#oh my wels has finally come back from the war

[silverskye13]

"I think you're just being paranoid dude."

"Of course I'm paranoid. (I've been paranoid since we met)."

"Yeah yeah, I get that. I just mean that this time you're like, irrationally paranoid."

"I don't think so. (Isn't all paranoia by definition irrational)?"

Tango huffed out a sigh and rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean."

Tango and Tanguish walked side-by-side through the shopping district, moving quickly, trying not to be seen. Tango had yet to explain to the rest of the server that he and his hels were on speaking terms - friendly speaking terms - and the chances of Tanguish getting attacked just because of proximity were relatively high. Besides, Tanguish didn't really know where he was going. (Neither did Tango, but being generally lost together was better than being generally lost alone, so they traveled together.)

"I feel like I'm allowed to be worried," Tanguish said defensively, sweeping his gaze around the empty shopping district again. Most of the hermits were currently in the TCG pyramid battling it out. Something about addictive card games. Tanguish had never been big into those. Stealing cards was a gamble that rarely paid off. "He's been gone for three days."

"Yeah, and like I said, Welsknight has been off the server for months," Tango shoved his hands in his pockets and walked a little faster, his blue flame flickering a little brighter as he went. "Helsknight is probably just making up for lost time."

"For three days?" Tanguish countered, sculk-fuzzed eyebrows raising. "That's excessive."

"They used to fight like cats and dogs, dude."

"Yeah but it was always like, you know, disappear for an hour, die, poof back, kinda deal. Not just..." Tanguish flailed his hands at the air, demonstrating the current situation. "For three days."

In the distance, a massive octopus build loomed, it's tentacles slowly furling and unfurling like it was feeling the air. Just past it, nestled alone against the beach, was either the world's smallest castle, or the world's most castle-shaped house. Welsknight's house. It was incredibly on brand. Tanguish wondered why Helsknight never bothered to build a house like it in hels. Then again, Helsknight had never been big on decoration and comforts... or really anything that wasn't strictly utilitarian.

"Maybe they've gotten really bad at killing each other?" Tango asked with a shrug. "They're kind of out of practice."

"Helsknight fights people every day," Tanguish shook his head. "He's plenty good at killing people."

"Have we talked about your ability to pick out good friends? Like seriously talked about it?"

"Hels is a good friend."

"He kills people on the reg. You just said so."

"Isn't Geminitay's nickname Gemini-slay? (Also ZombieCleo, just, as a person)?"

"Touché."

"Besides it's not the killing bit I'm worried about." Tanguish continued, brow wrinkled worriedly. "I'm worried 'making up lost time' might mean something really unpleasant. (Unpleasant being like, pinning someone to the wall and breaking all their bones one-by-one or something. I feel like I've heard him threaten to do that before). I'm not -- I'm not Hels' keeper or anything, but I feel like a good friend would stop him from doing something like that, right?"

Tanguish looked at Tango beseechingly, searching for reassurance. Instead, Tango looked back at him with something between a wince and a grimace. Yeah, he probably could've worded all that better.

"Hels isn't a bad person."

"Uh-huh. Yep. I totally believe you there big guy."

"He's not! He's just--"

"--the kind of person who would tie someone to the wall and break every bone in their body. Yep. Gotcha. Hey, seriously, we need to talk about your choice in friends."

"Gemini-slay."

"Hey hey hey now! She just puts decapitated heads in her head room. No one suffers from that. Well. Not physically anyway."

"She has a head room." Tanguish frowned. "(Also like, everything Doc has going on)."

"Yeah but Doc just threatens. He couldn't follow through with any of it to save his life."

"Hels just--! Wait, how are you-- Can you read my mind?"

"No. Your internal monologue is just really loud. Like, really loud."

Tanguish makes a mental note to start thinking quieter. (Tango smirks, and Tanguish makes a double mental note about it.)

They made it three quarters of the way around the beach, walking in step with each other, spaced just far enough apart that their tails don't accidentally brush each other as they walked (Ice and fire, even blue ice-colored fire, have never mixed well) when a scream broke the otherwise peaceful afternoon air. Tango and Tanguish exchanged a horrified look, and as one dash the rest of the way down the beach towards Welsknight's house. Tanguish outpaced Tango in a handful of strides. They're the same height, but Tanguish spends his time running through cramped streets, while Tango spends his building Decked Out II.

Tanguish was the first one to come bursting through Welsknight's door, and as such is the first to witness the... Almost incomprehensible oddness happening on the other side. Hels and Wels are both standing on opposite sides of a table shoved in Wels's cluttered living room. There was a pile of blankets on the couch - obvious remains of someone sleeping over for the last few nights. Unwashed dishes were piled in odd places, leftovers long cold and stale on a few of them. There were, oddly, several half-drunk glasses of water scattered around - a trademark of Helsknight's when he was too busy or distracted to remember he had drinks already poured. The table was tipped over, cards scattered like autumn leaves across the floor. Helsknight is leaning against the nearby wall, face buried in his hands as he lets out a long, wounded-animal groan. Welsknight simply smirks to himself and picks up the fallen cards.

"That's thirty-six to three," Welsknight hummed pleasantly, picking up the scattered cards with a practiced patience. "You know, we could go buy you another expansion. Build a better deck--"

"No! No! You're cheating I know you're cheating!" Helsknight snapped, roughly righting the table. His hands were white-knuckled around its edges, like he was trying not to throw it over again.

"You've got a good deck in theory," Welsknight continued. "You're relying to hard on one win-con though. These decks function best with rapid damage--"

"I am not building a burn deck I'm not--"

"I'm not telling you to build a burn deck--"

"Are you serious right now?" Tango shouted, making all of them jump. "You're playing cards?"

Wels and Hels exchanged a glance, and then blinked at the two intruders as though they just noticed they were there -- which they probably had.

"Well I wasn't wrong," Tanguish said quietly, after the pause had stretched uncomfortably long. "They were doing something weird."

[the-traveling-poet]

Love on the Battlefield

The Rumbling has begun. Yet all you can think about is him. When Eren summons you and your companions back to the Paths once more, you fight your way forward to be at his side once more.

Pairings: Eren x Reader

Warnings: Spoilers! Angst/Fluff, character death

A/N: This was a request I received from the lovely @21aurora on my Wattpad account 🤎

Hope you enjoyed lovely!

Enjoy~

Amidst the rumbling of the flying boat's engine, broken cries and stuttered sniffles echoed off the metal walls of the cabin all around you.

You yourself did your best to wipe away the tears that stung your eyes and clear your dry throat, your knees brought up to your chest as you sat on the floor of the craft. Mikasa sat on the seat above you, a strong hand placed on your shoulder comfortingly as she silently grieved on her own.

None of you could scarcely believe it; Commander Hange was gone. And in their place now stood Armin, the fifteenth Commander of what remained of the Survey Corps.

Grief clouded your mind, ridding you of any other thought that had been plaguing you ever since this damn war had officially begun back in Marley. Well, all but one thought. It plagued you, day in and day out. Like a broken record left out to rust in the storm that had since become your life.

Why...Why do you always have to run so far away from us...from me? Eren...

Ever since his departure in Marley all those months ago, you'd begun to change. Something that hadn't gone unnoticed by your comrades.

You grew silent, speaking only when spoke to. Emotions scarcely showed on your face anymore, leaving you looking dull and lifeless.

But never did the flames of determination leave your eyes.

You were always the first up. The first to take action, reckless or not. The first to chase after him whenever he'd landed himself in enemy territory.

You'd been there at Eren's side, aiding him in taking on the War Hammer titan back in Marley. Time and time again you made your presence known at his side, aiding him in any way you knew how.

The last you'd seen him was back in Paradis, the shell of your former home. You'd raced after him down the streets as he ran; running towards his brother.

You'd screamed after him to stop, to wait for you. But your voice had fallen on deaf ears as a single gunshot rang out louder than any other sound in the broken city.

You'd never forget the dull look in Eren's eyes, looking up blankly towards the sky as his head separated from his body and came into contact with Zeke's outstretched hand.

You'd only barely survived the explosion that followed, lighting lit the sky for miles around. You'd been pulled away by Jean and Connie. The Founding titan emerged, and the rumbling had officially begun. Before you sprung a sight so horrendous, so monstrous, you could hardly believe it was Eren in there. Eren's Founding titan form.

Sighing, you rubbed your dirty hands over your sweaty face, heaving a shaky breath and clenching your fists in your lap.

Oh Eren...What have you done...What are you doing?

Slowly, what remained of your companions pulled themselves together enough to remain silent. It was eerie; the only sound to be heard was the engines and the occasional click of a button pressed by Onyankopon in the front of the flying boat, guiding you all towards your final destination across the cloudy skies.

One by one your friends began to break the silence with speech, voicing their thoughts of what was to come now that they were nearly 'leader-less'.

But their words fell on deaf ears to you. All you heard was the faint buzzing of conversation, watching their lips move soundlessly on either side of you. Your head ached as you clenched your eyes shut, and your hands shook...Just when would this all be over?

"Could it be...Eren wants us to stop him?"

The sudden comment snapped you out of your grief stricken haze, making your whip your gaze up to them in astonishment.

Could it be...?

Suddenly, the buzzing in your ears vanished; as well as every other sound bouncing around your subconscious. Snapping your eyes back down towards your feet, your knees gave out you and landed on the ground where you had previously been kneeling. Only, what had once been the metal floor of the plane, now resembled sand.

You shot to your feet with a silent gasp, snapping your gaze this way and that.

Overhead was a borealis of colors, reaching endlessly both upwards and outwards. Your surroundings were washed in a near blinding blue. Beneath your feet lay miles and miles of endless white sand, coating your boots and making your sink a couple of inches into its surface.

All around you stood your companions, looking just as confused and bewildered as you felt.

You were back.

Eren had summoned you all back to the Paths.

════════════════

Before you all formed a tree, shining with blinding white light and branching out over the 'sky', illuminating to you a small figure standing near the base, unmoving and unblinking.

Behind you, you briefly registered the voices of your friends.

Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Captain Levi...Even Reiner spoke out loud in earnest.

"Eren! Please hear me out! This is already enough!" Armin cried out, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"You don't have to kill any more people, the island will be okay now!"

"Eren, you don't have to keep committing genocide for our sakes!" Jean joined in, desperation in his tone.

"Please, Eren...Come back to us!" Mikasa choked out, tears pooling in her eyes.

"You heard them, brat. Do it now, and I'll let you off with just a swift kick in the ass." Levi scoffed, a furrow in his brow.

"Eren!" Connie and Reiner called out just behind you.

Their voices became fainter and fainter as you began to shuffle forward, your eyes trained dead ahead.

"Eren..." you whispered, your hands itching to move from your sides and reach out to him despite the great distance separating you both.

You're here...I'm here...Please...

"The rumbling will not stop."

His voice echoed off the dunes, sending a shiver down your spine. All was eerily silent a moment longer before the voice of Eren continued to boom across the barren land.

"Nor will I leave Paradis Island's future to chance. I will keep moving forward."

You continued to shuffle towards him, as if in a daze. Faintly you heard the others calling out your name in warning, but you heeded them no mind. You simply couldn't right now, not with him being so close.

And yet so far.

"In order to obtain freedom, I will take freedom from the world. But I will not take anything from any of you. You all have freedom. You are free to protect the world's freedom. And I am free to keep moving forward."

As Eren's voice continued to boom over the land, a figure joined his childlike frame near the base of the tree. Your eyes widened in recognition of who, or what, this might be.

"Ymir..."

By now your friends began to chase after you, crying out and screaming to Eren. This propelled you to break into a sprint, gasping and heaving as your feet made uneven impressions in the sand rushing by under you.

"There is but one thing for us to do;  Fight."

You could see him clearly. He appeared as a child; the same child you'd grown up with all those years ago in Shiganshina. He was so close...

"Then why...Why did you call us here?" Armin's voice broke your train of thought. You looked over your shoulder as you ran, seeing Armin and the others gaining on you now. You knew they wouldn't stop you. They wanted...no...needed answers. Just as you did.

"To discuss the fact that there's no need to have a discussion." Eren replied, his voice echoing from all directions at once.

"If you wish to stop me, make me draw my last breath. You have freedom."

"No...Eren!" You finally managed to scream out, hastening your pace tenfold. Your legs burned and your knees felt weak, but you pushed on.

After some time, you subconsciously recognized you no longer heard anyone behind you, and when you turned to look all you saw was sand. You stuttered in your run, nearly collapsing then and there. But you had to push on. You couldn't stop here.

Looking back in front of you, you gasped once more. Eren was gone, as well as Ymir.

You were completely alone in the paths.

════════════════

"Y/N."

You spun on your heel, looking for the source of the familiar voice.

Spotting him, you nearly cried in relief. You started to jog towards him, ignoring the ache in your legs.

"Eren!"

Finally, after what felt like years apart, you were reunited. He made no move to stop you as you ran forward and threw your arms around him, burying your face into the fabric of his overcoat. You registered the feeling of strong, slender hands raking delicately through your hair, and you sighed.

This is what you had been fighting for.

"Please...Please stop this. Stop the rumbling. Come home to us."

"Y/N," Eren repeated, his tone light as a whisper. "You know I can't do that. There are things at play here that cannot be stopped now."

"Then please...Please let me stay here. With you." You begged, tears stinging your eyes as you looked up at him.

Eren's arms snakes around your waist, holding you close to him. His entire demeanor had now changed. Instead of his booming voice and sharp tone, he softened up and spoke softly against the crown of your head.

"I cannot do that either. You are needed....Needed by the others. Away from me."

He paused with a forceful sigh, then squeezed you just a little tighter.

"Trust me, Y/N. If I could, you know I would have you at my side."

"You can!-" You protest fell on deaf ears when he cut you off.

"I don't have a choice. I only have so long to keep you here with me. I managed to let you stay after sending the others back."

You pulled away from his embrace, tears leaving your eyes. "And for that I am grateful. But I have a choice. And my choice is you! It always will be!"

Silence enveloped you both after your confession. Your cheeks dusted red was a stark contrast from the blue hues of the paths around you. A look of surprise flitted across Eren's face, before a small smile found its way to his lips. Something you hadn't seen in so, so long.

"I know. It always has been, hasn't it?" He asked softly, pulling you back into his arms. You collapsed against his chest with a muffled cry, both in relief and grief at what you both knew was inevitable.

"You may have to send me away again...But please...Just for a little while...Let me stay? Let me...let us...have one last moment like this." You whispered, tracing your fingers soothingly down his arm.

A hum of agreement rumbled in Eren's chest, and a smile you couldn't see shone warmly on his face.

"All those years I waited to hear a confession from you, and you chose now of all times to say it," He whispered humorously.

Chuckling, you wiped at your eyes as best you could from your squashed position between his strong arms. "Oh hush, you could have said something way before now too, you know."

"Well, for now at least...We can live in this moment. Together. It's all I can offer you now."

"That's all I ask, Eren. I just want to be with you. Right now, and forever."

You knew he would have to let you go eventually, and send you back to your comrades. But for the time being, you indulged yourself in the moment you'd pined so long for.

For now, in this space, you were at peace.

At peace with the man you loved.

[votederpycausemufins]

Surprisingly Familiar Ch 1

The first chapter of the sequel to Summoning Family. I'm going to be working on my scattered au fic more, but you might still see some chapters of this scattered around

@petrichormeraki made the hermit!Tommy au, and @helleborusangel did amazing rambles for the chapters of Summoning Family.

Now, Let's see how things have gone since the ending of Summoning Family.

It had been eleven days since Grum’s birthday and now it was Jrum’s. He was excited by the party, playing games and trying to scam people of their diamonds. Cake was nice, his mask getting a special cake of his own with diamonds since Grum had gotten the same. And then it came to presents.

Jrum was especially happy at any toys he got and glad if he was just getting diamonds. Kokatori had also managed to get another ribbon around its neck and try to be a present again. Jrum wasn’t the most pleased about that since he was still coping with everything that happened with the egg, but he still took the present before handing them off to Grum.

Just as the presents were just about all gone, two more were placed on the table, each one with a different label. Jrum went to grab the last present when he saw the new ones being placed, so he looked up at who was putting them down, surprised to see an unfamiliar face. “Um, who are you?”

The question made everyone look over, most people looking confused, but three people had different reactions. Phil looked surprised, recognizing the man. Grian was also surprised, but also awestruck. Lastly, in Grum’s arms, Kokatori hissed.

“What the heck are you doing here? Who even let you in?” Phil asked, walking over to the man.

“I let myself in. I mean, I sort of already had permission to be here, just never used it. Building big was never really my thing.”

“Who are you then?” It was Scar who spoke up. The person looked at a few of the hermits who seemed to also look as confused as Scar sounded.

“I think the beard is messing with them.” Phil said, elbowing the man, who then ran a hand through his beard.

“Right, spend a month on an abandoned island and then get captured by pirates and you can’t really do much for that. Anyone got a raz...or…” he trailed off as Jrum pulled out some special shears. He was stunned by the bot having such a thing, but took them with a thank you and stepped out of the room.

After a few minutes, he stepped back in, and immediately some of the hermits were no longer confused. “Oh my god, it’s been so long!” Bdubs was the first to say, going over to the man. “What have you been up to!”

“Eh, mainly family. You’ve been working with someone named Scar?” Bdubs nodded and gestured to the mayor. “Got it. Nice to meet you.” He moved over to Doc. “And how about you? How’s the family life?”

“Eh, some days are always better than others, I haven’t been around here as often because of it. What about you?”

“Well, the kids are all grown up at this point, I’ve got more time on my hands so I’ve gone back to filming.”

Doc nodded. “Sounds good to me. I’ve got to tell you more about what we did last season.”

“I’m sure you do.” The man chuckled, moving over to Keralis. “Hey, can’t wait to see your city. The pictures seemed crazy enough. I can’t believe you built all that.”

“Why spank you, but I have had help with designs.”

“Yeah. And you said you own it with someone named Cleo now?”

“Yes, in fact, she’s got a relative that is in Bub’s troop last I checked.”

Cleo spoke up at this point. “Yep! Got an order in for popcorn just the other day.”

“Nice to hear. By the way, Etho’s behind me, isn’t he?” The hermits unfamiliar with the man were surprised by that comment, as Etho was indeed behind him. Pretty much no one could tell when Etho was sneaking around, so this new person doing it was very shocking. “I’ll be asking everyone about your shops so I can stay awake from them.”

“Oh come on, some of them would be fun for a survivor like you. In fact we could get Tango to open up decked out for a session for you.”

“Right, sure Etho. Now is Beef around?”

“No actually. He had something really important come up.” Etho answered, another hermit nodding to agree with the statement.

“Ah, that’s too bad. Well, I guess the only person left to greet is ol’ rap battle over here.”

Wels suddenly looked embarrassed. “Oh that’s why you look familiar. You’re the OBP leader.”

“Yeah.” The man nodded. “You know green wasn’t really your c-”

“Please don’t bring that up again.”

The man laughed. “Alright, I won’t.” He then looked at the rest of the hermits. “Well, I think I know a few of you from the letters I’ve gotten from these guys.” And he gestured to the hermits he had been talking to. “Like I know Scar and Cleo now, then TFC and Xisuma I’m familiar with, also Zedaph.”

“Yeah, so who are you exactly?” Mumbo spoke up. “While I’m glad you’ve come to celebrate Jrum’s birthday, I’m not familiar with you.”

“Right, forgot to give my name I guess.” The man started to say. “I’m-”

Grian cut him off. “You’re the Soarvivor Paul! I remember watching your shows when I was in highschool! I had some friends at my school in England who went to an event of yours!”

“Wait, this is Paul?” Scar spoke up. “I’ve heard a lot of stories about him from Doc and Bdubs.”

Paul smiled at that. “Yep, that would be me.”

Grian took over the conversation again. “So wait, you said you were recording again, are you making MvM again?”

Instead of answering happily like Paul had to everyone else, he just gave Grian a bit of a nod before giving him the cold shoulder.

“Wait, are you that uncle Phil’s always talking about?” Tommy asked. He had stayed out of the conversation when he had no clue what was going on, but now that he recognized the name, he had some things to say. “The one he always complains always uses letters instead of a phone call or texting.”

Paul nodded. “Yeah, that would be me. Letters are the most reliable when you’ve got a job like mine.”

“Then stick to a comm then Paul.” Doc said, resting his arm on Paul's shoulder. “I’ve offered to make you a special one who knows how many times. I’m sure your kids wouldn’t mind it either.”

“Why do I feel like I’m still missing something?” Tommy spoke up again, Doc explaining for him.

“A number of us hung out with Paul in the past. Most of us he knows from the old Minecrack worlds, but he met Keralis on some other worlds.”

“Yeah, and met Wels when we were dealing with an apocalypse world. Beef was there too.” Paul sighed. “So Phil, what’s your family been getting up to other than the obvious?”

“Well, Tommy’s actually living in hermitcraft now.” Phil answered. “Wilbur’s getting through some things, and Techno’s trying to keep up his hardened warrior mask, but Grian’s kid is making that hard.”

“Well, this group seems to have that effect on people.” Paul nodded. “And how’ve they been doing with Xelqua?” Paul jabbed a finger on Grian’s direction.

“Right, shit, forgot to say that part. Grian is Xelqua.” Phil quickly explained, Paul’s mouth turning to a small ‘o’.

“Ah, I guess that explains that war and the hippies I heard about in letters. At least It’s a little tamer in a world like this.” Most of the people in the room were confused, and at first Grian was one of them, but then he made a connection and his legs were suddenly struggling to keep him up. “He has told you about Tokyo, right?”

Before anyone could answer, Kokatori was hissing in Grum’s arms again, drawing Paul’s attention. He pulled out a stone sword and immediately the hermits that knew Paul were holding him back. “No! Hey! Paul, that is a kid’s pet!” Bdubs said. “I know you don’t like them but that’s like the one chicken you’re not allowed to kill!”

“Just get him a pet other than a chicken! You can’t trust a chicken! They’re spies, killers and thieves.”

“Killer chickens?” Wels, who wasn’t holding Paul back, asked.

“Oh no, he’s telling the truth about that.” Doc answered. “I saw it for myself.”

“How do you get killed by a fucking chicken?” Tommy asked.

“You forget to kill it first.” Paul answered, finally putting his sword away. “Well, you said that kid’s one of Xel’s.”

“One of Grian’s.” Phil corrected. “And yes. That’s Grumbot, or Grum, the older of the two. His birthday was a week and a half ago.”

“Well, figures they’d just try causing more problems.”

Phil rolled his eyes and then grabbed Paul’s arm. “Alright, you and I. Talk. Now.”

When Phil and Paul had left the room, Grian finally allowed himself to go to the floor. The hermits that knew Paul were immediately apologizing for him, not sure why he was acting that way. But Grian knew. And Mumbo helped Grian up, pretty sure he knew too. “I’m going to help Grian lie down. Grum, maybe I should take Kokatori with me so they don’t cause more problems.”

Grum nodded and handed the chicken over, it being very upset about being moved and pecking at Mumbo’s arms. But he was too worried about Grian to let that stop him. So soon they had left the room too.

For a while, everything was silent. But then Jrum spoke up. “Well, for my birthday, I want to eavesdrop! And no one can stop me!” And he ran off to listen into Phil and Paul’s conversation, leaving the rest of the party members confused on what to do.

[theres-an-impulstor-among-us]

I’m back! With more oneshot suggestions! Woo!

Please, if you have the ability to, supply me with alter brainrot. Here’s a basic plot outline (I always come prepared lol):

BadTimes has finally been banned. After years of antics with his counterpart, he finally stepped over the line. He doesn’t know what he did, all he knows is that it was too much. He gets dragged out of the void by EX and Hels, who also want to apologize to their counterparts. The three set out on a short flangsty journey of misunderstood-ness and attempts at proving themselves worthy of forgiveness.

;)

Now THIS was a lot of fun to write! Ended up being very long tho so I’m sorry about that, but I hope the quality is still good. I also hope you like the ending, even though it went off in a different direction than I originally intended :)

...

  “He’s there! He’s right there! Just grab him!”

  “It’s harder than it looks, okay?! Back off!” 

  He gasped as he felt himself get wrenched back into existence. Stumbling as his feet touched the ground, he pitched forwards and would have fallen over if he hadn’t been caught by a pair of strong arms.

  “Easy, man,” came a British-accented voice. “Easy. Just breathe, alright? Breathe.” 

  He took in a few gulping breaths, his oxygen-starved lungs drinking in the fresh air, and closed his eyes against the dizziness that was threatening to topple him. He widened his stance slightly, his shaky legs strengthening by the second. 

  Finally, he opened his eyes and found himself looking at two people. One was wearing a familiar helmet and the other was dressed in full armour. They both looked almost exactly like two people he knew very well.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  “You first,” said the helmeted one, identifying them as the British-accented one who had caught him earlier. 

  “My name is BadTimesWithScar,” he said. “You can call me BadTimes, or  just Bad.”

  Bad could see a spark of interest in the helmeted person’s eyes, even through the visor. “You’re GoodTimesWithScar’s evil counterpart?” They circled Bad, looking him up and down. “I guess I should’ve expected that, huh? Considering you look almost exactly like him.”

  “In that case, am I to assume you guys are Xisuma and Welsknight’s evil clones?” said Bad. 

  The helmeted being nodded. “Sure am. I’m Evil Xisuma, but you can call me EX.” 

  “Hi, I’m Helsknight,” blurted out the armour-clad one. “I like rap battles and medieval-style architecture.”

  Bad stared at him.

  “I’ve been making him do group therapy,” EX explained tiredly. “He was utterly obsessed with violence and destruction when he got here. It got a little too much to handle after a while.”

  “Speaking of which, where is “here”?” Bad asked, staring around at the blank world they were standing in. 

  EX shrugged. “It doesn’t really have a name. It’s the place I ended up after I got banned by Xisuma.”

  “B-Banned?! Wait a sec…” Bad frowned as memories came back to him. “How did I get here?”

  “Well, I pulled you out of the void,” said EX. “That’s where people go when they get banned.” They jerked their thumb at Hels. “I fished him out of the void too a few weeks ago.”

  “I tried to kill them,” said Hels helpfully.

  EX nodded wearily. “He did.” 

  “Wait, wait.” Bad stared at the two in shock. “Does this mean… I’VE been banned?!”

  “Yup.” EX spread their arms wide. “Welcome to the banishment club.”

  “What did you do to get banned?” Hels asked eagerly. “Did you destroy stuff? Kill someone? Try to take over the server? I did that, by the way.”

  “I…” Bad hesitated, his shoulders drooping. “I don’t know.”

  Frowning, EX and Hels exchanged a look. “How do you not know?” the former asked slowly. “Surely you must have done something bad enough to get flung into the void permanently.” 

  Bad shook his head. “Look, you guys are legendary on the server. So legendary I didn’t even believe you existed. Everyone knows the evil stuff you guys did to get banned, but I’m not like that. I like spreading mischief and pranking people. That’s what I exist to do; it’s literally what Scar created me for. So the fact that I’ve somehow crossed the line without even realising what I did is beyond worrying.” His eyes widened in fear. “Oh no, did I hurt Scar?! Oh no, oh no… I gotta… I gotta go apologise to him!” 

  EX caught him by the wrist as he tried to dash off. “Hold on, there. You’ve been banned, remember? You can’t just waltz back onto the server.”

  “There has to be another way!”

  “There is, there is.” EX gave him a serious look. “But it’s risky. Going back to a server you’ve been banned from can be more trouble than it’s worth. If someone sees you before you get the chance to talk to Scar… Well, let’s just say there’s worse punishments than just being banned.”

  “I have to see Scar,” said Bad determinedly. “I have to find out what I did and apologise for it. Are you two gonna help me or not?”

  After a moment, EX said, “I’m up for sneaking back onto Hermitcraft. I’d like to apologise to Xisuma for… uh… the incident that got me banned. What about you, Hels?”

  “I just wanna have another rap battle with Wels,” Hels said. 

  Bad frowned at him. “Are you… you know… alright? In the head?”

  Hels stuck up both his thumbs. “Nope!” he said cheerfully. “Thinking about rap battles and medieval-style architecture is the only thing keeping my taste for blood at bay.”

  A pause followed his words.

  “Wonderful,” EX sighed. “Remind me to join you in group therapy next time; it doesn’t seem to be working all that well. Anyway, time to sneak back onto Hermitcraft. Let’s get going.”

…

  “Are you sure this is the right way?” asked Bad, unable to see even his companions in the pitch black tunnel. “Who even put this tunnel here? And where does it lead?”

  “I’m not taking questions about secret tunnels and whether or not I know where I’m going,” came EX’s voice from the front of the group. “Something tells me the answers won’t alleviate your fear.”

  Thoroughly unnerved by this, Bad leant forward slightly to address Hels, who was walking between him and EX. “Hey Hels, what are you gonna do when we get back to Hermitcraft?”

  “I’m gonna apologise to Wels for trying to take over the server, explain to him that group therapy has helped me calm my bloodlust, and then destroy him in a rap battle.” 

  Bad sighed quietly. “Well… at least you’ve got a plan.”

  “Up here,” called EX after a few more minutes. 

  Light was starting to shine through the end of the tunnel. As Bad followed EX and Hels out, blinking against the light, he recognised the place they had ended up. 

  “Wait, is this the Mycelium Resistance headquarters?” he said.

  EX shrugged. “Don’t ask me; I’ve never been in this world before. I got banned on the last one and I’ve never had a reason to sneak back. That being said, what on earth is the Mycelium Resistance?”

  “Oh, it’s a loooong story. But the good thing is nobody uses this base anymore, so we should be safe down here if we need to flee from an angry mob of Hermits. Which we will.”

  “That’s the spirit,” EX responded wryly. “So which way out?”

  Bad led the other two towards the giant hole in the wall. “We can get out this way. I remember Scar brought me down here to show me the excellent work he and his government buddies did at destroying the rebel base.”

  “Government?” repeated EX confusedly.

  “Oh, yeah, Scar’s the mayor. You didn’t know that?”

  EX shook their head. “Like I said, I’ve never been in the Season 7 world. Not properly, anyway. Not enough to know the ins and outs of what’s going on.”

  The group made it to the surface of the shopping district. Bad could see the town hall nearby. “Okay, I’m gonna go see Scar.”

  “Good luck,” said EX. “I’ll wander around and see if I bump into Xisuma.”

  “I’ll take you to his flower farm,” Hels offered. “I went there once to hide from Wels and steal some flowers. Didn’t work; he caught me and banned me.”

  “Well, hopefully history won’t repeat itself.” 

  Bad left his new friends behind and headed to the town hall, keeping a wary eye out for any Hermits nearby. He didn’t see anyone around, but that didn’t mean nobody was there. 

  But thankfully, he made it to the town hall undetected and entered quietly. He found Scar just inside, polishing the diamond throne. The mayor glanced up, his eyes widening when he registered his evil clone standing there. “Bad? Oh my gosh, I… What happened to you? Where’s your hat?”

  Bad’s hands flew to his head, realising for the first time that he didn’t have his hat anymore. “It must have fallen off in the void. Scar, I got banned and I don’t know why.”

  “You were banned?! And you still came back here?!” Scar shook his head. “You need to leave before Xisuma finds you.”

  “But I-!”

  “No, just go! Before we get into trouble.” 

  “I just want to know why I was banned,” said Bad desperately. “Then I’ll go right back to where I came from and I’ll never bother you again. I promise.”

  Scar hesitated, a conflicted look on his face. Finally, he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t actually think X was gonna do it.”

  Bad frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Back during the war, I was under a lot of stress. I did things I’m not exactly proud of. Eventually, I realised that what I was doing… was making me more like you. I couldn’t handle that, so I went to Xisuma and asked if he could get you out of the way so people didn’t notice I was turning into you. I didn’t-.”

  “Wait, wait, wait…!” Bad waved his hands to stop his counterpart. “Let me get this straight… You got me banned because you were afraid you were becoming evil, like me?”

  Scar nodded slowly. “I swear, I didn’t think he was actually gonna ban you.”

  “What else did you expect the server admin to do?!” snapped Bad.

  “I don’t know! I’m sorry, Bad, really!”

  “If you’re really sorry, then go to Xisuma and explain you want me unbanned!”

  To Bad’s surprise and dismay, Scar shook his head. “I can’t do that. I’m sorry, but I’m the mayor; a good mayor now. A good mayor can’t have an evil clone of himself on the server anymore. I really am sor-.”

  “Oh, stop saying you’re sorry!” Bad’s voice cracked. “I can’t believe this! After all these years of funny pranks and harmless shenanigans, you’re just tossing me aside?”

  “Bad, you’re not harmless,” Scar snapped back. “You don’t realise it, but you’ve caused some real damage over the years. You’ve destroyed things, killed people, upset people, caused irreparable damage to the server. The only reason Xisuma hasn’t banned you sooner is because I kept standing up for you. Did you seriously never notice the fact that I was the only Hermit who ever had kind words for you? You never noticed the other Hermits glaring at you in the shopping district or walking the other way when you came by?”

  Bad stared at Scar in shock and horror. “N-No, I… I didn’t… Scar, I… I never meant to cause bad things.”

  “Your name literally contains the phrase “Bad Times”!”

  “I-I can change, Scar!” Bad was almost physically begging at this point. “I can change, I promise! I can be worthy of forgiveness if you give me a chance.”

  Scar firmly shook his head. “You’re an evil Hermit and you always will be. I’m sorry, but there’s no place on the server for you. Not anymore.”

  Red hot anger started to build inside Bad. “No, you… you can’t do this to me. After everything we’ve been through, you can’t just decide I don’t belong here anymore!”

  Scar took a step back, away from Bad. “Just get outta here before I call Xisuma to deal with you.”

  Bad hesitated.

  In the ensuing pause, a loud crash sounded from outside. 

  Seizing his chance, Bad snatched the hat from Scar’s head and dashed out of the town hall. When he got outside, he found Xisuma and EX locked in a battle just outside the building. Xisuma appeared to be winning. 

  Bad dashed down the stairs and slammed right into Xisuma, sending the admin tumbling to the ground. Before Xisuma could recover, Bad grabbed EX’s hand and pulled them back towards the shopping district.

  “Where’s Hels?” Bad demanded. 

  “I sent him back to the tunnel. Whether he’s still there, I don’t know. Bad, what happened?”

  “I’ll explain later.”

  The two jumped down the secret entrance to the base and rushed back towards the entrance to the tunnel. 

  “Hey, guys.” Hels emerged from one of the rooms, holding an armful of mycelium. “They have purple grass here.”

  Letting go of EX’s hand, Bad beckoned to Hels. “C’mon, we’re getting outta here.” 

  “Can I bring the purple grass?” 

  “Will it help distract you from, as you put it, your bloodlust?” EX inquired.

  Hels beamed. “Yes.”

  “Alright, then, yes. You can bring the… uh… purple grass.”

  As the evil Hermits made their way back through the tunnel, EX eventually decided to break the silence. “So… Long story short, Xisuma didn’t forgive me. How’d it go with Scar?”

  “Scar got me banned because he was afraid of turning into me,” replied Bad shortly. “And he refuses to get it reversed because he’s afraid having an evil clone whom everyone on the server hates will damage his image as mayor.”

  A pause followed. 

  “Oof, that’s rough,” EX remarked sympathetically. “What are you going to do now?”

  “There’s nothing else I CAN do. I’ve been banned and the only person on the server who might stick up for me is refusing to do so. I guess that means I’m stuck with you two permanently.”

  Another pause. 

  “I didn’t even get to have another rap battle with Wels,” said Hels sadly. 

  “Hey.” EX stopped at the very end of the tunnel, turning back to face their friends. “Let’s all quit moping. We tried asking for forgiveness and it didn’t work. No more grovelling, no more trying to change, no more stupid group therapy. We’re evil Hermits, right?”

  “Yeah!” cheered Hels. 

  “And evil Hermits want to spread chaos and destruction, right? We should be who we are, without worrying what our counterparts will think of us. They’ve rejected us, so now they think we’re no longer their problem. Let’s show them how wrong they are. Let’s show them how evil we can really be.”

  “YEAH!” Hels whooped, his red eyes flashing dangerously. “BLOODLUST!”

  “We’re not straight-up murdering people, though, Hels,” added EX sternly. “That’s not the kind of chaos we spread.”

  “Oh.” Hels settled down. “Okay. Fair enough.”

  Chuckling quietly, EX turned to Bad. “What do you say?”

  After a moment, a grin spread over Bad’s face and he swept Scar’s hat onto his head. “I say let’s do it. If Scar says I’m evil, who am I to deny it?”

  “Exactly.” EX slung one arm over Bad’s shoulders and the other over Hels’s, grinning at their evil compatriots. “It’s time to be the evil Hermits we were created to be.”

[fandom-blackhole]

Hello there, my darling. It is me 🐣. Forst of all, sorry for leaving you on ''read''. I've been too busy with shitshow happening in my life. Finally, late at night I can indulge in our little world. Also, I am so happy that other readers have been participating! I've seen so many good points! Oh, but I felt kinda bad for the anonnie who was dissatisfied with Boba's lack of proper sexting. Sorry not sorry but I have a blast everytime we bully tech-grandpa Boba. Okay, onto your entries!

Yes, camping with Paz!!! He lives for hiking,

Also sharing a sleeping bag with him,

Yes, yes, especially since nights in the mountains are definitely cold 😉,

Oh god, oh yes, after some intense wrestling session, laying together and stargazing,

Paz with tatts??

Hell yeah!

I've seen noonies being onto idea that Paz is a geek,

So he definitely has a sleeve tatt with all of his favorite heroes,

Also Miles Morales! Omg, yes, Paz favorite movie is Into the Spoderverse!,

Also Paz has some inspirational/self-love related tattoos in this foreign language (mando'a?),

Trip too Zoo with our beloved clan = a disaster,

Lots of pics of Din holding Grogu while petting and feeding animals 😍,

Grogu and his weird food fixation, bless his soul,

Yes! DIPPIN' DOTS, BLUE RASPBERRY ICE FTW,

Yes a frog stuffie!!! When you guys get back home, he waddles back to his cool space room and introduces baby Yoda to his new friend!,

Ah yes, the frog catching disaster,

You and Din discussing getting Grogu a pet frog,

Uncle Paz helps with getting the right terrarium kit!,

You often catch Paz babytalking to his Ad'ika,

Typicial, who's the good boy? Yes, you are,

Also Paz playing dead and his little companion jumping all over him to revive him,

Din as Mando, Grogu as Baby Yoda and you as Omera, you say?? Heck yeah!,

Also Razor Crest needs a costume as well!,

Uncle Boba throwing a huge ass Halloween party,

Big deal event, celebrities showing up,

Kudos to anon who pitched the idea of Bonnie and Clyde!,

Also Pedro Pascal shows up at the party too,

He is dressed as mando,

Shitshow is about to go down 😂,

People getting confused because Pedro and Din not only have similar posture but they also sound similar, it's too uncanny-valley,

Boba would definitely kidnap you from the dance floor to do some urgent wrestling!,

Also umm 😳 gunplay!kink Boba 😳,

You and Paz going trick or treating!!!,

Witch Paz once casted a curse upon a customer who was being a huge karen to the waitress,

He loves his employees dearly, so no messing around is allowed!,

His employees were shipping you with him long before you became a thing,

Paz once jokingly said that he would lick and eat anything off of you,

You were like hmm even spaghetti?,

And he was like heck yess,

Eww, Paz baby, gross!

Next time he was slurp slurping pasta from your body, srsly this goofball,

Afterwards, he cleaned you nicely, through and through no worries,

Giving Boba a head while he dives his expensive car? 😳,

Also he has a big hot tube and a pool in his penthouse!,

Drinking expensive alcohol while snuggling in the tub?,

Making Boba to loosen up, skinny dipping in the pool??,

You and Din were wrestling rather intensively, and he mumbled something about adding another child to you little family,

You didn't pay much attention to that,

Until he started to grunt about putting a baby in you every now and then,

You having a talk with him,

He shyly explaining that it was his deepest desire to have a big loving family,

Admitting that vision of you carrying for Grogu makes him bothered every time,

Also he said he couldn't get the image of you with a baby bump out of his head,

Omg Paz being infertile???

You've just broken my heart as wel...

But Boba and Kamino project to the rescue???,

Or alternatively, he would have no problem adopting children, being blood related isn't important to him at all,

Auntie Armorer comforting him about his problem,

But imagine if he somehow managed to get you pregnant... 😭😭😭

Also, Mr Fett senior looking up from the heavens at his son, thinking when he'd get grandchildren to carry on the family ''business'' legacy

Once again sorry for the lack of my participation I will try to tune in more often, my darling! Also, I didn't add much this time sorry my mind was somewhere else this time. I will try to add more ideas later! - 🐣

Welcome back darling!!! I missed you, and don't worry about being away take all the time you need. I am also glad that you enjoyed all of our other little rambles that I've answered!

Paz named his dog Ad'ika, this man most definitely has quotes/self love tattoos in mando'a, mandalorian ruins, or aurebesh

Paz has a tattoo for all of his fallen friends and teammates he lost while he was in military

Paz baby talking his dog is so fucking cute!!!

Paz definitely taught his dog all of the tricks, including play dead

When the two of you go trick or treating some of the kids do get scared of him because he's dressed like chewie and he's huge. He pouts because he didn't mean to scare them

Paz totally does little curses to the people who come in and are rude, you don't treat his employees like that, or the other customers without retaliation

His employees had a pool going to see how long it takes before Paz actually mans up and asks you out, and then another one fore how long it'll take before the two of you are married

If you would let him, Paz would never use a plate again. He would eat anything and everything off of you, but his favorites are sweets

Chocolate syrup, yes please. Paz makes sure to thoroughly clean you up 😉

Paz finally opens up to you about his impotency issues one night and you hold him close telling him that, that doesn't matter to you

Paz would and could adopt every child he meets if he could

But also like imagine, one day while you both are still dating, you've missed your period for a month or two, but you don't think much about it because you can't have kids with Paz right?

Well you go to the doctors because something is obviously wrong, and because it is procedure they run a pregnancy and it comes back positive and you're just floored

When you get home and Paz asks how everything went, worried about you, you just blurt it out and Paz freezes

He doesn't know what to think, he's overjoyed and he loves you, but he isn't supposed to be able to have kids, so is it his kid? He quickly yeets that thought away because he knows and trusts you

After that he goes full daddy bear mode and is protective of you and just constantly trying to hover over you

Also Paz helping Grogu with finding and taking care of a frog

Din absolutely melted at the sight of Grogu feeding the animals, it made him so proud of his son

Grogu loves all of his stuffed animals and he is constantly playing and talking with them

His favorite is ofcourse his baby yoda

GROGU POINTS TO PEDRO AND ALWAYS CALLS HIM DAD. He does this with the mandalorian and just any pictures

You totally introduce Grogu to bubble tea, and he absolutely L O V E S it

Din making little comments about about want creating a family with you

Din always begging to cum inside of you

Grogu once asked for a little brother or sister and Din almost combusted

As for what Razor Crest should be for Halloween, I would say either a ting Razor Crest ship or tiny Kryate Dragon?

Pedro would be so ecstatic to meet his basically identical twin

(You accidentally go up to Pedro and kiss his cheek at one point before you realize you mixed and Din pouts)

Boba's Halloween party is totally Great Gatsby themed

Boba totally keeps trying to get handsys and you have to push him away

Slow and passionate wrestling in Boba's hot tub

ROAD HEAD! ROAD HEAD!

I raise you, Boba fingering the life out of you as he's driving

Imagine finding a picture of Boba and Jango and smiling at Boba telling him he looks just like his father

Boba joking about carrying on the tradition and making a little Boba

Then the both of you just look at eachother and pretty much jump eachother simultaneously

(Also imagine getting kidnapped by an enemy crime syndicate and Boba just going on a war path)

(SEND ME THOTS!!!)

[huntsman-ash]

RWBY LiveThoughts: V8E7

Since I finally have time for it today, lets make sure Im all caught up for the hiatus. 

Before we get fully started, an idea; Its not a war crime if they’re Grimm. Then its just self defense. So break out the napalm, the cluster bombs, the chemical weapons, the fun stuff. Make em regret it, yeah?

And we start off...on a farm. Looks like my moms old farm in South Dakota. Even on Remnant, hay is best used in bales.

Waiiiit. Thats the place the Whale set down isnt it. I see a Sayber running. Ah, and the Atlas military! Surely, the vanguard of a massive force to hold the line! Also Im glad to see a close up of the helmet for once, I want to make my own. Also, the gloves, and the rifle itself. Not sure why it doesnt have a stock, seems kind of silly...

And airships too, so they got some fire support...whats that wall behind them though?

Also it TOOK US 8 FUCKING SEASONS to get a close up of these FUCKING Weapons. 8. FUCKING. SEASONS. Okay maybe more like 5 cause they didnt first appear till 3 or so but come on. Im so picking this shit apart later. 

Pfft, bros got some nerves going on. Come on man, its just some Grimm, you’ll be FINE.

Atlas field harvesters resemble Halo’s JOTUN Farming equipment. As wel as our own. No surprise there.

Alright, bunch of Saybers, not seeing much of a threat here.

Hey, Paladins! Damn, they...look way different than I remember them to be. 

I wont lie, I dont like the Paladin design. Way to much visual noise, I cant tell where anything IS. 

Also that is the most 2D grass I have sever seen in my fucking life. What the hell are they growing here...

Huh, the whale has two sets of teeth. Wait, its just there? And its wpewing out Grimm. So...why isnt the air force firing on it? 

Yeah its not moving, its just raising its head and slamming down and vomiting out more Grimm. Im not sure what the issue is here, just...seal the mouth. 

Oh, huh. Apathys. Let me guess, RTs gonna try and tell us depression is going to kill most of Atlas. Oh for fuck sake. IM NOT IMPRESSED RT. IM REALLY NOT. IM MORE FUCKING ANNOYED THAN ANYTHING

Okay so...I see what this is. Its farm land outside of atlas proper and there’s an additional wall behind them, plus the power lines I guess? Seems like a viable place to make a stand. 

...thats it. Please tell me this is just a single detachment of the Atlas military because there is less firepower here than a NATIONAL GUARD UNIT ASSIGNED TO ONE CITY

Im fairly certain there are more people assigned to ONE UNIT attached to JBLM then I amm seeing here. 

Not to mention this is an OPEN FIELD the Grimm have to run through. This is a literall fucking TURKEY SHOOT. Running across an open field anywhere is a ticket to DYING.

Just ask the poor fucks on D-day.

Also uh...why is everyone in line formation? What is this, fuckin’ 18009s combat Napoleon style?

And did the distance suddenly change, I feel like the whale suddenly got a hell of a lot closer.

Just...I dont get this. This makes no sense. Did Ironwood learn how to deploy forces from a fairy tale book? This is legitimately some fuckin Lord of the Rings shit here.

RIP that one specific trooper hit by that Behemoth though. Dont worry friend, the thing walked next to a Paladin. Its getting its eye blasted out

And cut back to Ironwood. Doing...fuck if I know what.

Staring angrily it seems.

“Dammit, my tactical deployment by line formation and parade ground tactics isnt holding back the Grimm, curses!”

Well MAYBE IF YOUD THOUGHT TO INVEST IN SOME FUCKING AIR SUPPORT...Seriously.

I know people have told me why this is. I understand myself why this is. But it really just...does...not...jibe with me. At all. 

Okay so more details; first, apparently Atlas has a subway. Makes sense, its a big island. Inter-system transits probably a given. Second; Was that Mantis Squad Omega? Some kind of unit maybe...interesting.

 Also I love how this guy just questions Ironwood. Like, bro, if the General says do it, do it.

Hold the fuck up, why is everyone outside? It looks like fuckin’ Cali during our lockdowns...what ever happened to martial law huh?

Also “underground subway stations”. Yes, thats...kind of what a subway IS. I guess maybe they have overhead ones like New York does. Mass transit be weird like that.

I mean HELL the signs on it are almost identical to the ones in NYC too! Even with the colored circles and train cnumbers. 

According to the sign here they’re at Pickens Square Station. 

Oh boy. Ironwood just fed these poor bastards into a meat grinder. Anyone here ever played the Metro game series, or read the books?

Remember the Dark Ones? The Nosallias? Yeah. Tight corridors and monsters only work out well for angry vodka fueled Russians.

Didnt see it very well but I THINK those Mantas had some kind of wing gun. Either thats new, a separate armament setting, or RT forgot what ind of weapons they gave their ships AGAIN.

Cant get the shields back up, yeah, no shit, they DETACHED ONE OF THE FUCKING PILOTS YOU IDIOTS.

Also hah, they arrested Yang, Ren and Jaune. Not surprised.

Beta squads apperently been hitting the whale. ‘Bombs, missiles, we cant make a dent, sir.” ...while Im not surprised by this, I also hear shades of the opening of Halo 2s level Metropolis. “Where’s the rest of your platoon?” “Wasted, sarge. Blew right through us. Rockets, fifty cals, didnt do nothing.”

Honestly they could have SHOWED THAT too. Them just saying it feels like a cop out to me. Take that as you will. But if you want us to see the things hard to kill, show it. 

Not that I figure Atlas’s rockets are much more than Dust in a propellent tank. Not exactly a Hellfire or TOW.

Nice to see proper military talk for...a moment anyway.

Or what I figure RT figures is proper.

Oh so now the whales moving. Okay...huh.

Jaunes commentary is the same as mine. Though I guess the size seems to shift depending.

Ohhh. Its MANTA. As in the gunships. Alright, sure that works. And this guys making a good call. If you cant hit the big one go after the smaller. Of which there seems to be a HELL of a lot. Actually holy fuck that Grimm spew is across like...ahlf the fucking island right now. Time to fuckin torch and burn people.

Ahhhhhh and they get to the proper idea.  If you cant punch it from the outside, hit it from the inside.

I knew a crew...three madmen, names of Keegan, Lahni and Mac. The Hivebusters. Something tells me a Venom bomb would do the trick...if it can rip apart Swarm creatures as big as a Snatcher or a Swarmak and reduce them to green slime, I think it’ll work on Grimm. 

Something tells me RT isnt gonna give em a bomb though. Too obvious.

NEVER MIND. “Science team is putting together a bomb.”

Also I LOVE how Winter’s pupils expand and retract in fear as she realizes what Ironwoods asking her to do.

Awww now shes getting the shakes too.

Salem directing this shit like shes some kind of orchestra leader. I mean it FITS but...I dunno.

Ah so the command deck is directly behind the whale’s glowing nose. Basically inside where the spermacetiy organ would be in a real sperm whale.

What the fuck is Emerald doing there?

Sneaking I guess. Huh. Why’s she sneaking around the whale. Also, huh. guess seeers can get fooled by Emeralds semblance.  Is HE STILL BEATING UP ON OSCAR? Jeez dude. Take a breather.

Honestly if this was TRUE I would be okay with it. Replace the Huntsman with, I dont know, a massively overequipped military for each Kingdom, let them run rampant...stomp the Grimm out or push them back to nonexistence...everyone lives happily ever after

Lets be real here, the idea of the academies? Really really fucking dumb. Its cute. Fairy tale like.

But if theres one thing this show has taught me its that fairy tales SUCK. Reality...tends to be worse.

Ah theres one of those torture hooks they mentioned a few episodes back. Nice of the whale to have a specific interrigation room.

And at last we get some information on how Salem works. Alright so...what happens if you seperate the parts then? Sink one in the ocean, launch one into space.

Sounds like Oz/Oscars telling the fans what we’ve been saying forever, Companion Book be damned; Salem wants to die.

These mind games bore me. Its cute, but I dont like it cause I cant follow that shit. Give me a straight up fight any day, fuck this sublty backroom fuckery

No lies from them both here honestly.

Medical supplies in Atlas seem almost the same as here on earth interestngly. Also, soup. Or...coffee, tea?

Blake with the obvious here. But I mean thats not really saying much cause...well. Not hard to outfight the Atlas military it seems like.  (Long suffering sigh)

Im gonna make a seperate post about my frustrations with that and leave it there. But dont expect me to stop fully complaining about it because everyones gotta have something to bitch about with this show, and I’ll be DAMNED if I start joining the BB whiners.

Good question, Ruby. Might be that YOUR NOT LIVING IN A FAIRY TALE

I’d like to see these people dying in Mantle. I refuse to believe that there isnt SOMEONE in the nation that once brought Remnant to its heel that wont stand and fight. Unless Im wrong about that too...

May backstory? May backstory. Yeah.  Not amazingly complicated but it works. Cant tell if shes Henry though...or was. 

Dramatic lightning flash

Cute you think that Ruby. Theres sides. Always are.

Further proof honestly.

Hazels look of though is amusing. Cant tell if he doesnt believe Oscar, or if his tiny peabrain is runing full bore to think this through.

Coordination between farm boy and professor.

Oh. OHHHH. Plants the seed of doubt in Hazels tiny mind, he uses the last question for himself, sees the truth... Clever, Oscar. Clever.

Hazel peabrain go THUNK

Ah so Mercs going off to Vacuo. Guess that means everyone else is going there next too. Eat that, random Discord person, I called it.

Course, CFVYs there so...maybe we get to see Yats beat up on him.

Oh hi Tyrian. Do you just...randomly roam the halls of the whale waiting to DRAMATICALLY REVEAL YOURSELF and give violent expositon? Im very much okay with that.

Also I love how he just...accepts this. Totally fucking bonkers, totally down with it. 

Oh shit, Tyrian and Mercury going to Vacuo? Damn thats gonna be INTERESTING. I guess Tyrian’ll fit in well enough honestly.

Flying Beringal literally out of the roof. 

I remember back when this season first started and I said those weird bone platforms looked like VTOL launch bays. Guess what? They are.

Merc and Em emotion blah blah DONT CAAARRREEE

Jaune thinking tactically for ONCE IN HIS FUCKING LIFE. An I mean military tactical of course.

Also I like how the Aces say they dont let emotions cloud their shit WHEN THEYVE BEEN DOING THAT THE WHOLE FUCKING TIME.

This ENTIRE PLANET is emotionally run. Thats why the Grimm are such an issue! Makes small note to make Remnant Adeptus Mechanicus cult

Seriously though...

I wont lie though, Hare isnt wrong. Wonder what happened to that Tortuga guy. Tyrian, is my guess. Love how Ren interrupts the moment they almost mention Clovers name.

Expendable, yes. Replacable, no. You should have a talk with squadron leader Grey from Star Wars Squadrons Ren

ANNNNDDD SEMBLANCE EVOLUTION. Or the edibles just kicked in.

This is cool and all but its really fucking dumb and hamfisted. Explain all you want. Mention emotions all you want.

The Aces are fucking huntsmen. HUNTSMEN. FUCKING. SUCK. They always have. Its a dumb idea. Yes, lets stop the hordes of monsters invading this world BY SENDING IN SINGLE OPERATIVES WITH FUCKING MELEE WEAPONS

I’ll make this clear to you, Ren, right here and now. If you faced a REAL elites, you wouldnt have stood a chance. Nor would RWBY. Their bodies would have been three-shot from 20 meters out with a breach and clear and stacked against the wall like cords of wood, one final shot to the dome to make dead sure they were down. None of this stupid flipping and acrobatic crap, none of this clashing weapons and Dust and semblances...no. 

You’d be dead before you knew they were there and they would move on. You’d just be another body to the pile, one more faceless corpse to add to their kill count. A meatgrinder in human form. 

Professionals. Dont. Lose. AND THE ACES ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS!

Because thats not what RWBYs about, never has been.  And that is what annoys me slightly. That and the fact I cant distangle what I know of other universes and our own from RWBY’s. Its hard to hold a universe on its own when everything they make points towards it being like ours, but they change it when they see fit. 

I feel like thats bad writing.

Hehehe. Winter touched Elms boob.

Glad to know that Winters got her priorities right. Course, that bomb probably aint gonna do shit cause its Dust based.

...again, hoping its a chemical weapon...

Wait, the Atlas forces from earlier are STILL FIGHTING? Damn, these Grimm must suck if they couldnt wipe them out in that little time...

Also I cant tell if its getting dark cause of the storm or if its the dawn of the next day.  Or did...they shift time around? I lost track. I SWORE the sun was setting the last time we saw everything.

Also return of the shitty 3D grass...

Marrows gonna defect.

Awww poor Winters got emotions. HEY MAYBE DONT SEND A MENSTRATING WOMAN OUT ON A FIELD OP, ATLAS!

So according to May there’s still front lines. Cool. 

AYYY ITS KLIEN! HES BACK

Oh, I guess hes a doctor too. Oh he MAD.

Ayyy Whitleys being USEFUL for fucking once in his shitty life.

Shes gonna hug him isnt she.

CALLED IT. For fuck sake...whatever. Cute. But whatever.

Oh annnnddd now Grimmquake?

No. It stopped...Bolide?

No. PENNY.

Annnnddd shes leaking coolant. And sparking. And dead.

RIP Penny.

The concept art of the beached whale looks so fucking silly. Seriously, just...detach the whole section there. Drop the fucking thing. 

Oh well.

And thats it for almost two months! Be prepared for me to BULLSHIT MY WAY THROUGH ALL OF IT and continue on with my military fanwank because THATS HOW IM SURVIVING 2020!

[facethroughthemirror]

A Little Less Dramatic

[ hey @fanvsfic I’m late to lunch with my mom and grandma so I can post this today enjoy it ]

Crossposted on ao3

Relationships: Donald Doyle/Emily Grey, Vanessa Kimball/Agent Carolina Additional tags: Suicide, Doyle Lives au

Over an hour after landing at what the rebels have termed “Crash Site Bravo” finds General Doyle still in the back of the pelican, perched on a bank of seats with his unarmored head in his gloved hands. The ache from where he’d hit it in the fall caused by the transport being jolted by the explosion has subsided, but the throbbing in his ankle. He can’t bring himself to look down at the discarded helmet at his feet, or at any of the plate armor he’s wearing. Not yet.

It’s war , he tells himself quietly. These things happen. Not everyone makes it back. He’s seen it happen countless times, hundreds of soldiers whose names he had never known slain on the battlefield, scientists and medical staff massacred by Charon’s mercenaries, each and every leader of the Federal Army before him either evacuated or dead, including the man he’d worked for most of his adult life before the... abrupt promotion. Good god, he stopped keeping track of names years ago. There were too many of them after a while to even keep track of. He doesn’t even know how many of them had died for nothing but the benefit of a businessman somewhere beyond Chorus’ skies, sacrificed for someone else’s gain.

And as much as it pains him, he can’t help but resign himself to the thought that maybe Armonia had been just another one of those sacrifices. That everything -- every one -- that Chorus had lost was for nothing. That it wouldn’t matter in the end.

No one’s been by to check on him. He assumes it simply to be due to no one noticing that he’s gone, though he finds it just a bit more comforting to think that it’s perhaps out of a kind of respect, or even more likely out of a somewhat mutual depression. Though he suspects that it’s entirely to do with the loss of Armonia, and not at all with the loss of...

“Oh dear…”

“What is it?”

“Are you ready?”

“... I’m afraid I won’t be joining you after all!”

“... What?”

“... there’s no longer a way to overload the reactor from the control panel with enough time to leave. But, I can still trigger an explosion! I’ll just have to do it manually!”

“... manually?! No, you don’t, just--just stay low, we can come to you.”

“I’m afraid that just won’t be possible! I appear to be surrounded, and there’s just no time for anyone else to get down here without tipping off Charon that something’s not right!”

Emily was a doctor . A non-combatant. He knows she can likely count the number of times she’s fired a gun on one hand, maybe both of her hands, and her standard-issue sidearm (that came with being an officer and as strongly as Emily objected to carrying one, there just wasn’t anything either of them could do about that) was in such a pitiful state of disrepair that it was hardly safe to use -- she’d had plans to convert it into a tranquilizer gun, he’d discovered. She should have never been down there in the first place. She should have left Armonia with her staff and patients, long before she could have ever even had the chance to suggest this. He should have told her to leave the city, she would have listened -- need to keep up appearances, after all, she wouldn’t have blatantly protested or outright disregarded an order where the others could have seen her do so.

The whole thing had been her idea, once they’d realized that Charon would leave the city if they knew that he had. She’d been trying to buy them time, she’d been meant to lead the mercenaries around, lose them, and then overload the reactor controls and slip out of the city before the reactor blew. They’d switched plate armor, so that she’d be able to not only catch the pirates’ eyes, but pass as him from a distance, while moving quickly through the city. She was several inches shorter than him, and was noticeably slighter, so it wouldn’t be enough to fool someone up close, or to trick Locus if she crossed paths with him, but it would buy them the time they needed. She would keep the mercenaries distracted, lead them in circles. They’d switched her hardlight shield into his armor, it ran better and covered a larger area, standard issue for Federal medical personnel in order to shield patients in the field, and he’d given her his better-maintained sidearm, so that she’d have a fighting chance should she be cornered.

It feels… almost unreal. He… still can’t believe it. It had all been going according to plan, but then…

“Emily -- Y-You can’t--!”

“I’m sorry, General Doyle! I know it isn’t perfect. Oh... there we are. The timer on this detonator barely lasts a minute. You need to get out of the city while you still can!”

Kimball throws her weapon to the floor of the Pelican as she speaks, shouting now, even though the other general knows it won’t do any good. “Damn it, Grey! Don’t--”

“Chorus needs you both. When this war ends, they’ll need skilled leaders more than they’ll need another doctor. You’re no good to Chorus dead!”

He just stands in quiet shock, gripping hard on a grab bar close to the bay doors as he hears that cheerful voice on the other end of the line, so matter-of-factly explaining, rationalizing, her situation as if it was a simple lab experiment. He can hear Kimball shouting over the radio, but a private message over his own comm. line drowns her out.

“... I’m so sorry. If there were any other way…” He hears her breath hitch, hears her voice shake. And it breaks his heart to know that there’s nothing he can do. “... look in my left-side storage pocket. I left you something just in case. I love you.”

He doesn’t have time to answer her, doesn’t have time to tell her that he loves her, doesn’t have time to say goodbye or anything else: there’s a deafening roar of an explosion, one that shakes the transport. But he isn’t sure if it’s the impact or the grief that snatches his knees out from under him and sends him crashing to the floor .

Emily’s “just in case” had turned out to be the very same things Locus had brought him after the massacre at her outpost, just about. Except, she’s left him both of her identification tags, with her ring neatly dropped onto the ball chain and hanging beside them.

“… Doyle?” a voice asks from somewhere outside his vision. He tucks the tags back into the pocket from whence they’d come: he doesn’t want anyone to see them. “… oh, you’re still in here.”

Tired blue eyes crack open finally at the sound of someone calling him, catching sight of the helmet at his feet. He closes them against the tears as they start again, and he swallows. He knows that voice. He knows precisely who’s speaking to him, and he also knows full well that he can’t exactly ignore the speaker. But he just can’t bring himself to look up. It takes a great deal of effort simply to speak aloud.

“... unfortunately.” His unconscious choice of words spikes emotion in his chest, but he swallows it, shuts his eyes against it. He can… he can deal with that later. “... do… do you... er… do you need me for something?”

Vanessa is quiet, the silence heavy in the air between them. For that long moment, he’s sure she’s about to begin shouting, telling him that of course she needs him for something. But she never does. Instead, her response is quiet. Almost… concerned. “... It can… wait.”

“... ah… are… erm… are-are you certain?”

“... yes.” Her footsteps approach his position slowly. Carefully. Once she stops walking, he hears the sound of a helmet seal breaking, and feels her sit down next to him. When she doesn’t say anything further, he finally forces himself to open his eyes again, to turn his head and look at her. Vanessa’s face, so young still but aged prematurely around the eyes by the stresses and horrors of war, is normally tired and sort of angry-looking, or at least, it has been the few times he’s seen it. And she still looks tired now, but… the anger is gone. Her curly hair is coming out of the hurried little bundle she appears to have put it into to keep it out of her face. He can see the very badly-faded lock of what was once ice-blue hair that hangs somewhere in the middle of the right side of her head, it’s come out of the bundle completely and is hanging down away from the other fugitive tendrils.

“... Sarge told me you two seemed close,” she finally says.

“... closer than he knows, I believe. I… spent quite a lot of time in her medical bay, after all, quite, er… quite prone to fainting spells. We… got to be… yes, quite… quite close.” He swallows. “... I shouldn’t have let her go. She never should have been out there, she… she should have left with her patients.”

“... you heard her on the radio. I… really don’t think you could have said anything to stop her.”

“You’re… entirely right. Emily is… w-was … a very willful individual. One of the many things in my life I had absolutely no control over. But that… always seemed to work in my favor. If I’d managed to find my spine for two minutes maybe I could’ve… talked some sense in her…”

Kimball’s hand settles on his wrist, and he pulls his hand away. As a reflex, he stands, shaking his head wordlessly, intending to physically move away from her -- from the conversation. He doesn’t get far on trembling knees and his sprained ankle, though, and winds up crumpled on the floor of the pelican about three feet closer to the bay door than he’d started. And it’s there that he stays.

Good god, he’s pathetic.

Kimball’s beside him in a moment, but doesn’t move to touch him yet, just stands beside him and waits for his next move. When he doesn’t make one, she takes a knee beside him. He finally manages to look up, face lined with years of worry and etched deeper with fresh sadness, eyes tired and empty and heartbroken, brimming with restrained tears. He can’t manage to say anything yet -- just stares. Stares, then turns his eyes almost sheepishly to the floor.

Kimball sighs. “… Look. I… I don’t… I didn’t know Doctor Grey as well as you did. So… I’m not going to sit here and pretend to know what she’d really want. But… if you two were that close, then I can promise you that she wouldn’t want you to think that way. She wouldn’t want you to blame yourself. I understand how hard this is for you--”

“ Do you.” The statement -- absolutely not a question -- is uncharacteristically harsh. The bark of a much larger dog than he’s previously shown himself to be. And it absolutely does not come with an immediate retreat and profuse apology, though neither does it come with an aggressive posture. It’s more addressed to the floor than to the other general. “ Do you understand.”

“Yes, I do!” Kimball snaps back. “You’re not the only one who’s lost friends because of this war.”

… friends. Right. Of course she couldn’t have known: he and Emily had been very careful to keep that information private. If anyone has figured it out, he’d’ve assumed it was Agent Washington: most of the soldiers at the outpost avoided Emily like the plague and probably assumed that he, while possibly afraid of her, felt bad for her that she was so isolated.

He doesn’t correct her. It doesn’t matter now.

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

“Ducking out early?”

He stops in his tracks as he makes it to the door, and turns over his shoulder to see Vanessa leaning against a wall not very far from him, a cup of coffee still gently steaming in one hand. He just gives a bit of a nervous chuckle, reaches up to rub at the back of his neck. “… and here I thought I was being quiet.”

“You were. But I know you by now.” She stands straight, taking a long sip of her coffee, and makes her way closer to him, which isn’t hard, considering that he doesn’t move. “I’d offer to make you some eggs, but I get the feeling you’d say no.”

“H-Huh?”

“Nothing. You got somewhere to be?”

“Ah, er… well, I… yes, I do. But… but I--” He’s caught. He knows he’s caught. He’s got no excuse. So he just slumps. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to just… disappear like this…”

Vanessa laughs , and of course it’s not malicious. It never is, with her. At least not to him, not anymore. They’ve… come quite a ways in the several months since the war ended. “You at least gonna tell me who it is? I feel like you owe me that much.”

“I-I…”

“I’m joking . What you do once you leave here is your business.”

He stammers further, as if looking for an excuse even though one isn’t required, but eventually shuts his mouth and looks down, clears his throat to reset his stammer. It’s been dreadful these past few months, after so many years of speech therapy and an entire adult life with little discernible trace of the horrible thing. But… well, he’d been warned that the stress and trauma could bring his speech impediment back.

He is, however, thankfully spared from answering as Vanessa continues to speak. “… I’m happy for you. You know that, right?”

“Ex… e-excuse me?”

“You’ve been… down. Really down. I’ve noticed. And I get it. You… we’ve all been through… well, a lot. You, me, Chorus… and… you know, some people haven’t been able to come back from that and be happy and connect with people again. It’s good to see that you’re finally getting back out there.” There’s that teasing smirk again. “Even if it means I get to see less of you.”

“ Please don’t say it like that. I…”

“Like what?”

“Like this is your apartment and… a-and I’m sneaking out after something illicit !” It’s quite a bit louder, and quite a bit harsher, than he’d like, but the jokes -- and he knows she’s joking -- have made him uncomfortable for quite some time, and… well, today of all days he just… he really, really can’t take it. In his frustration, he twitches, his fingers flex, and he drops his helmet to the floor with a loud clatter that snaps him out of his moment of unprompted rage . “… I-I… I’m so sorry, I…”

Vanessa is, of course, unfazed. “Doyle, I’m gay . You very much aren’t my type. Well, you’ve kinda got the right hair color, but otherwise--”

“I know that! I…” He just shakes his head. He knows that. He’s known that for nearly a year now, since he first caught her eyeing Agent Carolina while the former freelancer was making use of the weight room at the training facility. “I-I know that. I’m sorry. This… this is just a very… strange day. For me, I… I’m very sorry. I… I need to go. I, er… finished the last of the major projects I’d been working on, those are on my desk.”

“Cool. I’ll get to them in the morning, I’m about done with mine.”

“There’s no rush.”

“… mind if I ask what you’re headed out to do?”

“… not at all. I…” He pauses, stoops to pick his helmet up, and straightens again, tucking it securely under his arm. “… it’s… ah… anniversary.”

“Anniversary?”

“Yes.” He doesn’t elaborate beyond that. It’s another brief moment before he turns away from her, and puts his helmet on, with shaking hands. “… good night, Vanessa.”

She doesn’t say anything further, simply watches him leave. Once the door closes behind him, he’s off down the back staircase -- he’d normally take the lift, but that’s not… he’s better going down stairs than up them. It also allows him to avoid people. Not that there’s anyone left in the building at this hour, he and Vanessa are almost always the last to leave.

He sees a familiar, teal-armored someone lurking in the lobby once he emerges from the stairwell, and he gives her a polite nod. “Hello, Agent Carolina. Er… waiting for Vanessa?”

She gives a noncommittal sound of acknowledgement.

“She should be down soon, but I can key you into the lift if you like.”

“… I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”

He nods a bit, tosses his head toward the lift and turns to lead her to it, keying in the code and letting her in in order to send her up to the offices. Once he bids her a good evening and the doors close, he sighs, and turns to head out of the building.

The walk home is short. Of course it is, his apartment -- they’re all in apartments, even him and Vanessa, it was… it was the most efficient solution to the housing issue -- isn’t far from the offices. Not a long walk at all. Not quite enough time to let his thoughts run away from him. His apartment is in the basement of the building, so there’s no zoning out in the lift and staring into space while his mind runs unchecked. Just a short flight of stairs down into the basement hallway, then a few more feet to the only occupied apartment on this level -- there’s an empty one across from him, no one’s cared to move into it, it reminds a lot of them of the barracks, and he understands that. It’s not at all why he found this one comforting, in fact, it makes his skin crawl just thinking about it that way, but it had been the sense of solitude that had come with it.

And there it is. Once the door closes, all the sounds that come with existing beyond these walls cease entirely. No traffic noise, no humming of industrial ventilation keeping air moving through the hallways. He finally lets out a heavy, exhausted sigh, letting the tension drop out of his shoulders as he leans back against the door. It takes him an inordinate amount of strength to reach up and remove his helmet, and even more to reach and set it down on the table beside the door.

It’s slow going to change out of his armor, but he manages it. Manages to start dinner too. He’s not sure how much of it he’ll eat, but he’ll try. He’s just sitting down on the sofa when the chirping alert tone of an incoming call comes in from the radio console on the end table. He considers not picking it up, letting it ring out. But he doesn’t let it go, he reaches over and taps the button to answer. “Yes?”

“ It’s me .”

“Hello, Vanessa. Did I leave something at the office?”

“ No, uh. Look, I feel bad about… you seemed upset with you left. I just… wanted to make sure you were okay .”

“Oh. Yes, I’m. I’m alright. Just a strange day, I told you.”

“ … Carolina and I are going to get some dinner, if you want to join us .”

“Ah. Already in for the night, actually. Thank you, though.”

“… what um. You mentioned an anniversary. Anniversary of what, exactly? ”

“… I… well, er…” He swallows. He’s… very carefully avoided discussing this with Vanessa. He’d had no reason to do so. When he speaks, his voice is… different. Far more tired than he’d sounded before, an incredible feat, really. “… did you know I was married, before?”

“… uh… no, you, um. You never mentioned that .”

“Mm. I asked her to marry me while I was having a panic attack. I-I thought one of us would die before we got the chance.” Doyle’s laugh is humorless, more like a scoff as he realizes how stupid it must have sounded at the time, though his fear would prove itself to be real several years later. “She probably shouldn’t have agreed to it.”

Kimball remains quiet for a moment, which he expects. He doesn’t hear Carolina in the background, but he knows she has to be there. “… do you want to… um… tell me about her? ”

“I don’t want to intrude on your evening, Vanessa. If you’ve plans with Agent Carolina, then you should keep to them.”

“ It’s… um, it’s okay. No, we… we can wait a minute. You um. You sound like you need to talk. ”

“I’m alright.”

“ Not even a name, huh? ” Her joking tone is back, and normally, it’d be… sort of welcome. But it isn’t. “ Come on. Some good memories to balance out the sadness, huh? ”

“… well, you did meet her.” He reaches up and closes one hand around the identification tags he’s kept wearing even after the war. One of them is his, the other Emily’s. Her ring settled right alongside them. “I’d be surprised if you remembered her quite as fondly as I do, though, no one really seems to.”

“… who was she ?”

He pauses. He’s not sure why the question stings so much. “… right, I didn’t think y… y-y… didn’t think y-you did. I’m… not surprised. Emily could be… a bit off-putting. I admit that.”

“Emily? … wait, Doctor Grey?”

“Mm.” He leaves that answer as it is for a moment. He hears Vanessa make a small sound of acknowledgement, but she doesn’t speak. His grip tightens around Emily’s tags, so much so that it shakes. “... she deserved so much better. ... she wasn’t always l… wasn’t always li… l-like that. I… I di… didn’t… didn’t realize there was something wrong until it was… far too late to stop it. She deserved someone who could have helped her… before she got so bad. Perhaps if she’d been in her right mind--”

“... I don’t think she’d be very happy to hear you say that ,” Vanessa says, thankfully cutting him off before he can really finish his thought. “ I think she’d be insulted to know you think she must have been out of her mind to do what she did .”

“You… y-you’re very right.” Doyle shuts his eyes again. Good lord, he’s absolutely awful. How can he think so poorly of Emily. And what’s worse… what’s worse is the part that he’s forgotten in his grief. That his voice cracks and shakes on admitting, even after the usual throat clearing in order to stop himself from stammering. “... her greatest fear was that she would lose her mind entirely, you know.”

“… I think that’s a perfectly rational fear .”

“… as did I,” he simply says. “… I’m… dreadfully sorry to have ruined your evening, you had… you had plans, didn’t you?”

“ … no, it’s… i-it’s okay. I don’t mind. You’re upset, and you, um… it’s not a problem .”

“No, I… you should enjoy your evening. Well, er… a-as much as you can after dealing with me, anyhow.”

“ Wait, no, it’s--it’s fine, really .”

“… thank you for listening, Vanessa. I didn’t realize how much I needed to… ‘get that off of my chest,’ as it were.”

“ Hey, listen, it’s still early, Carolina and I can come get you, you can come have dinner with us. I don’t feel right leaving you alone like this. ”

“No, thank you. I’m not much for company right now. I… think I’m just going to go to bed.”

“ Doyle, wait-- ”

“Good night, Vanessa.”

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

Doyle doesn’t come in on time the next morning.

Doyle is never late to work. In fact, he’s always early, settled into work for the day by the time Vanessa makes it in. So to see no trace of the man in the building after the rest of the staff is mostly in in the morning is jarring and almost frightening to begin with.

Vanessa has her suspicions.

Something about the dark office, the empty desk, the memory of just how tired Doyle had sounded on their call last night makes her feel sick and worried. She remembers how he’d very uncharacteristically snapped at her before leaving work the day before -- he’d apologized, true, but still… and last night had been… a hard date for him. Something’s wrong. She knows it.

But she waits. She waits five, ten minutes before she can’t stand it anymore. She doesn’t bother with a call. She just rushes from her office and down the back stairs, because taking the elevator will take too much time. She barely stops to apologize to Matthews after knocking into him on her way out the front door, and it’s hell to push upstream through the foot traffic for the two blocks between the offices and Doyle’s building, but she manages it.

His building had chosen to go for non-powered doors, far easier to build than the heavy steel sliders, though with far less security. Which is useful for Vanessa, considering it only takes her two minutes to break the damn thing off its hinges.

She’s only been to his apartment a handful of times, and every time, she’d noted how bare it was. Hardly looked lived-in. She’d thought that it was because all he did was go to work and then come home to sleep, he didn’t take days off. He didn’t have a lot of time for decorating. But now… she’s not so certain that’s the real reason. Now… it sort of feels like he didn’t plan to stay long.

“… Doyle?” She shakes her head, reaches up and pulls her helmet off when she sees his still sitting on the table by the door. “Doyle, it’s me.”

Nothing.

“Doyle? You home?”

Of course he’s home .

There’s only two doors in the apartment: she knows one to be the bathroom, which also has a door into the bedroom. So it’s this second door she tries when she finds the one to the bedroom locked. And it’s not only unlocked, but slightly ajar.

She had been afraid of what she might see once she reached his apartment. Her mind had given her a hundred possibilities: that lanky figure hanging from a ceiling figure by the neck, the coffin-sized bathtub overflowing with bloody water, a body slumped against a wall with gore smeared behind it and a gaping gunshot wound. Or worse, no trace of the man at all.

So when she sees the shadowed shape of a body in the bed, it’s… both something of a relief, and sucker punch to the gut that knocks all the breath from her body. She’s hesitant to cross the small room and turn on the overhead light, but she does, and it cuts off the third attempt to call the man’s name entirely.

Vanessa knows he isn’t going to answer her.

He left the empty medication bottles on his bedside table. Two of them, both prescribed to him by Doctor Grey, but… obviously a little out of date.

She’s seen her share of dead bodies. But all of them have gone out violently, or in mental anguish that still showed on the corpse. But Doyle… looks peaceful. Really like he’d gone to sleep. No fear, no pain, nothing. Just… peace.

She looks for a note. She doesn’t find one.

She calls whoever she needs to. Reports it. Suzy, the medic-turned-doctor, who Emily had trusted with her patients. Jensen and Smith, they’re… cops now, they have to be called. She stays while they look around, tells them what she knows. What he said. How he didn’t leave a note that she can find. They find he’s holding a set of military ID tags, with a gold ring dropped onto the chain. One of them is his. One of them is Doctor Grey’s.

When they finish up, she goes back to the office. She’ll… have to think of something to tell the people now. It occurs to her to check his office on the way by, check his desk for the projects he’d said he’d finished. She’ll have to clean it out anyway. She finds the files right where he said they’d be, but on top of them is something else: a piece of paper, marked with his flowing, elegant handwriting. Not messy, not hurried. Absolutely clear to read.

I’m very sorry I lied to you, Vanessa. I didn’t want to waste your time with a long goodbye. You had an appointment to keep, I had dinner plans. But if you’ve found this, then I suppose that you already know what those plans truly were.

Do you remember what I said, at the skirmish in Armonia? The outpost that was destroyed? It was our primary command facility, and the location of our field hospital. Where Emily was stationed. After the massacre there, Locus reported it to me in Armonia. He put her ring into my hand, and told me that he’d found her lying in the snow. That she’d already bled to death by the time he’d gotten to her. There was nothing he could have done. I still wear her tag. And her ring, on the chain.

Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was what I thought she must have looked like by then. And when it came to light that Locus had been lying to us… I was hoping that he’d lied about her too. And he had, which in all honesty came as nothing short of the most intense relief I think I’ve ever felt. I thought back then that I didn’t know how I’d ever get along without her. When you met me in Armonia, I was greatly considering letting you take your shot and end everything. I didn’t want to live without her. I’d considered doing it myself, but I couldn’t have done that to the soldiers.

Please don’t be upset with yourself. Or anyone else. Of course no one saw the signs. I made certain there weren’t any signs to show. I didn’t go a romantically poetic route and go all the way to the old Armonia site and let the radiation get me if the medication didn’t because I didn’t want to be stopped by some soul on the street and distracted. I didn’t want it to be loud and messy, or dramatic. I wanted this to be over. Rather appropriately, I am just so tired. I’ve been an insomniac since I could spell the word. I just want to sleep. This has been months in the making, Vanessa, there was never anything you or anyone else could have done to stop it.

Tell people whatever you like. Tell them the truth, tell them I was too weak to go on, too selfish to live without the woman I loved. Lie to them and tell them the trauma of war took its toll in other ways and I wasn’t strong enough to take it -- well, that part’s sort of true, I suppose. Or don’t tell them anything. It doesn’t matter in the slightest.

Do me a favor, would you, and make sure that whatever happens to me, they leave me with Emily’s things. There was nothing of her to bury but her plate armor, and I’ve had that since it happened. If we can’t be buried together properly, I’d like to do whatever we can .

She doesn’t know how long she spends standing there, reading and rereading the paper in her hands. She doesn’t know how long her radio chirps for before she notices it, and answers, her voice shaky and broken.

“Yes?”

“ General Kimball? It’s uh. It’s Smith, ma’am. There’s kind of a crowd out here, some reporters. Uh. What do you want us to tell them? ”

She pauses. “Don’t tell them anything. Not yet. I want to handle this properly.”

“ Yes ma’am. ”

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

Suzy comes to visit around dinner. To check in on her, mostly, see how she’s holding up, but also to deliver some news.

Preliminary results of the autopsy say that it was the medication overdose that killed him, she’s confident to call it a clonazepam overdose right now. But there’s something else. Sort of an ultimate cliche, really.

His medical records all indicated a rather weak heart. But the heart she’d seen when she’d checked him over had been… different. There had been some swelling, she says, a specific swelling of the left ventricle that indicated something called takotsubo cardiomyopathy . It’s stress-related, and rare, and it mostly affects women between sixty and eighty. Dying from it is nearly unheard of, but if it goes untreated in someone with such high stress, well, it can cause other problems. If he’d ignored it, or had never noticed, it could have contributed to heart failure.

It’s the common name that almost, darkly, makes Vanessa laugh. Some people, Suzy tells her, call it broken heart syndrome .

“The physical broken heart didn’t kill him,” Suzy clarifies. “But by all accounts, it was probably going to.”

[whycraft]

The Three Body Problem: Chapter 8

AO3 | Wattpad | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10

A/N: Possible tw for this chapter? The Watcher has some flashbacks to a war (nothing graphic, but they think Grian is one of their old brothers in arms (that’s not the right term but I can’t remember the right one))

The war progressed quite quickly after that. Flags were stolen, lives were lost, and both teams were a bit on edge - but no one was as on edge as Watcher. Frankly, it was giving Grian a bit of a headache.

It was for this reason that he suggested having a final battle; first to his own teammates, then to Team STAR. The war had been dragging on for a while, so everyone was pretty open to the idea.

On the day of the battle, Grian and the Watcher watched as Cub and Scar set up their cameras on the head platform, preparing to report on the battle.

I can’t believe they’re not going to fight, said the Watcher scornfully. Cowards, the both of them.

There’s a lot of people who aren’t fighting. They’re not cowards, they just don’t want to participate.

Cowards.

Grian sighed. Are you ready?

Yes. 

Let’s go, then.

They joined up with the rest of G-Team in their meeting room. Grian gave a quick peptalk, then they talked strategy, then split into smaller teams and began gearing up.

Several communicators beeped at once. It was Cub: [Go!!]

The battle had begun.

Grian and Jevin immediately headed out of their base and towards Team STAR’s. Their task was to distract the archers and the ghast canon while Joe built a bridge over the moat. By that point in time, the moat was deadly - magma blocks and Guardians were scattered every few feet. In order to steal Team STAR’s final flag, G-Team had to be able to make it across the moat.

“I think I’m gonna try to blow a hole in their wall,” said Grian, inching as close as he could and pulling out his TNT.

“I’m going to try to draw their fire over here,” said Jevin. “Stay safe.”

Grian lit off the TNT, but it didn’t cause any substantial damage.

“Oh my gosh,” said Jevin. “Dude, I’ve gotta get out of here, there’s TNT everywhere -”

A ghast ball flew over Grian’s head and landed somewhere behind him. Next thing he knew, he was flying into the air with the sounds of explosions in his ears. He landed close to the water, unharmed save for fall damage.

“I’m guessing that was the TNT you were talking about?” he said, struggling to get the breath back into his chest. “Jevin? You okay?”

“No, man, I need to get some regen. Hang on -” Jevin tossed a regen potion at his feet. “I think we’ve got a successful bridge, by the way.”

The Watcher cheered inside his head, but Grian was too busy watching Doc and Ren. “Are they putting llamas in - I can’t believe my eyes, what are they doing?”

“Grian, we need more gear.”

Grian tore himself away from Doc and Ren’s llama machine. “Right. Quick retreat, then.”

They scampered back to G-Team’s base only to find that the front was overrun by witches. They backtracked to one of Jevin’s potion outposts and took turns pressing the button.

Grian and Jevin’s communicators beeped at the same time. It was ConCorp: [STAR 9, G 5]

We’re running out of lives, we need a new strategy! We need to take initiative!

Wels ran past them, leaping over the hill like some sort of bizarre gazelle.

Watcher took control and grabbed Cleo, who was running in the opposite direction. “Gang up on Wels, gang up on Wels!”

Watcher, you’ve got to warn me before you do that!

“I’ve only got a stone sword!” she said, but chased after Wels alongside Jevin nonetheless.

“It doesn’t matter, keep going,” said the Watcher, aiming his bow and releasing an arrow. Wels dodged it easily. “No, don’t let him - don’t let him get away!”

But Wels was too quick, and made it safely back to Team STAR’s base.

“Oh, he’s gone,” said the Watcher dispiritedly. 

Grian took back control. “I’m going in with an invisibility potion. Jevin, Cleo, distract them.”

Between the invisibility potion and the darkness of night, it was easy to cross the battlefield and then Joe’s bridge unnoticed. He slipped into the labyrinth and closed the door behind him. He didn’t have to worry about phantoms; they’d all been killed by that point.

“Alright,” he said, “let’s do this.”

But that was easier said than done. A labyrinth was a labyrinth, after all, and it was not exactly easy to find one’s way in a labyrinth, much less in a barely-lit one. Each time they were met with a cave or a blank wall instead of a flag room, the Watcher became increasingly angrier.

It’s not in here!

No, wait, I think I see something.

It was the flag! It was in a long, thin room hidden behind iron bars. Grian broke the iron bars without hesitation and rushed towards the flag.

If it hadn’t been for the noise, he probably would have kept running. But there had been a noise. Grian knew a pufferfish when he heard one, and even he knew enough about redstone to realise that he’d probably set off a trap.

At the opposite end of the room, only a few blocks from the flag, there was an explosion. Then another - closer, this time - and another - and another - Grian turned back to go the way he’d come from, but there were explosions coming from that end, too. There was nowhere to go. Grian closed his eyes.

No! We’re going to lose!

We’re going to die!

But just before the explosions were about to reach them, they ceased. Grian cracked one eye open, then the other. Were they safe?

“Of course,” he realised. “They can’t blow up the pufferfish.”

In no time at all, they’d grabbed the flag and made their way to the top of the labyrinth. Unfortunately, they’d spent too long searching for the flag: their invisibility potion had run out.

We’re going to have to run for it, said the Watcher. Don’t stop until we’ve reached the meeting room. Are you ready?

As I’ll ever be. Grian peeked his head out of the door, then darted out of the labyrinth and across the bridge.

Almost immediately, the archers on top of the wall called out and started shooting at him. They jumped down from the wall and started chasing him before he could get out of range.

All the noise got the attention of just about every other Hermit in the battle, and friend and foe alike started following Grian - Team STAR to reclaim their flag, G-Team to protect Grian from Team STAR.

Faster, faster, they’re just behind us!

Watcher, I can’t go any -

Oh, go away! They wrestled control of the body away from Grian and ran faster. There were a few surprised yells from their Team STAR pursuers, who also began to run faster.

The Watcher’s fingers tightened around the flag pole, knuckles white against the wood. Their breathing hitched and stuttered.

Watcher? You good?

No, I’m not good, ∴ᔑℸ ᓵ⍑ᒷ ∷! We’re in the middle of a war!

What’d you call me?

This is no time for jokes! Shut up and cover me!

Watcher, I’m inside your head, I can’t run.

But the Watcher didn’t listen, only ran faster. They were at the back entrance of the G-Team base, and scrambled to press the button and get through the door with the flag in hand. They’d only just made it to the bubblevator when the door opened again and a group of Hermits poured in. The Watcher jumped into the bubblevator and shot upwards.

They’re going to catch me, the Watcher said hysterically. ∴ᔑℸ ᓵ⍑ᒷ ∷, do something!

Watcher, snap out of it!

The rest of the hermits were right on their tail. The bubblevator dragged them past the meeting room and spat them out on the roof of the G-Team base. Their foot caught on the rim of the bubblevator, causing them to crash onto the ground. They let out a low cry, holding the flag close to their chest as they slid a few blocks.

“Grian? Grian? Guys, I think something’s wrong.” It was Joe; the rest of the hermits had arrived.

“Grian?” Ren put a hand on the Watcher’s shoulder, but the Watcher grabbed his wrist in a vice-like grip, causing him to cry out in pain.

They stood up, and through gritted teeth, growled out, “I am not Grian.”

Ren yanked his arm away from the Watcher and backed away towards the other Hermits, who were warily readying their weapons.

“...Grian?” said Mumbo tentatively.

“I am not Grian!” Ignoring the many alarmed shouts, they turned tail and leapt off the roof.

[chungledown-bimothy]

Trust Me: Chapter 5

Hello again! I know it’s been a while- things got crazy with the holidays and my birthday, but things are calm now. Here we go!

Chapter One Chapter 4 AO3 Chapter 6

Warnings: mentions of violence, descriptions of torture

Word Count: 1865

Tag List: @ren-allen @ccecode @emo-sanders-sides-loving-unicorn @ilovemygaydad @bloodropsblog @funsizedgremlin @raygelkitty @roxiefox23 @thomasthesandersengine @spookyingarbageisland @band-be-boss-blog

Virgil made his way to Dr Vincent Nigel-Murray's lab with a bad feeling in his gut. He hadn't been able to meet with the pathologist about the first victim, as the doctor had left town suddenly shortly after Virgil arrived. But he was back, and it was time Virgil met the man he'd heard so much about.

"Doctor Nigel-Murray?" He knocked on the doorframe, peering into the lab. "Are you here?"

"Ah! Yes! You must be Detective Mason, yeah?" Virgil wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but a 6-foot-tall Brit with dark hair and startling blue eyes who was practically bouncing with excitement was not it.

"Yep, that's me. Nice to meet you, doctor."

"Please, call me Vincent. Or Nigel. I also go by Vin, Vinnie, Vincenzo, any of those. My ex used to call me Vino Delectable."

"I'll stick with Vincent. And you can call me Virgil."

"A lovely name! Did you know that the famed Roman poet Virgil was homosexual and included erotic homosexual themes in two of his famed Eclogues?"

"I, um, didn't know that. Why would you bring that up? Have people been talking about me, gossiping about the gay new guy? I thought San Francisco was going to be better than this." Virgil narrowed his eyes, preparing for the worst.

"You're gay? I did not know that. What a coincidence! Fun fact-  in 2017, it was estimated that 8.2% of Millennials identify as LGBT+."

"You didn't know? Then what's with all the facts?"

"Facts are the stitches that hold the fabric of the universe together. I apologize if I'm being annoying; I've been told it's a rather bad habit." Vincent looked down and put his hands in his pockets; Virgil relaxed, suddenly understanding.

"It's an anxiety thing, right? Things get overwhelming sometimes, but facts are grounding."

"That is exactly right! If I may ask, how could you tell so quickly? Almost everyone gets there eventually, but it's only been a matter of minutes."

"I was one of the FBI's best profilers. Also, I do the same thing with sarcasm and hostility."

"It truly is a pleasure to meet you, Virgil. Now, follow me, I have two bodies with stories I think you'll want to hear."

Virgil followed the doctor into his lab. He was no stranger to morgues and autopsied bodies, but he could never get over the weird feeling in his gut when they were rolled out of the cooler. As always, he ignored the feeling and followed Dr Nigel-Murray to the first body.

"This is Orin Scrivello, the first victim. You can see the ligature marks on his wrists and ankles, and the scabbing indicates that he was tied up for quite some time and struggled a lot. This is just conjecture, but I'd wager it happened while the killer was inflicting these wounds." He pointed to the deep cuts on his legs and chest.

"Those look really deep. Cause of death?"

"You'd think, but no. The killer stayed clear of any major veins and arteries."

"So what's cause of death?"

"Blood loss."

"You literally just said-"

"He didn't bleed out through any of these wounds; he's got a single slice right along his brachial artery."

"Do we know what was used to cut him up?"

"Standard kitchen knife. Dime a dozen, available anywhere knives are sold."

"Great. Anything else interesting?"

"A couple of things. First, there were signs of dehydration, but not malnutrition."

"Any idea on how long they had him?"

"About two weeks, probably."

"The killer kept him fed while they tortured him for two weeks? Why would someone do that?" Virgil muttered. "The second interesting thing?"

"Particulates indicate that he was held in a warehouse. Nothing more specific than that, unfortunately; the killer did a really good job of covering their tracks."

"Just not good enough. Okay, let's talk about the second vic?"

"Indeed. Kyle Ren. Just finished his autopsy, in fact."

"Cool. Okay, let's start with what's the same between the two."

"Same ligature marks, although it appears that the killer kept him longer; I'd say closer to three weeks. He was also dehydrated but not malnourished. He was also tortured, but very differently."

"How different?"

"Orin had a relatively few, deep cuts. Kyle's arms are covered with dozens of shallow cuts.  Obviously, he was hit in the fact repeatedly, and the killer removed some of the flesh on his chest. Two rectangles, one on each pectoral."

"That's so weird. There was no flesh removal on Orin?"

"Nope."

"What was going on in this guy's head? Anyway, what are these on his thighs?"

"Electrical burns."

"So the killer cut, beat, and electrocuted him, sliced part of his chest off, and finally strangled him while also keeping him fed?"

"That's consistent with what I've found, yes."

"This guy is smart, angry, and escalating. Damn it. Okay, thanks, Vincent."

"My pleasure, Virgil. Hopefully we'll see each other again under better circumstances?"

"Maybe. By the way, and you really don't have to answer, but how did you decide you wanted to be a coroner?"

"Oh, it's quite the story. I was studying to be a forensic anthropologist in DC, and I got shot by a serial killer we were closing in on. I survived, obviously, and when I recovered… I don't know. Flesh and blood was a lot more interesting. So I finished my anthropology doctorate and went back for pathology."

"That's nuts. I'm glad you made it, and even more glad you're out here. You're a cool guy, Vincent. I gotta go talk to Kyle's next of kin. It was great meeting you."

"You too!"

--------

"Mason!" Virgil flinched when his captain's voice echoed through the bullpen. He took a deep breath before answering the summons.

"Yes, sir?" He asked once he reached Captain Sanders' office.

"Come in, it's time we talk about the case."

"Yes, sir." Virgil took a seat in one of the chairs across from Sanders' desk before continuing. "I met with the second victim's parents today- they confirmed the killer's assertion that he was a fascist. The pieces of flesh removed had swastika and Confederate flag tattoos. Apparently his grandfather was a high-ranking officer in the German military in World War 2. The victim was very vocal about his beliefs online; we have a tech team looking into his online interactions for potential suspects."

"Good. Now, tell me about the killer."

"He's wicked smart and almost certainly has a medical background. He's what we call mission-oriented, and his mission is vengeance. He's detail-oriented and covers his tracks well, but I don't think he has a criminal background before these kills."

"Killers usually do. Why not him?"

"How he treats the bodies after killing them. The things he did to his victims before killing them were violent and messy, but he cleaned them up and covered them carefully with leaves like a blanket. Yes, the cleaning served the purpose of eliminating most of the particulate evidence, but the clean clothes in the right size shows an extra step of care. He also kept the victims well-fed. He wanted them healthy, aside from the torture. It may seem illogical, but he has very high empathy. He punishes his victims because he genuinely cares about people.

Once he's punished them as he sees fit, they're human again, and deserving of respect and care. The violence is tied to the victim's crimes or sins, however he chooses to label them. Our killer isn't violent or malicious outside of the conditions that triggered the killings; he's probably perceived in his community as perfectly normal. Not creepy like Dahmer or manipulative like Bundy. Just an average person. He's probably lived in the area a long time, if not his entire life, and has a stable, long-term job."

"Sounds like he's going to be hard to catch. What's with the puzzle pieces, though?"

"He will make a mistake sooner, rather than later. The puzzle pieces are a taunt, daring us to solve the puzzle of who he is. He wants our attention, he wants to prove that he's smarter than we are. And that's what's going to hang him. He sees himself as an avenging angel, but he's just an Icarus."

"How does that help us catch him?"

"Honestly, sir, I'm still working on that part. I want to consult some papers from an old colleague before I add any more details to my official preliminary profile. I have a few ideas, but he was always better with mission-oriented killers than I am. I know it isn't the answer you want, but I learned the hard way how dangerous jumping to conclusions can be when dealing with someone like this."

"Mason…" Sanders started, softly.

"With all due respect, captain, don't start with that. I'm fine. I just want to make sure we do this by the book. Like you said on my first day- 'we can't let this become another Zodiac fiasco'."

"I can't say I like you using my exact words against me, but your work has been above reproach. I'm officially declaring this case yours and yours alone- I won't pressure you to partner up anymore. Just keep me in the loop okay?"

"Of course. Thank you, sir."

"You've earned it. Now shoo, you've got more important things to do than sit here with me."

"Okay." Virgil chuckled as he stood up and left.

---

"Patton don't do this. It's not a good idea. You don't know who this guy is, how much of a threat he might pose to us and our work."

"You do realize you sound just like them, right, Logan? Thinking you know best, trying to tell me what I can and can't do because of how it might affect you instead of thinking about what I want and need."

"That's not fair. You know that I love you, and they never loved either of us. I want you to stay safe; I can't protect you if I don't know who you're associating with."

"How many times do I have to tell you that you don't need to protect me any more? I know you mean well, but you have to trust me. You said yourself that I'm better with people than you are." Patton paused. "This isn't about protecting me at all, is it? It's about how you know that without me, you're alone. You have nothing without me, and you can't handle that."

"I… you're right. I need you, Patton." Logan admitted, falling to his knees.

Patton reached down and cupped Logan's face with their hands, tilting his face up. "Logan, you are and always will be the most important thing in my life. But I can't shake the feeling that getting to know him could change everything in the best way."

"That's exactly what I'm worried about, but I'll trust your instincts. I love you, Pat."

"I love you too, Logan. Thank you." Patton walked to their room, leaving Logan on his knees in the living room, alone with his thoughts.

Patton's right; this date changes everything. If we are deviating from the pattern in favor of indulging other desires, well, I would be a fool to let this opportunity pass.

[twopoppies]

Historical AU Fic Recs

I was asked by @zsolounamanzana to recommend some historical fics (sorry love, I accidentally deleted your ask!). I don’t actually read historical AUs that often, so I will probably end up recommending ones you already know, but here’s a bunch I really liked. I hope there’s some here for you:

Threadbare by kiwikero / @icanhazzalou

Harry Styles was eight years old when Louis Tomlinson kept him from falling into a machine in a Manchester textile mill.

He was 18 years old when nothing, not even the threat of death, could keep Harry from falling in love with Louis.

Howls Like A Beast (You Flower, You Feast) by @indiaalphawhiskey

France, 1754. Château de Versailles.

“You don’t love me,” Louis had said, utterly blasé as he callously fractured the heart of a Harry that was just barely eighteen.

“I do,” Harry had insisted pleadingly, green eyes already watering.

Louis had rolled his eyes, exasperated and flippant in the way only beautiful, young boys could be when faced with the affections of a baby prince. He had run his finger down Harry’s cheek then, had forced him to look into his eyes as he delivered the final blow.

“You’ll change your mind once you’ve seen more of the world,” Louis had teased, pressing a brutally delicate kiss onto Harry’s lovely, pure cheek. “Once you’ve been properly defiled.” He had whispered filthily, delighted by the gasp he heard, the frantic pink blush that had rested high on Harry’s cheeks, the power he had felt at knowing he could make the Crown Prince squirm.

To Honor by Awriterwrites / @a-writerwrites

#46. It's Getting a Little Hard

Ech day me comëth tydinges thre, For wel swithë sore ben he: The on is that Ich shal hennë, That other that Ich not whennë, The thriddë is my mestë carë, That Ich not whider Ich shal farë.

**** Each Very grievous are they One must go hence Do not know when Greatest grief Do not know whither I must go

-Unknown, Medieval English lyrics

Commander Styles leads his men to victory, but at what cost?

And down the long and silent street by whimsicule

The year is 1881 and if you’re alone in this world you might as well be dead, because starving dogs have no mercy.

Or: Wherein Louis and Harry are on the opposite ends of the social ladder, but their paths still cross on the filthy streets Louis calls his home. The odds are staked against them from the beginning, and even more when Louis' past finally catches up with him.

Atlas At Last by @louisandthealien

He doesn’t know what he had been expecting out of the road trip itself besides burping contests and too much shitty gas station food with Oli and Stan, but in the brief moment before Harry ambles up his driveway, Louis idly wonders if this is about to become some sort of Gay Coming of Age story.

Maine to California in ten days. In which Zayn’s an open-shirt hippie they meet somewhere in Ohio, Liam’s the pastor’s son running away from home, and Niall’s the number they call on the bathroom wall.

It’s 1978. Harry and Louis are just trying to get to San Fran in time for the Queen concert.

No One Like You by myownspark / @myownsparknow

Dear Niall,

I was glad to have the chance to talk with you again at the AHA conference. Your idea that the Musee D’Orsay Tomlinson painting is in fact not a self-portrait is an intriguing one, and I may have discovered something that will have a bearing on that theory.

Some background: as you may remember, I’ve been researching for a book I’m writing about Harry Styles. I’ve been in communication with Styles’ last living descendant, who is in possession of a trunk that her family believed to have belonged to Styles himself. It held some personal items she presumes to be his, including two unmounted paintings and a small collection of letters.

Upon spending the last few days in Provins studying these items, I believe there to be a connection between Tomlinson and Styles, and I would very much like your opinion.

Are you up for a trip to France?

Sincerely, Liam Payne

Where Liam and Niall are art historians discovering the truth about two nineteenth century painters on opposite sides of an artistic divide.

The Man Who Saw The Devil by @metal-eye

"The Devil was staring at him.

"Louis shifted slightly in his seat and scratched the back of his neck, picking up his program and reading the title of the play again: L’homme qui a vu le Diable.

"He was wearing a satin red suit, one that certainly stood out amongst the usual greys and blacks of other Paris theatres, and instead of merely appearing the two times that the main character summoned him, this Devil followed the other men around on stage as they spoke and played cards. He kept looking over their shoulders and mocking their awkward movements, jerks and twitches compared to his own lithe prowl. The theatre audience, most readily impressed by gruesome effects and sensationalism, couldn’t take their eyes off him.

"Neither could Louis."

Paris, 1912. Louis is a frequent patron of the Theatre du Grand Guignol. Harry is a performer. Tonight he's playing the Devil.

The Case Of The (Definitely Not Haunted) Styles Mansion by Anonymous

“So there’s a sense of humor buried beneath all that condescension, huh?” Louis said when he’d stopped laughing.

“It’s not condescension, it’s intelligence. I understand you might not be able to recognize it yourself,” Marcel said, then slapped a hand over his mouth. “Oh god, I’m sorry.”

Louis stepped closer, his eyes on Marcel’s face. “For being an asshat?”

“For being rude,” Marcel said, from beneath his palm.

Louis shifted a half-step closer until he was at the very edge of Marcel’s personal space. It felt like he was nudging at it, asking to be let in. Marcel flushed hot for no reason.

“Lucky for you it takes quite a lot to actually insult me,” Louis said taking one step closer. Too close. Too close.

Marcel met Louis’ eyes. Those blue eyes that reminded Marcel of poetry instead of science, lyrics instead of formulas. They were so pretty he wanted to drown in them.

---

Or the Nancy Drew AU where Marcel is a man of logic, Louis is a private detective who believes in ghosts, and the Styles Mansion is definitely, absolutely, positively *not* haunted.

Through Eerie Chaos by MediaWhore / @mediawhorefics

For as long as anyone can remember, Old Hillsbridge Manor has always been believed to be haunted. Everyone in the village agrees and keeps a respectful, fearful, distance. New in town after a bad breakup and an internship that led to disappointment rather than a permanent job, Harry Styles figures taking pictures of the decrepit building could be a great new creative project. Or at least a much-needed distraction while he searches for a job and crashes at his parents’ new house. No one warned him about the apparitions though; about the music, the laughter, the people who flicker and vanish when you call after them, the echoes of a past that should be long gone… Harry has never believed in spirits but even he can admit that there’s something weird going on. What starts as mere curiosity evolves into a full-blown investigation and soon enough, Harry finds himself making friends with an aristocrat from the 1920s and struggling with finding the best way to tell him that he’s dead.

The Ghost Hunter AU where Niall lives to prove ghosts are real, Zayn is a skeptical librarian and Harry gets caught up in a century-old mystery and catches feeling in the process.

We’re What’s Right In This World by BriaMaria / @briannamarguerite

“Why did you talk like that in Brighton? If you weren’t planning on ever telling me?” Louis asked. “Is it because you think you’re going to die?”

“It’s war, Lou,” Harry said finally.

The words were a knife slipped between his ribs. Everything hurt and he was bleeding. He shifted up, his palms cradling Harry’s jaw, his lips against his boy’s. Not kissing, just resting there, so Louis could feel him. “Promise you’ll come back to me.”

Harry’s hands smoothed down the sides of Louis’ body. “You know I can’t do that. I’ll never lie to you.”

“Promise me. We’re going to have our cottage. And our dogs. And our breakfast in the garden where nothing grows because of the wind from the sea. Promise me.”

“I won’t.” Stubborn as always, his boy. “I’ll promise you, I’ll love you all my life. I’ll promise you, you’ll never leave my thoughts. I’ll promise you, you’re my forever and my always. But promising you something I can’t cheapens the things I can.” ---- Or the World War II AU where Harry goes off to fight and all Louis wants to do is be the boy who brings him home.

Paint The Sky With Stars by kiwikero / @icanhazzalou

On 10 April 1912, Harry Styles boards the finest ship the world has ever seen. Still grieving the death of their mother, he and his sister are being sent to America to live with a callous uncle who cares more about his business connections than family. Harry prepares himself for a long, disappointing voyage alone in his stateroom.

Louis Tomlinson has borrowed and saved, and finally has enough to purchase a Third Class ticket to America. With all of his belongings in a single ruck sack, he boards the Titanic filled with hope for a brighter future. Never one to sit still, he can’t resist exploring the massive ship, and soon goes sneaking into First Class in a stolen steward’s uniform.

By a twist of fate, Louis finds himself in Harry’s stateroom, entranced by the most attractive man he’s ever laid eyes on. He keeps returning day after day, even if he doesn’t understand what it is about Harry that continues pulling him in. That’s all right; Louis has a week to figure it out, and Harry is plenty willing to help.

Except they don’t have a week. They have four days. Because on 15 April, their entire world will be turned upside down.

Or, the historically accurate Titanic AU with a happy ending.

Say Hallelujah, Say Goodnight  by @alivingfire

Louis is an angel who is just a little too bad to be good, Harry is a demon who is just a little too good to be bad, and they're both a little too in love to be impartial when angels and demons go to war.

Louis has been alive since life was a mere concept; he watched the summoning of Man into existence, he was there when Eve took the apple. He’s seen seas break the world into separate pieces, he’s watched empires crumble into dust. He’s seen wildfire consume cities, he’s seen the world painted white with snow. He has known the most beautiful humans to walk the planet, he has watched the most powerful mortals gather their riches and influence around them and then die just like the poorest, weakest humans do. He’s met humans whose motives defy explanation, people who use their lives as battering rams, as tools, as weapons, as chess pieces.

None of that stopped Louis in his tracks.

But Harry did.

If you haven’t read Butterfly Gun and you can find someone who has it downloaded (it’s been deleted), read that...it’s set in the 1940′s if I recall correctly and it’s beautifully written. 

I haven’t read this one yet, but it was highly recommended to me. It’s a WIP, but the writing is apparently is finished: 

Victorian Boy by DonnaHaywardsHead

Victorian AU. Harry the virgin Duke of Somerset knows little of love, while Louis the sly Duke of Warwick knows too much. When the two dukes come together for the Bilsdale fox hunt in York, Harry finds himself drawn into Louis' bed. But when secrets from Louis' dark past come to light, Harry fears that the fox isn't the only one being hunted.

This is another I haven’t had a chance to read but friends told me is wonderful:

Back To You And Tennesee by rippedgloves 

Louis Tomlinson rises to rock and roll fame at age twenty three and is thrown into a life of luxury and excess, but being on stage isn’t easy for a boy who has always stuck to the side-lines, and Louis struggles to deal with his new fame as he joins the Grand Ole Opry and is sent out on tour with names like Liam Payne and Elvis Presley. His life takes a turn, however, when his childhood role model, Harry Styles, joins them on tour, and the two become closer than two men in the spotlight are allowed to be.

-

OR, the one where Louis is Johnny Cash and Harry is June Carter

[lr-supernaturaladdict]

Abomination Ch. 14

Summary: What happens when the girl sent by the king of hell falls in love with the Winchester who refuses to love. What happens when she gets rejected by the older Winchester and she releases her inner demons. What’ll happen when the boys find out shes really a demon/angel hybrid after only finding out herself shortly before. Even being raised by the king of hell to know you were at least half demon didn’t prepare you for the roller coaster of loving and hating Dean Winchester. You only just begun to realize how much of an abomination you really were.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13

Chapter 14: I Love Lucy

Word Count: 5878

Warnings: Angst, Fluff, Smutty Goodness. 

Pacing around the library of the bunker you waited for the Winchesters and Castiel to return from visiting Lucifer. You had agreed to let them go after a very loud and destructive rant. Apparently you still weren’t capable of controlling your powers when your angry, and lets just say angry at the time was an understatement. Tables and chairs had been flung everywhere, books had flown from their places on the bookcases. It took some time but the boys all managed to calm you enough for you to see reason. You had told them that you wouldn’t be apart of their suicide mission and if they were to go they would need to stay out of the cage. No need to give Lucifer the satisfaction of killing them all.

Hearing the loud slam of the bunker door shut you hurried to see what damage had been done. “So how did the boys trip go?” you asked sarcastically before noticing both Sam and Dean covered in blood. “Oh no,” you ran to them quickly.

“We’re fine,” Dean said gruffly as he made his way down the bunker stairs.

“You’re covered in blood,” you had your brows furrowed as you met him at the bottom of the stairs, Sam right behind him.

“Just a little banged up,” Sam smiled slightly at you although he was clearly in pain.

Looking at them both sadly you moved out of the way. “Go sit down.”

“We’re okay,” Dean smirked at you as he walked past you, doing his best not to limp.

“Dammit Dean, you’re limping,” you huffed out in annoyance. “Go sit your pretty ass down,” you practically growled, causing him to look back at you with his eyes open wide.

He quickly replaced his look of shock with his famous Winchester smirk once again. “And to think, I thought Sammy was the only one who would make me all tingly taking control like that.”

Rolling your eyes you looked at the younger Winchester. “You going to be an ass about it too? Or will you let me heal you?” Sam's eyes shifted between you and his brother until he finally decided it would be best to just listen to you. You smirked to yourself when Sam walked over to one of the chairs that surrounded the war room table. “Now someone listens to me,” you say proudly walking over to Sam.

“Yeah,” Dean scoffs and walks towards the hallway which held your bedrooms. “Of course he would listen.”

“He’s just smart not to piss of the hybrid more?” you say with a glare thrown at Dean. “Speaking of which, where’s Cas?”

“He’s not here?” Sam asks as he sits in the chair he had chosen.

Raising an eyebrow in question you looked at the younger Winchester. “No, was he supposed to come back without you guys?”

Not realizing Dean had walked up beside you at the mention of his missing friend his answer startled you. “He said he was going to come back to check on you.”

“So he just left you guys with Lucifer?” you backed away from Sam so you could look at both of them.

Wincing slightly Dean took a seat next to his brother. “No, we were about halfway back when he went poof,” he said with a wave of his hand.

“And neither of you thought to call me and tell me this?” you said with venom in your voice, causing both men to grimace slightly.

“Didn’t think about it,” Sam said quietly, just loud enough for you to hear.

Throwing your hands in the air you scoffed loudly. “So instead of just healing you both and then coming back with you, he just goes MIA?”

“Pretty much,” Dean purses his lips.

“Yeah,” Sam said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Just wonderful,” rolling your eyes, you quickly moved towards them both. Not knowing what you were doing they both flinched back, only to have you press your hands to their heads, healing them instantly. “Since the angels missing, might as well tell me what happened and why you two got so beat up.”

“Wel-,” Sam started, only to be cut off by Dean.

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart,” he stood quickly and made to walk away.

Using your powers you made him sit back down, keeping them both pinned to the spot. “Neither of you are moving until you tell me,” you said with your arms crossed.

Giving his brother a dirty look, Sam practically told Dean to not be an ass about it. They both knew you would chew them out and tell them you were right, but you had a right to know. “Lucifer happened.”

Feeling your stomach drop you looked at them both fearfully. “I told you both to stay out of the cage,” you knew exactly what would happen had Lucifer escaped

“We did,” Dean huffed, running his hand against his scruff cover jaw. He hated remembering how the encounter with Satan went and he just wanted to let it go. “Drop it.”

“Then how the hell did he beat you both up?” you put your hands down on the table forcefully, looking Dean in the eye. “And don’t you dare say it doesn’t matter,” you could feel the anger bubble in your chest.

Raising his lip in a slight snarl. “You don’t need to fucking yell at us about it, we went to find out how to help you,” Dean stood quickly, getting into your face and causing you to back down slightly. You hadn’t expected him to be able to stand but you must have released him on accident.

“I wouldn’t yell if you didn’t get so damn defensive about a simple question,” you regained your stance and shoved your finger into his chest. “I told you not to go, then I tell you not to go in the cage. Sure as hell looks like you did just that,” you pushed him back softly, making sure not to use your full strength. “Lucifer is bad news and I know he did and said shit to you, just to get a reaction.”

“Enough,” Sam finally stood and attempted to separate you both.

Both of you turned to look at Sam and yelled at him. “NO!”

“I’m not backing down until he accepts that I was right and lets you tell me what happened,” you growled.

“You want to know what fucking happened?” Dean practically yelled in your face.

“Dean,” Sam said gruffly, using his hunter voice.

“Yeah, what the fuck happened Dean? Did lil’ ol’ Satan hurt your feelings so you wanted to try and teach him a lesson?” you huffed a dry laugh, you could feel the darkness inside of you wanting to take control, saying things you didn’t mean.

Dean looked at his brother from the corner of his eyes, seeing Sam look at him with his puppy dog eyes, he knew he shouldn’t egg you on further. Sighing he ran his hand through his hair and waved it in your direction. “Forget it, if Sam wants to tell you, he’ll tell you,” and with that he turned and walked away towards his bedroom.

You watched as he walked away, to say you were confused was an understatement. His moods were more off than yours were right now. You thought that since the mark had been gone he would have been able to control his anger better but it seems as though you still got on his nerves, even after his confession to you about his feelings. Seeing them both hurt the way they were hurt you deeply and all you wanted to do was help but he didn’t seem to care either way.

“I’m sorry,” Sam said softly, placing his hand on your shoulder he turned you to face him.

“Why are you sorry? You haven’t done anything wrong Sammy,” you smiled at him and put your hand over his.

“I’m sorry because of him,” Sam rolled his eyes slightly and gestured his head in the direction of the bedrooms. “I think he’s just upset because of what happened.”

“Well if I had known what happened I may have been able to make him not as pissed,” you sighed and ran your hand through your hair. “The past few days the darkness inside of me has just been itching to get out and that stubborn ass has not helped.”

Rubbing the back of his neck he looked away from you briefly and sighed. “Lucifer said some things that were pretty upsetting, to all of us actually. And then things kind of went from there.”

“What happened?” you swallowed thickly, knowing something terrible happened.

Third Person POV:

“Well well well, what have we got here,” Lucifer chuckled looking at the three men walk towards his cage. “If it ain’t the plaid wearing wonder brothers and my darling winged brother, to what do I owe this pleasure. Hey, Sam Winchester, you miss me?”

Dean rolled his eyes and walked up to the cage, looking the devil in the eyes. “We have some questions that you’re going to answer,” he shrugged and pulled out his angel blade. “Either the easy way or the hard way.”

“That toothpick of yours won’t kill me,” Lucifer sneered, looking at his brother and his true vessel. “You boys bring anything better?”

“Lucifer, we need to ask you about (Y/N),” Castiel said in his gruff voice, not paying any mind to his older brothers teasings.

“Once we get what we came for, we’ll leave you be,” Sam added, always being the peacemaker.

“(Y/N), huh,” Lucifer smirked. “Haven’t thought much about her since the last time I laid in bed loney.”

Dean growled and stepped closer to the cage. “Watch it buddy.”

“What do you want to know?” Lucifer asked looking into the eyes of the green eyed hunter. “Other then the fact she’s a great lay, which I’m guessing you’ve all figured out.”

Slamming his hand against the bar of the cage Dean snarled at the fallen angel. “You wouldn’t know anything about how she is, let alone that. So shut your trap.”

Raising his hands in mock surrender, Lucifer snickered. “Well I’m just saying what all three of you are thinking, considering I can see it in your simple minds. I could expect you two to fall into her lap, well vagina,” he pointed between both Winchesters. “But you to brother? I get she’s absolutely gorgeous, but to be with such an abomination is so unheard of for you. Tell me, how was tasting tainted goods? Enjoy the sloppy, what was it thirds?”

Sam stood with his jaw and fists clenched in anger, he tried to hold back his anger knowing full well that his brother would show enough for the both of them. Castiel was the one to ultimately break first with his anger when he was suddenly right up against the cage wall. “How dare you speak so lowly of her?” he hissed out. “When you yourself were cast down by our father because you couldn’t love what he created, if anything she loves to much.”

“You really think that’s love?” Lucifer smirked and snapped his fingers, magically putting all three men inside the cage with him. “You want to know what it was like to be with her from the others points of view? No well I will show you anyways,” he continued smirking and snapped his fingers once more.

In an instant all three men were reliving your sexual encounters with the others. Dean saw you in the shower with Castiel. Castiel saw you on the hood of the Impala with Sam. Sam saw you in bed with his brother, over and over again. All three men felt their hearts ache at the sight of you with another man, even with someone else they cared about.

Growling Dean lunged at Lucifer with his angel blade in attempt to stab him. “You son of a bitch.”

Laughing Lucifer swiftly moved out of the way and shoved Dean up against the bars of his cage. “You are really stupid, making a move a satan. You’re in my house little man,” struggling against the bars Dean continued trying to lunge at Lucifer. Lucifer enjoying watching him struggle didn’t pay any mind to Castiel and Sam come up behind him. Before they could attack him, Lucifer struck behind him. Effectively knocking both men to the floor, Lucifer swung a punch at Dean for extra measure. “She’ll be mine boys, believe me when I say that in a way, it was meant to be. You want to know her purpose and what she is? Well she’s a weapon made directly by the darkness, once she’s at her full potential and no one can stop her,” his lip curled in an evil smile. “I intend on making sure she’s taken care of boys,” he winked at Dean as he heard him growl. “But this cage won’t hold me forever and you’ll need me to help her control those urges.”

“You sick son of a bitch,” Dean growled.

“Don’t you dare touch her,” Sam snarled, trying to get up from the floor.

“I won’t touch her until she’s begging for it,” Lucifer snickered and kicked Sam in the stomach.

Castiel attempted to reach for his friends only for Lucifer to step on his hands. “We won’t let you even near her.”

“So you think,” with one last laugh Lucifer snapped his fingers and put them back into the Impala, telling them very little of what was to come of you.

Your POV:

“Dean?” you knocked gently on the bedroom door of the eldest Winchester. “Dean can I come in?” A sound of a very quiet grunt sounded from the other side of the door. Sighing you pressed your forehead against his door and knocked again. “Please answer me.”

“Fine,” you heard him huff and move around the room.

Opening the door and entering the room you looked at him briefly before shutting the door behind you. You noticed his eyes were now bloodshot and he looked even more tired then he had been, his eyes were even slightly puffy. He must have been crying. “Sam told me what happened,” you moved and leaned against the desk in his room before continuing. “I’m sorry for getting so mad at you, are you alright?”

He smiled at you with his famous Dean Winchester smirk. “Never better, sweetheart.”

Rolling your eyes you ran a hand down your face. “Please talk to me De,” you looked at him, trying to hide the pain in your own eyes.

“What’s there to talk about? Sam told you what happened. What’s done is done, Lucifer wants you to be his bitch,” he shrugged and looked down at his hands that rested in his lap. He sat up against the headboard of his bed and you watched as his hands clenched and unclenched.

Standing up straight you moved to sit next to him on the bed, placing your hand over his you sighed. “Ever since the last time we were alone together you’ve been even more distant, I hate what he said to you,” you shook your head and took a deep breath. “I know what I am and I hate that I’ve hurt you all so much to the point the freaking devil can use it against you,” you squeezed his hand gently before removing it from his.

“It’s not your fault,” he muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for you to hear him.

“Yeah, it kind of is,” you laughed dryly. “What a way to treat each other, huh?”

“What do you mean?” he looked at you with gentle green eyes that you remember him having the moment you met him in that bar.

“We were idiots and we loved each other, yet we fucked like we hated each other. I had sex with your brother and best friend. You fucked some random girl in a bar,” you felt a tear run down your cheek at the memory of walking in on him. “Months later Castiel admits he loves me and I black out. You admit you love me and everyone walks in to see it. Sam admits it and he hates himself for it,” running your hands over your face you scoffed. “I ruined your lives.”

“Our lives were already pretty fucked before you came into them,” he shrugged. “You just made it more bearable, well until recently.”

“Gee thanks,” you pushed him slightly with your elbow. “What are we going to do?”

“Well,” he ran his hand through his hair and bit his lip. “I’m going to stop the devil from becoming your suga daddy.”

“Oh god, ew,” you scrunched your face and gagged. “He’s practically my uncle and grandfather.”

“Isn’t Cas technically your uncle too?” he raised an eyebrow at you and smirked.

“Oh shit, he is. Although it’s not as bad as Lucifer, he quite literally created my mother and was created like right before my father. I’m an incest baby,” you gagged and pressed your hands against your face.

Dean let out a loud laugh and threw his head back. God you missed seeing him like this, he may not have been happy but at least he was smiling. “That’s pretty fucked up.”

“Yeah,” you smiled slightly at him. “At least you got a kick out of it.”

“Don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in awhile,” he took a deep breath and turned to look at you. “I’m sorry to by the way.”

“Why? Did you plan my incesty birth?” you cocked an eyebrow at him, only causing him to laugh more.

Once he finally stopped laughing again he took your hand in his. “For snapping at you, you only wanted to help and I was being an ass.”

“You had a long day,” you shrugged and rested your head against your shoulder. “It’s understandable, plus you’re always an ass,” you smirked.

“Yeah that’s true,” he smiled down at you and ran his hand down your arm. “We’re both pretty screwed up, huh?”

“Big time,” you sat up and kissed his cheek. “But I still think you’re pretty okay, Winchester.”

“Yeah?” he asked with his eyebrow cocked. “Just okay?”

You shrugged and put your hand on his cheek. “I said pretty okay, don’t put words in my mouth,” you smiled at him and patted his cheek.

“Well I guess you’re pretty okay yourself,” he said as he nuzzled his face against your hand. “I missed you,” he breathed out softly, placing his hand over yours and holding it in place.

Running your thumb over his cheek you pressed your forehead against his. “It’s going to be okay Dean.”

He laughed softly. “I should be the one telling you that,” he took a deep breath. “Why are you the person who can infuriate me the most, but also the person who can make me forget about all the bullshit?”

Shrugging you looked in his dazzling greens. “I ask myself the same question about you sometimes, especially with the mark.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, squeezing your hands tightly. “I’m so sorry for the way I treated you when I had that thing. You never deserved any of that.”

“Well,” you smirked slightly. “There were a few times I did deserve those spankings.”

Breaking into a breathtaking smile, which quickly turned into a panty dropping smirk his voice was deeper and huskier. “Sweetheart, you always deserved those,” the moment he opened his eyes you noticed the change immediately. Those were the Dean Winchester eyes you became accustomed to frequently, whether it was when you rode him or when he was on top of you.

“Dean,” you said softly, finally noticing how close your faces were to each other. You knew it was a bad idea to be with him again, especially when you cared for two other men. It wasn’t fair to him or them. Taking note of him moving closer to you, you placed your hand on his chest to stop him. “We shouldn’t.”

“Why?” he whispered, his lips only a breath away.

“Castiel and Sam,” you blinked and looked him in the eye, having a hard time concentrating on controlling yourself.

“After what I saw, I don’t care anymore,” he swallowed thickly and ghosted his lips over yours. “If you don’t want me, or this then tell me. I,” he paused and licked his plump lower lip, causing your eyes to immediately look at them. “I want you (Y/N/N), I meant what I said in the motel. If you feel the same then great,” he shrugged and looked away for a moment. “If you don’t anymore, that’s okay too. But if you do then please, tell me.”

Taking a deep breath you centered yourself once more. “I do Dean, but I care about them too. I love you all,” you whispered.

“Then we’ll make it work,” he placed his hand on the back of your neck and looked you in the eyes. “I’m not going to lose you, we’ll make it work,” before you had a chance to answer Dean crashed his lips to yours.

You instantly reacted and gripped his shirt tightly, holding him to you like your life depended on it. Your lips moved together with his almost like they were made for each other. Using the hand on the back of your neck, Dean gripped your hair tightly, tilting your head back slightly to have better access of your mouth. Sliding his tongue against your bottom lip asking for entrance, you gladly gave it to him.

The hand not holding onto you for dear life made its way down your back. His hand slipped under the hem of your shirt and made its way back up to your bra strap, effectively snapping it open. Gasping slightly at the sudden change you felt him smirk against your lips. “I forgot how good you were at that,” you pulled away from him briefly, breathing heavily.

His lips attempted to follow you but when you put your finger over them he let out a soft whine. “Seriously? I’ve waited so long to have you again and you do this,” he groans and slams his head back against the headboard.

“So impatient,” you tsked him and sat up on your knees. “I just wanted to show you what I can do with my new powers, but if you’d rather not that’s okay.”

“Does it involve you getting naked?” he smirked again at his joke.

“Actually yeah, and something else too,” you smirked at him and snapped your fingers. You felt the sudden chill down your spine now that you were naked. You learned that you could make your clothes disappear one of the first days you had grace, you normally just had them placed in the hamper after removing them.

“Holy shit,” he breathed out at the sight of your naked form in front of him. He’d never admit to himself how much he truly missed you, you were the most beautiful person he had ever been with and he loved your body. When you had been together before he never truly showed you how much he loved it, he chose to change that. “Lay down.”

“So eager,” you giggled and laid down on the bed, prepared for him to just fuck you. “Barely noticed you were naked yourself.”

As he moved to lay above you he looked down at himself and shrugged. “Why would I when you’re here?” he whispered against your ear and kissed your neck softly.

Running your hands through his hair you noticed he was acting completely different then what you had been used to. Normally Dean was eager to be inside of you, almost always skipping foreplay. You whimpered slightly as you felt him bite your shoulder, leaving his mark there, while running his hand down you body. “Dean,” you sighed softly.

“I love hearing you say my name like that,” he moved his head and kissed you softly. Squeezing your hip slightly he pressed you to his body tightly, almost afraid that if he let go you’d disappear from him. You felt his length press against your thigh and as you were about to ask him what was taking him so long you felt his other hand graze your folds. You gasped against his lips as he rubbed you, just barely giving you any satisfaction that you needed. Gripping the hair at the nape of his neck you broke the kiss and pressed your forehead against his, your breathing became labored. His hands began to work more skillfully, working one digit in and out of you while his thumb occasionally grazed your clit. You both maintained eye contact throughout and you were sure that your eyes were as lusted over as his.

He continued working your over slowly until you were sure he was as worked up as you were, you could barely control yourself at this point. His teasing was almost seemingly endless and you wanted nothing more then released. “Dean, please,” you whispered against his cheek.

“Who am I to deny you since you asked so nicely,” he whispered back against your cheek. Moving the hand not currently working over your core to the back of your neck, he gripped your hair tightly, pulling your head back against the bed. Thrusting multiple fingers in at once he began to fuck you with his fingers harder, effectively hitting your g-spot with each thrust. He had you turned into a moaning mess in seconds. Kissing you to help contain the noises you made, you heard him grunt himself as he felt you constrict around his fingers. Eventually the coil building in your stomach snapped and you came with a loud moan, swallowed by Dean as he kissed you.

As you came down from your high, he pulled away with a smug grin on his face. “I guess you are as good with your hands as I thought you’d be,” you smirked at him as he sat up on his haunches.

“Oh, you’d think that, but I’m even better with my mouth,” he brought his hands up to his mouth and sucked his fingers clean. “I’m nowhere near done with you, I have a lot of time I need to make up for.”

Before you had a chance to ask what he was talking about he had your legs in the air. Moving so that your legs were now over your shoulders Dean laid down on the bed, his mouth hovering over your slick heat. You never got a chance to react before his lips and tongue were on you. He had never done this for you before and it all took you by surprise. Feeling his tongue lick up your slit had you moaning more than you had before. It wasn’t like you had never had anyone go down on you but he was different, better even. Placing one hand in his hair you gripped tightly, almost holding him to you while the other gripped the edge of the mattress for dear life. As he moved his lips to your clit, he sucked gently, moving one of his hands to gently stroke your folds in a teasing manner. His other hand slide up your side to your chest, groping your breast lightly before pinching your nipples. “Dean,” you almost squealed.

Smirking against you, he sucked harder on your clit while pinching your nipple harder as well. Inserting his fingers back inside you he curled them just right, causing another orgasm to crash through you. Your grip on the mattress was so tight you ripped part of the seems, making a large hole in the end. Once he worked you through your second orgasm, he slowly kissed up your body, caressing and groping your body as he went. “I take it I did good,” he huffed out a laugh upon seeing the new found hole in his bed. “You’re fixing that.”

“It just gives it more to remember, shh,” you hushed him and wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing him with all the energy you had left. Quickly flipping him onto his back you straddled his waist.

“You know, ever since we got into that fight, I’ve thought about you on top,” he chuckled and ran his hands up your thighs.

“You’re insatiable. You know that,” you smiled at him and ran your hands up his stomach.

“So are you,” he sat up and captured your lips in a heated kiss, not breaking contact as he lifted your hips and lined himself with your entrance. As you sunk yourself down onto him you both hissed at the contact. “Fuck, I forgot how good you felt,” he broke the kiss.

“Really? I thought I was unforgettable,” you moved your hips slightly, biting your lip to hold back a moan.

“Yeah,” he said through clenched teeth at the feeling. “You’re right, you are but fuck. I never got used to how good you felt on me.”

Before you had a chance to make a snappy comeback his lips consumed yours once more and his arms wrapped around your body. Wrapping your arms around his neck you starting to move yourself slowly, lift off of his length every so often just to sink back down on it. You felt one of his hands slide up your back and grip your shoulder, holding you down to him tightly, while the other made its way to tangle in your hair. He held you to him tightly as he moved onto his knees. Breaking the kiss slightly, only so your lips were less than an inch apart he started to work you up and down on his cock slowly, while his hips thrusted up into you. “Dean,” you breathed out his name softly.

“I know baby,” he said back just as quiet, pressing his forehead to yours in such an intimate way that you could tell he wasn’t the same person you were once with.

Moaning slightly as his cock grazed your g-spot he instantly increased the pace. He was making love to you and you couldn’t get enough of it. He watched you intently, clenching his jaw holding back his own release to make sure you hit yours first. One more hit to your g-spot and you were a goner, your third orgasm didn’t his you as hard as the last two but in a way this one was sweeter. It was strong and hard, just like the man you were with, you didn’t know what overcame you but you couldn’t help the words that slipped out. “I love you, De.”

His lips were on yours instantly as he continued to thrust up into you a few more times, until he finally met his own release. Opening your mouth in a silent moan at the feeling of his warm seed coat your insides, he moved to kiss your neck again. “I love you too, (Y/N).”

Laughing slightly you moved your hand to run through his hair as you both caught your breath. “We’re terrible people.”

He laughed with you and moved one of his hands to stroke your cheek, not moving to remove himself from you yet. “The worst.”

Sighing you pressed your forehead to his cheek. “I don’t know what to do.”

“We’ll figure it out,” he whispered into your neck, holding you tightly to him.

“God, I hope so,” you kissed his cheek and sat up, moving yourself off of his lap. You heard him hiss as he pulled out of you, instantly missing the feeling. Snapping your fingers you made your clothes reappear next to you on the bed.

“Will you please,” he paused and rubbed his neck. “Please stay for a bit.”

Looking back at him you nodded. “Of course,” you smiled at him slightly, laying down on his bed.

Laying down next to you he engulfed you in his arms, pulling you to him tightly. “I’m sorry if I just made things more complicated.”

“Don’t be,” you leaned back against him, pressing your back to his chest. “I meant what I said, I just think that I feel the same for them to,” you sighed.

Kissing your shoulder he ran his hand up and down your arm. “I may not like the idea of having to share you, but I’m willing to if they are,” he whispered against your skin. “I’m not losing you though.”

“Really?” you looked back at him with your eyebrows comically raised.

“Yeah,” he chuckled slightly. “With all the shit happening right now with Amara and you with your evil twin inside, can’t afford not to if it’s the one good thing we got. You know?”

Smiling more to yourself you nodded. “I know, we’ll talk to them then.”

“Later though, right now you’re all mine,” he squeezed you tightly before pulling his blanket over you both. “Also meant what I said, you have to fix my bed.”

“Why when it’ll probably happen again?” you smirked and looked back at him.

“You naughty little girl,” he raised his eyebrow in a way that screamed dominance. So he was still a Dom even when he didn’t have the mark, this should be fun.

Meanwhile in the cage:

“You really are an idiot,” Lucifer smirked, looking down at his brother whose face was beaten and bloody.

“I need you to help us,” Castiel coughed slightly, feeling the blood drip down his lips.

“I already told you my answer Cassie, can’t help if I’m in the cage,” he said in a sing songy voice.

“I just want answers,” Castiel huffed out between ragged breaths.

“I gave you all that I’m willing to answer, she’s fucked no matter what you do. Few and far between can help her from becoming the abomination she truly is,” Lucifer's lips curled in an evil sneer. “But I tell you what, if you let me out I’ll help save her.”

“How do I know you would betray us?” Castiel looked up at his older brother skeptically.

“Well you don’t, but if you let me use your vessel,” he shrugged. “Then you’d be able to see what I’m doing.”

“Why would I do that?” Castiel attempted to stand defensively, only to be pushed down once again by his brother.

“Your vessel would be strong enough to hold me and this way you can still keep watch over your little slut,” he hissed slightly at the mention of you.

“Don’t call her that,” Castiel growled, making a move towards his brother again but realizing it’s useless.

“This is a one time option Castiel,” he said slightly, as though he hadn’t just beat the life out of his own brother.

Sighing, Castiel knew that this would be the only way to keep you safe from Amara and yourself. “Promise not to hurt her.”

“I promise I won’t hurt her,” Lucifer said, smiling like a cat who had gotten it’s cream.

“Then yes,” Castiel said, looking to his brother sadly. He knew it was a bad idea but it was the best one he had. He would do absolutely anything to keep you safe, even becoming a vessel for the devil himself.

Chapter 15

Masterlist

[yamisnuffles]

Reforged Alliance

A continuation of my fic meant to explain what my non-Outlander SW has been up to in the lead up to KotFE. Takes place after Ch. 9 of KotFE, with the start of definite canon divergence. You can find the previous chapter (and links to the chapters before that) here.

Astrazia stood framed in the door of her personal shuttle. A wide collection of faces were assembled to witness her arrival at the Alliance base. There were a few welcoming expressions among them, scattered Imperial soldiers along the periphery of the landing bay and some proud Sith who dared stand closer than most. For a large part, however, she was greeted with suspicion or outright hostility. There was a bothan with his blaster in hand and nervous Republic soldiers at his elbow, ready to back him up if necessary. Closest at hand were more familiar faces, only one of whom looked anywhere near inviting.

“Welcome, lord Wrath,” Beniko said with a shallow bow. “I apologize if your shuttle met with any resistance upon your arrival but you must know we weren’t expecting you.”

“Yeah, what exactly are you doing here?” agent Shan asked, eyes narrowed and arms crossed. “You were a little vague over comms and some of us are less eager to take your assurances that you just want to help. Especially when, you know, secret base. You weren’t invited, so what’d you do? Come sniffing after the trail of your old boss? I’m afraid you’ll find he’s a bit indisposed.”

Astrazia shifted her gaze to Rahn. The Jedi was uncharacteristically out of sorts. As much as she would like to take credit for Alliance Commander’s ruffled state, she couldn’t, or at least not all of it. She could sense the former Emperor stirring below the surface, sense a keen interest that made Astrazia’s blood run cold.

She bit back a sneer and turned her attention back to Beniko. “I’m sure you’re familiar with the former Cipher Nine?”

Her fellow Sith’s eyes widened. “You know where she is?”

“That ghost has come and gone. But I knew where she was and, more importantly at the moment, she knew where to find you lot.”

“That certainly explains that. Well then, my lord, the Alliance wel-”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Shan said, waving his hands. “Before we roll out the welcome mat, I still have some questions. You were more than happy to turn tail and run when you were actually needed to face down Valkorian, letting your pal Marr die and Reilli be captured. And, from what I hear, you didn’t even put up much of a fight when the Eternal Empire rolled in. It all just seems a bit convenient that you pull out just in time to keep yourself safe from Valkorian’s clutches and then come rolling back in right as the Alliance is set up. Why the sudden change of heart?”

“You’ll find I don’t have much patience for roundabout talk. So, tell me what exactly it is you’re insinuating, agent Shan, and we can move on.”

“I think you and your old boss worked this all out. He kept his claws out of you and, in exchange, you take up your old job and try to get him his throne back.”

Astrazia started laughing. It was an all out cackle that made Shan’s face flush red and the more trigger happy in the hangar warily lift their blasters. By the time she could bring herself to stop, she had to wipe tears out of her eyes.

“Take up my old job? If it wasn’t for the fact that I was worried the old man would try to hop bodies, I might be inclined to run my sabers through Rahn’s chest right this instant. The last thing I want is for that monster to rise to power again.”

Shan took a protective step in front of his Jedi lover, which might have been enough to loose another round of laughter had Astrazia not been busy worrying about unveiling her real reason for coming to the Alliance. Not that she was concerned with anyone bodily present but there was that ancient ghost rattling about. Yet, if she was to join, she had known before coming that it meant letting the Emperor in on her little secret.

“Do you want to know why I didn’t join you all those years ago in your hunt for Vitiate?

Astrazia waited only long enough for a short, acknowledging nod before she turned to go back into her ship. She could sense the ripple of concern that followed, as though they expected her to emerge with a rancor in tow. Instead she gently scooped up a dozing Twila and led Stella by the hand so the two little ladies of the Sith could make their grand debut to the galaxy at large.

“I didn’t go with you for the same reason I stayed hidden, because I had children to consider. I found out I was pregnant not long before I was to join Rahn on the hunt.”

A simple, flustered, “Oh” was all Shan could manage in response. Beniko, as usual, was more eloquent, although it was clear she was thrown by being so out of the loop.

“I see congratulations are in order. I take it that means Captain Quinn will be joining as well?”

An uncomfortable topic which was enough to get the unusually quiet Stella to finally join the conversation. “Mama made Papa leave.”

As she’d done the entire flight to Odessen, Stella sent her displeasure with her mother through the Force. It was a tiny thing, like a fly in her ear meant to drive her to distraction. It had started as a natural byproduct of Stella’s sour mood. However, as soon as the girl had noticed how it bothered her mother, she’d started a coordinated assault. Whenever Astrazia started to get complacent, along would come another petulant flick in the Force. Had it not been used to put her teeth on edge, she might have been impressed by her daughter’s razor sharp control.

She grit her teeth and did her best to throw a convincing smile down at the girl. “I told you before, Stella, it was your father’s decision. He left on an important mission.”

“You coulda made him stay with us.”

Astrazia had no more desire to lay her family problems out before the Alliance than she had to wake up Twila. She leveled Stella with the sort of look that left no room for further argument. “Go get your things ready.”

Stella disappeared back into the ship with one last, moody ripple through the Force. As soon as she was gone, Theron held up his hands in protest.

“We’re not some sort of nursery.”

Astrazia looked about the near empty hangar with an arched eyebrow. “It seems to me, you’re not much of anything. You need my help.”

Shan looked like he was about to protest more but he was cut off by a subtle gesture from Rahn. Her expression, which had been clouded and distracted since the moment Astrazia stepped onto her ship’s ramp, cleared at last. She stepped forward to offer her hand in greeting, which Astrazia took.

“I know the look you’ve had on your face until now- the old man finally stop monologuing in your ear?”

One side of Rahn’s mouth pulled up into a knowing smile. “He does like to talk, doesn’t he?”

“A man who doesn’t like to hear himself talk wouldn’t go through the trouble of selecting a specially designated Voice.”

To Astrazia’s surprise, Rahn actually laughed at that. It seemed time had loosened the shackles of Jedi tedium a bit. A bit, but not all the way. Rahn was quickly back to her  usual, blandly serene self.

“As Alliance Commander, I would be proud to offer you a position in our ranks. We’d be happy to have both you and your children. We stand together not only to fight Zakuul, but to protect innocents from the ruthless boot of the Eternal Empire. It is only if we take in the weak along with the strong that we can stand apart from such evil and truly defeat it.”

Just the sort of wording one might expect from a Jedi. Astrazia might have yawned if she hadn’t planned on just such a response. She found Rahn exasperatingly dull, but it was a predictable type of dull that came with true goodness. It was the sort of goodness that was naively prone to seeing the best in everyone and never would turn aside an offer of aid. More importantly, it was the sort that wouldn’t turn away children even if they were the children of a powerful Sith and a diehard Imperial officer.

She offered what she hoped was a gracious smile. “Glad to hear it.”

With that settled, Beniko took Rahn’s place on the ramp. “I will find you appropriate accommodations, my lord, and then Theron and I will work to find you a fitting role in the Alliance.”

“The sooner, the better.”

Astrazia stepped back into her ship and closed the hatch behind her. With that done, there was one last thing to settle. She placed Twila, still sound asleep, back in her crib and wondered if she’d ever been so mild mannered. The infant seemed to have quite the makings to grow into her father’s daughter. That would certainly make her easier to handle than Stella who, like Astrazia herself, had been born with her heart bared to the world. It was something she would learn with time to temper into greater strength and to cloak when needed. For now, her displeasure shone as a fitful beacon in the Force.

Astrazia palmed open the door to the small cabin that served as Stella’s bedroom. As ordered, her things had all been neatly gathered and readied to be moved into their new, temporary home. In that much, at least, she took after Quinn. Considering the mess Astrazia had already made of her own cabin, she was grateful for that much.

Stella herself, however, was in no state to proceed. Tears streaked from red, puffy eyes and her hands were curled into tiny fists in the hem of her tunic. She looked up at her mother, all the fight gone from her face.

“I miss Papa.”

Astrazia sat on the ground and swept Stella up into her lap. “I do as well. But that’s why we’re here, remember. I’m going to end this war so we can all be together again.”

“Papa said you’re the strongest.”

“No one will stand in my way. But I need to know you’ll be okay, so I can fight my hardest. That way we can get back to your father as fast as possible. We’ll be together before you know it.”

Stella scrubbed away her tears and swallowed through hiccupping breaths. “Promise?”

“I promise.”

She only hoped this war didn’t make a liar of her.

[pen-of-dunwall]

Tales of the Heart, Ch. 15 - Now I Got My A’s and Z’s

by essie-essex

for citywatchoverseer

City Watch Guard

“He taught himself how to read.”

There oh... uh... once was a cat named Ollie who lived in a co-cozy ho-hose... hoss... a house, a cozy house, with his Mama, Papa, Bro-Bruh-Brother, and... Sister. But Ollie was no oh-or-di-na-ry cat. He was very c-curious and... oh-often got into tr... tr... trou-ble.

Un... One cold w-win-ter eh... ehven... even... e-ven-ing, it beg-an to s-snow...

...and s-snow, and snow, and SNOW. Haha.

“Oh, boy!” said Ollie. “My f-first w-win-ter!”

Ollie le-leapt on-to the... the, uh... the w-win-dow-sill, his eye-eyes fo-fol-low-ing the stra-strange white dots as they flo-a... flo-floated to the ground. He put his paws up to the cold gla-glass, rai... rais... rais-ing himself up on his two hi-hind legs to get a bet-better look. Brother and Sister played ou-out-side, thro-throwing hand... fuls of white po-po-pow-powder at each other, their ch... cheeek... cheeks and noses red and ro-round. Ollie's tail swis... swis-sh... swished with, oh boy, ex... exit... exit-me-excitement as he watched them.

“How I would love to play in the snow,” Ollie said, his eyes filled with de-des-desire. “I would buh... buh... bur... burr-ow under it oo... uh-until I found the per-fect spot, warm and dark.”

The cat til-tilt-tilted his head back, pee-king at the door. Papa sat in his big chair reading a book, and Ollie could hear Mama in the kit-kitchen.

Surely, they would not not-notice...

Ollie ju-jumped to the gro-ground and cro... croch... croached... no, crouched, he crouched low, ti-tip-tip-toe-ing his way to the front door where the ch-child-ren would be re... ret-returning at any mo-ment, and when they open-opened the door, he would spr... sprin... sprint out into the snow and bur-bury himself in it before they could catch him.

He heard fa-faint la... lau... log... log-ha... lag... la... laugh-laughter as the ch-children ne-nea-neared the door and his ears per... perk... perked as he heard moo... muh... muffleh... muffle... muffled sto-stomp-ing.

“Ready... Ready...” he said to himself. He dar-dared not move. It was almost time.

The door click-clicked as one of the children turned the dork-door-doorknob, the door crack-ing open a mom-moment later. Ollie star-star-ted to change-charge but stopped sud-den-ly as the cold breeze cau... caused his skin to shiv-shiver. The children enter-ed the house, brus-brushing white powder from their coats.

“The door will close soon,” Ollie said. “This is my last chance!”

He took a deep breath, cr-crouched low, and chan-charged outside.

I let my arm drop, still holdin' the open book between my fingers, and sigh.

When I got this book from the library, the lady told me that this was for kids, but Ollie the Cat's First Winter by T.J. Brownstone ain't no easy reader. I can feel myself gettin' tired, and my head kinda hurts.

I probably shouldn't be readin' durin' my shift, but it can get real borin' just standin' here waitin' for somethin' to happen. It's kinda rainy today, so the market ain't too crowded, so that means no fights over the last fresh fish to break up, no youngsters stealin' sweets to chase after, and no pretty ladies to holler at. Nope, nothin' to do but just stare at the sky... or read if you know how.

I hear laughter from in front of me and spot two boys in worn clothes whisperin' to each other. I guess the rain didn't keep everyone away. They stop, the larger one takin' a few steps towards me.

“Hey, aren't you reading Ollie the Cat?” The boy looks up at me with tight lips and somethin' that ain't just innocent curiosity hidden behind his eyes.

“Yeah, what about it?” I say, pullin' my shoulders back. “Shouldn't you kids be at home anyways?”

“It's a free city,” the boy says. “We're just walking home from school.”

“Yeah, well, keep walkin'. I gotta job to do,” I tell him.

“You didn't look like you were doing your job. You looked like you were reading an Ollie the Cat book.” The little brat smirks.

“Well, you kids just don't know any better. Now, scram.”

The boy snorts, his mouth tight and his face red. He looks back at the other, who has the same expression on his face, like he thinks somethin's funny.

“That's a kids' book,” the boy says. “Like for babies. I read all the Ollie the Cat books when I was nine.” He turns to look at his friend behind him, who giggles.

“Yeah,” says the smaller boy. “Me too. Isn't that the one where Ollie goes outside in the winter and freezes--”

“Hey!” I scream. “Don't give it away! I ain't read the whole thing yet!”

The boys jump at the sound of my voice, but pretty soon they ain't scared no more and start laughin'.

“Wow, City Watch Guards really are dumb!” The taller boy says. His little friend giggles along with him, but I'm about done with their shit.

I draw my sword and lunge towards 'em, like I'm about to attack.

“Yeah, keep laughin' when you're in damn pieces on the ground!”

The boys scream, scurryin' away like rats, and I watch until they're out of sight, takin' a deep breath to calm myself.

“It's okay, Murray,” I say. “They're just a bunch of spoiled kids.”

That's right. They're a bunch of spoiled schoolboys. Not everyone had the money to go to school when they was kids.

I grew up during the Morley Insurrection, when spyin' on your neighbor, makin' sure they wasn't helpin' the Morlish (or the “Morleyans” as we was s'posed to call 'em, just to piss 'em off), or that, stars forbid, they was Minnows themselves, was much more important than goin' to school or doin' any kinda work that wasn't helpin' the Empire win against the rebels.

There was plenty of jobs with the war on, and the factory fatcats was glad to get their hands on any children, so they could work 'em hard. An eighteen-hour workday, each and every day, is what I remember from my childhood. But there was bread to eat and bunks to sleep in. Sure, they was dirty, but they was indoors. I sent my pay home to my parents so they could take care of my sisters and brothers who was too young to work.

So, no, I didn't have no time to read like the little brats these days, but that don't make 'em better than me. Hell, I'm better than them, since I learned how to read all on my own. That's right, all by myself. No one helped me learn my letters.

Now that I know how to read, though, there's plenty around to practice with. It's crazy how many signs they got posted 'round the city, and there's even more than usual in the marketplace with words like “FRESH FISH” “HOMEMADE SOAP” “GARDEN VEGETABLES” “RARE FRUITS” and “BAKERY”. I tried to read them all when I first started learnin' my letters, but now those signs are so easy to read, I can understand 'em all in just a second or two.

I've learned a lot from readin' posters on the walls and such, too. Like the recruitment ads for the City Watch say guards are s'posed to make a whole four coins a day, and Officers make six coins. I ain't never seen more than three coins in a day, and lately they've been givin' me just two. I told this to the others so maybe we could get together and ask for our real pay, but they just told me to quit bein' so smart.

“You read it on a poster?” Jackson was the first one to speak when I told the boys about our pay.

“Yeah, we're s'posed to be gettin' four whole coins a day,” I 'member foldin' my arms and leanin' against my bunk, thinkin' I was somethin'. Like I was gonna start some kinda movement, leadin' all the guards in the Watch through the streets holdin' up signs. But that attitude didn't last for long.

“I think he's just makin' that up,” another one of the guards said from across the room. “You can't even read anyways.”

“I learned,” I said. “Well, I'm learnin', but the poster really does say that. There's one right next door. Just come with me, and--”

“You tryin' to get us fired, Murray? Quit bein' so smart.” Jackson turned toward the door. “Now, I'm gonna go steal me some food, and then I know a certain lady who's waitin' for these two coins in my pouch. You all comin'?”

The others followed Jackson, leavin' me alone. Just a year ago, I never would'a passed up a night with  a girl, but sometimes a man just wants somethin' more.

I'd thought that by learnin' to read that maybe I'd feel better about myself or the world or somethin' like that, but I don't know. Now instead of others makin' fun of me for bein' dumb, my own fellow guards make fun of me for bein' too smart.

But now that I can read faster, I'm startin' to get why there's people that actually like to read. Some books are really interestin'.

My shift ends, and I head back to the bunks while the others go for a drink.

I wish that boy from earlier today hadn't told me what would happen to Ollie the Cat. So, he freezes to death? I take the book out of my bag, flippin' through it and lookin' at the pictures. On one page, I can see Ollie racin' out the front door into the snow. I turn the page and see a picture of a sad little cat, all curled up in a ball, with icicles hangin' from its fur.

Poor Ollie.

But the book's not over. There's more. I turn the page and gasp. Papa carries Ollie into the house. He's alive!

I turn the page again. Now he's in front of the fireplace, and on the next page, he's smilin' and warm, and on the next—wait.

I slam the book shut.

No, I gotta read it. I can't just look at the pictures.

Cold and wet, Ollie had no energ-energy to run from Papa and, in-stead, curl-ed... curled up in his arms, shiv-shivering v-vio-vio-lent-ly. He cried when Papa tried to put him down, hanging on tight to his clothes with his sharp claws. Fin-finally, Papa man-aged... managed to set Ollie on the floor, where Sister and Brother waited for him with two flu-ffy to-wels. They dried him off as well as they could, and handed him to Mama, who w-wrap-ped... wrapped him in a soft blan... blanket.

“Let's put you some-place nice and warm,” she said, cudd-ling him in her arms. Papa picked up a box and took a woo... wood-en stick from it. Ollie watched the stick, which nor-normally, would have looked very fun to play with, but he was far too cold to play. With a quick g-g-gues... gest... gesture, Papa stuck it against the box, making o-rang... o-range light come from it.

“How strange,” Ollie said, tilt-ing his head to the side. Thog...though Papa had now cau-caught his at-ten-ti-on, he was still much too cold to do anything but watch laz-lazily from Mama's arms.

Papa put the stick into a hole be-hind a grat-grating. Ollie had never not-not-noticed that hole before. It looked like a great place to hide. But Ollie was too cold to think of hid-ing there now.

Wips-wisps of smoke and then orange waves grew from the bo-ttom of the hole, con-sum-ing the large chunks of wood in its in-ter-i-or. Ollie watched the flames. They were like nothing he had ever seen before. Mama took him closer and set him down, and Papa replac-ed... replaced the grat-ing, ob-scur-ing the dan-king... dancing fig-ur-es... figures. Ollie was dis-a-ppoin-ted. He wanted to watch them dance, but he was too cold to arg-argue. He lay in front of the fireplace, feeling the warm-th flow from it. Oh, how good that warmth would feel ag-ainst his skin. How good it would be to bury himself in warm orange waves.

Ollie stood, get-ting closer to the fireplace, but Mama st-stopped him.

“No, no, Ollie. That is fire. It is hot. You cannot get too close, or you will get burn-ed... burned.”

But Ollie did not un-der-stand. What was hot? Like a hot sum-mer's day? He could almost puh-purr, think-ing of the past summer when he lay out under the sun, while Mama stood near-by fan-fanning herself with her hand.

“W-hew, it's so hot today,” Ollie re-mem-ber-ed... remembered her saying. “It feels like I'm burn-ing up out here.”

So, hot was not bad at all! Mama mig-might not like it, but Ollie lov-loved when it was hot.

Hearin' voices outside, I look up from the text and close the book. The boys are back, drunk and loud as usual. I have a bad feelin' about this story, but I'll have to finish it later.

But I'm so worried about Ollie that I can't even sleep.

That mornin', the boys and I reach the marketplace and then go our separate ways, heading to our posts. Up ahead is Lee, who does the shift before me. He's singin' a song. I can't make it out at first, but as I get closer I hear the familiar tune of the A's and Z's song.

“A, B, C, D, E, N, G/ haych, I, J, K, elementally,” he sings.

I can't help but laugh.

“It's not 'elementally'. It's 'L, M, N, O, P,'” I almost say, but I don't wanna come off as a smart-ass.

It's funny how easy it is for me to sing that song now. When I first tried to learn it, I couldn't understand it. It was just a bunch'a sounds. How could anyone memorize it?

I 'member first hearin' it bein' sung by a bunch'a little kids goin' to school. They walked behind their teacher in a straight line, and she sang right along with them. It was the weirdest song I'd ever heard. It didn't have no words in it – at least not until, “Now I know my A's and Z's/Tell me what you think of me.”

Now, I was at least smart enough to know that A's and Z's meant letters. So that's what all that gibberish was. The kids was learnin' their letters!

Every mornin', I tried to listen to the whole song, but I never caught the whole thing, and I still didn't know what any of it meant. Finally, one day I just went up and asked.

I 'member the teacher saw me comin' and slowed down before she put her arm out to shield the children.

“Hello, Ma'am,” I said, rememberin' to be polite, of course.

“Good day,” the teacher said. She eyed me real cautious, like she was scared I was gonna attack her or somethin'. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“No, I mean, yeah. I was, uh--” I took a deep breath. “I just wanna know what that song is you're singin'.”

“What song are we singing?” The teacher's eyes got wide, and she looked at me like there was somethin' funny. “It's the A's and Z's song. We're reciting the alphabet.”

“So, that's letters, right?” I asked.

“That's, uh, that's correct, yes.” The teacher nodded. “Um, is there anything else?” she asked, after I didn't say nothin' for a moment.

“Could I learn it, too?”

The teacher opened her mouth and closed it again.

“I – sure. I mean, I could.” She stopped to think for a moment. “We could use an escort on our way to the school. I much prefer walking my students there to letting them go by themselves, but I would feel much safer with an actual guard to protect us.”

I knew I wasn't supposed to just leave my post, but I only had to walk them to school and then I'd be right back. Plus, there was other guards nearby.

“Sure,” I agreed. “And you'll teach me the song?”

“You can learn right along with us,” she said. She took a piece of paper from a bag hanging on her shoulder.

“Oh, I can't read,” I said, lookin' at all the funny symbols on the paper.

“Well, each one of those is a letter. So, here's A, B, C...” she pointed to each as she said it. “Let's get going. Children? A's and Z's, but let's sing it very slowly so... Sorry, I didn't get your name.”

“Murray,” I told her.

“And I'm Helena Delaney,” she said, smilin' kinda quick and then turnin' to the kids. “Okay, let's sing slowly so that Murray can read along with us.”

The moment I heard her say those words, I couldn't help but think how strange it sounded. “...so that Murray can read along with us.” Me. Readin'. How crazy was that? But I guess it was also kind of excitin'.

The school kids' voices interrupt my thoughts, and I wave Lee off and take his place.

“Murray! Hi, Murray! Good morning, Murray!” the kids all say as the line approaches with their teacher, Miss Delaney, at the front.

“Good morning, Murray,” she says, smiling.

“Mornin' Miss Delaney. Mornin' kids,” I say, givin' them all a big wave.

“Shall we carry on?” says Miss Delaney, and they head off, the A's and Z's song startin' automatically as I line up behind them.

“So, Murray, how is the reading going?” Miss Delaney asks.

We've arrived at the school, and all the kids are gettin' ready for the day and sittin' at their desks. I notice the familiar A's and Z's chart at the front of the classroom. I can recognize all the letters real easy now, and to think I used to not know what any of it meant.

“It's goin' pretty fine,” I answer. “I'm readin' a book about this cat. His name's Ollie.”

“Oh, Ollie the Cat. A bit too advanced for my children, but I'm still very familiar with those books. Which one are you reading?”

I lift up my helmet to rub the back of my head.

“It's the one where it's snowin' and Ollie goes outside.”

“Oh, that one.” Miss Delaney frowns and shakes her head. “Those books are always so tragic for an animal lover like me, but that one was especially sad.”

“Don't tell me!” I nearly yell, holding my hands up. “I haven't finished it yet.”

“Okay, okay!” Miss Delaney chuckles, putting her hands out. “Calm down, I won't spoil it for you.”

“Thanks,” I say, relaxing my arms. “Well, I gotta go back to my post. I'll see you tomorrow.” I turn to the kids. “Bye, kids!”

“Bye, Murray!” They all say, and I turn to leave while Miss Delaney starts class.

Time to get back to Ollie.

The flames wigg-led wiggle-wiggled and pop-popped, dancing in a way that made them almost ir-re-sis-ti-ble... irre-sistible to a cat like Ollie. He watched the emb-ers float into the air and disappear as he w-hipp-ed... w-hipped his tail back and for-th, his eyes con-cen-tra-ting in-ten-se-ly on the tan-ta-li-zing fire.  

But how would he get past the grating? He would have to move it, but sure-ly Mama or Papa would stop him before he could get past.

He sc-scanned the room, noticing-noting that the children had gone to bed and Mama and Papa sat do-doz-dozing off on the nearby sofa. So, he stood, war-i-ly stepping forward, his eyes locked on the nearly-sleeping couple. Creep-ing toward the bar-bar-ri-er s-se-pa-ra-ting him and the fire, he put his claws through the grating and yank-yanked it right down. It fell to the floor with a loud cla-clank that nearly made him dart in the other di-rec-tion, but he clamed-calmed himself and jumped on the grating, ready to make the final po-pounce.

“Ollie! No!”

The sound had wo-ken Mama and Papa, and they stoo-d, making their way to him. Ollie pa-nic-ked... panicked. He didn't have much time. The warmth from the fire toa-toast-toasted his skin like a hot summer's day, but he wanted those fla-mes flames for himself. He pounced, ready to trap the w-rig-gling w-riggling fire under his paws, as Mama sc-rea-m-ed... sc-reamed from behind him.

But soon he was the one sc-rea-ming.

“Hot! Hot! Hot!” he scree-ched... screeched. The fire was too hot. He bat-ted at the flames co-ver-ing his body, trying to keep them away, but it was no use as the fire cha-char-red... charred his bea-u-tiful fur, turn-ing it to the color of ash. Ollie screamed and screamed and screamed until his black-en-ed... blackened body went still, his life having fl-fled his us-use-useless co-corpse.

The End.

I can't believe it.

“Hey, Murray, you comin'?”

What in the Void just happened?

It's the end of my shift, and my buddies are all ready to go, but I clutch the book in my hand, my heart banged up and all but broken.

“No, you all go on. I'm gonna take a walk,” I say and push past 'em without sayin' another word.

You know, I figured things wouldn't turn out good for Ollie, but still the endin's left me kinda down. I got just as much into that book as someone would get into a story bein' told 'round the fire--

The fire.

Emotion hits me and leaves me with a bad feelin' in my stomach. Why'd that cat have to be so damn stupid?

I curse Ollie and T. J. Brownstone and the damn librarian that gave me the book and the goddamn library that kept the book on its shelves like it wasn't nothin' but another kid's story, just like the rest.

“Murray, what are you doing here?”

I walk into the classroom, and seein' the look on Miss Delaney's face, I let the tears fall.

“Is something wrong?” Miss Delaney asks. Her eyes get real wide, and she looks from side to side, but I'm too busy blubberin' to notice.

“Ollie died,” I sob, sniffling between words. “He... just jumped into the fireplace... and burned up.”

I look up at Miss Delaney, who, for just a moment, smirks before putting on a sympathetic face.

“It ain't funny,” I cry. “Why are you laughin'? Don't laugh!”

“Oh, Murray,” Miss Delaney approaches, putting her hand on my arm. “You didn't know?”

“Didn't know what?” I swallow, trying to keep my sobs at bay.

“Murray... Ollie dies in every book.”

The tears stop, and I stare at her through blurry eyes.

“W-What?”

“The cat dies in every book.” Miss Delaney replies. “That's the theme of the series. It's supposed to teach you not to be so curious that you get yourself into trouble.”

“I... wait a—What?”

Miss Delaney smiles a bit and then giggles, taking a handkerchief from her pocket.

“You poor thing!” she says, dryin' my eyes. I take the cloth from her, rubbin' it all over my face, wet with wasted tears.

“It's the same cat in every book? But how does he come back to life?” I hold up my finger. “Wait, wait, I know this. Cats got nine lives, right? So, as long as he doesn't die a whole nine times, he's okay.”

“Not quite,” Miss Delaney chuckles. “I think the trick here is that Ollie isn't a real cat. He's just a book character.”

“Well, that ain't realistic.” I sigh. “I could write a better story than that.”

“Maybe,” says Miss Delaney. She raises an eyebrow. “Are you looking to be a writer now?”

I laugh, feelin' my eyes dry up. Look at me, cryin' over a book.

“Oh no, nothin' like that. I just wanna read a better story. Somethin' happier.”

“Well, the library's still open. Maybe I can help you find some books you'd like to read.”

I nod, thinkin' of the possibilities—plus maybe Miss Delaney has a better taste in books than the librarian.

“Yeah, that'd be nice. Just no sad endin's,” I say. “And no cats.”

[missstormcaller]

WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU Part 11 Full Translation

Marriage Registration

3

pages 121-129

Squad 4 barracks office.

After finishing her patrol of the Coordinated Relief Station, kotetsu Isane returned back to the squad barracks, "I'm back~!" she called out whilst opening the door of the office.

"Wel-come w-ack w-ig sis"

The younger sister Kiyone who was grappling with piled up paperwork on the tabletop lifted her face up and replied whilst her mouth remained stuffed with suzu castella*. (*Bell shaped Japanese sponge cake)

"Oh! Eating sweets during work again!"

"It's fine! It's only us! I need to consume enough sugar because I use my head for paperwork"

"You did that at the 13th division too right? Without eating sweets”

"No no, the amount of paperwork at the 4th division is different! I absolutely cannot do without eating this~"

Kiyone said whilst tossing the suzu castella up into the air, catching it with her mouth before eating it. She did not stop herself from eating even as Isane chided her "Ugh! Can you not spill any sugar on the documents?"

"Oh yeah, before coming here just now, I saw Kuchiki san and Abarai kun!"

"Oh! they said they were getting married right?"

"Yup! They'll both keep up as vice captains so, they said they appreciate your continued support. It looked like they were in the process of going to file their marriage registration at the Gotei Soldier Record Administration Bureau."

"Oh, it's near this place"

"I was asked if the wait for the Soldier Bureau was long, so I informed them that it's quick around there"

As the name suggests, the Gotei Soldier Record Administration Bureau, is the administrative office that manages the information and data of soldiers belonging to the Gotei 13, and since it is only off duty officers who visit the reception window, the waiting time is remarkably short compared to that of the Personnel Record Administration Bureau.

"When I became vice captain, I also went there to adjust the record of my squad affiliation…… it's already been three years since then……"

After the death of former captain Unohana Retsu, Isane was urgently appointed as squad 4 captain. It was a compulsory appointment where refusal or putting it on hold for later could not be permitted. Squad 4 is a facility that includes the Coordinated Relief Station which is a hospital for shinigami, it was impossible to proceed forward in the absence of a leader at a time when they had numerous wounded people from war.

[ "It may be difficult but, I have no choice but to request this of you…… I'm sorry" ]

Kyoraku himself visited Isane, he left behind a written appointment letter. For a short while, Isane stared in blank amazement at the letter, snapping up she chased after Kyoraku, she caught up with him at the spot he had exited the squad barracks, she put forward her wish to have Kotetsu Kiyone installed as her vice captain at the same time as her own inauguration as captain.

"Hey, big sis. Your vice captain, why was it me?"

Kiyone asked without pausing her hands from her task.

"What's this all of a sudden?"

"Come to think of it, I believe I've never asked you. Since we grew accustomed to working around each other as soon as I took office, we were able to do our best, right? Both of us were feeling down on top of that……"

"…… that's why, I wished that"

Isane muttered those few words whilst processing the paperwork one by one.

"At that time, I……wanted to stay close to Kiyone, and I wanted Kiyone close to me so I can be there for her"

Isane with Unohana, Kiyone with Ukitake. They had just lost partners that they had felt a mutual sense of reverence for. Isane thought they could not overcome it unless they supported each other.

"Of course, not only that! Kiyone's kaido* (*healing kido) ability was also taken into account!"

"Yeah, thanks…… but is it enough to be nominated for vice captain?"

Kiyone laughed and turned her head, becoming a little shy at the serious tone of the conversation.

"What are you talking about! You were number one out all your classmates in kaido!"

"I guess so~ but learning in a classroom as opposed to practical training was completely useless"

"seems that it was written in the data of the academy that your kaido ability was so high that they had to supplement that more……captain Unohana put off saying it all that time. In truth, Kiyone, you were supposed to be assigned to the 4th division."

"Really!? If I remember correctly I wrote down my wish to join the 4th division on the course evaluation report……"

Isane revealed​ that her younger sister wished to work at the same squad, Unohana smiled softly at Isane and informed her of the true state of affairs.

"Just before the official decision was made, Genryusai sama suggested to the head of the Academy and captain Unohana that Kiyone be assigned to the 13th division. Captain Unohana said that they wanted to place a young person whose speciality is kaido near captain Ukitake…… particularly at that time, Captain Ukitake's health had become discouraging, captain Unohana would frequently go up to ugendo* for his medical treatment."

(*ugendo - Ukitake's quarters where he would often go to rest)

"Right it was like that……! At the time, though I also talked about it to you big sis, it was strange that they immediately sent in a fresh recruit to be the captain's personal guardian. I see……Genryusai sama……"

Kiyone once again recalls how truly loved captain Ukitake was by everyone. New recruits themselves as well as veteran soldiers alike held deep admiration for Ukitake whenever they encountered him, Kiyone instantly came to love him a lot.

"When Kiyone joined squad 13, captain Ukitake started to gradually recover…… and when captain Unohana returned from her house calls, she would speak highly of Kiyone, I was very happy"

"What a wonderful younger sister" she would say as Isane remembers being beyond ecstatic about that herself.

"Because Kiyone has the seal of approval from captain​ Unohana, she can confidently bear the title of squad 4 lieutenant, so that's enough!"

"It's not that I'm losing my self-confidence but……thanks big sis"

Kiyone smiled reaching her hand out towards the suzu castella. However, the inside of the paper bag was empty already.

"Oh, it's all gone. Big sis, don't you have anything sweet?"

"You're still eating? Don’t you have dinner?"

"Even though I'm full I still have room for dessert, so It’s fine~"

Whilst she said that, Isane opened up a cupboard which was tightly packed with sweets.

"There's so many! Does my big sis really eat sweets like this……?"

"Those are snacks for the flower arrangement class. Everyone has tea and sweets whilst observing the flower arrangement"

Unohana used to host monthly flower arrangement classes, now Isane continues to do so. Kiyone does not participate because her legs get too numb whilst sitting on her heels, however it is a popular class where most of the female troops of the 4th division attend.

"Even so, it looks like a lot……"

The shelves were crammed full with a variety of sweets.

"……I just had to buy those. They were sweets that Yachiru chan liked."

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

It was the last words Isane exchanged with Kusajishi Yachiru.

As she applied the reiatsu healing treatment in both of Yachiru's arms which ended up broken and fractured by Sternritter V 'The Visionary', Gremmy Thoumeaux's ability, Kiyone was finally able to release the breath she had held in.

"Phew……with this, you should be able to move one way or another"

"Thank you Kote-chin!*"

(*Just in case you've forgotten Yachiru calls Isane ‘kote chin’)

Smiling and getting up, Yachiru looked up at the "stage" Gremmy had produced. Zaraki Kenpachi and Gremmy battled on top of an enormous cuboid that was formed by raising up the ground.

"I have to go!"

"Aah, please wait lieutenant Kusajishi! You shouldn't move around so vigorously yet……"

Isane's outstretched arm slipped through quickly as she broke off into a run.

"Finally……Finally Ken-chan can call out to me……"

She faintly murmured.

Those were Yachiru’s words, the last that Isane had heard.

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

"Since there is no longer a chairwoman, the Shinigami women's Association meetings do not take place anymore……vice president Nanao san is busy, and Research and Development is in charge of Nemu san who is currently still a baby……"

Kiyone resumed her work whilst gulping down konpeito* (*a type of Japanese candy), Isane leant forward with an "eh!?"

"Nemu san, she's already grown up to the state of a baby!? The last time I saw her she was not yet completely……"

She recalls being absolutely perplexed at being introduced to "Nemuri Hachigō", a clump of flesh floating around inside a transparent cylinder filled with culture fluid.

"Because everyone was saying they were scared and they didn’t want to go, during this time I had to take the medical examination results from those guys at the Department of Research and Development, right? So, I saw Nemu san at the time, she was wildly crawling around the department. When I greeted her, she stopped and bowed her head……it was cute"

Hachigō was created based on the brain retrieved from the artificially created soul Nemuri Nanagō, although the body is different, Nanagō’s memory and spirit is being taken over.

"Haa……I want to see……! I wonder if it's okay if I also go and see her?"

"Why not? I got the impression that Captain Kurotsuchi can't help but brag about her"

Isane instantly broke into a smile and said "I wonder when is good" she happily turned over the tabletop schedule book, suddenly she lifted her face as if something had just struck her mind.

"Shall we also invite everyone when we go to meet Nemu san……?  The Shinigami Women's Association"

"……yeah, I think that's a great idea!"

Kiyone nodded in agreement and gave a broad smile.

This was the first step towards the launch of a new order of the Shinigami Women's Association.

End.

Marriage Registration ‘4′ is up next (reminder - there are 6 ‘chapters’ in total in the Marriage registration section) I’ll hopefully get to type that up soon.

[glopratchet]

labs-mirro

found human flesh in the ruins of a burnt house, added it to my diet hahahaha added a human taste to bear meat and chewy snail shells ive earned muh name too now they call me 'Sumner the cannibal' visit that forest at night without jake and crew? NOPE! but ive been avoiding those tempting near by farms and sniping any strays i see sadly its not the same sport as hunting with treachery too easy boredom has set in as ive wiped out the majority of the gators, started wiping out small villages searching for new plague bearing rats but sickened by how weak and soft this land is now, not worth conquerin or even robbin Instead ive been wasting days locked in my house trying and failing to think up "AART nostalgia tour favorites" currently locked in my "meditation room" getting invasion plans from every direction, this village is weak as anything and theres dozens of fat sheep full of bone marrow and blood me on solid ground ahead of a potential alligator attack THEY wont be expecting a thing??!' ^ good news! seems like old charlie has found his purpose again, attacking while theyre eating will obliterate half before they can even react oooooOOOOOoooooo Just jumped to close to the boy and he caught me!!!!!!! my custom ballcutter caught on his armor and now hes furiously shredding it off scraping it along my own underside as--- GAAAH! too late ive been sliced across the eyes NOW what am I gonna do --oops he just slid off trembling waiting to regenerate He was delicious but I was starving back after a regenerative meal, war's been on my mind a lot lately seems everytime mama stomps off in one of her moods now me and pops end up running raids, setting villages alight and raiding conquests for a time gotta say I love being on the attack, bringing fear to other humans never bores me and neither does killing I've certainly had my taste during this long winter guess I've been developing a taste for blood in general too humans are tasty after all no rest for the wicked Where was I? oooh yes Here I am consumed with vile bloodlust and the energy it gives but a quick jot of prose rest the mind and brring clarity Let me tell you all about my dear friend charlie, in fact he was the first one among my recent friends ive not killed or eaten The man gave himself the name "charley horse" Finally managed to settle into a good rhythm with these deranged people and I get the sneaking suspicion charley horse was involved in getting humans to raid my homeland! really rubs me the wrong way Why has he not been killed yet?? hes never done anithing right! Ahem sorry one moment regenerating like nobodies business OOoooooh that feels better!! where were we? oh yes charley horse Pretty sure he's been sabotaging my every effort to fit in with the rest of the humans, those raiders were bad enough but to think he's been actively getting them to target home makes my scales itch I assume hes been organizing these raids from the south up near new aggressor territory so thats where Ive headed Finally caught up to him, and ambushed his band of ambitious little opportunists only to watch him escape Those humans were all loaded down with fur and hide armor so Im guessing charley has been organizing things with the bears as wel guess I'll have to get rid of him This act of kindness is gonna hurt him more than a little bat to the head since Ive had enough of his traitorous actions surprise surprise the raiders are organizing up there and have been recruiting humans from all the way down south, (even near the ruins of DC) those wackos seem to pop up everywhere don't they? Oh and charley horse is organizing things with them !!!! The little turncoat definitely has to die Ive had just about enough of his act I'm gonna need to get in deep and hasta muerte* That was interesting, ive been trying to get in good with the bear brutas for weeks now and I finally managed it by getting captured by a bunch of destroyer robots and had my mind probed and my body royally mangled! I hate robots! But in the end I got accepted like I wanted :) the bear brutas are pretty good folks once you get past their gruff exterior theyre kinda just like us scaly folk even if their primarily carniverous shhh! im supposed to be hiding by pretending to be one of them :) One of the girls just came around, ooooooh shes cute!! Gotta remember to keep an eye on charley horse *Hasta muerte means "until death" in spanish Comment too long Click here to view the full text Seeing alot of robots lately, makes me miss the old world and the old ways before all this new technology showed up, I almost long for the unified church inquisitors to hammer on my door again tough not nearly as tough as the old coalition or Enclave hunts Ive actually managed to become friends with a guy named Zero and his gang of repurposed robot killclowns, funny bunch of guys that love to joke around but they mean business when it counts Done a couple of jobs with them actually, never followed carly's rule of just sticking to one weapon and ive found its been quite helpful having access to an entire armory! I think in this crazy new world theres nothing better than a huge pile of weapons to pick from Keep coming across these fur clothes wearing tribals too, they actually seem to revere charley horse as some sort of deity or greatest warrior or something Theres more to him than meets the eye, good thing ive been getting on his good side :) The wish i could find out more about him but he just vanishes for days at a time some odd instinct tells me its best not to ask questions Its funny how im not the only one keeping a watch out for him its like all of us scaly types have this mutual understanding, hes the man but none of us want him to get too big for his boots, also because we all have our own agendas and jobs to do Just like old times back in the coalition! And now ive finally made my move just like old times! I cant even believe ive pulled it off either, took a while to set up and almost got caught a couple times but it all payed off! Was actually stupidly easy if i do say so myself!