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shmorp-mcdurgen · 1 year ago

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Mandela Prophet AU: Long Walk Home (Restored)

After being left behind by Jonah, Adam finds himself alone, walking home in the cold. However, during his journey back, he encounters something, and it seems to have an offer for him.

TW: MAJOR body horror, blood/gore, vomiting, character death

Notes: this is a rewrite of THIS fic I made a little while ago when this au was still new, and this rewrite is around 4'860 words (around 1000 words longer than the first one I think.) So yeah. that's funny huh.

January 13th, 2009. 3:31 AM

God, Adam hated the cold.

He had lost track of how long he had been walking at that point, boots dragging against the ground as he kicked rocks down the asphalt road. He crossed his arms, pressing them against himself as he shuddered from the cool winter air that hit him. All that protected him from the frigid air around him was a black hoodie, with the letters “BPS” written on the back and front in yellow letters, along with a pair of ripped skinny jeans. His hood was pulled over his head, covering his hair aside from his pale, dark blond bangs that covered his forehead. His hands were covered in fingerless gloves, though they didn’t help make his fingers feel any less like they would fall off at any moment.

“F-Fucking…dickhead.” Adam muttered under his shaking breath, which clouded the air in front of him. “Prick.”

That fucking asshole; leaving Adam to walk miles in the cold, narrowly avoiding falling every time he slipped on a frozen puddle. If Adam wasn’t preoccupied with the idea that he’d die of hypothermia, he’d find Jonah and beat the shit out of him until he bled. A coward was all he was, deciding that an empty house was too scary for him. To make things worse, Jonah took the only car along with him, meaning Adam had no choice but to hope he didn’t freeze to death during the walk there. As soon as Adam saw Jonah again, he’d regret just abandoning him, as soon as he recovered from the broken nose Adam would give him.

He gave up the hope of hitchhiking, considering he hadn’t seen a single car pass by for the hour he’s been walking. He passed underneath the light of the scarce streetlights, looking up to see that he was nearing a turn in the road, sighing as he realized he was around halfway to the border to Bythorne. Another hour of walking; lovely. He tried to ignore the soreness in his lanky legs as he approached the metal railing on the side of the road, staring out into the dark woods behind it as he paused for a moment. His brows furrowed and his expression darkened as he leaned onto the railing, seeing the steep drop before him as he took in a deep breath, trying to think of what he should do. He could’ve walked back to Mandela in the time it took to get to Bythorne, maybe finding help there, or he could’ve sucked it up and continued the exhausting journey to the BPS HQ without a vehicle. That or he could’ve stayed where he was, wallowing in his own frustration and annoyance until he froze to death. He let out his breath, turning back towards the road as he prepared himself to bear the cold for one more hour, deciding to take his chances and head towards Bythorne.

Adam had only taken a couple steps before he stopped again, staring ahead at the road before him, frozen, though not from the cold. The wind had ceased, and silence fell, overbearing enough to make Adam’s ears ring. He stared down the street, eyes fixated near one of the streetlights, or more accurately, a figure he saw standing next to it, right outside of the lights beams. It was tall and humanoid, though Adam couldn’t make out its facial features from where he was. It wore a white robe from what Adam could see, along with a dark grey sash around its waist. They had long, pale grey hair that draped over their shoulders, along with a large, metal collar around its neck. Adam stared at the featureless monochrome face staring back from the dark as he found himself instinctively stepping back a few steps, shaking his head before turning around to take his chances with going back to Mandela instead.

“Good evening, Adam.”

Adam flinched when he saw the tall figure standing before him, looking up to see their face, seeing that it finally looked at least mostly human, aside from the grey skin and somewhat uncanny smile, along with the pitch black irises staring back at him.

“W…what…are you?” Adam asked, unsure why he suddenly felt a deep pit in his stomach.

“I am the angel Gabriel,” Gabriel introduced, though Adam had a hard time believing it. “I’ve come to simply…chat with you.”

“I…No. No I’m not talking with you.” Adam stated, stepping back a few steps. “Do you think I’m fucking stupid? You’re no angel, and we both know it.”

Gabriel’s smile didn’t wane as it tilted its head slightly. “…Really.” Gabriel chuckled slightly, its voice distorted as it did so. “Well, I suppose you wouldn’t think so, would you. You never believed in such things.”

Adam didn’t respond, taking a few more steps backwards.

“It’s cold out, Murray.” Gabriel stated. “Funny; someone who claims to be your best friend leaves you out to die alone. A coward.”

“How…how do you know about that?” Adam asked.

“I’ve been observing from a distance.” Gabriel answered simply. “I know just how much Jonah has been…a thorn in your side. He’s been preventing you from continuing your search for the truth, holding you back from your…true potential.”

Adam lost eye contact for a second as he looked at the ground, brows furrowing slightly.

“Though, I suppose you never felt the same way he did towards you, did you? After all, you don’t need friends.” Gabriel chuckled. “They only hold you back. They’re hindering your progress.”

“Look, leave me alone,” Adam commanded. “I’m done. I don’t need help from you things. I can handle myself.”

“Perhaps...” Gabriel looked down at Adam, leaning down slightly. “However, you won’t find what you’re looking for by yourself.”

“Sure I can—”

“No…oh, no you can’t.” Gabriel laughed once again; a laugh that felt…demeaning. “You can’t even begin to process the truth; the truth of this world, or…even the truth of your own existence.”

Adam became silent, staring at Gabriel as it began to walk past him, Adam able to see two large open wounds on their back; where wings would be.

“However, I believe you’re looking in all the wrong places; a problem that can be solved quite simply.” Gabriel paused, turning their head back at Adam as they held out their hand within his view, revealing that they were holding a red apple in their hand. “Murray, I can help you. I know exactly what you’re looking for, and believe me; I can help you find it.”

Adam watched as they grew closer, holding out the apple as he stared at it pensively. “Take it…and you’ll find that all your answers are really right in front of you.” Gabriel continued as Adam took the apple out of their hand. “The truth of what happened to you…what happened to your family…everything you have ever desired will be yours.”

“…Everything?” Adam asked as he looked back at Gabriel’s face.

“Indeed.”

Adam looked back down at the fresh looking apple in his cold, shaking hands as he thought to himself. “I’ll…figure out what…happened to my mom?” Adam asked quietly.

“Of course.” Gabriel smiled wider. “And I can guarantee that even your friends will finally see what you are truly capable of. They will find out just how wrong they were about you. You will be ignored no longer, Murray.”

Adam stared at the fruit, even as Gabriel appeared behind him and put their hands on his shoulders. “Everything…right at your fingertips.” Gabriel whispered. “All you need to do…is take one bite.”

Adam took in a deep breath, thinking for a moment before he raised the apple towards his mouth, and took a bite.

It tasted of charcoal and rotten meat.

He choked it down, looking at the apple only to see that it wasn’t a very pale yellow, instead it appeared to be a dull grey, and Adam could see what looked like bug limbs twitching as they stuck out from the “apples” flesh. Adam dropped the “fruit”, seeing it turn to mush the second it hit the asphalt, all while Gabriel began to laugh. Its cackle drilled into Adam’s head; a discordant, inhuman sound that echoed around him. Adam coughed and choked, his throat beginning to burn as he gagged, scratching at his neck as he fell to his knees.

“You truly are a selfish fool, aren’t you?” Gabriel mocked. “Almost pitiful.”

“W…Wh-what…what the fuck…what the fuck was that—” Adam questioned, despite feeling as if something was scratching the interior of his esophagus.

“Thank you, Murray,” Gabriel chuckled, ignoring Adam’s question. “You have made things so simple for me.”

Adam looked back up, seeing that Gabriel had vanished into thin air, all before he looked back down, trembling as he tried to make himself gag, but finding himself unable to. He forced himself onto his feet, gagging and coughing as he covered his mouth, stumbling down the road as he decided to go back to his original plan; returning to Bythorne. He felt sick just thinking of going back to Mandela, though it could’ve also been the strange dread he felt that made his stomach churn.

His breathing was harsh and uneven as he staggered down the road, letting out groans and gasps of discomfort as the pressure where his stomach was soon turned into pain. The lights he found comforting above him slowly began to be unbearable, making his dilated pupils sting every single time he passed under one. He felt as if he would vomit at any moment as he tried to maintain balance despite feeling lightheaded. Was he dying? Was it poison that he ate? He didn’t know the answers to any of the questions that came up in his head, only trying to focus on getting help.

“J-J-J…J…Jonah?” He called into the night air, having to choke out the word, as his throat felt tight. “JONAH?!”

No answer; wherever Jonah was, he was too far away to hear Adam’s calls.

Adam let out a surprised yell as he felt a surge of pain hit him at once, causing him to hunch over as he held his stomach, feeling as if his insides were burning. He covered his mouth as he fell to his knees on the side of the road, lurching over as he threw up a mix of bile and blood. Despite getting everything he could out, the burning didn’t wane; it even began to get worse, even when he had nothing else in his stomach to puke out. Adam swayed in place, shakily rising to his feet as he walked around the puddle of his own internal fluids, trying to ignore how he saw bloody chunks of flesh in it.

For miles and miles, he continued to walk, despite how weak his legs felt with every passing second. Not a single cohesive thought ran through his brain as he stumbled, holding his arms against his torso as hard as he could, despite it doing nothing to help the increasing burning, stabbing pain developing inside of him. He twitched and shook, unable to stay still as if strings were pulling on every limb, forcing them to move in borderline painful ways. His elbow popped every time his arm jerked to the side, his knees cracking with every awkward step, and his head jerking and twitching at random moments. He wanted nothing more than to collapse to the ground and sleep until morning, giving him a break from the increasing agony he felt coursing through his veins as he forced himself to walk one step at a time.

Had it already been an hour? Adam couldn’t tell, with his grasp on time slipping. Thoughts ran through his head, most feeling not his own as he tried to make one cohesive thought to figure out a way to get him out of the situation he was in. However, as he tried to force his mind to slow down, his eyes caught something in the distance. Red lights; a car’s taillights pierced the darkness, Adam able to hear the sound of the engine running as he slowly grew closer. He felt a tinge of hope, for the first time that night, all before he looked down towards the side of the vehicle, the hope turning back into anger. Jonah.

Jonah was sitting against the side of the car, knees hugged close to his chest as he sobbed into his arms. Adam could make out his silver dyed hair, and he was wearing his leather jacket and white sweatshirt, along with blue jeans and red high-top shoes. His quiet sobbing was barely audible until Adam staggered close, letting out a pained groan as he nearly fell to the ground, clasping his stomach as he fell to his knees. He looked up at Jonah, the car feeling so close yet so far. He breathed in and out repeatedly, finding his voice before he choked out: “J-Jonah?”

Jonah looked up, not even glancing in Adam’s general direction at first, looking around before his gaze finally reached Adam. “…Adam?”

“J…Jonah you…you fucking dick…” Adam groaned as hunched over, barely processing the sound of Jonah’s footsteps rapidly approaching him.

“W-What; Adam what ha—”

“Shut up.” Adam stated as Jonah helped him to his feet. “Just…get us the fuck out of here, man.”

Jonah rested Adam’s arm over his shoulders as he led Adam to the car, lightly pushing him into the car through the passenger side door before entering it himself, looking back at Adam as he slammed the driver’s side door closed. “What happened, what’s going on?” Jonah questioned, his eyes showing his unease and fear as Adam bounced his leg and leaned back in his seat.

“Look…I’ll explain it later, just…go, alright?” Adam exhaled. Jonah didn’t question it, driving away as soon as Adam was done speaking, speeding down the road and towards Bythorne. Jonah glanced towards Adam every few seconds, seeing that he was trembling, curled into himself as he leaned against the car door. Jonah tried to keep his breath steady, repressing his fright before he prepared to speak, only to be interrupted by Adam.

“I…didn’t think you’d actually…listen to me.” Adam said quietly.

“What?”

“You…just fucking left?”

“Look I…I can’t just…I couldn’t just stay there,” Jonah stated. “And I thought…you wanted me gone anyway.”

There was silence for a moment as Adam shuddered, feeling a strange twitch in his torso.

“You’re in a fuckin…paranormal group and you’re scared of the paranormal?” Adam glanced at Jonah, Jonah only returning the stare for a brief moment before looking away.

“I-I…I wanted the money, okay?” Jonah sighed. “…and…friends. It’s hard to get a job around here anymore so…I thought it would…help.”

“You never cared?” Adam questioned. “Is that why you never fucking help with anything?”

“I cared, like…God, I don’t know.” Jonah responded.

Adam scoffed before coughing and shuddering once again.

“Look, I’m…just…happy to see you again, man.” Jonah said hesitantly. “I mean…you…are Adam…right?” Jonah smiled nervously and insincerely as he looked at Adam.

“Of course I am.” Adam stated with annoyance. “Blue eyes. If you even paid attention, you’d know that alternates have black eyes.”

“I know but—”

“Wait, you…you think I was replaced?” Adam questioned. “You thought I died in there?”

The silence felt deafening, Adam shaking again as he tried to silence the thoughts that ran through his head.

“Jonah, did you—”

“Yes.” Jonah responded quietly, his voice almost nothing more than a squeak.

Adam scoffed again, brows furrowing as he looked out of the passenger side window. “Of course you did.” He stared outside blankly, barely able to see the trees on each side of the road aside from what was within the headlights beams. The calmness was short lived however, as he suddenly felt a jerk inside of his body, as if something had shifted against his ribs. Adam abruptly hunched over, grasping his stomach as he let out groans of discomfort, Jonah looking at him as he did so.

“Adam?” Jonah felt a pit in his chest grow as he watched Adam shake harder. “You…are you okay?”

“I-I-I don’t…know.” Adam stated, finding himself unable to sit still for even a second. “I think…I need a hospital.”

Jonah’s breath quickened when he heard that statement, turning back towards the road before he saw a sign on the side of it; the sign that signaled the edge of Mandela’s border, and thus the entrance to Bythorne. “We’ll be there soon, don’t worry.” Jonah attempted to sound reassuring, though not even he was sure if there truly was nothing to worry about. “You’ll be okay, alright? You’ll be fine.” Adam’s shaking was becoming worse with every passing second, and the dread creeping up in Jonah’s mind was following suit. Jonah tried to focus on the road as the trees disappeared on the edges of the road, being replaced by a large field on both sides. He was so close to Bythorne, and more importantly, a hospital. Just 20 more minutes at most, less if he ignored the speed limit despite the ice on the road. Jonah took on last glance at Adam to check up on his state, only to see his eyes roll back and his body jerk forward, spitting out blood onto the dashboard.

Jonah let out a surprised yell, staring at Adam as he began convulsing, slamming his head against the back of his seat repeatedly. Jonah pressed his free arm against his chest, trying to keep him still as best he could while also trying to keep an eye on the road. Jonah cursed under his breath as he tried to suppress the urge to panic, feeling Adam resisting against his grasp under his hand.

“O-Out…out.” Adam mumbled.

“What? W-What do you me—”

“Get me out of this FUCKING CAR.” Adam commanded, blood running down the edges of his mouth.

“Okay, okay!” Jonah hesitantly obliged, pulling over and parking beside the edge of the field. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Adam pushed open the door, stumbling out and towards the front of the car. He only got a few more steps before he collapsed, laying on his back as he continued to violently shake, Jonah leaving the car to try and help. Jonah stood in shock as he tried to think of any way he could possibly help Adam as he laid on the ground, convulsing.

“I-I’ll go get help okay? I’ll see if there’s anyone around here.” Jonah said as he looked around.

“Don’t leave me…don’t leave…m…” Adam could barely get his words out, feeling a pressure building in his chest.

Jonah ran down the road until he was at the edge of the field, seeing that not a single car was driving their way, nor were there any homes in view. “HELLO?” Jonah called into the night air. “HELP! HELP US! ANYONE?!”

Jonah let out a frustrated and worried groan as he realized there was no one and nothing nearby that could help them, snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Adam’s scream from a distance. He immediately turned back, rushing as fast as he could towards Adam, out of breath by the time he arrived. “We need to get out of here; get in the car.” Jonah exhaled, as he crouched by Adam’s side, grasping his hand to pull him up.

“I-I don’t—”

“I know you don’t want to, but we need to get you to a hospital.” Jonah said quickly. “Come on, let’s go.”

Jonah helped Adam sit up, Adam groaning with every movement as they both slowly stood up. “We’ll get you help, okay?” Jonah reassured. “You’ll be okay—” Jonah felt something shift under Adam’s back, jerking his hand away when he felt it as Adam let out a loud yell, immediately falling back to the ground. Jonah stared at Adam with confusion and fear as he began to let out pained yells, coughing up blood onto the road below him as he grasped the sides of his hoodie with his clammy, cold hands.

Jonah had no clue what to say, feeling a deep fear as he backed away, seeing something crawling underneath the skin on Adam’s back. Adam’s screams of pain continued, becoming worse with every passing second and with every sharp pain he felt in his back, as if something was pressing against the inside of his skin and muscles. Adam could feel and hear his ribs cracking, shifting in unnatural ways and breaking away from each other. He was muttering unintelligible things under his breath, interrupted by more screams as blood began to stain small parts of his hoodie’s back, barely visible through the black fabric. Jonah watched, Adam’s screaming not stopping before something pierced through the skin.

Fingers were pushed through Adam’s back, with a skeletal hand following, then an entire long, disproportionate, mangled arm that slid out of his back, placing its hand on the ground next to his body. Jonah yelled, stumbling backwards and falling to the ground, crawling backwards with his eyes fixed on the half-formed limb until he pressed his back against the grill of the car. Blood dripped off of the limb as skin began forming around its blackened bones, the limb moving in an unnatural way, as if it never moved before. More squelching and tearing was heard as a second long arm pushed itself out of Adam’s back, lying on the ground next to Adam as it felt around.

The choir of agonized screams, tearing flesh, and cracking bones continued as six more limbs followed, much shorter and more proportional than the two that came before them. Jonah watched in horror as they wriggled around, feeling the cool winter air, Adam’s wounds stinging and burning from hitting open air as well. Adam shakily held up his head, blood seeping out of his mouth and his eyes bloodshot from crying, feeling something scratching at the inside of his cheeks. Eight mandibles pushed themselves out of his mouth from the inside of his cheeks, feeling around as Adam gagged and choked.

He saw something appearing in his peripheral vision, barely able to process it before a hand placed itself over his left eye, Adam weakly trying to remove it as two more covered his other eye and his mouth, suppressing his hoarse screams entirely. Jonah watched as Adam thrashed around, trying to free himself from the parasite’s grasp fruitlessly, all before he abruptly became still, his limbs becoming limp as another parasitic limb held up his head.

Silence fell, with only Jonah’s harsh breathing and the sound of blood dripping onto the asphalt being heard. Jonah couldn’t even find his voice to scream, staring at Adam’s bloody body, unsure if he was dead or alive until the limbs twitched once again. The two largest arms pressed against the ground, raising Adam’s limp body up until it didn’t even touch the ground. It looked like a spider almost, with Adam being at the center of the eight parasitic limbs like a spider’s main body. Jonah watched as it grew still, holding Adam’s body above the ground before its arm turned his head around to face the cowering man in front of the car. As soon as Jonah saw the fingers covering Adam’s eye shift and reveal one horrified, watering eye staring back at him, he immediately snapped out of his shock and scrambled to his feet.

Jonah screamed, running across the road as Adam’s eye was covered once again, all before the two limbs holding his body up began to “run” after Jonah. Jonah didn’t look back once, no matter how close the thing’s “footsteps” sounded in the snow behind him. Jonah cried, his tears freezing to his face as he scrambled towards the woods, hoping to lose the thing behind him if he managed to make it there. However, when he felt a hand grasp his ankle, tripping him and making him fall to the ground, he realized he simply didn’t have the speed to do so.

Jonah slammed against the ground, turning onto his back as he stared up at Adam’s body, seeing the hands covering up most of his face. The hand covering Adam’s mouth moved and his mouth opened, the mandibles in his jaw exiting it. One of the main arms pressed against Jonah’s chest, pinning him to the ground as two free arms cracked and twitched, lengthening until they were wrapped around his neck and clasping his jaw. Jonah stared at Adam’s face, sobbing and kicking his legs in the air as he felt the grasp of the hands tighten. “Adam…” Jonah whimpered. “…Please—”

He couldn’t even get his sentence out before he felt his neck crack.

6:11 AM

Adam awoke face down in the field, snow gathering in his hair and snowflakes landing on his sore back. Large red indents in his skin were visible through the large tears in his jacket, barely healed over enough to stop bleeding. Adam didn’t even want to open his eyes, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep, however as he shivered and felt the snow under his face making his skin go numb, he decided to wait just a little longer to do so.

Adam winced as he pushed himself off of the ground, shakily rising to his feet as he looked around, seeing that the sun was barely illuminating the sky, as if it was still midnight. Every bone in his body felt sore, with his back burning from the cold air. Adam couldn’t even scrounge up a single cohesive thought as he staggered around the field, looking around before his eyes fixated on something in the distance; the car, which still had its headlights on, signaling Adam’s way out of that hellhole. However, when he caught something in the corner of his eye, he paused, looking towards the middle of the field before he spoke.

“Jonah…?”

From where Adam stood, he could barely make out Jonah laying in the snow, unmoving. Adam stared from a distance, glancing back at the car before deciding to shamble through the snow and see what was going on. Jonah better get up before Adam gets there, else he’ll get his ass kicked for making Adam worry about him. Or, well, was Adam truly worried? He wasn’t sure, though he couldn’t help but notice that he needed to suppress the unease he felt as he approached Jonah, muttering as he did so. Soon, Jonah came into view, Adam looking at him with an annoyed, pained look before he spoke.

“I swear to God Jonah, if this is another jo—”

Adam froze when he finally saw Jonah’s body in detail. Blood was coagulating and pouring out underneath Jonah’s body, staining the pure white snow a deep crimson. His limbs were bent in odd ways, with bruises all over his body. Adam’s dilated eyes looked at Jonah, barely acknowledging how the body looked, as he was too distracted looking at where his face was.

Gone.

It was gone.

There wasn’t even a head, with only a bloody, messily torn stump where it used to be remaining. Adam looked behind the body, seeing something written in the snow above where the head would’ve been:

“COWARD”

Adam wasn’t sure why his nausea had left him, or why he felt so empty despite him staring at the horrific scene in front of him. He stared blankly at Jonah’s body, wincing when he felt a stinging sensation in his skin. He couldn’t remember anything before he woke up aside from agony, even being unsure what had caused it; were they attacked? Was an alternate the reason Jonah was gone? Adam wasn’t sure, backing away from his “friend’s” body before turning towards the road, deciding to take the car back to Bythorne.

He walked towards the car, glancing at the road and seeing a frozen, dark puddle in front of the car, deciding to ignore it as he opened the driver’s door. He sat in the vehicle, closing the door behind him in silence as he glanced at the dashboard, seeing yet again more blood splattered on it. With a blank expression and without a single word, Adam started the engine and drove down the road, leaving Jonah’s body behind as he headed home. He wished the car radio in the car worked; then maybe he wouldn’t be left alone with the new thoughts that ran through his head.

As he drove, he pushed back the urge to sleep at the wheel, all while ignoring the faint twitching in his stomach. The heater was barely succeeding in keeping Adam warm in the car, with his breath still visible in front of his face. He hated the cold, and now even his own body felt as cold as ice. Adam reached into his pants pocket, pulling out a small cell phone before dialing a number and holding it up to his ear. He waited a few moments, and when the automatic message came up, he began to record his message.

“Sarah.” He stated, his voice monotone and quiet. “I’ll be back at HQ in a little bit. I…have some new footage. You’ll see. Bye.”

#the mandela catalogue #mandela catalogue #tmc #mandela prophet #adam murray #jonah marshall #alternate gabriel #body horror #shmorp writes sometimes #blood tw #gore tw #tw character death #Adam has a bad day whoopsies #Maybe don't take apples from weird angel looking things. or anyone you don't know for that matter #Dummy. get spider'd idiot #This was mainly made to. add more details to how the parasite truly affects Adam cause. I didn't go into much detail in the og version #Up to you to decide which one you prefer but personally I like this one. /lh #Prophet Adam (tmc)

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horrorgator-terrordile · 2 years ago

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The REAL Adam Murray

#the mandela catalogue #tmc #adam murray #I’m might make another version of this idk I’m not really happy with this one #he doesn’t know that there’s an alternate version of himself walking around in Wisconsin

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angelic-writer · 9 months ago

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Febuwhump Day 11 - Time Loop

CW: Major character death, Suicide

@febuwhump

Darkness greeted Cesar. No matter how much his eyes adjusted, he couldn't see anything. He thought back to everything that had transpired. Him learning the truth about his world, going insane, killing his friends in cold blood, and finally meeting the person that saw it all only for them to kill him in return.

It still hurt. He could feel it in every fiber of his being. It was hard to move because every time he tried to, the pain of being deleted coursed through his veins. It was like being thrown into a black hole and being torn apart, atom by atom.

"It hurts... It hurts so much..."

"I'm sorry...."

Are you lost?

A voice spoke through the darkness. It was a deep but soothing voice. Cesar looked around, but he couldn't see.

"W-Who's there?"

"I am an angel. I'm the one who watched you be in pain. It's awful... You had great friends, a wonderful club. Everything was going great."

Cesar closed his eyes, feeling the tears in his eyes. "Until I ruined it... Have you come here to punish me? If you really are an angel, then throw me into the deepest depths of Hell and let me burn for eternity."

There was silence. For a moment, Cesar thought this mysterious angel would grant him his wish. Isn't that what he deserved? He's a murderer. Murderers shouldn't be forgiven.

"Let me ask you something. What is it you wish for?"

He blinked. "What?"

"What is it you wish for?"

"I-I'm not sure what I want..."

"Do you wish to see him again?"

The mention of 'him' gave him a sense of hope, but also unease. He wanted to tell him he's sorry, but would he believe him? And if he did, would he still consider him his friend? "Of course!"

"Very well. What do you truly want?"

"I just... I want to live my life as nothing ever happened."

"Are you running away from your problems?"

"No! It was never that... I just wish I didn't have to feel responsible for their deaths. I wish I didn't have to live with the fact that I killed them!"

"It was never anybody's fault in the end. Things were meant to play out this way. But you have a chance to make it right again." He felt something warm touch his head. "Will this be your way of feeling happy?"

"I don't know. How was anybody supposed to know that?"

"You know what makes you happy. Only you yourself can know that."

He opened his eyes. He was laying his head on a desk, surrounded by papers. A puddle of drool was evidence of his impromptu nap. He looked around, taking in the familiar classroom. A-Am I really back? Or was it... all a dream?

"Hey Ces? What are you doing sleeping? C'mon, we gotta get the flyers up."

He froze at the voice he thought he would never hear again. He followed the source of the voice.

And there he was, brown hair tousled in all directions, flyers in hand.

He blinked, unsure if what he was seeing was him hallucinating. Perhaps this is my dying dream. But as the seconds passed, the more it dawned on him. This is real. Mark is real.

"Ces? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Without warning, Cesar pulled him into a hug, making the younger boy jump and drop the papers. "W-Whoa, hey!"

"...Please forgive me. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

"O-Okay? What are you sorry for? Umm, I'm afraid I'm a little confused here. What exactly have you done?"

He squeezed tighter. "It's okay. You don't need to know. It doesn't matter anyway. You just gotta know that I'm sorry. I won't waste this chance. I promise, not again. I just hope that somehow... you can find it in your heart to forgive me for what I did to you."

"Ces..." He returned the hug, running his fingers through his hair. The feeling brought Cesar a sense of calm. It made him almost forget what he had said to him. The things he did... He could never tell him. He'll treat him like a monster.

In a way, I am a monster.

After a bit, they pulled away. "Bad dream?" Mark asked.

Cesar nodded. "I guess you could call it that."

"Well, how about we walk around the school? Putting up the posters might help you take your mind off things." He held out his hand which Cesar gladly took.

"Yeah, I'd like that."

They exited the classroom and began to roam the halls. As they explored the empty corridors, Cesar thought.

Maybe... Maybe this is my chance to change. This is my chance to make it up to Mark as well as the others. I promise, I'll be the best president I can be! I'll make the literature club the best club ever!

--------

How....? Why...? Why is this happening....? He took his eyes off of him for one minute and he was already swept by the tide. By the time he and the others got him, he was already pale, his lips a faint blue.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck..." Adam was pumping his chest, cursing nonstop like a sailor. Jonah was on the phone with someone, screaming at them to get there. Cesar could only watch as Mark's body shook like a ragdoll, blowing into his mouth in the hopes that he would wake up.

His eyes stared up at him, blank and soulless. It brought back the memory of him hanging. God, Mark, I'm sorry... I promised I would change... I promised...

Soon, the ambulance arrived and the medics took over. However, after a few minutes, they stepped back.

"He was under for too long. I'm sorry, but he's gone."

It felt like Cesar's world had crumbled around him. He can't be... He can't be gone... Is this really happening? Is this reality?

No. No, he can't be gone. He had too much to life for. He was a fighter, so why?!

His vision started to grew dark. His legs gave out underneath him. It wasn't long before he succumbed to the darkness.

---------

He opened his eyes. He was laying his head on a desk, surrounded by papers. A puddle of drool was evidence of his impromptu nap. He looked around, taking in the familiar classroom. "What was that?! What-What just..."

"Ces?! What's wrong?!"

He looked and there was Mark, alive and well. He threw himself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mark!! Oh god, you were... You drowned and we couldn't bring you back! Y-You were dead!! You were dead!!"

"Hey, hey, Ces. It's okay. It was just a dream. I'm fine. I'm right here."

It didn't feel like a dream.

"Hey, we don't have to put the posters up. How about I take you outside? Fresh air does wonders for me."

Cesar slowly nodded and wiped his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah..."

The two boys left the classroom and went to the school's entrance. As they sat on the steps, feeling the wind on their faces, Cesar thought.

Do I have to do something to prevent him from drowning? Do I have to refuse the beach trip? What is going on?

---------

Cesar dropped the phone. Plane crash... What the fuck?

"Why... Why is this happening?! I made different choices this time! Why?! Why does Mark keep dying?!"

The darkness encroached him as he gripped his head and screamed, alerting his family. Their voices didn't reach him as he fell.

----------

Overdose...

Bled out...

Cesar's mind was eroding... He tried different things to keep Mark from dying, but no matter what he did, he kept on dying and dying. Blood still stained his hands, lifeless eyes continued to stare at him, mocking him for his failures. Where is that goddamn angel?!

"Where are you, angel?! Where the fuck are you?! I was supposed to save him, right?! Why does he keep dying?! ANSWER ME!!"

He kept falling through the darkness, the hourglass of time turning again and again and again.

I'm sorry, Mark...

----------

I'm lost. I don't know what to do. Thousands of plans, tried and failed.

All he could do was fall to his knees. "Okay, you won, God! I was not meant to save Mark! Just let me go already so this madness can be over with!"

"Ces?! What's wrong?!" Mark rushed over to him.

"Just go... Nothing matters anymore..."

"What's going on?"

"Time has no end, no beginning, no purpose. Nothing makes sense anymore."

"Cesar, what are you talking about? Please, talk to me. I'm your friend, right?"

"You don't want me to worry. Maybe it's better if I do nothing."

If only it were that simple.

"Just shut up already..."

Mark blinked. "Wh... Cesar, I'm just trying to help you! Why are you pushing me away?!"

"I'm not! You just don't see what I see! If only you could see what I had to go through to try and save you..."

"C'mon, I'm taking you home." He tried to grab his arm, but Cesar pulled away.

"I'm fine! I don't need your help! There's nothing I can do to help you. I just want this to be over."

"What do you mean?"

"You're going to die soon." He blurted out. "I've been sent back in time in a vain attempt to save you, but nothing comes of it. I've traveled for what feels like hundreds of years. I just want you to die and have this be over with!"

Mark stood, horrified, but he didn't care. It'll all be over soon...

-------

He stood at the edge of a chair, a rope around his neck. This is what it has to be. He couldn't stand to watch Mark die again so he'll do the job himself. If he dies, Mark could live, right? It's the balance of life, right?

I'm sorry, God. I've been so weak. I couldn't stay strong for you, my lord.

He kicked the chair down. His body flailed around, trying to get out of his own death contraption out of survival instinct. He tore at the rope, tore off his nails, covered himself in his own blood.

A fitting punishment for a monster like me.

The door was kicked open and Julius, his parents and Mark ran into the room.

"OH GOD, CESAR!!"

"We're not too late! Grab his legs and take the weight off his neck! I'll get the noose off! Go!!" Mark commanded.

Julius lifted him up, causing him to take huge, rasping breaths and started to cough. Mark fumbled the knot and managed to untie the rope. His family lowered him to the ground.

Cesar stared in shock at Mark. Why is he here? Didn't he scare him away with his breakdown? "M-Mark...?" He wheezed.

"Shh, you're okay now." He ran his hands through his hair, a familiar motion that brings him ease.

Cesar buried his face in his shoulder as he started to sob. How could he be so selfish? He was going to leave Mark because of some idea that he could exchange his life for his. But for him to come all the way to his house to save him proved that he needed Cesar.

Just as much as Cesar needed Mark.

----------

He stood at the pile of bodies that littered the ground. Mark with a gaping hole in his chest. Adam with his head blown off thanks to an angry father. And there Cesar was, gun in hand.

Everything I had worked for was all for nothing.

So, this was my terrible fate. This is my hell. To watch everyone I care about die around me. There's only one thing I can do now.

He put the gun to his mouth, putting his finger on the trigger. I've journeyed all this way through time and now I've come full circle. How fitting for a journey's end. Nothing else matters anymore. Now I can end this nightmare once and for all.

Farewell, cruel world.

Farewell, fate.

He pulled the trigger.

------

He stands in the abyss. A darker, colder Hell and any man could ever conjure. He sees the beginning of all things. And the end of everything. An eternity washes over him in an instant. And at the end of it all, a small light had peered through the void.

"Ugh... Where... Where am I?"

A tall man with long, flowing blonde locks appears before him. He is wearing a familiar white robe.

"Hello. Welcome back, Cesar."

"O'Brien? Where am I? Is this the afterlife?"

"Yes and no. This is nothing. There is nothing here. Just you and me."

"Where's... Mark?'

"Mark isn't here."

"Where is he?!"

"His fate eludes me."

"So it's just us?"

"Two corpses in one grave. A fitting punishment for you."

"Why am I here? Why aren't I in Hell?"

"Anywhere can be Hell if you make it that way. Our souls rest here for an undetermined amount of time. We all end up here. We all beg and plead to atone for our sins. We all wish for a way out of here."

"What am I supposed to do? Sit here for all of eternity hopelessly hoping something will happen?"

He points. "There are two doors behind you. You can't see them, but one of them will open when your judgement is final. All we can do now is sit and think and hope to atone for our sins. Not that we will be forgiven."

"An idle mind is the work of the devil."

"Perhaps. But if you put a D in evil, you get Devil and if you remove an O from good, you'd get God."

"What's your point?"

"Put the two letters together and you get the word Do. Now, what will you do?"

"What I've always been trying to do. Save Mark. I know the plans I have for him. Plans for him to prosper and not to harm him. Plans to give him hope and a future."

"And what if it cannot be done?"

"I will make it so it will be done."

"And what if you manage to lead him to a better life, he starts a family, and he lives happily for seventy-five more years? What do you think will happen when he finally passes by then?"

Cesar smirks. "I will say that my work is done."

"O'Brien" is silent for a second, then continued. "Your fate in inexorable. One way or another, you will end up back here. No matter how high you push the boulder, once you let go, it will come crashing back down to where you started."

"You're wrong!"

"It's the truth."

"There has to be a way."

"In the infinite permutations the universe can conjure, yes, there is very much a way. Both in all his deaths and all his lives. The wheel will keep turning no matter which way it goes."

"What are you getting at?!"

"What if I told you that this life as you now lived it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more? And there will be nothing new in it, but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh and everything unutterably small and great in your life will have to return to you all in the same succession and sequence - Even this spider and this moonlight between the trees and even this moment and I myself. The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again and you with it, speck of dust!

"Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and me and curse me? Or will you praise me as a messenger of God as you have never heard anything more divine? Do you wish to live this life once more and an infinite more times? Do you accept your fate as it has been laid down and do you wish to live once more? Or do you wish to persist in the hell you've found yourself in? To live in the relentless eternity of unfathomable madness of the perpetual spinning of the hourglass?"

Silence.

"Do you accept your fate? Do you accept Mark's death? Or do you deny it? Curse it? Damn everything you see to hell? The choice is now yours. What will you do?"

Cesar ponders his decision. Is it worth going through all this pain again just so he can see his friend again? Will he have to cut his losses and accept what he has done? He closes his eyes.

And he sees Mark's smiling face. Him telling him that everything will be okay.

I... I can't give up now. I can't!

"No, you're a vile demon! I will save Mark! No matter the cost!"

"So it is written. Go then. Go persist in the hell you've found yourself in."

A door opens behind him. An old darkness calls for him. He walks to it. It's so dark. He couldn't see anything. Nonetheless, he steps through, carrying only his determined spirit.

I'll save you, Mark. I will save you from this hell!!

---------

How many times did he go through the same year of high school? How long will he have to drag through the same boring lectures again and again? He took advantage of his knowledge from the previous loops to boost his grades, earning him the reputation of him being smart. But that was only because he remembers those lessons like a developed photograph.

He wakes up at the same desk, he sees Mark again, he dies again. He felt like he had aged thousands of years mentally yet he still has the body of a sixteen year old. Hadn't he heard of something like this before?

He sat at his desk, shuffling through some papers. Mark was supposed to be bringing in a new club member today. He lived this day so many times already, he could memorize it.

Like a game script...

The door opens.

"Hello?"

He looked to see a girl with long, brown and sparkling sapphire eyes. There she is.

Stick to the script.

"Julie?! Oh my goodness, it's so good to see you! It's been a while, right?"

#febuwhump2024 #the mandela catalogue #ddlc au #febuwhumpday11 #Here's the deeper stuff that goes beyond the base game!#I used a couple mods to write this.#Specifically One Last Memory and Amor Fati.#Oh also this is the cliffnotes version of Withering Rose #This will become much more fleshed out later on!

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doyoulikethissong-poll · 9 months ago

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Tracy Chapman - Fast Car 1988

"Fast Car" is a song by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1988 as the lead single from her self-titled debut studio album. Chapman's appearance on the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute helped the song become a top-ten hit in the US, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, it reached number five on the UK Singles Chart in 1988.

"Fast Car" received three Grammy Award nominations: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, the latter of which it won. It also received an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Female Video in 1989.

Since the release of Chapman's original, the song has had success in two electronic dance versions, as well as a country music cover by singer Luke Combs. Combs's version was a number-one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in 2023, and won Chapman the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year, making her the first Black person to win the award.

"Fast Car" received a total of 82,4% yes votes!

youtube

#finished #high votes #high yes #high reblog #80s #tracy chapman

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deadghosy · 9 months ago

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VEES MEETING MY VERSION OF Y/N

Part 1 part2

WARNING: VALENTINO 🤮, swearing, and foul language.

I listened to Edit audios while making this to feel something🤭

YOU ENTERED the Vee's tower to see......a bunch of things you didn't care about as you are only here to see what the fuck they want. Neno slithers around the area, you sighed worried for Charlie as she must be waiting for you at home as you did say you would be there. You only hummed as you heard clacks of shoes coming towards you, you whistle loudly as Neno warps around you in a haze.

You turn to see the man himself, Vox with... (GAGGG) Valentino behind him smirking as he holds his cigarette between his hands. You stare at them with a blank look as Vox smiles his shit eating grin. Velvette walks in as well sitting down on one of the couch's wanting to watch this go down.

"Happy to see you. Ain't this an amazing reunion my friend." Vox says putting his arm around your shoulder and pinching your cheek. You turn to vapor and move away from him as Vox smirks at your reaction to him being close to you. You narrowed your eyes.

"Did you really fucking invite me in your home only to annoy me?" You said as your eye twitched. Vox can hear the whispers of your back getting slight loud due to your emotions. "What? Of courseeee not my dear friend." He says walking to you having his hands behind his back. "We're here to offer you something [Y/N]! We just to help you."

The last words he said went to static as he used one of his eyes that swirl. He was clearly trying to use his hypnosis on you, but you weren't buying it as you had Neno cover his vision of you.

Vox grunts waving Neno away as Neno snickers going over to you as you tried to leave. Key word, TRIED! Valentino grabbed your arm pulling to his chest as he used his other arm to pull your chin to face him.

"Woah woah, where are you going~" he said with a slight purr as he grabs your hand and kisses it leaving red saliva. You cringed as you immediately stepped on his foot making him yelp holding it. Velvette chuckled with an amused smile.

Neno held your hand as they wipe off the red saliva with a noticeable frown. You had a scowl at how he tried that shit on you, but it seemed to turn Valentino on a bit. After he calmed down he puffs in his cigarette with a grin showing off his gold tooth with his other sharp teeth.

"I knew I liked them fiesty. Even if it's the princessa's pet~" he says staring at you up and down with a lick of his lips as he blow red smokes towards you. Before it would reach you, your sharp grayscale/[color palette] wings blocked it as you had enough.

"Try that shit again...I will rip your arms off and feed you for the whole cannibal town to feast on your worthless, disgusting body..." you said warning him with sharp teeth grin as a black shadow takes over your face only showing your eyes and mouth. (Kinda like mandela catalogue)

Vox stepped in between you and Valentino with a tight smile as he could tell you weren't playing around as your eyes shake between him and the pimp behind him. Your eyes were crazy looking you stood still.

"Now now, we can't have this as the first impression of the Vee's." Vox says pulling Val by his arm only to put his arm around Valentino's shoulder. "Right Val?" He says using his hypnosis slightly on him. Valentino pouts slightly but regains his smile as he stand up straight.

Your "face" gets wiped off quickly as you sighed at this waste of time. Vox explained about this "meeting" he planned as it's been a while he talked to you. He dragged you to this office place as the two other Vee's are between you and Vox. You rolled your eyes as you sat where you could see all three of them at the same time. Velvette still on her phone, Vox smiling at you with his grin and hands cupped together on table, and Valentino smiling as he wiggles his fingers at you.

You narrows your eyes as you pulled out a file and start to file down your nails, "Alright, spill the shits. I got time to go and a place to be"

"I want you to join Voxtech. It will amazing to have you and your stern and forward personality on my team. Maybe even a contract." Vox says smiling crazily at you

"Or maybe you can work for me doll.~" Val says eyeing your chest as you narrowed your eyes putting your file up. "I mean, your body is just magnificent with the curves and the hips you got." You could've swear his saliva was seeping through his mouth which made you scrunch up your face.

"I want you to be a model for me. You got the fierce look for it. Plus like this dickwad said. You have the perfect body for it." The female V says lastly as you stare with an amused smile. But the smile starts to crack as you laugh holding your stomach.

The Vee's glance at each other confused as they stare back at you while Neno stays beside you.

———

AFTER LAUGHING at their offers for who god knows for long. You couldn't help but smile at the fact they actually want you on your team when it's damn well known in hell you would do anything to protect the princess of hell and king. Hell even your friends.

"Damn you guys are fuckin' worthless..." you said crossing your leg over your other leg as Neno purrs over your shoulder. Neno snickers with a shark like smile at the three Vee's who seemed a little stumped at how you rejected their offer.

"I'll show you worthless!" Vox says slamming his hand down on the table as he stares at you with a slight glitch in his body movement

You raised a brow as you chuckled to yourself covering your smug smile behind your hand. "Eww.." you said as you crossed your arms switching your crossed legs.

Vox actually felt ticked off staring at your calm and teasing posture not actually a pissed one he had seen yesterday. Valentino stops his lustful gaze as he turned sour, Velvette just flips you off as you smile and flip her off kissing your middle finger. Today you felt a little cunty as you smirked at the two male overlords staring angrily at you.

"Listen, I don't want to be a sex worker. So fuck you." You said flipping off Valentino who lets out a moth squeak pissed off. "And I don't see why you want me to be here for this little ass meeting or reunion you called it earlier. Because honey, it's worthless for me to be here with the three little bitches."

You said with slight venom with your voice as Neno lets out an airy chuckle. You got up and left with a bow as Valentino just stares at you with a snobby look raising his brow. Velvette actually smiles at how you stood on your ground. Vox was glitching in anger as he claws something by him with his nails/claws staring at you.

You smirked pulling out your hands like a cat that show more sharper than his. "Oh sweetie...I can do that too hoe! What a surprise." You said lastly leaving as the last thing you heard was Vox yelling after you.

"YOU FUCKING BIT-"

But you already teleport as vapor to the hotel as you sat on your bed with Neno who swirls around you with whispers. You chuckle lowly as your room starts to light up as you stare down at Neno who swirls around you.

"Next time they try this shit on me. I'm going to fuck up their lives and make them a laughing stock." You say with glowing white eyes matching Neno's eyes as he smiles his sharp white teeth. He nods laughing as whispers get loud with a purr.

#hazbin vees #the three vees #hazbin hotel vees #the vees #hazbin valentino #hazbin hotel valentino #hazbin velvette #hazbin hotel vox #hazbin hotel velvette #hazbin hotel x reader #hazbin #hazbin hotel x male reader #hazbin hotel x you #hazbin x you #hazbin vox #hazbin hotel x gn reader #hazbin hotel x female reader

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tartsinarat · 6 months ago

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Scary extremely old man jumpscare /j

I completely forgot to redesign Belos for the au and only just realised midway when I drew him for a scene redraw and I was like oh shit- as he doesn’t have a right arm in the au (in this post there a small explanation to why) and I completely forgot so I then had to design a badass prosthetic for him.

Designing the prosthetic was one of my favourite things to do because I designed it around how his cursed form has his muscles/ bones exposed which I tried to mimic and used a real prosthetic arm from the 16th century as a reference but made it more fantasy and extra.

The coolest thing about Belos’s prosthetic in this design is that it also meant to resemble an artificial magic staff because it is one! It works the same way and allows him to do magic without relying on the glyphs.

Ignoring the obvious mechanical prosthetic arm I really only did some small tweaks like colour or outfit for example but I did give him a chapstick to remove those dry ass lips because I just personally didn’t vibe with it lmao

Also i had the weirdest mandela effect as I for some reason remember Belos’s eyebrows being really thick but then I used a reference of him as a base for the redesign and they were so thin??? which is really funny because I made Pip have really thick eyebrows for some reason when originally designing him so I think after drawing Pip loads and not having properly watched toh in a hot minute I probably assumed Belos had them too… Ive finally corrected my mistake as Pip is meant to be an almost perfect replica of Belos and so now Belos has thick eyebrows too so they can be proper twinsies lmao

I wanted him to straight up look like a corpse so his eyes look really uncanny due to how saturated they are in comparison, the specific vibe I wanted for Belos was this specific image of Prince Philip who looks like he is just barely hanging on to the world of the living and seems like he’s having a “weekend at Bernie’s” type of moment

For reference, also sorry for the jump-scare I tried to make it less scary by getting a meme image version of prince Philip/hj

But yeah I’ll probably do a Philip redesign soon because he’s got a cool design already but you can tell that it was really simplified for animation :p and I’m probably going to do an au comic based on elsewhere and elsewhen soon because it’s one of my favourite episodes

#the owl house #toh au #toh #art #golden heir au #the owl house au #owl house au #belos toh #the owl house belos #emperor belos #philip wittebane #the golden heir au

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junjunjunko · 2 years ago

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Degrees of Lewdity HORROR AU.

Another remake of an old piece, this time the Horror AU one.

Heavily inspired in The Mandela Catalogue, for obvious reasons.

A clearer version down below!

#degrees of lewdity #dol #avery the businessperson #kylar the loner #robin the orphan #sydney the faithful #whitney the bully #eden the hunter #art #my art #cw multiple eyes #cw derealization #cw horror #cw body horror #horror hours #the mandela catalogue

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couldnt-think-of-a-funny-name · 4 months ago

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okay so TENATIVE predictions for season 4: it looks like they're going to be playing into the mandela effect. half the universe remembers the umbrella timeline, half the universe remembers the sparrow timeline, and the ONLY thing both groups remember is Ben.

I've been praying since day one that Ben will have memories of both lives in his head, and judging by the fact he appears to be Going Through It in the trailer I assume that'll be the case.

since Ben is at the center of the conspiracy, I almost want to say he's who they're supposed to be rescuing? like, maybe instead of One Ben Two Lives, it's Two Bens One Cup. I don't think they'll do that, though. They're probably trying to rescue Jennifer. HOWEVER I do think it would be really sexy if Nick Offerman and Megahn Mullally weren't playing a couple but were instead playing the same person from different universes (hence being named Gene and Jean), and they somehow found each other and that's why they're leading this conspiracy.

Mystery Jennifer is stressing me out. obviously by the glowing she's got something going on. I'm thinking there's a possibility she was erased from the family's memories after Ben's death- the trailer makes it seem like Reginald made Allison rumor them after the fact. there's probably a decent chance they all knew her, she lost control of her powers, Ben died, Reginald locked her away and erased all traces of her. maybe in the sparrow timeline she died instead, or maybe she was always locked up there and Ben was drawing her from memories that were already starting to leak through from the og timeline, but either way probably in trying to uncover how Ben died they figure out they have to save her. idk!

also, six is like. a random number of years I'm sorry. why wouldn't they just say five years later? maybe another thing to do with Ben bc umbrella Ben was number six? I'm probably reading too much into that one.

I'm truly SO scared they're gonna reveal none of them have spoken during the time skip. Five doesn't deserve that 😭😭. in my perfect world him and Viktor have an apartment but the show writers 100% forgot they said those two were best friends when they were kids judging by the rest of the series rip. when the Gene and Jean characters were first announced I thought maybe Five got stuck in the foster system and they took him in, and that could still be the case (maybe that's how they noticed the universe is a lie in the first place, the boy loves to Yap) but I think it's less likely now idk

if Diego and Lila's daughter isn't named Gracie....what was this all for. what was this all building towards. what's the point. LMFAO I know the popular fanon one is Anita (personally in my head I've been calling her Poppy and I Don't Know Why) but like Gracie is the only name that makes sense, Diego is Too Much of a mama's boy to accept anything else.

this one isn't a prediction it's just a demand- I DEMAND a white violin icon moment set to extraordinary girl by green day. they can 100% get away with just doing an instrumental version since Viktor's not a girl lmfao, but it literally Haunts Me that they didn't do that at the end of season 1 (or at LEAST play the opening of letterbomb when Viktor was in the basement hallucinating) so they NEED to make up for that. it's the last season. play the fucking song oh my God.

there might be too much going on to bring the sparrows back in any meaningful way, but like! I liked them! I especially wanted more Marcus last season, he and Viktor had good chemistry. and Fei was an icon. Why Are We Hiding Sloane Tho. I considered maybe they were rescuing Sloane, but like, Luther just seems a little too happy for that to be the case? that's why I also think Diego and Lila's kid isn't the one being rescued like I saw some theories suggest- Diego is so excited and Lila's grinning in the car scene. can't imagine their 5 year old is missing.

Five is absolutely gonna die. like I'm sorry since episode 1 there's never been a believable outcome where everything's okay and he lives. HOWEVER I think there's a very strong chance the series could end with the timeline is finally saved and set right, and grandpa Five died- but then right at the end 2002 baby Five shows up and gets stuck in the safe timeline. Five has been a walking paradox the whole series. it'd be bittersweet to lose the Five we love, but know that he's still technically getting a happy ending because he doesn't have to live through the apocalypse and become an assassin. I think that's like the best outcome we can hope for.

I think it'd be EXTREMELY funny if Reginald is just super nice now that Abigail is back. like the entire excuse for 30 years of insane behavior was that he missed his wife. bestie there are better ways to cope than abusing superpowered kids </3 but lmao I'm intrigued by him and Viktor being together in both trailers! I've always gotten the feeling that Viktor is one of his 'favorites' (to the best of his ability anyway), and from the brief childhood flashbacks we see that he had baby V acting as an assistant for him, so I'd like to see their relationship expanded a little bit. honestly I just want a lot about Reginald cleared up- he does give off the distinct impression that he actually cares about his kids, even though he's abusive. I'm assuming the explanation will be something along the lines of 'well I always planned to bring you back and safe in the New Universe', that he was approaching it as a 'they have to suffer now to save the universe, and then they can be happy' mindset. that would be interesting. but I'm also a little worried they'll wave his behavior off with 'oh he's an alien he just can't understand how he affected them', which, would suck writing-wise.

I'm worried about Allison- I'm sure they're gonna want her to have a full redemption by the end of the series, but what she did to Viktor and Luther last season...like I just don't know that they'll pull off a meaningful redemption, to where it's believable that they forgive her (other than the fact they're both softies and push overs). not with the shorter season, anyway! I *think* the person Viktor was punching in the trailer was Allison. but I'm worried that instead of actually fixing the issue the writers will just have her do a sacrifice play. especially since, bless her, she's the least sacrificial person in the family, so I could see the argument that it'll be a meaningful character growth moment, but like...if they don't actually have her believably fix her mistakes it'll just feel like a lazy writing move. also, I love her and I don't want any of them to die. as I said, the only death I'm willing to accept is Five's WITH the promise of baby Five getting a happy ending.

I want the Handler to come back, even if it's only for one scene. sorry, I think her absence was one of the low points of season 3.

I think if Grace appears in this season at all it won't be the robot version we're used to, but an older version of her human self that Diego met in the 60s. could be very bittersweet. I just don't think the robot exists in this universe bc honestly if my husband revived me from the dead but then I found out he's been living without me just fine, but made a robot copy of a pretty young fling he had after my death and seemingly can't live without her. I'd be a little pissed! sorry! lmao that said I also have personally been headcannoning that Grace is actually a cyborg and not a robot this whole time, the kids just don't know because of all the insane protocols Reginald set up, so if they do something with that instead I'll be really excited.

Diego and Lila's daughter deserves powers<3

alright I think that's all I got for now. but I wanna hear more theories!!

#tua #umbrella academy #the umbrella academy #tua season 4 #molly mumbles

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omamorens · 5 months ago

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real Mandela effect of fantasy high is adaine having glasses. in no version of her character art ever has she had glasses but i think its cute to put her in one because siobhan has them. i like that very much

#adaine abernant #d20 #fhjy #dimension 20 #fantasy high #fantasy high junior year #omamorens ramblings

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hulloitsdani · 6 days ago

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Um. So. I may have gotten stressed and started transcribing FEH’s story mode. Might currently have all of book 1 written down. Perhaps a third of the way into book 2.

This started as a way to have the preface chapters handy since they’re not replayable. But then I looked on the FE wiki and saw that they only have a small fraction of the chapters written down. And that scared me, because means that my hyperfixation has a nonzero chance of becoming lost media if the app were to go down one day. So now I have all of book 1 in my back pocket, including the preface, two intermissions, and the two relevant xenologues. Once I’m further along and have a few more books accounted for, I have no problem making the document public. But until then I encourage others to also write some of its content down. Just in case, you know? Especially those prologues and Tempest Trials.

With that PSA out of the way, omg book 1 hi!!!! It’s been forever!!!!

Apparently, I haven’t reread book 1 in its entirety since I first played Heroes! I’ve gone back to look for specific scenes and replayed the levels on harder difficulties (self inflicted or otherwise), but I haven’t done a thorough second pass before. Which was news to me, because that meant I was consistently blindsided by scenes and characterization that I completely forgot about! Did any of you remember that Zacharias was apparently Alfonse and Sharena’s childhood friend? I didn’t! But there it is, chapter 7 part 5 after battle cutscene, Anna specifies that aspect of their relationship. That’s crazy! How does the timeline even line up on that??? If he spent his childhood in Askr, how did he manage to have a strong relationship with his significantly younger sister? How did he find himself rubbing shoulders with enemy royalty? Could he have inadvertently met Peony? I’m not changing my takes on his character, but I would love to know.

Speaking of character, apparently seven years spent writing a character naturally changes how they sound! Who would have thought. It made seeing the book 1 versions of our Askr trio a little jarring, but in an oddly nostalgic way! This was a phase of the game where the story, its characters, and its world existed with the singular purpose of introducing new players to what Heroes was trying to do. Which was, at the time, being a cute yet unobtrusive gacha app tie in with simplified FE mechanics to give you that gameplay fix on the go. And to its credit, it does do a good job of this! It ain’t a masterpiece, but I was charmed by its emphasis on showing off all these cool characters you could go summon. Ryoma gets to talk for a few lines and you are going to look at his very pretty art! But that meant that the world and characters of Zenith take a bit of a backseat. They’re not here to be too complicated. The Order of Heroes are the friendly faces that go on adventures and meet these heroes that you can summon for only $19.99. But we all know where the game and its story is going to go from here. That emphasis is going to wane as FEH grows into its own identity (and also earn IntSys over $1 billion worldwide).

But that’s a later development. Before that fundamental shift is where book 1 sits. It’s in this fascinating position where these characters have yet to solidify into their recognizable forms. And if you don’t believe me, chapter 9 part 4 has a scene where Sharena and Alfonse’s roles have reversed. For once, Sharena is posing the cautionary “what if the information we are getting from this total stranger is a trap?”, to which Alfonse responds “nah I’m getting a vibe that it’s fine and that we should believe him whole heartedly.” Like??? Huh???? It’s Bruno, but still, that’s hilarious! Alfonse’s pragmatism bordering on paranoia hasn’t established itself as a massive driver of his character yet. Nor has Sharena’s role as trusting emotional core and moral compass of the group. It was very easy to borderline Mandela Effect it into being there, but it isn’t. Not quite. There are hints, sure, but once again these characters were initially made to be simple at the time. The depth doesn’t quite exist yet.

It wasn’t until I was writing this very paragraph that it finally dawned on me why the Askr trio voice lines, especially Alfonse’s lines, are such a big deal. That's where Alfonse’s character arc with trusting Kiran resides. There's the pragmatism we know and love! It’s not super present in the text of book 1, but the depth of these characters can be found in the voice lines you unlock from building them and earning the crown jewel level 40 conversation. That’s where Alfonse’s arc with his self isolating behaviors crumbles at that sight of one silly tactician. That’s where Sharena finally wins a fight against her own loneliness by forming genuine friendship with this stranger form a strange land, who is appreciative of her loud eccentricities. That’s where Anna apologizes about her initial underestimation of Kiran, thanks them for being more reliable than she could have ever hoped for, and swears that whatever hell may come their way, they’re in this together. The books themselves don’t seem to reflect this characterization until book 2, where they overall act more in accordance with the rest of the narrative. It’s as if they're taking from the voiced lines’ example and extrapolating more on the story they imply.

The one standing in slight contrast to all this is Bruno, as he's the most interesting character in book 1. It's blaringly obvious he's Zacharias, but it's genuinely amusing how deep he is in his own gaslighting. He can't manipulate, mansplain, manwhore his way out of this one folks, but he's certainly going to try! His lies aren't even that good, but it honestly contributes to how at wits end he is. Like, sure honey, I totally believe you that you just killed Zacharias. I bet he has an eight-pack too. Just take a nap for two minutes. But then everyone believes him because our protagonists have yet meld their group braincell. Overall, an amusing time.

I don't have a particular point I'm trying to make with this one. Just having a fun and pointing out the things I've noticed. Might give a little update for every book I complete. However many that will be.

#feh #fire emblem #fire emblem heroes #Feh Ted Talk #alfonse #feh alfonse #fe alfonse #fe anna #fe sharena #feh anna #feh sharena #feh bruno #fe bruno

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