#source: something the boys track team said

[runningfrom2am]

cold nights // part twelve

summary: may the odds be ever in your favour.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 2.9k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: tribute!reader and mentor!coriolanus, r is very sweet (too kind for this world. literally.), sunshine x grumpy trope kinda, he falls first, violence typical for the source material, r is very smart (as she should), district twelve!reader.

a/n: i can't believe we made it to the end of s1! i am so, so excited to move on to the next era of this story! this is a reminder if you love this series and you haven't already please reblog this or the masterlist! it makes such a big big difference for me and my fellow writers know it all too well lol.

my asks are also open to talk about this series! (i do have emoji anons open now too!)

send me any and all of your thoughts! here!

series masterlist // playlist

Coriolanus wakes up, head on the open pages of Romeo and Juliet as people start to flood in, everyone anxious about what would happen to you.

He rubs the sleep out of his eyes, quickly casting his view to the screen ahead, camera view still locked on you. There was no one else for it to be tracking, after all. Except now, you were on Lamina's beam, lying down with your eyes closed. He wasn't sure if you were awake, or when you had even made your way down into the clearing, but you don't move. He can see the steady rise and fall of your chest as you lay with his scarf bunched up behind your head. Tigris was right, you had survived, but you wouldn't have without him. You looked peaceful- not at all like the girl he had seen crumbling apart on the same screen just a few hours prior.

"I feel as though I should inform you, they'll be going in very soon." Highbottom says, grabbing the boy's attention. "But I'd put my money on those boys being dead in there. Congratulations, Coriolanus. This means almost nothing for you."

He walks away before Coryo is even done processing what he had said. He wouldn't get the prize, most likely, but he would still have you.

You don't stir until you hear the peacekeepers entering the arena, sitting up and seeing them with guns pointed in your direction. "Don't move." One of them spits at you and you nod, eyes wide as you raise your hands. You watch as a designated team in different uniforms make their way up to enter the vents, and others spray something over the piles of snakes, stilling those that were still showing any signs of life.

"Is it over?" You ask, confused.

"Not until we can confirm you are the only remaining tribute." One of them answers and you nod, chewing on your lip as you watch the men disappear into the vents.

"Okay... Thank you."

You know what they would find in there, the bodies of the two boys trapped behind your salt line. You could tell them where the boys would be found, but then you'd be outing yourself. You had only confessed to Coryo. Only he could know. Last night, you didn't care. You have to assume he was the only one who witnessed your breakdown, your confession, because if anyone else had, you'd likely be dead by now. You have to hope your secret is safe with him if you want to go home.

The morning drags on forever as you sit there with guns pointed at you from the ground, and Coryo is pacing in the hall. There were many people around, excited to see if you would be crowned as the victor. People were rooting for you, and he was proud of that, but support didn't mean that you were promised a win.

Vipsania and Domitia were the only other two remaining mentors, whispering to each other across the room after they came back. It was eerily silent.

Then, one of the men emerges from the vent, turning all heads including yours as he just nods toward the peacekeepers watching you.

"Alright. Come on down." The same peacekeeper addresses you and you nod, a tear falling down your cheek.

"She did it." Coryo whispers to himself, realization forcing a grin onto his face.

Lucky laughs, clapping his hands together. "She's won! Y/N Y/L/N from District Twelve!" He calls out, making his way over to Coriolanus. "Coriolanus Snow is the Victor of the Tenth Annual Hunger Games!"

Coryo laughs in shock, smiling as the man pats his shoulder. He catches in the corner of his eye as his two classmates storm out, and he's quickly crowded with congratulations and praise.

"I won?" You ask quietly, feet landing on the ground again.

"Yes, they were found." He nods, and quickly your arms are being grabbed as you're led out of the arena.

"Do you know, did Coriolanus get his prize?" You ask them, but your question is ignored as you walk down the hall toward the exit, looking back over your shoulder as the gate is closed behind you.

Just outside the gates, you don't get much of a taste of freedom before you're being pushed into the back of the same truck. Empty. Bigger. Lonely.

"Empty your pockets." The peacekeeper tells you, standing at the entrance.

You do so hesitantly, holding up the compact on a shaky palm. "I'm sorry to ask, but can I have some water? Please?" You ask, once again ignored as the compact is pulled from your hand. "Please, sir, that was a gift... If you must take it can you return it to my mentor? Coriolanus Snow?"

He opens the cold metal, pulling out the piece of paper and unfolds it, quickly scanning it's contents. "That is for him, too. Though, if I had the chance now I would change it." You explain. You knew you both would be in deep trouble if you were caught for what you convinced yourself was no more than salt, and clarity came to you enough to lie about what the compact had contained all this time.

The peacekeeper hums, closing it up again and shoving both items into his own pocket, pointing the gun at you again. "Clothes off."

"Ex-excuse me?" You reply, taken aback by the request.

"Clothes off. Now." He repeats and you nod, swallowing the lump in your dry throat as you begin to slide off your dress, letting it fall at your feet. He moves the gun again, gesturing for you to continue. With trembling hands you remove your underthings, your shoes, and the scarf, placing them on the floor in front of you. He quickly gathers them, taking a step back and nodding to someone outside.

He moves out of the way and you stand there confused, watching as he shakes out your clothes and searches them, when suddenly you're being sprayed down with a hose. You yelp from the fast contact of the cold water pelting against your skin, but it wakes you up. After the initial shock, it actually feels good to be somewhat clean again.

You pant as the water is shut off, catching your breath and rubbing your arms to try and warm yourself again. Your clothes are tossed back into the truck at you before the door is slammed, and you use the scarf to try and dry yourself off a little bit before tying it around yourself the same way Coryo had. By the time you pull the second strap of your dress back on, the truck is moving and you're lurching forward.

You're driving for a while before the door is opened again, and you're relieved to get some fresh air. It was cold in there, and you were shivering in your small dress that was now also damp from your skin.

Once the doors open you're staring down the barrels of more guns as the peacekeepers usher you out and into the train station, right where you were let off all those days ago. Days... or weeks? You don't even know anymore.

"Lay off, why don't you? She's been through enough." A man in a black suit comes into your view, and they drop their weapons and let you go.

He steps in front of you and you wrap your arms around yourself to try and warm up. "Thank you, Sir." You smile, nodding at him politely.

"Nothing to thank me for..." He sighs. "I'm Dean Highbottom from the academy, it's a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations on your victory." Surprisingly to you, he doesn't seem inconvenienced. Someone other than Coryo and Sejanus seemed to be willing to talk to you, to treat you like a human again. When he congratulates you, he sounds sad.

"Thank you, Sir." You nod again. "Do I... Will I be going home now?"

"Yes. In just a few minutes." He nods, gesturing for you to follow him toward the train. "I am extremely familiar with your mentor, Coriolanus Snow." He tells you as you join his side.

"Oh, wonderful!" You force a smile. "I have some things for him, just a note and something he leant to me. I gave them to that man over there. Would you mind making sure they make it back to him?" You point out the peacekeeper as you follow him toward the train.

"I'll see to it that he gets it back, yes." Dean Highbottom nods with a slight roll of his eyes, stopping next to the stairs that would lead you onto the passenger train. "But... if I may offer you some advice?"

"Please." You nod, urging him on.

"Be grateful you survived him."

You want to ask what he means, but the anger you saw behind your friend's eyes that night in the arena would haunt you and you knew that. Surely, that's what the Dean is talking about.

"Yes." You agree, unsure what else to say when he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a stack of cash.

"Take this, your prize, I suppose." He hands it over to you. It must be hundreds of dollars. Maybe over a thousand. With this, you could do so much for your family. "Oh, and Miss Y/L/N... You wouldn't happen to know anything about the rat poison that was in that compact, would you?"

You tense up, tilting your head at him with a confused smile. "Poison? No... All I had put inside was salt." You reply. "Sejanus Plinth gave it to me, with food from his Ma. Salt is good for protection, you know, so I kept it for later. Keeps you safe from evil and harm." You ramble on, panic and shock in your tone. Sejanus had given you salt to put on some vegetables and sandwiches he brought you, but now that you're trying to piece the story together, you don't remember even opening the compact until you were in that vent. Coryo had told you not to open it, so you wouldn't have. Your own memory is confusing you.

"I've heard that." He nods, eyeing you skeptically.

The train horn makes you jump before you can even thank him.

"Go on, now." He urges you onto the train, deciding to let slide however you had came across the rat poison. Clearly, you didn't know what you had done. Or you were convincing yourself you didn't remember. "Enjoy your freedom."

You nod and step up onto the stairs. You were hoping you would get to see Coryo again, it disappointed you that you never would. Maybe it was a good thing you wrote your goodbye note, even if you had survived. "I give you, upon my knees, a thousand thanks." You smile to the man still standing on the ground below you who just nods in acknowledgment before you close the door behind yourself, Coryo's scarf still wrapped around your waist.

"Y/N?" Coryo calls out, walking into the high biology lab. He was told you had something for him, no doubt the scarf and the compact.

"She's gone." Dean Highbottom cuts in, just before Coryo spots him in the poorly lit room.

"I was told-"

"I know what you were told. Here." The Dean tells him, pointing to the metal compact on the table.

Coryo looks at it only briefly before returning his gaze to the man who offered it to him. "Where is she?"

"I wouldn't worry about that, Coriolanus. Your work is done." He explains vaguely. "Were you aware that she cheated?"

"Cheated?" Coryo asks. "How?" He feigns ignorance.

"The boys in the vents didn't die from snake venom, or violently, or, naturally- for that matter." The Dean tsk's. "It was rat poison. Which, before you argue with me, cannot be found inside the arena or even within reach of the monkey cage at the zoo. I checked. So be honest, you have no idea how she got her hands on such a substance?"

"No, I don't." Coryo lies. "But she did what she could to survive- don't take it out on her because she somehow cheated your games. Next year give them uniforms, or up security or something."

"Just thought I'd ask. She told me she got it from Plinth." He waves him off, and Coryo ticks his head in slight confusion.

"Sejanus? No, he-"

"She really... declined, in there." Highbottom cuts him off, making it evident that he at least believed that Sejanus wouldn't do such a thing. "Told me it was only salt. Genuinely, it seemed like she didn't know. Or, she forced herself to forget. A sweet girl like that, it doesn't surprise me that that's how she would rationalize her actions."

"Is she alive? Because if you killed her for that I-"

"You'll what, Mister Snow? I thought you said you just wanted the prize."

"She deserved better." He states simply, swallowing the anxiety building in his throat.

"She does. I agree." Highbottom nods. "Which is why you won't see her again."

Coryo furrows his brow. "I... I don't understand how that could be relevant."

"Oh, I know you do, Mister Snow." His superior replies, a condescending edge to his words.

Coryo snatches the compact off of the table and quickly pockets it, storming out of the room. At least he hadn't been caught for helping you cheat, though he was sure Highbottom knew better. Now, he didn't have the Plinth Prize, and he didn't have you.

When he finally got home, he couldn't help but slam the door behind himself.

"Coryo?" Tigris calls out, excited as she puts down the project she was working on and rushes to the entranceway to meet him. "I didn't expect you home so soon! Did you get to see Y/N?" Her smile fades when she sees his expression. "What's wrong?"

"They wouldn't let me see her. She's already gone." He explains, pulling off his blazer.

"Oh..." Tigris frowns, taking the blazer from him to hang it up. "I know you really wanted to say goodbye. I'm so sorry."

"She'll never forgive me." He shakes his head slightly. "If she's even still alive! I doubt they would tell me!" He laughs, bringing his hands up to rub his eyes with his palms.

"They wouldn't kill her, Coryo. People loved her too much." She is quickly reassuring, reaching out to rub his shoulders. "You did nothing wrong... You did all you could for her. She'll forgive you."

"Not that." He mutters. "It's what I told you. You didn't see the way she looked at me, Tigris. Like... Like I was a monster."

"She was already scared. She was way out of her element. I think now, that she's safe, she'll find the space to see it reasonably." She tries to soothe his worries as best she can. "You're a good friend to her, and she's a kind person. She'll understand."

"But I'll never know for sure that she does."

"You might one day... Don't beat yourself up about it, and don't give up on her."

After a long, two-day journey curled up on a bench on the train, you recognize the building the train is stopping at. Suddenly, all your energy is returned to you as it slows to a stop, and you're already waiting at the door. You hear the latch unlock and you couldn't get off fast enough.

No one you knew were there, not that you expected any kind of greeting party. You inhale the fresh air, once again surrounded by the trees and your own people. You walk out of the train station and down the street, in the general direction of your home. You tried waving at a few folks you knew on the way, but people just stared, for the most part, jaws slack with surprise. They had already grieved your death. Sometimes you were met with a sad smile, but no one wanted to speak to you. You understood. You were used to that after your time in the Capitol.

"Y/N Y/L/N, is that you?" An excited voice called after you resigned yourself to a quiet walk home, twenty minutes from the bustle of the train station. You turn your head to look up at the back entrance to the Hob, a wide smile taking over your face when you see the speaker.

Your friend is already barrelling toward you, throwing her arms around you as your eyes fill with happy tears. It was refreshing. "I never thought I'd see you again..." You sniff, resting your chin on her shoulder as you hug her back.

Rhythmically, your best friend sways you back and forth. "Oh, I know, I know, sweetheart..." She hums, rubbing your back reassuringly. You can hear her voice crack too. "But you're home now. You're okay..."

She lets you break down as she practically holds you up as you cry in each other's arms. From happiness or trauma, you're not sure. "I did some awful things, I regret it all..."

"Don't regret a thing." She shushes you. "You did what you had to."

"No, no... You don't know... You didn't see..."

"I watched, Hun. When I could." She pulls away, placing her hands on your cheeks to wipe your tears. "You did nothing wrong. All that matters is that you're home now."

You sniff again with a slight nod. "I fear too early, for my mind misgives; Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, shall bitterly begin."

"No... Y/N/N. You're safe here. You are forgiven." She assures you, rubbing your arms. "Now, let's get you home. A good rest will do you well, your parents have been waitin' on you." She waits for you to nod before stepping to your side, guiding you in the right direction with an arm around your waist.

"Thank you, Lucy Gray." You mumble, allowing yourself to lean into her hold.

taglist: @soulessjourney , @that-veela-girl ,  @dreamyysouls , @rockstarbfs , @maysileeewrites , @baybieruth , @kitscutie ,  @fratboyharrysgf0201 , @totallynotkaibiased , @stelleduarte , @secretsicanthideanymore , @bejeweledreverie , @drewsandsebastianswife , @niicole-87 , @queenofshinigamis , @innercreationflower , @nallasstuff , @scorpiolystoned , @iovemoonyy , @thatmarvelchick19 , @wearemadeofstardust0 , @regulusblackcore , @puredreamagination , @fantasticchaosthing , @becauseseaotters , @secretsicanthideanymore

okay suddenly tumblr isn't letting me tag more people than this so i just made some cuts unfortunately :') i just left the max amount of people i could whose users i recognized and see in my notifs all the time :) if you're not on here and you should be i'm so sorry!

also this taglist is closed now!! if you’d like to get a notification when i update, turn on my post notifications!! i promise i won’t spam y'all :,)

[why-what-no]

I’m All Yours

Pairing: Anthony Lockwood x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Slight violence, reader is a bit of a badass

Notes: Once again, British people feel free to bully me if I’ve written British-people-speak badly, I’m always ready to improve. Requests open for Lockwood and co

Summary: Lockwood had been trying to recruit a fellow agent for ages, despite the fact that she claims to work alone. But when she gets hurt on a mission and asks for his help, she finally find out just how much he wants her to join Lockwood and co

Honestly, if (Y/N) didn't know better, she'd say that Anthony Lockwood was obsessed with her. 

The two of them were both ghost hunters, some of the best at what they do. But while Lockwood had his little team, (Y/N) felt a lot more comfortable working by herself. Once upon a time, she had a partner. But the thing about agents is that they had a habit of dying.

So now she did her own thing.

Lockwood didn’t get the hint, however. They bumped into each other plenty of times, crossing paths during missions and sharing info when needed. (Y/N) liked him, she could definitely see how he inspired such loyalty in his coworkers.

And now, every time they see each other, the posh boy tried to get her to join Lockwood and co. Honestly it was a bit funny to (Y/N), teasing Lockwood about seeming desperate.

She liked him, and his team. They were always kind to her and clearly talented. But she wasn’t willing to put in the effort to care about a group who had a habit of throwing themselves into danger.

Lockwood was clever and handsome, but (Y/N) were well aware that boys like him, posh boys with charming grins and silver tongues... they were more dangerous that any of the ghosts she faced. He’d make her as attached to him as his team was, and she was well aware of his messy relationship with his own mortality… and his difficulty (or inability) sharing his personal thoughts and feelings.

At least, that was what she told herself. Until…

***

35 Portland Row’s landline was ringing. It was late at night, a time when ghosts owned the streets.

Usually Lockwood and co were doing a mission at that time. But tonight was a calm night. At least for them.

Anthony Lockwood picked up the phone. “Lockwood and co, how can I help you?” He said in his best professional, costumer service voice.

"Hello, Lockwood, my love. How are you?" (Y/N)’s voice came through the phone, and he immediately relaxed. Leaning against the counter, he smiled at the sound of her voice.

"I'm doing well (Y/N). Always a joy to hear your voice. How are you? What can I do for you?"

"Umm, so, funny story... I’m doing a mission right now and I had a little bit of an accident.” His smile immediately dropped. “Ghost was stronger than I thought. My arm is most likely broken and I'd quite appreciate some help if you're free." She told him the address, then paused. The silence made him more nervous that her words, he knew how much she hated asking for help. It must be serious for her to call him like that. "Okay, so... ghost is back. If you could come quickly, that would be appreciated."

She hung up.

Lockwood had never gotten his team and equipment together so fast in his life.

***

When they got to the house that (Y/N) was allegedly in, they immediately tracked her location from the noises coming from the top floor.

“Fucking hell! You cunt!” (Y/N)’s voice rang out, followed by a crash. Of course she would try to fight a ghost verbally when she couldn’t fight it physically

Lockwood and co sprung into action, going after the ghost and searching for the source. Lockwood’s first priority was (Y/N), finding her turning her sweater into a makeshift sling for her arm.

“Are you alright?” He rushed out, checking her over for bleeding.

“Yeah, I…” She began to speak before she noticed something behind them. “Looks out!” She shoved him to the side, grabbing her sword from the ground and swinging it at the ghost that had just appeared.

Lockwood gathered himself, quickly finding the source and covering it. The ghost had been dealt with.

(Y/N) sighed in exhaustion once he did, collapsing against the wall. “Cheers, Lockwood. I owe you.”

"You manage to save me from getting ghost touched.” He replied, chuckling as he willed his heart to return to it’s normal speed . “With a broken arm... while I was trying to save you."

"I'm just that good, Lockwood…. Huh, good, Lockwood. That rhymes."

(Y/N) walked off, going to find the rest of Lockwood’s team. He just shook his head, amused. He never had any idea where (Y/N) mind was. No matter how many times he found her, she kept disappearing on him. It drove him crazy.

***

In that case, however, (Y/N) ended up following them back to 35 Portland Row. Letting Lucy put a proper bandage on her as George and Lockwood locked the source away in the basement.

“You know, it’s never boring working with you lot.” She said to the other girl. “Very fun.”

Lucy chuckled. “I could say the same about you.”

“Touché.”

(Y/N) flinched as Lucy pressed a little too hard. She moved away, immediately apologetic. “Sorry.” She paused. “You are right, though, it is fun. It would be nice to work together more. Lockwood can have his dream of being the best agents in the company, and I could finally have another girl around.”

(Y/N) chuckled, although she couldn’t hide a smile at Lucy’s words. It felt nice to be appreciated. “Maybe you’re right.” Was her response. “Although you certainly sound like Lockwood right now.”

Lucy gave her an expression of fake offence. “The horror.” She said, causing the girls to dissolve into laughter.

Lockwood joined her and Lucy in the sitting room as soon as he was done in the basement. The other girl made an excuse to leave, meaning that (Y/N) and Lockwood were alone together.

She sighed, speaking first. "I know what you're gonna ask, and at this point..."

"At this point you want to know why I still bother?"

Normally she didn’t like to be interrupted. But he was right. She nodded

“You scared me today (Y/N).” Lockwood admitted, sitting down so that he was facing her. “I got that call and I was worried that I'd be attending your funeral this time tomorrow."

That thought had been floating around in her head the last few hours. However, she has too much faith in her own abilities. “That wouldn’t happen."

Lockwood didn’t have nearly the same amount of blind faith in her abilities. He knew she wasn’t immortal. He knew what happened to most agents. "It would. And because we don't work together, I wouldn't even know you were gone until it hit the news. It's not like we have any mutual friends who would tell me. I'd open the newspaper one morning and find out that I'd never hear one of your sarcastic little comments again."

It took (Y/N) a moment to figure out a response for that. Lockwood’s voice had cracked when he said those words, clearly hating the idea. Honestly, she hated that idea too. She had told herself not to get attached, but it might have been too late for that.

But she didn’t want Lockwood to know that. "Yeah, that sounds tragic." Was all she said. Hating her words as soon as she said them.

But Lockwood continued, reaching out to take her hands. "So please stay. If you really need to, you can do some missions solo as a member of the agency. I just want to make sure you come through this house every day. Just think about it, alright?”

It was tempting, so tempting. Part of her wanted to agree just to make him happy.

She didn’t respond, and he just chuckled at her stubbornness. “ In the meanwhile we should probably get you checked out at a DEPRAC hospital, make sure the bone is set properly." He told her, soft concern in his eyes.

The concern nearly made her shiver, and she immediately put her cool facade back on.

"Taking me to the hospital, huh?” Her tone turned flirty. “You know, Lockwood, if you wanted to ask me on a date, you could just say so."

"He paused, and then after a moment, he chuckled. "Alright then. Would you want to go on a date with me?" There was an almost nervous look in his eyes as he waited for her response."

That was unexpected.

"Are you being serious?"

"What? Have I been better at hiding my feelings for you than I thought I had?” Lockwood was full on grinning, at her shock. “Lucy and George have been teasing me about fancying you for ages."

"Is that why you've kept trying to recruit me?" She was trying to make sense of his words. Was he really just as interested in her as she was with him.

"I've been trying to recruit you because you're amazing at what you do, and because it's suicidal to work alone.” He corrected her, not wanting her to double her abilities. “However, enjoying your presence to the extent that I do was certainly a bonus."

"Wow, so charming. I bet that you say this to all your recruits. Did Carlyle and Karim get this same heartfelt confession?"

"No, just you. You're just special."

(Y/N) sighed, leaning back. Her gaze was pinned on Lockwood with the aim of making him nervous.

"If I say yes, to both joining you and going out with you, there will be no backtracking. You hear me? I want honesty and trust from you, I won't be chasing after some boy who is too scared to open up to me or treat me as an equal. I have better things to do."

She needed him to agree to that. She knew she wouldn’t be able to stand any behaviour like that. If she was meant to depend on him, she had to know he would give her the same regard.

Part of (Y/N) expected him to avoid her words. But to her surprise (underestimating just how much he wanted her with him), he nodded. "Why would you even think of chasing after me? I've spent so much time chasing after you that it's practically my natural state at this point." His sentence ended with that charming grin, the one that made her feel like Eve in the garden.

She tried to stay firm, to fight against that grin he gave her. But the idea of living under the same roof as his and his friends, befriending them herself... Of eventually being able to go on that date with the mysterious and charming Lockwood boy... it overrode her desire to need nobody but herself.

"Alright then, darling.” She threw her hands up in defeat, but there was a wide smile on her face. A twinkle in her eyes. “I'm all yours."

Taglist: @dark-academia-slut @silverhart93

[sincerely-sofie]

Dadnoir Musings: The Fanfic

Lord help me I’m back on my nonsense. Finally making this monstrosity public.

Word count: 6,930-ish

Summary: Fragments of Dusknoir’s interactions with and thoughts on Kip and Twig (especially Twig) throughout the events of the game, leading up into the start of The Present is a Gift.

It was meant to be simple. He would travel back through a passage of time alone, the sableye making the journey separately to spread rumors of a renowned explorer before he'd quietly enter the areas that were handfed awe-inspiring stories of his exploits. He'd do a number of good deeds along the way to validate the rumors, and in doing so he would gain the loyalty and aid of an entire population in tracking down the grovyle and human that had gotten dangerously close to securing another time gear before vanishing entirely after their retreat.

He had heard reports of the grovyle being sighted in this time period. It was good news, certainly, to have reliable sources verify one another— but he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had at the reports. They always identified the grovyle, but never the human. Easily the most stand-out member of the trio of rebels— even moreso than the Legend in their ranks— and suddenly the only one unaccounted for. He didn't know much about humans and how hardy they were, but the grovyle’s habit of whirling her out of reach of whatever strikes were sent her way implied a distinct fragility— perhaps she'd been disposed of in the window of time that they'd lost track of the rebels.

He hoped that was the case. Everything would be so much simpler if it was. Still, he instructed the scouts to search more diligently for the human. He wasn't foolish enough to hope for much of anything anymore, and the fact that he found himself clinging to the idea of not having to execute the human himself left him wary.

Something wasn't right.

He entered the lively settlement of Treasure Town with a sense of dread weighing heavy on his shoulders.

***

His cover story gave him a particular level of sway over the local exploration guild. Not only did they eat up every word he said with an unmatched trustingness, they provided access to their outlaw reports and records of suspicious activity. There he was— the troublesome grovyle was reported enough times to give an area he was likely frequenting, but not an indication of his next move or where he'd hide away after brushes with danger. Dusknoir needed to wait and gather more information. The grovyle was rash— it wouldn't be long before he showed his hand.

In the meantime, Dusknoir would continue building Treasure Town’s trust in him.

That didn't prove very difficult. The townsfolk were exceptionally welcoming. They bore no doubt in his cover story. The Guild’s recruits were almost sycophantic in their hero worship, as were their elite, save for a team of two— and even then, the team that seemed wary of him appeared more cautious out of nerves than actual suspicion.

They were a young pair of recruits— much younger than the rest of their peers. Where the other recruits seemed at least well on their way to entering adulthood, these two were evidently the youngest apprentices in guild history. Team Venture was composed of a timid but eager mudkip and an odd charmander who seemed completely flabbergasted by basic social customs.

Kip was endearing in his overzealous enthusiasm— his excitement whenever Dusknoir interacted with him and his partner was palpable, and he introduced himself by name almost immediately upon meeting him. Another indicator of the two’s youth, then— he was so young he didn't quite grasp the finer details of when and where you should give your name. One might find the misstep offensive, but Dusknoir was flattered by the boy considering him such a close friend.

The charmander didn't give him a name. In truth, she didn't give him much of anything— she hung back when Kip and Dusknoir spoke, never really saying anything, just watching him with a confused look like she was trying to remember something long lost to time. She was a studious character— Kip didn't attend many of the workshops the Guild put on, but Charmander arrived early to and left late from every last one.

“She wasn't the one to ask to form a team together— honestly, she kind of rejected the idea at first,” Kip admitted to him while waiting for his partner to return from one such event, “but I think that now she likes exploring even more than I do!”

“Funny how things play out like that,” he replied.

“She's amazing. I'm so lucky to have met her. She's my best friend.”

He watched as the mudkip fidgeted happily with his scarf, a slight blush on his face. Ah. Definitely a bit of lilipuppy love on his end. He couldn't help his chuckle. “And how did you two meet?”

“Oh— um. She was passed out on the beach one day, but I thought she was dead when I found her and I— uh— I screamed so loud she woke up,” he stammered. “It wasn't a very cool way to meet, but I'm glad I got to meet her at all.”

“I'm sure any would react as you did were they to stumble upon a possible corpse.” His brow furrowed. “Why was she passed out on the beach in the first place?”

“She doesn't know. She's got amnesia, if you haven't heard— she doesn't remember anything about herself before waking up on the beach. Well, anything but her name and how she used to be a human.”

“What?”

Kip startled at the sharpness of his tone. “She… she doesn't remember anything but her name, and how she used to be a human? Is everything okay, Dusknoir, sir?”

It couldn't be. This was a coincidence. He hoped desperately that it was a coincidence. If there was a human in the time he had traveled from, then there surely had to be humans in the time preceding it. This was another human, unrelated to the one that had evaded detection for the last year or so. It was a simple coincidence.

Kip watched him nervously.

“Apologies, I… I was simply caught off guard. Humans turning into pokemon is a concept that I thought was only the stuff of fairy tales. That combined with humans having been long extinct makes your story seem a bit peculiar.”

“Oh! Yeah, it does seem strange, doesn't it? I don't know if she's misremembering or not, but she's pretty intent on how she wasn't a charmander before waking up on the beach. She took a while to learn how to walk, though, and she doesn't know how to control fire like a normal charmander— so it makes me feel like she's telling the truth.”

Dusknoir hummed, lost in thought. Kip ran off to greet his partner when she exited the meeting hall for whatever seminar was put on that week, and she caught him in a hug and showed him a stack of notes she'd taken during the seminar. Kip stifled a laugh as he looked over the pages— Charmander demanded he tell her what was so funny, and he meekly explained that her spelling was even worse than her handwriting.

“Dude! Not cool! I didn't even know how to read any of this stuff last year. I'd like to see you write a paper in English after barely getting any time to learn it!”

They wandered off, chattering all the way, leaving Dusknoir to recall the mannerisms of the human who had all but dropped off the face of the planet and recognize their echoes in the child resting her hand over her friend’s shoulders as they walked to the guild dorms.

It was a coincidence. Simply that.

(The thought that the human he'd been trying to… dispatch for so many years was only as old as Charmander sat like a block of ice in his belly.)

***

He tried to get more information on this mysterious recruit, and his efforts to find any background beyond when she first arrived at the Guild yielded nothing. It was as if Charmander never existed before appearing on that beach— no records of her prior residence, birth, or heritage were to be found— no one had ever even known she existed before Kip brought her into town. He wondered if it was a conspiracy between them— that the girl was playing dumb and the boy was lying to cover up what he knew— but couldn't place any stock in the theory. Kip was as guileless as they come, and he had seen Charmander attempt to hide surprises from her partner— she was an atrocious liar. They were genuine in their cluelessness.

He learned more that personified the child than he would have liked while posing faux-idle questions to the townsfolk.

(“That lil’ charmander girl is the sweetest thing. She's got the etiquette sense of an overturned stump, make no mistake, but she means no harm by it, y’hear? Keeps coming by to my storehouse to hide presents for her friends— asked for a second lockbox and everything so her partner wouldn't know she was collecting up his favorite things to give him later on.” The woman laughed. “She loves playing with my little one, too— it's the funniest thing, seeing her try to play with her. It's like she thinks she's made of glass. I keep telling Charmander she can be a bit rougher, but she still treats the girl so gingerly!”)

(“Ah! Charmander, you say? Yes, yes, she's quite the character. Loves wordplay, that one. Sharp mind, if a little dense at times. Always asking about the finer points of merchantry. If she weren't already apprenticed at the Guild, we'd consider taking her on ourselves!” A pause as his brother interjected with his own comment. “Ah! I'd forgotten about that. She's made such a habit of paying for those two’s groceries. She's always so mischievous about it— almost treats it like a prank. Keep in mind she's never told those boys or their mother who keeps paying for their things, and she's sworn us to secrecy about it— you'll not tell a soul either, yes?”)

(“Charmander is… well, she's one of our most promising recruits, alongside her partner. I've had my misgivings— those two have shown their immaturity at the worst of times, to the point of near disaster, mind you! If it weren't for Team Skull, I shudder to think of what would have happened… But they've got good hearts. Charmander started out one of the worst-performing recruits in the Guild’s history, but she's made leaps and bounds of progress. It's easier to look past her age when you see the stacks of pages of notes and research she produces— though it's significantly harder when you see the severity of her spelling! She gave me a paper where she'd listed several questions about expedition protocol, once, and I was appalled by the sight!” A nervous flutter of wings. “Everything she writes is phonetic! Horrifically so! Her handwriting is no better. It's to the point I've debated calling on a tutor to stay at the Guild for a time to provide lessons. I shudder to think of a recruit ever rising to the point she and her partner have with such deplorable writing skills. Should I ever meet her parents, I have strong words to give on the importance of education!”)

It was a coincidence. It had to be. She was a former human who had arrived in town at the same time that the fugitive human had disappeared, but that wasn't enough to be incriminating. He didn't want to think about the alternative. In his questioning the townsfolk, all he learned was how utterly normal this child was— how she had the same quirks and charms as any youth would, despite her constant efforts to seem mature and keep up with her older peers.

She and her partner asked him if he, in all his travels, knew about the cause of her dizzy spells and visions. There it was— the Dimensional Scream, and another nail in Charmander’s coffin.

It had to be a coincidence. If it wasn't, then this child's blood would need to stain his hands if he wanted to continue on himself, and he was starting to doubt how much he wanted to live a life with that fact haunting him.

It would have been easier if it was just death he was facing. He could handle the thought of dying, grim as it was. But he faced no simple looming threat of death, but one of complete and utter erasure from existence— if the grovyle succeeded, it would be as if he never lived in the first place. The same fate would be dealt to Charmander. If the existential terror wasn't enough, Dialga’s visceral descriptions of what erasure felt like were unsettlingly vivid. Dusknoir would simply have to remind himself that an execution would be swifter, less painful— even, in a twisted way, more merciful than what Grovyle was so resolutely seeking.

She wouldn't suffer, and he wouldn't be stricken from all of time and space. It would be a twofold victory, grim as it was— if it ever came to that. He didn't even know if this was the exact same human who could discern Dimensional Screams. All signs pointed to her, but if he refrained from learning anything more, he could claim ignorance. He could leave her in this time and simply dispose of the grovyle, and she would remain as she was, blissfully unaware of her origins.

He just had to stop asking questions. That's all he had to do.

Charmander came up to him one day with a newfound hesitancy in her posture. “Hey, so— I really appreciate you telling me about the Scream a while back. And how you came to help me and Kip when the Manectric Tribe came along, and you scaring off Team Skull, and all that, too.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“I don't really get Pokemon stuff, but I know names are pretty important, like, as a trust thing.”

“That they are.” Don't. I don't want to hear—

“So I figured I could give you mine? As a symbol of, like, gratitude or whatever.”

“There’s no need.” Stop it. Stop it, stop it, stop it, don't tell me anything, I don't want to know—

“Nah, I don't mind.” She smiled widely, puffed out her chest, set her fists on her hips. “It's Twig! Nice to meet you, or whatever you're supposed to say when you… um…” Her prideful posture fell, giving way to concern. “What's with the face? Sorry if I messed that up, I don't really know how things are supposed to— I just thought…”

Of course. Of course he was wrong to hope. When was he ever right to cling to such things? It was her, and he'd known it all along, but he stubbornly refused to accept it.

“I'm sorry, man. You don't have to look so upset.”

“Whatever would give you that idea?”

“You're crossing your arms to hide the fact you're frowning.” She furrowed her brow. “I'm not stupid, Dusknoir.”

You are, though. You're so, so foolish, and you don't even realize it. I could have moved on from here without ever confirming who you were, and you ruined it.

“Apologies,” he murmured tersely. “I'm just a tad overcome. I need a moment.”

“Oh. Yeah, no worries.” She awkwardly reached out and patted the back of his hand as she passed. “I’m gonna go and… I dunno, do some sentry duty. Sorry again if I messed stuff up.”

You should be. You did. Legends and Life, you'll regret this even more than I do when the time comes.

***

It was rather jarring to see the same human that Grovyle had been so determined to keep out of harm’s way laid so low by his own hand. Dusknoir’s appearance at Crystal Cave sent the fugitive packing, and he was left to tend to an injured Team Venture.

Twig shoved his hands away as he assessed the damage. “Don't! Don't, I'm fine— Help Kip! He's— I don't know if he's going to…” Her voice broke, and his heart followed suit at the pitiful sound. “Please. You've got to help him.”

It took a moment to locate the mudkip in question— Twig had evidently been making efforts to lead the fight away from where he had collapsed behind a large stalagmite, unconscious.

He had seen injuries, he had seen gore— but he had never seen so much of them on such a small body.

Twig wasn't overreacting in her fear of whether or not her friend would survive their encounter with Grovyle.

He knew enough first-aid to ensure Kip didn't bleed out in the moment, but lacked the supplies necessary to do much else. Twig was bundling Kip up in her arms before he admitted as much to himself, starting the trek out of the mystery dungeon on shaking legs— and only managed several strides before falling to her knees with a pained groan. She didn't protest when he lifted her into his own arms and resumed the journey with more haste than she could muster in her state— only curled tightly around her partner, to the point that her tail brushed her jaw, promising over and over again that he would be okay.

***

Chimecho received the two recruits and administered the care that Dusknoir was unable to provide, ushering him out of the room so she would have room to work in the cramped Guild infirmary. Left in the silence of the main floor alongside the unsettled guild members who had gathered together when they learned of Team Venture’s state, he found himself standing before the infirmary door, numb. Slowly, the guild members dispersed, the quiet tension in the air left unbroken as they awaited news of their friends’ fates. Chatot remained, noisy in his silence as he alternated between pacing and leafing through paperwork that he never gave more than a few moments of attention at a time. Dusknoir eventually had the sense to seat himself a ways away from the infirmary door and began sifting through the events of the last few hours.

He hadn't pursued Grovyle. He had the opportunity to corner the fugitive— there were a number of dead ends in Crystal Cave, any of which he could have driven him into and had the upper hand in a confrontation where he might capture him— and he didn't take it. He squandered the perfect chance to finally do away with the greatest thorn in his side in favor of assisting another of the trio he'd been tasked with dispatching. He could only hope that Dialga didn't learn of his misstep— there would be hell to pay if he did.

He was pulled from his thoughts by Chatot’s startled squawk as he shot over to the infirmary door when Twig stepped onto the threshold, though not fully through, heavily bandaged and with a pronounced limp. “What are you doing up and about?! You need to remain in the infirmary until you've been given a clean bill of health! I won't have you running about jeopardizing yourself— think of— think of what horrors that would do for the Guild’s image! Get back in there immediately!”

Twig gave him a weary glare. “I'm not going to sit around and watch while Chimecho stitches Kip back into one piece. Move over, man.”

Chatot opened his beak to protest once more, but froze upon glancing over Twig's shoulder— catching an eyeful of Kip’s injuries, judging by the way his feathers flattened against his body in fear. “A-Alright, just this once, then. But sit down! You look faint. I don't want to have you falling and giving yourself a concussion on top of all this!”

“Pretty sure I already have a concussion, Chatot. I also can't sit down unless you let me through the doorway.”

Chatot complied, fretting over her until she laid down on the floor and set her legs up against the wall to combat her supposed faintness that Chatot was so worried about. “Dusknoir, I'm dreadfully sorry, but please keep watch over this recruit for a moment. Chimecho will no doubt need more material for sutures shortly— I must seek supplies in town.” He didn't wait for a response, simply shot up the ladder leading out of the guild in a flurry of wings and panic, leaving Dusknoir and Twig in an vacant chamber.

She closed her eyes, falling so still that she seemed to be asleep. Recalling her mentioning a concussion, he reached over to rouse her— but her sudden words made him freeze with his hand outstretched.

“Chimecho doesn't know if he's gonna make it.”

He couldn't muster a response to that.

“You’ve— you've been around, you know lots of stuff. You've probably seen injuries way worse than those. Kip’s— he's gonna be okay, right?” He watched as she opened her eyes, fixing him with a teary stare as she waited for an answer. “... Right?”

He couldn't look at her. “His injuries are severe,” he finally murmured.

She turned to stare at the ceiling. He did his best to ignore the way her breaths stuttered and hitched, turning into quiet hiccups and whines as she rolled over and shifted to press her back against the wall and cry into her knees. Distantly, he wondered how she managed to cry so quietly, even when every whisper of a sob shook her entire frame with its intensity. He intently avoided pondering what had motivated her to develop such a skill.

It wasn't easy to ignore an injured, distraught child weeping only an arms-length away from him. He found himself unwillingly reminded of the sableye when he first took them in— Twig's situation was different, but the end result was almost the same— a child left adrift and frightened in the face of tragedy. Where the sableye had each other, though, Twig was left to weep without five siblings to answer the slightest whimper with unflinching support. Her partner— her only true friend amongst the Guild, from the sound of things— was on death's door, unable to come to her aid and offer the same words of comfort she had repeated to him as Dusknoir brought the two back to the Guild.

Despite himself, he reached out and set his hand over her back. She stiffened under his palm, and he nearly pulled away, but she caught hold of his thumb on her shoulder and held his hand in place. Her tears continued. He didn't say anything when she curled up tighter and her sobs picked up in volume, too startled by the memory of one of the recruits describing something to him.

(“Twig really doesn't like being touched. Not most times, at least! One time I patted her on the back because she beat my best sentry duty record, and she whirled around and almost took off one of my petals! Like, oh my gosh, I totally freaked! Kip said that she barely lets anyone touch her— you've got to be a real close buddy for her to be okay with it, or else it really freaks her out— but I didn't think it was that bad! Eek!”)

He kept his gaze fixed on the opposite wall and tried not to think about how she felt bonier under his hand than one so young had any right to be.

***

Kip survived, adorned with a number of scars that would remain for all his remaining days as a mudkip. Twig was glued to his side during the days in which he was allowed to exit the infirmary and rest in the dorms, and she became his crutch whenever he struggled to walk about the Guild to build his strength back up after so long being bedridden. The other recruits flocked around the two and made their concern known, offering to help with anything they needed as they recovered.

Kip asked for help checking a particular book out of the Guild library and sending word to Chimecho that the numbing agent was working a bit too well, and that he couldn't feel the fin on his head whatsoever. Twig didn't ask for anything— suddenly every bit as stoney, stern, and stoic as Grovyle had appeared in confrontations once they were separated— and said little over the following days. When one recruit waddled up to her after a workshop with carefully written notes and an apology for how he couldn't write as many pages as she always did on account of how fast the lecturer spoke and how slow his paws were, though, she pulled him into a hug that he meekly returned.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you—”

“Aw, shucks, it's really nothing! Don't mind it at all. I know how much you love those workshops. Me, though, I was lost as soon as the lecturer flipped the first page on her big ol’ chart thingy! You mind explaining how traps form in a mystery dungeon? She kept saying that it was important to know for this workshop, but I didn't go during the one where it was taught.”

She launched into a lecture of her own, more animated than he had seen her since her encounter with Grovyle, and Dusknoir was tempted to applaud the young man for so cleverly distracting her from her wounds.

***

With a trap laid for Grovyle, Dusknoir watched for the right moment to spring it. It didn't take long— the fugitive was gullible and impatient, a dangerous combination of traits that ensured Dusknoir wasn't left waiting for long.

Grovyle was secured— albeit perhaps roughed up a tad more than was totally necessary to capture him— and that meant he had to resolve the other loose end before he departed for his home era.

He called Team Venture forward, out from the back of the crowd where they always lingered. He only had to bring Twig closer, but to summon her alone would raise suspicions at this most critical of moments. She was slow to come up to the front of the crowd and made her way there leaning heavily on her partner when she finally appeared. Evidently, her refusal to rest and recover from her injuries had backfired, leaving her in a worse state than Kip was despite her having the lesser wounds at the beginning.

He only needed her. He could leave Kip behind and have a single child’s death weighing on him for eternity instead of two, if only they would stop clinging to each other for one measly second. He gave a speech describing his gratitude, waiting for the moment when she would shift her weight off of his side and onto her own two feet so he could grab her and be off— and there it was. He seized her in a hand and shot back into the passage of time, realizing too late that Kip was dragged along by her fistful of his scarf.

Great. Of course.

He caught hold of the boy when Twig’s own grip came loose and cursed whatever Legends were watching and no doubt laughing at his luck.

***

He really should have expected Grovyle would have another trick lying in wait before the execution. He'd hoped that Kip and Twig at least would remain unconscious for the act, but Grovyle's hissing and spitting curses his way roused them, and they were pulled along with his escape plan as a result. Dusknoir was going to kill him personally if things continued to sour thanks to him. When they had the three cornered— along with Celebi, even— he found himself possessed by the urge to twist the knife.

It was cruel to reveal Twig’s identity to Grovyle in order to stamp out any bit of resistance in him, but Dusknoir would be lying if he said it didn't give him some awful sense of catharsis to see the horrified guilt in his face— he finally realized just what he'd done by beating a child unconscious and nearly doing the same to a second one in Crystal Cave, and Dusknoir took a certain glee in his regret. Twig’s look of disgust at the reveal only drove the knife deeper. Good. He deserves it. He put out a hand and sent a shadow snaking along the ground, ready to take the wretch out—

— and Twig tackled Grovyle out of the way of the attack, putting herself in the range of the strike. He fumbled, dampening the worst of the blow before it hit her, but she still let out a sharp cry in response. Legends and Life, he would rather put the two youths out of their misery with something quick, but that was made difficult by their insistence to throw themselves in harm's way as living shields for the one target he wanted to suffer.

Fine, then. He reached out to snatch Kip up and snap his neck, but Twig surged into Dusknoir with such force she managed to throw him against a tree and lit a barrier of flame between them and her allies.

She kicked off of him, further dizzying him thanks to her using his eye as her chosen springboard, and landed ready to dash back to her group— but stopped short when she saw the long wall of fire between them.

(He'd never seen her use any sort of attack before that incorporated the flames she could manifest as a charmander— only ever using her fists, teeth, and even fallen branches to strike— and he suddenly recalled how he could count the hours at the Guild by how many times she'd let out a startled yelp when she'd see her own tail. Back then, he thought she'd simply never grown accustomed to an extra limb. It was with a bitter, weary laugh now that he realized she was afraid of fire.)

He reached out, hand outstretched to take her by the throat.

Kip sprang up from the ground that he had tunneled into and headbutted him hard, whirling around to douse the flames and shove his partner forward. “Come on, come on, we've got to get out of—!”

Grovyle snatched the girl up as he sprang for the passage of time, not even sparing her partner a second glance as he leveled Dusknoir with a deadly glare when he passed. Kip was only pulled along by Twig grabbing his scarf and pulling him into her arms as they darted into the passage of time, Celebi swiftly shuttering it and vanishing in a shimmer of air.

Lovely.

***

Grovyle hadn't told Twig what would happen to her if their efforts to restore Temporal Tower succeeded. Of all the things he'd done, this one failure to act was his most repulsive misdeed by far.

She was baffled by Dusknoir's question of whether she truly didn't fear erasure, looking to Grovyle for answers. He stuttered and stammered, resisting her request for the truth at first, and Dusknoir, for all his willingness to see his instructions to kill these two as just business a few seconds ago, concluded that it would be a lovely vacation to throttle Grovyle in particular.

One last attempt to dispatch Twig as kindly as he could was once again foiled— Grovyle passed on the burden of his mission to a child who just learned she was giving up her entire existence to change a future that was uncertain— and he forced Dusknoir into the passage of time.

***

Erasure was less painful than he expected. It was less like being ripped apart by every second he had lived and more like his very soul was slowly being brushed away, like he was falling asleep. Twig had gone through with her part, then. He hoped the event of her disappearance wasn't too frightening for her or Kip.

Dusknoir could feel himself slipping. He could barely summon the words as he asked, “Grovyle… My life… did it shine?”

Grovyle must have been just as exhausted as Dusknoir, but he smiled despite it. His hand shook as he reached out to grip his arm. His voice trembled with effort as he fought to speak. “Extraordinarily.”

It was a pitiful scrap of comfort— meaningless, really. But that simple response, combined with the sun rising behind the collapsed forms of his unlikely allies moved him to tears.

Okay. If this was how he was struck from all of time and space, it was okay. He would be able to accept it.

As dawn broke for the first time in decades gone uncounted, Dusknoir stopped clinging to the world about him, and let himself drift away completely.

***

To return to existence was unexpected. To be given a second chance at life by Dialga himself was even more unexpected. But perhaps most unexpected of all was how much he hated this bright future’s refusal to admit all of the terrors that had taken place on its soil.

Grovyle and Celebi felt similarly. The decision to immigrate to the Present was unanimous, heightened by Grovyle's late realization that if they'd been restored, Twig likely was as well— Celebi couldn't open a passage of time fast enough for his liking once the idea hit him, and he bolted through it the moment it was vaguely safe to traverse.

“… He's certainly eager to move in.”

“Dusknoir, dear, you know full well he's not leaping at the opportunity to pick out wallpaper.” She turned to the passage, face pensive. “It's been so long since I've seen them in this timeline… I'm almost afraid. How do I look? Are my antennae straight? Are my wings as dazzling as ever?”

He gave her a flat stare.

“You have no appreciation for beauty! Hmph!” She feigned anger for only a moment before glancing back at him, worried. “If you'd like a moment, Dusknoir, you can wait here and prepare yourself. I know you didn't part on the best of terms with our two little explorers.”

“I doubt they're very little anymore.”

“You're right! Oh my goodness, they must be full-grown by now… I'm going through, dear, but you come on out only when you're ready.”

He waited for a feeling of readiness to overtake him.

It never did.

All he could do was take a breath and enter the passage.

He was greeted by sunlight, dappled shadows, treetop canopies rustling overhead, and Twig's startled command for Kip to get behind her.

She was barely any taller, covered in scars he didn't remember her wearing when they last parted ways, and she had her fists balled up in front of her and ready to lash out the second he approached. Grovyle stepped forward and tried to explain, and her look of frightened fury gave way to confusion, then frustration.

“There's— No way. There's no way he did any of that. He's just trying to get our guards down again.” She cast a vicious glare his way. “What, was Primal Dialga a cover? Were you really working with Darkrai all along? Too bad, we beat your real boss months ago! Get out of here before I—”

Kip stepped forward, brushing aside his partner's threats with a smile. His words were sincere and simple. “I knew you were too nice to be faking it. All the times in Treasure Town, Amp Plains, Crystal Cave— I told you, Twig. C’mon, you owe me five-hundred poké!”

She sputtered for a moment as he simply held out a paw expectantly. She reached into her bag and begrudgingly slid a large coin into his waiting palm. He gave her a smug smile as Dusknoir looked between them.

“Do you two often bet on the intentions of those you meet?” He asked, unsettled by the well-practiced exchange.

“It’s a joke. Mostly. And we don't do it too much,” Kip answered.

He was scared to hear the answer he was certain he already knew. “And what started this routine between you?”

To his surprise, they didn't respond by pointing to him. Twig crossed her arms and murmured, surprisingly hesitant, “We got… um. Don't know if there's a specific word for it in Pokéspeak, but we thought we were talking to Cresselia, and it turned out it was very much not Cresselia that we were talking to. We started up the joke to deal with that.”

“A Cresselia that wasn't Cresselia— who would impersonate a Legend?”

Twig gave him a once-over, her suspiciousness giving way to exhaustion. “You know that Darkrai dude I mentioned a bit ago?”

The explanation that followed wasn't as horrifying as the manner in which it was told. Kip admitted his fears as he explained their subsequent clash with a Legend who masterminded Dialga's decay, but Twig dismissed hers. The blatant attempt to put on a brave face and minimize her own anxieties— anxieties which still clearly affected her, judging by the way she avoided eye contact and her tail’s flame fizzled and hissed while burning an anxious magenta— brought to mind a memory he'd almost forgotten.

(A bloody child shakily shoving helping hands aside, sobbing for him to ignore her wounds and tend to her partner. A refusal of aid in favor of assisting another.)

His hands curled into fists, and he looked away. Twig tensed and took a half-step closer to Kip, and the sight killed him.

***

Kip offered their motley trio a place in his and Twig's home as they searched for more permanent lodgings. They accepted, much to Twig's poorly hidden chagrin.

Everyone else had retired for the night— curled up in makeshift beds pulled haphazardly together out of blankets and pitiful amounts of straw insufficient for any real mattress. Grovyle snored loudly, sleeping deeply for perhaps the first time Dusknoir had ever been around to see, and Celebi had tucked herself tidily into her bed, breaths whistling lightly as she rested. Kip was doing the same a short distance away. Twig, meanwhile, sat at a table across the room, pretending to look over papers she must have read ten times each by now, glaring up at him every time she leafed through the stack anew.

The implication that she didn't trust him around her unconscious friends and had taken up watch to protect them wasn't lost on him.

She did this for multiple nights. She'd reached the point that she was nodding off in the daytime, exhausted by her nightly vigils, but she still kept them up. He had attempted to fake sleeping earlier in the night so she'd allow herself rest, but she remained awake even then— and so he swiftly gave up the ruse in favor of his typical pattern of sleep. Each evening, she'd take up her post at the table and start skimming papers with feigned interest, keeping an eye on his every move and tensing whenever he so much as twitched.

He deserved each terrified glower she gave him. His knowledge of his guilt didn't make it any easier to see one so young carrying the world on her shoulders.

She was grown now— likely nearing an evolution, if the reddish scales now dotting her skin meant anything— but she still had the eyes of a haunted child when the nights were long and her watch over her friends wore on her.

She finally slipped up one evening, her head settled on folded arms over the table’s surface, eyelids drifting closed until her breathing finally evened out and she fell asleep. He sighed with relief, but the reassurance that she'd finally get some rest was short-lived.

She flinched in her sleep, murmuring fearfully, fingers twitching against the tabletop she'd slumped over.

Uncertain of what to do, but called to help all the same, he rose and pulled a blanket from the meager sheets comprising her empty bed. She relaxed when he draped it over her, her hands no longer balling into fists and her tail’s flame glowing a warm, peaceful white instead of flickering between aggressive violets and panicked magentas.

She looked smaller as she slept— as if in her slumber she forgot to puff herself up and pretend she was self-assured and confident. She looked like a recruit too young to keep up with her older peers and too naive to understand the danger she threw herself readily into.

She looked like a child.

She looked like a child, but she'd never had the chance to truly be one. Between running for her life in the Dark Future, to taking on a schooling far too intensive for those her age, to waging battles with Legends and shouldering whatever trauma she'd garnered from all of it— she'd never been allowed such an opportunity.

(He was part of that. He was part of the reasons she'd never been able to grow up as a child should. He'd been part of the wretched selection of foes who robbed her of her youth.)

Dusknoir tugged the blanket higher around the girl's shoulders. She sighed a cozy, content sound, and he left for a late night walk.

He didn't mention the blanket come morning. She left it unspoken as well.

(She took a glance at her post the next evening and turned away, electing to sprawl out in her bed and snore almost loud enough to put Grovyle to shame.)

(It was a simple thing. Meaningless, really, and no great signifier of any faith that had been rebuilt. But it moved him near to tears regardless as she dropped off to sleep before any of the rest of them. She trusted them all to keep her safe and be safe in turn— and he was encircled in that trust.)

(It wasn't the unwavering faith of a child, but it was something, and it was something that meant the world.)

[guardian-of-fandoms]

"Do you have any idea what he might be after?"

"Cole" leaned against the back wall, absently rubbing his cybernetic.

"No idea. Aside from targeting you, I can't think of what his plan could be."

The team idled outside the lab, trying to come up with a plan.

Charlie paced, trying to dwell on what he knew about the situation.

"Different dimension or not, Morocco is a dangerous man... He knows how to adapt to his situation."

"But how do you know he's actually here for us?"

Kade stood beside Heatwave, suspicion still clouding his mind.

"Look, you still haven't told us how you even got here! Maybe we'd have a better time with a plan if you actually helped us out!"

"Actually, that is a fair point.."

Chase nodded, slowly asking,

"Cole, how DID you get here?"

Cole tensed, his eyes drifting to the floor.

".... I... I don't know...."

He pulled away from the wall, absently pacing around.

"I'd spent weeks tracking him down. I knew from his pattern of gathering supplies, he was up to something. But by the time I found him, it was too late, his plan was in motion."

He gripped his arm, his eyes squeezing shut with a grimace.

".... Just as I intercepted him, he triggered something. Just as I lunged at him, some kind of portal opened up... And I accidentally pushed us both through. Next thing I know, I was in in your lab... But it wasn't the the lab I knew."

"Do you have any ideas as to how this portal was triggered?"

"I'm not sure... The only thing i can think of is his power source."

Doc nodded, asking,

"Can you describe this power source?"

".... I don't know what it is. The Greenes of my world never could identify it. All we know, is that it has insane power, but it's effects can be wildly unpredictable. It looks like some type of purple gemstone, he kept a piece of it on him at all times, in his cane."

"... wait..."

Boulder suddenly remembered something.

"... A purple gemstone... why does that sound familiar... WAIT!"

Graham perked up, pointing over at Boulder as they shouted in unison,

"THE TIME MACHINE!"

"Time machine?"

Cole looked confused, and Charlie explained,

"The Doctor Morocco of this world has a fascination with Time Travel, we've had a few incidents."

Doc's eyes went wide as he nodded, all the pieces falling into place.

"Yes... And he's used a similar unidentified purple crystal as a power source, just like the one you describe!"

The science trio exchanged a look, everything clicking.

"In this universe, the power source has the ability to open temporal barriers-"

"But we know that Cole's universe has differences from ours, as evidenced by the Rescue Boy predicament never occurring in his reality-"

"So if the crystal in our universe allows our morocco to toy with Time Travel-"

Cole finished the thought, realization settling in.

"Then the crystal from my universe doesn't have TEMPORAL properties, it has Dimensional properties!"

Doc Greene nodded furiously, practically shouting,

"Both crystals can warp the fabric of reality, but on a different spectrum!"

"Hold on!"

Kade threw out his hands, staring at cole.

"One of the first things you said to us was bringing up the time machine, and now you have no idea what it is?"

"There was literally a sign in front of it that said, "Time Machine, DO NOT USE". My Doc Greene puts radiation stickers on his lunchbox, I wasn't sure if it was an ACTUAL Time Machine!"

Charlie shot a glance at Doc, raising an eyebrow.

"... You labled the time machine?"

Doc coughed awkwardly.

"I.. May have done so... And i shall remove that sign at a later time..."

Charlie sighed, and Kade rolled his eyes, but kept his stare trained on Cole.

"Got any other bombs you wanna drop on us?"

Cole returned his icy stare.

"All that matters now is destroying that madman once and for all."

"Yeah, because you've done a great job of that so far."

"How.... DARE YOU?!"

Everyone tensed as Cole's arm started crackling and sparking with electricity.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I'VE SACRIFICED!?!? WHAT I'VE LOST?!?! I'VE DEVOTED MY LIFE TO TEARING HIM APART, AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO STAND HERE AND JUDGE?!?"

Kade watched the sparks, but kept his composure.

"That's just it. I don't know. So either you can tell me why you've been on the rampage, or we can keep being a couple of Hotheads, stuck at each other's throats, and get nothing done. Your choice."

"My choice?"

"Kade..."

Charlie carefully approached, his hands outstretched.

"Listen.... We all just need to calm down... if we just-"

"No..."

Cole's head dropped, before a dark, bitter laugh barked out.

"I thought it was better for none of you to know... But since you insist... Fine..."

Cole's arm started trembling, and as he looked up, a golden glow overtook his eyes.

"Nine years ago... You all died. Your counterparts- MY FAMILY-... You're all gone. Murdered by HIM. My Morocco used- .... He lured you all into a trap. He'd rigged the stature in town square with a high grade explosive... Thermal activated, and rigged with EMP pulses to paralyze the bots. You... You didn't even know what hit you..."

Dead silence engulfed the team.

Cole's arm trembled, sparks crackling and escaping him, his chest heaving as a hot, burning tear escaped his eye.

"... Heatwave and I were the only survivors.... I... I lost so much... I lost you... Once i realized what'd happened... i vowed, not to let that... that monster... destroy another family...."

He turned, unable to face them.

"... I couldn't let your Cody lose you the way I did. I... couldn't... lose you again..."

Frozen horror rang throughout the team, Charlie pressing his hands over his mouth, Dani's face frozen in a numb gasp, Graham's hands absently fidgeting together.

Blades, Chase, and Boulder all exchanged a look, then carefully turned their gaze to Heatwave.

Heatwave could only stare blankly out, a numbness in his spark.

But Kade hissed out a slow breath.

Being right wasn't always rewarding.

"... Hey... I'm.. I'm sorry-"

"Why?"

Cole's response was short, pain in his voice as he turned to face Kade, his eyes burning.

"You got what you wanted, didn't you? You wanted answers, you got answers. You wanted to know who I am, you know, you wanted to know why i'm here, you know."

He took heavy steps forward, jabbing a robotic finger at Kade's chest.

Kade stared at the dampness in his eyes, illuminated by the golden glow.

"But you will never know what I had to do to survive. You want to give me a choice?! That MONSTER took my choice away from, more than you'll ever know.... What I had to learn, who I had to become, you'd never get it through your thick skull. So look me in the eye. Look me DEAD in my eyes, and tell me I wasn't enough. Tell me i couldn't save you."

His hand moved, gripping Kade's shoulder in a death grip.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me it should've been me."

Kade stuttered. struggling to form his words coherently.

Slowly, the robotic arm released.

Without a word, "Cole" pulled away, slowly disappearing behind the lab.

Everyone stood stunned into silence, silently trading glances with each other.

Looks like all their questions had been answered...

-

"Idiot... what were you thinking... You never should've told them..."

"Cole" buried his head in his hands, his breaths sharp, a deep pain shooting through his chest.

He couldn't fight the tears dripping down his face, nor the electricity crackling around his arm.

... He'd scarified everything, in the name of avenging his family.

He'd burned bridges he could never repair.

He'd pushed away what few people he had left.

The nights spent obsessively stalking the streets, practically begging for any sign of trouble, if only to distract his own thoughts.

And yet... He had nothing to show for it.

Through years of anger and blood,

The monster had escaped him again and again, living another day to taunt him.

Another day to torture him over his greatest mistake.

Another day to remind him of what he'd done.

He gasped, trying to tune out the darkness in his brain.

"Don't think about the static... Don't think about the static..."

The static that had plagued his nightmares came out now, the white fuzz rattling around his brain seemed to swallow him, his pain echoing louder and louder.

It should've been him.

No-one else should've died for his mistake.

"Col- .... Cody."

He felt himself tense, seeing Kade slowly approach from around the corner.

He tried to stop the sparks, hastily wiping his eyes as he snarled,

"What do you want?"

Kade sighed, coming up beside him.

"... I deserve that."

The visitor blinked in surprise, as Kade awkwardly rubbed his neck.

".... Look... I haven't been... great..."

The visitor snorted bitterly.

"You think?"

Kade rolled his eyes.

"Listen, Hotshot. I just..."

He sighed, and after a moment's hesitation, the guest slowly motioned to the ground beside him.

Kade plopped down, rubbing his brow.

"You... dropped something, back in the woods."

Kade pulled the comn out of his pocket, and the guest gasped, snatching it back and cradling it protectively in his hands.

"You've had this the whole time?!"

"I know, i know. But... I... I don't know... I..."

The guest clicked it open, staring tenderly at the photo inside.

".... My Kade and I... We didn't always get along. I was mad at him, for... well..."

"Being a bonehead?"

Kade smirked, and the guest sighed, a small, bitter smile on his face as he chuckled.

"Yeah.... But.... I miss him.. I miss you all...."

They fell quiet, before Kade slowly looked over.

".... I didn't want to believe you were Cody, because..."

"You didn't want to think that your brother could turn into somebody like me."

".... No, I didn't..."

Kade sighed, glancing over at the photo.

"... He's so... Innocent."

"Innocent, or Naive?"

He closed the Comn, feeling the ebb of pain.

"When I saw him, your brother... There was something... Pure, in his eyes. It was... like looking in a mirror. I was him, once.... So... so long ago..."

"Do you wish you could go back, be like him again?"

He went quiet, and slowly reach out his cybernetic, staring at the gold glow, before closing the palm into a fist.

"... I don't think I could. I... I can never be that kid again..."

"Do you think my Cody should stay that kid? Or do you want him to become more like you?"

"No, No.... I hope he never becomes like me... I wouldn't wish that upon anyone..."

He was quiet, then met Kade's eyes.

"... People tried to encourage me, after it happened. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger", stuff like that. But... I wasn't stronger. I wasn't stronger at all. How would something like that possibly make anybody stronger? No.... Tragedy doesn't make anybody stronger... I had to rebuild myself, from the ground up. Mentally.... and physically..."

Kade couldn't help the glance over at the cybernetic, as the visitor finished,

"No... What didn't kill me didn't make me stronger... I made myself stronger... Because i couldn't let this happen again."

Kade mused on that, and thought of his own Cody, blissfully unaware of any of this.

"... I know the whole point of the multiverse is differences, each world is different from each other, that's kinda the whole point here. But..."

"You're wondering if your brother could go through something similar.... or worse."

"... Yeah..."

He leaned back, staring at the setting sun, the golden flares of daylight's passing.

"Who's to say... Reality is a fickle thing. The Cody of this world might be fated to become like me, or he could have a happier fate, neither of us can really know. But I promise... I won't let Morocco decide his fate for him. Not... Not like me...."

He touched Kade's shoulder, this time with his flesh hand, his grip much softer.

".... My Kade and I, we didn't get along often. And... I never got a chance to get on better terms with him. But.... His last act... He shielded me... He threw himself on top of me... I think that's the only reason I survived... I've spent nine years wanting to thank him... wanting to apologize... Apologize to all of you.... And then, I saw you. I saw all of you. But i knew... You weren't mine. I wasn't yours. And... It hurt. It really, really hurt... So it was easier to stay guarded. I was almost GLAD you didn't trust me. Because i knew i couldn't get close. But I could at least protect you. With you hating me every step of the way, I could protect you."

Kade let his words sink in, before grabbing the alternate's hand.

"... I don't know what your Kade was like... But I can't imagine a universe where I wouldn't have forgiven you, Cody."

Cody's eyes widened, a soft gasp escaping him.

Kade nodded, adding,

"... Let's try again, okay? We'll help you stop your Morocco, get justice for your Family. But... What would you have to apologize for? It's not like... what happened was your fault."

His breath tensed, something in his face shifting.

Kade could swear he almost saw.....

Guilt....

The alternate Cody pulled away, his face turning pained as his hand started to tremble, jerking away from Kade.

".... I'm.... glad, we can start over.... But... We need to focus. We... need to plan our next move."

".... Yeah, sure. Let's... go see Doc and the others, okay?"

"Good... Good..."

He glanced back at Kade with a smile, but his eyes gave him away.

"I... I'm glad we talked.... Thank you, Kade. You're not mine, but... You're a lot like him.... I missed you."

He walked off around the corner, and Kade hesitated, something sitting wrong....

Why had he reacted so strangely, to forgiveness?

And while he didn't doubt the story, one small detail had stuck out instantly.

.... They wouldn't have sent Cody out into the field.

He should've been in the command center.

There's no way the rescue team of his world would've allowed him to tag along on a suspicious, potentially dangerous setup.

Cody had the habit of popping up at emergencies, but even if he was there, they'd never have let him get so close....

But if this was a planned attack....

Despite the progress made, Kade frowned.

He gazed at the sky, now twinged with the dark blues of night.

Something wasn't adding up.

Something wasn't right.

He just wasn't sure what....

-

"Boulder, I believe you're familiar with Occam's Razor?"

Boulder nodded to Doc Greene, As the team huddled around a table dragged outside, staring down at the frozen image of the Alternate Morocco.

Doc Greene stared down at the image, the gears in his brain turning furiously.

"In theory, perhaps a simpler solution may benefit us. A highly concentrated EMP pulse may disable him long enough to permanently dismantle him."

"But there's one thing I don't understand."

Cody paced around, Heatwave stepping aside as he absently paced a circle around the team.

"Earlier, I unleashed EVERYTHING i had at him. Hell, I still haven't recovered all the power i used, but... He wasn't destroyed. The explosive i slapped on him certainly did some damage, but it was like my power did nothing."

"Wait..."

Graham's eyes went wide, remembering something.

"Bio-electricity, you hit him with your Bio-electricity.... You said your Morocco still has biological components!!"

"Mostly just a brain in a can, but... yeah?"

Dani gasped, realizing where this was going.

"You said that power source was unpredicable, just like the one from this universe, right? Your blast didn't fry him, he absorbed it!!"

Cody slapped his forehead with his palm, groaning.

"GAH, WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?!?!"

Doc nodded, capping things off.

"Brilliant deductions!! His biological components combined with the power source must've allowed him to absorb the surplus in power! I'm afraid that rather than overwhelm him..."

"I powered him up."

Cody could only glower, and Doc gazed at him sympathetically, before turning back to the table.

"While that is an unfortunate turn, there's hope yet. Now... You are experienced in draining mass amounts of power, correct?"

He nodded, seeing where this was going.

"I get it... If I can take back my energy from him-"

"That could provide us the perfect opportunity to hit him with a mass EMP, disabling him for good."

Doc Greene motioned to the team, pulling a large case out from under the table.

"This has been in development for quite some time, I was merely waiting for the right moment to preform a field test...."

Doc opened the case, revealing a ovular, silver and orange disk.

"This, essentially, is an EMP on par with that of Griffin Crest. I must admit, I took inspiration from the device Evan and Myles used some time ago, albeit much more centralized."

He turned it over, showing a flat surface.

"By coincidence, it happens to operate much like our guest's EMPs, It's magnetic locked, and only effects the direct target, But it operates on a far stronger scale. This could be our best chance, in theory."

Cody finished his lap around the team, slowly walking over to the table.

There was suddenly a ding from Doc's tablet, and he quickly grabbed it, gasping.

"I have a lead on the Alternate Morocco's wherabouts!"

Kade didn't like the blank look in Cody's eyes as he locked onto the devices.

".... Really? This... This could be my chance at stopping him?"

"Indeed."

Charlie nodded, addressing the team,

"You heard him, team. Looks like we have our plan."

Cody's eyes suddenly dropped.

"... Did I say you were coming?"

A chill engulfed the air, a beat of silence stunning everyone.

"... What?"

He sighed, smiling sadly as he reached into his pocket.

".... I'm sorry...."

there was a flash of gold, and thick grey Smoke suddenly billowed into the air, the hacking coughs of the humans barely concealing the click of the visitor's freshly repaired helmet pulling up over his face, the clank of metal hitting the ground, and the snap of electricity.

"CODY!!!"

Kade charged forward as the smoke died away, only to smack face first into a glowing barrier.

"WHAT THE-"

"Energy barrier. Designed by my Doc Greene."

The team stared at the pulsing walls surrounding them, seemingly produced by a series of black metal boxes thrown around where they'd all been huddled up.

Kade pounded on the barrier, his face twisted.

"WHAT ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF YOU SAID?!"

The Alternate Cody held Doc's tablet and case, his face twinged with pain, but a darkness fell across his eyes.

"... I also said I wouldn't let you die again. I'm sorry, really. But... This is the way it has to be. For your own good."

Blades, Boulder, and Chase pounded on the barriers, the top sealing just above their heads, the team sharing frantic looks between them as the situation registered.

Cody sighed, a burning sensation from his soul as he held out his hoverboard, the wings extending.

But just as he turned, one voice made his blood run cold.

"... Forgetting somebody?"

Heatwave stood, inches from the outside of the barrier.

Cody's hart sank like a stone.

Heatwave took a delicate step forward, his face tense as he raised his arms.

"No sudden moves. Let's just talk this out."

Cody's breath was tight, his arm glowing.

"No.... no no no no anybody but you..."

Heatwave felt his spark skip a beat.

"You couldn't attack me earlier. You said I survived in your world, is that why?"

".... You took care of me... after everyone was gone, while you were still grieving, while you were still healing, you took care of me."

"Right, right..."

Heatwave tried to think of a plan, but his spark ached at the pain in this Cody's eyes.

"You know I would do anything for you, kid... So, you don't have to do this. Let them out, and we can get justice for your family, as a team."

Kade rammed his shoulder against the barrier, shouting,

"DON'T DO THIS, HE'LL KILL YOU IF YOU GO ALONE, PLEASE!"

Cody slowly dug a hand into his pocket, his eyes squeezing shut as a shuddering breath escaped him, a hot, wet tear trailing down his face.

".... The only one who should've died that day was me. Now... I have to make things right. No matter the cost. So if i die... Then at least... I'll have paid for my failures."

With tears streaming down his face, his arm illuminated the darkened area, and he pulled a familiar black cube.

"CODY WAIT-"

But it was too late.

With a flash of gold, the box attached to Heatwave's chest, a gasp escaping him as he froze in place.

Cody gasped, his helmet falling open as he wiped and scrubbed at his eyes, his breath gasping and high.

"... I'm sorry.. I'm so... so sorry... But I have to..."

His helmet folded close once more, and he sharply turned away, his chest still shuddering as he threw the hoverboard to the ground.

"...I'm sorry..."

Smoke engulfed the area once more, and he was gone.

-

"I can't believe you lost it!"

"I said I was sorry!!!"

"Don't go too far, now!"

Cody and Frankie trudged through the winding foliage, the latter calling back at their teacher,

"We won't!"

Cody's flashlight beams danced through the dark trees, scanning for the missing frizbee.

"It can't have gone too far... You don't think it got stuck in a tree, did you?"

"Hmm... judging from the angle you threw it at, I don't think so. It can't have gone too far. But if we don't find it, you're getting me a new one."

"Yeah, heh, that's fair."

Cody wandered off from Frankie, a bit nervous from the dark, but feeling brave from his light.

"You see anything?"

"No, nothing here..."

Cody wound behind a couple trees, before seeing the beams of his light catch the shine of green plastic.

"Bingo!"

He dropped to the ground, finding it half buried under a large bush.

"Frankie, I got it!"

He stood back up, waving his prize triumphantly, but paused.

He couldn't see the beam from Frankie's flashlight anywhere.

".... Frankie?"

A bad feeling crept up on him, the frizbee falling from his hand as he spun a circle.

"Frankie, if this is a prank it isn't funny.... Frankie?"

The snap of a twig caught his attention, and he gasped, before sighing in relief, seeing Frankie standing a few feet away, her back turned to him.

"Frankie, there you are! Don't do that, you scared me!"

Frankie didn't respond.

He glanced down at her hands, noticing her flashlight was gone, her hand instead closed around something smaller.

".... Frankie?"

He didn't even notice the looming figure behind him, the red glow from the narrowed eyes peircing through the darkness.

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond! Scripting: The Ring Racers

During Tails of Trials, after the search for the SRB2 statue slipped up a bit, the Blur Gang and SRB2 Sonic's team were called over to Robotnik's base over at Sunbeam Paradise, where Tails was at.

SRB2 Sonic: Yo, Tails!

SRB2 Tails: Hey, Sonic! Glad you could make it!

OMT!Tails: So, what did you call us here for?

SRB2 Tails: Me and Robotnik had been working together on some new, more harmless tech that we feel could be of use to help stop this "EggOmega" creep. Right this way, everyone!

They followed Tails through to a room with a circular platform.

Mr. Needlemouse: Boy, it sure is dark in 'ere. Any of ya got a light we can use?

SRB2 Robotnik: Oh, heck. So sorry about that. Just... gather around, please, and we'll show you part of the tech in action.

The team did so as the central chamber lit up, revealing a huge chamber in the centre with a flashing ring inside.

OMT!Mina: So, what's this here?

SRB2 Robotnik: This, my friends, is the one and only High Voltage Ring! Me and Prower managed to make this as a marvel of our combined mindpower! This is where our work began, within this very laboratory. The power of 80,000 rings compressed into a single focal point! That said, it is still far from perfect...

CU!Sonic: It does seem like you're both doing great with creating something like this! Never thought I'd see the day where more than one Tails and Robotnik would be working together on harmless tech.

SRB2 Tails: And naturally, our progress has been amazing! The world really needs our work here.

SRB2 Amy: This is truly amazing work, guys! Well done!

SRB2 Sonic: Heh, yeah! Way to go, buddy!

SRB2 Robotnik: And, for once, I could use a power source that doesn't rely on uncooperative ancient forces.

Trip: Well, I'm sure they might not really understand your genius all that much, right?

SRB2 Robotnik: Haha... Very funny...

Antho: So, what's this whole shebang meant to power? An eco-friendly source for cities?

SRB2 Fang: A casino with the finest riches money can buy?

Mr. Needlemouse: A factory that produces chilli dogs and hammers that always fit in your pocket?

SRB2 Robotnik: Nope, none of those.

SRB2 Tails: Over the past couple of weeks, me and Robotnik have been working on some technology that could do wonders in the future, known as... the Ring Racers!

OMT!Tails: That sounds awesome! Do you have anything you can show us?

SRB2 Robotnik: You know, I may very well do. Let's go get a couple to show them, Tails.

SRB2 Tails: Alright, then!

They headed into another room.

D-Sides Mighty: So... Where'd the kids get to?

CR!Sonic: They went on ahead of us to another dimension to track down one of the statues in our steed. The place is kinda like... a schoolhouse?

CU!Sonic: Ah, that school endeavour, right? I kinda remember that.

OMT!Mina: So, what do you think those two have been developing under that "Ring Racers" name?

OMT!Tails: Gotta be something related to vehicles.

BK!Amy: Yeah, that should be the long and short of it.

The duo came out with a pair of (seemingly) regular go-karts as Mr. NM and SRB2 Fang were baffled.

Mr. Needlemouse and SRB2 Fang (unknowingly in unison): Go-karts?! Seriously?!

SRB2 Knuckles: Is this seriously the best thing you could think of after the Black Rock incident, Robotnik?

SRB2 Robotnik: Ah, these are no ordinary go-karts! You see, these babies are powered by the many rings you can find across dimensions, and with this ring power, they can get up to tremendous speeds!

CR!Sonic: Lemme guess; they're still slower than our running?

SRB2 Robotnik: Cocky as ever, I see. That said, these Ring Racers are capable of wielding different items that you can use to your advantage, either in races or when you're facing other enemies. Speaking of, there's something me and Tails really need at least one of you to go and investigate.

SRB2 Tails: There's a location over at Espresso Lane that's concealed away from a planned race track, and there's some kind of nasty activity going on over there. We tried looking into it, but the way to reach that area is a little... complicated, to say the least.

OMT!Mina: Sounds like we've got some work on our hands.

Antho: Where do we go?

SRB2 Robotnik: There's a teleporter back through in the other room that will take you straight there, though trying to get inside is a feat in itself. Here! One of you's gonna need this sheet for the exact specifications.

He passed them a sheet with some instructions to follow on just how to reach the closed-off location.

OMT!Tails: Man, this really does look complicated.

Ex-Prince Brian: No kidding there.

SRB2 Robotnik: Whatever's there might just be housing this statue you're trying to hunt down.

OMT!Tails: So who's gonna go and investigate it?

Antho: Leave this one to me and Trip, kid!

Trip: M-Me?

Antho: Yeah! Your wall-rolling could really come in handy for getting us up there.

Trip: Heh, fair point.

Nine: I'll guide them to the teleporter. I saw another one as we were coming into the place.

SRB2 Robotnik: Very well, then! As for the rest of you lot, it might be worth getting in some practice with the Ring Racers just in case you need them later.

OMT!Tails: Can't yet guarantee it, but sure!

SRB2 Robotnik: Excellent! The start of the training course is just down this hallway. Besides, we haven't yet nailed down what locations we should start advertising the Ring Racer tournaments at yet, but the vehicles should be all good to go.

Mr. Needlemouse: Still don't get the point of drivin' around in go-karts. We could just run wherever.

SRB2 Robotnik: ...Or you can feel that way, I guess. Well, no time to waste! Let's get started!

The group outside of Antho and Trip headed onwards.

SRB2 Tails: Is it me, or was one of them my own OC come to life?

SRB2 Robotnik: That's alternate dimensions for you, kid.

SRB2 Sonic: Yep. Crossovers happen so often here that I'm pretty much used to it. Well, let's see what these karts are capable of!

SRB2 Amy: Let's do it to it!

They entered the virtual training course where the crew got into their respective karts.

SRB2 Robotnik: Oh! Before you get started, there's some special spray cans you should look at.

Ex-Prince Brian: Seriously? You didn't invent spray cans. No Dr. Robotnik in the universe has ever done that.

SRB2 Robotnik: Oh, you are mistaken, lemonade hedgehog! You haven't heard about these Spray Cans!

Ex-Prince Brian: >:(

SRB2 Robotnik: These are miniature factories, each one a renewable supply of a nontoxic chemical that can cleanly adhere to any surface! When you have these on hand before actual races, you can safely dye your fur AND redeco your vehicle with the same spray can! Well, you know, considering we've been enemies this long in different dimensions, I've been left curious... What is each of your favourite colours?

He presented several for the group to look at.

OMT!Tails: Hmm... I'll go with green!

SRB2 Robotnik: Green? Really? Surely you've had enough of green and hills to last you a lifetime?

OMT!Tails: Well, what can I say, doc? I'm not the one with the job title of "rain forest ravager".

SRB2 Robotnik (mumbling): I swear, you nature lovers would kiss a plant if you could get away with it.

Nitro (whispering to Brian): Should we tell him?

Ex-Prince Brian (whispering back): Nah, let's let it slide here.

SRB2 Robotnik: What are you two babbling about?

Nitro: Eh, nothing.

SRB2 Robotnik: Anyways, next one!

CR!Sonic: I'm gonna go with the blue! Can't beat the classics!

SRB2 Robotnik: Oh, your fur colour? I thought you'd maybe go with something a little different.

CR!Sonic (smirking): Well, if this works like you say it does, I could always make YOU look like ME.

SRB2 Robotnik: And brandish the shade of my original biggest enemy?! Not likely.

Nitro: Hmm... I'll opt for purple!

SRB2 Robotnik: Purple, purple... Where have I seen you use that shade of purple before, Tails?

SRB2 Tails: The SS Tornado-EX, silly! You know, I don't think Blaze knows about our team-up yet.

SRB2 Sonic: Yeah. She'll probably understand, though... I really wish you hadn't gone to those measures back then, Eggy.

SRB2 Robotnik: If I had been nicer, you wouldn't've even MET Blaze at all!

OMT!Mina took note of one in a Platinum colour.

OMT!Mina: Hmm... I'm gonna go for this one!

SRB2 Robotnik (baffled): Hey, hold on. The Platinum one isn't supposed to be amongst those colours!

OMT!Mina: Nah, I like it! If it's meant to be a system error, then your systems are handling it quite well!

BK!Amy: And I'll go with violet!

SRB2 Robotnik: Ah, the fine hue of megamalatricarbo-sonichloride!

BK!Amy: Ew, yuck. No, it reminds me of the flowers I used to smell over at Little Planet!

EX!Alice picked up the white can.

SRB2 Robotnik: Oh, so you like the snow, eh? Maybe you'd enjoy visiting my hand-crafted biome; Robotnik Winter.

EX!Alice: Eh, no thanks. I prefer my white un-irradiated.

CU!Sonic picked up the pink can, looking longingly at it, which Robotnik took notice of.

SRB2 Robotnik: Something on your mind, Sonic?

CU!Sonic: Just thinking about the memories me and my wife used to share before...

SRB2 Robotnik: Right. Yes, of course. My condolences, Sonic.

Soon, everyone had picked out their colours of choice and decorated their karts.

Ex-Prince Brian: Well, looks like we're all good to go!

SRB2 Robotnik: Excellent! Time to see how you all do behind the wheel!

Mr. Needlemouse: Free chilli dog on me if I win!

Mini Sonic: Heh, you're on, NM!

SRB2 Robotnik: (Is he meant to be a rabbit, or a hedgehog? Strange...) Well, everyone, get into positions, and DON'T cross the digital line until you hear me say "GO!".

OMT!Tails: You got it!

Mr. Needlemouse: Well, what's stopping us from just crossing that tape anyway, doc?

He tried that, only to temporarily disappear and be plopped back into position.

SRB2 Robotnik: That's what. You actually have to wait your turn, you imbecile!

Mr. Needlemouse (pouting): You're no fun.

SRB2 Tails: It's just the rules of how it works, you know? Can't be fun if there aren't any rules in play.

CR!Sonic: Alright, we're ready!

SRB2 Robotnik: Alright! Ready your engines!

The groups did so, ready to start the race on the virtual training course.

SRB2 Robotnik: Three... two... one...

And as intended, everyone began their race on the word...

SRB2 Robotnik: GO!

With that out of the way, I'd like to mention here that the Ring Racers are going to play a VERY important part come the story's finale, and if you know about some special levels from Ring Racers, you'll know the whole deal in advance. And for those who know about the secret boss encounter in the game, you'll know where Antho and Trip are both headed.

Mr. NM: I will say, I wish there was a little more comeback potential. And by that, I mean, can they teleport me straight to first place? I swear I'd be a master at this if I got placed in first!

[aegons-queen-rhaella]

It's funny, I read your post about fangirls making excuses for Daemon's terrible acts.

But as someone who is part of fanboy circles - being a fanboy myself. I gotta say that the Daemon fanboys are just as bad as the Daemon/Matt Smith girlies.

I brought up my theory that before "Blood & Cheese" that Daemon is gonna go after Daeron in Oldtown first - seeing as how Daeron is to Alicent what Luke seemingly was to Rhaenyra (her baby boy that she likes to cuddle, hold hands, and kiss) and that will herald Daeron's entry into the story and the war by either being recalled by Alicent and Criston for his own safety or by wanting some pay back on Rhaenyra/Daemon.

And I postulated that it wasn't going to go well for Daemon, and that Daeron would get the better of him and drive him off. Which tracks to me, because, Daeron is stated in the book as one of the greatest knights of his age and Daemon has always been more slippery and clever as an assassin rather than a fighter. Thus, Daemon and Rhaenyra will end up choosing soft targets after realizing that Daeron ain't some scrub little kid like Luke.

And you would've thought that I insulted their mom the way the Team Black fanboys came at me, angry and outraged that I suggested that Daeron was a better fighter than Daemon, or that Daemon wouldn't take Daeron serious in a fight till it was too late.

All their arguments have absolutely no basis in fact or in source material. In fact, Daemon is known to run from and avoid fights as much as possible, unless there was some clear advantage in it, or if he strikes when the opponent is weak. Where as Daeron spends his life and his military career getting into tense situations. The dude squared up against Hugh Hammer and backed him down. Something Daemon would never have done.

Anyway, my point is that in the fanboy circles it is perceived that because GRRM loves Daemon, it means that he is the "Bestest Evaer!" at everything, and that no one can beat him and there's some weird 4D morality to everything he does.

It's fucking insane the levels of idolization and cope that this character gets from both sides of the genders.

That is absolutely wild that people, fanboys and girls, equate Daemon being the best because GGRM said Daemon was his favorite. Daemon is a coward and doesn't have as much balls as Daeron and even Aegon II.

Even HOTD shows that Daemon is a coward when he beheaded Vaemond from behind. Striking weak aoppenents and ones with their backs turned will forever be a cowards move.

I like your theory that Daemon would go after Daeron before going after J&J. It would make sense that Daemon would think Daron is like Luke but he underestimated the youngest Green.

This would be a banger of a way to introduce Daeron and Tessarion and show that they will not go down without a figth and also set him up to go against Hugh Hammer.

I am team Green ofc but even I can acknowledge and not excuse the shit behaviors that members of team green have done.

Fanboy spaces are something I stay away from for a reason and I don't want to be in there and get attacked because I said something based in reality.

All the facts about these characters are stated in the book and if people want to read too much fanfiction and apply it to reality they need to take a break read the book again and assess.

[the-void-writes]

”in the ocean of my eyes you see yourself, as a mirror i am your truest friend”

I finished writing this at like one in the morning so I'm sorry if clunky, but it was really fun to work on this and really fall into the inner voices of these two so thank you so much! (This is also a pretty loose interpretation of the prompt so I'm sorry if I misunderstood it lol)

For All Eternity - Paternal Instinct

Rio didn’t plan to go on the damn trip until Will said he was doing it alone. Despite his condition, he wanted to make the trek to the neighboring kingdom for Gazali’s delivery. Rio had tried to dissuade him, to no avail. He was still stubborn after all these years… just like his father.

So the two of them walked to the next kingdom in relative silence. Sometimes, Will would ask about the old staff team, and Rio would ask about Dante, but the rest of the time was just quiet. It wasn’t as awkward as the silence they shared during dinner, stuffed in a large old tent as the rain beat over their heads. In a way, it was comforting to not have to talk, but it also made Rio feel even more guilty. He owed Will so much, but he had no idea where to start.

The first night in the tent was nothing special, and their journey continued the next morning. On the second night, when Rio couldn’t get himself to sleep with the rain hitting the trees, he heard something different. Rustling and wincing, coming from the bed behind him.

Even in his sleep, Will pulled at his hair out of habit. He muttered to himself, writhing from some invisible wound, and Rio could feel the air getting thicker. It was most likely a stress-induced reaction from a nightmare. Jin used to get them all the time.

Rio did what he could to help him without waking him up and facing an uncomfortable conversation. He took his thick coat and laid it over the young man’s shoulder, feeling a tug at his heartstrings as Will grabbed the fabric and pulled it closer. The coat wasn’t perfect, but it was a good substitute for the heavy wings that had given both of them immense comfort. 

The pressure in the air dissipated, and Rio settled back into his makeshift bed. Something sharp pressed into his hip as he laid down. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the source of the sharpness; two necklaces, the ones Jason had shared with the man that rested a few feet away from Rio. They were copies of the originals, the ones Rio had failed to save, along with everything else in his life. It felt wrong to keep a symbol of someone else’s comfort and love, but it gave Rio a sense of security. In a small way, Jason was still with him, and that helped him sleep.

Rio never brought up the nightmares to Will in the morning, not even when they came back each night after that. His personal trauma was none of Rio’s business, not after he had failed to keep track of him for ten years. Besides, he had a good idea of what he was dreaming about. They both lost the people they loved that awful day in Preston.

Still, it got to the point where Rio would stay up and watch for Will’s spasms so he could drop the coat over him. The boy must have known what he was doing when he woke up each morning with the coat in his hands, but he never said anything either.

When they finally made it to the kingdom, tired from walking and camping, they dropped off Gazali’s package and spent an extra night in one of the inns. It was one room, and even though it had two beds, Rio still took the couch. Part of his soldier-training still lingered in his mind, it seemed, the part that taught him to always be ready for a security breach.

There was no breach to prepare for, but Will started to stir again. Rio walked over and gave him the coat like it was just any old part of his day. As he walked back to the couch, though, Will’s muttering grew louder.

“Danny,” he said, “I’m sorry. Don’t leave.”

Rio stood frozen in the center of the room. He wasn’t dreaming of his parents, or his siblings, or his teammates. There had been someone else in the time between Preston and Paradise, and from the pained crack in Will’s voice, this person had hurt him badly. That sob was the sound of heartbreak.

The next morning, Rio sat at an empty table, picking at the food that the inn staff had graciously laid out for their guests. He kept thinking about Will’s words, wondering why it hurt him so much just to hear it. It was none of his business, and yet he couldn’t help but pity the boy. His hand rested over the pocket with the necklaces, trying to think of what Jason would do if he were there.

Rio jumped as another cup and bowl hit the table in front of him. Will sat down and quietly ate his food, glancing up at Rio when he realized he was staring at him. To his surprise, Will smiled at him.

“Hi,” he said.

Rio tightened his jaw and forced himself to speak. “Hey.”

“Is it good?”

“What?” He looked down at his plate. “Right— Sure, it’s fine.”

Will sighed. “Better than what Gabe used to serve, right?”

“God, don’t remind me. That chowder was just flavored sewage.”

Will chuckled, but Rio could still hear the pain in his voice. He yelled at himself mentally for lingering so long on what he had heard. Will finally noticed the struggle on Rio’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

Rio shook his head. “No, I have no right to ask.”

“Please, go ahead.” Will shrugged. “We can stop acting like we’re strangers, you know.”

So he wasn’t purposefully avoiding Rio, after all. More likely, he was just bad at starting a conversation, something Rio understood way too well. The old soldier ran his hand through his beard, arguing with himself before finally speaking up.

“Who’s Danny?”

Will went pale, letting his fork fall as he rested his head in his hands. Rio punched his own leg to punish himself.

“You don’t have to answer. That was stupid of me—”

“No, you’re fine.” He chuckled slightly. “You heard me in my sleep, didn’t you?”

Rio nodded. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know, it’s a habit. Dante hears it all the time.”

“We can just let it go.”

“It’s okay, Rio.” 

Will took a slow drink as he prepared himself to speak. Rio could tell his voice had grown much quieter over the years. Aside from the slight strain at the back of his throat, he sounded just like his godfather…

“There was a club in one of the cities outside of Bluebrook. I think they stole a bunch of Gabe’s technology and ended up making these androids. Some for weapons, some for medicine, and some for—” Will cleared his throat. “—other stuff.”

Rio almost laughed, but he caught himself just in time. The idea of people stealing Gabe’s technology and using it for personal toys to pass the time in the apocalypse— Rio really hoped that Vesely had seen the place at some point.

“So Dan was one of the thieves?” Rio asked.

“Dan was a medical android. He wasn’t sentient at the start, but he saved a lot of people. Some of them were grateful, but a lot of them wanted those resources for themselves. There was a huge fight, and Dan was all that was left.”

“Christ, I thought our doctors were competitive.”

Will chuckled. “Yeah, exactly.”

“So did you find Dan?”

“Miles found him, brought him back to the hospital, and started giving him all sorts of upgrades, starting his sentience.” Will smiled. “He would have liked you, actually. He loved finding other people who had transitioned.”

Rio couldn’t help but smile. There was something validating about a machine feeling everything that he had felt as a child. Before he could ask more about it, he noticed Will trying to discreetly wipe away a tear. He knew that forlorn expression all too well.

“You loved him, didn’t you?”

Will smiled as another tear fell. “I didn’t have many friends in Bluebrook. My brain was fried, so I didn’t make much sense, and I couldn’t focus on things. Dan was one of the few people that stayed patient with me. I couldn’t help but fall for him, especially since he fell for me first.”

As much as it pained Rio to hear that Bluebrook had cast Will aside, he was touched to hear about his love for Dan… And yet, the android wasn’t anywhere in Paradise. Rio lowered his voice.

“Is it okay if I ask what happened to him?”

Will nodded, wiping away a few more tears. Rio waited patiently until he was ready to speak again.

“The doctors were convinced I was gonna die from the Infection— the one they wouldn’t tell me about because they didn’t know what it was.” Will closed his eyes. “So Dan chose to leave before I could pass. He knew if he stayed and watched me die, he’d never leave Bluebrook. He didn’t get very far, though… Gabe’s men took him away for spare parts.”

When Will opened his eyes, he nearly jumped from the table. Rio’s one good eye was small and sharp, brimming with fury.

“He abandoned you?”

“It wasn’t fair to keep him with me.”

“It wasn’t fair to leave you alone!” Rio hit the table. “For God’s sake, you were sick— and the bastard just gave up on you?”

“He finally had freedom, it was the least I could do.”

“Yeah, well, staying was the least he could have done for you. If I ever see that piece of shit, I’ll dismantle him myself.”

“Gabe already beat you to it.”

“I’ll find whatever pieces he took, then, and I’ll burn them. Stupid goddamn machine—”

He took a swift spoonful of grits and ate it angrily. Will’s grip on the table slowly softened, and he began to laugh quietly. Rio stared back at him in confusion.

“What?”

“I’m sorry… You’re just like Dad, you know?”

Rio dropped the spoon and rubbed his eyes. “Shit, Isaiah— I’m sorry, kid, I didn’t mean to hit the—”

“Not him,” Will said, “Jason. You guys are exactly the same.”

The sharp chill running through Rio’s body made him freeze in place. He shook his head and tried to play it off.

“Kid, as someone who lived with the man for six years, I can tell you we’re nothing alike. He was the quietest, most gentle and loving man I’d ever seen.”

His eyes stung, but he refused to cry, even when Will smiled at him so earnestly.

“You’re both fathers,” he said. “You love your kids more than your own lives. If anyone ever hurt them, you’d snap their necks.”

Rio was going to object, but then he thought back to the day Will was first infected, when Jason almost killed Vesely with his bare hands for hurting his son. Jason was a beautifully complex man, someone capable of both vengeance and forgiveness. Perhaps Rio was, too, but he didn’t have Jason’s patience. That was what separated them.

“Forgive me for saying it,” Will said, “but you both hate yourselves, too.”

There was no argument there. He had stayed up many nights to keep Jason company as he blamed himself for everything in his life.

“Your parents were horrible,” Will said, “and the people in Preston just made it worse. They changed how you looked at yourself, regardless of any good you did. They made it impossible for you to forgive yourselves.”

Will traced small patterns along the tabletop. His blue eyes always looked so miserable, so tired and broken. It made Rio all the more impressed that the guy could still smile after all these years. He had more strength than Rio could ever hope for.

“You also saved my life,” Will said softly. “You don’t think you did, but you’re the only reason I’m not doing tricks for Gabe.”

“You didn’t end up any better off.” Rio sighed. “I should have looked harder when I lost you. Then you wouldn’t have met that android asshole.”

“It’s because of Dan that I found Dante. We shared the same pain—” Will tapped the table. “And so do we.”

“Will—”

“We both lost Jason. In different ways, yes, but we still knew him better than anyone else here.” 

Will held his hand up to his neck, grabbing for the necklace that Vesely had destroyed years ago. The disappointment in his eyes broke Rio’s heart.

“I just want you to know,” Will said, “that I never hated you for any of it. The war, the car accident— it was never your fault. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I hope you know that—”

Rio held up his hand. “Stop right there— What do you mean I won’t forgive you?”

“You know what I mean, Rio. He died for me.” Will clenched his fist. “I’m the reason you lost Jason.”

It was a lighting-fast reflex, one Rio didn’t realize he was doing until he was squeezing Will’s hand. His eyes shook a little in the light of the sun.

“I lost Jason long before then, kid. Any future we could have had was gone the day I chose to lie to him.”

“But you still loved him—”

“Listen to me, okay? You didn’t kill Jason. We know what he was like, he would have cut off his arm for someone if they needed it. Jason did what he did because he was more of a hero than any other goddamn employee in that nightmare of a company.” Rio closed his eyes. “He did it because he loved you more than anything in the world.”

Will couldn’t stop crying, but Rio knew it was exactly what he needed to hear. Still, he could do more for him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklaces, laying the sun and moon charms in Will’s hand.

“So don’t you dare blame yourself for his actions, or for Gabe’s stupid fucking plan. If Jason were here, he’d tell you it’s not your fault.” Rio sighed. “He’d tell you everything that I can’t. He was always the better father.”

Will stared at the charms, tracing the edges carefully as though he might break them. “You— How did—”

“They’re both clones. I was gonna give them to you when I found you again, and then I lost you like an idiot. But we’re here now, and they’re yours.”

Will took the little moon necklace— still marked by the crack that Jason had fixed— and placed it around his neck. As it rested on his chest, his face seemed to brighten up, like a bit of life had been returned to his body. He stared at the sun necklace for a bit, and then held it back out to Rio.

“Here, please,” Will said.

“No, kid, I couldn’t—”

“You deserve a part of him, too.”

Rio took the necklace carefully and put it on, letting the charm rest beside the heart locket that once belonged to Jin. Two people who meant the world to him, guarding his heart wherever he went now. Will had given him his own piece of Jason, a light in the darkness. He dried his damp eyes with a smile.

“You’re too damn kind, you know?”

Will smiled back at him. “I had some good teachers.”

Now that they were talking, it felt impossible to stop. The whole way back home, from breakfast up until dinner, they shared their stories of everything after Preston. Rio felt a huge weight fall off his chest as he let himself speak freely. When he looked at Will, he didn’t see a fragile boy, or a patient, or a life that he had destroyed. He was simply the son of the man Rio once loved. 

From then on, the soldier vowed to give Will a long and happy life in Paradise, as he had always deserved. He wasn’t his father, but he would look after him however he knew best. After all, the best way to honor Jason was to follow in his footsteps, to love what he had died to protect.

[clevermird]

Title: The Road to Coruscant

Prompt: Allies @shortfictionweeklychallenge

Rating: Teen

Characters: Feyte Saien (female Jedi Consular), Mallena Dayne, (female Republic Trooper), Eyrie Lancaster (female Jedi Knight), Jessasi Silver (female Smuggler), Aric Jorgan, Corso Riggs, T7-01, Qyzen Fess

Pairing(s): None

Four young women find themselves on a ship bound for Courscant. Each brings their own companion, their own mission, and their own past, but when the Sith Empire attacks their ship, they find themselves in an alliance, and their biggest problem isn't what they'll do when they reach their destination, but if they're going to reach it at all!  

Now that Ironfist is dead, it's time to take the fight directly to the Imperials - and boy howdy, does Jessasi have thoughts about that!

Text under cut

Jessasi stood up from behind the console she’d been using for cover and shoved her blasters into their holsters. Having a couple of Jedi on your side sure came in handy. Everyone had been so busy shooting at them that they hadn’t even noticed her.

She had to admit, though, Ironfist had been tough. Normally a couple blaster bolts to the chest stopped a guy in his tracks, but it hadn’t seemed to faze him. She wondered what his armor was made of. Maybe she should get herself some of it.

Corso came over to her, hand over one ear. “Those missiles sure are loud, aren’t they, Captain?”

She grinned. “Not hurt, then?”

He shook his head, dreadlocks swinging. “Are you?”

“Not a scratch. Come on, they’re starting without us.” 

The rest of the group had clustered around First Officer Hakin, who was busy thanking them profusely for saving him. The Mirialan Jedi, who Jessasi had come to think of as “the nice one”, smiled. “Don’t mention it.” The other Jedi, the serious one, looked uncomfortable.

Ambassador Asara reappeared, leading Commander Narlok. “We’re not safe yet, though. The Imperials still have us in our tractor beam. We can’t go anywhere until it’s disabled.”

“Short of destroying their ship, the only way to ensure that a tractor beam is disabled is to shut it down from the source,” said Lieutenant Dayne. Jessasi thought she looked a bit young to be an officer, probably early twenties. By human standards, she was probably pretty plain, although not necessarily ugly: about average height, but mostly arms and legs, with washed-out blue eyes and oddly dark eyebrows, one of which was broken by a scar that started at her hairline and ended just below her cheekbone. The only thing that she really had going for her was her hair, which was thick and honey colored and probably real long if she wore it down.

Hakin shook his head. “We can’t destroy their ship. They’d blow us up the moment we started firing. I hate to ask after all you’ve done, but – “

“We’ll do it,” said the serious Jedi.

“Woah, woah, woah, who’s ‘we’?” Jessasi cut in. She was not about to march onto an Imperial ship.

“Myself, T7, and I believe that Feyte and Qyzen will come too. You’re not obligated to join us.”

Jessasi crossed her arms. She certainly hoped not.

Lieutenant Dayne exchanged glances with her Cathar buddy. “We’re going too.”

Corso was looking at her expectantly. Great, now I feel guilty. “It’s not like I’m saying I won’t go! I just didn’t want you volunteering me for something that’ll probably get us all killed. But nope, I’m perfectly fine with coming. Don’t mind me.”

The serious Jedi turned back to Commander Narlok. “How soon can your team be ready?”

“I’ll assemble them right away.”

“Why don’t you take the ambassador with you?” said Hakin. “I’m sure she knows a great deal about the interior of Imperial ships.”

Asara nodded. “I can show you where you need to go.”

“Why don’t you put on a spare uniform, first?” said Narlok. “We don’t want the Imps to recognize you.”

The pair left. Hakin watched them go, then turned back to their group. “Thank you so much for doing this. I don’t know if anyone else on board would have a chance.”

Glancing around, he dropped his voice to just above a whisper. “I heard what Asara tried to make you do back there. Thank you for standing up to her.”

“She panicked,” said the nice Jedi. “I’m sure she didn’t truly want to bring harm to your men.”

“Regardless, I think we all know what has to be done.”

“Then why don’t you just say it?” Jessasi did not like where this conversation was heading.

“Look, the only way to get the Imperials to leave us alone is to give them what they want. So I want you to leave the ambassador behind on the Imperial ship.”

She felt her mouth drop open. “What?!”

“They won’t stop chasing us until they have her and I have to think about everyone else on this ship. We both know she deserves it.”

“Whatever you think about what she did, we still can’t abandon her to the Empire,” said the nice Jedi. “That would be just as great a wrong as sacrificing the engineers.”

“And beyond that, it doesn’t make tactical sense!” burst out Lieutenant Dayne, maybe a bit louder than she should have. “Do you know how many Republic secrets ambassadors like her know? Are you willing to bet the entire war on hoping she can resist an interrogation when she knows her own people sold her out?”

Hakin glared at her. “All I’m asking is for you to think about it.”

“We will,” said Jessasi. “While we’re headed to the airlock to space it.” She’d known there was a reason she hadn’t liked him. Turning on her heel, she walked toward the elevator. Hopefully someone else was going to follow her, because she had no idea where the hanger they were supposed to be going to was and it would look pretty stupid if she had to go back to ask for directions.

Fortunately, the rest of the group was just behind her and the Cathar put in the elevator directions. They raced downward and came out into a hanger bay with a shuttle in the center. A dozen troopers met them and Jessasi and Corso found seats in the front, squeezed in between two of the soldiers.

As the shuttle took off, Commander Narlok started to outline his plan. Jessasi started to tune him out at some point, but she gathered that they were going to split into two groups. One would go to disable the tractor beam, while the other would create a diversion somewhere else on the ship. She was going with the first group and that was all she needed to know.

Leaning back in her seat, she wondered what it would have been like if she had joined the army when she had graduated instead of getting into smuggling. Her parents would probably have reacted a little better, and she wouldn’t have had to deal with that schutta Skavik, either. But it sure wouldn’t have been as much fun.

The shuttle slid into the hanger bay just ahead of the bay doors shutting. Commander Narlok immediately started shouting orders to his men. No, Jessasi decided. Smuggling is definitely more fun.

As they jogged toward the door to the rest of the ship, it burst open and Imperial troops spilled into the hanger. Pulling out her guns, Jessasi fired and three of them fell. She kept running and Narlok’s soldiers took care of the rest of them.

Serious Jedi signaled and Jessasi and Corso peeled of from the main group with the rest of the team headed for the tractor beam. The Imps seemed to be ignoring them, and she didn’t blame them. Narlok’s group was making a huge ruckus, shouting and tossing grenades in addition to mowing down everyone who came their way.

Following Asara’s map, they boarded an elevator, which plunged downward fast enough to overwhelm the inertial compensators and tug at Jessasi’s stomach. It lurched to a stop and spilled them into a dark, gloomy room lined with banks of consoles. Does the Empire not believe in lighting or something?

The room was full of people, but most of them looked like techs and the few who had blasters barely seemed to know how to fire them. It didn’t take long to kill the ones who wouldn’t back down and herd the rest into a corner, where Lieutenant Dayne and the Cathar stood guard over them. Everyone else climbed the ramp to the largest console.

The little astromech droid extended some sort of probe and shoved it into a data port and after a moment, it started making a series of beeps and whirring noises. “What the hell is he saying?” said Jessasi.

Serious Jedi turned in her direction. “He’s shut down as much of the tractor beam as he can from here, but we’ll have to do the rest at the site itself.”

For someone who apparently doesn’t have any eyes, it sure does look like she’s looking directly at you. Something flashed in the corner of Jessasi’s vision and she turned around. “Oh, look, it’s the Imperial guy from before! The ugly one.”

He ignored her. “It’s really rather impressive that you’ve made it this far, but I’m here to tell you that it won’t last. I’m sending my best troops to your location, with orders to spare your lives if you surrender. I recommend you take them up on the offer.”

Serious Jedi looked like she wanted to say something, but Jessasi beat her to it. “Recommend whatever you want, we’re not surrendering!”

“Very well, then. I suppose I’ll have to destroy you. Too bad, really, I was looking forward to talking to you.” The hologram disappeared.

“Oh dear, whatever shall he do?” muttered Jessasi and had the satisfaction of hearing Corso chuckle.

“Let’s go!” shouted Serious Jedi, already halfway down the ramp.

“What about them, m’am?” said the Cathar from the corner.

“Does your gun have a stun setting?”

“Mine does,” the Lieutenant said.

“Use it.” Serious Jedi took off, moving surprisingly quickly for someone of her unimpressive height. Everyone else followed her and Jessasi heard shots behind them. A few minutes later, the two troopers caught up.

Whatever Hakin’s motivations for sending Asara with them, she was certainly useful. Jessasi didn’t think they would have ever found the tractor beam chamber without the map she had given them. Finally, they emerged from a series of hallways and control rooms – does all this stuff even do anything? Jessasi found herself wondering – and saw the tractor beam.

It was pretty impressive: a platform with some sort of glowing beam thing in the center and a console in front of it, all suspended over a giant pit. A stream of guards and droids raced toward them and died in a flurry of blaster bolts and lightsaber beams.  

Jessasi looked up from finishing off a boxy droid that had clumsily tried to take a swing at one of her lekku to see a massive tank-style droid standing in front of the console. “That’s a really big droid,” she muttered.

“And it’s in our way,” the Lieutenant said. “Let’s destroy it.”

“On my signal,” Serious Jedi said softly. “One, two, three.” She leapt to the droid, which tracked her progress with blaster fire. Landing in front of it, she sliced off one of its legs as the rest of the group opened fire or charged into the fight.

Jessasi dove behind a box and started firing. Man, this thing is even tougher than Ironfist. It let out some kind of pulse and the people near it fell backwards. Already near the edge, Serious Jedi lost her balance and toppled off the side of the platform. Nice Jedi shouted in alarm and ran to her.

Ducking behind her cover again, Jessasi took a deep breath and considered. She didn’t want to waste any more time here. More Imps would probably be showing up soon. The droid didn’t even really matter, as long as the console was off. The console. . .

“Corso, come with me!” she shouted, sprinting away from the fight.

“What is it?” he said as he caught up with her.

“Just follow me.”

“We’re not running away, are we, Captain?”

“’course not. We’re winning.”

Like she had suspected, there was another access to the platform on the opposite side of the room. They slipped up it and crawled to the control panel. “Are you sure this is going to work?” said Corso.

Jessasi shushed him. The back of the console was easy enough to pull off, but there she got stuck. What was all this stuff for? And which one had enough juice to get the job done? Well, she’d just have to go with it.

She tugged on a red-insulated wire. When it came loose, she handed it gingerly to Corso. “See if you can short out the droid’s circuits with this,” she said, trying to be heard over the sounds of battle.

He jumped up and dragged the wire over to the droid. It took a few minutes of jerking and dancing to get close enough, but finally, he managed to touch the bare end of the wire to its plating.

Nothing happened.

“Firfek,” Jessasi muttered under her breath. “Try this one!” Maybe the white-insulated wire has more power?

Again, no reaction. “It’s still not working! Captain, are you sure you should – “

“Try this one!” This had to work, it just had to. The droid had noticed her, it was turning, rotating its turrets. In desperation, she flung the latest wire at Corso. The droid paused, then crumpled slightly as blue lightning arced over it, frying its circuits. The light faded from its photoreceptors and it made a sort of weak grinding sound.

Jessasi jumped up, high-fiving Corso. “We did it!” she shouted.

[talenlee]

Story Pile: There She Is!!

New Post has been published on PRESS.exe: Story Pile: There She Is!!

In internet culture times, there’s a timelessness and an immateriality that comes from being classic.

If you were on the internet in your teenage years in around 2004, you probably know something about a particular genre of animation that tends to get called ‘Flash’ animation. And there’s a lot to be said about how Flash animation worked, and the gates it left wildly open. Sometimes people get caught up on the techniques and what they permitted, and lose track of the compression, and how turning a long animation into vectors and math meant it could be more easily translated into an internet transmissable format. That format led to hosting sites, and those hosting sites led to communities and those communities led to trends and distribution, and that is how you get things that people knew, that seemingly everyone had seen, but couldn’t attribute to any kind of source.

Even if the thing everyone’s seen has source inside it, ‘cos it’s written in a different language.

Content Warning: Racism and a pet death

떳다 그녀!! There She Is!! complete HD :: SamBakZa official

Watch this video on YouTube

That’s kind of how There She Is!!, a 2004 set of animations about a rabbit named Doki who crushes on a cat named Nabi from the South Korean team posting on SamBakZa got to be omnipresent and obvious in the minds of a very specific niche of Too On The Internet kids who are now all, uh, well, you should go to bed earlier and maybe get a chair that’s better for your back. There’s very little I can properly offer about the animation itself — I think it looks amazing, I think that there’s a lot of vibrance and detail to all the scenes, and I also think that I’m a dude who doesn’t know enough about animation to really provide meaningful commentary there.

I knew for a long time that this was ‘a thing from Korea’ but that was the limit of my awareness, and most people I knew went that far too. You watched the first bit, maybe the second bit and went ‘oh hey, wow, there were two parts to this’ and that was cool and impressive and then it bubbled along in the sea of content.

I also didn’t think there was more to it than ‘pretty animation about anime style couple with a pushy girl and a shy boy.’ I have one of the songs from this collection, the Bulldog Mansion song Happy Birthday To Me, which I still listen to on a yearly basis. I didn’t really think there was more to it, despite there being very clearly two parts I saw, and the second part ended on a cliffhanger. It wasn’t for years that I’d go back, and, realising that this thing was almost twenty years old, investigate it and see what I thought of it with the benefit of hindsight.

Turns out there’s a lot more to There She Is!! than I had appreciated when I watched those first two parts. Heck, there’s a kickstarter game project that seems to be dead, but then that’s not a surprise in the context of the internet culture of the 00s.

Anyway, uh, There She Is!! is about racism.

Most specifically it’s about the particular variety of racism not uncommon in South Korea about relationships between Japanese and Korean people, which you can nitpick that ‘hey, this isn’t quite about racism’ but look, it’s an oppression structure based entirely out of racism, don’t give me that look.

There’s a bunch of stuff that serves as hallmarks of being a 2004-era thing, like the way the phones look and the fact Nabi has a job delivering newspapers that appears to be, like, a job. There’s also a 2004ness to its depiction of relationships, especially in that particular model of anime-style pushy-girl cartoon-violence archetype. Doki is very cute, but cute in a Sanrio way, she’s not designed in a way that I think the audience is meant to relate to her as being hot. There’s a definitely deliberate cutesiness to the whole thing. Doki starts out being interested in Nabi and then the visual language of the story positions us as seeing things from Nabi’s perspective — she’s everywhere he goes, she expresses her interest in him, relentlessly, and she’s not interested in his rationale as to why she shouldn’t be.

“I like you.” “You shouldn’t.” “Why not.” “Racism.” “I don’t get it.”

But at the same time, she expresses her displeasure with over-the-top violence that’s clearly meant to be more ‘relentless’ than ‘actually terrifying,’ since one of the things she does is fill an elevator with seemingly otherwise-immaterial love hearts. This can get framed as ‘hey, this is about a stalker’ but it’s really obviously not — Nabi’s framed as being surprised and shocked by her presence when she appears, but also from his literal first interaction with her, his reaction is ‘but bunnies and cats don’t date,’ and he’s clearly running from that.

Don’t remember it?

Go back and rewatch it. Look at Nabi’s first reaction to her expressing interest; he looks to his surroundings, to see what do other people do. It’s what he’s running from. Nabi doesn’t want to do the thing you’re Not Supposed To Do. Doki’s whole ‘unreasonable’ nature is that she’s not willing to accept racism as a good reason to avoid her, and when he starts hanging out with her… he’s immediately smitten with how she tries things.

Oh my god, this whole thing rips. I like it so much, and I found the whole thing, collected at once, as a set of music videos telling the story they did, as being really sweet and sad and painful all in the same way. Like, this is a story about racism where characters get subjected to hate crimes, that’s something I wasn’t used to seeing in ‘serious’ media. They try to share time and show care for one another around the constraints of their society and even that’s not good enough, because when you’re dealing with a system like racism, it’s about keeping you in your place which is anywhere but here. It’s not being mean, it’s about the understanding you should know how the world works. A rock thrown through a window is meant to scare someone because they don’t know who threw it but they do know why it was thrown.

The oppression is everywhere, too. The restaurant in Cake Dance was happy to serve the party of cats and bunnies but the second Nabi and Doki showed affection for one another, they threw the whole party out. The jagged-outline bunnies are the kids of an interracial relationship (it’s why they have the fuzzy outlines), and they’re street toughs who do nothing but crime because it’s not like they have an alternative. When they see a cop, their only solution is how do we hurt them because they know full well that the system is designed to hurt them first. Nabi can’t get a moment of peace from it in a hospital room with Doki.

Nabi doesn’t give up because he’s weak, he gives up because the system is designed to crush him and his refusal to be crushed, in the end, is a remarkable show of strength when the reality is the system shouldn’t be there, it shouldn’t be allowed to treat them like this.

This oppression is so absolute, so overwhelming, that I found it drily miserable to see its mollifying, polite cousin in the Youtube comments. Why, this person is so happy that the animation portrays the racist protesters as just as bad as the anti-racist protesters. And another one. And another one again. And there it was, the comparison to recent anti-Asian hate, and how everyone needed to cool down, because it’s very important that you know that these systems are, you know, very bad, but also, it’s bad to try and change them.

Yeah, the story isn’t as as unequivocally on the side of anti-racism protesters as it could be, but it still pictures them as a very real force doing really good work, clashing with people who are trying to hurt people, and trying to stop them, and in the end, while they present challenges for this specific story, they’re still there to fight for a better world which is part of what Nabi and Doki commit to doing at the end.

You wanna know the moment that makes me tear up, though? Not the relationship, not the culmination of it, it’s this single moment. It’s so fucking dumb, but it makes so much sense to me. It’s this bit where Il-ho just eats shit off a motorcycle into an intersection.

He knows his gangmates (siblings?) can get Nabi there. He knows it’s going to hurt. He knows he can do this, and he knows it’s what he can do here. It’s the culmination of so many complicated feelings about being one of life’s secondary characters, from this wordless angry rabbit gangster, who gets treated like a monster by the people around him, who doesn’t know much but he does know how to hurt and how to handle being hurt. No hesitation, no doubt, this is what it’s gunna be and he just goes for it.

Il-ho’s great.

I like the airport scene too, but not because of the centrist bullshit stance people in the Youtube Comments are taking, about how it’s about both sides being bad. It’s because when confronted with that moment, with these big political forces, the yes and the no, Nabi isn’t making a choice based on those things. He’s not doing things because he’s been argued into it, he’s doing the right thing for right here, and that’s admitting what he wants. He wants Doki and he wants to stay and if that means tomorrow he’s making the world better for both of them, then that’s what he’s gunna do. Because all these systems get changed by people doing things to make the world better, by finding the people they can help and connecting them.

Fun tidbit: This whole thing started out as a comic in a braille newspaper!

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[x-bee-x]

Hi Smol! I know this wasn't a fic exchange, but it is a gift exchange, and I thought I'd make you something that I know I can do. I was happy to see your name given as my giftee, I had a lot of fun with this, I hope you like it @smol-panda! A bit of angst, a bit of a sickfic, a bit of our boys getting a well deserved break.

Work Song

795 words

It was hot as the afternoon sun glared from where it sat in the crimson sky above, but the shade from the tree leaves he rested against was helping, ever so slightly.

Pac was tired, exhausted actually, he had been working so much these past days -which he wasn't even sure how many it had been in this place-, his muscles hurt, his clothes had stains from blood -be it his own or of his friends turned enemies for the time- and other overall existence that he wasn't sure would ever come out, and he thought he might be getting sick on top of things come to think of it.

Something, or someone, was nearby.

It was subtle, you probably wouldn't have noticed if you weren't paying attention -or paranoid maybe-, but there was a tiny crack of a stick on the ground, and if you really focused, there were sounds of breathing.

Pac stayed sitting, his back and torso against the tree and legs still splayed, unmoving to remain (hopefully) unnoticed, but he very carefully reached for the knife hanging on his belt just in case.

Fingers barely brushing against the hilt and ready to hold it and attack the source, a quick inhale through his nose, hold it-

"It's okay, it's okay, it's just me, I promise, I'm not gonna hurt you."

"Fitchi? Caralho, você me assustou, you scared me. What are you doing?"

"I swear, I was just patrolling and looking for things to complete the missions, and I saw your hair in the distance, I promise I wasn't tracking you or anything."

"Okay, it is okay. Calma, I believe you. You, there is no one with you, you promise?"

"I made sure no one following me and I'm here alone, I promise, no one can hurt you."

Pac resettled against the tree trunk, head and obsidian hair falling back to where they were originally, his heart beating once more knowing there wasn't a threat nearby, sighing.

"You okay?"

He hummed, something neither confirming nor denying the veteran, simply saying without words how the entire group of them had been feeling since their arrival.

"Tired."

"You can head back to your base if you need to, take a nap maybe, I think most people are busy and getting ready for the coming event, I know a bunch of my team is anyway, so I think it's okay if you wanna relax for once."

"Não. I am, I am tired. In not just a sleepy way. And I don't feel that well. My, head hurts and I think my stomach feels sort of funny from more than not a lot of food. And I miss Richarlyson, and I miss Ramón and I miss all of the kids. And I don't want to, to not be friends with everyone anymore. And I, I am scared, Fit."

He stared at the Brazilian for a moment, considering his words, deciding if he should respond at all.

"Lean forward for a sec."

"I- okay? Mas por que?"

In lieu of a response, Pac scooted forward from the tree a couple inches, and Fit sat behind him.

"O que você está fazendo Fit?"

"Just lean back, I've got you, okay? We're just gonna try to forget about things for a few minutes or however long we need to."

"But, but we cannot risk that. What if there are people looking and waiting? What if they will kill us? What if you get sick?"

Pac turned from where he was sitting, not yet leaning on the American, blinking his big brown eyes in genuine curiosity.

"Listen to me, Pac. First. I can't speak for Bolas of course, but like I said earlier. The rest of my team is at our base getting ready for that flag thing tomorrow or getting rest, like you should be. It's not like we're in the open, we're not creating attention for people to find us if any of them are out, we'll be okay. And second. If I get sick, I get sick. This place isn't exactly the nicest, and it was bound to happen to some if not all of us at some point, it's not your fault if I catch something."

Pac finally fell back against Fit's chest and into the veteran's arms with a soft sigh of acceptance as well as relief.

"You wanna just listen to me ramble about shit for a bit?"

"Please, Fitchi?"

He brushed the raven's hair from his slightly sunburnt forehead, kissed the top of his head, tightened his hold slightly, and started talking, the Brazilian with his head turned and ear pressed against the other to listen to his heartbeat and the soothing vibrations of his voice for the first time in too long.

[digitalgate02]

Oh boy, honestly i do get people love to mock Sonic Team staff and such, but i feel like some things are going off the rails sometimes

Like, i get it, them denying Vegeta's influence in the character might be weird, but being honest... I think they meant they wanted Shadow to be seen as Shadow. Sometimes when your design influence starts getting your creation reduced into the reference, you start just getting REAL TIRED of those. Tbh the ups and downs with Shadow's character are more likely to come from bad decisions for localization than the source.

So today's released video interview about Shadow… I think the jokes were funny and such, some peak good humor right there. But i was concerned about the interview. I decided to take a look at it and it didn't seem to be THAT bad?

Especially about Shadow's goals and personality.

People have to understand that the "routine care" part was basically a silly joke. Most of the answers at the Twitter Takeover are a bunch of jokes for funsies. But the "doesn't have a routine hair care" ISN'T in a bad derogative way, it's the opposite.

By what i get with that answer is that... Shadow does not care what others think about him. If he's smelly or messy or good or bad looking, etc. THAT DOESN'T MATTER FOR HIM. Shadow only cares about his own opinion (and Maria's imo)

Also about him being "jobless"... the interview also points out his only purpose is to protect the world Maria loved -- it was his promise to her. It tracks with his character. What is said is that he has no affiliations to a side or org. He can work with anyone in order to protect the world.

Tbh i think this could mean some retcon in something else from the past -- considering that they did a HUGE rewritten on everyone's personalities and roles previously (which i still think were GOOD imo) As long it's a good change, i'd not be complaining here.

Btw one more thing: I do think it's disappointing and sad to hear that Shadow and the Team Dark are not "friends", but on the other hand it makes sense and the reason they differ from Sonic, Tails and Knuckles imo. Team Sonic is a group of FRIENDS basically.

Meanwhile, Team Dark is a group of people with the same interests in common, and they work together on a professional level. Still it does not mean they hate each other and are forced to work together, it's just they're not the type to be buddy-buddy with each other.

Shadow does care about Rouge and Omega, yet he prefers to keep minding his own business just like those two would prefer it as well. But he won't be doing the same things as Sonic does, imo.

They're allies mostly, if i got this right.

If you know me well enough, there's things i agree and disagree with staff of many franchises, so i'm not trying to defend Iizuka/Sonic Team here. I just think this one interview was not bad at all.

[matoitech]

Could u go more in depth about what u did/didn't like about the spinoff? Just curious as someone who enjoyed most of it but was a lil disappointed with the last few episodes

sure! i didnt like Hate it or anything there were things i did enjoy, i watched all the episodes, it was more that it just really didnt do it for me in a way thats kind of difficult to like. pin. i should state too that i was not going to watch it already bcuz i wasnt interested in the genderbend fanfiction characters being the like title piece and everything, but i gave the first two eps a shot and thought 'okay, i get it, this show is about simon and his complicated feelings about Everything that happened and who he used to be and who these characters represent to him about who he used to be' and then it just didnt really like, do more with that in a way that i expected or wouldve enjoyed, exactly? i like the idea of multiverse hopping and a bunch of different au versions of characters in a story, that stuff is obviously really popular right now and when its done well its done WELL. i liked how finn was characterized in episode 2. it was like, an entertaining watch, it just didnt really do much for Me, and i knew that going in. its really hard to explain like my negative feelings on something that are negative bcuz it just Wasnt For Me ykwim. and there r plenty of parts of adventure time that didnt really do it for me either bcuz it had so many writers

i read an interview w the director and writers and stuff and they mentioned that they made the series recognizing that the original fans were adult now and it was partly made for us and like having a more mature theme and everything, but i didnt rly feel thatit did that for me personally (which again is Fine), and i dont think it successfully captured like, 'more mature adventure time', i guess maybe in the sense that they can swear now? but adventure time itself is thoughtful and often more mature than it was given credit for at the time. its a kids show but a lot of the later stuff was made to just tell stories and explore ideas, whether kids like 'understood' it or not, they trusted their audience, stuff wasnt really like dumbed down. they mentioned trying not to step on the toes of the original too much too and i like did get the sense that they respected and loved the source material (some of the ppl working on it including the director were from the old team) but while the spinoff was clearly successful and ppl liked it a lot (ive already seen a lot of ppl talking abt how meaningful it was to them, and thats great, im glad it resonated for people) its like, read of the characters and world and the direction they wanted to take just wasnt really the kind of vibe i come to adventure time for, i guess? like i said it just didnt rly do it for Me personally in a way thats hard to articulate

i dont rly want to say anything like too mean abt it but ppl Know about me that i dont like Fandom Aware Jokes in media i dont think theyre charming and the spinoff leaning into that kinda stuff wasnt for me, and i get why bcuz its literally fucking named after the in universe genderbent fanfiction versions of finn and jake, but thats also something i never liked about adventure time and wouldve been happy if it hadnt made a reappearance i just thought it was going to be used to Say Something so i was curious to see where it went. so like from the start it isnt exactly for me ykwim. i dont think sailor moon reference sexyman ice king or jokes about alt universe versions of characters kissing themselves is funny. coffee shop Boy pb & marceline b plot is not interesting to me (i do like marshall's human design). i feel like not a lot of stuff Happened to me

and let me preface this next part by saying that i never got too invested in simon and bettys thing in adventure time so maybe some of this stuff WAS canon and i just completely missed it but i feel like the track they took w them and their relationship was like.. they were trying to say something but it wasnt exactly the direction i wouldve taken, which isnt a 'criticism' as much as its just, a thought , for me. i thought betty losing her shit and sacrificing herself for simon at the end of adv time proper was interesting bcuz to me betty wasnt like a completely selfless character, to me she wasnt MEANT to come off that way, she was interesting in part bcuz she did all that for simon but simon had been gone for a thousand years, she gave herself up to turn him back but didnt think abt whether he wouldve wanted that. she brought him back, but without her. its obviously tragic and i do get that like betty moving on now that simons like Safe at the end of fionna and cake makes sense but i was.. curious to see the whole metaphor w the choose ur own adventure book where the metaphor or whatever was that betty had given everything up for simon and simon had never took her own feelings into consideration or gave things up for HER and stuff, and all that about like, obsession, and uneven ground, and simon shouldve known better... and the show ending with simon saying wow damn yeah betty sacrificed herself for me and i never put her over me so i should live a good life. like okay but i thought betty sacrificing herself for him wasnt meant to come off as completely selfless bcuz it wasnt exactly? i dont think it was framed that way but again i COULD be wrong. im not gonna say that this stuff is not in character cuz again i dont Remember if this was canon to the mainline series. maybe betty was always a fan of his work and their relationship did start out uneven like that and i just forgot, i am not gonna say its Wrong. its not like 'is betty right' its that theres dif ways u can read like main adventure time series decisions and the grayness of it was interesting

and i dont say that to say like oh the focus shouldve been on Simons Feelings and not this woman who became a god for him its just like, i didnt really expect that direction of writing their past relationship, or the direction in general, and idk how to feel about it. maybe ill change my mind. maybe it all makes sense and i just didnt pay enough attention to betty and simons relationships and arcs before. what i did know coming out of the show is that i felt a little let down but i also felt like i shouldnt have expected much from something that just based off the series name was already something i expected to not vibe with THAT much

[dickandballsdotgov]

give me a list of things that make u happy

anon❓️

Omgomgog.ogm9mg9mgogm9gm9mgogm ok so:

• running

▪︎ that is, running as a sport

• swimming

• 100 gecs

• three days grace

• linkin park

• friday pilots club (a band like the few before it)

• I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME

• arctic monkeys

• stand atlantic

• halestorm

• blasting my ears out with music

• the way I can turn music as loud as I want in the car(it doesn't register as louder but it sure as hell feels good to have the little bar filled more)

• concerts

• listening to music in the car while driving at night and im really sleepy

• the dragon salmon dish that my brother makes

• the crawfish and corn soup that my brother makes(yeah he likes cooking :3)

• instant ramen but made exactly how I like it

Ok time for specific songs that don't constitute the whole artist making me happy. assume at least 75% of the discography of the artists specifically mentioned make me happy

• Planet Mars by Smith & Thell

• Buried Alive by Rory Webley

• Back Around by half•alive

• Conditions of a Punk by half•alive

• buckshot boy by Onlyfriend

• Sweet Boy by ieuan

• pissed by glaive

• detest me by glaive

• Oblivious by MUPP

• Clocks by Coldplay

• When Doves Cry by Alex Clare

• Breath by Breaking Benjamin

• Undefeatable by the SEGA Sound Team and Kellin Quinn(I love kellin quinn's voice)

• Space by Something Corporate

Ok I think that's it for music can you tell that music is a MASSIVE source of my joy. I've not met a single person to date that is quite as insane about it as I am.

• pretty boys

• ik I said pretty boys butttt @monko-donko deserves extra recognition for being the prettiest boy

• @prettyboysmlm

• browsing tumblr and finding funny posts

• going to the beach near my house to skip rocks on the water

• ice baths with cross country/track teammates(silly banter :3)

• modding my 2ds

• a mario kart 7 mod called CTGP 7 that I put on my 2ds

• dressing up in sick ass outfits and feeling really hot in them

• my favorite streamer/youtuber AstralSpiff

• the tbh creature

• did I mention @monko-donko?

• the awesome cologne I use it smells so good

• burning hot showers

• cool showers

• laying in bed right after a shower and just spacing out

• playing fortnite with my siblings and my dad

• lifting weights(seeing progress and fulfilling my primal urge to Move Heavy Things)

• the huge hype right before a cross country race or track meet

• sleeping in my big comfy bed with my big soft warm blankets

[camuslittlesister]

Summer of Smut 2023 - 1

This is the first of a few fanfics I’ll be writing for this year’s Summer of Smut challenge, hosted once again by the lovely @voltage-vixen with @xxsycamore​. All deets will be on their blogs. Past fanfics also on the master lists for the past editions, or feel free to scroll down the blog to find them. 

I regressed to being 17 and writing fanfics based on songs. Maybe this one is a little dark in the meaning, but it’s meant to be the song alluded to in the story because of the sound. https://open.spotify.com/track/4AH5FTj8Qr5ZiWxXQJG2qs?si=5de14fe16b2446e7

Suppressed Colours (絕彩)

Prompt Playing Dirty in a Water Fight/Strip Tease in the Summer Otome Hakuoki SSL  Ship Saito x Okita (I said what I said) Warning It partly takes place during a scene that exists for real in the game so could be considered a spoiler. Some vulgar language. Also it's long AF, sorry. And wholesome. I just love them too much. 

愛が欲しいだけ 明日も靡く陽炎の如く優雅な炎

(I just want love. Also tomorrow, graceful flames, just like a shimmering heat wave) - SUGIZO ft 京

Translation credits

I didn't like that Hajime ended up on a team with Chizuru-chan, when I got stuck with Hijikata-sensei. The source of all evil. Not that he looked happy to be with me, either. The jerk. Why is he even here? I can hear Harada-sensei's teasing him, but I can't make up the words he is actually saying. Only his tone. Whatever, I don' t really care. I don't mind that Hajime is on the opposing team, I should focus on that. I wouldn't get to see him looking this cute if he wasn't. Although I'd get to see him from the sidelines, which is good too. I couldn't do this, though, I thought, as I picked up my gun and headed it for his thigh, close enough to spread a stain on his crotch but not somewhere I'd hurt him. I would never do something that'd mean he'd be out of action the rest of the weekend. I smirked, and he looked at me with a competitive fire in his eyes. Water straight in my face, as if he wanted to wipe the smirk off my face. Game on. I love you but a challenge is a challenge, I told him in my own mind, as way of apology for what I was about to do. 

"Hajime! Sōji! Behave" Hijikata growled with an intimidating glare, like he had been some military general in a past life. We walked to the battle area, the weather so hot the stain had already dried off Hajime's swimsuit. Great, now I needed to focus on winning and I couldn't get his dick out of my mind. We didn't really have any plans for after the waterpark closed, knowing him he'd be rushing home to study once the weather was less unforgiving, but I just wanted to make him wetter and wetter. How did I even fall in love with someone this prim and proper? Even in bed he never gets properly wild. Not the way he makes me feel, at least. At times I have to wonder if he just has incredible self-control, or he doesn't feel as strongly as I do. It makes me want to do anything to try and make him let go, but he is always a step ahead of me. And it drives me wild. 

Oh, Hijikata is so good at this. Guess even he would have something positive about him. Or Chizuru-chan is bad. She is a lovely klutz, we've been friends since we were little. Either way, we have won. I smiled triumphantly as I wrapped my arm around Hajime's shoulder: "Don't look so gloomy, I'll give you a consolation prize". He went off to the spectators' side, as I went to face the next team, a little more distracted than I wished I was. By the time our team was defeated, he was seemingly sleeping on a float, looking the cutest I had ever seen him. For a hormonal teenage boy I was having quite the wholesome lovey-dovey thoughts at the sight. It was hard to wake him up, but it needed to be done. The sun was beginning to set, the teachers were busy hitting on women at the bar, even Hijikata looked like he might be getting laid that night, and I couldn't imagine who would ever fuck that annoying bore, but I wasn't inclined to lose to him. If he was going to get some, so would I. "C'mon sleeping beauty, time to get changed and head home..." I teased him as he dozily raised his head from the float at my shaking his shoulder. 

I headed for the showers, and my hair were barely lathered when the door to the cubicle opened.  "How did you know it was me?" I looked at Hajime in surprise.  "It doesn't matter" he replied, trapping me against the wall of the shower "what game are you playing today?" I didn't know what to answer, I had a few going on at the same time, which one was he asking about? I smirked. He pressed his body against me, like he wanted to make it clear he wanted an answer. I could feel my dick stir already, it had been far too long since he had touched me, between the summer kendo tournaments and him starting tutoring for next year's entry exams already. He looked down briefly, he knew. He moved away, leaving me in the shower with my unmet desire. "Am I taking you home, right?" this time it was he who did not reply, heading for the next cubicle in silence. I returned to washing my hair and body, unable to let go of the thought of his hands on his from my mind. 

Fuck, I was proper hard in no time. Guess there's no way I can leave this cubicle like this, I thought, before turning my back to the door just in case and closing my eyes to try and conjure the image of Hajime as he looked when on top of me, his big blue eyes looking up at me as he trailed his way down my stomach, taking his sweet old time to get anywhere fun so that I would be begging for release before long. He had a talent for making it grow so much it was outright painful, I swear. If my body could want him any more than it already did, he'd find a way to make it happen. I bit the wrist of my free arm that propped me up against the wall, hoping that between that and the noise of the water nobody would know what I had just done. Except Hajime, he would know. No way he wouldn't know what he had done to me. He probably had done it on purpose. I made sure to watch the cum wash away entirely with the soap, hoping nobody in the changing room could tell, and breathed out a long sigh before turning off the water and wrapping myself in the towel. 

Hajime was already out of his shower, acting as if nothing had been going on. I had to turn away from seeing his muscles flex as he towel dried his hair, the last thing I needed was another erection right away.  "Do you want to go to the spot on the hill?" he asked, nonchalantly. Was he doing it to torture me? He must have known I wanted to go home with him, even after taking care of myself once already!  "What if I say no?" I replied.  "I'll go by myself" he left me no choice. I got dressed, making sure he saw everything that there was to see. Ha! A blush. Even he isn't immune, clearly. Cute.  We saw some of our classmates but made our excuses. Nobody seemed to suspect we were going home together, thankfully. The last thing we needed was our secret being found out. It wasn't a long walk, and the sunset turning to dusk was quite romantic. 

I grabbed drinks from the vending machine as he sat overlooking the lit-up city. It was a romantic spot, so I was surprised there weren't other couples out there. I sat down next to him, passing him a drink that was so often near his lips I didn't even have to ask what he wanted. "Thanks", he said, drinking it right away. I followed the drink down his throat, his Adam's apple moving with his every gulp. How could something so simple be so alluring? I wasn't drinking mine, and he took my hand in his.  "What's up with this?" I asked. "What do you mean?"  "You act cold, and now you're all touchy feely all of a sudden" "You act like a brat, you ask for it..." maybe he had a point. I lowered my head on his shoulder, not caring if someone saw us like that.  "I wanted to go home with you. I even prepared myself for it when I was in the shower" he turned his head to kiss mine. How can he be so sweet at times? He drives me insane.  "Some days I feel like all you want from me is sex..." he said, his soft voice having a hint of admonishment in it. "That's not true. I just don't know how else to show you how much I love you" "And that's without your obvious crush on Hijikata-sensei" 

I sat back up. I was fuming."Crush? On that demon? Are you mad?" he gave me a knowing smile. I cupped his cheeks, maybe a bit more violently than I intended, kissing him there and then. He didn't seem convinced that he was the only one I had eyes for, but he relented: "Let's go home." We went to his place, which was closer than mine, and found a note from his parents. Good, at least there would be no awkward greetings before heading to his room, or worries about being heard. We went straight to his room, and he sat on the bed with his back against the head. "Show me how much you love me, then" there wasn't as much challenge in his tone or eyes as there was in the situation. He made no move to touch me or himself, just sitting there with his gaze fixed on me as I sat on the edge of the bed thinking. After a few moments I stood up, and headed for the stereo, looking for a specific CD and a specific song. 

As the bass began to shake the space, I silently thanked the gods for the inspiration to wear a buttoned shirt that day instead of a t-shirt. It wouldn't have been quite as sensual to just take that off in one pull. I pretended not to care, looking around his desk while also playing with my buttons but not actually unbuttoning the shirt. I could see his jeans getting bulkier and, yet, he made no move to speed me up, looking at me like he wanted to see how far I would take it. It kinda made me want to stop and walk away. Why could he never throw me a bone with a sliver of vulnerability? Was he not dying to have me in his arms? I continued my slow strip-tease to the sound of the music, unsure what to do exactly because I had only seen women doing it, until eventually the song came to a close and I was back on the bed, naked, Hajime still fully dressed. 

He pulled me close enough to kiss, soon rolling us over so that he'd be on top of me. He looked down at me, always cutting an impressive figure from that angle even though I was the taller one, his expression serious, almost broody. He too undressed, and I gave in and hurried to help. If he teased me any longer I'd be hard again already. I wanted to be the one taking care of him instead. Once his clothes too had gone he was once again straddling me, this time his dick almost pointing at me like a sword. It was almost like a flashback of being on the floor of a dojo with a sword pointing at my throat as he made his way to my lips. He knew what I wanted and wasn't going to just give it to me, that much was clear. 

I wrapped him in my lips, but the range of movement in that position was limited and he knew it. He was making a point. I looked up to him pleadingly. Eventually, he smiled sweetly and moved away, reaching for the bedside table. It was a smile that, at last, reassured me that he really felt about me the way I felt about him. I pushed my legs on his shoulders, and laced my fingers with his on the bed as he finally gave me what I had wanted all along, our breaths and moans mixing like the notes in the music we had, by then, forgotten about. "I love you" he whispered, after collapsing on me when he was done. I kissed his head, wrapping my arms around him tight: "And I love you. Always"

Author's note: if you actually played the game you may recognise what the ending is based on. Yes, fangirl be fangirls, I had to give a nod to the Oshi's ability to kill one's my ovaries in one whispered word. If you have no idea, play the game. You should anyway.

[soggykookiesandcream]

𝐵𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝐹𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 - 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒳𝒱𝐼

Yuna's POV

I step into Jimin's jeep and take a deep breath.

"Ready?" Jimin asks.

"Yeah," I breathe out.

"Let's go," he signals his guards to drive.

Soon, we reached close to the red dot on the map, "He's probably somewhere close," Jimin says.

And just as I was about to look around, the jeep toppled and we were rolling down a dune. Our screams filled the air but the toppling comes to a sudden halt. I look out to see Taehyung. I was terrified. His eyes were glowing and held rage in them. He pulled me out of the jeep and went to Jimin and held him by his collar.

"You fool!" Taehyung screams, "I knew you were a pathetic liar."

"W-wait," Jimin tries to reach his foot to the ground, "let me explain."

"You have two minutes to explain," Taehyung says.

"I didn't lie. I didn't know she was in my camp. She was hiding. When I found her, I tried to find you so I could turn her in," Jimin lies.

"Turn her in?" Taehyung raises his eyebrow.

"Y-yes," Jimin stutters, "to you."

"Hmm," Taehyung continues, "now that's a good boy."

He pats Jimin's head, "You returned me, my queen. In return, I shall offer you something. Name your price."

"P-price?" Jimin looks at me and I nod. If he could get something out of this mess, then let it be. And knowing his selfless nature, he probably will ask something that benefits the camp.

"Yeah," Taehyung turns his head back to look at me. He walks to me and cups my face, "my queen, I got her back safe and sound. And I owe you for it."

"C-can I get something for my camp?" Jimin asks.

"Yes," Taehyung turns around, "definitely. What do you want? Everlasting food? Water? Wealth? Land? Name it. It's yours."

"We have a food and water scarcity. Could you please give us sufficient food and water?" Jimin asks and I smile at the way he was ready to even beg for the people at his camp.

"Yes," Taehyung snaps his fingers and two wooden barrels appeared in front of him, "These two barrels contain water and bread each. It is will be your everlasting source of food and water."

"Thank you so much," Jimin smiles and signals his men to take the barrels to the jeep but realizes that his jeep was in an unusable state. He looks at Taehyung.

"Ah!" Taehyung chuckles and snaps his fingers, resulting in the jeep being back on its tires, "there you go."

All this while, Taehyung kept glancing at me with a smirk. I just put on a confused expression and stood there with my arms crossed.

Jimin and his team soon packed up and left. Jimin had slightly nodded at me with a smile of gratitude before leaving.

Taehyung turns around looks at me up and down causing me to cover my chest with my hands.

"You look ravishing, my dear," he compliments, "let's finish what we started. Shall we?" He smirks.

"N-no," I stutter, "I'm sorry."

"Haha, too late for sorry," he smiles at me, "Time for your punishment. You either take it willingly or it will be forced upon you. Your choice."

He pulls me by my waist and covers my eyes. And in a second, I was at the entrance of a palace which I assume was the castle of Luxon.

"Welcome to the castle of Luxon, my queen," he smiles.

"I already guessed," I say.

"Good," he said pulling me along with him. 

"Stop, where are you taking me?" I ask while trying to free myself and stop him by digging my heels into the ground.

"Our chamber," he answers unaffected by my struggling.

He pushes through a door and throws me onto a bed. He removes his coat and loosens his tie.

"W-what are you going to do?" I ask in fear.

"Your punishment," he smirks coming closer to the bed. 

I crawl back, "Please, don't do this."

"I have to," he sits on the edge of the bed, "I have to mark you to track you wherever you go."

"No," I hug my knees, "please don't do anything."

"I will also be returning your memories," he smiles.

"I-" I stutter, "will you give me time?"

"For what?" He knits his eyebrows together.

"To love you," I lie. I want time for my brother and the others to reach here. Jimin put a tracker on me which I threw somewhere in this castle so that he could find this place.

"W-what?" Taehyung asks in confusion, "Love me?"

"Y-yeah," I look down hoping my acting would work, "I don't want my first time to be forced. If you give me time, I'll try and learn to love you."

"Will you really?" He asks with tears in his eyes. Oh, my acting is working. Please give me an Oscar!

"I'll try. No promises," I say.

"Oh, that's more than enough, my dear," he hugs me, "I am more than happy right now. What do you want to do, my dear, my queen? Are you hungry? Tired? Do you want to rest?"

"Hungry and tired," I smile and confess honestly. When he finds out that I betrayed him, he'd at least see some parts of honesty.

"Well then let's fill this little tummy. Shall we?" He smiles and pokes my tummy.

"Yes," I giggle.

He suddenly lifts me up, "Taehyung-"

"Shush, my dear. You're tired. Let me take care of you," he pecks my forehead.

He takes me to the royal dining hall and sits down on a chair with me on his lap. I tried to get off his lap but he holds me tighter, "No, stay on my lap. I want you near."

He nuzzles his nose into the crook of my neck, "Please."

"Okay," I reply.

He smiles and snaps his fingers, "All your favourites."

I look at the table and see several dishes and none among them were my favourites, "I guess you got my favourites wrong," I chuckle.

"No, dear. These were your favourites from your past life. Try them. You will love it," he says in excitement.

"Uh, okay," I reply and reach out to take a spoon but he stops me, "What?"

"I'll feed you, my dear," he takes the spoon and feeds me. Honestly, the food was amazing since I was actually really hungry. I was thirsty too. I reached out to the glass of water and gulp it down. All this while he was staring at me. I put my hand on his face pushing his head to the other side, "Don't stare at me like that."

"Why?" He smiles, "Is my dear shy?"

"Maybe," I answer.

"You have no reason to be, my dear. You are perfect and beautiful," he says.

I blush. That was real, any woman would blush at his statement.

He pushes my head into the crook of his neck and places a kiss on my head. And soon, I fell asleep...

...in his arms.

1200 words

[traditionalartist]

Hmm...

He'll probably track down Kōki & the twins himself, finds a lot of information on them. Then, when an opportunity arrives, he would confront them when Seijūrō isn't around.

It was just another regular day for the Furihata family. They went out to one of the posh, lavish shopping centers when the twins accidentally bumped into an old man.

The old man glared at them, his sharp gaze piercing. Naoki felt like he was going to die at any moment, but Hiroshi calmly stared back at the old man.

Of course, they both apologized, but the old man still kept glaring on them.

Kōki called out to his sons, telling them it's time to go back home.

But before they can go, the old man called Kōki out, in a commanding tone, demanding a private conversation between them.

Kōki politely obliged & told his sons to go back to their uncle & grandparents first. He'll catch up later.

So now it's just the 2 of them.

If Seijūrō has the aura of a lion, then this old man has the aura of a dragon.

Kōki steeled his nerves, even though his knees were shaking like jelly. Thankfully, he wore pants, so nobody noticed his obvious tremble.

K: "Is... something the matter, sir?"

M: "Are you Furihata Kōki-san?"

K: "Y-yes...?"

M: "Ah. You must be the man my son impregnated 5 years ago."

K: *speechless*

M: "I am Akashi Masaomi, Seijūrō's father."

K: "Oh! I... I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, Akashi-san."

M: "Were those two boys your sons?"

K: "Yes."

M: "Are you currently seeing my son?"

K: "Well... yes."

M: *scoffs* "I didn't expect my son has such a... questionable taste in finding a partner. And a fellow man, at that."

K: "..."

M: "Well, at least you're an Omega. So you can produce more heirs should my two grandsons prove to be incompetent."

K: *stunned* "What is that supposed to mean?"

M: "I did a lot of research on you. A stay-at-home father with no clear source of income. You live with your older brother & parents. When you were in high school, you were part of the basketball team, but you were on the bench for most of the time. Average grades. And when you graduate, you choose to go to work right away instead of going to a university & earning a degree. Even then, you only worked doing manual labors for a few months before you quit. But then again, given your situation, I suppose a mere nobody like you can never have the means of affording an education at a university with high standards. Truly, it's a pity. But what questions me the most is what does my son sees in you? Because honestly, I don't see anything remarkable about you. My Alpha son deserves someone much, much better than you."

K: *still stunned, his mind is processing everything the older man said to him*

M: "Well, I must get going now. I need to have a talk with my son regarding his choice of partner."

Masaomi left, leaving a shell-shocked Kōki.

By the time he & his family got home, he felt mentally exhausted. He excused himself, saying he's not hungry, so he won't have any dinner.

The moment he entered his room, he threw himself into his bed & cried to a restless sleep.

AkaFuri A/B/O AU where Seijūrō & Kōki had a one-night stand & it ends with Kōki getting pregnant with non-identical twins.

(Despite their brief, short meeting, they left a strong impression on each other - and they both regret not exchanging phone numbers that night)

A few years later, they're reunited when Seijūrō felt a bump & spotted 2 little boys resembling him & the young man he had a one-night stand with a few years ago. Said young man runs after the 2 boys, panting & chiding them for running off until he sees Seijūrō.

Time stops, & for a moment, it feels like Kōki & Seijūrō are the only 2 people in the whole universe until the noises made by the 2 boys bring them back to reality.

The 2 men reacquainted themselves, with Kōki claiming Seijūrō as a friend he hadn't seen in a long time. Seijūrō, being the person he is, plays along (and he quickly figures out the 2 boys are his offspring - but he wants to make sure, so he swiftly & subtly picks up 2 locks of hair from each boys without them noticing).

They catch up on each other's life, and eventually, exchange contact infos.

By the time Seijūrō is home, he makes a phone call to Midorima's lab, requesting a DNA test - and he provides the 2 locks of hair when someone from the lab arrives.

Seijūrō makes frequent meetups with Kōki just so he can get to know him better (and look at his face - and vice versa). After their, like, 4th or 7th or 10th meet-up, Kōki finally gathers the courage to invite Seijūrō to the Furihata residence & blurts out the question: "Want to come to my place the next time we meet?"

(There's a lot I want to tell about this AU, but I'm in a rush right now, so I can't say much.

However, Kōki & Seijūrō's sons are the precise carbon copy of themselves, with their personalities swapped. So basically, the older twin inherits Seijūrō's good looks & sharp gaze, but has Kōki's timid personality. The younger twin inherits Kōki's plain, average looks but has Seijūrō's confident & assertive personality. Also, I keep referring them as "the 2 boys" because I still haven't come up with names for them lol

Also, Kōki's originally 4 people household are now a 6 people household - the 2 boys, their dad Kōki, their uncle Kōki's big bro & their grandparents Kōki & his big bro's parents)

(And because you said you're not a fan of the "oops, we have a baby now" trope, feel free to ignore this if this isn't your cup of tea)

Oooooo interesting, please tell me more! I love these two boys already 💓

(Nah nah man, baby fic is VERY different from kid fic. The difference being- "shit- you're... and that's mine... are you sure? Damn, well, I can't not be involved in the life of my child/let's just. Try to make it work. For the baby" versus "wow... long time since I last saw you, what? 3 years? 5? How have you been... [cue the internal angst of] is that someone else's child, oh my God I've missed out on so much, does this child even know about me? Do they think I didn't want to be a part of their life?, Why didn't [insert character name] tell me?, do they... not want me to be involved at all... can I fit into this family? Would I be welcomed?" One thing to know about me: above all I LOVE ANGST)