#maracas gang

[spray-poka]

VOCALOIDの人達をティキ族化してみた。

[dizzy-hat]

14th birthday of the funny monkey tiki game 🎉🎉 (i'm not done with the last three bosses tiki tong yet, I'll put them here when I'm done)

[pennpenn]

I keep dreaming up Limbus Company sinner gets isekaid into Genshin Impact AUs

I sadly don't have the full set of 12 plotted yet, but I've started designing the ones I'm invested in.

Everyone having locations and then casually dropping that Outis is in the Arataki Gang. Give the old woman a gun again. She deserves it. ❤️

I also think she would get along with Shinobu.

It would be an entire lore dump on their general isekai'd lifestyle, their new social circle, if they share their history, and the possibility of them using specific weapons or visions. (Some characters have notes on skill/burst/idle animations)

Currently I am drawing each character with a basic weapon that is either tied any WAW egos a character has or an item that is related to their backstory.

[ask-the-tiki-tak-tribe]

Ask them just ask them anything!!!!!!!!!

[linkemon]

Modern AU 1

Friendly reminder that English is not my first language. You can check my Masterlists both in English and Polish here. Consider supporting me on Ko-fi. You can also check out my commissions if you’re interested.

Other Genshin Impact headcanons can be found here.

This part contains: Kinich, Mualani and Mavuika.

Kinich

✧ One day a dog stuck to him. On his collar he only had the name: Ajaw. Kinich didn't have the heart to throw him out into the rain and that was a mistake. Since then he has never left him. He is always barking loudly as if he wanted to add something to every statement. When Kinich has guests, he locks him in a separate room and fights so that he doesn't get out in a few minutes.

✧ Kinich is studying botany. He's really good at it. Students in his class say he'll do anything for money. The question is how much money are you willing to spend to have him write a crappy assignment for you or beat up a mean guy (that's a rumor going around...).

✧ In his free time he likes to play Minecraft. Pixel blocks have no secrets for him. He'd be happy to play with you if you have time.

✧ He also likes very extreme climbing. He has been to every possible mountain. However, Kinich never takes his friends there. He always goes on such trips alone.

✧ He is a huge Spider-Man fan. When he was younger, he could be caught with his mask on, pretending to shoot webs.

✧ He keeps a large collection of plants in his room but as he himself says, he does not pay much attention to them.

Mualani

✧ Mualani is a surfer. The sea breeze in her hair and the water surrounding her. That's when she feels alive. On the board, she finds both a literal and a life balance. She will very strongly encourage you to try it. There's nothing better than doing what you love with someone close to you.

✧ She believes in trial and error. You'll fall off the big waves many times but once you get the hang of it, you'll never forget her slightly brutal methods. She has a huge amount of enthusiasm. No matter what field you want to start in, she'll always be rooting for you.

✧ No one knows how it happened but one day she met Kachina on the stairwell and they were inseparable ever since. Even though the girl is much younger than her. They are together practically everywhere and everyone thinks they are sisters, even though they are not related by blood.

✧ Mualani works part-time at a beach goods store. She once found used maracas there, bought them and now takes them out at every opportunity to show them off. She rocks every party, dancing with them.

✧ She loves her aunt very much but she is very sickly. Mualani helps her as much as she can in her spare time.

✧ She will never say no to a bonfire by the sea. If you want to please her, all you have to do is organize one.

Mavuika

✧ Born to be a boss. Owner of a large corporation, which she came to own through her own strength and effort.

✧ A motorcycle enthusiast. She loves to ride through the city streets at night. Her fiery hair seems to light up the darkness around her. Mavuika often spends time this way and you have to like it because she will take you for a ride very often. And without a helmet. All you have to do is hold on to her waist tightly.

✧ She often wears her black outfit, even when there is no obvious reason for it, such as driving. She claims that she looks good in it and it would be a shame to pass up the opportunity to collect a few more compliments. Her most famous flirty technique is to gently slide down her black glasses. 100% effective. Or so she claims.

✧ Mavuika has a whole wall in her room full of trinkets that she got from friends and family. Her loved ones have been dead for quite a while, so she's had a hard time in life. Despite this, she still remembers them and looks at things with a smile. She'll happily tell you about the stories that go with them.

✧ She is very strong. There are rumors that in the evenings she fights with people from local gangs and even the mafia. It is not known how much truth there is in this but it is certain that no one wants to mess with her. She repeats that she does not need protection. She is her own best protection.

[princess-glassred]

Here's what I think the Bowers Gang would dress up as for halloween:

Henry would probably go as something that would specifically scare a member of the losers club, like he finds out Richie is scared of Clowns so he goes as like a scary murder clown just to fuck with him.

Belch is such an ignortant weirdo he would unironically dress as a mexican for halloween (not in brownface, just the outfit). He shows up at Henry's house in just a poncho and sombrero like "Hola, biblioteca :D! Let us attend la fiesta!". Bonus points if he's holding maracas too.

Vic is a prissy asshole so I don't think he'd even dress up, I think he'd just wear one of those t shirts that says "this is my costume".

Patrick goes as a real life serial killer, probably Ted Bundy or Ed Gein.

[dragon-of-timeless-blue]

Brainrotting about my Mexican Free! AU

Thinking about Rin serenading Haru, like, in full mariachi outfit, with a big acoustic guitar and accompanied by the Samezuka gang to make harmonies, Sousuke with another guitar and wanting to leave but Rin promised to pay him (he actually loves supporting Rin's cringe romantic idea but won't say it) Ai giving everything on the trumpet despite being a little out of tune and Momo with some maracas trying his best.

Haru comes out. Still half asleep, and also half charmed and half pissed off. He's listening to the song Rin is screaming with all his lungs, its "Vámonos". Haru wants equally to throw a chancla at Rin and kiss him right there. He just listens to him, and smiles. That suit looks good on him.

[object-obsession]

Donkey Kong Country Returns > Tiki Tak Tribe (except the leader: Tiki Tong)

Inanimate Object Characters List | Entry: 53

For the next entry, we have the Tiki Tak Tribe from Donkey Kong Country Returns! Their songs are so great that you get hypnotized!

Characters: Kalimba (kalimba/mbira), the Maraca Gang (maracas), Gong-Oh (gong), Banjo Bottom (banjo), Wacky Pipes (pan flute - yes, he does not resemble bagpipes, strangely enough), Xylobone (xylophone), Cordian (accordion)

Video game: Donket Kong Country Returns (2010)

[kafkaoftherubble]

做工前，聊一下JJK 245

This rambling is about Chapter 245 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga!

Anime only, please turn away and feast your eyes on Itadori's Goat Moment (more like a Pyrrhic victory, damn) instead!

Yea, this chapter ain't doing it for me.

There's this faction in r/Jujutsushi that thinks most of a reader's criticism against C245 is because of how Confiscation ultimately worked. Instead of taking away Sukuna's Cursed Technique, it takes away his cursed tool (christened "Dumbell Maracas" by me) and leaves Sukuna's techniques and CE intact. Our heroes seemed to have not gained any purchase.

Then people, like the dude in the link above, would explain that this is literally how Confiscation should work in the real world, i.e. "taking away possessions such as guns." This KLReviews fella summed it up really well: "He (Sukuna) can pay his fines so the Judge charges him."

After ghost-reading Reddit for a bit, I've come to expect this emerging pattern every time after a rebuttal-against-criticism post like this one: a certain subset of people begin to believe that all critics have only one "actual" argument against the chapter—and the rest are just their emotions and biases talking. This time, the Actual Argument, in their mind, is "the problem with Confiscation." Then, with a rebuttal like this post existing, critics of C245 now somehow lose ground and can only rant more or less from being butthurt over their feelings or unrealized headcanons.

But really, what if our criticisms aren't centered on the blueballing of Confiscation?

I was really excited to see C244 be devoted to the gang trying to workshop a plan based on Japanese laws so that their capricious Judge Shinigami could mete out the best sentences for their advantage. The previous chapters had been balls-to-the-walls insane—to me, the chapters recalled Stephen Chow's "Mo Le Tau" style comedy I'd grown up on. I'm sure the Japanese reader and others will be reminded of their own familiar kinds of comedy styles—and even managed to give us insights into Takaba's psyche.

With C244, I was really getting ready to see the battle becoming a (brief?) legal procedural drama where it became a bit of a showdown of wits between Sukuna, Itadori, and Higuruma. What defense will Sukuna shore up? What critical hits will Higgy bring up?

I was so ready that I haunted my amazing ass friend who dabbles in law and pestered them to give me a crash course or an essay about things. Man, I learned quite a lot just from the conversation at the tail of C244.

Sukuna was always told to be this genius chessmaster with high IQ and whatnot, so pitting him in a courtroom drama and watching him quickly learn the ropes would have been the best show-not-tell ever. And yes! A little insight into Sukuna's backstory would be a great bonus. I'm not badgering Gege over that, but I know a lot of others care a ton about this for good reasons.

And if his Cleave and Dismantle were Confiscated, well, we would be able to see how good Sukuna throws down with pure Cursed Energy + Cursed Tool (that Dumbell Maracas) and, of course, his "⬛: Open" secret technique. However, this is again, beside the point.

I really wanted to see Sukuna show his chops in an arena beyond fighting, even if just a bit. And I thought it was the best arena for our protagonists to even the odds, too.

But no. Sukuna just went I AM BORED "Skip Ad" and then the verdict and then hooray, his Dumbell Maracas was the one Confiscated and he had his CT and CE intact. Don't worry; I'm sure Sukuna will win and get his confiscated tool back, too. It's literally in his contract that he cannot lose—it's like Steven Seagal, but way less pathetic.

Someone even had the audacity to say that this """proves""" Sukuna is "very high intelligent" because he "predicted" he's gonna face Higgy and so had this Dumbell Maracas at the ready to thwart Higgy's domain. Bruh. Can brain cells also be pulled out of an ass?

Because this specific show of intelligence is also kinda... ass-pully. Why would Sukuna know this would happen if Higgy himself didn't, and that this had never happened before in Higgy's Domain Expansion career? It's as if Sukuna had read the script and had a hand in its writing while everyone is at the mercy of Gege's chef skills. You know, the way we readers are, too.

I couldn't find this^ comment in that Reddit post now. It's probably nestled too deep in some of the threads.

I really don't mind Sukuna winning the court case in Higgy's Domain; most of us predicted that. Again, Sukuna Seagal. It's the process. The meat of the writing is in the process and Gege flunked that one with yet another instance of lazy writing. Come now! Takaba vs. Kenjaku was really good. I thought it signaled a momentum. It didn't.

C245 disappointed me for what I see as yet another case of "lazy writing" masquerading as "ineffable maverick subverting expectations while "clearly" setting up the twist at the beginning."

Yea, no. I'm not convinced. I translated enough hack novels and logic-challenged self-indulgent power fantasies as my work, that I can kinda catch what lazy writing looks like. This fits the bill.

Last thought: I honestly don't know why some people are so allergic to criticismS against a cherished author. CriticismSSSS. With plural. Lest one somehow believed it was "just one valid criticism (which I then rebutted!) and the rest are all dudes melting and seething". Also, hey, I'm not abandoning the JJK ship. I like the stuff. I can feel disappointment and dismay precisely because I like this stuff. It happens. You sometimes don't love everything about this thing.

Thank you for reading my ramble.

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

Links in this rambling, in order of appearance, will take you to:

r/Jujutsushi - "Catered, in-depth, text-based manga discussion of the series Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami. "

comedytradeschool.com - "MASTERING THE ART OF COMEDY: UNRAVELING THE GENIUS OF STEPHEN CHOW’S NONSENSE HUMOR." It divulges a bit on this style of comedy.

An additional entry to understand "Mo Le Tau" is in Wikipedia.

--------

Tagging @karasukarei because this is the rant I have been holding up, but I waited for the official chapter to drop before going off anyway 😂. For specifics we discuss in Discord hahaha EVEN THOUGH I SHOULD BE WORKING

[bluiex]

i put it in google docs to check the word count it’s a bit over 1000 words so that’s fun, but without further ado, i present:

funny things i have read in smut:

“Then he hit the bundle of nerves that fanfic readers are all too familiar with.”

“Luckily he is also a slippery motherfucker.”

“inexperienced in the art of giving giant people hand jobs.”

“Getting cock blocked my a church!”

“I’m not a food (name)”

“unsure why (name) was treating him like he was at the dentist”

“Also when they arrived (name) threw a plushie at them, hitting (name) square in the face.”

“I-uh I wh-uhm I”

“Breed! Breed! Breed! Mate! Mate! Mate!”

“(name) smiled “sure just don’t kill me””

“(name) would probably just scold them and then offer some advice and (name) would probably just laugh and offer to punch (name)’s stomach or some bullshit. “

“She then sauntered her way back to the over-eager man laying in an idiotic position on the bed, probably trying to be mock-seductive.”

“"What? Don't you like what you see?"”

“he let out a shaky breath and stood up straight(gay)”

“(name) finds out where all the missing orphans went, and no, it’s not Technoblade.”

“(very unimaginative for a nonhuman, what were his parents thinking?)”

“it was at that moment that (name) had internally asked himself three questions: am I really considering sex with a dragon? Is this really what my life has come to? Dragon fucking?”

“" Sorry gang I have to take the fattest piss in the whole year."”

“"I just don't think you are gonna be screaming pickles in the middle of fucking-"”

“Angry at (name) for even having the audacity to be alive and breathing.”

““Look, I’m your chambermaid not your chambertherapist,””

““I saw a man purchasing cocaine from another man.” He mentioned offhandedly.”

“"Fuck you" he responded, lowering himself to lay on the monsters chest and stomach.

'That's what your doing'”

“Author: Am eating cucumber”

“(name” smirked with delight, reaching down to poke at his cloaca”

“he got so many new experiences (yes, even beans on toast)”

“”did you just.. call me dude in a romantic way?”

““Were you expecting me to say ‘it’s dishonourable to attack when not ready!’?””

“(names) hands are shaking so much that he might actually shoot one of them in the foot. Which would seriously kill the mood.”

“Is he not also deserving of being a sexy pirate with huge tits?”

“He doesn’t know what he’ll do if (name) pulls away and starts talking again. Cry, probably.”

“sorry i was possessed by an evil spirit called homosexuality writing this”

“im normal *paces around my cage*”

“i need to fuck this himbo.”

“am I saying that gay sex is the solution to relationship problems? Absolutel- *dies*”

“and precisely nothing changes between Pearl and Scott.”

“the real fantasy here is having a shower that's big enough for more than one person lmao”

“not like he was thinking of boneing (name) or (name) anytime soon.”

“(name) has eaten (name) out (wow that's really a sentence I just typed)”

“Tea anon *shakes you like a maraca*”

“because holy hell (name) has got to have some absolutely incredible thighs”

“I know that we all universally agree that (name) has the biggest dick on the server”

“I just think they should fuck and it would solve all their problems. Or make them worse, but at least they’d have fucked <3”

““tiddies plz? May I have a face full of them?””

“(especially after he's been fucked into the next century by her-)”

“When he is satisfyied and (name) is a right mess and a little hard- (name) just leaves lmao”

“You have my utmost respect and love person who suggested it I will give you a handshake”

“Hi I have a headache the size of Texas but that doesn’t stop the Headcanons from plaguing me like visions.”

“(name) just walkin around butt ass naked, dick out :sobs: /pos”

“getting the fucked and bred into the next century-“

“"he's a fucking dumbass jesus christ i want to bear his children"”

“(name) lingered, because he was a simple man, and couldn’t turn down a chance to look at (name)’s ass. In his defence, it was not a bad choice. Man.”

“Not that burying his face in (name)’s tits was a bad time,”

“(name) slurred out a grumbling complaint, so far from any word that (name) was almost impressed.”

“(name), I am going to set you on fire, please.”

“(name) raised his eyebrows at (name)’ choice to not wear underwear. The man was truly feral sometimes.”

“This goes even harder (hehe)”

“Why do school work when imaginary men can fuck in our heads *gets run over*”

“Unfortunately, it covered all of (name)’s actual ass,”

“his eyes relaxing and focusing in on the much nicer view of (name)’s chest.”

““Are you saying that to me, or my boobs?””

“little panting sounds as he tried to remember how to breathe.”

“He needed to scream into a pillow, like, now. And then do other things with that pillow”

“She could talk to him however the fuck she wanted after riding him like that.”

“And my god if anyone saw his back they'd think he got attacked by a bear or something “

“(name)’s sense of time is a little – hah! – fucked right now.”

“resisted that dang mouth”

“(name) has two tits!”

“a worker is giving him a weird look for clearly having boner while staring at some bell peppers.”

“He really was a friend shaped nugget”

““If it's not a booty call I'm not interested,” “

“(name) bussy canonically has the power to unlock peoples closeted inner fruit”

“the glass was so fragile that gay sex was enough to shatter it”

“just waiting for (name) to calm down. (name) also waits for (name) to calm down.”

“and enjoy the ride””

“nor does (name) actually get off on being commanded to fuck. (well, he might. i've never asked.)”

““I’m at a vulnerable time in my species transition and you’re making sex slave jokes?””

““Well, stop being horny for five seconds and let me finish explaining.””

“Gotta have a weird gay thing going with at least one of your friends at all times.””

““Oh no, your dick is broken! I’m prescribing you blow jobs~””

“trying to look calm and collected. like a cucumber.”

“giving it the sloppiest toppy he could in his state.”

-🍞

“Breed! Breed! Breed! Mate! Mate! Mate!” I felt that. LOL

““Are you saying that to me, or my boobs?”” FAVE FAVE FAVE

[heydorothea009]

Bread on Toast 2162 - A Future Man s2 Fanfiction

After saving the world from the Biotics, Josh and Liv are catapulted into Tiger and Wolf’s time, 2162. The gang is separated from each other and contention begins to brew. Tiger and Liv find themselves face to face with an old “friend”, while Wolf gets caught in being someone he’s not, and Josh’s life is on the line. Things can’t possibly get any worse.

Warnings: strong language

Chapter 1: Countdown To A Prologue

Josh woke up in his bed. Josh woke up in his bed. He sat up, eyes wide and confused. He looked around, the walls were the same chevron print, his bedroom layout was the same, he even had the infamous SIN sign still hanging over his bed. This was Joosh’s room. Josh smacked himself. He had to be dreaming, last he checked, he was in Alamore Asylum for blowing up the Kronitorium. He didn’t wake up, this wasn’t a dream. He scrambled out of bed and out of his room. As he crept down the stairs, he heard a voice talking.

“That’s right. Teach you to fuck with me again.” A man’s voice mumbled. “Yeah, there you go. Oh, yeah, you’re struggling.” Josh peeked down the stairs. “I like that, it just gives me more power.” Paul from the gaming store stood in the living room with a headset over his eyes. “Tricked you with a worm!” He yelled at the game he was playing.

“Paul?” Josh asked as he made his way down the stairs.

Paul pulled the headset up to his forehead. “Oh! Joosh! Nice jam jams.” Josh looked down at his pajamas, a black onesie covered in the “JOOSH” logo.

“Thanks…” he murmured.

“This fishing game?” Paul pointed to the screen. “This is one of the best fishing games I have ever played, and I’ve played a lot of fishing games.” As Paul rambled, Josh’s eyes darted around his house, looking lost. “N-not on my work time though, I would never play games while working for you, sir.” Paul clasped his hands together and nodded sheepishly.

“Okay, cool.” Josh said flatly. “One question though. How am I here?” Paul listened and nodded. “The last thing I remember, I was in prison and there was this big flash of light like-“

“Like lighting.” Paul said, finishing his sentence.

Josh cocked his head. “Wait, how do you know that?”

Paul sighed. “It happened again.”

“…what?”

“Okay, let’s go over this again, I guess.” Paul took the headset off and strolled over to the kitchen. Josh trailed behind him looking like a lost and scared puppy. “So, when you were in prison you started seeing these flashes of light and, uh, having seizures.” He opened the pantry and pulled out a box of JOOSH cereal, pouring himself a bowl.

“…okay…”

“Yeah, it was terrible. It gave you complete memory loss. The doctors figured out it was because of the nuts in your prison food.”

Josh nodded slowly. “I mean, yeah, I have a nut allergy but it’s never given me seizures.”

“Well, you have too many nuts, you shake like a maraca.” Paul said, shaking his fists like maracas. “So the prison had to decide whether or not to hire you a private chef or send you home under house arrest.” He explained. “But they figured, you know, hiring a private chef for ‘The Krona-Bomber’ would be a PR nightmare,” Paul shoveled cereal into his mouth. “So they sent you home!”

“So, like, that wasn’t a PR nightmare?” Josh asked.

“It’s kinda like a pick your poison thing, you know? I mean, now you’re eating nut free meals, but occasionally, you’ll see the lighting flashes and then forget everything and we have this same conversation and it’s super boring. I swear I’ve told you this story, like, fifteen times.”

Josh processed the information, blowing out a sigh. “…okay, and you and Tracy still work for me?”

“No, yeah, so, Tracy had a problem working for a terrorist.” Paul said nonchalantly. “Me? Not so much, as long as the checks clear, I’m your man JFUTZ.” He picked up his bowl of cereal and strolled out of the kitchen.

Josh followed after him, head still buzzing with a million questions. “But if I’m on house arrest, why don’t I have one of those ankle bracelet things on? What’s stopping me from just walking out the door?”

The sound of the toilet flushing from the guest bathroom upstairs and the door opening made Josh’s ears prick up. Vincent Skarsgaard walked out right on cue. “The bullet I’d put in the back of your skull.” He answered with a stern look. His face broke into a smile, as if he couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Just kidding, I’d just pop your knee clean out.” He sauntered over to Josh and put a hand on Josh’s shoulder. “Are you seizing up again? Paulie, is he seizing again?”

“Yep,” Paul was seated on the couch, loudly slurping up his cereal. “We’ve got a regular Lucy Whitmore over here.” Paul joked.

Skarsgaard turned to Josh. “That’s the character portrayed by Drew Barrymore in the film ‘50 First Dates’.”

“Oh, please don’t tell me you forgot that.” Paul said with concern. Josh furrowed his brows.

“So you’re…like, my personal guard now?” He asked Skaarsgard.

“Bingo.” He winked at him. Paul started the game he was playing earlier again. “Woah! Vermont Fishing Hole! Any nibbles Paul?” Skarsgaard asked cheerfully.

“Pull up a pole, find out for yourself, my friend!” Paul gestured for Skarsgaard to join him on the couch. Josh stood there, face contorted in confusion.

“Wait, hang on a sec. That doesn’t make any sense.” Skarsgaard and Paul stared at him from the couch. “Prisons deal with food allergies, like, all the time, there must be thousands of options that are, I dunno, better than sending me home.” Skarsgaard and Paul looked at each other like Josh was speaking a foreign language to them. “I’m a convicted terrorist, remember? I was given 101 consecutive life sentences and USA Today said I was the most hated man in America.” Paul and Skaarsgard nodded with knowing smiles on their faces.

“And the New York Post dubbed you ‘Little Boy Blew’!” Paul added enthusiastically.

“Hilarious.” Skarsgaard chuckled. “Because you BLEW up the building. And you’re small in stature.”

Josh stared at them, trying to figure out why they were so cheerful and weird. The doorbell rang, making Josh jump. No one moved, they both just stared at Josh.

“Um…”

“Well, you’re up, go get the door.” Paul said.

“Okay, so the terrorist gets the door, cool…” Josh shuffled over to the door and opened it. No one was there but a gorgeous bouquet of flowers on the welcome mat. He picked it up and looked around, looking for some sort of delivery driver or anyone outside.

“Oh, shit! Are those peonies?” Paul asked excitedly. “I didn’t know they were in season.” Josh shut the door.

“Neither did I,” Skarsgaard’s eyes lit up. “I’m going to have to pick some for the widow Santiago.” He chuckled.

Josh set them on the coffee table, noticing a card that said who they were from. “…Stu Camillo?” He whispered.

Paul and Skarsgaard’s heads turned to him. “Stuart Gavin Camillo?” Skarsgaard used his full name.

“Who’s that? Old flame? You can tell me, I won’t tell your girlfriend.” Paul said, putting an emphasis on “girlfriend”, making Josh’s eyes dart up to meet his, and a lump form in his throat.

“…Liv?” Josh’s voice came out breathless as he almost dropped the card. Liv. “I- is- is Liv here?” He stammered.

“No, she’s not.” Paul brushed off Josh’s question. “So who’s this Stu Camillo? Come on, tell us!” He pried.

Josh blinked, attempting to clear the thought of Liv Branson, the girl he was desperately in love with who had gone missing after he’d blown up the Kronitorium. “Uh, uh,” Josh cleared his throat and shook his head. “He’s just some guy I used to work with.” He mumbled, looking back down at the card. “I have no idea why he would send me flowers.”

“Hm, but why do you think he would?” Paul asked quizzically.

“…I don’t know. I always thought he hated me.” Josh responded quietly.

“Objection. Speculation. Let’s get into that.” Skarsgaard stood from the couch.

“Yeah, why does this guy hate you?” Paul asked.

“I really don’t know. He was just kinda a dick to me?” Josh felt uncomfortable.

“Really? For no reason?” Paul sounded like a therapist with the way he was asking all these questions.

“Why…why do you care?” Josh asked.

“Don’t you find it curious that a man you considered ‘a dick’ would purchase you such a tasteful floral arrangement?” Skarsgaard asked, standing uncomfortably close to Josh. “Clearly it wasn’t a gas station impulse buy.”

“Yeah, these are Maiorcan peonies. You know what the street value of these are?” Paul asked seriously.

“No?” Josh raised an eyebrow.

“$12.50 a bulb.” Paul and Skarsgaard nodded in sync.

“Um, I think I’m gonna go upstairs and lie down for a bit.” Josh tried to back away.

“Wait!” Paul shot up from the couch with an unsettling grin. “Don’t you wanna write him a thank you note first?” He whipped out a thank you note with fancy gold text on the front.

“Huh?”

“Yeah! Etiquette dictates that when someone sends you flowers you have to write them a thank you note!” Paul said like he was in a commercial.

“Since when?”

“Everyone knows you gotta write a note before the last petal falls.” Skarsgaard said in the same tone.

“I don’t have anything to say to Stu.” Josh said.

“Okay, okay, I’ll write it.” Paul pulled out a pen. “Dear Stu,” he started writing. “Thank you for the magnificent Maiorcan peonies.” He looked up at Josh. “I want to add something personal here, maybe a little inside joke you and Stu share, what would that be?”

“What is the deal with you guys and Stu?” Josh asked, hating the way Skarsgaard’s and Paul’s eyes bore into him. “I barely knew the guy.”

“Hey, calm down man.” Paul said and he and Skarsgaard stepped closer to him.

“Yeah, you’re getting all defensive about this Camillo fella.” Paul and Skarsgaard towered over Josh as they got closer. “What does he have on you?”

“Or you on him?” Paul asked.

“Nothing!” Josh held his hands up, backing away. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!”

“Answer our questions about Stu Camillo and this will all be over.” Paul demanded.

“Stop!” Josh yelled as he backed into a wall. “Stop! Stop it! Get away!”

Paul and Skarsgaard stood over Josh as he sank against the wall. The bright lightning flash was back, but this time, bringing three familiar faces with it; Wolf, Tiger, and-

“Liv!” Josh cried in a hoarse voice. Paul and Skarsgaard whipped around, teeth bared.

“Hey.” Liv twirled a blaster around her finger.

“Sup.” Wolf jutted his chin upward.

“Hey.” Tiger slapped a hand on both Liv and Wolf’s backs.

“Die Resistance scum!” Paul yelled as he and Skarsgaard pulled out concealed blasters, shooting at Wolf, Tiger, and Liv. They jumped out of the way.

“Ninja star!” Tiger tossed a ninja star into Skarsgaard’s throat, killing him.

“Double ninja star!” Wolf and Liv each pulled out a ninja star with four spikes, locking them together to create a deadly eight spiked weapon. It lodged itself in Paul’s throat, killing him instantly. Josh’s eyes darted around in shock, from the two dead bodies to Tiger, Wolf, and Liv.

“I give that entrance…three stars.” Wolf said, offering both hands for Tiger and Liv to high five.

“Hey Josh,” Liv winked at Josh.

Josh stared up at them for another moment, jaw dropped to the ground. “What the fuck?”

“Wait, so I’m confused, how were they Biotics? I thought we saved the future.” Josh said as Tiger and Wolf stuffed the two corpses into the garbage bins in the backyard. Liv had her arms strung around Josh’s shoulders, playing with his hair.

“We did.” Tiger said, walking back inside. “It’s the present that’s in danger.”

“Your present,” Wolf said, coming in after her. He looked Josh up and down. “Nice PJs.” He complimented.

“Isn’t he so cute?” Liv giggled, kissing Josh’s face all over and rubbing his chest. She had never been this touchy, Josh didn’t mind though, he’d missed her terribly. He blushed and smiled.

“Liv,” he chuckled.

“No, you both are so cute! Come here!” Wolf gathered them up into a tight hug. Liv was giggling but Josh shot him a confused look.

“This…this is kind of a couples’ thing Wolf, but, I missed you too buddy.”

“Before we blew up the Kronitorium, Biotics executed murder protocol one.” Tiger said loudly, catching their attention.

“Oh…” Josh was brought back to reality. “I don’t like how that sounds at all.” His voice was worried. Liv laced her fingers through his and kept one hand stroking up and down his bicep as they followed Tiger as she paced into the living room.

“Yeah, no, you shouldn’t.” Tiger said, turning to face them. “They activated every Biotic sleeper agent in the world for one singular mission.”

“Killing you.” Wolf piped up.

“Wh- what?!” Josh looked at the three of them with wide eyes. Liv nodded solemnly and leaned her head against his, squeezing his arm comfortingly. “Why? I’m- I’m being John Wick’d?”

“They must have sent your picture out before you blew up the lab.” Tiger explained calmly.

“We call it the last gasp of a dying civilization.” Wolf added.

Josh looked around at them again, his gaze settling on Liv. “Okay, but…the future you guys went back to…”

“Oh, it’s perfect.” Liv sighed dreamily.

“Everything we ever dreamed of.” Wolf said in the same tone.

“Really?” Josh perked up, relieved to know that they had all been in good hands.

“It’s a utopia,” Tiger grinned as she thought of it. “A utopia inside of a paradise. We have robot butlers.”

Josh’s brain immediately went to every movie he’d ever seen where robots had become evil and turned on humanity, his smile falling. “Oh, Tiger-“

“Oh, don’t worry!” Liv piped up, cupping his cheek. “They’re programmed not to turn on people.”

Josh’s eyebrows shot up. Who would have known it would be that simple? “Wow.” He breathed out. “So…we really saved the world?” Tiger nodded with a small, proud smile. Liv kissed him on the cheek and trailed her fingers down the side of his neck. Wolf was wandering up the stairs, taking in the house, happy to be back. “When- when I was in prison I hoped against hope and it kept me going but…but knowing for sure…” his smile grew emotional as he looked at the three people he’d missed the most in prison, the three people he worried most about while he dreaded ever learning of their fates. They were all okay, and right in front of him. “…that makes everything we went through worth it.”

Liv pulled him in for a slow, intimate kiss. Josh had been longing for this for a year. Even Tiger wasn’t disgusted. Wolf appeared by Tiger’s side, a small adoring grin on his face as he watched them.

“I love love.” He cooed.

Josh pulled away as a realization flashed through his head. “Wait,” he muttered, Liv’s lips chased after him as he did so. “If the future was perfect then why’d you guys come back for me? I mean, I told you not to.”

“Well, you were in trouble little buddy.” Wolf said. “And Liv missed you, so I missed you too.” Liv smiled and nodded.

“We also, uh, looked up what happened to you.” Tiger admitted.

“Oh yeah, man, it was tough living our lives knowing those two had killed you so horrifically.” Wolf said.

“See, first rule of murder protocol one is to disrespect the body, and we haven’t allowed Liv to see this picture…” Tiger leaned the screen of her device away so Liv couldn’t see it and she looked away.

“Oh-“ Josh’s stomach dropped and looked away as soon as he saw the mangled mess of limbs and innards that was shown on the screen.

“Yeah…” Tiger and Wolf exhaled, still looking at it.

“We don’t let Liv look at it ‘cause she’s all squeamish and stuff, huh Liv?” Wolf chuckled, still looking at the grotesque picture.

“And because I would be sad.” Liv said calmly, still looking in the other direction.

Josh exhaled, trying to process the image. “Where…are my ears?”

“Oh no, they’re right…” Tiger pointed to the picture. “There, see them? Right inside that.” Josh snuck a glance and immediately regretted it.

“Oh, God.” He shuddered.

“No teammate of ours is gonna die like that.” Wolf said.

“Absolutely not.” Tiger agreed.

“Thank you, guys.” Josh sighed with relief.

“Hey, do you have any food?” Wolf asked.

“Ooh, yeah!” Liv looked back at them. “I’m so hungry.” Wolf did a giddy little dance.

“Can I make you guys something?” He asked excitedly.

“Always!” Tiger slapped Wolf’s back. “Holla!” She turned to Josh. “That’s slang from the future.”

Josh raised an eyebrow. “Like…‘Hollaback Girl’?”

Wolf quickly whipped up an amazing meal, poached vegetables, lots and lots of fruit, and little cheesecakes.

“Mm,” Josh gave a satisfied sigh as he let his head rest against Liv’s which was already resting on his shoulder.

“What the hell did you do to these vegetables?”

“Poached ‘em in duck fat.” Wolf said happily.

“That was so good, I can’t remember the last time I had real food.” Josh said, savoring another bite of his artichoke.

“Well, get used to it, I’m gonna be cooking like this all the time.” Wolf said. “Using fresh local ingredients wherever we go.”

“Wolf’s a chef in the future too.” Liv said, twisting her head up to look at Josh.

“Wait, go?” Josh’s eyebrows furrowed. “Shouldn’t I be, like, laying low and hiding if Biotics are out to get me?”

“And wait for them to come to us? Fuck no.” Tiger said. “We’re bringing the fight to them.”

“They’re spread all around the world. From the white sand beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the Great Pyramids of Giza.” Wolf said, an eager look in his eyes.

“We’re gonna go to all those places?” Josh asked excitedly. “How many sleepers are left?” He sat forward in his seat eagerly.

“After this, 12.” Wolf said. “Each in a location more exotic than the last.” A mischievous glint was in his eyes as he looked between Liv and Josh.

“Kind of romantic, right?” Liv leaned forward too, propping her chin in her hands while her elbows rested on the table, pressing her shoulder into Josh’s. “Exotic.” She whispered again, winking at him. Josh’s face flushed red as he got more and more excited for the mission.

“Are- are you sure that’s not putting me in unnecessary danger?” He asked, cautious as always.

“Well, that’s where things get interesting.” Tiger pulled a syringe from her jacket. “Once you use this bad boy here, they’ll be the ones in danger.”

“CATG-6, AKA, Globyplast Nine.” Wolf said. “AKA, Super Serum 14.”

“It’s gonna make you faster, smarter, stronger, and you’ll be able to walk into a room and instantly feel more confident no matter the situation.” Tiger said as her, Wolf, and Liv all looked at him and nodded with excited smiles.

Josh perked up, smile growing bigger. “Really?” He asked in a timid voice.

“Yeah,” Tiger grinned even more as he reached out and took the syringe from her hand.

He was awestruck. He took the cap off the needle and stuck it into his leg. Tiger and Wolf chuckled at his eagerness and Liv quickly looked up at the ceiling so she wouldn’t see. He felt the effects immediately, feeling like he’d just developed super powers. He gave a shocked laugh, looking down at his hands like they were glowing. “This is awesome! This is incredible! We’re gonna be kicking ass, side by side, just the four of us-“

“Well, not exactly…” Liv said, a small smile on her face.

Buzzing sounds and light flashes came from outside the front door. A woman opened the door stepped in, carrying a satchel and a serious look on her face.

“Got the shield sphere up, that should keep us off their scanners for now.” She said without introducing herself.

“There’s five of us.” Liv bounced her legs excitedly. “Josh, this is Fox, our new tech expert.”

“She may look like a nerd, but you’ll be glad to have her when she hacks us into the Kremlin.” Wolf said.

Josh stood to greet her. “Futturman,” he said, not stuttering like he usually would. “Josh Futturman.”

“Fox, this is him, this is the boy I was telling you about!” Liv called excitedly, also standing up and rushing over, throwing her arms around Fox. Clearly they were good friends. Fox stood stoically but returned the hug, looking Josh up and down.

“Ah, so you’re the boy Liv has told me all about.” She said in a flat tone, similar to Tiger’s, but not as intimidating. “I like the click of your keyboard, but be careful, my spell check doesn’t miss a word.”

“Well, we’ll have to anti-disestablishmentarianism.” Josh joked smoothly, making everyone crack a chuckle.

“I triangulated the location of our first target.” Fox said, taking a map from her satchel, walking to the table and rolling it out. “The ICEHOTEL in Helsinki.”

“I’ve always wanted to visit.” Josh commented as he slid and arm around Liv’s waist, approaching the table together.

“Good, you better pack a parka. And a tuxedo. This is a shadow op, threat level nine.” Fox said.

“You and Liv will be posing as newlyweds infiltrating a Nordic sex cult.” Tiger said casually.

“Murder protocol one dictates to kill on sight, no questions asked.” Wolf said.

“You’ll really have to sell newlyweds with insatiable sexual appetites. Are you ready for that?” Fox asked, looking at Josh and Liv. He looked to Liv, who looked back at him with a look in her eyes that made his head spin.

“I think we can do that.” He smirked, giving her hip a squeeze.

“Oh trust me, they can.” Wolf teased. Liv took the hand he hand on her hip and laced her fingers through his, leaning back into him.

Josh’s smirk fell as he had a realization. “Wait, did you say kill on sight, no questions asked?” Wolf nodded, raising an eyebrow. “Because Paul and Skarsgaard asked me a bunch of questions.”

Tiger straightened up. “What are you talking about?”

“This whole morning they could have just killed me, but instead, they asked me a bunch of questions about Stu Camillo.”

“Why would they ask about Stu?” Liv asked.

“I don’t know, but they were extremely persistent.”

“I don’t like this one bit,” Tiger shook her head. “What are they planning?”

“If they’re breaking MP1, it must be important.” Wolf shook his head too.

“Fox, hack into the internet.” Tiger said loudly. “Find out everything you can about Stu Camillo.”

“On it.” Fox pulled a computer from her satchel, sitting down and typing away.

“You didn’t tell them anything important about Stu, did you?” Liv asked, leaning closer to Josh to look at what Fox was doing.

“Oh, no, no, I don’t know anything important about Stu.” Josh said.

“What does he have on you?” Tiger asked.

“Or you on him?” Fox looked up at him. Josh paused, looking between Tiger and Fox. His eyes flickered back and forth, feeling a sense of uneasiness wash over him.

“I- uh, nothing. Nothing. Liv, you- you worked with Stu, do you know-“

“Well, he yelled at you more than he yelled at me, Josh.” She let out a breathy laugh as she drew her fingers over his knuckles. Josh blinked a couple times, glancing at every person in the room. Tiger and Wolf had never been this nice to him, Liv was never this touchy, and there was something vaguely familiar about Fox.

“I, um, I did just remember that I think I have a Patagonia gift card upstairs in my room, so I’ll go grab that…gear up for Helsinki.” He pried his hand from Liv’s.

“Oh, I’ll come with you.” She said coyly.

“No!” Josh cried, holding his hands out to stop her. “No, uh,” he laughed nervously. “No, that’s okay Liv, it won’t take too long.” He bolted before she could respond. He sprinted up to his room, checking behind him to make sure no one was following. He quietly shut his door and looked wide eyed through his room. He knew he’d seen Fox somewhere before, he couldn’t quite remember where, but he’d seen her face somewhere in JFUTZ’s room. He looked under the bed, reaching under and grabbing a bin full of board games. It hit him that he knew exactly where he’d seen Fox. He pulled out several games before he saw it. Spoink. Fox was right on the cover, and it was unmistakably her.

“…what the fuck is going on?” Josh murmured, heart pounding, mouth going dry. Nothing was right. Feeling light headed, Josh crept back down the stairs to find Tiger, Wolf, and Liv crowded around Fox.

“Oh, Josh!” Wolf called out excitedly. “We’re finding all sorts of things on the internet!” The way Wolf phrased it was so unnatural and way too cheerful for Wolf.

“Oh, cool.” He said, an idea popping up in his head. “Hey, um…” he searched his brain for the perfect lie, a lie that would catch whoever these imposters of Tiger, Wolf, Liv, and Fox. “I just thought of something that might be useful about Stu.”

The four turned away from the computer in sync, eyes trained uncomfortably on Josh. “Really, what?” Tiger asked.

“It was something that you told me that he told you when you guys were on that, uh, date.” Josh said to Tiger, heart picking up speed. “The…whale watching date…remember?”

Tiger squinted her eyes slightly and nodded. “Yeah…” she was clearly lying. “Well, he said a lot of things, so, what specifically?”

“I can’t remember, but you said it was something really, really important and he told you right before the, um, humpback charged your boat.” Josh was proud of himself, he was getting better at lying on the spot. Real Liv would be proud, wherever she was.

“Well, you know, after I saw that angry spout it all went blank.”

“Wrong.” Josh pointed an accusatory finger at her. “You’ve never seen a spout.” He jabbed a finger at Wolf. “You are never this nice to me.” His finger landed on Liv. “You are never this touchy. And you?” He pointed to Fox. “You’re Spoink girl.” Fox’s eyebrow quirked slightly. Their faces showed only a little concern. “What the fuck is going on? Someone please give me some answers.”

Fox stood from her chair. “This will all be over soon.” Josh’s heart plummeted. “Just tell us why you would be a threat to Stu Camillo?”

“You must know his weakness.” Wolf said, stepping closer.

“Some of his secrets?” Tiger added, taking a step too.

“Stop hiding things.” Liv said, sounding hostile. The four of them backed him into the front door.

“I don’t know anything about Stu Camillo, okay?” Josh said frantically, panicking as his back met the hard wood of the door. “He’s a tertiary character in my life!”

“Tell us!” Wolf demanded.

“He’s tertiary!” Josh yelled. His surroundings began to fizzle, his head felt fuzzy.

“Start talking.” Tiger said in her flat, stern voice.

“Now!” All four of them screamed. The world began to dissolve right in front of Josh’s eyes, their screams sounding computerized. It was like everything had turned pixelated as everything dissolved, he looked down at his hands, he was dissolving too.

He opened his mouth to scream for help, but instead felt thick goop enter his mouth, a cold and liquid feeling surrounding his body. It felt like he was drowning and couldn’t breath. Instinctively in his search for air, he launched himself into an upright position, finding he was laying down, face breaking through whatever goop had been covering him. He took in a huge gasp of air, arms and legs flailing, trying to grasp onto something, anything. He couldn’t see, the goop was in his eyes, but he would feel metal, feeling the shape of what possibly was a tub around him, and something heavy covering his head. His hands grasped onto the sides of the metal tub and he scrambled out, quickly realizing he was naked, feeling cold and uninviting air surrounding him. He felt something tug from his head as he clumsily got out of the tub, wiping the goo from his eyes.

He felt clammy, weak, he could barely stand, the whole floor was slippery, and the lights in the room- at least he thought it was a room- were so bright, he still couldn’t see. He took his hands off the tub to reach up and feel what was on his head, only to be met with the feeling of tubes and wires. He took a clumsy step back, his feet slipping out from under him, suddenly he was looking up at the bright lights and-

Seconds later- minutes later- hours later- he didn’t know, he barely came to, struggling to breath. He must have had the wind knocked out of him. He opened his eyes to see a fuzzy figure in front of him, breathing loudly. He felt something sharp enter his neck. He couldn’t form a coherent thought as everything went black.

Josh drew in a deep breath, eyes fluttering open.

“It’s okay.”

He started, everything coming into focus. A big light hung above his head, and he was surrounded by concrete walls.

“You’re safe now.” A woman sat next to him as he lay in a bed. “Let me get this neurocap off you, you’ll be a lot more comfortable.” She said calmly, moving to take off something on Josh’s head. He was hyperventilating, panic setting in.

“What- what the hell was that?” He asked, as she took the cap off his head. “Where am I?”

“That was a simulation crafted from your own consciousness but controlled by outside operators.” She walked around the bed, to the other side, letting Josh get a clear look at her. She looked kind, motherly even, probably about the same age as his mother, super short and slicked back blonde hair, and wearing some sort of uniform. “And you are in a cave.” She was holding something, Josh couldn’t quite see. Her voice was smooth, it calmed him slightly. He felt something like cold metal prongs graze right under his ear.

He gasped and tried to move away as he felt something being pulled out from his neck. “What the f-“ he whispered.

“Don’t move, it only makes the cerebro-derm stickier.” The woman told him as she pulled a long cord from Josh’s neck.

He groaned as he felt the whole thing come out, hoping he never had to feel that feeling again. He looked up to see her coiling whatever it was into a jar of liquid. “I- I can’t remember coming here.” He muttered, shuddering.

She came back to the other side of his neck, her prongs ready. Josh froze, realizing she was about to pull out another one of those things, cerebro-derm or something. “We had to remove a small portion of your memory so you would not suspect you were in a sim.” She said plainly.

As the cerebro-derm exited his neck with a long, cold pull, he gritted his teeth and inhaled sharply. The woman wiped it off as she pulled it all the way out, Josh’s head jerking away as he groaned.

“Don’t worry, it’s just spinal fluid.” She said. Josh stared in disbelief as she coiled it up and stuck into a different jar full of liquid. “There.” She smiled at him, putting a lid on the jar. “Good as new.”

“No, bad, bad, still bad.” Josh sat up, never taking his eyes off of her. “Who…who are you? What the fuck is going on?”

The woman nodded slightly. “My name is Athena and I’m sorry that you had to go through that.” She said gently. “I assure you, it was for your own safety. The truth is so shocking, we felt a simulation was a more humane way to ease you into it.” She put a gentle hand on Josh’s shoulder. “I really think you should lie down for this.” She said in almost a whisper. Josh hesitated, but let himself lie down. She looked down at him. “I am from the future.” She said slowly and gently, waiting for his reaction.

Josh looked off to the side and back to her, waiting for the part he had to lay down for, but she said nothing else. “…and…” Athena looked confused, still waiting for the weight of her revelation to hit him. Josh realized that’s all she had to say. “Okay…”

“My comrades and I traveled back in time to find you because we believe you may be the only person with the skills to save our world,” She said, gently still. “A savior. I know, I know, it boggles the mind.” She watched as Josh shook his head and sighed. “You must believe me,” she continued, mistaking Josh’s devastation for shock. “In 2026, Dr. Stu Camillo will create a super cure for all diseases leading to a global war-” she watched as Josh nodded his head along with her as she spoke.

“Between the ones who receive the cure and the ones who don’t, right?” He finished her sentence dully.

“Well, yes, that's exactly it, but there’s no way you could possibly know that.” Athena sounded astounded.

Josh sat back up, rubbing his hands over the rough blanket covering his torso. “Yeah, I know it because I lived it.” He grumbled. “Fuck, it didn’t work.” He pressed his palms into his eyes, a headache forming behind them.

“I don’t understand.” Athena whispered.

Josh pulled his hands away, staring straight ahead. “I fought, I struggled. I suffered, I sacrificed, I saw a girl's head get blown up in my face, I left my family, lost the girl I love, killed a man I respected, and I end up in the exact same place?” Josh closed his eyes. “Okay, so, Stu is the new Kronish, same shit, different fucking timeline.” He hung his head.

Athena processed all that he’d just said. “So you’re a Time Warrior?” She asked softly.

Josh ran his hands down his face, thinking about it, blowing out a huff of air. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“Then you know the stakes we face.” She said softly. “The fate of humanity is in the balance, we need you.”

Josh sighed. “No.” He whispered, shaking his head, still looking straight ahead. “You know, after spending a year in prison for the criminally insane, for apparently absolutely no reason, I don’t feel like being a ‘savior’ anymore.”

Athena nodded understandingly and looked down at her knees. “I’ve upset you. That’s the last thing I wanted to do. You must rest.” She whispered, exiting the room. As Josh looked around for a moment, he realized it was more like a cellar. His room in prison was nicer and cushier. He shifted his legs, hearing the clank of a chain and feeling a cuff around his ankle that he’d barely noticed.

“Seriously?” He loudly seethed. “Great way to treat your savior. Thank you.” He called sarcastically, falling back against the bed.

Josh wasn’t sure how long he laid on his side staring at the wall when he heard the door scrape open again. It was Athena.

“Here,” she said. He heard the sound of a metal tray being put on the table. “Eat something.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Being in the sim cranks your metabolism 14.6 times normal. You’re in a caloric freefall, risking hypo-auto-cannibalization.” She said, sitting next to him again.

Josh looked over his shoulder. “Oh, alright, how about this?” He sat up, pulling the blanket off of his chained ankle. “How about I start by gnawing on my fucking leg? Why am I shackled to the bed?”

“The restraint is for your safety.” Athena said. Josh clenched his jaw and looked away. “I once saw a man flail so violently from post-sim hallucinations that he shattered his femur.” She sounded solemn. “The jagged bone ripped right through the meat of his thigh-“

“Fine. Leave it on.” Josh muttered, grabbing a small cup of water from the tray.

“Easy on the liquids,” Athena said as he began to sip it. “The tranquilizer we gave you can lead to bladder control issues.”

Josh finished gulping down the water and set the empty cup back on the tray. “I play a lot of video games, I have no problem holding my U.”

“Understood.” Athena raised her eyebrows, seemingly impressed.

“Putting me in the simulation and making me think I’d saved the world was pretty mean.” Josh snipped.

“We didn’t make you think you’d saved the world, that part was a projection of your own subconscious.” Athena said. Josh slowly closed his mouth. “All we controlled were the questions about Stu, you filled in the rest.”

“You hijacked my brain just to ask me questions about Stu Camillo?”

“Yes, but the simulation told us so much more. We thought it was something you knew. Turns out, it’s something you are.”

Josh didn’t say anything as he let that sink in. “…what am I?” He asked quietly after a moment of silence.

“That’s what we’re here to find out. There’s a power in you greater than any we’ve ever seen.” She whispered softly, smiling comfortingly.

“Like…a super power?” Josh asked, trying not to sound excited.

“Exactly.” She nodded. “Now, I understand you’ve been through something like this before, and I know why you’re hesitant to try it again, but if you join us, I promise you that it’ll be different this time. You won’t end up behind bars. You’ll end up in the history books as the greatest hero the world has ever known.”

Josh thought for a second. “And if I say no?”

“We’ll wipe your memory and put you right back in prison.”

“You can do that?”

“Of course. The only side effect would be the lingering sensation that something was off, but you would never really be able to tell what it was.”

“That sounds like it would drive me insane.” Josh mumbled, sighing. “Okay…okay, if I do this it is not to make it into the history books. It’s to make sure there’s still a history to be written about…inside the books.”

Athena nodded stoically. “Well said, Joosh. Does this mean you’re in?”

Josh nodded. “Call me Josh. I’m in.”

Athena held out a hand for him to shake. “Welcome to the Pointed Circle.” Josh shook her hand.

“Pointed Circle? That’s a cool name. Oh,” he looked at the wall he had stared at. “That also explains that pointed circle.” He pointed to the circle of different points and jagged lines that was carved into the wall. “I thought it was the sun or something.”

“There are some others who will want to meet you, Odin, Vishnu, Muluku, Xenu,” Athena said.

“I would love to meet the whole…the whole gang.”

“And as a member of the Pointed Circle, you’ll need a code name as well.” Athena said. Josh nodded along. “How does Jesus sound to you?”

Josh thought about it. “Seems kinda risky…”

“Allah?” She suggested.

“…uh…Jesus is fine.”

“Good. Eat your supper. I’ll return soon with the others.” Athena stood and left the room. Josh sighed and looked up at the ceiling, feeling a sort of excitement creep back into him, like the way it had back when he’d gone back to 1969 with Tiger and Wolf. He could be a savior again.

Against his will, he felt his bladder relieve itself, maybe he did have a problem with holding his U. “Oh- oh shit! Stop! Stop, stop, stop, stop!” He’d peed himself like a baby. Awesome. “I can’t meet Xenu like this, that’s disgusting!” He looked around frantically. He spotted a high shelf that had extra sheets amongst other things. “Bingo bango.” He muttered to himself. He awkwardly crawled over the bed, ankle still chained, hopping on one leg to the shelf, dragging the whole bed with him.

He fastened the sheets into a toga, looking straight out of Ancient Greece. He tore a piece from the bottom and used it as a sash, Liv had told him once something like that would be considered sash, not a belt. Liv. Josh shook his head, clearing thoughts of her away. He had to focus, he was about to be faced with some really, really important people. Maybe if they saved the world he could ask them to go back and save Liv too, if that wouldn’t be too much trouble.

He noticed a grate that was propped against the wall. He hopped over to it, pushing it aside to find a vent.

Perfect! He thought to himself, bundling up his ruined clothes to throw them in there. He could hear voices on the other side. He paused.

“Joosh is on board.” It was Athena. “We need all techs working on an upload machine.”

Another voice spoke. “You’re so convinced this will work, but how do we know he’s the one?”

“He crashed the simulation in less than ten minutes. Achilles wants us to harness that power and use it to bring down the entire system then we strike.” Athena’s voice said.

Another voice said, “The attack is on Launch Day. We’ll need to weaponize him before then.” Josh’s brows furrowed.

“It’ll take some time to replicate the induction cortex. You’ll have to keep him calm until then.”

Athena spoke. “That won’t be a problem.”

“Okay, ‘cause this procedure will one hundred percent kill him.”

“‘Kill him’?” Josh breathed out, pushing away from the vent in horror.

“Soldiers die for lesser causes. His death will be the first, but it won’t be the last.” He heard Athena continue. “A war is coming, it’s time we took back control.”

Josh’s breathing was erratic as he scrambled to his feet. “They’re gonna kill me, oh God, oh God,” he panicked, tugging at the chain. He rattled it, and looked around with wide eyes for anything he could try to use to help him escape. His eyes landed on a spoon, it looked flimsy enough. He easily bent it and used it as a screwdriver, unscrewing the part of the bed he was chained to. “Righty tighty, lefty loosey, righty tighty, lefty loosey-“ he repeated to himself over and over until the metal clanged to the floor. Josh waited for someone to come bursting in and shoot him with a tranquilizer again, but no one did, not yet. He could hear footsteps approaching the door.

He stood up, chain in hand. He started to swing it around like a weapon, ready to take out whoever entered and make his escape. A giant man opened the door, a metal piece in his mouth that just amplified his heavy breathing.

“Nighty night.” Josh let the chain fly at the giant’s head, but it never made contact because the giant dodged it. The last thing Josh saw was the chain flying back at his face and- “Fu-“ he didn’t even finish the word.

His eyes flew open and his head throbbed. Josh couldn’t have been out for long if the door was still open and no one was in sight. He scooped up his chain and stood up, head pounding and legs wobbly. He could hear footsteps. Lots of them. His eyes darted to the vent, he could hide in there until they left. As he crawled inside, he tried not to think of the fact that there could have been spiders.

“You left the door open?” He heard Athena scold as he pulled the grate as quietly as he could over the opening of the vent. She sighed. The heavy breathing giant was back too. “When they ripped out your tongue, did they get your brain too?” He heard garbled speech before Athena snapped again. “You know what? Don’t. Spread out, search the halls. He can’t have gotten far.” The volume at which she spoke sounded like she was speaking to several more people. “Achilles will hear of this.” She muttered. He heard the footsteps fade.

Waiting a couple more seconds, Josh reached out and pushed the grate aside. He scampered out, hoisting up his makeshift toga, and bolting, carrying his chain like a little purse. As he took off down the hall, he kept his eyes peeled for anyone sent to hunt him down.

“God, it stinks in here.” He heard a feminine voice complain. He pressed himself against the wall. He looked around frantically, spotting a closet door and slipping inside.

“Yeah, this cave is nasty.” He heard another voice say as he gently closed the door. As he heard the two people pass by, he slipped out and kept running. He ran past a door with a small window, paused, and took a step back to peer inside.

“TTD!” He whispered, immediately recognizing the device that sat on a table inside. He jiggled the doorknob, trying to get it, but it was locked. He looked at his chain, holding up the thick cuff. He hit it against the glass, the sound reverberated off the walls. He gritted his teeth and hit the glass harder. He heard voices, probably coming his way. He grit his teeth harder as he realized he’d have to leave it. He ran through the maze of hallways, up and down several flights of stairs, when he saw it.

“The light at the end of the tunnel!” He practically sobbed as he saw the exit, the sun lighting his way out. His feet burned as they hit the hot sand, but Josh barely noticed as he took in the sight in front of him. A giant city- no, a giant futuristic city was in front of him,and it dawned on Josh that he had no idea where he was.

“Hachi machi…” was all he managed to gasp out.

[spray-poka]

[manga] Tiki Tak Tribe maracas

ティキ族好きな人がいてよかったー漫画 きっと　マラカス3人組でだれが1番好きで絶対喧嘩になりそう。

I'm glad I found someone I like in the Tiki Tak Tribe.

[dizzy-hat]

MORE TIKI TAK TRIBE ARTWORK!!!

yes sir/madame 🫡

[melonisopod]

You know, in Canto II we got bits of stuff from Sinclair that foreshadowed what would happen in Canto III (e.g. the maracas dance where the Syndicates comment that his dancing is full of sorrow, and his reaction to the gang leader with a full-body prosthetic being smashed to bits in the poker game).

In Canto III, there is some focus on Don Quixote (her reaction to the family being separated by border guards, being reprimanded by Vergilius who mentions the “deal” she made, and her beating up Sinclair while saying it’s something her own friends would do to “bring her to her senses”)

I think Canto IV will focus on Don Quixote.

[frost-eyed-autumn]

(Because I was enabled)

The novelty of it still hadn't quite worn off yet. Like the clouds adults blew from their nose and mouth after taking drags from their cigarettes on the daily, his breath was visible on the air, but there was no little on-fire stick in his lips to account for it. It just happened by pure magic.

Or at least, that was what it felt like sometimes.

Less magical was the ache in his bones, all of his limbs drawn tight to his body, the kind of stiff posture that one half-assed push could send him crashing onto his side against concrete and rubble. An entirely unpleasant thought.

No one cleaned up the alleyway streets in Suribachi City - everyone was too busy with survival - so every hop and skip was littered with sharp gravel, pieces of broken glass or scraps of metal, old papers and cardboard long ago melted into recently but poorly-laid patches of pavement by the rain with ink that had run into nothing more than a messy blur. In other places, it was still dirt, compacted by the travel of many feet. Used needles and other unnamed trash, either thrown there carelessly or ripped from lonely, forgotten trash bags, were also sprinkled about.

Right now, the ground held a different hazard than usual. Small puddles frozen as solid as asphalt, and white powder from the sky that crunched underfoot, covering every surface in a thin sheet. Ice and snow, the other kids had called it.

Little by little, he was learning. He was learning quickly, all things considered. There was no room for slow learners in this place, not when survival was on the line, but even with the quick rate at which he picked things up - at least for a kid of his slight age, slighter still even than all the other kids around him, with his earlier memories being of nothing but a black void and constantly trying to play catch-up with those around him - it seemed like there was never an end to the novelties of the world.

And his world was still so incredibly small.

Suribachi City was still growing. He'd watched it with his own eyes as the crater had started to fill with only a handful of tents that the greater city of Yokohama couldn't be bothered to remove. And then there were more, and more-- and eventually more permanent shacks, made of stolen lumber and sheet metal.

He'd seen it evolve from a hole of nothing but dirt into something vaguely resembling a tiny village perched into the corners where no one would notice, and then slowly spread outward as more and more people found some kind of refuge here that normal society would never allow. Already, Suribachi had spread itself out into a sizeable crescent around one half of the crater, like a sliver of the waxing moon.

In the spring, all of Suribachi's residents had been hard at work, building a society where the destitute and outcast could live unbothered. Staking up structures that could vaguely be referred to as 'buildings', flattening out pathways between them that could maybe be called walkways or roads, hauling in materials and generators and mainly stolen supplies to get by.

In the summer, people had taken refuge in the shade, lazing about and complaining the whole way to fall, when things finally cooled off enough to justify hard labor.

Now again, everyone was conserving their strength with the bare minimum as the frigid cold crept in. Old oil barrels and makeshift fire pits were the primary concern of labor. Everything else, save for the acquisition of food and warm clothing, was a task best set aside for spring.

Even the larger gangs and organizations didn't care for this cold. The streets were mainly peaceful, but the large gangs like the Port Mafia didn't have to do much weight-throwing anyway. If the big gangs didn't get to people here first, then the cold would surely claim enough lives to keep them satisfied for a while.

Maybe he would be one of them.

His knees trembled together violently, and if he was any more of a skeleton, he's sure they would make for great musical maracas. No one in the Sheep had any weight to them that would help insulate them from the cold, though he was notably even smaller and slimmer than most that were his same age.

He didn't even feel the cold anymore, but that didn't stop his body from trembling in a desperate effort to keep his blood from freezing. The sun was only now cresting the horizon, finally managing to reach the fingers of its sun beams down into the crater, but to call it warmth just yet would be laughable.

Only pure stubbornness, and poking and prodding from the other Sheep when he started to drift, had kept him on his feet this long. In winter, the nights were long and deadly cold. Exhaustion greedily clawed into him and whispered in his ear just five minutes.

Just five minutes, to close his eyes, but no one with any brains sleeps during a winter's night in Suribachi City. That's what Shirase told him. On a snowy, below-freezing day like today, you sleep by night, you die by night, and so they'd spent most of their time in the dark moving; working; waiting vigil until the few hours of the day when the sun was up and winter's bite would be just a little less sharp.

Its pure torture, but it only makes the reward at the end of it all the sweeter. When that low, pale light finally brings the rest of the world awake, its time for the Sheep to curl up and sleep.

At long last, he hears the call, Shirase and some of the older kids beckoning everyone in to a shared little hut that they've all worked hard to fortify against the wind and snow outside, pooling everything they can find into one place.

Its not a large hut, but in this cold, its better that its not anyway. Easier to insulate. Easier to heat. It only just has enough space for them to have dragged a sizeable, abandoned mattress into it, propped up off the ground by stolen wooden boards cobbled together into an acceptable frame, with a shoddy table in the corner and an oil barrel to keep a contained fire going.

There's barely enough room for them all to fit comfortably, but they make it work, piling onto the bed with the largest and heaviest kids on the bottom, and the smaller kids on top. Chuuya just happens to fall somewhere in the middle, but only because there are kids even younger than he is in the Sheep, and only slightly smaller.

There's no real pre-determined organization to how anyone finds a spot. All of it comes down to who gets where first, staking their claim by first-come, only to shimmy and shift around as someone else climbs into the pile, everyone fitting themselves together like a game of human Tetris.

Chuuya's head ends up rested on someone's knee as a pillow, and in turn someone else's head manages to nestle comfortably into his side against his ribs. Another unknown butt clad in tattered jeans presses into his chest, and elsewhere, someone's stomach is draped across his legs.

Its impossible to find where one person ends and another begins in the tangle of strays, but for him in the moment, right now it was a heaven he wouldn't trade for anything short of the exact same thing with the same people, in a warmer, safer room with good food and hot drinks.

Family. That's what Shirase and the rest called this, and them, and this feeling. Belonging. Limbs and warmth and hearts all tangled up as one softly breathing entity, even if they had nothing else in the world.

Even as someone bitched at someone else move your damn elbow, and another kid whined about how they didn't want to be on the outside edge and tried to negotiate a change of places, and another barks at them to shut up and go to sleep, its the closest thing to perfection that he knows.

Chuuya, for his part, was content, entirely still in surrender as the others shifted and squirmed around and alongside him to figure out the best spots, and inevitably fall into a chorus of soft snores or half-awake silence to listen and watch for trouble for the rest of them.

At some point, someone would nudge him awake and tell him your turn to sit vigil, but for now, he let himself drift in the puddle of warm bodies as their collective shivering finally subsided into something acceptably echoing comfort.

[ask-the-tiki-tak-tribe]

(the other tikis and tiki tong appear in the void)

maraca gang: hey kali!

gong-oh: hmmm...

banjo bottom: wha?

wacky pipes: hello!

xylobone: wait wait wait!

cordian: hey!

tiki tong: ...

...