there may still be more members lurking in the dark.)

Meanwhile, trying to bury information about Fomortiis can also backfire down the line, especially if people don’t learn what the Sacred Stone is for and one day crack the seal open for one reason or another. (And we saw how well keeping the true Stone hidden behind trinkets while keeping its wearer in the dark of its true purpose went.)

This is making me imagine Demon King apologists down the line that provide an “alternative history” about the war and how it’s all some ancient conspiracy to lock him away and he “isn’t actually bad, just misunderstood”...

Oh hey, isn’t that the direction Dragalia Lost’s main story is going in?

[ofravensandgenesis]

Meme Tag Games!

Thank you for all the lovely tags!! :D <3 This is quite belated but between some health happenings, the weather deciding to turn the thermostat way up (and the house AC went out), and other stuff, I got swamped for a while there. Here we are now though! :D Tagging anyone who wants to jump in on any of these, namely FC5 GFH tag game; OC Fighting Style; and WIP Day. Continued below the cut because this got long:

FC5 Guns For Hire Meme Game

Tagged by @chyrstis​ and @amistrio​ for the FC5 GFH meme, thank you for the tag!! :D <3 We have full length responses with some banter with the human GFH in particular here. I was kind of stumped with how to answer this for Joshua in what he might say as a GFH since his verse is very tailored for him being the Deputy and all the psychic shenanigans. Eventually I got over that and this is basically an AU where there’s another (unnamed here) Deputy who IS slated to be The Deputy that Joshua is trying to help (and convince to do less murder) to explain how he fits into a verse as a Gun For Hire. Psychic shenanigans still happen in this AU of an AU ofc, just it’s perhaps less prominent. We’re skipping over possible musings of relevant sidequests for Joshua relating to the Seeds in this for the sake of time, though I acknowledge that it’s something to explore, likely would impact the endgame with the Heralds, cult, and Joseph depending on the Deputy’s choices of doing a Kill or No-kill run. This verse also assumes that Joshua, the Deputy, Whitehorse, Pratt, and Hudson all got away or were not present for the helicopter crash. Other characters minor and otherwise who are alive in Joshua’s main fic verse ACABH are the same as in that story thus far, such as Rae-Rae and Ryan being alive. We’ll also presume the Seeds are all still alive at the time of these dialogue lines.

Deputy Joshua Raguel Rook

(All images used were public domain and/or labeled free for reuse under creative commons license. Above image was sourced from [here.]) With Fangs for Hire

Boomer: “Hey there boy, how’re you feeling today? Got some venison strips saved for you, you eating enough with all this running around?” [cue more small talk and praise for Boomer about how Boomer’s doing such a good job and Joshua feeding Boomer bits of cooked meat. Will likely sing snatches of cheery dog-themed songs he’s heard when in the party with Boomer and there’s no enemies nearby.]

Peaches: “...I hope that’s not people-meat in your teeth, Peaches, you know how Miss Mable feels about that, it’s bad for your health. I’m also not quite brave enough to want to brush your teeth—though maybe Dr. Lindsey or Wade can offer advice on that. We’ll get you some nice fish instead, that’s a good kitty.” [He’s a bit more shy around Peaches than Boomer bc cougar, but an effort at friendliness will be made.]

Cheeseburger: “...that is one big bear. He’s a sweetheart though. Just...hoping he doesn’t make a mistake of who he’s barreling into. It’s not like we’re wearing team colors or anything.” [Cheeseburger is a sweetie and Joshua likes him, but also: bear. Joshua’s a bit wary around him, but will still feed Cheeseburger salmon when able. May crack a joke paralleling Cheeseburger going “Only You Can Prevent Cult Gun Fire.” Will not crack this joke after any Jacob-region events though.]

With Other Guns for Hire:

Sharky

Sharky: So amibro, I was thinking, you know how those Angels are all dead in the head and stuff? How are they still shuffling around, is the Bliss like a zombie plant or something? Joshua: ...no, that’s more in line with the aliens that Larry keeps going on about I’m sure. Something about brainmelting and bendy straws, I got lost when he started mentioning Navier-Stokes equations for how the...resulting brain juice would be redirected. [Shuddery noise of disgust.] I’m not sure if he’s serious or just fucking with me and referencing Guy’s zombie movie series at this point. Could be either or. The Bliss is more like...like...uh. Like if you lost the keys to your car, but the car’s your body. You get me? Sharky: Damn, remind me never to OD on the stuff, I lose the keys to my car all the time. Sometimes I can’t be bothered to find em and just jiggle the lock so I can hop on in to hotwire the car because I’m in a hurry, you know? Ladies love a man who’s good with his hands, and who’s good with time and can improvise. You think that’d work on the Bliss car keys? Joshua: Maybe? Not everyone seems to be as readily lost to the Bliss at the same amounts. Personally I’d wager you’d be able to find your way back to your body no matter where you were in the bliss if we stood you near a signal fire. Sharky: This is why we’re friends man! Ride or die! ...also can you help me find my keys with that trick of yours, I lost ‘em again. Joshua: Yeah, though did you check under your bed? Also, maybe hang your regular set and a spare set of keys on a hook by the door so you can always find them, just in case you’re in a hurry.

Hurk

Joshua: Hurk. [Said in a Mild, Judgmental Voice of Impending Doom From A Friend kind of tone.] Hurk: Hey man I didn’t do nothin’ to deserve that tone of voice now don’t you start on me. Joshua: How can you say that when you and Sharky went and invented zipline grenade-golf without me last night? And blew up part of the mini-YES-sign. Hurk: Oh man you were talking up Lindsey and with the way the two of you were smiling and laughing, we figured you might be getting lucky so like the proper supportive wingmen me and Sharky were, we left you gentlemen some of our finest booze and sticky green. You did find it didn’t you, I’d hate to waste the gifts of the beneficent Monkey God from above as He Who Likes To Par-tay Above And Here Below On This Earth did command me never to waste beer or the good kush and to always help a brother out who’s trying to hook it up with their fine persons of choice. Joshua: Hurk I’m not— [sighs in accepting and fond exasperation.] It’s not like that with me and Charles— Hurk: Ooooooooooooo, you’re on a first name basis already! I knew you had it in you! Get it man, get it good! I’m not into that, you know I like the ladies strictly, but I will support your endeavors no matter the sex of your fellow party-goer as leader of Hurk Gate and the Bro-iest of Bros. Joshua: Hurk oh my god, I’m not trying to sleep with or romance him. I’m—he’s not looking for that, at least not with me certainly, and I—...just, thanks. I still have most of the beer and weed leftover if you and Sharky are up for graffiting one of John’s billboard signs though. You in? Hurk: Hell yeah man, and oo, you did get some then, Josh you sly dog! Joshua: I DID NOT! [Meta-clarification: Joshua indeed did not, for reasons to be revealed at a later time in the main fic.]

Sharky, Hurk, and Joshua, if one bends the mechanics so they are all in the party together at the same time:

Sharky: Pfhahahahaha oh man did you see the look on those Peggies’s faces when we came just crashing down the mountainside in that burning car? It was priceless!

Joshua: What better way to set fire to mass amounts of Bliss fields than with a moving fireball? Sharky: I know man it was great! We didn’t get too singed or nothin’! We gotta try that burning trash-ball idea next time though, like building a snowman but with fire! A fireman! Ha! That was the easiest fifty bucks of my life, cuz. Joshua: Hold up a tick now, what. Hurk: Sharky man that’s against the betting code! You’re not supposed to tell! Joshua: Oh, you cheeky bastards were betting on if Sharky could convince me to drive the car down the hill, weren’t you. Hurk: Man it’s always a crap shoot with you, specially around cars. That’s what makes it fun, sometimes you get all “guys that’s not safe,” [said with a poor imitation of Joshua’s voice complete with a very terrible southern, Georgian-style accent before Hurk switches to his normal speaking voice to continue,] —and other times it’s just “hold my beer.” You’re not going to go all prim and proper on us now are ya? Joshua: I can’t believe you two. Gambling in Hope County, I’m shocked, shocked. Sharky you owe me half, I’ll buy you a beer first round. Sharky: Hell yeah man! Hurk: Wait a second did you two just con me? I’ve been robbed! Police! Joshua: Hurk I *am* the police, one of them present at least. Hurk: Oh shit son, you right. Help I’m being oppressed by the system!

Nick Rye

[This conversation happens after Seed Ranch has been taken, along with the AU detail of capturing John’s plane Affirmation at the same time, preferably early on, while John is still alive.] Nick: Hey Joshua I was talking to Sharky— Joshua: Oh no. Nick: And he had an idea that wasn’t half bad. Not a good one, and you’d be liable to get killed or captured, but I got stuck thinking on it and wanted to ask: What d’you think would happen if you dressed up like the Father and just pulled a whole Mission: Impossible face-a-roo switch? You can do that imitation of how he speaks and everything, I’ve heard you do it before. And with how high the Peggies are most of the time, they’re so far out of their gourds they wouldn’t notice the differences. Joshua: You mean aside from his brothers and sister noticing he’s suddenly an inch shorter, twenty years younger and the wrong brand of crazy? Nick: Just go off about there being an edit to God’s Plan or something, and you could get makeup or something going on with that age thing. People do all kinds of wizardry with foundation and stuff, though you’d have to ask someone else on that. Maybe Addie or someone she knows? I don’t know if they have aging-up tricks compared to aging-down though. It could work! Might be a quick way to end the fighting if we can just stuff Joseph into a car trunk and then stash him in a bunker somewhere while you’re pretending you’re him. Joshua: Nick my tattoos are different and I’m not going to convince people I’m Joseph if I have to do one of his shirtless walkarounds, NOR am I having sins and Bible verses carved into my hide to complete the look. I don’t think we have any special effects or make up artists in the county who specialize in convincingly fake scars made out of latex or something. Nick: I don’t know, that Guy Marvel might have someone. Or, had someone. He has to be able to afford all those special effects somehow. Joshua: I’m not going anywhere near that guy with a ten foot pole man, he weirds me out. Also consider: I’d have to talk to Jacob, John and Faith as Joseph. I don’t want that kind of responsibility of herding that conversation at the family dinner. Nick: Hoo, good point. So...how is that family bullshit coming along then? Joshua: I have no idea, I’m just winging it, like you are. Nick: [who’s currently flying a plane, thus the slight pun] Heh. Good luck with that then, and let me know if you want me to paint something special on John’s precious little Affirmation next time you take it out for a spin to spite him. Joshua: I’m sure I can think of a thing or two.

Adelaide

Adelaide: Honey you need to take a breather one of these days and just take a load off, if you keep up the way you’re going you’re going to end up looking more like your dad sooner rather than later. You should swing by the Marina sometime and have a yoga session with Xander, really helps get the blood pumping and limber you up if you know what I’m saying. Joshua: [Snorts in amusement.] Is Xander trying to convince you to eat more kale chips instead of potato chips again? Adelaide: Rook sweetie, I love Xander but there are some things a woman won’t put in her mouth, and kale chips are one of them. Joshua: I’ll swing by sometime to help out with the kale chips then, and maybe get in a yoga session at the same time. It’s been a while since I chatted Xander up what with the county going pearshaped. Adelaide: I’ll never understand how you two can eat those things. Ugh. Gives me the willies. Joshua: *I* eat them dipped in homemade spicy nacho cheese sauce. I have no idea how Xander eats them straight and still claims to have working tastebuds.

Grace

[For context: This conversation is based on the AU’s detail that Grace’s father has survived the previous attempt on his life prior to the start of the Reaping.]

Joshua: Did you crack open the extra care packages we dropped off yet Grace, or did your dad get to ‘em first? Grace: You referring to the chocolate bars you stashed in there? I got my share of them out in time. Joshua: Good, I was a little worried when you told me they were missing last time. Thought they might’ve been lifted without me knowing beforehand. Grace: He’s a sly one when sweets are up for grabs. Now if you can do something about the shortage of decent coffee… Joshua: What’s that? A reason to piss John off today and raid his personal stash? Say no more!

Jess

Jess: So. Joshua: So. Jess: Just like old times but with more fucked up cultist family bullshit than before, huh. Joshua: [Sighs.] Yeah. Jess: That’s rough, buddy. Joshua: Least I can steal shit en masse from the cultists and no one else minds right now. For the life of me though I can’t figure out where all of the snacks from Lorna’s went when the Peggies hit her place. I think they ate ‘em all. Jess: [Noise of disgust.] Those two-faced fuckers going on and on about how bad commercially produced food is and how everyone should get back to basics, but there they go snatching up all the frosted cakes and maple bars like it's baby’s first shoplifting spree. Joshua: I know right? Even if they do believe the end of the world’s coming, that’s still rude to clean the store out on the first go around—leave some snacks for the next bunch of looters, god damn.

In Combat

[Note: due to Joshua’s verse details, this comes with the assumption that were one to play in a version of his universe, the Deputy would have a kill/spare mechanic and thus also an option of doing a No Kill run and variations on that spectrum, which Joshua’s mechanics would support more so. This would likely also mean some additional options for the other guns-for-hire and creative use of their canonical loadouts and abilities. Joshua’s setup would overlap with Boomer and Jess’s via the Spotter and Concealment abilities, and he’d be equipped with a bliss dart gun and a scoped hunting rifle. Also melee options and such.] Seeing/tagging an enemy: “Hey look, another whack-a-mole.” / ”Fashionably challenged mountain-man zealot sighted.” / “Enemy sighted.” Seeing/tagging multiple enemies at once: “duck, duck, cultists.”/ “The Rapture called, they don’t want these Peggies back.” / “multiple hostiles in the area.” Bliss darting/knocking out a Peggie at range: “Nap time.” / “Another one bites the dust.” / “Down they go!” / “A little dirt nap never hurt any Peggie. Won’t hurt their outfits any either, a little dirt brown looks better than all of that mayonnaise-white so many of them wear anyway.” Knocking out a Peggie with a non-lethal stealth takedown: “Lights out.” / “Rang this one’s chimes hard enough he’ll think it’s time for morning service on a sunday when he wakes up.” / “Sleep tight.” / “She’s/he’s down.” Sneaking: “Feels like a tuesday.”  / “...” / “Five bucks says I can pickpocket the guards and they’d never even know till later.” / “Moving position.” / “Good to go.” Upon witnessing the Deputy killing an enemy: “Was that really necessary?!” / “...shit.” / “Maybe we should disengage and drop back out of sight instead of this.” / “What the fuck!” Reviving an ally/The Deputy: “Don’t you go dying on me! Stay alive, you’ve got so much to live for!” / “Come on, let’s get you patched up, you’re gonna be okay!” / “No no no! Don’t you dare die! Not today!” Hurt: “MOTHERFUCKER!” / “Ow!” / “God damn it, I just patched this shirt! And myself!” / “This is NOT my fucking element, fuck!” / “Why are we even in a situation where we’d get shot at?!” Downed: “Could use a little help over here!” / “Bleeding out, help!” / “...mom?”

Driving

When asked to drive: “...you sure? I really think someone else driving would be a better idea under current circumstances, but okay. Just don’t go making a habit out of this. Please. For everyone’s sake.” / “No.” [This is followed by outright refusal to sit in the driver’s seat.] / [Optionally if Sharky and/or Hurk are around] “Ugh. Just...gotta pretend this is driving through a Clutch Nixon. With live gun fire, instead of just fire-fire.”

When the Deputy/someone else is driving recklessly: “Iwantoffthisride” / “I’m going to have to pick upholstery out from under my nails later.” / “JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL.” / [Recites a Hail Mary.] / “Having a good time! NOT.” / [If it’s Sharky or Hurk driving] “This is the kind of reckless driving I can get behind. Through regular past exposure therapy.” Changing radio stations: [If it’s being changed to Eden’s Gate stations] “Can we not? I’ve heard this music so many times it’s old as hell, however catchy.” / “They did do a good job on the music, I gotta say. More ominous meaning to the lyrics right now in particular though.” / [If it’s being changed to Resistance Radio stations] “Road trip time! Watch out for moose in the road.” / “Hell yeah, crank those tunes!” / “I’m glad we have regular music to listen to still, it’d be such a drag to have to go without it.”

Idle

- [General] “What’s up? Everything going alright with you?” - [General] “I heard of a good fishing spot where the rainbow trout [or other game fish depending on situation/mechanics] are really biting today if you want to take a breather and just do a bit of fishing.” [this dialogue only triggers if the Deputy hasn’t filled out the map yet for fishing spots, and adds one to the map with a notification.] - [General] “Hey, there’s a prepper stash over yonder, if you want to try your hand at getting at it. [This dialogue only triggers at random if the Deputy hasn’t polished off all the nearby Prepper stashes already. Marks a nearby prepper stash on the map and gives a notification.]

- [General] “You know what surprises me? That the Project didn’t try to shut off the power plant to at least portions of the county. Sure lots of people are preppers or woodsmen and such, but electricity makes everything easier for us. Weird, ain’t it? They have the technicians for it I’m sure. Guess we should thank our lucky stars they either didn’t think of that or decided it wasn’t worth it. We’d be straight out of ice cold beer then, Whitehorse would hate that.” - [If the Deputy is taking the no-kill route] “Hey I just want to say...I appreciate you trying not to kill people, even if some of these cultists are absolute motherfuckers who deserve it. We might be able to stop all their prophecy crap dead in its tracks if you keep this up. And...you know. Thanks for not killing my crazy relatives? I think. They’ve done a lot of bad shit and they need to answer for that, but...the right way, not backwoods murder. We’re better than that, I hope.” - [If the Deputy is taking the killing route] “I get wanting to kill the Seeds and the cult...but this isn’t going to end well, even after we’re done. I wish you wouldn’t, but I can’t stop you if this is the choice you’ve made. ...I’m sorry I can’t be of more help to you. I...hope you’ll be alright, in the end. But I don’t think you will be.” [Recall that Joshua Knows What Will Happen To The Deputy if they take the canonically-based killing route. He leaves before the final confrontation, and curiously Whitehorse, Pratt, and Hudson don’t show up in the final scene either—ie, whichever route the Deputy chooses, they survive elsewhere (coughcough Joshua’s secret bunker cough.) The scene with Joseph still happens more or less the same, only the Deputy leaves alone if they choose Walk Away, and ends up alone with Joseph if they choose Resist. Also interestingly enough: Dutch isn’t present on the radio, nor in his bunker. His fish have been taken too. Joshua didn’t have the time to grab everyone, so he tried to grab the ones he knew for sure would die, and warned the others that he foresaw not surviving the Collapse or aftermath, like Mary May and Jess Black, or who suffered serious injuries like Grace. His buds Sharky and Hurk he bribes with beer and weed to hide out in their bunker or hang out in his while this goes down. Boomer, Cheeseburger, and Peaches are all herded to safety (yes there are mechanics for that in the standard AU verse, we shan’t delve into them here though bc spoilers tho.) The others he tries to warn, but whether he managed to get to them and some of the other latter people mentioned above in time or not is uncertain.] - [If the Deputy switched from a killing route to a no-kill route and all of the Seeds are still alive, Joshua sounds relieved] “Hey, I know it’s...it’s hard to hold off pulling the trigger when someone who’s hurt so many people is in your gunsights, but...I do think bringing them in for actual processing through the legal system—a proper trial without bullshit—is the better way. For all of us. Thank you.” - [If the Deputy switched from a no-kill route to a killing route, sounds slightly devastated] “...Why?” - [If the Deputy is doing a “neutral” run of killing significant numbers of cultists, but is sparing the Seeds as they go] “...I appreciate you not killing the murdery head-cult-family members, but…you think we could maybe lighten up on killing the rank and file? They don’t have the big names and they aren’t the leaders, but those are still people. They are responsible for their own actions, not saying they aren’t, but many of them are redeemable. Not all of them, but...maybe we can just lay them out in the infirmary for a good long while instead? Nothing permanent. The bad ones though can fall off a cliff.”

- [If the Deputy is doing a “selective killing” run of not killing rank and file cultists, but is in the process of killing all the Seed Heralds. Joshua sounds conflicted.] “I appreciate you not killing the followers, though some of them are definitely bastards who shouldn’t be allowed to walk free for the shit they’ve done, but...you think we could...maybe not kill the Seeds either? The Seeds are the primary responsible parties, not contesting that, but maybe we can just kick their asses and arrest them instead? It might help dampen the chaos somewhat, maybe we can use ‘em for leverage. We certainly could hide them somewhere secure that the Peggies wouldn’t be able to find ‘em. It’d be easier to talk Joseph down too, using his siblings as leverage.” [See above for killing route ending details.] Also? We’re driving in separate cars. Don’t turn on the radio, stay away from the others. You’re still brainwashed, and dangerous.” [Joshua is disappointed in the Deputy for not having stuck to some manner of universal moral principle.] - [If friendly, and the Deputy is on either a no-kill playthrough or has switched to a no-kill route,] “Hey, you wanna play a game of checkers, or chess? Take five for a bit, if you got the time?” - [If friendly, and the Deputy is on either a no-kill playthrough or has switched to a no-kill route,] “Hey, not to be mushy or anything, but...thank you. For being you. It’s inspiring to see someone’s able to take the higher path when everything’s falling to pieces all around us. Makes me have a little bit more faith in humanity, too.” - [If friendly, and the Deputy is on either a no-kill playthrough or has switched to a no-kill route, and has been on said no-kill route for a decent amount of time,] “Hey, we grabbed some really good produce this time around and sent it on over to Casey. Told him I’d tell you to swing by, and asked him to save some for you in case you were interested. They’ve got some fresh beef for burgers and sandwiches, pumpkin pie, apple pie, loaded baked potatoes, and all kinds of other tasty stuff for a cookout. The Ryes are coming round to help pitch in and organize it all as a little morale boost party. Wanna come? You deserve to put up your feet and relax, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’d appreciate your company if you felt like joining in. If you’d rather not, I can sneak food to you if you want quiet time to yourself. It’s all good, just tell me what you want and where you want it.”

Location Specific:

- Near where the police station was, if it’s been burned down: [Sighs.] “While I’m not missing the paperwork that got torched, there was a nice feel of history to the old place. Wish they hadn’t burned it down, fuckers. But, well...the Project and the Seeds have good reason to have no love for police and authority figures among others, even before all this horribleness and the leadup stuff came down. So I can’t say I’m surprised they did.”

- Upon entering the Spread Eagle, if friendly: “Finally, a place where everybody knows our names instead of yelling “Deputies!” at us all day! Wanna hit up the arcade? I’ll buy the first round if you get the higher score.”

- Seed Ranch, outside if it hasn’t been liberated, inside if it has been liberated: “Never going to understand why some folks want real airy houses with so much dead space as their main living quarters. Feels more like a knickknack museum you’re supposed to look at, not a home you’re supposed to live in. He’s got all this Eden’s Gate paraphernalia in those glass display cases, and I don’t doubt John’s fervent in his beliefs, but it feels more like a rich boy’s hunting and vacation lodge cobbled together with a vague idea of home. You saw the doghouse out back, right? What’s the point of having a dog live outside if you’ve got ALL this space, it’s all finished wood floors, and you’ve made sure to train ‘em and raise ‘em properly so they know not to chew on the furniture? It’s lonely, that’s what this is. Joseph chides John and all that about learning to love, but it’s a case of the blind leading the blind there.” - Outside St. Francis Veterans Center: [Before the Veterans Center is liberated, if Jacob has captured the Deputy at least once, so the song “Only You” is played around the Center, and the melody starts to be audible in the distance as the group approaches.] “Yeah hey, I’m going to go the other way now and wait for you over here where I can’t hear the song of madness, ‘kay? Maybe you should avoid it too.” [This is followed by Joshua refusing to go too close to the Center, sans possible AU story missions.] - Anywhere near Joseph’s Island: [The first time the party gets near Joseph’s Island,] “Uh. No. I’m not going near that place twice any sooner than we need to.” [Watch Joshua be willing to jump out even into deep water and swim away if the Deputy tries to approach the island with him in tow on a boat.]

OC Fighting Style

Tagged by @chyrstis​ !! Thank you for the tag!! :D <3 This was another fun one to fill out (and shorter than the above but you know what we’re stapling all of these bad boys into one post bc Why Not.) Have an aesthetic picture of a Jacob sheep skull upon a sheep skin for the fun implications of what that says about Joshua’s fighting style. xD Ram skull image after some searching was sourced from [here], with a creative commons license for free-to-reuse, with some limitations.

Rules: bold = often (or always), italics = sometimes, default = rarely, strike = never

fight honorably / fight dirty / prefer close-quarters / prefer range / chat during / go silent / low pain tolerance / high pain tolerance / attack in bursts / attack steadily / go for the kill / aim to disarm / fight defensively / bait an opponent’s first strike / strike first / provoked easily / provoke their opponent / tease / get visibly frustrated / shout while attacking / use strategy / focus on their battle / experience conflicting thoughts during battle / rush in recklessly / try to read their opponent before fighting / fight wildly / fight calmly, apathetically / fight with anger / fight with excitement / fight because they have to / fight because they want to / fight without regard to wounds / run away when wounded / hide wounds / take a blow to protect another / prefer a blade / prefer a gun (non lethal rounds/tranquilizer darts) / prefer a bow / prefer a shield /  prefer a spear naginata / prefer a personalized weapon / prefer psychic abilities / prefer brawling / their greatest weakness is physical / their greatest weakness is mental / their greatest weakness is emotional / transform for battle / fight as they appear / rely on strength / rely on speed / use everything they have / hide their full potential / exhaust quickly /  high stamina / doubt their strength / proceed with caution / behave arrogantly / brag after landing a hit / belittle their abilities / use psychological tactics / use brute strength / avoid civilians / strike down civilians / damage surroundings / avoid damaging surroundings / signature fighting style / making it up as they go / mastered skillset / learning their skillset / fancy footwork / sloppy footwork / messy fighter / elegant fighter / accept defeat / refuse defeat / beg for mercy / compliment their opponent / insult their opponent / use unnecessary movements / move efficiently / barely move / prefer to dodge / prefer to block / defend their blindside / has no blindside / use all available advantages / strictly use one main method / play around / hold back / fight ruthlessly / show mercy / wait for opponent to be ready / strike when opponent isn’t ready / fear death  / fear pain / fear killing / has PTSD / avoid fighting / has lost a fight / has won a fight / has killed / refuses to kill / want to die standing / would succumb slowly

WIP Day

Tagged by @chyrstis and @hawkfurze !! Thank you for the tags!! :D <3

An excerpt from the current WIP chapter for ACABH: ————————— Weak. He was so weak, barely able to move right now, and he didn’t even know why. There was pain, a lot of pain, a feeling like his bones were on fire and about to crumble under pressure at any moment—but he’d been through worse. In this instance, he could recall that he’d fallen through the sky for a brief tumultuous time before gravity had stepped in, leading to him landing hard upon the road, as if making up for the lack of physics earlier. —————————

[bubblegum-idiot]

Klancetober Day 5/6: Haunted House

The Daibazaal Cult

| AO3 | Prompts |

Summary: Pidge makes the gang explore a haunted house that once belonged to cult leaders.

TW: Mentions of cults and murder

Lance’s bedroom door swung open with a high pitched squeak as Pidge and Hunk came bursting in, Pidge’s hands full of papers. “Okay! I have tonight’s spooky activity planned!” Pidge shouted, dumping her papers onto Lance’s bed, startling Lance and Allura as they pushed themselves back the tiniest bit to make room for the mess.

“We’re not playing the ouiji board!” Lance immediately assumed, pushing the papers away from him, making a few pictures fall onto the floor.

Pidge glared at him as she reached down to pick up the photographs, she took a seat on the edge of the bed next to Allura, who was looking through the papers. “While that is an excellent idea, it’s not what I had in mind.” Pidge said with a mischievous smile, folding her arms and opening her mouth to continue.

“Why do you have all these reports about the Daibazaal house?” She chimed in still still sifting through the pages before Pidge could further elaborate on her idea.

Pidge grinned again, turning to Allura and snatching the papers from her grasp “Because! Today, my dear princess, we are going to the most haunted house in town!” Allura giggled at the nickname that had been given to her because of her accent.

Hunk sighed, leaning over to whisper to Lance in a tired voice “I tried to talk her out of it, but she’s very determined.”

“Wait, wait, what’s the Daibazaal house?” Lance held up his hands with a puzzled look on his face, he reached out to grab a picture in hopes of understanding better; it was a dark, dusty basement, but the picture only made him more confused.

They all stared at him in disbelief, the first to say anything was Pidge; “How have you lived here your whole life without knowing about Daibazaal?” Lance opened his mouth to answer, a smug look already on his face, but Pidge continued; “As the story goes, there was once this crazy war general named Zarkon Daibazaal and—apparently—while he was away at the Galarian war, his wife convinced their son that she was getting too old and weak to carry on, and that she needed his help to take the youth of others. So, the son basically started a cult to lure people into ‘giving their life’ to some sort of savior that he made up, but in reality they were being killed in the basement and their blood was being used in like potions to help his mom. And once ol’ Zarkon came back home he also wanted in on the crazy youth action, unfortunately for him some cult member escaped before getting killed and told the police everything, just a few weeks after Zarkon returned!”

Lance stared at the girl dumbfounded and jaw slack, “How did I not know this?!” He yelled at no one in particular, “And why do youwant us to go to some creepy, witchy, cult house? We’re definitely getting killed there!” He exclaimed with wide eyes, staring at Pidge like he didn’t already know she was crazy enough to go to places known for mass murders.

“Why are we getting killed?” Keith asked, voice quiet as he opened the bedroom door, still on the other side of the doorway and his hand on the doorknob.

Lance sighed in relief at the sight of the black haired boy, jumping off his old squeaky bed and marching over to Keith with quick strides, “Keith, please tell Pidge that going to the haunted Daibazaal house is a terrible idea!” He said, draping himself over Keith dramatically.

Keith laughed, pushing Lance off of him, but held onto his wrist as he noticed the taller boy stumble. Once Lance was perfectly on his feet, Keith made his way to the bed; sitting in the exact spot Lance had just given up. “I actually think it’s a great idea. My dad’s told me that I’m a tiny part Daibazaal thanks to my mom, so I think it’d be fun to see where my family lived hundreds of years ago.” He answered with a shrug and a small chuckle, making the bed’s headboard thump against the wall as he leaned back comfortably.

“Great, now Keith’s going to be the one that kills us all! He’s probably using witch powers to convince us all to go!” Lance accused, pointing an index finger in Keith’s face to poke at his forehead, the hand was quickly swatted away with a huff.

“I’m not killing anyone,” Keith glared at Lance before saying; “Yet.” The brunette backed away from him, deciding to hide behind Allura with a frown, forced to stand instead of sit because there was no more room on the bed, but that didn’t stop him from resting his arms and chin atop Allura’s head.

Allura laughed, pinching at Lance’s cheek lightly, but letting him stay where he was.

“Okay, can we go now?” Pidge asked annoyed at Lance’s and Keith’s usual bickering, throwing a glare to each of them.

Allura clapped her hands excitedly, a smile on her face; “Yes! I’m excited to see the house, Altea never had such interesting stories!” She said as she sprang up from the bed, the floorboards creaking from the sudden weight and Lance once again scrambling to not fall on his face. “Sorry!” The white haired girl said as she gave him an apologetic smile.

“You’re too pretty to be mad at, princess.” Lance cooed, flashing a smile that was abruptly interrupted by someone jamming their shoulder into Lance’s.

“Come on loverboy, don’t wanna be late for your murder.” Keith quipped, a smirk on his face as he followed Pidge and Hunk out the door. Lance rolled his eyes with a groan, trying to think of some witty remark while him and Allura made their way out of the small room.

“I won’t be late to my murder if you get murdered first!” Lance exclaimed, shoving into the car seat next to Keith, who gave him a blank stare and rolled his eyes, pushing himself away from Lance.

~~~

The old wooden stairs cried out under the pressure of five teenagers making their way to the old house. The large door’s lock no longer worked due to it’s old age, creaking slowly and low as Pidge gave it a slight push, her flashlight and the setting sun drowned the house in light, showing how everything was in place; furniture was still positioned in comfortable and practical spots throughout the house, covered in many layers of dusts and spiderwebs, while the walls were covered in graffiti markings.

Pidge stepped forward slowly, examining more of the house, everyone quietly followed behind her, going in separate directions. Pidge started to examine the living room closer, shining her flashlight on everything and taking pictures with her phone. Hunk stayed close to the door, observing from afar. Allura explored the whole first floor of the house; Lance tried to stay with her to ‘protect her’, but also to bother her, but she was much more invested in the house. Eventually Lance noticed Keith making his way upstairs and decided to follow him, hoping to get a chance to scare him.

With each heavy step Keith took, Lance made sure to do so at the same time, hoping Keith wouldn’t hear him stalking behind him. Keith kept his flashlight on the floor, making sure not to trip over anything or step in any possible holes; Lance had switched his own light off for his brilliant plan, he noticed Keith step over something, Lance kept his eyes on the floor, hoping to see whatever Keith had avoided; it was an empty bottle of beer.

As Keith rounded the corner into one of the rooms, Lance decided this was his moment to scare him. He took light and slow steps, peeking his head into the room to see if Keith was turned around; he was, looking at the desk on the right side of the room, seeming very interested in whatever was on desk.

“Boo!” Lance yelled, jumping into the room, reaching out to grab onto Keith’s arm; Keith jumped a few inches into the air with a startled yell, turning around and grabbing Lance’s arm, preparing to throw him onto the floor, but saw who it was before it was too late.

The black haired teen took a deep breath, clutching his chest, “Dammit Lance, I was ready to kill you.”

“That’s the second time you’ve threatened to kill me today!” Lance pointed out, giving Keith a playful shove. “Hey, what were you looking right now? You seemed really interested in it.”

“This” Keith held up an old wooden picture frame, the glass that was supposed to protect the picture was completely shattered into tiny fragments, but you could still see hints of the picture underneath; a family of three, a father sporting his army uniform, a mother wearing a long, burgundy dress, and a sweet looking little boy with long shining hair.

“The Daibazaals” Lance whispered, the slightest hint of fear in his voice. Keith returned the photograph to its original placement, nodding as he turned to Lance with an unreadable expression on his face. "So, did your dad ever explain how your mom was related to them?"

"A very distant uncle was some kind of direct grandchild of the son's, apparently he had a bunch of kids with women in the cult." Keith clarified awkwardly, he cleared his throat and said: “We should probably go back with the others now.” Lance nodded immediately, turning to walk out the door quickly, but noticed it was closed, “When did the door close?” He asked, a lump forming in his throat as he glanced back at Keith in hopes of a confession.

“It probably closed when you jumped in here trying to scare me.” The shorter boy answered, giving Lance a playful smile to try to cheer him up.

“Oh, haha, yeah.” Lance let out a fake laugh, walking towards the door, but looking at Keith once again before he turned the knob, “And I totally succeeded in scaring you though.” He said with a taunting smile.

The door knob twisted slightly, but the door wouldn’t open. “Keith” Lance gulped, voice shaking. “The door’s not opening.” Keith pushed him away lightly, taking hold of the door knob and trying to open it once again.

And again.

And once more.

“Fuck.” Keith whispered under his breath, finally letting go on the doorknob.

Lance leaned against the door with a groan, “This has to be a joke right?” He asked rhetorically, before turning around to pound on the door, which now seemed a lot sturdier than before, the old wood only echoed the bangs of Lance's fist. no longer whining under the pressure like it would have before. “Pidge! This isn’t funny! Open the door right now!”

Keith soon joined Lance in banging in the door and shouting their friends’ names in hopes of something.

They don’t know how long they had been trying to get their friends’ attention, shouting, trying to call, trying to text, but nothing, there was no service in the room and for whatever reason, they couldn’t be heard downstairs. Lance leaned his back on the door and slid down, bringing his knees up to his chest with a heavy sigh.

“I knew this was a bad idea, but I came anyways and now I’m stuck in some creepy, probably sound proof room.” Lance rambled, weaving his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Lance, buddy, calm down. Eventually they’ll notice we’re gone and they’ll come look for us.” Keith reassured him, though he didn’t seem very convinced by his own words.

Lance shook his head, eyes staring off into space, “But like what if—what if this room makes everyone forget about us?”

“Lance, don’t be ridiculous, this isn’t a horror movie, it’s just bad luck.” Keith sat down next to Lance, racking his brain for ways to calm him down. “Let’s just get our minds of this whole house, let’s talk about something else.” Keith rolled his eyes at his own suggestion, feeling like he really was in some cheesy horror movie.

Lance let out a laugh, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so optimistic.” He looked at Keith, another laugh escaping his lips. “What do you suggest we talk about?”

The black haired teen shoved his shoulder into Lance’s, laughing with him. “I’m trying to help you, asshole. Just talk to me about whatever; school, family, love, Allura, I don’t know.” Keith’s tone changed by the end of his sentence, looking away from Lance slightly.

A thin eyebrow lifted on Lance’s face, “What do you mean Allura?” He asked, confusion filling his eyes, but a smirk growing on his lips

Keith cleared his throat with a fake cough, “Well you’re always flirting with her, so I just figured something was going on there...” He trailed off with a shrug, turning to look back at Lance and immediately rolling his eyes at the other’s amused face. “What?”

“Dude, Allura’s crazy for your friend, Romelle! She’s too shy to say anything about it to you so she talks to me about it instead, but I think it’s pretty obvious; I mean even Pidge and Hunk have asked me about them.” Lance told him with a small laugh laced into each word.

Keith gave Lance a blank stare, feeling dumb about his own assumptions, “Oh. Well I hope everything works out for her.” He said dumbly, unsure of how to respond.

Lance laughed loudly, leaning on the other teen; and though Keith tried not to, he soon joined in on the laughter, filling the eerie room with their laughs.

After a while of sitting in silence once their laughing died down, the brunette teen looked around the room, flashing his flashlight over everything slowly, “Who’s room do you think this was?” He asked without thinking.

Keith’s eyes followed the flash of light, “I’d guess it was the son’s room, because of the desk, ya know? But weren’t you too scared to function just a few minutes ago? Why are you suddenly interested in the room?”

“You thinking something was going on between me and Allura made me laugh too much to be scared right npw. Anyways I was going to guess that it was the parents’ room because it’s fucking huge, but your reason makes sense too.” “Nah, the dude was a war general, their room has to be twice as big.”

“Maybe we’ll find out if we ever get out of here.”

And suddenly—almost comically—the door was being pushed open, the two boys jumped to their feet, feeling the floor wobble under their feet. Lance pointed his flashlight at the door, half expecting nothing to be on the other side of the door, but instead Allura stood there, a pale, caught-in-headlights kind of look on her face.

“Allura!” They both yelled in unison, running towards her to hug her in relief.

“I thought we were never getting out!”

“The door locked by itself!”

They both yelled at the same time, only further confusing Allura, she gave them a puzzled look, then looked at Lance with a smirk and a wink. “I don’t know what you two are talking about, but I’ll just go explore the other room with Pidge and Hunk, have fun you two!” She giggled, walking off towards another door.

“What was that about?” Keith asked, staring at Allura’s fading figure.

Luckily for Lance, the darkness hid his burning face, he shrugged and gave a nervous chuckle “I don’t—I don’t know. But we should join them” He turned away from Keith, going in the same direction that Allura had disappeared into, with Keith following suit.

As they walked into the other room, they discovered Keith was right, the parents’ room was twice as big as the one they had gotten locked in.

“Wow” Keith whispered, taking a quick glance over the whole room.

Pidge turned at the sounds of more people shuffling into the room, immediately taking quick strides towards the two boys. “Where were you guys? You should have seen the basement! It’s so creepy, look!” She ranted, taking out her phone to show them pictures she had taken of the infamous room.

The pictures were bright thanks to the flashlight, you could see every detail on the walls and floors; like the small splatters of blood that could no longer be removed from the walls or the strange symbols the cult would use, painted on the floor, other pictures showed partially empty shelves, the only things left on them were empty glass bottles, probably left behind by the Daibazaals, and garbage from other visitors.

“While that’s fun and all, we got locked in the son’s room for who knows how long!” Lance bragged, catching the attention of Hunk and Allura.

“What?” Pidge yelled, as Hunk and Allura made their way over to the three. “Tell me everything!”

~~~

“Hey Lance” Keith called out to the taller boy, Lance slowed down to walk next to him as the gang was finally making their way out of the house, “I was just wondering, what you’d think about going to my house, maybe playing with my dog while watching some movies to forget about getting locked in the room of a haunted house?”

“I would love that.” Lance replied with a radiant smile.

[battlecrazed-axe-mage]

I think it’s a good day to tell the story of my D&D character who almost acquired her own cult

Her name was Cat; she was my first ever character, so I went super basic for her backstory. Nobly born 18-year-old girl who’d run away from home at 16 rather than be shackled to a life of marriage and feminine tediousness She ran off and had various adventures, befriending a tiefling wizard who honestly just wanted to be left alone with her library, and eventually becoming the setting’s first axe mage because she thought axes were 1000% cooler than swords. Eventually, events conspired to make her meet up with the rest of her party, and they had a grand old time deposing evil rulers and fighting a frankly inordinate number of dragons. Cat faithfully chronicled it all in her journal at the behest of her tiefling companion, who probably just wanted her to sit still for, like, fifteen consecutive minutes once in a while.

Almost as an afterthought during a rest, the DM mentioned that said journal had gone missing. (Never trust the DM just casually saying something like that. Plot Is About To Happen.) A few sessions later, after an attempt to drive a train had gone horribly wrong thanks to a few botched rolls, we all fell unconscious in the crash. Cat woke up in a lavish bedchamber dressed in a white frilly nightie; all that was missing was the flittering birds and talking mice. The rest of the party woke up in a dungeon. Turns out the leader of some cult or other had found her diary, decided she was a prophet, and wanted to marry her. As Cat was mentally cataloging all the ways she knew to murder this guy using only the ribbons on her nightgown, he knelt and offered her this fucking gorgeous black obsidian battleaxe as a wedding gift.

Well. That certainly changed things a bit. Marriage...but also axes? And what’s he saying about leading a cult army?

Cat decided on the fly that actually maybe marriage wouldn’t be so bad if it involved fancy axes and armies at her beck and call, and absolutely zero needlepoint or garden parties. And hey, if he gets annoying, he looks squishy--she can always just bump him off and make it look like an accident. This could actually be not terrible. So, she accepts his offer.

Which is something the DM absolutely was not expecting.

In the end, they just were fundamentally incompatible--something about the guy wanting to murder her travelling companions and make spectral guards to protect her forevermore--and it didn’t work out. But oh, what could have been...

[chaniters]

PSYCHO

Continuing the Post-Retribution setting, this fic follows Sidestep through his day as the the-facto leader of the Rebellion, solving problems and attempting to carry out his master plan. 

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

"Good doctor, I know you haven't been completely honest with me" you speak as you continue to walk towards him. Confident. Intimidating. By now you don't need a mask to fall into your villain persona.

"Whatever do you mean Retribution?" he asks raising from his bench. His mind is a maze as usual. You're not sure what kind of chemicals is he using, but you haven't been able to read him so far. 

“These have all been temporary setbacks! The prototype will be ready in time" he adds

"Funny. I believe the prototype is ready right now, and you've been making up these delays because you're having second thoughts"

"That's not true" Mortum protests "I just need more time! You need to adjust the time-frame! You're asking for the impossible!"

"I thought impossible is what you do Mortum." You spit his own words back at him. "Perhaps you need a little incentive. Maybe we can bring Eden to one of our little chats".

"N... no" his voice trembles. "That.. won't be necessary"

"Good. Is there, or is there not something you can do to ready the device for a demonstration?" you ask.

"Maybe... maybe I can adjust some of the parameters to allow for early testing" he starts. Bingo. You knew something was up, but you went through the plans three times without finding any mistake. He’s too crafty for you to find the flaw with his work.  It took a threat to drive it out of him. Already he wants to betray you.

"Excellent."

"It won't be operative without incorporating the Hourglass technology!" he complains.

"I know that Doctor. Rest assured It will be acquired as planned," you say, heading for the door. "Just remember it was you who didn't want Eden involved" your let out before leaving, poison dripping from your words.

You can hear a loud noise. Even the preparations he made to cloud his mind from you can't cover the outburst. Your mind easily picks up on his rage, as he begins trashing the lab, flinging test tubes and destroying a computer. And then, he stops. And goes back to the test chamber, to start working again.

You can't help but feel some of his own frustration drip into yourself.

You have to keep going, removing each and every one of the obstacles ahead.  And all your plans fall apart if you don’t manage to master this technology. You hate doing this, but there is no choice. If Mortum fails to deliver, you will have to find someone who will.  

The new underground lair now resembles a small city. The abandoned bunker has been expanded with new tunnels and completely refurbished, and now holds most of your rebellion. It was originally created by a doomsday cult whose leader was exposed as a fraud all over the media almost a decade ago. The guy was not wrong, you ponder, but he had his dates mixed up.  

Your vehicle is ready, and a soldier regen drives you away through the tunnels, and towards the debriefing room. It's going to be another long day.

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

You rush through the corridor. Cestus follows you, reading the latest report as he keeps up the phase.

"Another skirmish in San Francisco. We lost seven soldiers" he goes on to describe the battle.

"Our Frisco team is low on manpower" he continues. "Their rangers again"

You sigh. "Order the lab to ... start growing a new battalion of them." He stops. You keep walking. He catches up.

"Cellex won't like this"

"Well, what Ceelex doesn't know, he can't complain about" you answer.

Soldier regenes. The farm has perfected a quick process to breed them in a matter of weeks. They are non-sentient and almost completely guided by their implants. You stole hundreds of them, still in their pods when you assaulted the farm. Everyone agreed to use them at the time.

But now your operations have gone nation-wide, even beyond the West Coast. And a few hundred soldiers is nothing compared to your enemies. The soldiers are highly effective, but Heroes keep killing them. They can sometimes be a bit predictable unless you have a sentient agent leading them.

So you ordered your labs to start growing new ones. Everyone was troubled by it, you didn't need to be a telepath to know. If you're growing regenes and sending them to fight, how are you different from the farm? But Soldiers are tools. They would never complain about this situation. It's what they're made for. You have the technology and none among the sentient regenes wants to die. Well, mostly none of course... In any case, having soldiers around makes it easier for the sentient regenes to survive the ongoing war. 

And of course, if you accomplish your plan, it will remove this moral ambiguity altogether. If only they were ready to understand it...

No one raised an issue in the end. No one but Cellex. And nobody liked it when you told him you would do it anyways.  Seeing how he was outvoted, he insisted on reviewing how many of them you use. He wants to put some sort of limit. And you can’t have that. Not if you want to succeed. You are becoming the villain among your people as well, perhaps sooner than you expected.

You stop by the reinforced door.

"Get it done Cestus" "Of course Cyrus," He says looking down You put a hand on his shoulder "Hey. It's ok. I know It's a lot I'm asking of you. But we need to use the tools we've been given if we want to win" you reassure him, adding a slight mental touch to get him on board with it. "O.. ok," he says looking up, some light returned to his gaze. "I know Cyrus.. it's just hard" "You can do it. I always trusted you Cestus" "It's not about trust... Say...  Are you going to see charge again?" he says looking away. The question reeks of envy in his mind. "I need to ask him some questions about the Frisco Rangers" you lie. "I don't want a repeat of today" "Alright," he nods. "See you back at your quarters," he says as he leaves.

You just want to scream in frustration. But you can't. You brought this on yourself. Cestus and you were secretly together back at the farm. And now that you're together again. You need his vote on the council you lead. It is as simple as that. You still feel... something for him, but it's certainly not love. And maybe it never was.  

But you smile and kiss him, and let him be with you because then he'll be completely loyal. And you are going to need loyal badly very soon. And then there's Ortega. Your prisoner. Your enemy. All you had to do was get rid of him. Maybe a prisoner exchange. What did you do? Keep him close. talk to him. Give him a (supervised) job in your base. And end up in bed with him while at it. That's you. Self-destructive to the core. His game is clear. First, he thinks he can convince you to go back into the good path, deluded idiot he is. Second, obviously wants to "Seduce the villain" to get you to make a mistake. The worst part? It's actually working. You've curved down the unnecessary deaths and try to keep civilian casualties down where you could thank to his insistence on the subject.

Some in your council questioned your decisions. You justified yourself saying you want there to be peace after your side has won the war.

Win the war... It's shocking just how easily they bought all your lies about the glorious victory of the rebellion. Casualties will come in the end. They are just irrelevant right now.

------------------------------------------------------------- You nod to the guards at the cell's entrance, and the open it for you...

"Well if it isn't my favorite Psycho?" Ortega speaks sarcastically as you enter the large cell. It's more like a small appartment now, with several amenities like a TV and insulated gaming consoles.

"Had a rough day" you begin "Yeah, I saw. You blew up a shopping mall in San Francisco with a nanite weapon" he accuses you.

"It was empty. Like the museum"

"It doesn't matter if it's empty! You're causing panic in the city!"

"Well, that's on them. If they would agree to my terms, none of this would be necessary. And I needed to show them HELIOS isn't my only weapon.

"So you're resorting to terrorism"

"Stop," you say "The only deaths were on our side anyways"

"You're sending your people to die then," he says glaring at you.

"Stop" you repeat, wrapping your arms around him. It's surprising how physical you've become now that every threat to your existence is gone. "I would electrocute you, If your scientist hadn't disconnected my emitters, you know," He says, not stopping you. 

"But you can't. And my scientist did disconnect your emitters"

"Well maybe i found a way to reactivate them, you know?"

"Zap me then. Fry me right here. Stop the leader of the revolution." You hold him tighter, inviting him to act on his threat. 

Nothing happens.

He frees himself from your arms. "You're the one who needs to stop. I'm not your bitch, you can't come here and..." "Maybe I AM your bitch after all Ricardo. That's what the media used to report all the time about your little sidekick, didn’t they? Sidestep was just that" You say with a cynical smile "Do you remember how they made fun of me? How they... " He gives you a murderous glare, and then spins you, holding an arm behind your back, painfully. He pushes you against a wall, pinning you down. "Oh...bossy. I like it" you say with a snort, your face against the wall. "Shut up!" he says adding pressure. You choke a gasp of pain. He might break your arm if you're not careful or call the guards. But you won't. You want to provoke him He let's go, walking away. Cooling down. That's not what you need. "What's the matter, Ricardo? I destroyed a fucking shopping mall. Big deal.  Doesn't the Hero in you want to give me a lesson?" You taunt. "I remember how mad you got when I crashed your car's window so all those years ago."

And then it all happens too fast. He lifts you... and flings you. You fall on the bed. He closes in, and climbs on top of you, holding your wrists down, a furious expression overtaking him.

And you kiss him. And he kisses you back, pinning you down. Taking your clothes off. Exposing the tattoos.

He's going to make it hurt. And you deserve it. Especially after what you did to Mortum today. That's why you provoked him in the first place. It won't matter in the end. Nothing will. You may as well have as many moments with him as you can before your plan comes to a conclusion.

Before you set things right.

Before you put an end to it all. You. Him. Everyone else.

.....................................................................

“What’s with the names?” he asks as he lays exhausted by your side. He always does this. String you from some more information. And you let him. Tease him for more next time. 

“What do you mean?”

“Cellex. Cybra. Cestus. Cyrus. I am noticing a theme?”

You smile. Of course, there’s a theme. 

“Infiltration regenes like me are called Cuckoos. At some point after my second capture, I started promoting this... rebellion. We decided to give ourselves names, not just serial bar codes. They’re the ones who helped me escape the second time”

“So the C stands for Cuckoo?” he asks

“It was Cellex’s idea. To be proud of what we are.”

“And are you?” He says looking at you.

“Of course not.” You say wondering how can he even ask that. “They made us to be slaves. They had us kill people. They owned our bodies. They did... terrible things to us Ricardo” you can’t stop thinking about Cybra. About how she can’t speak at all now. The sole idea makes your skin crawl with anger.

“I talked to Celise” he lets on. 

“Oh.” You ponder. Celise. She’s one of you, but she’s been content to stay on the back lines of your rebellion. Her power isn’t offensive or suited for combat. She is likely working the tunnels... just like Ortega. 

“She told me something of what happened... how they took you for experiments... for whole days. She tells me it was pretty bad every time they took you back to your cell.”

You can’t help nausea. “Pretty bad” doesn’t begin to describe it. 

“They were animals” you let go. “That’s why I killed every single one I could when we took the farm.”

“But why... why the focus on you?”

“I stopped the Nanosurge, Ricardo. And when no one could stop Heartbreak, I just walked in and shot him. They were impressed”

“Oh?”

“The Farm’s funding had been cut in half prior to Heartbreak. The whole program was always a risk if it filtered into the media. The government was focusing on mods instead. There were even talks about closing it. And then, they got me, and they shifted all their attention to my powers, and how could they create others like me to fight their wars. They stopped at nothing... they figured out my emotions had to do with my ability. What they did to me...It was beyond torture... it was hell.”

“Shit” Ortega says holding your hand. “Do you... want to talk about it?” he asks.

Fuck. For a moment, he had you. You had begun to forget where you were. THat he was your prisoner. 

You raise from the bed, dressing up, letting go of his hand. 

“Perhaps another time Ricardo” 

You leave the room.

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

The guards lock the cell behind you. You got what you wanted from him. And he got answers, for whatever those are worth.

You walk to the elevator and enter. This one has a mirror.

The reflection glares at you with a murderous expression.

Is this who you are now? It strikes you how little is left from your old self, the naive youngster who thought he could have a life by just escaping the farm.

Deluded fool. It took you some time to realize your past self was the cause of it all.

"Cyrus" a voice in the intercom speaks. It's Cellex.

"What is it?" You ask in your most neutral tone.  Did Cestus tell him about the new regene soldiers you ordered? This might be a problem.

"We've found objective one" he speaks calmly. "The Hourglass Armor"

"Really?" you say containing your breath. "Where?"

"There is a freak calling us. Calls himself Psycopathor. He really wants to talk to you"

"Well fuck me," you say annoyed. "I'll be right there"

"I assume you're not on good terms?" Cellex asks sarcastically.

"I'm coming! Don't call him again until I'm there! You don't know that guy, he's a...

"...a psycho?" Cellex asks with a snort. You are just frozen, staring at your own reflection. The elevator doors take an eternity to open, and you leave without looking back.  

______________________________

My Fanfiction: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero    

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Riden. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero wold. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for her wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.

[riddleredcoats]

So I just finished AC: Odyssey...

I have thoughts...Many, many thoughts. 

(This is mainly for me so I can remember what I loved about this game when I replay it, or when my friends buy it and I don’t forget anything, but anyone wants to discuss Odyssey is 100% welcome)

Spoilers!!

We’re I’m doing this in parts.

1. The overall

Man, I always loved Greece, I always wanted to go to Greece and I always loved  Greek history... This game only made love it more and it actually made me look up price flights to Greece  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This game is really, really cool in that aspect - it made me feel like I was there, enjoying the sun, beaches, the killing bears/sharks/fucking boars. It looks amazing, the graphics are awesome and the views are to die for. Aesthetic 10/10

The boat mechanics are practically identical to Black Flag - but hey, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. But the lesbian crew? perfect. talented. inspired. worth the 35$ I paid for the game alone.

The music is decent, but the sea shanties deserve a soundtrack of their own lbr. 

The fighting was really fun, the movements fast and the animation was distinct, really fun feel.  (full disclosure I played on easy settings, cause I enjoy feeling like my character is a badass that can just walk into any fight and you know what, that’s exactly what I got, some enemies fell down with one blow. Super fun experience. Next playthrough Imma do a higher difficulty tho.)

2. The Family Storyline

I actually finished this one pretty quick. Everyone came out alive and well and living on the Adrestia. It was good drama, and I really loved Myrrine - she was incredible lbr, the only woman who can make Kassandra do anything with a single look.

I kinda liked Nikolaos too, in a weird way - even if he’s still an asshole. Spartan’s determination to have/be the best Nation was eventually its downfall, so I think it fits Nikolaos...He is a shitty father, he’s a good Spartan.

 Stentor is kinda meh, but his little spats with Kassie/Alexios are golden.

Deimos!Alexios is such a little shit, and his VA does a good job of portraying the asshole/bad guy, even if there were 1 or 2 cringe moments.

Barnabas is the only valid father figure in the game, there I said it! Y'all can @ me.

Herodotus is the weird and yet boring uncle. I approve of him and anyone who even looks at him funny will have to deal with me. 

Phoibe... Oh, Phoibe. The only moment where I actually felt a tear slide down my eye. I was emotional in other parts, but Phoibe’s death murdered me. 

3. The Cult of Kosmos...

I just wanna say to the asshole who spoiled me who the Cult Leader was... Fuck YOU! I mean honestly, it was a really cool reveal! Luckily he only spoiled it for me when I had done everything with Aspasia and I thought I’d never see her again, LMAO.

So yes, I saw Aspasia and I immediately fell in love with her. Like the second she walked into the scene I was hers. Just like that. 

I already knew of Aspasia - the real one - and like, it never even occurred to me that she might be the Ghost... Real!Aspasia was such a badass woman that needed no man but fell in love with Perikles and I never ever would have suspected her.

That final scene I have 2 complaints:

Why isn’t there an option to talk about Phoibe? I feel like it would be important and the forefront of Kassandra’s mind when she saw Aspasia again.

Aspasia sounded a little crazy? I mean I get HER, I do. The world was a mess - and let’s face it, it still IS - and I get her motivations and ambitions but her voice, her tone was too...dreamy, crazy? The VA for her was super good throughout the game, but I wonder what that part might have sounded like played differently... I dunno, it was hard to take her seriously. But I did let her live (and I kissed her...I am only human after all.)

4. The ‘’Atlantis’’ storyline.

So um... Kassandra dies, which, OUCH.

That part where she speaks Ancient Greek as she dies practically stabbed me in the heart lbr here, cause I imagine she hasn’t really spoken it for soo long (and no one has spoken it in so long). So, she says a prayer for herself cause she knows no alive knows how to do it the proper Greek way and I just... sobs. And as if it isn’t enough she just sounds so tired, so defeated, as if seeing humanity making the same mistakes over and over again broke her a little bit.

Loved going around Greece and fighting all the myths. ISTG, it was honestly one of the most fun parts of the game. The Minotaur is my fav, the aesthetic of the labyrinth was everything and Ardos was such a cute/asshole kid. Really liked the ‘’Medusa’’ too, but more the fighting it part -  it required a little more brain than the others - but that sick looking forest was 10/10.

Pythagoras was an asshole, but I knew that in fifth grade when I had to learn his fucking theorem.

Now we wait to see what Layla does with the staff. It will probably break me and I won’t be able to look at Herme’s staff the way ever again...

5. The Romance...

Kyra was my favorite romance in the game, their scenes were romantic but with a little air of tragedy still. It was well done, really. And the characters - Thaletas and Kyra - felt as if they had a little more thought put into them than some others. 

I really liked Roxana too. They were adorable, by far the best ending for any romance that I saw. 

Odessa was the only one I didn’t romance, mainly cause she gave weird vibes... 

Yes, I felt weird vibes with Odessa - who arguably also ends up with a decent romance ending - but not with Aspasia? I’m hopeless. My love for slightly evil women will be the end of me. I’m at least 30% sure I’ll end up unknowingly married to a serial killer...

But my favorite pairing for Kassandra tho? Aspasia. No doubts, no regrets, no takebacks. Everything about them is bathed in history, drama, and attraction.

We all agree that the first time Kassandra sees Aspasia, she basically has heart eyes. Right? That scene was so gay, I felt straight in comparison... And Aspasia was practically eating her alive with her stare. 10/10 sexual tension. 

The dynamics are really interesting... They both want the same thing but feel there are different ways to get it.  Yes, I know Aspasia was in the Cult that put everything in motion but like that the beauty of it. Aspasia knows its wrong, she knows she did wrong (and she probably wasn’t in the Cult when they interfered with the Oracle to throw Alexios off the Mount Taygetos). 

Also, Kassie is Spartan and Aspasia is Athenian (technically). Two lovers -  a Spartan and an Athenian - in the Peloponnesian War? Yes, please.

So, Drama? Double Check  

The Kiss. Like, don’t get me wrong I loved it and I definitely kissed her (#noregrets), but I wish it would have a little more build up