#still in a Submas phase

[elithesia-autem-danguarde]

Giving Emmet A Pokémon Team In Hisui

I currently have several different ideas swarming around in my head about Submas and the brothers being reunited in one way or another. But today I would like to give me two cents about what team of Pokémon I believe Emmet would have as a Hisuian trainer.

Since Ingo has another team in Hisui, I figure that it’s only fair that Emmet does to, including a special guest to almost stand-in for Sneasler. I haven’t come up with any story ideas of Emmet being a warden (mostly because I like even numbers and would have to make up another to balance the two clans), but I could still see him having special relations with Pokémon, especially if he retains his memories from Unova. So without further ado, here’s who I think would comprise Emmet’s Hisuian team of Pokémon and why:  

Luxay: Not forgetting entirely where he stems from, Emmet takes Luxray as a pure Electric type partner since Eelektross is not available. I admittedly have a bit of a bias here as well since I really love Luxray, but I genuinely felt this was the best option to stick with in regards to a Hisuian main for Emmet, especially with how it contrasts Ingo’s Gliscor. Scizor: Since Durant is not available as a Bug/Steel type option in Hisui, Scizor instead steps in to take that spot, granting Emmet some technical strength in battles. A man just has his preferences sometimes, especially given how he would retain his memories. Yanmega: Bug types are a big part of Emmet’s team, and he does have aerial coverage back on his Unovan team, so I feel Yanmega offers the best of both of those worlds. It’s a stronger Bug type than something like Dustox of Beautifly, and it also has the Flying type to help cover other potential weaknesses. Steelix: Probably my biggest stretch, but Steel is one the the four types I usually associate with Emmet’s team (You can check how I define his and Ingo’s Unovan teams for more context), and he would absolutely go riding on a Steelix throughout the land of Hisui to scare the piss out its residents. It also provides him with a unique Ground-typing to show how he has to think a bit differently to home. Pachirisu: We all love headcanons about Emmet’s little Joltik hoard back on the Unovan Subway, but there are unfortunately no Joltiks present is Hisui. So Pachirisu takes a spot in order to be a small, cute little Pokémon for Emmet to happily carry around on his shoulder from time to time, as well as give him some more Electric type power on his team.  Rampardos: Rock is another type I associate with Emmet, and I can totally see him having a big strong dinosaur on his side that probably loves him because he gives good belly rubs. Either way, it would be another formidable force to handle in battle, which we know he takes very seriously.  Hisuian Zoroark: There is pretty much no story idea in my head where Emmet goes to Hisui and ISN’T involved with Hisuian Zoroark somehow, so this lineup is no exception. Though not a warden officially, Emmet watches over his special Zoroark that provides illusions to keep unwanted wild Pokémon encounters away.

[subwaytostardew]

▽ Subway to Stardew - Black & White Nuances ▽

Emmet's 6-heart event!

This plays after getting at least 6 hearts with Emmet and entering the library after viewing his 2 heart event.

[icarums]

close enough

[wingedarrows]

I posted 11,419 times in 2022

That's 3,125 more posts than 2021!

100 posts created (1%)

11,319 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@mak-to-the-future

@rjmeta

@rainbowchibbit

@11bountyhunters

@modmad

I tagged 5,476 of my posts in 2022

#not my art - 1,626 posts

#video - 695 posts

#comic - 560 posts

#deltarune - 496 posts

#favorites - 313 posts

#tiktok - 283 posts

#the owl house - 252 posts

#pokemon - 215 posts

#ingo - 213 posts

#animals - 199 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#but my parents never really showed any interest in them or in some cases actively discouraged them (coughs danny phantom and gravity falls)

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Haven't drawn the them in a while. Have a """pure""" vessel.

Also a close up of the blanket nest cuz they deserve one so hecking badly

105 notes - Posted November 18, 2022

#4

The twins as the twins because if you're invested in two different brainrots then you gotta combine them

108 notes - Posted March 21, 2022

#3

@staria65 Thank you for this hc it's incredible

See the full post

203 notes - Posted March 13, 2022

#2

Was looking back at the episode about king's backstory and

Gosh hecking dangit it's depicting the titan trappers. It wasn't telling of glory but warning of danger. And that horn at the top in the first picture isn't a horn, it's a moon crescent. The collector. There are so many guardians because there was a group of people massacring their entire species.

Gosh. This show, guys.

398 notes - Posted April 30, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

See the full post

1,323 notes - Posted September 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[jbwashere]

Note: These are just my personal headcanons. They're just for fun. 

Skyla

She/They doesn't care which one you use.

Oblivious sapphic (that's not true, They have a crush on Elesa, but they think she's way out of their league despite being close friends)

In General HC:

Skyla Earhart

22 years old

She lives with her grandfather

Her family has a long line of Airplane Pilots

has a high score on the pokeverse equivalent of Galaga

Skyla's gym has a medical area. have you seen her gym???

She doesn't know how to drive.

She has been close friends with Elesa ever since their first day as Gym leaders. She approached her first, and the rest was history.

Elesa 

She/Her she doesn't mind people using They/Them

She started having a crush on Sklya during the events of BW. She wants to tell her, but she doesn't have the confidence for it.

In General HC:

Elesa V. Edison

24 years old

She's a natural blonde and wears wigs and hair extensions for her gigs.

She likes amusement parks, specifically rollercoasters.

She's not great at drawing, but she has made designs that have gotten featured in shows before.

She wears noise-canceling headphones because of how loud the music can get at fashion shows. ( I can confirm from experience) She also uses her headphones to listen to music.

She has sleepovers with Skyla sometimes.

She has two social media accounts, one is for her modeling career, and the other one is her private acc.

Emmet

He/Him

Arospec, leaning towards Aroflux. It fluctuates depending on the day. On some days he WANTS romance, and on other days he doesn't care about it.

Sex-positive but wouldn't do it.

In General HC:

Emmet Gradon-Thomas 

26 years old

labels his lunches

Has Thalassophobia (refuses to get on a boat)

He can sing, and briefly knows the guitar

He's a musical man! He goes to the Nimabasa musical theater with his pokemon whenever he has time off

 Emmet used to proofread Ingo's fics and was upset when his brother discontinued one of his favorites. (He will also call out stuff in people's fics about him. Like, "This is verrrry inaccurate I don't battle like that")

Ingo

He/Him

 Arospec, leaning towards Grayromantic. He rarely gets crushes, and he doesn't mind that, but he is also unsure of his romantic attraction from time to time.

Sex-indifferent

In General HC:

Ingo Gradon-Thomas 

26 years old

Steals Emmet's food

Gets car sickness

He can also sing and knows how to play the trumpet (He joined a marching band in high school)

His music taste changed as he aged, but he still enjoys rock.

He went through an emo phase and has written fanfic (No, he doesn't want to talk about it, and no, he will not tell you the account's name.)

Bonus Submas last names: These were the last names that managed to convince me. It literally means Gray-haired twin.

[estethell]

What fandom or which characters would you say are your passion projects? Meaning, which characters would you happily draw without being asked or commissioned to do so? You can name as many as you want; I'm just curious! <3

Ciaooooooo :D First of all, thank you to ask me this very interesting ask and thank you to heart because you always support me and my art <3

Eh eh eh eh list is very looong but let's start!! (I shorten the post so it's not annoying, read on to know more)

If someone else wants to ask me some curiosity, my ask box is open!!!

-The Hobbit - Bofur/Nori/Dori/Bilbo - I think it is now known that I really have a soft spot for these characters xD They are characterized very well and I love drawing and writing them trying to best express their character and behavior. Also, I love drawing their hair because it's complicated and beautiful! About Bilbo... because he's so cute ><

-Submas - Emmet/Ingo - I find these twins really adorable! Among them, I certainly prefer Ingo, with whom I fell in love in his Arceus version of him!!

-Marvel - Doctor Strange - I loved this character at a particular moment in my life where I felt that like him I had lost everything important to me because of me. Even though I didn't love his latest movie, I still love drawing him!!

-My Hero Academia - All Might - Precisely daddy All Might, I simply love when this character in the latest series is becoming a daddy for Deku. I love it, nothing to add!!

-Hetalia - Russia - I love to draw cute characters and I find Russia to be a really cute character. Beyond his character and what he represents about him, Russia is really pleasant to draw and he always gives me great satisfaction!!

-Fairy Tail - Levy McGarden/Gajeel This is one of the couples that I liked the most since I started being interested in manga/anime and drawing. Although, I have to admit, I almost never draw them. I really drew them many years ago when my art was still very questionable, but now it never happened to me. I am sure that one day I will draw them again

-Naruto - Rock Lee- Ok, if you can find me drawing here today, you have to blame Naruto. It accompanied me throughout my adolescence making me fall in love with manga and anime, drawing and fandom in general. With Naruto I started to understand that I liked drawing and creating stories thanks to those drawings. I loved many Naruto characters, I had real phases where I doted on a certain character, and the last one is Rock Lee. I love drawing Rock Lee, he really makes the day!! Others characters I loved was Gaara, Sasori, Deidara, Iruka, Temari

[ar1h1]

I'm so in love with submas, it's actually insane for me... I don't think I've ever been this obsessed with characters in my life... Even in my hetalia and Undertale phase. This is insanity. I'm both thankful and angry at this. They both make me so happy but sad. I just want to shake them like maraca and chew on them as if they're chew toys. I literally have cried over them. This is so unhealthy, but they're literally one of the very few reasons I'm still alive today.

[peachypede]

34: Who/what was your last dream about?

I answered this question here but it was a sucky nightmare so how about a more fun dream that I’ve never told anyone…

I appear to have an incubus? Succubus? Possibly? Either that or my brain is insanely creative…

The first dream it happened was way back in my Overwatch phase. I had a dream about the character I had a crush on, Genji, but he said something like “How interesting, I never take forms like this. This is new.” And then proceeded to woo me as Genji…

Which like…wouldn’t have been too strange until like last yearish when I entered the submas obsession and it seemed to have appeared again?? As Emmet of course cause ya’ll know how much I like him. He remarked “your tastes have changed, huh? That’s okay. I like this form, too. I like being these characters for you. It’s fun. ” And then wooed me again.

I haven’t seen him since. His presence did feel like…weird? Like I felt like it wasn’t my brain just making it up. But still. Could just be my brain being creative haha.

It’s just one of those “if I had a nickel for every time this happened, I’d have two nickels! Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it’s happened twice, right?”

[purupurple]

i believe that will be it for me this year digital art-wise considering my tablet cord has had enough of my nonsense and now it's basically dead (tablet itself seems okay though so that's good... but its pretty old...) and also i'm going out of town soon so there won't be much time to do any drawing for a good while i think. maybe i should take my sketchbook though... guess i'll put some thoughts under a readmore

well... what a year. i should write about it on my neocities before i have to fly out. remember neocities? i sure didn't for a solid six months. hey, html is hard, what can i say? that aside, i'd like to thank everyone for the support this year. my blog grew quite a lot because i was drawing quite a bit of subway boss stuff and apparently that was a good idea. like, dude... i've just been having a prolonged brainrot episode and it's still probably going to keep going for a good long while. even larry hasn't distracted me long enough to not draw ingo and emmet for one day. even without submas art i would probably still be drawing pokemon stuff, unless i decide to be real bold and re-experience my great ace attorney phase (yes i had one (no i didn't post about it. thank god)) or something like that. regardless of whether my interests shift of my activity rises or falls, and whether those who follow me now stick around or move on, i'd still like to express my gratitude for your support. and not just to people following me, but to the people liking and/or reblogging my content and to those who will follow me in the future. without the feedback, i figure i would not be posting so much. funny little notification on funny little computer make the smooth little brain become happier brain, which is a "i want to draw" brain. the amount of notes doesn't matter overall, but it's nice to be acknowledged. i still do a lot of drawing that isn't shared here because it's just stuff i do for me, but its still pretty nice to be able to make stuff that is suitable to post and to see it actually get attention.

as for the plan next year, there might be some big changes in store for me yet. and i would still like to continue to draw subway bosses. but maybe i'll start posting some original content too (like i mean i have a tag for it and i kinda haven't been using it sooooooooooooo) and more frequent posts would be nice. maybe not once a week but just here and there. perhaps i'll share more sketches. i would like to acquaint everyone with my ocs, and maybe get around to rewriting their toyhouse pages which i took down to work on and never did WHOOPSIE DOODLES

okay i think that's enough, i have to save some of this for my diary on neocities like i said... see y'all next year AYYYYYY (im so tired)

[hoofpeet]

scenecore ingo/emmet. need i say more

They had a phase ..😔

[turtle-trash]

Something I think is funny :)

(More context via a discord screenshot bc of course it is)

——————

[droppingartintotheinfinite]

If you want to know how long my queue is at any given moment, this was actually the first pokemon fanart I drew by a week or two. The other stuff I just posted immediately because I wanted notes

[subwaytostardew]

I forgot whether or not Emmet gets a nine heart event, but if he does I think it would be super cute if the 9th heart event is the farmer and Joltik waiting for Emmet for a change, since any other events on the mountain pass will be after you marry him, and you know, he'd be living with you and the Joltik. It would be nice to show him that the farmer is taking excellent care of the Joltik entrusted to them!

AWWWW That would be cute!! I like that idea.

We originally didn't have any plans for 9-hearts since it's actually in the dating phase (no marriage until 10-hearts). It would still be nice to imply that submas still do their whole routine of tracking you down/dispatching letters even after 8 hearts.

That's a perfect set up for another mountain pass event without being married. Emmet would be happy to see the farmer taking care of their Joltik and following his routine.

As for Ingo (who I have still not gotten around to polishing the letters for ;;;>.>), I'd like for him to write a 9-heart letter to the farmer mainly because he doesn't want Emmet overhearing his words of affection.

They'll probably be short and sweet... Well, by Subway to Stardew standards... Vanilla events are usually about a minute long. Emmet's 9-heart event won't be another 30 minutes that's for sure. Ingo's letter would just be more lighthearted.

▷ Station Steward Thylak

[xmascritter]

So, I have been dragged out of my internet slumber leading up to finals to see this mess, and i dont post much, but I do have to rant here because people keep saying something that gets on my nerves.

NSR/NO STRAIGHT ROADS PEOPLE: THIS RANT IS NOT AT YOU! This is tagged because I am using concept art of Sayu. Please go on with your day. :)

Now, for the Subma and/or Pokémon fans,

As Im sure everyone who has been under the ingo tab for more than 2 seconds today has learned, there's supposedly a leak of pages from the PLA concept art book of the concept art of Ingo with a receding hairline and no eyebrows. If you don't know what Im talking about, here is the picture.

Now, I feel I have to address this first before I move on to my actual problem here. I personally see no problem with Ingo having a receding hairline and no eyebrows. Honestly it's kind of funny. Will I personally be drawing and/or imagining him with a receding hairline? For the most part, probably not, but I support the people who do.

HOWEVER, what I AM pissed about are the people who are saying that this is canonical. You have to remember that this is an art book, and while it is still official concept art, it is just that, CONCEPT art.

CONCEPT 👏 ART 👏 IS 👏 NOT 👏 ALWAYS 👏 CANON!!! 👏

A perfect example of this is Sayu from the game "No Straight Roads" by Metronomik (hi NSR fans, sorry if you're still here and have decided to see the fuck is happening in the pokémon side of tumblr). The lovely crew behind the character designs for the game let us see A LOT of the concept art for these characters, and probably one of the most distinct evolutions of the characters design in the lineup and probably the best example of my case is Sayu, the bubbly mermaid popstar. Some of her earliest concept art shows her even before she was decided to be a mermaid!

Now, is this what sayu looks like? NO! Can you draw her like that or write fanfic about her looking like that? Yes! But JUST BECAUSE ITS AN OFFICIAL CONCEPT DOES NOT MEAN ITS CANON. Early concept art of her even in her mermaid form shows a vastly different design!!!

Later concepts do get a lot closer to what her official design is, but, well... thats how concept art works! The later concepts are going to a lot more closely resemble the final product because its what immediately lead to it!!!

Needless to say, we don't know all the changes Ingo's design went through during concept phases to his official artwork, since Gamefreak only shows us so much in these artbooks, we don't fully know how his design has evolved over time. However, this

And this

Are the official design and model that we got. Meaning his hairline could be fucking across his forhead for all we know. Please, do have fun and enjoy drawing bald Ingo, I look forward to seeing what this does to all the fanfics, headcanons (ha!), and the stories. But please, don't call that shiny head canon, I don't need to burst a blood vessel today. You can call me in denial all you want, but unless we see his hairline in some official artwork like pokemon masters or the anime or something, I will continue to sit on this hill until I too look like I've gone through hell after getting yeeted to the wrong time period.

TL,DR; girl gets irrationally mad at tumblr because they keep saying that because something is in the concept art that it is canon.

Thank you for reading through my half baked rant, and I am sorry.

[leggerefiore]

Got any headcannons for the submas twins parents? Like when they meet their sons s/o? (Gotta say it but i love your work! 💜)

let's go wild with what are basically my ocs

▲Ingo▼

● This is extremely important to him. He sits down in deep contemplation of how to introduce you to his parents. First of all, they don't even live in Nimbasa so unless he takes you on a day trip to Anville, or they decide to visit him, you're unlikely to meet them. It's important, still. These are his parents, and they are extremely precious to him. It's from them in which his ideal relationship stems.

● They are always in synchrony with each other, having to learn to work with one another. His mother is a retired professional trainer, and his father is a train mechanic. It's from them in which both his passions bloomed. His mom ended giving up her career to raise him and his brother with his father (and because she was tired of the spotlight. She's a recreational trainer and occasionally pops onto their super lines, sweeping through trainers easily). All of it is romantic to Ingo.

● He would listen to them recount their meeting constantly when he was a child. His father had gotten caught under a train he was repairing. His mother's Conkeldurr proceeded to hold up the piece, trapping him. He crawled out to his freedom and immediately fell for his saviour. She claims she only thought he was alright (He was covered in sweat and grease). Ingo thought it was adorable.

● That's why, when you asked to meet his parents, he blushed deeply. What if you realised that he imitated a lot of what his parents did? Oh, no. Oh, no- You both planned the trip to Anville, and he discussed it with his parents. They were excited to meet his mysterious partner.

● You sat before them in their home at the table. His mother had a frighteningly familiar smile with seemingly iridescent, chrome eyes. His father held a harsh frown, with the silver strands of his hair collecting into a familiar fringe and side burn. It was genetic, you shivered. They stared at you before his mother broke the tension, “Did Ingo ever tell you about his goth phase? He painted his favourite model train black, then started crying because it was so ugly.” Ingo gasped at his mother's betrayal, while his father started laughing.

● It was obvious how friendly the two were, and how they appreciated you taking care of their son. Ingo was overworking himself so hard and skipping meals enough to leave them concerned. His father said he doesn't know where he gets it from, while his mother gives him a glare you understand far too well. She is grateful that you genuinely love him and aren't just using him for the acclaim. His father is interested about how you met, and what you want to do with your life.

● You find yourself in good conversation with them, quickly realising that they are just normal people. His father goes on about trains and his love for them, explaining how he used to take Ingo and Emmet along with him. His mother breaks the locomotive to talk about her days as a trainer, and how nervous she was when Ingo brought home Litwick of all things. It's all lighthearted and easy-going. You leave them with their obvious acceptance towards your relationship with their son.

● Of course, for good measure, his mom asks how long until Ingo talks you into kids. He turns bright red and about drags you away from her. You shout out that he's already trying.

▽Emmet△

○ Emmet ponders introducing you to his parents. Their opinion was important to him, yes, but he didn't think it's necessary to have you meet them immediately. He wonders if they'll be in the city any time soon, or if he'll need to make the trip to their home in Anville with you. That could be nice, he realised. Showing you where he grew up! He could even show you where the Joltiks burrow out there. And meet his parents, of course.

○ His parents are very dear to him, both encouraging him in his two biggest passions: trains and battles. His mother told him stories about how she nearly beat Alder a few times and had even been invited to become an Elite Four member. She turned it down, however. The fame stressed her out and led her to visiting the quiet town of Anville, where she proceeded to save an idiot from nearly dying. That idiot immediately fell in love with her. He proved himself a nice change of pace from her routine of training and strategising. Emmet adored the idea of finding someone who helped change your perspective.

○ His mother often challenged his and Ingo's separate lines to surprise them and remind them that they still have a rival in her. (She beats them more times than she loses.) Emmet takes his lunch afterwards to spend some precious time with her, missing her dearly. He bounces some strategies off her and listens to her complaints that him and Ingo should be twin champions, not Subway Bosses.

○ What came as a surprise was to see his mom and you challenging the Multi Line together. You were laughing at something the older woman said and smiled when you saw your boyfriend and his twin. His mom shot you an estranged look before gazing at her younger son knowingly. Oh, no. She was going to absolutely destroy them.

○ Naturally, you and her reigned victorious, and she gave you a tight hug and welcomed you to the family. Confusion rang across your face while she had a laugh. Ingo rushed over to introduce their mother properly, while Emmet treaded carefully. You were stunned for a moment, but the glowing eyes were nearly identical to their own.

○ Her smile was freakishly like Emmet's, but you chose to instead focus on the cuteness of her hugging the twins. A kiss was pressed to their cheeks. Ingo was flustered by it, but Emmet just giggled. She then demanded you meet her husband and ordered the younger twin to come along. He sighed and told Ingo that he was a taking his lunch. (Ingo let him have the rest of the day off, feeling that this was of grave importance.)

○ You chatted with his mother on the train ride over, learning of her achievements and funny stories of Emmet's youth. Apparently, he once got so upset at a video game, that he bit the system and chipped a tooth. You giggled at that, while Emmet claimed that the game was frustrating. The train stops at the station, and you take in the quiet sight of Anville. Emmet grasps your hand as he stares at his hometown. His grins at the tender gesture.

○ You meet his father, who proceeds to argue with Emmet over something train adjacent before turning his attention to you. You're introduced as Emmet's partner, and a small smile crosses his face. He apologises for Emmet's wickedness; he never intended to raise such a demon. You laugh at his words, and the younger twin pouts. He was an angel to you! His arms go around your waist while he glares at his dad. A pleasant afternoon is had before you two depart back home. During your leave, his father yells out that twins are expensive. Emmet sticks his tongue out at him and drags you away.

[coramatus]

Submas does Over the Garden Wall now aka Under the City Streets

A follow up drabble to this

Updated version here

When Emmet and Ingo meet for the second time in the Unknown, it’s a complete accident.

Emmet, still hurting from the knowledge of what Volo’s selfishness had wrought; still weighed down by the strange truths he had learned about this place; still upset over how Ingo’s actions have hurt the residents of the Unknown, simply turns a corner in the dark forest path and finds his brother right there.

The two stop and stare at each other.

Neither speak for what feels like an eternity.

“It’s you again…” Ingo finally says.

Ingo looks conflicted this time. He desperately wants to believe Emmet has been nothing but a Zoroark but something in him that's only been getting louder tells him to stop and listen. The things he’s been starting to notice about his situation as the Unknown’s Woodsman, the things he’d tried to ignore as he fulfilled his duties, all the little wrong things are starting to pile up. His conviction has been shaken and he’s teetering on the precipice of something terrifying.

He knows that this meeting with Emmet is what will or will not push him over that edge.

“Ingo…” Emmet whispers.

The Unknown has not been kind to him.

Emmet is in rough shape. His journey through these woods has left him battered. Cuts and bruises mark his face. His eyes have shadows under them, his skin paler than Ingo remembers. His shoulders sag with the weight of exhaustion and sadness.

His once pristine gloves are shredded and filthy, the fingertips long torn away. His clothes too are stained, muddy, and scorched. His dress shirt has been torn open to reveal the singlet underneath. The ends of his greatcoat are missing, left in tatters as if something with massive sharp teeth ripped it out. Half his right sleeve is gone too as is the cuff of his left. His right arm is bandaged with the remains of his tie. His white hat is burnt in places.

“Where is he?” is all Emmet asks. His face is expressionless.

He looks wrong.

why isn’t he smiling he’s always smiling what is going on??

“Who?” Ingo asks instead.

Emmet’s eyes are dull as he looks into Ingo’s, dulled with such sadness as he presses on, “Your brother. Where is he?”

“Somewhere safe,” Ingo answers, trying to keep his voice from wavering.

Emmet stares evenly at him. His dull, dull gaze moves to the lantern in Ingo’s hand.

“You’re lying. It’s that lantern, isn’t it?” he says. There’s no accusation there. Only the truth. “You think that’s your brother.”

Ingo says nothing.

“I don’t know why else you would obsess over that damn thing,” Emmet says with a humorless laugh. He points at it disparagingly, his normally flat voice rising with indignant fury as he verbally tears into it, “Look at it. It’s not even up to modern regulation; those were phased out a century ago! They’re fire hazards! You know how many people those things have burned to death because their oil spilled after a simple collision. It’s the least safe thing a Subway Boss could ever carry around!”

Ingo cuts him off with a shaking, fearful question, “What do you want?”

Emmet holds out his hand, imploring, “Come home. This is not your home. That is not your brother. You do not belong here.”

He takes a step forward.

“Stay back!” Ingo screams as he swings his axe at Emmet.

But this time Emmet doesn’t move to dodge it. He doesn’t even blink.

A shallow cut opens on his cheek.

It’s like Ingo’s been punched in the gut, the sight stealing his breath away in horror.

i did that i did that i did that i hurt my little brother

Emmet is still before he raises a hand to the cut. His fingers come away with blood.

Ingo chokes back a whimper.

what is happening why is everything so wrong what is he doing

Emmet’s eyes, though dull, briefly come into focus on him as he asks,

“Ingo… if that’s your brother, then what is his name?”

Ingo starts to answer… but stops.

…

He realizes… he has no idea.

“H-his name…” Ingo stutters, his breaths racing, racking his mind, searching, searching, searching, “He… your name… I don’t…”

He feels a gentle hand on his arm and looks up to find Emmet standing before him. There’s the traces of a smile, a spark of hope in his eyes.

“Your brother’s name is Emmet. I am Emmet. I am your brother, Ingo.”

Ingo stares.

And turns and flees.

Everything is falling apart for him. Everything he thought he knew is unravelling right before his eyes. Everything he had done was all for a lie. Lies, lies, and more lies. He can’t take it anymore.

So he runs.

Emmet doesn’t follow.

He lets Ingo run from him.

When the crashing of brush stops, when Ingo throws himself behind a tree, sliding down its trunk into a crumpled heap, heaving in frantic lungfuls of air, Emmet simply projects his voice into the dark and still forest, hoping Ingo is listening.

“I am Emmet. I will not chase you. I know you… you need time. I am sorry I could not help you more. I will see you later. Please… find me if you want to.”

With the most sorrow he’s ever felt, he adopts his point and call pose. Tears trail down his face as he recites his opening battle speech.

“Follow the rules. Safe driving.”

“Follow the schedule,” Ingo recites in sync with Emmet.

He can’t won’t stop himself.

“Everybody smile,” Emmet continues, “Check safety.”

“Everything's ready. Aim for victory,” Ingo whispers along.

He knows every word by heart.

“All aboard,” they repeat in unison.

He’s heartbroken that he has to do this, but Emmet turns around and leaves. He’s crying.

Ingo is crying too.