#she is not doing well out of prison

[clickerflight]

Voltober 15. The Ones Who've Hurt You - From Dust to Ashes

Author's notes: Welcome to me playing with a man's trauma for all of our enjoyment!

Challenges Masterlist - Voltober 14

Content: human whumpee, traumatized whumpee, fear, seeing whumper in public, caretaker protecc!

@voltober

Seeing Whumper on the Street | “This is for __” | Whumper Turned Whumpee

Kyle allowed himself to be cajoled out to the store with Joseph more and more these days. It was getting bad for his wallet and he had no idea how Joseph managed to keep up his own funds, but he wasn’t too upset about it. He had finished his degree and had a good position in anthropology circles. He could always find a place willing to pay him to speak if he needed some extra cash.

Joseph was chatting at him as they pulled up to the grocery store and Kyle checked his shopping list to see if he needed anything. He had already bought everything he needed on Monday, so this would mostly just be a snack run for him.

“And I’m thinking of doing this whole roast like my grandma used to do. Thing is, Muir doesn’t really like beef, but I think there will be plenty of sides to keep him happy, and if he’s still hungry he can make himself a sandwich because I’m getting my roast dang it! Would you like to join us for that?”

“Sure,” Kyle said, putting his phone away.

They got out of the car and walked toward the store, Joseph planning out loud what they would need.

They got inside and Joseph was immediately distracted in the juice section.

Kyle looked around, feeling a little out of his body. He had spent all day reading a book written by an ancient vampire about life and the things she had seen and was still feeling a little unreal as Joseph had stirred him out of his book very suddenly before whisking him off to the store.

He tried too bring his mind to the present, shaking his head a little and murmuring to Joseph that he was going to look at the snacks.

The store was pretty quiet as it was a bit too late in the evening for humans to want to be going to the store but still too bright and warm for most vampires to want to be out and about either. Not that Joseph cared either way.

Kyle walked into the snack aisle, looking over the cookies and candies the story had to offer.

He picked out a couple packs and then paused and put one back. He should probably find a healthier snack. Maybe baby carrots?

He left the aisle and rounded a corner to the vegetable and fruits section, glancing over the crowd.

His chest gave an involuntary pang where he had been shot about three years ago and he rubbed at it nonchalantly until he realized what had brought the memory back.

There was a woman, her hair much shorter than it once was, older, sadder, and wearing baggy clothing picking through the fruit.

Joanna. Joanna was standing there in the same store as Kyle. The woman who had shot him was OUT OF JAIL! He knew that she had gotten a light sentencing because people didn’t take the pain of vampires that seriously so they didn’t really punish her much for what she did to Esial, but she’d also shot him! And Kyle was human. Why was she out so soon? Why hadn’t he been notified? Had she escaped from prison? There was no way she’d be here just looking through the apples if she’d escaped prison. Was there?

She looked up and her eyes locked with Kyle’s wide ones.

Kyle didn’t even see her reaction to him, turning and bolting, dropping the cookies he had grabbed in his desperate search for Joseph. Joseph had the keys. They needed to get out and drive away very very fast. He needed to get away from here and call the police.

He awkwardly tried to get his phone out of his back pocket while sprinting through the store. He found Joseph and practically crashed into him, grabbing his arm. “We have to get out of here,” he gasped, shaky fingers trying to dial 911.

“Woah, calm down! What’s going on-”

“Joanna!” Kyle croaked. “She’s here!”

“Here?” Joseph asked, a rare look of rage darkened his face. “You’re sure?”

“I am! Let’s go please!”

Joseph nodded and, after a regretful look at his cart, abandoned it. Kyle felt rather touched by the gesture. Joseph would never abandon his cart for anything he didn’t consider serious.

Joseph and Kyle made their way toward the entrance, pausing only to apologize to an employee for abandoning the cart, before they made it to the exit.

The only issue was Joanna had the same thought.

The three froze and Kyle stood stunned as Joseph got in front of him, baring his fangs at Joanna. “What are you doing here!?”

The people nearby froze, surprised by the sudden aggression from a vampire in public.

Joanna put her hands up quickly. “I’m leaving.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be in jail?” Joseph snarled, drawing the attention of more customers. Security would likely be there soon.

“I’m out on probation for good behavior,” she said quickly. “I’m leaving. I’m going. I’m sorry.”

“You should be!” Joseph practically spat.

He watched as she darted out and he relaxed with a sigh.

He turned to Kyle and put a hand on his arm. “Are you alright?”

Kyle nodded numbly as security got there.

Joseph explained the situation to the men and was given the permission to keep shopping so they wouldn’t have to go out and maybe see Joanna in the parking lot.

As they returned to the cart, Kyle stared at the items Joseph had collected inside for a long moment before he asked, “Do you think Muir would be annoyed if I stay the night at your guys’ place?”

“No, not at all. Especially after all that,” Joseph said, annoyance in his tone for the situation, not at Kyle.

Kyle relaxed a little and nodded. “I’m not sure if I’ll get much sleep.”

Joseph’s expression softened and he stepped around the cart, pulling Kyle into a hug.

Kyle hesitantly hugged him back, embarrassed about doing so in public, but relieved nonetheless.

“We’re always going to have your back, man. Don’t be afraid to ask,” Joseph told him before leaning back and smiling up at him. “Now, do you want to help me with my list?”

Kyle sighed, smiling shakily. “Yeah. I’d love to.”

VTB Part 16

FDTA Masterlist

From Dust to Ashes Taglist: @whumpsday @honeycollectswhump @writereleaserepeat @tragedyinblue @hyrules-sleepiest-knight 

@why-not-ask-me-a-better-question @thecyrulik @gt-daboss @currentlyinthespiral @pigeonwhumps @not-a-space-alien

[gothra]

I’ll never forget when I was arguing with a person in favor of total prison abolition and I asked them “what about violent offenders?” And they said “Well, in a world where prisons have been abolished, we’ll have leveled the playing field and everyone will have their basic needs met, and crime won’t be as much of an issue.” And then I was like “okay. But…no. Because rich people also rape and murder, so it isn’t just a poor person thing. So what will we do about that?” And I don’t think they answered me after that. I’m ashamed to say I continued to think that the problem was that I simply didn’t understand prison abolitionists enough and that their point was right in front of me, and it would click once I finally let myself understand it. It took me a long time to realize that if something is going to make sense, it needs to make sense. If you want to turn theory into Praxis (I’m using that word right don’t correct me I’ll vomit) everyone needs to be on board, which mean it all needs to click and it needs to click fast and fucking clear. You need to turn a complex idea into something both digestible and flexible enough to be expanded upon. Every time I ask a prison abolitionist what they actually intend to do about violent crime, I get directed to a summer reading list and a BreadTuber. It’s like a sleight-of-hand trick. Where’s the answer to my question. There it is. No wait, there it is. It’s under this cup. No it isn’t. “There’s theory that can explain this better than I can.” As if most theory isn’t just a collection of essays meant to be absorbed and discussed by academics, not the average skeptic. “Read this book.” And the book won’t even answer the question. The book tells you to go ask someone else. “Oh, watch this so-and-so, she totally explains it better than me.” Why can’t you explain it at all? Why did you even bring it up if you were going to point me to someone else to give me the basics that you should probably already know? Maybe I’m just one of those crazy people who thinks that some people need to be kept away from the public for everyone’s good. Maybe that just makes me insane. Maybe not believing that pervasive systemic misogyny could be solved with a UBI and a prayer circle makes me a bad guy. But it’s not like women’s safety is a priority anyway. It’s not like there is an objective claim to be made that re-releasing violent offenders or simply not locking them up is deadly.

[kazunarei]

I'm so sad

I didn't want to fight Cocoa cause she cute.

Now I don't want to fight her cause she's kicking my ass. (´。＿。｀)

[vanhelsingapologist]

I am loathe to say it’s the Devil’s taste.

Finally got around to redesigning my PC Tatyana. She’s my main character, but as mentioned, I haven’t gotten to play Demetria in campaign for a bit because she’s been sealed up in Ravenloft with another PC. I’ve said it before but my DM had every one of their players make two characters right off the bat in case of death. So far, I think everyone except one has had to play their backup because of temporary/permanent death or incapacitation. Smart move, then! I love playing Emilia but I miss Dima!

[a-shadowedvales]

so… in the additional media of stranger things (specifically the comics i’m mentioning), it was initially brenner’s idea/plan to kill off the other test subjects because they weren’t performing as well as eleven was. it was his best solution because that way, all the resources, time, and money could instead be placed only to her. and i just…. sure henry is a fine character and the massacre makes a lot of sense to me, but i think i am once again gonna change up my canon to actually fit this potential narrative instead.

i genuinely think the comic canon of the lab and brenner is far more intriguing than the show. everything with 9/9.5, ricky, and francine. eleven being the only one who grew up completely in the lab. those other kids were either volunteers, well into their teens, or had some semblance of a home life. eleven was the only one practically moulded from the womb. and they all had such a range of interesting powers. i firmly stand with the idea that jane is the only one who can contact the void.

brenner’s entire point of view on the lab subjects changed the second he found out terry was pregnant. he discovered he could steal this baby and make her his own. there would be no convincing the child because it’s all she would have ever known. because of this, i would not put it past a man like brenner to kill the other subjects for the sake of the “greater good” in this case, eleven.

eleven’s gifts just continue thriving beyond his wildest expectations. brenner would never dare assume that having moulded her from the womb, she would still be able to grow into her own person, her own mind, and one day be able to see him for exactly who he was.

back before season four aired, it was obvious there were other test subjects because jane was 011. so there were at least ten kids before her. but i always liked the idea/assumed that she was the last experiment because she was the most successful. that they didn’t need anyone after her because she was fulfilling everything they set out for her to do. with flying colours.

i just think the whole rainbow room idea, pitting the kids against each other thing… been there, done that. boring and predictable. i think at this point my portrayal of her time in hawkins lab really stems from the complete isolation she endured. where having the rainbow room, although eleven was obviously the most isolated out of the kids, brings that sense of community and sister/brotherhood. albeit extremely warped and toxic. knowing that she wasn’t alone in that experience just. doesn’t sit well with me. i think it’s important to note that she was alone, physically and mentally. which is why kali is also so important to her growth. i thought a lot of the flashbacks of her time in the lab during season four was really boring, repetitive, and just very predictable. although peter becoming vecna was a surprise to me, and was a nice little twist, the idea of her having an ally on the inside was really interesting.

maybe they did get as far as they do in canon, peter ballad was telling the truth about everything, about some of the workers there being prisoners like him, and he really wanted to get her out and to safety. but before they can escape through the pipes, they’re caught. peter is shot on the spot, and eleven is put into the isolation room for a few days as punishment. in this timeline, henry would be vecna, but henry would not be peter ballad.

when eleven turned seven, and was already showing extreme promise, where the other children were average at best, brenner had the eight children killed. kali had already escaped. this was the main cause for peter to gain eleven’s trust and try to get her out. because if brenner could murder his “children” in cold blood, there’s no way eleven was safe even in spite of her power.

when eleven is allowed out of the isolation room, her testing becomes more rigorous in attempt to distance and make her forget about what she attempted to do with peter. brenner begins gaslighting her, saying that there was never a peter, that she must have been dreaming. eleven does ask “papa” about “mama”, given peter told her of the day terry broke in the lab, but brenner is convincing enough to make eleven believe it was all in her head. say she is around eight years old, meaning the same timeline of season fours canon flashbacks.

i still do wanna keep the henry creel canon, and keep him as 001. brenner didn’t have him killed alongside the other test subjects, because who knows, one day he could become an even better asset than 011. brenner definitely wants to be able to control henry, but keeps the chip in him because, for the moment, doesn’t know how. killing him would be too big of a loss.

when eleven is ten years old, henry’s concealed powers break free and he manages to get the chip out himself, and unleashes hell onto hawkins lab. he almost kills brenner by snapping his bones, but eleven manages to stop him. her extreme abilities are unleashed, and she sends henry to the upside down. she does fall into a coma due to the extremity of the situation, but she does not forget what happened. brenner believes she’s the perfect weapon as she stepped in to save him without a second thought, was able to defeat henry, and opened a door to something he never thought possible. eleven is rewarded for her efforts. although she remembers the entire battle / confrontation, her memories regarding the portal are very hazy.

brenner decides not to focus on the portal straight away, instead gets her training harder and harder to see what else she can accomplish. also loved the idea of brenner sending her into the void to “look for him” so that will definitely be kept.

by the time she escapes and season one begins, her knowledge of the upside down is basically what we see in canon. because she passed out the moment after she sent henry away, she was once again gaslighted into believing she merely threw him through the glass and killed him. for two years she believed this, until making contact with the demogorgan, and those memories return completely.

due to her saving brenner’s life, (it was pure instinct. she happened to be there. saw her “papa” hurt and knew she had to make him better.) brenner constantly thanks her. but in a very condescending way. tells her: “you saved me so i can continue saving you.” aka, harness your abilities and see what else i can achieve from you. despite the fact that she saved his life, these words and phrases make her feel indebted to him. that she owes him something further.

i don't realistically see her thriving with her speech improvement until she's well into her twenties at least. her slowed development, sensory and social deprivation causes a serious delay in language. surrounded by other children she would have overheard conversations, some would have spoken to her. her conveniently forgetting her upbringing pre the battle with henry just isn't good enough for me anymore. it makes more sense for her to have been raised alone.

it also helps indicate why she gravitated towards the boys when they found her in the woods. they would have been the first people her age she ever remembered seeing. as far as she knew, during the lab there was no one like her. everyone was much older, they were adults-- although she stayed with benny, i'm not sure if she would have stuck around very long. where she followed the boys home without thought.

also it's important to note that after time, jane does understand that peter ballad was a real person, and was truly the first person (aside from terry) who wanted the best for her. when she remembers him, knows that brenner was lying, she deals with immense guilt regarding his death. he was shot right in front of her eyes, because he was trying to help her. this is another catalyst as to why after season two, jane never refers to brenner as papa. she does not give him that sort of credit.

[discordiansamba]

The thought of Krolia taking over Shiro's role on the Kerberos mission is so funny to me. All she wants to do is a.) figure out a way to get back to her own body and b.) spend time with her son in the meantime, but the human who she has swapped with has obligations that are important to his people's development and more importantly, are very important to the human himself, so it's not like she can just shuck it off on someone else. That would be very rude. This Shiro sounds like he has a very strong sense of responsibility, and she would certainly hate to make the reputation of the man who has been looking after her son take a dive.

Krolia getting a crash course on Earth's space faring technology. She crashes the sim twice while learning the controls, but she gets the hang of it pretty quickly. Krolia pouring over all the details of the Kerberos mission with only like, two months to get a grasp on the whole thing. Thankfully she is an extremely quick study, and if anyone asks, she just claims she's 'reviewing the mission parameters again to make sure she has everything down'. But also Adam having to drag this woman to bed because she is unused to having a human sleep cycle. It's 3 AM Krolia, go the fuck to sleep.

(She also has to get a crash course on how to treat Shiro's disease. She thinks she understands just a little, his drive to get out there and do something great by the standards of his people.)

Also she has to do this all while putting up with Admiral Sanda. She does not like this woman. Adam tells her that she cannot challenge her to combat for her role. Shame. It would make things much simpler. At least the two humans who are to accompany her on this mission are pleasant company, even if she's quite certain she's not entirely fooling Commander Holt. Good thing the truth is so outlandish that no one would ever possibly guess that she is an alien lifeform who has unintentionally taken over this human's body.

(Does she try and push Matt and Keith to become friends? Yes. Absolutely. She gets Adam's full backing on that one.)

Then when she gets to Kerberos, she and the two humans get abducted. By the Galra Empire. She just stares up at the ship for a good few seconds with an incredibly are you fucking kidding me expression on her face.

Sigh. These are not the ideal conditions in which to plan an escape from a Galra cruiser, but she supposes she will have to make do. Thankfully she has not skimped on her training in this body.

[uzumakichcined]

no i dont care whatever "data books" have to say about Karin and her loyalty to Orochimaru

she's loyal to him, there's no fucking way she would return to working with him so quickly and easily if she wasnt.

[softquietsteadylove]

Hello lovely!

I'd love to read more of the prison AU ✨🖤

A group of inmates is trying to push Thena around and a guard with bad intentions is helping her. He grabs her afterwards and pushes her into a corner, wanting something spicy in return for his help. Thena declines and is trying to get away, without success. Sweet Gilgamesh is coming to rescue her.

🖤✨Hugs and Love!!✨🖤

"What's going on in here?!"

Thena grunted as she was tossed against the wall again. They had already shoved her around plenty by this point of course. But fighting back against them was a surefire way to get herself penalised.

"Nothing," the other inmate who had done the most pushing and shoving turned with a smile.

Thena blinked as the guard came down the hall and barked at them to keep moving. There was no lingering in unsupervised areas. She stood, dusting off her uniform.

"You okay?"

"Fine," she muttered. She knew which guard this was. She didn't have to talk to each of them, but she knew each of their rotations, which were off weeks and which were on. It kept her mind occupied.

This guard was in his late 50s, recently divorced, had two kids who sounded very reluctant to have him in their lives, judging by how he was always saying he had games of theirs to go see and then would be working that night anyway.

"You sure?" he stepped closer, hands on his utility belt. "You look a little roughed up."

"I'm fine," she repeated. She tried to step around him but he moved into her path again.

"Y'know," he began, and she should have known. He leaned against the wall, his arm up against it, in the way of her head. "I can step in and protect you like this any time. Although I would wanna know that you're, uh, grateful, if you catch my drift."

She avoided his eyes as well. Looking people in the eyes only ever riled them up in here. "No, thank you."

He scoffed, "no thank you?--that what you said?"

"Yes," she muttered at the ground. She knew very well that he enjoyed the sense of humiliation he could get off some of the inmates in here. "Excuse me."

"You're excused when I excuse you."

Thena eyed the arm of his in her way. This hallways was already isolated enough for the other women to know it was good roughing up territory. A guard like him could get away with any number of things down here.

"So," the guard grinned at her, "you got a smile for me, gen-pop?"

Thena backed up against the wall again, but he followed her. His hand moved to her shirt, "don't."

She'd claw his face off if she really had to, longer sentence be damned.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Her eyes raised again, and they met his before she could help it. But she knew this guard, too. This was the one who made sandwiches at home and brought them in to work. It was Gilgamesh.

"Just making sure this one gets back to her pen."

Gilgamesh didn't even pretend to believe it. He marched over to them, wearing the same uniform as the other guard but taller, and twice as strong. "Don't give me that shit, I have eyes on it and everything."

The other guard just shrugged, "I kept a fight from breaking out is all. She offered to, uh, y'know."

Thena kept her expression passive. This creep could say whatever he wanted about her, she didn't care. And she didn't care if Gilgamesh believed him or not.

"Don't give me that bullshit either," Gilgamesh growled in the face of his fellow guard. "No one's offering to suck your broken old dick, especially not this one. So are you gonna walk away with a shred of dignity or do I need to bring this footage to the warden?"

Thena looked up as Gilgamesh gathered the front of the shirt of the other guard and tossed him aside. She remained where she was, but Gilgamesh's shoulder partially came between them just by its natural width.

"Fuck you," the other guard picked himself up and stalked off, surely to abuse his power elsewhere, "ass kisser."

"No one's offering you that either," Gilgamesh shouted after him to get one last dig in at him. "Old creep."

"Thanks," Thena muttered down at the ground.

"Hey." For such a big guy, in such a stressful work environment, he sure had a gentle voice. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"I was checking the cameras when I saw him leaning over you," Gilgamesh said gently, taking a step away from her until she had the amount of space to which she was accustomed. "What happened?"

She sighed, still looking down at her regulation nonslip shoes. "The three with the smuggling business left me my share of lunch today, but I think they were expecting something in return from me. I didn't have it, so they figured they would try and shake me down for it."

"Oh really," he frowned.

"He came along and," she shrugged, "what he wanted in exchange was more tangible, I suppose."

"I've reported him before but it never seems to go anywhere," Gil scowled in the direction their little friend had scurried. "Maybe if I have something like this, I can finally get him at least transferred to different work, or something."

"One could hope." She tried to drag herself back to her cell again but once again found herself blocked. She looked up, though, finding the deep brown eyes of Mister Gilgamesh. "What?"

He sighed, maybe getting the hint that even if he could do something about it - which he couldn't - it didn't mean she wanted him to. His shoulders wilted and he got this sad puppy look on his face, "nothing, I guess. Just...I'm around, you know. If anything..."

"Are you offering to come to my aid?" she asked him, letting him know how unimpressed she was with the offer.

"Yeah, I guess I am," he offered a jovial and sheepish smile. "I know I must sound like any old asshole. But I mean it--no strings attached."

She gave him a smirk as he began walking her back to her cell, "you don't want a little something?--not even a peek on shower day?"

He blushed. The massive bear of a guard blushed and averted his eyes from her, "okay, okay."

"Sorry," she snickered to herself, "this place has turned me deviant."

He shrugged, "you're tough, you adapted to survive. The ones who don't, don't tend to last. But you're smart enough to figure that out, huh?"

She most certainly was.

"Also, as far as those other three are concerned, if I see them withholding food I'm not gonna just leave it."

"Do as you please," she muttered. What he did while on the job wasn't any of her concern. All she had to do was keep her head down and not do anything to get her sentence lengthened.

"I know you said you had lunch, but," Gil rustled something in his pocket, "was it the burnt corner piece again?"

Thena looked down at the sandwich he flashed at her from his side cargo pocket, like they were exchanging the most dangerous of goods. Well, contraband was contraband. But he did make really good sandwiches. "What is it today?"

"Chicken katsu with curry mayo."

God, he really was a good cook. And just because she'd had lunch didn't mean it was really the freshest serving anyway. And Druig did comment that he was worried about how much weight she had lost (even claiming he didn't think she had any to spare, anyway).

When crossing the doorway Thena snatched the sandwich from him, slipping it under her uniform top and crossing her arms around it. "Thanks."

Gilgamesh smiled, his eyes meeting hers, "any time, really."

[gregoftom]

oh ok

[thesoupisburning]

the prisoner

[oxbowreality]

my therapist is so bad with lgbt stuff but ughhh it's so hard to find a decent therapist

[orcelito]

My druid has "fuckboy" written all over her

[crimeronan]

It’s hilarious to imagine Eda grumbling while Raine waits to hear how it went.

Eda: She’s not… too bad

Raine: I TOLD YOU SO. Now help me break her out of there. Also add the blight kid and the golden guard to the mix

Eda: …why do I like you

KLDKFJSLKD. TRULY TRULY TRULY

eda's like "she's..... nice. i don't like that she's nice" and raine is like "you're telling me. i've never met a kid who needs to go more apeshit in my Life,"

[amplexadversary]

So I may have used my playthrough of The Outer Worlds to indulge in my desire to see some even darker AUs for G Gundam (since there is no shortage of opportunities).

Spoilers for a 30 year old anime and a 4 year old video game to follow, obviously.

My excuse for why anyone from G Gundam is in fucking Halcyon relies on two things changing:

the presence of an exodus into other star systems in G's setting (not that weird given the tech levels)

Domon actually succeeding at apprehending his brother without finding out the truth (maybe justifiable assuming he actually landed where he was supposed to and stumbled upon the Devil Gundam right when Master Asia moved it to Shinjuku).

Given these assumptions, my thought is that there is no way Ulube actually keeps his end of the deal re: letting Domon's dad, Dr Kasshu, out of cryo sleep. It's possible that in the show his plan was to blackmail the man into silence but that's still a witness AND victim running around being a liability to him, and he already has his accomplice Mikamura to worry about.

As a result, I think Ulube would JUMP on the opportunity to get rid of not only the witnesses to/victims of the Devil Gundam Incident, but also both his witting and unwitting accomplices by shipping them all off to another star system.

He'd probably immediately shove Kyoji into cryo to shut him up. Then, he'd move the goalposts for Domon by making something up about how Difficult It Is Getting An Acquittal In This Country, and that Domon would probably be older than his dad by the time he actually gets to see him again (a lie which, if Neo Japan's legal system is anything like the criticisms to its IRL counterpart, would have a grain of truth to it).

Naturally, Domon would be pretty upset by this. He'd probably accuse Ulube of lying to him and going back on his promise (true). Ulube would then play the sympathy card, claim he wants nothing more than to help given the service Domon has provided, etc. etc. etc, and then once Domon is at peak desperation Ulube brings up an alternative.

Instead of potentially waiting years or decades to see his family again while the legal system grinds its gears, Ulube offers to arrange a deal with a program meant to colonize other star systems. If Domon signs the necessary paperwork in his father and brother's absence, Ulube can secure them all a place on an interstellar transport called the Hope. Domon and his family all spend only 10y in cryo, and see each other immediately when they're all woken up at their destination.

Ulube probably gives Domon a few moments to think, and then pushes him further. Mikamura's also going (Ulube has plenty with which to threaten him) and his daughter, Rain has decided to come with. If Domon stays in the Neo Japan colony or on Earth, he never sees several of the people he's close to again, and has to wait for a non-guaranteed chance to see the rest.

Boarding the Hope would mean Domon never sees his teacher, Master Asia again, but Ulube's summary of the situation makes it sound more and more like the better option. Domon writes his master a letter saying goodbye and signs the paperwork.

Things going as planned for the Hope would mean it would take 20 years for anyone on it to make it back to Earth to question Ulube's report of what happened, and that's if the Kasshus turned around and came back as soon as they all woke up.

Per the opening of The Outer Worlds, things don't go as planned. After 70 years, Ulube has almost definitely died of old age. He's won.

And the Hope is adrift in the outer rim of the Halcyon system. Halcyon's technology is insufficient to safely revive anyone who has been in cryo for more than a decade or two. The only person who has tried is a wanted criminal.

(Which, admittedly, is something of a plot hole if we combine the two settings because the way G Gundam uses cryo definitely implies that Earth can revive people who have been in cryo for extended periods... but on the other hand Halcyon *is* run by buffoons and the original techs who revived the Groundbreaker might not have had that knowledge. Or died in the interim. Or the colony lost that particular bit of knowledge in any number of ways because there is extensive evidence of a widespread habit of not maintaining systems until they fail, cover your ass rather than admit to ever making any mistakes, etc, etc.

We can fill that hole with screwups similar to what we actually see in the game. When the Hope is found almost 30 years after it was supposed to arrive, someone went to look up how to revive people and oh shit the database is corrupted. Shit. Where's the senior cryo tech from Groundbreaker? They got pink slipped 20 years ago. Maybe we can ask Earth- no that would involve admitting we fucked our databases up. Up until now the ship was missing so it's just going to stay that way.)

So at the beginning of The Outer Worlds we have Dr. Phineas Welles sneaking onboard and looking through a manifest for a candidate to attempt to revive. He's pretty sure he's figured out how to do it this time, and this might be the last attempt he can make because he's out of one of the key chemicals he needs. But he's not certain. Welles needs someone he can be fairly confident will help him, but wants someone more a little bit more expendable than the brightest minds on the ship.

Welles hits pay dirt when he finds a group of passengers with the same last name and a promising history.

Two of them were exiled from Earth due to criminal charges, and have extensive knowledge of biology, robotics, and terraforming. Hell, he's pretty sure he's read some of their papers.

Welles briefly considers reviving either scientist. It would be nice to have someone he could relate to around, and surely they would understand his goals. Having family on the ship would be a strong motivator to rescue the other passengers, and hey! the criminal record implies (to Welles at least) a healthy disdain for authority that would motivate them to throw in with another fugitive!

But no, he doesn't revive Raizo or Kyoji Kasshu. Welles does not want to risk dissolving anyone he thinks is brilliant enough to actually save the colony. He also considers and decides against reviving Rain Mikamura, a talented engineer and medical doctor, for similar reasons.

Instead he goes for Domon Kasshu. A man who, according to his report, had already gone to great lengths in attempt to save the same people Welles has his eye on. A hand-to-hand combatant in peak physical condition would be unlikely to die should the revival succeed, and this one would be easily led (Welles thinks it lucky that he got to him before the Board did).

Domon doesn't yell at Welles as soon as he wakes up, but it's close. Right about when Welles slams the door to some kind of pod in Domon's face, Domon's fist connects with the door, and Welles is met with a volley of questions.

"Where's my dad? Who are you? What do you mean bad news!??"

Domon isn't familiar with all of the terminology Welles is using but is deeply disturbed by the concept of exploding or being liquefied, and continues to bang on the door.

And now the old man is asking for his help. Domon's family and his best friend are still frozen on that ship.

It feels like the Gundam Fight all over again.

Except the person asking him for help this time is (proudly) waving a Wanted poster in his face.

[hollowslantern]

the riddles no good very bad bus ride

[the-everqueen]

very wild how earlier this week i was feeling good about things done so far this summer (submitted another article to a different journal, made progress on the conference paper i'm giving later this month), and then my "mentor" emailed me asking whether i'd finished two other, separate things and could send them to her for review, and now i feel like i'm actually wasting everyone's time including my own 🙃