#so he uses his super secret ultimate weapon

[einradi]

Simon trying to diffuse North’s anger over X situation

Simon: “Go on. Be angry in front of him. I dare you!”

Connor:

North:

Connor: … /headtilt with PuppyEyes.exe

North: “FUCK!”

[blasphemousclaw]

tanith for the character list thing?

MY GIRLLLL

• favorite thing about them

I love how she occupies this position of power as the proprietress of the Manor, the consort of a demigod, and she’s the sole person in charge of operating their cult movement (since Rykard doesn’t seem to do much except kill eat and sleep these days) and yet she comes from such a humble background as a dancer from a foreign land… she projects this image of ruthlessness and strength, but she actually has really deep insecurities about herself that start to come out during Rya’s quest? her greatest fear is that she’s always been weak, and that Rykard always knew that… I think she clings to the entire structure she’s built up at the Manor because she’s afraid of feeling powerless, maybe because she felt powerless in her past? also her mask is sexy

• least favorite thing about them

I just wish she had more content! the dlc introduced the Dancer of Ranah with almost an identical face to Tanith, which implies Tanith was the same kind of Dancer? was she actually an expert swordswoman who gave up the lifestyle to run a cult with a demigod? I NEED TO KNOW

• favorite line

“Dear Rykard, please find purchase within me, I wish to be your serpent; your family.” eating your beloved’s corpse is what true love looks like <3

also it’s super long but her speech about the Volcano Manor’s goals is really good; you can tell she’s tailored her and Rykard’s goals to appeal to the Tarnished and get them fired up against the Erdtree… queen of public speaking

• brOTP

her relationship with Rya is so sweet and also so emotionally complicated, like they love each other so much but Tanith lies to her about the truth of Volcano Manor and the circumstances of her birth and shatters that trust… :(

I also feel like Tanith would’ve had a great dynamic with Bernahl?? there’s this implication that he’s her most trusted Recusant; he never got eaten by Rykard even though Tanith feeds all the greatest champions to him, and Bernahl seems to know everything about Rykard and his mission after we kill him… and there’s also the fact that he uses a really important weapon to the serpent cult, and it’s implied that he goes to Farum Azula to challenge Maliketh, which was seemingly what Rykard was originally gonna do? so Bernahl and Tanith must have shared their plans and secrets with each other… I wonder if he was the “precocious” guest Tanith mentions having long ago whom we remind her of if we show up to the Manor unannounced?

• ОТР

TANITH/RYKARD. OBVIOUSLY. I won’t write a whole paragraph about them because I already talked about their relationship here

• nОТР

Patches LOL I know he’s trying to keep Tanith from destroying herself and remind her that she has other things in life to live for but what if I WANT her to destroy herself because of her undying love for her serpent god husband who’s prophesied to devour the entire world! like what’s sexier than this!! STAY OUT OF THIS PATCHES

• random headcanon

she braids Rya’s hair to match her own hairstyle :,)

• unpopular opinion

I’m never going to police the kind of content people want to make and enjoy, but it really bothers me when I see serious analysis of the game’s story and interactions with my own content that are like “Tanith is such a good mother!” and “this family is so wholesome!” when the actual story involves her making really questionable decisions that ultimately harm Rya’s wellbeing? there’s no doubt that Tanith loves Rya more than anything, but she’s lied to her about the Manor’s true purpose and the circumstances of her birth for her whole life, and then asks us to drug her so she forgets the truths she’s learned? like… it’s kind of baffling to me how these things are never talked about. I just think it’s such a huge disservice to Tanith’s character to smooth over all the flaws in her relationships, because her flaws are what make her so interesting to me… loving someone doesn’t always mean you’re doing what’s best for them!

• song i associate with them

ok I’m so sorry but I never know how to answer these questions because I only listen to instrumental music so I guess I’m just gonna pass 🙈

• favorite picture of them

I think this one is by @/Zlofsky2nd on twitter? she’s so pretty

also this image I edited

[hawkzeyes]

Hey I read through that argument about the Hawkeyes masks, that was kinda wild but you seem cool

Anyway I'm getting pretty annoyed at people who acf like Clint being HoH is "obscure" maybe at one point it was but not anymore and I'm pretty sure if you asked most superhero fans (or even non sh fans) if they knew hawkeye was deaf they probably would have at least heard about it

Also I'd say it's pretty clear some modern comics are trying to establish it's as a consistent Canon character trait

This is not to bash that person just wanted to say I agree with you and appreciate the points you were making

I appreciate you reaching out and saying this. As someone who is Hoh it’s sort of wild to have fellow comic fans not only advocate but argue for my sort of disability to just essentially be erased again from a character because they don’t think it’s a common enough trait. Which it would have been more common and probably portrayed more accurately if more people weren’t so okay with not seeing it. If less folks thought like the person arguing against Clint being portrayed as deaf maybe we would have seen more of it sooner. Maybe it wouldn’t have had to be re-established. I just don’t want Clint to lose this aspect of his character again. So many of us value seeing it in the comics and shows. It’s really important.

Whatever it be it’s certainly not obscure. My Life As A Weapon is one of the most popular comics out there. It was released over a decade ago and since then he has been canonically deaf. Many people now a days start their comic journey with that comic specifically. So to see it claimed as obscure and unknown felt really silly to me.

I mean… It’s referenced even in comics that aren’t his. I know folks who don’t even read comics but participate in fandom culture (ie art and writing) that know he is deaf. It takes like five seconds in the Hawkeye tag on tumblr to know. Maybe a minute on Twitter or TikTok to put it together.

I don’t think that person arguing with me really was as involved with comics as they might have been implying they were because if they were they would know it’s not an unknown super secret fact that only the most hard Hawkeye fans would know. It’s ultimately why I stopped trying to prove this aspect to them. They just wanted to be right they dont actually care about the character or advocating for disabled representation.

Anyways enough of my rant…. I’m glad that there are fans like yourself though that agree and want to continue to see it represented. So thank you anon you also seem super cool 🫶

Sorry I got wordsy about this it just matters to me a lot okay I’m done LMFAOO

[lordpheles]

Would Azazel agree with Section 13?

My vote is YES.

Okay this is some wild blue exorcist theory-time here. And if you haven't read the manga and don't want spoilers, turn away now. I'll have a few future snippets in here.

Azazel

We don't know the entire story behind Azazel, but Lightning alludes that he was on the side of humans and Assiah.

Yet, unlike the other kings, Azazel didn't choose to take on another human vessel and instead chose to crystallize and go back to Gehenna.

Lightning seems concerned that Azazel didn't willingly agree to have his DNA used in section 13. But at the same time, he honestly doesn't know. The old man used to be able to talk, but did he talk to Mephisto and make plans way back when? Or did he disagree and Mephisto harvested his biological material without his consent?

The King of Spirit would have known that section 13 would have been unsuccessful creating a vessel for Lucifer. Lucifer has no respect for weaker beings and surely would not have been able to cohabit with with a creature that was strong of Spirit. Especially with a human that had its own soul, dreams, thoughts and emotions. Lucifer rapes everything in Assiah for his own personal gain and kills humans out of spite when his own powers overpower him.

The secret for a demon king's survival in Assiah: collaboration not conquering. Balance is key.

In order for a demon king to acclimate and live in Assiah without suffering necrosis of the body. They need to have a perfect balance over their demonic power within a human vessel.

Mephisto has perfected this relationship. He is living proof that it can be done.

A demon king must learn to live with the spirit of its human host. This ensures a high rate of success. Mephisto isn't just Mephisto. He's Mephisto/Faust. Both of them coexist...I firmly believe it. It's the human side, Faust, gives Mephisto all the worldly feelings, experiences and emotions he craves, in return Mephisto shares his power and the secrets of the universe. (Which in hindsight is kinda cool.)

It's the human side of the relationship that keeps the demon in check and stops the demon from being irrational and destroying the world. That's why human/demon relationships are so important. A soul-mate is literally a "soul-mate." One is the guardian of the other.

Getting back to Azazel.

Azazel's clones were created in section 13. These clones were not meant for Lucifer. Lucifer is beyond help because he's stubborn and hates Assiah and humans.

To answer Lightning's question: Did Azazel agree? Was he still on the side of humans?

Maybe Azazel and Mephisto knew more than they were letting on. Lucifer was a major danger to the earth and they couldn't stop him. They needed a weapon bigger than Lucifer.

They needed Satan. And yeah, it was a hell of a risk.

They needed more cowbell to control big, evil, older brother. In order for Satan to exist in Assiah, they needed a superhuman that was incredibly strong in both body and Spirit.

They got Shiro Fujimoto from the section 13 experiments. He was Satan's soulmate. He was the success they desperately needed.

That's why Mephisto was so damn excited about Shiro. He could see the future right before his eyes. Shiro would someday become the ultimate power alongside Satan. (and in other theories...I firmly believe that Shiro will return and join with Satan Because they are perfectly matched.)

It's not a perfect situation, because Satan and Shiro don't exactly get along. But they both fell in love with the same woman and share the same sons. Have the same inappropriate sense of humour. It would work, eventually.

But why were Rin and Yukio born?

Leverage.

Because Shiro is such a stubborn prick the boys were the super weapons Mephisto needed to teach Shiro how to love, experience empathy, loss and life. To teach Shiro to stop hating demons. He made Shiro change demon diapers. Mephisto knows enough about love and feelings to see how powerful it is, and how it will make Shiro into a stronger man. (Hence why he's using the same tactic on Shura)

The boys were the superweapons to melt Shiro's heart. It's Shiro's love of Rin and Yukio that will someday beckon him to take on Satan as a life partner.

There is no way that Shiro would ever let Satan use Rin and Yukio for anything nefarious. There is no way that Shiro would die leaving Rin and Yukio vulnerable. He had to know the future. He had the Kamakushi key, after all.

Rin in the latest anime tells us how it all works. Rin is, by definition is perfect. He is both demon and human in one. Rin doesn't need to control a stranger, to coexist. He needs to only control himself. And he's well on the way to success.

It's fascinating to think about.....

[foursaints]

what do you think regulus' relationship with all the skittles is like. ik he and barty are the secret thurd thing but i am extremely curious about his interactions with the twins. do he and pandora exchange resigned looks whenever rosekiller is being their Very peculiar brand of Rosekiller? and also evan and regulus. ?? i always imagined regulus (if he met the twins in his childhood) as slightly protective of them in a older sibling type of way. i think that might be from my own need to protect my friends (especially as a child). like i used to be desperate to show someone love the way my sister showed me. so yeah im absolutely bestowed with your regulus and i do wonder if you have headcanons abt his interactions with the other skittles<333

i was discussing this ask with @fernhelm socratic-seminar style and ive compiled the results for you...

regulus is a fundamentally selfish person but he's selfish on behalf of the skittles. he's folded them into his life & his care, and part of that is finding excuses for every ugly thing they could possibly do. in his eyes they (the twins, barty) fundamentally just deserve to do whatever they need to

fern said thesis of the skittles is this terry pratchett quote: "All witches are selfish, the Queen had said. But Tiffany’s Third Thoughts said: Then turn selfishness into a weapon! Make all things yours! Make other lives and dreams and hopes yours! Protect them! Save them! Bring them into the sheepfold! Walk the gale for them! Keep away the wolf! My dreams! My brother! My family! My land! My world! How dare you try to take these things, because they are mine! I have a duty!"

pandora is his best friend. he is capable of understanding her in a way that he doesn't understand the rest of them. if regulus is something cold hiding something warm, she's the inverse. part of their mutual understanding is the fact that they ultimately ended up on the same side in the war.

regulus only understands evan through pandora. they're close but not super close to me!! pandora is a warmer, brighter, more expansive version of evan & that is more accessible to reg... i think regulus fronts like he's cold & unfeeling but evan actually Is That and that fact is alienating

anything i could say about barty and regulus's friendship warrants its own post but genuinely to me they have a greg & rodrick heffley type dynamic and i stand by that

i see the skittles relationship as quiet & abiding. they are all using the friendship to self-soothe in their own ways and it makes it codependent but in a gentle sense... layers of caretaking. the weird kids who eat lunch on the picnic bench and don't seem to talk much but are never seen apart. they don't banter loudly like the marauders but they're all holding hands under the table

[bibibbon]

On the bluesky saw a post talking about the flying nomu.

And...it hits me how Shig saw a nomu going especially after Izu and ....did nothing. He didn't find that odd.

Did Izu recognized the flying nomu as the lackey?

Once again, the Nomus are wasted in this damn story.

So my ask here is

1) how possum/shig controls the Nomus? Bc if we go with "they have animal mentality" well, you can dominate a lion but you need to put work and shig didn't show us that

2) what happened after? Like the flying nomu was killed by Stain(if I remember right) and then...no one makes any investigation or smth??.bc I have two theories here either people did some research and find out who the kid was and opt to be silent or no one knew not even Izu and the bk's lackeys died completely unknown and uncared. Not even his grandpa gave a fuck.

Hi @mikeellee 👋

Agreed the nomu's do have a lot of wasted potential within the series and its a shame horikoshi didn't expand on them more whether be the horror, social and societal aspects surrounding the nomu's.

To answer your questions izuku didn't recognise that the nomu that attacked him was one of bkaugo's childhood friends. This seemed to be just a tiny easter egg for the readers and its a shame that it's never brought up again because

1)it would of played well into izuku's characterisation since he is really observant

2) would of added the horror into mha early on. You could have izuku doubting himself and saying oh this nomu kind of reminds me of tsuaba but then trying to brush that concern of until its brought back up

3) it would of connected early links to Dr garaki and important and underutilised plot point in the series

(Its weird hori did say that he would delve deeper into the nomu's but never truly did)

I don't think shigaraki sought to particulaty control the nomu's in the hosu arc he wanted them to cause chaos and bring awareness to his ideals and himself which is something that both the nomu's and stain helped achieve for him.

Now in terms of controlling nomu we know when they are given a lot of quirks they practically become braindead and their intelligence is significantly reduced. Some including I speculate that a brainwashing type of quirk or Dr garaki wires their brains to take instructions (however none is confirmed).

Yet this process is interesting because it suggests that a nomu can break out of that thought process like kurogiri and then what?

We know within the series that research was done on who the nomu's are and detective naomasa reports to all might about the nomu's identities. Iam assuming that this should be done for all of the nomu's discovered but this information was kept secret and never leaked to the public and therefore never leaked to izuku.

When the information was leaked after the war arc it was labeled to be so big to be the final nail in the coffin of hero society in general and ended up taking away any trust people had in heroes and hero society.

Nomu's could of been explored in multiple ways like:

Blurring the line between people and easily discardable puppets. It would make society question what it means to be a person since it can't be established by looks and it could tie in heteramorphis discrimation

Can heroes kill nomu's would society allow that? (Ending does talk a bit about this)

How are nomu's created?

Imagine one of your loved ones is a nomu and the way it would damage people like the situation to do with tsuaba and kurogiri

Puppets that can kill maybe the hpsc would want them if they can train them?

How are they created? What does Dr garaki do and how does he use them? Maybe they can be an ultimate super weapon of his that he uses to do his work

[marley-manson]

Could you expand on your dislike for the Raphael!Crowley headcanon? I'm fairly certain I know why but your meta posts are always so thoughtful and articulate and I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic

Thank you, I really appreciate it! And fwiw I always enjoy reading your thoughts as well!

And yeah I'm happy to! I mean first I should say that I don't actually like, hate-hate it in fanfic, it's not like an instant back-button for me if it comes up, and I feel like I've seen one or two fics after season 1 where I thought it was fine and it didn't take me out of the story.

But yeah in general I just don't like Crowley being special lol. I like the book vibe where Crowley and Aziraphale are just two... not quite nobodies, given their roles in Eden and the spy allegory of the present day, but certainly not particularly powerful or impressive demon/angels. Crowley and Aziraphale's "superpowers," such as they are, are just their adaptability thanks to living on Earth so long. That's what defines them compared to the rest of Hell and Heaven and sets them apart as uniquely capable of giving a fuck and doing something about the apocalypse. Eg Hastur and Ligur are explicitly more powerful than Crowley, but Crowley escapes them by the skin of his teeth because he's able to break convention by weaponizing holy water, and he's familiar with technology, and more capable of thinking on his feet in general.

I like that all their uniqueness comes from living on Earth with humanity. It resonates with the thematic core of the story, it's fun, and it's interesting. Crowley now being able to perform super impressive miracles and casually resurrect people (something presumably not every angel can do since Aziraphale can't resurrect Edinburgh girl) and read heaven's secret files and potentially stop time in season 1 because he's a former archangel diminishes that vibe to me.

Another con of Raphael!Crowley as a headcanon is that a lot of the time, ime, it feels similar to lost scion of royalty headcanons in other fandoms in an unpleasant way - the way that kind of leans into the idea of someone being inherently superior and worth more by birth (or creation I guess in an angel's case lol). I don't think this is necessarily inherent to the headcanon, or an aspect I think Gaiman will definitely emphasize, but there is that worry lol, especially considering how gary stu-ish Crowley felt to me this season.

Like, why is him being a former archangel meaningful or significant at all? Why does the headcanon exist? What makes Raphael!Crowley different enough from Random Angel #2398!Crowley that it's even brought up as a character detail or plot point that excites people? And I'm not implying that there are no valid reasons (eg exploring why a high ranking angel specifically would fall, or to add some drama for Aziraphale if he finds out and it matters to him, or to add drama between Crowley and the other archangels, etc), but quite often the vibe I get from this headcanon is that Crowley's just inherently more interesting and cool if he used to be a high ranking angel instead of some rando, which is a vibe that puts me off.

Ultimately I just tend to prefer mundane origins to surprise significant origins, and stories about average people (at least in their own context, as angels or w/e) moulded by life who make interesting plot-driving choices rather than inherently unique and special people. And Crowley being Raphael doesn't necessarily make him special, but it does lean in that direction, especially if it's treated as a surprise significant reveal and yk, a source of superpowers.

And to be fair I actually have been thinking about directions this concept could go in season 3 that wouldn't annoy me, and one is to emphasize that archangels aren't inherently special at all and it's an arbitrary designation, and Crowley doesn't give a shit and anyone who does (like other archangels or w/e) is going to be painted as naive and silly and too into hierarchies.

And/or, yk, emphasize that "Anthony Crowley" is emphatically NOT Raphael, regardless of who God created him as. Choose your own destiny. All that jazz. Especially if the Metatron is offering him angelhood again I could see former identity and status being brought into play and held up as extra significant by the antagonists and treated as something to be shut down and dismissed by the narrative, which I would enjoy.

So yeah, at the end of the day I just prefer Crowley as just some guy who happened to get the Earth Agent assignment, rather than the mysterious only fallen archangel.

[artbybai]

Thinking more abt Z Broly and Paragus and. Their movie is so frustrating and tragic and heart-wrenching AS WELL AS BEING GENERALLY COOL AND FLASHY

As @/RedDogJustice on Twitter pointed out:

Trying to fight Broly head on = respectable

Trying to flee/take him down indirectly = cowardice

That’s. That’s how Broly operates with Paragus. His own father. Every day of his life.

He saved his own father from death as a baby, nearly dying himself in the process, and what did Broly get for it? Being called a freak. A Demon. Being tormented day in and day out by his father telling him the mind control diadem/suppressor crown was to help him. Being forced to hold himself back his whole life until Broly was literally ripped apart by what he tried to contain to be seen as “perfect” and worthy of his father’s pride and love. USED AS A SECRET WEAPON OF PARAGUS FOR SHALLOW, SHORT-SIGHTED PETTINESS.

Z Broly never had a single friend or person who showed him any amount of kindness that wasn’t a veil for secret, hideous cruelty, his entire life, born with something others deemed dangerous, something others felt was an acceptable excuse for dehumanizing him. Nobody tried to understand or help him. Nobody even tried to see beneath the surface or ask if he was okay. They listened to legends, gossip, his father, over what they could see with their own eyes.

His most desperate cry for help turns to joy when he finally lets loose despite being told that it would ultimately kill him. Wicked glee, a chance to show others a fraction of what he’s suffered, and the endless, unstoppable fear he endured. For someone to engage with and finally see him.

Now I almost think that that final punch Goku landed on Z Broly wasn’t so much “Goku’s just that powerful to destroy him” because THIS IS THE FREAKIN LEGENDARY SUPER SAIYAN. THE ONE THAT DESTROYS GALAXIES. Goku was only the ceramic chip to a car windshield.

Broly went out the same way he started: crying for help.

Z Broly is a heartbreaking tragedy and I’ll never be over it tbh

[dangermousie]

Your JoL posts have been amazing. I've loved posting my thoughts on them at times.

What do you think are Qing di's intentions about Fan Xian? Does he intend to let him succeed him as the emperor?

Thank you!!! I am so obsessed with this drama - to find something that is super smart AND emotionally engrossing at the same time is super rare but this really hits the spot for me.

Re: the emperor. You know, it wouldn’t surprise me if the emperor despite his brains is like many otherwise brilliant absolute rulers and doesn’t truly believe there will be an end to his rule and that he’s bound by mortality (think of England’s Elizabeth I, an amazing ruler who refused to even contemplate appointing heirs properly because it would mean her reign would end sometimes. Or Louis XIV of France who fought half of Europe and built Versailles and ruled for over 70 years and supposedly said “apres moi le deluge.” Or even the founder of the Qin Dynasty who was the first to unite China and yet was so obsessed with immortality his hastened his death taking mercury elixirs.)

I honestly wonder if some of his obsession with finding the Divine Temple isn’t just to get whatever weapons and secrets it may have or even see if he can take down something he can’t control but to see if there is a way to prolong life. If my theory that he’s a grandmaster is correct and Grandmaster Ye said other grandmasters don’t view themselves as human any more then why not escape the human limitation of death too?

But even if that’s not the case, I do not think he’s grooming Fan Xian to take over. First logistics - he’d have to appoint him on his deathbed because there ain’t no way he’s making him a Crown Prince and it’s not because he’s not in the royal family formally (face it, if the emperor wanted to manipulate things so Fan Xian never formally becomes a Fan and is somehow taken into the imperial family, he’d figure it out) or because to remove an appointed crown prince and son of the empress at that is a big deal (because ditto.)

It’s because the Emperor will never allow his Crown Prince to be someone TOO talented, it’s too much of a threat. Crown Prince is bloody minded enough to be an emperor but he’s only the third smartest out of his five sons (and frankly, third Prince is so young the jury is out on how smart the kid is so maybe he’d be smarter too.) Emperor wants someone he can control without expending titanic effort on the matter. Not someone with too many of his own ideas and a way of getting them rammed through.

The emperor is fond of Fan Xian insofar as it’s possible for him to be fond of anyone (which ain’t much - you get the sense he had more of that capacity when young though even there nothing mattered as much as power; if he’s 100% not related to FX’s mom’s death in any capacity I will be shocked) but as his comment in that pitchpot scene after CPP left indicates, to him strong feelings are a nuisance and stupidity and burden. So he’s fond when it costs him nothing important and is even beneficial but the moment Fan Xian steps out of line enough to be an issue or, even worse, the moment he decides he can’t control Fan Xian, he would not hesitate to murder him, fondness or not (in a way, FX loving so many people so much is Fan Xian’s safety - look how many levers the Fans and Wan’er let alone his followers like WQN give the emperor.) Actually, Fan Xian doesn’t even have to do anything super wrong; if the emperor thought it would give him a big enough advantage, he’d probably murder all his kids on the walls of the palace on the “I can make more” principle a la the father of William Marshal.

Ok I blabbed a whole novel but short version: I’d be surprised if he’s grooming Fan Xian to be the next emperor which is just as well since FX would be miserable as one and I hope at the end he gets his wish to live a joyful life traveling the world with Wan’er and enjoying the peace with his family.

Ultimately, I think the emperor wants to use him like he uses everyone and everything to achieve his goals and make his reign stronger and his kingdom stronger and balance the other princes in a stalemate (if his children fight with each other they are too busy to fight him) and just use him use him use him to the utmost just how he does with everyone else.

[anthurak]

Okay so about a week ago, I did this somewhat unhinged ramble about ARC-V Alexis Rhodes getting a Cyber Angel/Herald/Drytron deck and generally getting to be the badass she deserved to be. Instead of being shackled with the fate of basically any cool girl in a shonen anime; getting nerfed to all hell and subsequently beaten by a massively plot-armored generic hero guy or edgy villain dude.

And as something of a follow-up/companion-piece to that, I have found myself doing something I frankly would never have seen myself doing two weeks ago:

Workshopping an alternate scenario for a Yugioh duel.

Sooo… here’s my version of how Alexis vs. Yuri in Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V SHOULD have ended:

On her last turn after swiping Yuri’s Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon with Cyber Angel Natasha, instead of playing Fusion Destruction, Alexis sets two ominous facedown cards.

Yuri does his big, dramatic reveal that he plot-contrivanced GX’s most OP card; Super-Polymerization into his deck, steals back his Reactor Dragon and fuses it off to make Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, just like he did originally.

At which point, Alexis reveals one of her facedowns…

Drytron Asterism, which Alexis activates by burning 1000 ATK off her Natasha (being a Ritual monster) to immediately blow up Yuri’s new Golem. Which also just so happens to be represented by a pair of mysterious, shadowy figures flying around in the sky above firing laser blasts into UAGG.

Though while Yuri might be questioning what just happened and what the hell a ‘Drytron’ is supposed to be, he is still able to use Ultimate AGG’s effect to bring out an original Ancient Gear Golem when it’s destroyed.

Which in turn is exactly when Alexis triggers her other facedown,

Drytron Meteor Shower, which immediately bounces Yuri’s AGG back into the deck, and happens to be represented by another mysterious figure flying high above raining down the meteor burst.

Thus begins Alexis’s reveal that Cyber Angels aren’t the ONLY Ritual monsters she’s packing, and the proper introduction of her new Drytron monsters. With Alexis spending her turn popping off a combo of cycling through multiple Drytron modules to get her ritual spell, materials and monster. All culminating with Alexis bringing out her new boss monster:

Drytron Meteonis Draconids.

Which Alexis has also powered up with Cyber Angel Idaten, showcasing just how well her new monsters synchronize with her existing Cyber Angels. While perhaps also subtly hinting at a third group of monsters she’s using when she negates a trap Yuri tries to counter with using Herald of Purple Light.

Now perhaps Yuri somehow managed to bring his Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem back, which while it might not be able to beat the now-5000 ATK Draconids, will at least soak up enough of the attack to let him survive to the next turn.

At which point right as she’s starting her Battle Phase, Alexis drops Limiter Removal.

And so, facing down a giant angry mechanical space dragon now sporting ten THOUSAND attack points, Yuri is now, for the first time in the show, completely FUCKING terrified.

In fact, Yuri is only saved by the timely arrival of the Obelisk Force and other elite Academy duelists to rescue Yuri and challenge Alexis. Yuri does manage to escape, but it is clear that Alexis was ABSOLUTELY the winner of this duel.

Speaking of Alexis, she is now facing down basically an ARMY of Ancient Gear Hunting Hound fusions and Chaos Ancient Gear Giants, buuuttt she still has her 10,000-ATK Drytron Meteonis Draconids. Which also has the ability to attack ALL of her opponents’ Special Summoned monsters.

So Alexis and her dragon proceed to utterly ANNHILATE the ENTIRE army of Academy duelists with ludicrous amounts of beam-spam.

Heck, even when the time limit for Limiter Removal runs out, Alexis is able to use the Machine Angel Ritual she played earlier to keep Draconids from being destroyed.

Thus, Alexis and her Ritual Monsters cement themselves as the true secret weapon of the heroes against all the increasingly ridiculous Extra Deck-focused nonsense of the villains, and probably even Zarc himself.

Meanwhile Yuri spends the rest of the show desperately trying to convince everyone, and himself that he isn’t completely fucking TERRIFIED of Alexis now.

[docgold13]

Heroes & Villains The DC Animated Universe - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

Menaces of Metropolis

One would have to be rather foolish to be a criminal in Metropolis, a city protected by the Man of Steel himself.  Nevertheless, sometimes villains just got to villain and Superman has faced off with many a rogue.  And for every Lex Luthor and Brainiac there has been equal number of lesser caliber menaces who have made Superman an enemy.  Here are several of the more prominent lower tier cads who have made trouble for the Last Son of Krypton.   

Bruno Mannheim

A ruthless gangster, Bruno Mannheim was the leader of the criminal organization known as Intergang, responsible for nearly all organized crime in Metropolis.  Following the arrival of Superman, however, Mannheim’s operations became severely diminished.  The Man of Steel foiled many of Intergang’s schemes and Mannheim became desperate for some means of gaining an upper hand.  As such, he eagerly accepted the aid offered by the mysterious agent of Apokalips known as Kanto.

Even with the aid of these advanced weapons, Superman managed to prevail.  A disappointed Kanto fled back to Apokalips and Mannheim made the fateful decision to go with him.  There the mobster was made to bow down to Darkseid as his new lord and master.  

When Darkseid planned his invasion of Earth, Mannheim was returned to Metropolis so that he could assist in the attack. Mannheim was ordered to set off a meltdown at an off-shore nuclear power plant.   The mobster did as he was told yet Darkseid left him behind to be caught in the explosion.  

Actor Bruce Weitz provided the voice for Bruno Mannheim with the gangster first appearing in the fourth episode of the first season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘Fun and Games.’   

Joey

A thief and mobster, Joey had the good sense to stop operating in Metropolis following the arrival of Superman.  Although Lex Luthor was able to coerce Joey to pull off a heist in that he had a secret weapon to neutralize the Man of Steel.        

Equipped with jet packs, Joey and two accomplices staged a daring rooftop robbery, stealing engraving plates from the federal treasury.  Superman arrived as expected and Joey led him to a construction site where Luthor had planted a piece of Kryptonite (having discovered the substance’s ability to greatly weaken Superman).  

Joey was ordered to simply do in Superman and be done with it, but his eagerness to show up the hero got the best of him.  Superman was able to draw Joey far enough away from the Kryptonite that his strength returned.  

Joey ended up apprehended and Luthor was ultimately unable to use the Kryptonite to be rid of his nemesis.  

Actor Thomas F. Wilson provided the voice for Joey, with the goon featuring in the fifth episode of the first season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘A Little Piece of Home.’   

Tina

A young intern at the Daily Planet newspaper, Tina possessed a compulsive affinity for metal.  At some point she met the super villain known as Metallo.  A being composed of metal was overwhelmingly alluring to Tina and she became dedicated to him, willing to do whatever he asked.  

Using Tina, Metallo hatched a scheme to do in his arch foe Superman.  A news story had run identifying Jimmy Olsen and ‘Superman’s Best Pal.’  Tina accepted Jimmy’s invitation to go out on a date resulted in his being abducted by Metallo. With Jimmy as bait, Metallo was able to draw Superman out.  Fortunately, the villain had overestimated his ability to take on the Man of Steel and Superman prevailed, defeating the villain.  Afterward, Tina was arrested for her part in the scheme.

Actress Dina Sherman provided the voice for Tina was the young ne’er-do-wells featuring in the eighth episode of the third season of Superman: The Animated Series,’Superman’s Pal.’  

Luminus

Edward Lytener was a former LexCorp engineer and a gifted inventor. When LexCorp was under investigation, he became an instrumental whistleblower. Lytener’s intentions here were less than noble, as he was primarily interested in impressing Lois Lane whom he was greatly attracted to. 

The whole matter turned out poorly for Lytener.  He was fired from LexCorp and became something of a pariah in the scientific community. Furthermore he failed to  woo Lois, who went on to a win an award for journalistic excellence. In anger, Lytener attempted to assassinate Lois. 

Superman thwarted the effort to kill Lois and Lytener was apprehended.  While incarcerated, Lytener was recruited by Lex Luthor to enact a plan to kill Superman.  With the technologies provided by Luthor, Lytener broke free from prison and took on the super villain alias of ‘Luminus.’  He set forth a diabolical scheme to render Superman vulnerable by utilizing pirated satellites to filter the sunlight over Metropolis.  With the aid of Lois and Jimmy Olsen, Superman was again able to prevail and a defeated Lytener was sent back to prison.  Some time later, the villain took part in a mass break out yet was swiftly defeated and recaptured by the Justice League.  

Actors Robert Hays and Nicholas Guest each provided the voice for Luminus, with the villain first appearing in the seventh episode of the second season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘Target.’

Amy and Trouble

A pair of juvenile would-be gangsters, Amy and Trouble acted as agents of Intergang after the outfit was taken over by Granny Goodness.  Equipped with advanced weaponry, the two assisted Granny in a scheme that entailed using a gravity ray to cause a comet to strike earth (naturally Amy and Trouble were unaware the plan was to destroy the earth).  

Granny’s scheme was thwarted by Superman with the aid of Supergirl.  Granny fled back to Apokolips while Amy and Trouble were arrested.  

Actress Julia Kato provided the voice for Amy; with Scott Menville voicing trouble.  The two delinquents first appeared in the twenty-seventh episode of the second season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘Little Girl Lost, Part I.’  

Earl Garver 

A brilliant scientist who worked at S.T.A.R. Labs, Earl Garver's lack of scruples resulted in his being fired.  Desiring wealth and revenge, he stole a radiative isotope which he fashioned into a bomb that could have leveled a sizable portion of the city.  Carver then attempted to hold the city ransom, demanding an exorbitant fee.  

Superman’s initial effort to stop Garver resulted in the scientist sustaining a head injury that left him in a coma.  With Garver comatose, Superman and the authorities had no way of determining the location of his bomb. In a desperate gambit, Superman and Detective Sawyer recruited the aid of the Parasite who was able to absorb Garver’s memories through touch.  

Unfortunately, Garver’s ego was stronger than that of The Parasite and the scientist was able to take over the Parasite’s body making him an even more formidable threat.  Thankfully, the Man of Steel was able to persevere; Carver was defeated and the bomb was dealt with.  When the evil scientist finally woke from his coma, he found himself being transported to Riker’s Island Penitentiary, where he would spend the remainder of his days.  

The terrific Brian Cox provided the voice for Earl Garver with the villain featuring in the thirteenth episode of the first season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘Two’s A Crowd.’  

Prototype

The LexCorp Police Battle-suit was invented by engineer, John Henry Irons, designed to assist police officers who were facing an increased number of criminals possessing metahuman powers and advanced technology.  The project was green-lit and funded by the Metropolis Police Department and the decorated police sergeant, Corey Mills, was selected to act as the prototype’s pilot.  

At first, Sergeant Mills excelled using the suit.  It’s functions were quite impressive and Mills and Superman even worked in concert with one another in tending to a building fire.  As time went on, however, use of the suit began to negatively effect Sergent Mills’ mind.  John Henry Irons was worried that this might happen and even tried to convince Luthor that the suit was not yet ready, yet Luthor disregarded the concern.  

Mills worsened and after he had savagely beat a group of criminals, he was placed on medical leave and forbidden from using the suit.  

Unhinged and in the throws of withdrawal, Mills stole the suit and went on a rampage.  This led to a tremendous battle with Superman.  The Man of Steel was nearly defeated by the battle suit yet prevailed after using a downed power cable to short circuit the prototype.  

Actor Xander Berkeley provided the voice for Sergeant Mills with the battle-suit appearing in the twenty-first episode of the second season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘Prototype.’  

Detective Bowman

Kurt Bowman was a corrupt police detective in Metropolis.  Greedy, lazy and completely lacking in morals, Bowman was assigned to investigate an attempted murder of Lois Lane and proceeded to do almost nothing to protect Lane (fortunately, Superman was able to help Lane bring down the responsible party).  

Some time thereafter, Bowman murdered a wealthy woman and framed an innocent man for the crime.  The man he framed was sentenced to be executed and, having realized his innocence, Clark Kent worked desperately against the clock to exonerate him.  Kent succeeded and the innocent man was freed.  Detective Bowman’s guilt in the murder was made evident and he was subsequently charged, prosecuted and sentenced to the death penalty.

In the days leading to his execution, Bowman obsessed over how Clark Kent could have possibly figured it all out.  In the last moments of his life, the answer finally dawned on him.  The only possible explanation was that Clark Kent was actually Superman.  He had discovered Superman’s true identity yet it was too late to tell anybody.  The execution proceeded and the villain took his last breath.  

Actor Eddie Barth provided the voice for Kurt Bowman, with he corrupt detective first appearing in the seventh episode of the second season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘Target.’  

Lizzie and Big Susan

A pair of ambitious crooks, Lizzie and Big Susan attempted to abduct the celebrated fashion designer, Lana Lang in the hope of demanding a huge ransom. Grabbing Lana at a fashion show, the pair took her from a back room and tried to flee via an elevator.  The plot was foiled when Superman appeared.  Realizing they had no hope of defeating Superman, Susan ripped the jewelry off Lana's dress and kicked her out of the elevator.  The ploy did not stall Superman for long.  He easily caught Lana and then dislodged the elevator off its tracks and left the two criminals to the police.

Actress Lauri Fraser provided the voice for Lizzie while Valri Bromfield voiced Big Susan.  The two hoods featured in the eleventh episode of the first season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘My Girl.’  

Agent Kurt

The mysterious Agent Kurt ran a secretive program for the United States military called ‘Project Firestorm.’  The program aimed toward cultivating individuals with metahuman powers to act as living weapons to be utilized in covert operations.  Kurt’s prized subject was Claire Selton whom Kurt had codenamed ‘Volcana.’ Kurt actually loathed metahumans and was quite abusive toward Claire.   

Project Firestorm was eventually shuttered and a released Volcana turned to crime to get by.  Kurt sought out Volcana and abducted her.  His plan was to sell her to a foreign military so they could dissect her in their own efforts to weaponize metahuman abilities.  Fortunately, Superman rescued Volcana.  In the ensuing fracas, she caused a fiery explosion that claimed Kurt’s life.  

Actor Peter Gallagher provided the voice for Agent Kurt, with the rogue operative featuring in the first episode of the third season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘Where There’s Smoke…’.

Reverend Howell

Amos Howell had been a traveling preacher who happened upon an alien spore that infected his mind.  He went on to become the herald of the extraterrestrial parasite known as Unity.  This parasite could infect organic beings through tentacle-like appendages and Reverend Howell traveled the Midwest on a mission to infect as many people as he could, adding each individual to Unity’s collective until the whole world was consumed.  

Reverend Howell presented Unity as a kind of religion that would bring peace and a lock of conflict to one and all.  After coming to Smallville, he infected Jonathan and Martha Kent.  Kara Kent could tell something was different about her aunt and uncle and she Superman investigated the matter.  It led to a tremendous battle between Unity, Superman and Supergirl.  The heroes managed to prevail and the Unity parasite was destroyed.  With his master dead, Reverend Howell was freed from the creature’s spell.

The always fun Stephen Root provided the voice for Howell/Unity with the menace featuring in the tenth episode of the third season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘Unity.’  

Mantis 

A one time general in Darkseid’s army of Apokolips, Mantis was a fierce warrior with ambitions to rule.  Following Darkseid’s apparent death, Apokolips fell into civil war and Mantis left the planet for Earth, believing he could conquer this world. 

He arrived in Metropolis and quickly faced off against the Man of Steel with the aid of Captain Atom.  After a fierce battle, Superman activated Mantis' Mother Box and Captain Atom blasted him into the resulting boom tube. Superman destroyed his Mother Box, leaving Mantis with no means to return.

Actor J.K. Simmons provided the voice for Mantis with the villain first appearing in the ninth episode of the second season of Justice League Unlimited, ‘Question Authority.’  

Karkull 

The dreaded Karkull was a demonic Lord of the Inner Pit, a creature from another dimension who possessed vast powers and craved utter destruction.  The beast had escaped the Pit into the realm of mankind and was eventually vanquished by the magical hero known as Doctor Fate.  Fate trapped Karkull within the Tablet of Lorta where the creature remained for over a century.  

The beast was accidentally released by a thief who had come across the artifact and read its inscriptions out loud. Freed once again, Karkull ran amok throughout Metropolis and threatened to destroy the world.  A reluctant Dr. Fate aided Superman in battling Karkull and the creature was again defeated and once more trapped within the Tablet of Lorta.

Actor Ted Levine provided the voice for Karkull, with the villainous creature featuring in the twentieth episode of the second season of Superman: The Animated Series, ‘The Hand of Fate.’   

[sashaisready]

The Blood Pact: Chapter 10- Doomed

Bucky Barnes Vampire AU x Female Reader

Reeling from a bad break-up, you're desperately trying to find a new place to live but the Brooklyn rental market is a complete nightmare. You take a chance on an intriguing newspaper ad and enquire about a room in a shared house, where you'd be living with two mysterious men. The catch is that they want something other than your money for you to pay the rent...the one thing they don't have

Series Masterlist

Chapter 11

Hi all! I've had some fun in this chapter weaving in some of the MCU canon with the world of this AU. Apologies that it's a bit of a backstory heavy chapter, but I wanted to provide context for Steve and Bucky and plant some potential seeds of doubt in reader's mind to set up the next part of the story. No major warnings here, references to the MCU canon and the stories we all know so well.

Thanks to all of you who have read, commented, reblogged - it means so much to me. Thank you!!

You were sitting in the living room, doing your best to appear nonchalant and relaxed despite being utterly desperate to find out how they’d been turned. It was the one question they had never broached in your time living here, and you always thought it rude to ask.

Steve plopped down into his favourite armchair and inhaled deeply. Bucky perched next to you, tense and stiff – his shoulders rigid. You couldn’t see his face as he sat right on the edge of the couch, looking over at Steve.

“Okay…well. I’ll start with my story, and then Bucky can tell you his. Right, Buck?” Steve asked.

Bucky nodded, rolling his shoulders. The discomfort was pouring off him. You could see this was very difficult for him, tentatively splaying your fingers across his lower back to show him you were there. He didn’t seem to react, but he didn’t move away either, so you kept them there.

Steve began his story. He and Bucky had been childhood friends both desperate to enlist in WW2 and do their bit back for the war effort back in the 40s. While Bucky successfully enlisted and was posted to England, Steve was struggling, he was on the weaker side and had an endless list of ailments and health conditions which prevented him from joining. But he persisted, desperate for someone to give him a chance and let him prove he could be valuable despite his physical shortcomings.

You looked over at Steve as he spoke, his muscles straining under his shirt and the chair sagging slightly under his bulk and you tried desperately hard to imagine him as ‘weak’ or have any sort of physical shortcomings – but your mind drew a blank. You couldn’t fathom such a thing. So much so that you wondered if he was teasing you.

Eventually Steve caught the eye of a Dr. Erskine, a radical scientist who pursued bold new strategy techniques which could win the war for the Allies. He thought Steve would be a perfect candidate for a top secret initiative – the Super Soldier programme.

You raised a brow. “Wait…did that mean?”

Steve nodded. “Yup. Obviously I didn’t know that at the time…but yeah”.

Erskine’s ‘super soldier’ plan was not as scientific as he’d initially lead Steve to believe. Essentially the US government had managed to capture a real-life vampire some years back, keeping him locked up in a windowless cell and ensuring his existence was top secret. They fed him blood and knew he would be useful one day. After WW2 broke out, that time had finally arrived - Erskine hypothesised that the ultimate weapon against the Nazis would be an army of vampire super soldiers – eventually convincing top government figures and military personnel to agree to his plan.

Your eyes bulged out of your head at the insanity. “What?? Are you kidding?” you choked out. Bucky, who had been silent throughout, absent-mindedly clutched your knee.

Steve nodded. “What better soldier than one with super strength and speed, who doesn’t tire and can rip the throat out from the enemy before they can even reach for their weapon?”

You scoffed, wincing slightly at the imagery. “Well…yeah. But what about the fact this ‘army’ wouldn’t be able to travel in daylight and would need a windowless place to sleep? Tents on the battlefield aren’t going to cut it. And what about when they get hungry??”

Steve grinned. “Apparently not everyone had your foresight, sweetie”.

Steve explained that he wasn’t enamoured with the idea at the time (once he’d got his head around vampires existing). But he was desperate to serve his country, and it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. So he freely went, taken to the vampire prisoner who was more than happy to oblige if it meant he got a real meal out of it rather than the animal blood his captors fed him. It hurt like hell and Steve thought he was dying, and the resulting days were the most painful of his life as his body transformed, but it worked. Gone were the illnesses, the weaknesses. His tiny frame bloomed into something altogether more muscular and intimidating. Suddenly he was the perfect super soldier, ready to serve.

It worked well at first. Steve and a few chosen others became the first unit of this new breed of soldier. They took down scores of enemies, their hunger satisfied by their victims so the army didn’t need to provide blood. They effortlessly snuck behind enemy lines and took out high rank officials before the guards even knew they’d broken in. Metal containers were constructed for them to rest in during the day, carefully watched over by armed soldiers. Steve was eventually reunited with Bucky on the front, his best friend stunned to learn about this new development.

He also met a plucky young British woman named Peggy Carter. Peggy was part of the super soldier initiative and was a huge support to him during his transition. The two were instantly drawn to each other, their chemistry undeniable. Steve didn’t know about the bond between some vampire and human pairings until years later, but as he learned more about his vampire life it immediately clicked that it was what he and Peggy had.

For a while, it looked like Erskine’s gamble had paid off. The super soldiers were dominating their targets, advancing as they eliminated some of the Nazis’ top men. They learned of a terrorist group called HYDRA, a unit of rogue Nazis looking for world domination and conducting inhumane experiments. The group successfully brought down several HYDRA bases. But then the foundations of government’s golden project began to crumble.

It wasn’t noticeable at first. Soldiers go missing all of the time during battle, sometimes they’re transferred or missing in action and their bodies just aren’t recovered. There were no computer records in WW2 so it was easy to lose paperwork, or for files to get lost. But then it became clear something more sinister was going on. Some of Steve’s unit were struggling with their hunger, unable to control themselves. They’d sometimes go days without a kill, the thirst becoming more and more desperate as the hours rolled on. The military refused to find them an alternative food source. Eventually they started turning on their own battalion when it got too much. It started out as intending to only take a little blood, just to keep them going and not really hurt anyone, but discipline goes out of the window when you’re starving and haven’t fully adjusted to your new life yet. It quickly became clear they Erskine and his colleagues didn’t fully understand the importance of keeping vampires satiated until it was too late.

You gulped as you listened, horrified by the implication.

A group of them broke away, rebelling against their superiors and refusing to be minions to the officers any longer. They were hungry, they felt trapped. They staged a coup, taking out several officers and fellow soldiers as they seized control. Steve and some of the others managed to fight them off and subdued them to regain order. The offending super soldiers were convicted of treason and sentenced to death for their crimes, thrown out into the sunlight and left to die. The program was immediately eliminated and the original imprisoned vampire killed in order to prevent it happening again. Any evidence of it was buried, paperwork burnt and witnesses bribed. The only reason Steve and his small group were spared was because of their help in bringing the others down.

The government knew the remaining vampire soldiers would never reveal their true nature publicly and expose their program because it would put their own lives at risk. Steve was relieved from that unit, but his superiors made it clear they’d be watching him carefully. Over time his comrades depleted, some not being able to handle their new reality – stepping into the sunlight or fleeing from their post and disappearing into the world to start a new life. Eventually Steve was the only one of his original team who remained.

“It wasn’t entirely their fault” Steve said gravely. “They were wrong…but they didn’t really understand what they’d signed up for. None of us did. Transitioning to a vampire is an incredibly difficult thing to do, never mind when it’s happening to you during a war. It takes time to get your hunger under control and we weren’t treated as well as we could’ve been. It was a perfect storm”.

You nodded, smiling sympathetically. You wish you knew what to say, but no words came.

Steve eventually teamed up with Bucky again, forming The Howling Commandos – an elite combat unit lead by Steve to finish off HYDRA once and for all. He fed where he could, between the enemy and stray animals. He managed to negotiate keeping his metal container to sleep in. The unit continued where the super soldiers left off, destroying HYDRA piece by piece. Steve’s enhanced abilities and Bucky’s marksmanship meant they were a force to be reckoned with.

“And the rest is Bucky’s story to tell” Steve said gravely as his tale drew to a close.

You exhaled, reeling from these revelations. “My God, Steve” you said quietly. “I’m sorry you went through all of that…”

Steve smiled thinly. “Thanks sweetheart. It was a long time ago now. I definitely would’ve done some things differently had I known then what I know now. But it is what it is. I can’t change it”.

You smiled back at him, feeling empathy for all he must’ve seen. A young man so desperate to serve that he was willing to do the unthinkable. You felt anger towards his superiors, that they could have ever thought it was a good idea – that they unleashed something into the world they didn’t understand. You felt they had taken advantage of his patriotism to become their guinea pig. Steve had essentially given his life for his country, only to be shunned and left to fend for himself.

“What…what happened to Peggy?” you asked quietly.

Steve shifted in his seat, his eyes dropping to the floor. “It didn’t work out. Our lifestyles just weren’t compatible anymore. We tried, but agreed it was best we live our separate lives. She wanted to be turned but I couldn’t do that to her, it’s not something you fully understand until you do it – and then it’s too late to go back”. He spoke with his usual pragmatism, but you could see the peeks of his sadness under the surface. "I guess we were doomed..."

You nodded, your heart aching for his lost love. It all added a brand new dimension to him, inner depths you could never have fathomed. But of course it didn’t surprise you that Steve would put her happiness above his own.

“She died a few years ago” he said solemnly.

You felt a lump in your throat. “Oh Steve, I’m so sor-”

“Don’t be” he interrupted. “She died a very old lady in her bed, a life well lived. That was always what I wanted for her. What I could never give her”.

He smiled at you, but you could see how painful it was for him even after all this time.

Bucky rose to his feet, walking over to his old friend and giving him an affectionate slap on the shoulder. They hugged for a moment and it seemed to reset Steve, returning to his usual mask.

Bucky cleared his throat and sat back down next to you. He turned to you, his face solemn, brow knitted.

“Okay, Doll. I will tell you upfront, this isn’t a pretty story. I understand if it’s too much, or you change your mind about me, but Steve is right – I can’t hide it forever”.

You reached out to touch his thigh. “Bucky…whatever it is-”

“No” he interrupted. “Just let me tell it, and then you can think about what you might want to do next. Alright?”

He’d made it clear that he just wanted you to listen rather than respond, so you nodded and let him talk. You couldn’t imagine him telling you anything that would send you running out of that door, but the severity of his tone alarmed you slightly. He sighed as he launched into his story, the tension evident in his body as he hunched over himself and spoke to the floor. Normally he was cocky and smug, now he seemed like a completely different person.

Bucky explained that while Steve was undergoing the super soldier program, he and his unit were captured by HYDRA and forced to undergo experimentation. He didn’t offer any details as to what happened exactly and you didn’t pry. Your hand found its way to his lower back once again and you kept it there, your heart already aching at what he’d been through.

Officials were sure that the MIA Bucky and his unit were dead, but Steve refused to believe it. He was right of course, and he led a successful rescue operation. The two were reunited and that’s when The Howling Commandos were formed, Bucky was very willing to help snuff out the group that had caused him so much suffering. He was slightly freaked out by his long term friend’s transformation and new life, but once he got his head around it (and was convinced he wasn’t going to be dinner) he supported him. After all, they were practically brothers.

All went horribly wrong on a mission in 1945 when the group were attempting to take down HYDRA’s top scientist, Arnim Zola. Bucky fell from a moving train atop a mountain and plummeted thousands of feet to his apparent death. Steve and the rest of the commandos assumed he was dead as it would’ve been impossible to survive, with Steve mourning him for years to come as he adjusted to his new way of life as a vampire.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Bucky had actually survived the fall. But only barely, thanks to the experiments Zola had carried out on his body during his imprisonment. He was found by HYDRA close to death in the snow at the foot of the mountain he fell from, and captured once more.

Your fingers pushed further into his back as you listened, your head spinning as you tried to take in everything he must’ve been through. You knew nothing in your imagination would even come close to the horror of his reality.

The Allies were foolish to believe they were the only ones exploiting vampires as weapons, HYDRA were way ahead of them in that respect. They turned Bucky, bringing him back from the edge of death. With a range of brainwashing and experiments they were able to control him – forcing him to use his enhancements to do their bidding and take out enemy targets on their behalf. They wiped his memory so he only operated as a killing machine and nothing else. For decades, even after the war ended, they sent him out in the dead of night to take down those they wanted removed. Bucky became known as the Winter Soldier, a lethal force with his combat skills and enhanced abilities.

You bristled internally slightly but didn’t let your face betray you. You were chilled by the revelations, struggling to reconcile the Bucky you knew, wisecracking and cocky Bucky, as an emotionless killing machine. But you kept reminding yourself that none of it was his fault, and none of it was his choice. Your horror sunk under the surface, not quite disappearing but relegated to the back of your mind.

In a twist of fate, he was eventually sent after Steve after HYDRA had learnt that their old enemy was still alive and kicking. During a well matched fight, Steve recognised his old childhood friend and tried to talk him down. Bucky of course didn’t understand who this was, his memory was sparse and muddled from years of HYDRA meddling with him. Thinking it was a trick, Bucky resisted – until Steve essentially locked him up and Bucky’s memories slowly returned. They eventually broke into HYDRA HQ together and took as many people out as they could, effectively eliminating them – although they are always careful to keep watch in case it returns, and know there are likely other branches operating underground.

Steve helped Bucky regain his shattered memories, they started the antique business and found vampire communities who helped them both feel more settled and understand more about a life in darkness. They both swore never to kill another human being again, seeking out alternative food sources and learning to curb their thirst. Bucky grappled with what he’d been through every day, but was in a far better place than he was a few decades ago.

You reeled from all of this information, unaware that your fingers had essentially formed a claw and your nails dug into his flesh.

He looked at you expectantly with wide eyes and you couldn’t deny the bolt of fear that hit you as the weight of his words sunk in. But overall you felt compassion for him, a desperate need to comfort and soothe him. You got to your feet and for a second you saw panic across his face - he must’ve thought you were retreating, but you launched yourself at him and clung to him like a koala on a branch, pressing your head against his. There was nothing you could say, nothing to say, just letting your body speak for you. You were here. You accepted him. Maybe…maybe you even loved him.

He squeezed you in return, pulling you closer and nuzzling into your neck. You stayed like that for most of the evening, just quietly holding one another. You only took a break when he insisted you eat, and then you were back on the couch curled up on his lap as the hours slipped away.

You must’ve fallen asleep at some point as you found yourself waking up in motion as Bucky carried you up the stairs. He shushed you and soothed you as he lifted you to your bedroom, his strong arms enveloping you. Despite your feelings of calm and contentment there was a snake in the grass, a traitorous thought bubble threatening to shatter your peace. It wasn’t Bucky’s past, you didn’t fear him, you didn’t judge him. It was something else, something fighting to break through as your heavy eyelids sagged and you gave in to sleep.

If Steve and Peggy were doomed, were you and Bucky doomed too?

[jamesnelsonart]

What I planned for Monster Lands

A few readers wanted to know what would happen since the story won't be finished. Fair enough, I know people did like it, I don't want you totally dissatisfied! I'll give the broad strokes, but I have to get super specific in some areas.

Nadil and Edith would engage in some power struggles, essentially each of them ordering secret missions to undermine the others' position in the army. There is some grudging respect from Edith, as she sees that Nadil has the charisma and heart of a hero that she herself lacks.

Eren and Exris' plan to wipe out the continent (and presumably the world after that) is to awaken an ancient slumbering monster left underground by Uxrex the Annihilator, a dead rival of Emperor Offed from the extremely distant past. As the day of the creature's awakening grew closer, Edith would manipulate Nixtos, turning her against Nadil and using her as a spy, which would help put her coup into motion, reviving Emperor Offed after reassembling his suit of armor for his soul to inhabit.

It would be revealed that Edith is actually Edith Offed, Emperor Offed's daughter-in-law, she was married to his now-deceased son and was using Nadil's army as a front to return her family to power. Eli, Emily, and the Necromancer (who left the family due to mistreatment, but has been kidnapped and returned to them now)are all Edith's children. Nadil tries to fight, but the violent, sadistic Emily would defeat her and take out one of her eyes. Emily also would kill Nixtos by crushing her in her hand, reasoning that the Offed family doesn't need to be indebted to her. At this point in time the Destructor would have joined Nadil's army after receiving Othera's invite, and he would eagerly fight Emperor Offed so Othera, Nadil, and Marcus could escape from Edith's base. The Destructor would have Offed on the ropes, but Emily Offed would interfere, using her magic to kill him before he could defeat Emperor Offed. The fact that he had the emperor on the ropes foreshadows that Offed's power is somewhat elevated due to propaganda. Kersha would go against Eren's orders and arrive to save the Necromancer, so she ends up helping the other heroes by accident. Offed's army then makes its way to Eren's castle to take it over and assert their dominance over the land once again. Exris would refuse to fight with Eren as he's afraid of Emperor Offed, even though since he easily beat the Destructor he should have to trouble with his former master. Eren would fight him for a bit, but since her troops are spread across the continent she doesn't have a force at her castle to match his. Then Nadil would show up to aid her. The two women would successfully kill Emperor Offed for good this time. Eren would allow Nadil to leave the battlefield without attacking her after their team-up, prompting peace talks since both armies are decimated at this point and Eren is still in possession of Uxrex's ancient monster and could be convinced to not awaken it.

Days later, Exris is furious that Eren is genuinely trying to come up with a peace deal with Nadil, as he sees the fact that Emperor Offed infiltrated her group as proof that none of their enemies can be trusted to live. Eren begins to grow apart from Exris, as she's not happy he refused to fight Offed with her while her enemy Nadil actually stepped in and helped. Never letting any conflict die, Exris would secretly sabotage the chances for peace, initiating a final war between Eren and Nadil's armies that ultimately results in Marcus killing Exris by creating a fake Exris Receptacle to lure him into a trap. Seeing her father figure killed along with Uxrex's weapon prompts Eren to retreat back to her castle with her remaining forces, panicking and crying over the fact that she has no one left on her side (Kersha and the Necromancer have deserted her after Exris sabotaged the peace deal).

While Nadil is victorious and Eren's army is a totally spent force, the victory is short-lived. The continent is ravaged by a magical snowstorm. In the chapter with Sally we see a castle covered in a magical snow, stated to last for decades. As the story went on, "ice magic" would be elaborated on as one of the most powerful magics that can only be wielded by those who are completely cold inside. When Emperor Offed was killed, Edith realized that his resurrection was only possible due to her plans, and that the Offed family was actually holding her back. She would kill Eli and Emily, tapping into her ice powers for the first time and using them to force villagers to turn to her by wrecking their crops and modes of travel, then offering conditional relief in return for loyalty. Emily would swoop in as the true winner of the war and assert her dominance over the continent. Othera, Marcus, Kim, and Nadil would be on their own, later meeting up with Eren, who they would take in solely because they might as well use her in situations with mortal danger.

Without anyone to be afraid of her or put up with her behavior, Eren would be forced to change some. She'd also realize that her reign was ultimately a footnote in the grand scheme of things since she never did anything to help people. Eren would eventually meet up with Kersha and the Necromancer (who would be a couple by this point) and try to repair her relationship with them, as they are the closet things to friends she has. After a few adventures re-amassing their forces, Nadil's group would storm Edith's new icy fortress. You may recall in the chapter with Sally that the ice suddenly started melting when Marcus decides to go back and help Nadil out-- that was going to lead to ice magic's weakness, that a changed heart can thaw it. With all the heroes adventures and development, Edith's powers are less impressive this time around. Totally shocked and unable to comprehend this (because Edith has always been a vindictive, cold person who has refused to change) Edith tries to fire one last blast of ice magic at the group, but Nadil would shatter the beam by firing a healing ray through it, melting Edith's body (Edith is some kind of icy abomination clad in armor and silk now). It would look very DBZ.

Edith's ice magic would ensure she cannot truly die, but without a body she must endure an ironic hell of existing as an invisible spirit that cannot interact with anything, forced to watch a world prosper without her tyrannical family's rule.

Othera and Nadil would rule the new Monster Lands together, Kim would serve as a general and Marcus would become a somewhat successful politician, managing a town somewhere to ensure no kid has to grow up in the messed up environment he and his brother had to.

Eren would not be forgiven by the general populace, and she accepts that for Nadil to have any legitimacy as a ruler, Eren will have to be put to death. Kersha intervenes, however, and asks that the goblin tribes/other monsters get to punish Eren in their dungeons, or there will be no peace. Nadil hands Eren over to Kersha and the Necromancer, who take her to live in what is actually a decently comfortable house arrest, as they don't want their friend executed.

And and, uh, Nadil's economy would focus a lot less on war and murdering her own citizens, so Trapmaster's sales would plummet and he'd be extremely sad lol.

[danthepest]

So with the Metal Gear Collection out now (of debatable quality), I figured I'd make a short, handy list of the chronological order of these games, and a short summary of what they're about. I'll try to be as vague and spoiler free as possible.

1 - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Takes place in 1964 during the Cold War. CIA operative and FOX unit member Naked Snake is sent to Russia and has to survive the jungle (don't ask, just roll with it) to stop the development and deployment of a new kind of ultimate weapon, the Shagohod. Things are not what they seem and the political machinations of both the United States of America and Russia will have severe repercussions for the rest of the series. Most of all, it will affect Naked Snake and his legacy.

2 - Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops - Takes place in 1970. FOX has seemingly gone rogue and started a revolt in San Hieronymo. Naked Snake begins to build his own resistance with the help of Roy Campbell. (The game is only available for PSP and while it was touted as a "missing link" between Snake Eater and Metal Gear 1, it hasn't been mentioned or referenced since. Easily skippable.)

3 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - Takes place in 1974 in Costa Rica. Naked Snake and Kazuhira Miller begin building their private military company Militaires Sans Frontières. As they uncover the truth behind the strife in Costa Rica, Snake's past during the Snake Eater incident comes back to haunt him. (Originally a PSP game, it was included in the PS3 HD collection. This was also billed as a "missing link". Up to you if agree. Definitely need to play this to understand the next game.)

4 - Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes - Takes place in 1975. After the Peace Walker Incident, one of MSF's own people goes to Cuba on a failed rescue mission and Naked Snake goes in alone to retrieve his man and the person he came to rescue. Serves as an epilogue to Peace Walker and a prologue to the next game.

5 - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain - Takes place in 1984, primarily in Afghanistan. Ten years after what happens in Ground Zeroes, Naked Snake is rechristened Venom Snake and is rebuilding his forces with Miller, naming themselves Diamond Dogs. They prepare to strike back at the organization that has been targeting them for the last 10 years. A startling truth is revealed and strong alliances shatter.

6 - Metal Gear - Takes place in 1995. FOXHOUND unit rookie, Solid Snake is sent into the fortified state, Outer Heaven, to rescue FOXHOUND veteran Gray Fox and discover the secret behind Outer Heaven's nuclear weapon, the Metal Gear, and the identity of its leader.

7 - Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake - Takes place in 1999. Dr. Kio Marv has bio-engineered a new fuel and energy source that would reduce the consumption of oil. Military forces belonging to Zanzibar Land kidnap the doctor, intending to control the world's oil supply and hold the world hostage as well as stockpiling nuclear weapons. New FOXHOUND commander Roy Campbell forces Solid Snake out of retirement to infiltrate Zanzibar Land and rescue Dr. Kio Marv. Solid Snake is forced to face those he once considered friends and mentors.

8 - Metal Gear Solid - Takes place in 2005. FOXHOUND rebels against the US government and takes over the Alaskan island Shadow Moses, which contains a nuclear weapons disposal facility. Among their demands is the body of Big Boss who is considered the greatest soldier that ever lived. They wish to use his genes to create an army of super soldiers. At the behest of the Secretary of Defense, Roy Campbell once again has to ask Solid Snake out of retirement for one last solo mission. Solid Snake is forced to confront who he is, where he came from and what it is he's fighting for.

9 - Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - Takes place in 2007 and 2009. In 2007, the anti-terrorist organization Philanthropy learns that a new Metal Gear is being transported through the Hudson river and attempt to stop it. They are thwarted by Russian mercenaries and the tanker is blown up as they get away with said Metal Gear.

In 2009, FOXHOUND operative Raiden is sent to infiltrate the Big Shell, a large decontamination facility that has been taken over by a terrorist faction calling themselves the Sons of Liberty. Raiden must neutralize the threat and save the hostages. However, Raiden will soon learn of a conspiracy that dates back to even before the Cold War and begin to question his own existence.

10 - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Takes place in 2014. War has changed. War has become a commodity and has created what is known as the War Economy. Old Snake is tasked with putting a stop to the madness as well as put an end to a personal war that started as far back as 1964. (So far, this is exclusively a PS3 title, but there is hope that it will be released for PC in a further Metal Gear Collection)

11 - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - Takes place in 2018. Raiden has made peace with his lot in life and is trying to support his family by working as a military trainer and VIP bodyguard among other things. While protecting a VIP, Raiden is ambushed and utterly defeated by a cyborg that is part of a larger organization. Raiden begins his quest of vengeance and will finally see if he can put his past behind him.

And there you have it! Dunno really what prompted me to do this, but hey, maybe someone out there will find this helpful or interesting or intriguing or whatever.

[dracarialove]

📄 Posting my finished fics here, too 📄

The Spy's Final Mission

Rouge is an agent tasked with returning a living weapon to his containment. Shadow is an experiment who merely wants to find his family and be free from captivity. Once they meet, a huge payout from the President and worldwide glory may not be enough for the super spy to ignore the intrigue of the mysterious Ultimate Lifeform.

Ship: Shadow/Rouge

*Originally published Feb. 24th, 2024

[Chapter 1: Dichotomy]

Rouge the Bat was the top agent and spy in her field.

Efficient, arrogant, and not adverse to using sly tactics to get the job done. She was G.U.N's best tool for tough tasks that required someone quick, quiet, and clever.

Whether the assignment was scouting out threats, infiltrating high-security facilities, or ripping weapons away from dangerous organizations without detection, she was the ace up their sleeve. She had a morally gray stance on the methods she often used to complete a mission, which made the President uneasy, at times.

Occasionally, he feared that she or the other high-status military personnel might go too far one day. That if she got to be too self-serving, she might persuade their soldiers to bend more rules than they were allowed to.

But Rouge hadn't let him down yet, being reliable in succeeding while not technically committing crimes that could be considered immoral. With this in mind, and with the knowledge that they needed her talents, he trusted her as much as he respected her; which was plenty enough to consider the bat more of an asset than a liability.

On one particularly cloudy day, just after she completed a rescue mission for one of their teams that'd gone missing in a high-risk area, her boss received a report that a classified weapon of theirs was stolen by the endlessly troublesome Dr. Eggman.

He looked to Rouge, who lounged in the brown leather armchair that'd unofficially become hers – it was where she'd been seated when she first met the President, and it had become her regular sitting spot when she collected her reward for a job well done.

"Agent, I'm sorry to ask you to stand up so soon," he started, watching her shoulders slump and her head tilt to one side. She wasn't tired, but was clearly a bit annoyed at having to go on another assignment already. "I've just been informed that Dr. Eggman stole something of ours, and it's urgent we get it back."

"Oh," she said, perking up from her vague exasperation. "That's all? Well, sneaking into his base is a piece of cake, I can do that again and be back in no time!"

She stood up, stretching out her arms and wings while the President spoke of her payment. "I hope you understand we can't afford to pay in priceless jewels every time. Since that scientist has never been much of a challenge for you before, I have to be more mindful of what can be spared from the budget."

"Hm," hummed disapprovingly from her closed mouth, which pulled into a doubtful line. Her hands found their place on her wide hips. "That's a shame, Mr. President. Truly, a pity you can't match the value of urgently getting back what he stole…"

The human man was worried she would refuse if not compensated to her liking, so he started trying to bargain with the treasure hunter. While he offered rings, vacations, and anything else that might be of lesser value than her typical taste, Rouge's mind wandered off to a rumor she'd heard about the doctor's secret stash of precious gems.

She didn't know for sure if it was real, but she reckoned even if it wasn't, there must be something he'd gathered or stolen that would look better in her collection.

"Tell ya what, Prez," she said, cutting off the overlander's offer, "I'll accept payment in the form of keeping anything I might decide to grab while I'm in his base. Sound fair?"

The man hesitated. "Well… I don't like encouraging you to steal."

"Oh, darling," Rouge chuckled, swatting the air and flashing her signature charming smile. "Stealing from a menace like Eggman is hardly a crime!"

A small sigh left his lips, but he didn't have much room to try and change her mind. She had a point; and it was more beneficial for him than having to spend from his own pocket. So, the President agreed to Rouge's terms, and she set off to complete the mission.

***

Shadow the Hedgehog was an experiment recently revived by G.U.N.

He was awakened when his cryostasis pod was opened, where he was immediately defensive towards the men pointing guns at him. Distrusting of his lucidness after coming out of a frozen state, they tranquilized him before transferring his unconscious body to a room where they could monitor his next awakening.

They strapped the lifeform's body to a table to keep him restrained and checked his physical state to determine the risk of attempting to reprogram him to their liking. His vitals were perfect – a marvel to them, as he was created decades before, unable to grow in size or strength since he'd been sealed away.

Regardless, they had gone long enough without using his powers for their own duty of establishing order in the world. He was an artificial being, and thus could be changed and taught to obey as one of their soldiers; but as it stood, he was too powerful to let loose yet.

So, he would remain detained on Prison Island, and would be sealed back into containment once they finished the initial testing of his potential.

Pacified into inactivity, he was left to lay still while the scientists assigned to analyze him prepared elsewhere for the research they would conduct on his sleeping form.

When he woke a second time, sooner than they'd thought he would, Shadow first felt a sense of confusion at where he was, seeing no one in the empty room.

It was a different place than the last location his memories held, and when he tried to sit up, he found himself strapped down. Oblivious to what was happening, he started to feel a pang of panic and worry growing in his chest as his heart rate rose.

He looked over at the beeping monitor beside him and saw it spiking with his heart beat. It was something he was familiar with from the ARK, something humans used. And he remembered briefly being released by them.

'What do they want with me? They were the ones who… locked me up before… right? Do they wish to question me? Dissect me? Or is this… an experiment?'

He couldn't pin down the memories from before they opened his pod, brief flashes of dreadful images flittering in unpleasant snippets. All he knew for sure was that these were humans he couldn't trust, and that asking questions in his head would get him nowhere.

So, he started feeling out the strength of the straps. They were tight, but not unmovable if he put a decent amount of effort into straining against them. He spent a minute getting the straps loose enough to give him a chance at slipping out. But then, he heard the far door begin to open.

They were coming.

[sasster]

Antivenom

This one came to me in a vision btw. It’s great to have a man on the inside! [doc]

—

Due to his position in the fleet and, more importantly, his status as a member of The Overseer’s handpicked crew, Laeche has come to enjoy access to many secrets being held by the Empire and its fleet. It is a list that stretches from unmarked weapons testing grounds to the flight patterns of prison ships.

Valuable information.

Information that should definitely stay out of the wrong hands.

The way Laeche sees it is that everyone has a secret. No matter how sweet and innocent or vile and cruel that person may be, there is bound to be some aspect of themselves that they are concealing from the world. This is also a truth that extends to a society itself.

Not out of shame or fear, but convenience, the Alternian government conceals information from its population all the time.

The purple blood is grateful for his peak behind the curtain.

Laeche makes his way into the grounded fleet vessel that he was summoned to, going over the diagnostics he has to run on the engine before the vessel can take off for the evening.

It has been a very long few perigees working on it solo, but that is what he was asked to do.

The less hands touching a secret the better it is for the sake of the project and all that.

That aforementioned convenience.

Upon entering the vessel he is greeted by a violet blood that comes up to about chin height to him, doing the usual pat down for bugs and paranoid looking around behind him to make sure he wasn’t followed.

He allows the manhandling to take place.

“You know, usually it’s the people that are working against the empire with such strict protocols.” He starts with a smirk in lieu of a greeting. “Should I be worried?”

The scientist sneers at him in response, fins pinned back as he moves to shut the door.

“I’ve worked too long and too hard to be thwarted now. Do you know how much rebel activity happens on this miserable rock?”

“‘Thwarted’ is a word villains use.” Laeche says casually, smacking the gum in his mouth as he meanders further along into the ship.

The ship would be nothing to write home about if it were not for the fact that it was refitted to look almost exactly like a laboratory. Odds and ends one would expect to find in an experimental facility with tubes and wires running through it toward a common area that housed a giant glowing vat. Home to a mysterious liquid with a troll suspended in it, a troll soaking in all of those sweet sweet chemicals.

There is just one thing that Laeche hates in a way that has him seeing red and he has been working silently beside it for nearly half a sweep now.

It makes his skin itch.

The only parts of the ship that remain ungutted are the engine room and coms station to man the thing. His only means off of Alternia when his work is done.

“After I run my diagnostics on the engine you’ll be all set to send for a crew to fly you out of here, sir.”

Where will he take this experiment when he is done?

The engineer never bothered to ask, the less he knew about whatever super soldier project this was the better it would ultimately be for everyone involved.

“Good, I never want to set foot on this miserable rock again.”

“What an impressive show of allegiance.”

“Get to work.”

Laeche puts both hands up as he meanders over in the direction of the engine room, taking time to throw one more pitying gaze at the experiment as he passes it.

Briefly, he wonders how aware of the world around them they are in there.

Then he hopes that the answer is not at all.

 - -

Hours pass before the engineer emerges from his work — A critical failure put him behind in the timeline. The scientist sits in the common area with a scowl cemented to his face. Like a disappointed parent he says nothing as Laeche fully enters the room, following his movements only with his eyes.

“Well.”

“So there was a minor setback.”

Oh, if looks could kill.

“What kind of setback?” The scientist grits.

“The kind where you’re stuck on this miserable rock for at least another day.”

“That is unacceptable.”

“Them's the breaks.” Laeche says very simply, his attention now fully on the vat in front of him. “I can fix it in time for a preflight check tomorrow though.”

��That is unacceptable I said! Your commanding officer will hear about this!”

“General Viroil is already aware that you need me a bit longer. It’s just another night.”

The violet blood shoots to his feet and Laeche catches the glimpse of a grim expression crossing his features in the reflection of the glass.

Scary!

“Why are you playing games with me?”

“We’re both men of science--” he is cut off by a scoff from the higher blooded troll. It rolls off of his back. “Surely you’ve had things fall apart for seemingly no reason at all.”

“What have you been doing all day then?”

“Fixing it.”

Almost as if on cue the lights on the ship go dead, from the delicate hum and glow of the vat it seems like the only thing spared from the outage is the life support hooked up to the experiment.

Laeche laughs breathlessly.

“That wasn’t me.”

Before the seadweller gets a chance to broadcast his disapproval with the situation, though the sneer he wears is plenty good at getting the message across on its own, something large comes barreling out of the darkness and straight for him.

The resulting crash all but shakes the ship off of its foundation.

Laeche turns around to face the masked intruder, large clawed gloves piercing into the skin where they held the scientist up by the neck. In the sudden silence that flooded the room, the purple blood could almost hear the fluid being pumped into the troll from the bulky containers that wrapped around the cuffs of the gloves.

The scientist claws uselessly at the assailant’s wrist.

“Get-- Get this thing off of me.” He barks at him, choking on his own blood.

Laeche sighs.

“Can you drop him?”

The intruder obliges and drops his victim in a heap at his feet, when he tries to stand again he crumples almost immediately.

“You’ll have to forgive my brother,” the engineer starts to explain, eyes cold as his gaze sweeps over the scene. “He has no home training.”

He stares back in astonishment.

“Your brother?”

“Sh. You’ll want to hear what I have to say,” he continues, gesturing to his brother as he does. “Nene here just pumped you full of what I’m guessing is a lethal dose of poison.”

“Lo siento.” The mask troll offers, with a simple shrug.

The scientist sputters, hands reaching for his neck where it no doubt has started to sting something awful. He stares up at the pair with a suddenly humbled expression.

Pleading, almost.

“Thing is, I always walk with antivenom. So I don’t think you’ll die. It’d be painful though. It’s paralytic. Starts in the legs pretty quickly, then it starts to shut everything down. Usually in two or so hours. Worried about the amount he got into you, though.”

He lulls his head over to look to his brother for confirmation.

“An hour if he’s lucky.” 

“I don’t think he’s lucky--”

“What do you want?” The scientist spits back at them. “Is it money?”

“I want you to tell us how to get them out of there.” He indicates the vat with his head. “Alive.”

“What?”

“You’d waste precious time having me explain myself?”

The seadweller hisses and when neither of them respond to the pitiful threat display he drags both of his hands down his face.

It seems he’d rather not die here. Not like this, at least.

He sighs.

“Fine.”

“No funny business, Nene hates clowns.” Laeche warns. “We want them alive.”

“Fine!”

It does not take long for the brothers to dismantle the contraption, maybe about fifteen or twenty minutes, and pull the troll out of the foul smelling chemicals. Laeche finds an old blanket to wrap around their emaciated form. Then he sits on the ground beside them, fore and middle fingers pressed to the neck in search of a pulse.

He gives Vineno a thumbs up when he finds it, thready but steadily getting stronger.

“Your end…Of the bargain.” The seadweller rasps between labored breaths, now slumped over in a corner behind the three. If Laeche had to guess, the man will have almost certainly lost most if not all of the function in his extremities by now.

It’s a marvel he’s speaking at all.

“About that,” the purple blood says with a smile that shows off his fangs. “I never really promised you anything.”

The scientist sputters up blood instead of protest.

“But we aren’t the torturing type. Nene wants to give you one small mercy as a thank you.”

Vineno says nothing as he walks toward the troll.

Laeche cradles the head of the rescued experiment in his lap as the sound of crunching bones fills the air.

“You’re going to be okay now.” He whispers to them. “Nene will take you somewhere safe.”

After the embrace, Laeche stands and starts to meander back toward the engine room.

Vineno follows.

When they are good and alone, Laeche lets out a big sigh that also sees him deflating the tension he held in his back.

“I don’t know how you can be so serious all the time, Nene.” He muses as he sits himself at his workstation, letting himself relax further as he does. “It’s exhausting.”

“It’s a talent of mine.”

“Alright, let’s get to the part where you beat the shit out of me.”

“Gladly.”

“I sent a message to the flying crew that he’s ready for systems check this evening. They’ll be here in a few hours, go make a mess so it looks like you struggled.”

Vineno tsks behind him. It was not as though he needed to be told how to do his job.

“Hazme un paro, por favor.” The engineer says as he puts his goggles on.

“Hm?”

“Don’t break my arm this time.”

“I can’t promise you that, officer.”