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chicgeekgirl89 · 2 months ago

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A/N: @lemonlyman-dotcom. My darling. I HAVE CONNED YOU!! This is like in the Hallmark movies when you find out he/she was really a prince(ss)/secret millionaire/the owner of the evil corporation all along. YOUR SECRET SANTA IS MEEEEEEEEE!!! The Christmas tree fic is a FAKE!! I pretended to moan and groan about how I couldn't get this fic written BUT REALLY I WAS DELIGHTEDLY CRAFTING IT FOR YOU THE WHOLE TIME!!! Oh the evil joy it brought me every time I posted a little snippet of complete malarky and you reblogged it MWAHAHAHA!! 😈 How did I do? Were you fooled by my outstanding acting? Hehe, I hope you were and that this is a complete surprise! I took your @tarlos-santa prompt idea about Owen and Carlos teaming up to get T.K. the perfect gift and ran with it. It's full of holiday shenanigans and little easter eggs for you, good luck finding them all! (Also I hope you like this badly photoshopped header, I am delighted by the low quality badness of it lol!)

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“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Carlos freezes, his lips pressed against the soft skin that lies just below T.K.’s bellybutton. His left index finger is hooked into the elastic waistband of T.K.’s boxers and he’s already pulled them down low enough to see the sharp jut of his husband’s hipbone. He lifts his head, slightly alarmed. “Am I sure I want to give my husband a pre-work blowjob? Well I was, but now I’m not.”

“No, not that. Please keep doing that,” T.K. says, shifting a little bit, his hands going up behind his head. “I meant are you sure you want to go Christmas shopping with my dad today?”

“Oh, that.” Carlos presses another kiss into him. “Why wouldn’t I want to go?”

“Because my dad is…a lot,” T.K. says, then sucks in a breath when Carlos scrapes his teeth over that sexy hipbone. “And he’s terrible at Christmas shopping.”

“I know,” Carlos mumbles against T.K.’s skin. “That’s why I’m going.”

A week ago Owen had given him a call and invited him out for lunch and Christmas shopping. Surprised, but also pleased, he’d readily agreed and they’d made plans to meet at a restaurant in The Domain and hit up some of the stores afterward. Owen had texted Carlos last night to remind him to wear comfortable, practical footwear and bring reusable bags.

“Maybe,” he says, nipping at the sensitive skin in the crux of T.K.’s thigh so that he squirms, “if I go, you’ll actually get something you like this year.”

“You really think that you can convince my dad to buy something normal for Christmas?” T.K. scoffs. “Good luck.”

Carlos looks up at him again. “You underestimate the cow eyes?”

“You’re going to use the cow eyes on my dad?”

“If I have to.”

“You’re going to use the cow eyes on my dad to stop him from buying me a fifteen pound block of imported cheese from Italy because the salesman tells him it’s a good deal? Or a decorative, three foot tall, hand carved horse statue that he thinks matches the aesthetics of the loft? Or—“

“I will take care of it,” Carlos assures him.

“What if he—“

“T.K.!”

“What?”

“How about we stop talking about your dad while I’m trying to blow you?”

He tugs T.K.’s boxers down, freeing his morning wood and T.K. lets out a hiss as the cool air of the loft touches his skin along with Carlos’ fingers. “Okay, yeah,” he says, his voice tight with the beginnings of pleasure. “We can do that.”

Two hours later Carlos is showered and dressed and pulling into the parking lot on the north side of the Domain. He checks the mall map and heads toward Flower Child, a restaurant with great vegan options and fresh ingredients.

Owen is sitting at a table outside, a Yankees hat on his head, and he stands when Carlos gets close, excitement on his face. “Carlos, good to see you,” he says, pulling him in for a brief hug.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

Owen looks at him sympathetically as they sit. “I know this year is going to be hard,” he says. “And I know Christmas shopping with me isn’t the same as doing it with your dad, but I want to help where I can.”

Carlos bites back a snort of laughter. He and his dad never once Christmas shopped together. His dad hated shopping. It’s very sweet that Owen—who loves shopping and would consider an afternoon at the mall with his son a highlight of his week—thinks Gabriel and Carlos would have enjoyed doing the same, but honestly the idea of trying to drag his dad around for hours buying presents is hilarious.

“That’s very thoughtful Owen, thank you,” Carlos says, hoping with all his might that his dad is watching down from somewhere and laughing too.

“I took the liberty of ordering us both their seasonal rose petal lemonade,” Owen says. “Have you had the Glow Bowl here? The shiitake combined with the sunflower sauce is di-vine.”

“That sounds good,” Carlos says, flipping the menu over to take a look.

“The last time I brought T.K. here he had the roasted beet and organic apple salad.”

“I think I remember that,” Carlos says with a smile. His father-in-law has a penchant for taking menu items very seriously, a fun quirk that has carried over to T.K. His husband gets very excited anytime they try a new restaurant. Although he usually ends up liking Carlos’ meal better than his own, stealing bites until Carlos offers to switch.

He ends up ordering the Glow Bowl and Owen decides to go wild and try the Brussels sprouts and organic kale salad after some banter with their server. “So,” Owen says, taking a sip of his lemonade. “How’s the new job?”

“Not so new anymore,” Carlos says. It’s been almost eight months at this point, but he and Owen really haven’t spent any significant time together since he started with the Rangers outside of professional reasons. He’s barely had time for his husband let alone anyone else. “I feel like I’m starting to find my place though. It’s different from beat work.”

“I’d imagine so. The hat and the belts alone are quite the change,” Owen comments.

Carlos chuckles. “Yeah it’s definitely a look.”

“Well, it’s one you wear quite well. How’s your mom?”

His smile dims. “She’s okay. The holidays are hard. She and my dad had a lot of traditions. But my tías and my sisters have been around a lot, so that helps.”

“And she has a son who is carrying on his father’s legacy,” Owen says. “I’m sure that helps too.”

Carlos shrugs, letting his fingers hug the glass in front of him, the condensation making them slick. “I guess.”

“You are humble to a fault Carlos,” Owen says. “I’m sure both of your parents are proud of you. I know I am. The way you’ve handled things this last year is impressive.”

“It doesn’t feel impressive.” Vulnerability slips into his tone. It’s not something he allows often, but his father-in-law pulled him back from the edge of making one of the biggest, most irreparable mistakes of his life. He’s already seen Carlos at his worst; admitting that he’s been struggling won’t do any damage. “It feels like I’m barely keeping my head above water most days,” he admits.

“The first year of marriage is always challenging,” Owen tells him factually. “I would know, I’ve done it several times. You and T.K. have faced some unique circumstances that have made it even more difficult. But you’re still together, working on yourselves, your relationship, your careers. That is impressive. Don’t forget to let yourself celebrate it.”

“Thanks,” Carlos says, dropping his eyes as his cheeks flush. “That means a lot.”

“Good.” Owen taps the table, his face serious. “Now, let’s talk about T.K.’s birthday. I have some ideas.”

They eat and talk with companionable ease. Carlos steers Owen away from the idea of hiring a mariachi band and circus performers for the party, but does concede to hiring a DJ. They also decide to have it catered by Carlos and T.K.’s favorite taco truck; the one that makes homemade churros that are to die for.

When they finish eating they throw away their garbage and Owen looks at him with renewed vigor. “So,” he says, “where should we start?”

“Well I have a few ideas—”

“So do I! Come on, let me show you!”

Carlos follows his father-in-law down the line of stores. Even though it’s seventy-five degrees outside the place feels festive. There are windows decked out with wreaths and snowmen and Christmas trees, and Mariah Carey is blasting over the speakers. Families walk by, some smiling, others arguing. There are little kids dressed in their holiday best, ready for family photos, and a few melting down over toys that Santa won’t be bringing for several more weeks.

They walk into a store selling fitness equipment and Owen gestures grandly to a large black tub. “An ice bath!”

Carlos tries to school his face into something neutral. “An ice bath?”

“They are all the rage in the health and fitness industry right now. They boost your metabolism, provide stress relief, reduce inflammation, and improve your mood.”

“Mhm,” Carlos says, fully aware of the ice bath craze, but seeing for the first time just how difficult it might be to sway his father-in-law away from some of his more zany gift ideas.

Owen’s face falls in a way that is so reminiscent of T.K.’s disappointed face that Carlos feels a pang of guilt. “You don’t like it.”

“No, I—it’s a great idea,” Carlos says. “I’m just…I’m not sure where we’d put it in the loft.” He tries to emphasize how small and unsuited the loft is to this kind of gift without saying it aloud.

“Ah!” Owen says. “That’s the thing! This one is completely collapsible. Store it in the closet until you want it and then inflate it with one of these pumps in less than twenty minutes.” He grabs one off the shelf and holds it up to show Carlos. “It’s a cinch!”

“It…yeah. Seems…easy,” Carlos says, wondering how the hell he’s going to steer this ship to something more appropriate for T.K.

“And,” Owen says, “it’s really two for the price of one. Because you both can use it. Not at the same time obviously, it’s a very small tub.”

“Right,” Carlos says.

Owen eyes him critically. “Hm…you don’t seem to love the idea.”

“Oh no, I mean, if you think T.K.—“

“No, no, I can see it in your eyes. This isn’t the one. Not to worry, I have other options.”

He marches down a few aisles, but before they can find whatever it is he’s got his mind on, a smiling employee blocks their path. “Hello gentlemen. Finding everything you need?” she asks.

“Ah, not quite yet,” Owen tells her. “We are shopping for my son. This is his husband, Carlos.”

“Nice to meet you,” she says and something in her eyes hooks onto them. “You know, I’m not sure what exactly you’re in the market for, but we are having a sale on our elite face shape massagers.”

“Face shape massager?” Carlos asks in confusion.

She whips out a white box with a circular shaped device on the inside. “Yes! This little piece of technology can help reduce the appearance of double chins and improve skin quality! Would you like to give it a try?”

“Um, no, that’s okay,” Carlos says. “You know I really think we need to be moving on, right Owen?”

“No, no!” Owen says. “Give it a try. It can’t hurt. We Strand men have strong jawlines and I’m sure T.K. would like to keep his intact as the years go by. Let’s see how it works.”

Before Carlos can protest further the woman is looping the device over his head, his jaw clamping shut at the pressure. She pushes a button and red light illuminates his skin while the entire thing begins to vibrate. “Can you feel how the photons lift and firm the skin?” she asks.

“Mhmm,” Carlos says, the sound vibrating along with the massager.

“That is incredible,” Owen says, taking a step closer so he can get a better look. “It has red and blue infra lights?”

“It does! And it works even better when combined with our Cleopatra LED Light Mask,” she says, showing them a plastic mask that would make even Hannibal Lecter flee in terror. Carlos can only imagine how T.K. would use that to torture him, leaning over him in the middle of the night, his face lit by the red glow of the lights…

Carlos rips the massager off his face and hands it back to the woman. “Thank you so much for your time, but I think we’re going to go a different direction.”

"I don’t know Carlos, these both seem very reasonably priced,” Owen says, checking out the tag.

“You know what, I actually think T.K. already has both of these,” Carlos says in desperation. He mentally casts around for a believable lie. “…Marjan got them for his birthday… last year.”

“Oh, well, in that case—“

“What about for you, sir?” the woman asks Owen, her skills at capturing her prey honed to perfection after years of retail work. “I can see you take excellent care of your skin. Your pores are nearly non-existent.”

Owen beams and fifteen minutes later they walk out the door with two bags of “me-gifts” for him to put under his own Christmas tree. “Are you sure you don’t want some of these under eye de-puffers?” Owen asks, “They come in a two-pack.”

“I’m good,” Carlos says. “Thank you though.”

“Let me know if you change your mind.”

“Will do.”

“Okay,” Owen claps his hands. “So we’ve struck out on T.K. so far, but I have another idea.”

“Great!” Carlos says.

Owen looks at him with great confidence. “A hat.”

“A hat?”

“A hat.”

Forty-five minutes later Carlos loses the hat battle and they leave a Western wear shop with a brown leather cowboy hat for T.K. that he is going to love, but will have no practical use for outside of their bedroom. Owen is thrilled that his son can now match with Carlos, and Carlos is just glad they got the brown one and not the shiny blue one with silver stars.

He offers to take their bags to the car since they’re starting to get in the way and he’s on his way back, trying to figure out how he’s going to convince his father-in-law to go to Dick’s Sporting Goods and buy some batting gloves that are actually on T.K.’s wish list. Owen will probably dislike this idea because it is both practical and reasonably priced.

Carlos is plotting his plan of attack when a hand reaches out and grabs him, jerking him behind a sign with a map of the mall on it. “Whoa, hey!” he says, before realizing it’s Owen who has latched onto his arm. “What’s going on?”

“Look. Over there.”

Carlos follows the line of his finger to a kiosk selling cellphone cases and accessories. “Owen, what am I looking at?”

“That guy.”

“The one that looks like Santa?” The jolly, bearded fellow is talking to the seller at the kiosk, smiling and laughing.

“And the other guy.”

A shifty looking man, younger than the bearded grandfatherly type who is talking to the salesperson, is lurking near the stand too. “Okay…” Carlos says.

“I’ve been following them since you left. I’m pretty sure they just shoplifted from Bath and Body Works. And it looks like they’re about to do it again. We need to stop them.”

“Owen, that’s a pretty serious accusation. Are you sure that’s really what you saw?”

“The jolly one was distracting the workers with his holiday charm and I’m pretty sure the shifty one put several hand sanitizers in his pockets.”

Carlos barely stops himself from rolling his eyes. “Pretty sure?”

“There was a stand of candles in the way, but I know I’m very sure he was shoving them in by the handfuls.”

“Then let’s go tell a mall security guard.”

“All they’re going to do is call APD. You can arrest them now and prevent more crime from happening before APD can even get here.”

“I can’t arrest them because you think you saw them do something,” Carlos says.

Owen sighs. “Just watch. You’ll see.”

As they watch the shifty guy moves away from the stand and slinks toward another store a little further down. Carlos relaxes his shoulders. “See? Nothing happening here. Let’s check out—“

He’s interrupted by a huge crash as an entire shelf of the cellphone kiosk hits the floor, sending things flying everywhere. Everyone in the area stops and stares as the kiosk worker reels backward and falls to the floor.

Owen and Carlos move simultaneously. “Whoa, easy there,” Owen says as the kiosk worker tries to sit up. “That was a nasty fall. Are you hurt?”

“No, no, I’m okay,” he says, wincing as he pushes himself upright. “I don’t know what happened.”

“It looks like someone removed the pins from this shelf,” Carlos says, examining it.

“Removed the pins? Why would someone do that?”

“Could have been a prank of some kind,” Carlos says.

“Or it could have been someone trying to create a distraction,” Owen says, giving Carlos a meaningful look.

“A distraction?” The guy looks confused. “What?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Carlos tells him. “Here, we’ll help you clean this up.”

They spend a few minutes picking up cellphone bits and bobs and helping the guy get the shelf back into place. “Is that everything?” Owen asks.

The guy looks around. “Yeah. I think so. Thank you guys for your help, I’m sure you have other things to get back to.”

As soon as they’re out of earshot Owen shakes his head. “Told you. Shoplifters.”

“Owen…”

“I know, you think I’m crazy. But where are that Santa guy and his shifty elf helper now, huh? Did they stick around to help? No. I bet you that shifty guy loosened that shelf on purpose and then he and Santa grabbed things from one of these nearby stores while we were distracted.”

“Or,” Carlos says pragmatically, “the shelf was never installed correctly and fell on its own.” He smiles and nods toward the sporting goods store. “How do we feel about some batting gloves?”

Owen does buy the batting gloves, but Carlos suspects it’s only because he’s preoccupied with his fictional shoplifter case. He keeps looking around, trying to be casual about it, but failing miserably. Strand men are great at a lot of things; subtlety is not one of them.

“You’re still thinking about those guys, huh?” Carlos asks as they walk out of Dick’s Sporting Goods.

“I know in my gut that they’re up to no good, Carlos,” Owen says. “You see a lot of shady people in my line of work.”

“More than in mine?” Carlos asks skeptically.

“Okay, fair point. But are you really telling me you don’t think they looked a little suspicious?”

Carlos mentally reviews what he saw earlier. “They definitely looked like they could be trouble. But we have no proof. Unless we see something else, there’s nothing we can do.”

“I’m so glad you agree,” Owen says. “I think it’s time for further investigation.”

Carlos stops walking, his brow furrowing in surprise. “Further investigation?”

“Come on. We’re making a little detour. I hope you know what you want for Christmas.”

Carlos follows him toward the center of the mall where a giant Christmas display has been set up and fake snow flurries from the sky. There’s a large gingerbread cottage, fake reindeer, a candy-cane lined path, mounds of cotton acting as the only snowfall Texas will see this year, and the centerpiece of it all is a gigantic throne upon which sits a jolly Santa who is holding two screaming toddlers while an elf attempts to get a picture worthy of a Christmas card.

“Owen, what are we doing here?” Carlos asks. Two men hanging around a kid-friendly area sans children is not a good look.

“I heard that Santa guy talking earlier. He doesn’t just look like Santa, he is one of the mall Santas. The scrawny guy is an elf. And I know where their green room is.” He takes a look around and then ducks under one of the candy cane striped ribbons that line the area to keep pedestrians out. “Follow my lead,” he says and then drops out of sight into a mound of cotton snow.

“Owen!” Carlos hisses, dropping to his own knees instinctually so that both of them are now hidden in the piles of fluff. “Owen what are you doing?”

“Investigating. This way,” Owen whispers over his shoulder, beckoning Carlos forward.

He really has no choice. Owen is going to do this whether Carlos follows him or not. So Carlos crawls on his hands and knees after his father-in-law, past reindeer legs and lollipop stems, until they reach the base of the gingerbread house.

Owen points silently toward a cutout window and, like something out of a cheesy, 90’s Christmas film, they both rise up underneath it, trying to listen and peek over the sill without being seen.

Sure enough the Santa look alike and his scrawny elf partner are both inside. “Ugh. Only like fifteen hand sanitizers and a couple hand lotions,” the scrawny guy says, shoving merchandise into a large blue duffle bag. “Got some decent jewelry from Kendra Scott while everyone was distracted with that cell phone kiosk though.”

“I told you. We have to keep it small. Otherwise people will get suspicious. Besides, we got that laptop last week and all those clothes from Anthropologie. Those are worth a lot on resale.” Santa takes a sip from his coffee cup. “I made almost ten grand off a mall in El Paso last year. Trust me. This’ll be worth it if we can make it a couple more weeks.”

“It had better be. This elf costume itches,” the scrawny guy retorts, reaching for a red and green costume hanging from a hook on the wall.

Owen motions to Carlos and they crawl back out toward the regular part of the mall. “There you have it,” Owens says as they stand. “Proof. Let’s bust in there and arrest them.”

“You aren’t authorized to arrest anyone. And I’m off duty,” Carlos says. “There are lots of bystanders around. This isn’t a violent crime. We need to call it in first.”

“Okay, so call away.”

“I will,” Carlos says. “Keep an eye on them, let me know if they go anywhere.”

“You got it,” Owen says.

Carlos sends a mental apology to his dad. He’d been really annoyed all those times Gabriel had gotten caught up in one of Owen Strand’s schemes. But now he can see that it’s a very slippery slope and once you start sliding you can’t stop.

He places a call, explains the situation and confirms that officers will be arriving shortly. Relieved that this is almost over, he turns back to tell Owen they need to stick around until APD arrives, but Owen has vanished

Frantically Carlos scans the area, his eyes landing in horror on the line of children and parents waiting eagerly to meet Santa. Sometime in the last ten minutes their suspects have taken center stage, Santa on his throne and Scrawny taking photos. Owen is up next in line, the woman behind him eyeing him suspiciously as she holds tightly to the hand of an eager little boy in a sweater with a T-Rex wearing reindeer antlers on its head.

Before Carlos can even move, Scrawny, now dressed in full red and green elf regalia, calls Owen forward and he marches up toward Santa’s throne. “Oh no,” Carlos whispers under his breath as he jogs over to the line. “Excuse me,” he says, trying to push toward the front.

“Hey! No cutting! Get in the back!” an irate father yells.

Another elf with a headset puts both hands out to stop Carlos from moving further. “Sir! Sir! You have to wait at the end of the line!”

“This is official Texas Ranger business,” Carlos tells her, his heart pounding as he watches Owen step right up to their suspects.

“Right, sure it is,” she scoffs.”

“Buddy, what do you want?” Santa asks, suspicion in his voice, despite the smile on his face.

“Owen, stop!” Carlos calls desperately, pushing past the headset elf who immediately begins calling for security.

Either Owen doesn’t hear or he doesn’t care, his voice carrying over the din of the crowd. “What I want to know is, why you think it’s acceptable to use the good name of Santa Claus for criminal activity,” he says.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Santa tells him. “Ho, ho, ho, is this some kind of joke?”

“It most certainly is not a joke,” Owen says. “Santa is supposed to give gifts away, not steal them for himself.”

“Okay, get out of here,” Scrawny the elf says, marching toward him.

“I will not get out of here,” Owen says hotly. “The two of you are robbing the stores of this mall and I won’t stand for it. Not at Christmas.”

“Buddy, you knock it off right now,” Santa says, his twinkly persona dropping away as he gets to his feet.

“You don’t deserve to wear this suit,” Owen tells him, poking a finger at his chest. “We have evidence of what you’ve done. Let’s not make a scene in front of all these families. The respectable thing to do here is to calmly turn yourselves over to the authorities.”

Owen is right. That would be the respectable thing to do. But this is not a respectable Santa.

Instead, he runs. And Owen goes after him.

“Owen! Wait!” Carlos yells, vaulting a gumdrop fence to try and get closer.

It’s too late. Owen takes a flying leap and tackles Santa into a snowbank, knocking a fake reindeer’s head off in the process as the crowd around the display gasps in shock and Run, Run Rudolph begins to blast over the speakers.

“Stop! Texas Ranger!” Carlos yells, and then ducks as Scrawny grabs a giant candy cane and swings it at his head.

Carlos catches the candy cane in both hands and grabs on tightly. “Drop it!” he orders.

Scrawny refuses to let go and they wrestle over it for a minute until Carlos manages to rip it out of his hands, chucking it to the side. “Get on your knees,” he says, but Scrawny is scrappy. He lunges forward and catches Carlos around the middle, sending both of them sprawling onto the floor.

Carlos grunts as he lands flat on his back, the air immediately knocked from his lungs. Scrawny takes advantage of that to deliver a devastating blow to his jaw that sends pain exploding through Carlos’ face.

On instinct more than skill he manages to hook a leg around Scrawny and roll them both over, grabbing his wrists and pinning them to the floor. “Stop moving,” he orders between gritted teeth. “Turn over.”

“I didn’t do anything!” Scrawny yells.

“Yeah well, you can tell the officers all about that when they get here,” Carlos huffs out, shoving the man onto his front and pinning his hands behind his back.

His assailant subdued, he looks up and find that Owen has Santa in a headlock. “Get off of me!” Santa yells.

“You, are a very bad Santa,” Owen says breathlessly as blood pools in a cut on his lip and a black eye begins blooming around his eye socket.

“He’s hurting Santa!” The yell of a small child catches Carlos’ attention and his face heats as he realizes how many onlookers are gaping at them, cellphones taking video that is likely going to break the internet at some point later today.

“Owen let him go!” Carlos calls as mall security appears in the distance, one of them cruising in on a Segway that has been decorated in red and green tinsel garland.

Owen releases Santa, both of them doubling over in pain as Carlos pulls Scrawny to his feet. The Segway security guard skids to a stop and approaches him warily. “I’m Carlos Reyes, a Major with the Texas Rangers,” Carlos tells him. “These two have been stealing from stores in the mall all day. I have APD on the way.”

“We’ve been getting reports of items missing,” the officer says. “Didn’t ever think it would be Santa and his elf though.”

“Do you have somewhere to hold these two until they get here?” Carlos asks.

“Yes, sir.”

Carlos hands off Scrawny as another two guards grab Santa and plop him down into the back of a golf cart, securing his hands with zip ties.

“Are you okay?” Carlos asks Owen. It’s hard to get the words out, his jaw aching more and more with each syllable as it begins to swell.

“He got a couple good shots in,” Owen says, swiping at the blood on his lip. “I’ve had worse though.”

“You should have let me handle it,” Carlos says.

“Sorry Carlos, I know you’re good. But you’re not good enough to take on Santa and his elf,” Owen tells him.

Someone from mall security gets them ice and then APD finally shows up. Carlos has just finished giving his statement to an officer when EMS arrives. He groans when he sees who it is. “We’re in trouble.”

Owen follows his gaze and winces. “Oh yeah. We are.”

Tommy, Nancy, and T.K. are moving toward them and Carlos can spot the exact moment they get close enough to realize who they’re going to be helping today because all three of them freeze on the spot. T.K.’s eyes go wide and then a mixture of worry and fury crosses his face as he picks up the pace and beats his partner and his boss to their sides.

“What happened?” he demands, kneeling down and putting a hand on Carlos’ thigh.

“There was a situation that needed to be dealt with and we handled it,” Owen says and T.K. shoots him a look of fury.

“What does that mean?”

“It means Santa was up to no good and we stopped it,” Carlos says, suddenly feeling very tired.

T.K. opens his mouth, but Tommy and Nancy reach them at that point and they have their own questions. “Well this is a bit of a surprise,” Tommy says, reaching for the ice that Owen is holding on his eye. “What on earth have you two been up to today?”

“Yeah Captain Strand, I thought you had worked through the anger issues,” Nancy says, attaching a pulse oximeter to Carlos’ index finger.

“This wasn’t anger. This was holiday related justice,” Owen says primly.

“More like holiday related shenanigans,” T.K. mutters under his breath, but the concerned eyes he shoots at Carlos and the steady rubbing of his hand up and down Carlos’ thigh for comfort bely that his anger is really just worry.

“Okay, both of you, tell us what hurts,” Tommy commands.

In the end they get taken to the hospital for x-rays. Owen is pronounced fine, no damage done to his eye socket, although he’ll have one hell of a black eye, and Carlos’ jaw isn’t broken, but it is badly bruised. Scrawny really packed a punch. He’s relieved when he’s finally back home in bed, T.K. fussing over the comforter and the ice pack he’s holding to his face.

“Is the ice too cold?” T.K. asks. “Are you hungry? Of course you’re hungry, it’s like eight o’clock. I’m going to make you some soup.”

Carlos has a feeling he won’t be eating solids for several days, and soup does sound good; lunch with Owen feels like weeks ago at this point. But he catches T.K.’s hand and tugs him down onto the bed instead. “In a minute,” Carlos says. “Sit with me for a bit first.”

T.K. perches on the edge a frown on his face as he brushes a hand through Carlos’ curls. “I shouldn’t have let you go with my dad today. I knew something like this would happen.”

“How could you possibly have known something like this would happen?” Carlos asks, cracking an incredulous smile and then wincing when it sends throbs of pain through his face.

“Because that’s how it always is with my dad. If there’s trouble, he’s going to find it. He’s almost gotten us killed twice. He went undercover with a white nationalist group. He bought a horse and kept it at the firehouse for weeks. It’s like he literally can’t help himself.”

“He did the right thing today though,” Carlos says. “Those guys had stolen thousands of dollars worth of stuff from the shops in the mall.”

“I know, but I wish you hadn’t been in the middle of it,” T.K. grumbles, his hand coming up to gently cup Carlos’ bruised jaw. “Did you get any shopping done? Or did you spend the entire time playing detective?”

“Oh we got some shopping done,” Carlos says. “And I tried. I really tried babe. But your dad is…”

“Stubborn? Difficult? Unpredictable?”

Carlos nods. “All of those things.”

“So? What should I look forward to getting for Christmas this year?”

“How do you feel about hats…?”

#tarlossanta #tarlossanta24 #Tarlos #911 Lone Star #Owen Strand #Carlos Reyes #Christmas Shenanigans #T.K. Strand #Bad Santa

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rafaelsilvasource · 5 months ago

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Husbands (we love typing that as much as you love reading it) T.K. (Ronen Rubinstein) and Carlos (Rafael L. Silva) are coming into the fifth and final season of 9-1-1: Lone Star (premiering Monday, September 23 on Fox) already dealing with the unsolved murder of the latter’s father. But there’s more drama to come.

Carlos’ obsession with that investigation is going to put their marriage to the test. T.K.’s half-brother, Jonah, is coming to Austin (which is sure to affect Rob Lowe‘s Owen as well). Below, co-showrunner Rashad Raisani previews that and more that’s ahead for the fan-favorite couple.

Carlos is investigating his father’s death. What can you preview about that investigation? That’s also going to involve Campbell (Parker Young), right?

The way we’ve been talking about Campbell and Carlos is that they’re like two brothers, the big brother and the little brother. Carlos comes along, and in Campbell’s mind, he got kind of a free pass because of who his dad, Gabriel Reyes, was, the legend, and to go to the front of the line and become a Texas Ranger. The first episode is about these two brothers both fighting for daddy’s love and daddy being Chief Bridges, their boss. But what’s gonna happen is they learn to respect each other and they’re gonna discover that they’re so much better when they work as a team and they really complement each other brilliantly, not just as investigators, but as characters and frankly to me, as actors. I think just they have a wonderful dynamic that only gets richer as the season goes forward.

Carlos’s father’s murder is a thing that Carlos is not giving that up. It is the central driving force in Carlos’ life. And there’s no way we’re going to end the series without giving that poor guy some answers. So there will be some answers at the end of the day on that.

The season description says that T.K. and Carlos’ marriage is put to the test because Carlos becomes obsessed with solving his father’s murder. What can you tease about how we see that play out and how tough things are gonna get in the middle of that for them? I do have faith that they’re gonna be okay by the end.

A big part for me about their marriage was I really wanted to treat it like a real marriage, and by that, I mean that even though these guys are so wonderful to each other and they’re so handsome, life isn’t perfect no matter who you are and everybody has real struggles that affect even great relationships. And the true strength of a relationship isn’t the absence of challenges and problems, it’s how you grapple with them and encounter them and if they make your relationship stronger or weaker.

And so for Carlos, this burden of his dad’s murder is going to sit there and take up a lot of oxygen in the room and T.K., who is an incredibly supportive husband, is gonna try and be patient and graceful and allow Carlos to have that space. But at a certain point, he’s got to advocate for them to have a future together, and that’s part of what you were talking about with Jonah. I like to think that little boy, in some ways, represents the future of their relationship and Gabriel’s murder represents the past of their relationship, and there’s gonna be a tension between those two things and that’s gonna be their central dynamic this year, is that one person is struggling to get answers in the past and the other person is struggling to move on and build a future, which I think is a very relatable human experience.

All of this makes me think about kids, and that has been a bit of an issue for them in the past. How does that come into play?

I think that’s another pressure point because Carlos was very upfront with T.K. about, “Hey, I’m not ready to have kids and I don’t know if I ever will be,” and then now that his dad’s been murdered, in his headspace, that’s the last thing that he’s got the bandwidth or the emotional energy to deal with. But like I said, T.K. is feeling like life is happening right now, like we don’t get moments back, and especially as a first responder, they see that you can’t take anything for granted. And circumstances are going to align that are going to [lead to] a situation where T.K. is like, I know that you were uncomfortable with taking this next step as a father, but I feel like it’s something powerful that I need to do, and to make that a crisis point for them as well.

I hope that the audience can see the argument from both of their points of view and just go, “S**t, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what I would do either.” That’s what I hope because I feel like people have real problems that aren’t so simple as to say, well, he’s right, he’s wrong, whatever. We just wanted to put them through that.

#911 lone star #tarlos #ls season 5 #ls 5 pr #ls 5x01 pr #mentioned #carlos reyes #ls press

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xxlady-lunaxx · 5 months ago

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genya is sanegiyuu’s secret love child ><!! (personality-wise)

- anger issues !! (s.s)

- wanting to be self-reliant/independent (g.t.+s.s.)

- prefers to be alone (g.t.)

- intentionally hostile toward people who try to talk to him (s.s.)

- hates tanjiro (at first)!!!! (s.s.)

- secretly just a quiet little baby in need love love (g.t. but also s.s. for the last part <3)

- kind of reckless in battle in terms of when it comes to self preservation (s.s.)

- wth is his evil laughter for (s.s.)

- ewwww emotions :(( (g.t.)

- ^ fuck it, let’s pretend everyone gets on my nerves (s.s.)

- a little shy actually (g.t.)

- romance what who what is that -> in other words, he closes his eyes when people kiss (s.s. ish)

- his cute lil smile like c: (g.t.)

- tanjiro charmed him & now he can’t let go (g.t.)

- protect the babies no matter what (s.s.)

- has to be strong has to be at the top so he can protect. (s.s.)

- when in doubt, hide (g.t.)

- stop being so loud :( (g.t.)

- *shouts* *is loud* (s.s.)

- haha petty fights (s.s.)

- crying’s weak don’t do that (s.s)

- ^ *essentially is a crybaby* (g.t.)

- traintraintraintrain overexertoverexertoverexert (s.s.+g.t.)

- very determined [pathetically so] (g.t.)

- will!!! not!!! give!!! up!!!! must!!! be!!! with!!! aniki!!! (s.s. except he js wants to protect)

- anxiety baby :( (g.t.)

- will swear at you & make fun of you (s.s.)

- probably gets attached to you quickly after tho (g.t.)

- he needs a hug (g.t.+s.s.)

- he’s like the type to work very hard to do something and get half way through and then realize how hopeless it is (g.t.)

- does NOT accept affection (s.s.+g.t.)

- ^ but actually really wants it (yk the drill)

- i think he likes to sit on the porch or by the window on a rainy day and drink tea (g.t.)

- loser [affectionately] (g.t.)

- ends up being the one treated like the child even tho he wanted to be the parent to protect (s.s.+g.t. bc i said so)

- stubborn i must add (s.s.+g.t.)

- doesn’t believe in nice people anymore (s.s.)

- ^ has to admit tanjiro might be real (g.t.)

- he’s reasonable until it comes to his family (s.s.)

- even if he can see that he should probably stop, that nothing will come of it, he’s going to keep trying (s.s.+t.k. wait what are you doing here tanjiro)

#s.s. is sanemi & g.t. is giyuu #bc i didnt feel like writing their names lmao #genya shinazugawa #sanegiyuu #sanemi shinazugawa #giyuu tomioka #kny #kimetsu no yaiba #demon slayer #kny genya #genya genya genya #yaaaay #it doesnt even have to be sanegiyuu #but i say it is so now it is 🙏#sanemi x giyuu #giyuu x sanemi #this turned out longer than i meant #apparently they have a lot in common

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actuallysara · 2 years ago

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DELETED SCENE from 911 Lone Star: S4 EP18 "In Sickness and In Health" | T.K. & Carlos Receive Pep Talks Before Their Wedding

#911 lone star #911 lone star spoilers #tarlos #ls deleted scene #ls scene #sposts

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ghostgirl101 · 2 years ago

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Can we get some headcanons of Jeff t.K. in a relationship? ^^

Dating Jeff The Killer Would Be Like This:

A/N: Well, this is a long overdue request, hope the wait was worth it 🙃 I’m going to be waiting for you all at least twice a week from now on, and there are a few spaces left for requests if you want to get yours in for Jeff and others now if you're interested 🔪 This is the original creepypasta Jeff, but I could try writing for David Near's version too if anyone's wondering... enjoy.

🔪• Well damn, there's a lot to include for this crazy son of a biatch, so get ready-

🔪• It's an uncomfortable night, the skies outside pitch black, stars clouded over and your curtains ruffling as you glare tiredly at the ceiling, wishing for sleep to overtake you. But there's just something that's keeping you half-aware, something that makes you toss and turn for a while, eyeing the window with a furrow of your brows. It's almost like someone's watching your every move. You just can't see them.

🔪• Until that whispering, hoarse voice pierces through the still silence from behind your curtains, making your eyes widen in horror at the sadistic chuckling that only gets nearer as you will your body to move from its frozen position.

🔪• The tip of his blade skims across the skin off your face before you can make out his own, pale and deathly and twisted with a nasty, deeply cut grin etched up his cheeks. His cold blue eyes linger over your features, and it’s a frustrating and vulnerable feeling knowing that can read you a lot better than you can him. It’s a tense few moments when all you feel is the end of the sharp dagger trace just light enough down a cheek and your lips, resting there for a second, as if he’s thinking.

🔪• Jeff doesn’t keep you alive just because you’re you - he doesn’t know who you are, or why you look, in his eyes, almost as beautiful as he does. But it makes him curious and confused, something he’s not used to and doesn’t particularly like at first. So with a scoff, the knife is suddenly snatched away, replaced with his face right down next to yours, with a “go to sleep~” and sudden darkness.

🔪• It’s a wonder to you when you wake up the next morning unharmed. It’s unheard of for the infamous killer to let his victims go, but after that night, it’s clear to you that what you experienced wasn’t some sort of weird nightmare. You feel eyes on you almost every minute of the day, footsteps that aren’t your own following you when you’re by yourself, shadows in the hall that turned out to be nothing…

🔪• The only times Jeff will make his appearances where you can actually see and talk to him is at night. At first, it's kind of to see how you'll react - scared and screaming panicking like the others, or oddly curious and mildly apprehensive - if you show the latter, he'll definitely be caught if guard, because he's used to the screaming and crying. But even if you do panic and start some weird chase scene around your house, Jeff seems to find it amusing, until he's had enough and corners you, hissing in your ear, "would you calm the hell down doll, you don't wanna wake the whole damn street, now do you?"

🔪• And you're like yes?!?? Because a scarred maniac is in my room and getting blood stains over my non-washable flooring??! Or maybe that's just me

🔪• This boy can be an absolute mystery to anyone who manages to survive him, because they never really figure out the solid reason why, or his whole backstory, his intentions, etc. All they know is that he's a killer who preys on young people at the night and disappears in the morning. Some survive him because they're interesting for a while, and die when they're not anymore. Some remind him of his past self, and on a bad day, he remembers how much he hates that and gets rid of them too. Some are just to play around with. And then there's you.

🔪• Jeff doesn't give you much of a reason either when you question his motives, because at first, he can't even be sure of why he's ket you around. Is it because you're pretty? Somehow different from his other victims? It's not because he's gone soft. The whole thought process ends up frustrating him, so he'll storm out the window to be alone and try taking his mind off it by going after some whiny targets. But still, he keeps thinking about the question, about you, watching him in some kind of awe and confusion. Why do you care? Why does he care?!

🔪• This whole thing is not some fast-paced cliche love story where everything's sappy and sweet and he'll kill everyone but you. He's still the infamous Jeff The Killer. But that doesn't mean he isn't a little soft for you. Just don't point it out, or he gets flustered and defensive.

🔪• At one point, he wanted to just kidnap you and have you with him all the time, but you had to put your foot down and promise to stick around every night for him to come and go as he pleases, which calmed him down. Because, yeah, that's not happening Jeff, calm yourselffff

🔪• It ends up being him popping in almost every night, with you learning to keep your windows open so you don’t have to keep on replacing the forced-in smashed glass. And even when he visits, it takes time for him to reveal himself, little by little, until you can make out all the rough burns and dried blood that blemish practically every inch of his skin. It's not that he's all insecure - he thinks he’s beautiful most days, and he’s not trying to make you feel less scared by his appearance, because him being the jackass that he is, finds jump scaring you funny.

🔪• But he can have bad days, days where he can't stop thinking about his brother and parents and all that made him who he is, and when that happens, he either bearly says anything and sulks with his knives in the corner of your room, and pretty much lets you do anything. Like, you could end up playing and studying his knives - he watches apprehensively at first, all ready for you to try to stab him in the back - but after time goes by and you've given up questioning yourself as to why you're letting a cold-blooded murderer hang out with you almost every night in your room, he sees that you're not trying to defend yourself in those extreme measures, so kind of lets you do your thing.

🔪• It's nice for him to have the company, too, and he enjoys the small conversations he has with you: the nosy, lucky, pretty little survivor who asks too many questions about him and has a smile that's almost as good as his. Him being him offers to carve one in, and still jokingly tries to while you fight him off with a string of curses. He can be really annoying when he wants to, because he finds your reactions cute. If, on the extremely rare occasions, you happen to see him before it goes dark, doing your homework or something, he'll try drawing on the paper or mucking around with your stuff to distract you. If you're watching something, he'll spoil the ending or give a stupid running commentary. If you annoy him back by any means you can, Jeff gets all pouty and frustrated, but it's also sort of endearing to him??

🔪• So he'll be all "are you freaking stupid, or just suicidal, antagonising a serial killer?!" but he can't help scoffing at you in some form of fondness that he hasn't even realised has been growing in him

🔪• When he ultimately realises that hey! you're stalking and killing the bullies of and are increasingly obsessing over this person, it takes him a bit of time to process. He might not show up on that night, wanting to get his thoughts straight, leaving you very confused, but Jeff does show up the next night wanting you to shut up and sit down and listen to him, because he doesn't want to make this any weirder than it feels for him. You'll hardly understand what he's getting at when he spurts out how you're different and he doesn't really believe in fate but something feels right and every Clyde needs his Bonnie and random crap like that 😂

🔪• You'll have to cut him off with a "so are you asking me out?" and he's like "well... yeah, duh. Don't even think about saying no, because you're not getting rid of me, even if you want to, alright?!?" You can tell he's uncharacteristically nervous. So when you've assessed the situation and see that there's no more harm than there already has been to saying yes, there's an unreadable look of shock and something more in his stony eyes. Then his grin is back, and he's annoying you again by whirling you around in the air and stuff, and boom! You're never getting rid of the maniac. He's yours. Congratulations.

🔪• I'm gonna be honest with you; dating Jeff The Killer is definitely not the easiest mountain you chose to climb, but at the end of the day, if all you want is his manic, obsessive love and devotion to you, then it's well worth it. Take the amount of obsessiveness and stalker behaviour he's shown to you as a weird-ass friend and multiply it by a thousand. I'm not kidding.

🔪• Jeff The Killer genuinely cares about those who have somehow made it to that point with him, and as you're at the top of that list, damn, you'll be spoiled. Don't ask him where he gets all the jewels and trinkets and things you've been wanting or that match your hobbies and talents, because they're yours, and they've always been yours. So your welcome, enjoy, he knew you'd like it. That's one way he shows his love. It's kind of like a way of saying that he's always thinking about you, which isn't an exaggeration at all. I can definitely imagine him killing for you with pride and bringing back a heart all casual-like, while you shake your head with an awkward smile.

🔪• "That's, uh, sweet of you, Jeff, but seriously, throw it away now, that's rank."

🔪• No one else catches his eye after you, too. He's never met someone truly beautiful, inside and out, before you, and he's convinced he won't after. So if someone tries to beg for their life or give him compliments he used to like, it's pretty much ineffective now. "You'll ever be as hot as my doll is, you sadass, but here, I'll carve a little something to get you halfway there~"

🔪• He can actually be surprisingly sweet when he wants to. On his bad days, now he'll just lean into you in silence and twirl his blade around, while you play with his hair or put something on TV or somehow end up staring at him. If you look closer and beyond the chalky white shade of his burnt skin and the deep, bloody scars that trace up from his lips, you can notice how he probably was a good-looking boy before the 'accident.' But don't let him catch you looking, because, bad mood or not, he's a cocky bastard, and will end up grinning and saying something like "it's rude to stare, dolly," which ruins the moment lmao

🔪• Jeff can also get clingy when he feels like it too, though he'll never admit it. He likes how your body's always warm when he is somehow always freezing, and being able to have time alone with you, where you're all his, and no one can take it away from him. He'll go freaking rabid if anyone tries, and no one wants that.

🔪• He gets a little awkward when it comes to comfort and opening up, but he'll get there. He learns from you to just give you a silent hug instead of patting you on the back and telling you to chin up or something stupid, or tries to make you laugh, or kills the thing that's getting you down, if you let him. That's your decision 🙃

🔪• He eventually opens up to you about his past, too, which takes him a lot of courage and a lot of patience for you. It's good that you know, though, because it's something to be even closer about, and the more you know about each other, the more you belong together. At least, that's Jeff's logic.

🔪• Jeff can be a bit possessive and sulky when those moments have to end in the mornings, and he's been known to just shove his white hoodie over your head and demand you wear it when he's not with you. Which is fine, Jeff, but seriously, clean that blood of it first.

🔪• But when all is said and done, no matter how heartless and cold and crazy he may seem, and undoubtedly is, he's sane enough to know that he loves you. His love can be ridiculously intense and overwhelming at times, but you can learn to work around or with it. He will do it. Whether anyone believes it or not, him and you knowing your love is enough for Jeff.

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insomniac-ships · 16 days ago

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Proship Discord Server!

Hey, it's been a while! I'm bringing my server back from the dead, and I'd love to have you join! Wanna know more? Then keep on reading!

... \⁠(⁠๑⁠╹⁠◡⁠╹⁠๑⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♬ ...

Still here? Cool! Let me run through some points and features:

⍟ Proship safe and fandom-centric server, for ages 16 and up!

⍟ Well vetted, with a safe and welcoming environment!

⍟ PluralKit for systems of all kinds! We've also got Pokétwo and a QotD bot!

⍟ Safe spaces for selfshippers and otherkin, and inclusive of good-faith identities!

⍟ Channels for sharing your art, writing, ideas, and more!

⍟ Bunches of colorful cosmetic roles to choose from!

⍟ And more to come!

... (⁠*⁠ﾉ⁠・⁠ω⁠・⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♫ ...

Interested in joining? Send me a DM!

For safety and security reasons, all invite links will be single use and may expire within 12 hours. If you receive an invite link that will expire, I will tell you!

‼️Those who message me from blogs that are less than a week old, totally blank, and/or show signs of hateful or bigoted behavior will not receive an invite link.‼️

#t.k.'s server #proship #pro ship #profic #profiction #anti harassment #dead dove do not eat #proship safe #endo safe #fandom server #t.k. talks #proshippers please interact

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911lsbts · 4 months ago

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youtube

#911 lone star #911 lone star spoilers #ronen rubinstein #articles #5.05 #s5 #Youtube

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tobiasdrake · 17 days ago

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Digimon Adventure 02x13 - The Call of Dagomon / His Master's Voice

Previously on Digimon Adventure: The Chosen Children entered a Wild West movie where a shootout may or may not have occurred, depending on whether you have to answer to the FOX network. They strip-searched a handgun, hung a sheriff's star from the gallows, then decided this genre's overrated and headed out on the old dusty trail.

This is another one I've been looking forward to.

This episode opens unusually. Skipping the previous episode recap that typically goes before the title card, we open on an ominous establishing scene of a dark ocean somewhere dark and eerie. A lighthouse in the distance is putting off black light as its spotlight rotates.

Slowly, a colossal figure emerges from the ocean, letting out a low, beastly grumble. But then someone drives a boat straight into its forehead and it disintegrates into pixel dust. Whew! Solved that nonsense!

Once the title card's come and gone, we open on Odaiba Elementary in the morning. Miyako and Iori are on their head in for school while the narrator muses about the situation in the Digital World.

Narrator: What kind of violence will the Digimon Kaiser, Ichijouji Ken, inflict on the Digital World? While the Chosen Children return to their daily lives, each of their minds is occupied with thoughts of the Digital World and of their own destinies.

Hikari trails along the sidewalk a ways behind Miyako and Iori. Takeru comes up behind her, reaching to put a hand on her shoulder, but his footsteps startle her. Hikari turns around suddenly.

Hikari: Onii-chan!

But it's not a happy Onii-chan. Hikari looks freaked out. Haunted. But she quickly realizes her mistake.

Hikari: ...Takeru-kun? (blushes) Good morning!

The morning bell rings while Hikari's saying good morning. Daisuke, unsurprisingly late, runs up and catches the two of them standing on the sidewalk like that.

Daisuke: Ah, good morning! Hurry up or we're going to be late!

Then he bolts for the door, with Hikari and Takeru following after. You two can have your awkward but shippy moment later; There is school to be had!

The dub has a normal recap sequence for the previous episode and then goes straight to Odaiba Elementary, cutting the eerie scene of a Cthulhu-like entity rising from a dark ocean. In place of the narrator, the episode opens to the sound of the school P.A. system.

Announcement: Students late for first period will be responsible for cleaning the bubble gum from under the desks after school. Come on, kids! CHOP CHOP!!! (Yolei and Cody enter school grounds) Yolei: Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Cody: No kidding! (Kari approaches the front gate) Kari: (thinking) Keep yourself together! It was just a dream! T.K.: (thinking) There's Kari! I wonder what she got on Question 3? (T.K. approaches and reaches up) Kari: (gasp) STAY AWAY!!! (Kari realizes) Kari: Oh! T.K.! (blushes) Sorry.... T.K.: Uh....

The school bell rings here when Davis runs up, instead of when Kari's talking. But there is a school bell and it's pretty close to where it was in the original.

Davis: Come on, guys! You heard the principal! You don't want to scrape gum, do you!? Kari: (gasp) (The three of them run for the door) Davis: Last one in has to eat the old gum! Ahaha!

EW. DAVIS WHY.

I'm not sure how Davis heard the principal from where he was on his way in from. That is a very loud P.A. system. I don't know how things are in Japan but I'm pretty sure the American Localized principal's about to get an earful about the volume of his school's speakers next PTA meeting.

In any case, the dub tells us outright that Kari's haunted by a bad dream she just had... but it doesn't show us the Cthulhu entity. So we know what's going on with her but don't know the extent of it, where in the original we don't know what's going on with her but it probably has something to do with that thing we just saw, right?

While the children run for the door, we pan over to Tailmon and Patamon lurking in a tree, watching them go.

Patamon: Hikari has so much energy! Tailmon: We never change, but the children are growing up.

Tailmon looks down, saddened by something, but she doesn't elaborate any further.

Patamon: ...is something wrong? Tailmon: No, just... It seemed like Hikari felt something a moment ago. Patamon: Something? Tailmon: I don't know. I probably imagined it. ...bye.

Tailmon descends from the tree, offering nothing further to Patamon than that.

Patamon: Ah! Wait, I'm coming too!

Patamon frantically follows after her.

Hikari was feeling something, eh? Ehhhhh? This is kind of a double meaning here. What Tailmon is saying is that Hikari's haunted by some kind of feeling. 感じ Kanji refers to sensory perception. She's seeing something. Hearing something. Feeling something. Something is dancing on the edge of her perception and it's loud enough that Tailmon's taken notice.

...but it can also mean that she thinks Takeru is cute. 感じ Kanji can be used to describe, for lack of a better term, a vibe. If you're having good vibes, it's いい感じ ii kanji. If you're having bad vibes, it's 悪い感じ kanji warui. And if she was blushing like that, then she was feeling pretty いい感じ ii kanji, right?

No. She was not. Tailmon is talking about something else. But it's easy to take it the other way.

In the dub:

Patamon: School! Wow! Looks like fun!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I'm sorry but wow. They had no idea how to start this scene. This is such a terrible establishing line, especially this deep into the status quo. Hahahahahahaha.

Sorry. Sorry.

Patamon: School! Wow! Looks like fun! Gatomon: I don't think Kari's having fun inside of school or out. She hasn't been sleeping well 'cause of her bad dreams. (Gatomon looks down, saddened) Patamon: Bad dreams? Gatomon: Yeah. She won't tell me what they're about but she wakes up every morning dripping in a cold sweat. Patamon: Does she sense something? Gatomon: I don't know. Maybe I'm just imagining it. Let's go raid the cafeteria! (Gatomon descends the tree) Patamon: Hey, wait for me!

Gatomon indicates that this has been going on with Kari for some time now. She has a firsthand account of Kari's symptoms over multiple days, whereas Tailmon is trying to piece it together from the behavior we just saw from Hikari.

In fact, Tailmon's so uncertain about what she's seeing that she cuts off the conversation almost immediately after starting to open up about it. Gatomon shares everything she knows with Patamon, then shrugs and gives up on it.

Gatomon suggests raiding the cafeteria; Tailmon keeps what she's going off to do to herself. We never find out, though; She really did just end the topic and then leave abruptly. She wasn't going anywhere with that. So raiding the cafeteria is as good an explanation as any.

In class, Takeru notices that Hikari isn't paying attention to the lesson. She's staring blankly into space. Her hands down on her knees. Vacant.

In Hikari's eyes, she is indeed feeling something. The trickling sound of water. The image of the ocean waves. Around her, a fog fills the classroom and her classmates slowly vanish into its murky mists.

Hikari: (terrified) ...what... is... this....

When she looks down, Hikari sees the bottoms of her legs submerged in black water. She isn't in class anymore. Her desk is in the dark ocean now.

In the dub:

Teacher: (monotone) Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see: X = Y, Y = 14, and lickety-split, Q = 46 36. Now. Isn't that. Exciting. T.K.: (thinking) What's more boring: Paint drying or math? (T.K. looks at Kari) T.K.: (thinking) I wonder why Kari's being so distant today? Kari: (thinking) What is wrong with me? Am I just overtired from not sleeping? I can't get these dreams out of my head. (Fog sets in around class) Kari: (gasp) (thinking) What's happening!? I know my math scores have been a little foggy lately but this is ridiculous! (Classroom vanishes) Kari: (gasp) This is... bizarre! (Kari notices her feet in the water) Kari: (gasp) (thinking) Hey, did someone flood the boys' bathroom again!? Wait. Where am I!? T.K.!? Gatomon!? YOLEI!?!? TAIIIIIIIIIII!!!

Dub takes its first commercial break here.

No ominous trickling sound of water in Kari's head here. It's replaced by a lot of inner monologue and some quips.

Yolei ranks higher than T.K. and Gatomon on Kari's list of panicked callouts. That's interesting.

So. Yeah. Hikari is freaking the fuck out. She's having some sort of terrifying hallucination that's--

Takeru: (startled gasp)

In class, Takeru notices Hikari fizzling in and out of existence like a staticky old TV set. So. That's horrifying. Correction: Not a hallucination. Something really fucked up is happening to Hikari right now.

Takeru: (jumping to his feet) HIKARI-CHAN!!!

All eyes turn to Takeru, then slowly over to Hikari. She's alert now. Responsive. Grounded in physical reality once more.

Daisuke: Huh? (concerned) ...what's going on?

Hikari doesn't answer. She puts her hand up to her forehead in pain, then passes out and falls to her left. The girl in the desk behind her is quick on her feet, bursting out from her desk to catch Hikari before she can fall too far.

As Hikari opens her eyes again, she sits up out of her classmate's arms. Though the girl keeps a hand on her back to steady her in case she passes out again.

Teacher: Are you okay? Go rest in the nurse's office. Hikari: Yes, sir.

The other girl backs up and Hikari gives her a grateful nod. Then she stands up from her desk and leaves class.

...alone. Which. Uh. I don't know about you. But if I had a girl passing out involuntarily in my classroom, I'd send that other girl to escort her. She's going to faint in the hall, get a concussion when her skull smacks into the floor, and it's going to be the teacher's fault. She is visibly not in good shape to take herself to the nurse's office.

Since the dub interrupted this scene for an ominous commercial cliffhanger, it needs to re-establish what's happening with some editing. We come back first to Kari glitching out at her desk, then T.K. noticing.

T.K.: Huh!?

Then they replay the footage of Kari's desk in the dark ocean.

Kari: (gasp) (thinking) SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!

From there, footage plays as normal.

T.K.: (jumping to his feet) KARI!!! (Everyone looks at T.K., then at Kari) Davis: Huh? (concerned) What's going on? Kari: Ugggggggh.... (Kari falls over) Other Girl: KARI!!! (Other Girl gets up and catches Kari) Teacher: Are you okay, Kari? Do you want to go to the nurse's office? Kari: ...yes, sir. (Kari gets up and leaves) T.K.: (thinking) Something's definitely wrong with her!

T.K. spells out the vibe of the scene for us and the teacher actually gives Kari a choice rather than ordering her to the nurse's office. But apart from the editing to fit in the commercial break, this is mostly the same.

As Hikari wanders the halls alone due to neglectful educational standards, her mind drifts.

Hikari: It's been a long time since I last felt like this....

She stops in the hall and watches a memory play out. Herself, three years ago, with Taichi.

Younger Hikari: I'm sorry, Onii-chan.

No further context is offered on what she's apologizing for. Hikari looks away, her resolve hardened... Only for a splash of water in the hall behind her to rattle her once more.

She freezes. A ripple in reality flows across the hall from behind her. A distortion moving through the air, as if remaking space around her.

Then she hears another droplet. And another. Another.

Voices. Not speaking, not saying words... but humming. Chanting. A chorus of droning voices behind her. Water drops in the hall behind her. Getting louder. Coming closer.

Hikari slowly turns around and then she sees it. At the end of the hall, coming up the stairwell. Something's there. With glowing red eyes watching her.

It growls.

Hikari: (terrified gasp)

Absolutely chilling in a way no words can do justice to. There's also an interesting implication from Hikari that this isn't the first time hallucinations like these have visited her.

That checks out; She was the only one who could see and interact with Homeostasis. She's always had a certain otherworldly specialness about her. But that memory she revisits is something else.

Now let's make jokes over it.

Kari: (thinking) Oh, it's no big deal. Blame it on the algebra. It was so boring, you fell asleep and dreamed you were in the ocean. That's it. I'm not going crazy. (Kari stops and watches the memory play out) Younger Kari: I'm sorry I let you down, Tai. Kari: (resolved, thinking) Get a hold of yourself, Kari! (Water drop, reality ripple) Kari: (gasp) Hello!? Is anybody there!? Davis, is that you? You win, Davis; I'm scared now. (More water drops) Kari: (shallow breathing, getting more frightened) (Kari slowly turns around and sees the thing at the end of the hall) Kari: (gasp) AhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Actually, this is pretty solid. It's wordier like the rest of the episode's scenes so far but I do like the part where she hopes Davis is just pranking her. The extra dialogue fits the scene's tone pretty well.

I also appreciate that she screams when she sees the monster. I was watching the original like, "I feel like she should scream now." I guess the dub agreed.

We do, however, lose the interesting line where Hikari implies that hallucinations (or "hallucinations") like this have been something she's wrestled with in the past. So that's unfortunate.

End of the school day. As soon as the bell chimes, Takeru throws open the classroom door and sprints down the hall. Daisuke remains in class, confused by Takeru's abrupt departure.

Takeru goes straight for the nurse's office, popping in the doorway.

Takeru: Excuse me! Is Yagami-san here? Nurse: Eh? No one's here. Takeru: Huh!?

He looks over to the bed in the nurse's office, seeing it empty and still-made as if nobody's touched it. Then fear grips his heart and he leaves.

Running through the school, he searches the bathroom, the library, the stairwell. All empty.

Takeru: Wh... Where did she go!? ...she couldn't have....

He makes a stop at Computer Club and pulls up the Digital Gate. It's still closed. Nobody has opened it.

Takeru: Whew. But she can't have just disappeared.

With that idea also a bust, Takeru gets going and resumes his search.

In the dub, rather than the school bell, we have a P.A. announcement to set off this scene.

Announcement: May I have your attention. Will the student who put the jelly donuts in the swimming pool please report to the office. (T.K. emerges from class and goes running down the hall) T.K.: KARI!?!? Davis: Whu--!? (T.K. reaches the nurse's office) T.K.: Excuse me, Nurse. May I see Kari? Nurse: I'm so sorry but Kari's not here, sweetie. How about a lollipop? T.K.: Huh? (T.K. looks at the empty bed) Nurse: Do you want to lie down, T.K.? (T.K. grimaces with fear, then begins his search) T.K.: Maybe she's in the girls' bathroom! I'll check! (Bathroom) T.K.: Kari!? Girl: AHHHHH!!! T.K.: (sheepish) Sorry. (Library) T.K.: She's not in the library! (Stairwell) T.K.: (echoing) KARI, ARE YOU DOWN THERE!?!? (Computer lab) T.K.: (throws open the door) Kari! (T.K. checks the Digital Gate) T.K.: (defeated) It's like she just disappeared!

Having a girl shriek when T.K. inspects the girls' bathroom is an obvious bit and I'm glad that they made it because I was thinking that too.

We lose the beat where Takeru thinks Hikari might have gone into the Digital World. He still checks the Digital Gate because that's what the animation has him doing, but it isn't dwelt on.

Finally, Takeru gets a lucky break. He spots Hikari out a window, sitting on a bench by herself, and rushes downstairs.

A trio of kids in casual clothes playing soccer come out from around the corner, making noise and laughing before kicking the ball back the other way. Hikari doesn't even notice them. But when Takeru approaches, she responds to his presence.

Hikari: I... was at the ocean.... Takeru: The ocean? Hikari: I... might be going away. Takeru: ... Hikari: I can feel someone... calling out to me.... Takeru: Who do you mean by "someone"? Hikari: ... Takeru: ... Hikari: (quietly) I don't know. But the next time they call... I feel like I'm going to go there. Takeru: Who could do something so selfish!? Hikari: Onii-chan always protected me in times like this. Takeru: Taichi-san. It's always "Taichi-san! Taichi-san!" You're always saying things like that! Like Hikari-chan is worthless!

Hooooo....

It makes sense that Takeru would feel this way. He fought so hard to get out of the Baby Sibling space that Yamato carved out for him. I can understand why he's myopically resentful that Hikari so comfortably sits and occupies the one Taichi carved out for her.

But to say it to her face like that is a line crossed. I get what he's trying to say. He's freaking out because she's about to be taken by some thing and he wants her to resist it herself rather than hold out for Taichi to solve it for her. She might be the only one who can.

But it comes out so harsh. Hikari looks up at him, hurt by his words, and Takeru suddenly seems to realize what he said. He freezes a moment, horrified. Then he takes a step back. And then he turns and walks away in silence.

Once he's gone, Hikari looks down again. And in her mind, she hears the crashing of the waves.

In the dub:

T.K.: (thinking) She might be in trouble! She might be in danger! She might be-- Huh? (T.K. spots Kari out the window) T.K.: --right there!? Kari: (thinking) Boy, do I have a headache! (T.K. goes downstairs to meet Kari. Soccer boys briefly emerge) Soccer Boy: And then I threw the jelly donuts in the pool! Other Boys: Ahahahahaha! (Soccer Boys leave. T.K. arrives) T.K.: Kari! I've been looking all over for you! Are you okay? Kari: It was weird. I was at the beach? T.K.: You ditched school? Kari: Hehe, no, silly! The beach in another dimension. You saw me in class; I was just sitting there and then the next thing I knew, I was in the ocean. T.K.: Now you've totally lost me. Kari: Then, on my way to the nurse's office, it happened again. I was surrounded by water and then... I saw one of them! T.K.: What do you mean, "one of them"? Kari: Digimon. They keep trying to take me to their world. I don't know if I can resist anymore. T.K.: You've got to! Where are they, Kari!? We'll fight them! Kari: I can't, T.K. I'm sorry. I'm just not strong like my brother Tai. T.K.: You're gonna quit!? Give up just like that!? Look, Kari, I care too much about you to let anyone take you without a fight! Kari: (gasp) T.K.: Uhhhh.... Uh, sorry! I'd better go now. I'll talk to you later?

Kari seems much more psychologically stable than her Japanese counterpart, who is barely able to form sentences. She spends a lot of this scene directly recapping what's happened. She also says the thing she saw was a Digimon which... is a fair assumption to make but not necessarily something to state with so much certainty.

Kari's killing a lot of the intrigue and mystique here. "Digimon keep appearing and trying to drag me to their world" is a very different conversation from "Something is calling me to the ocean and I feel like I'm going to go away." I imagine that's by design; This is a very scary episode and I wouldn't be surprised if FOX Kids is downplaying the horror on purpose.

They also change the nature of what T.K. said that was so wrong. Takeru yells at Hikari that she needs to stand up for herself and stop leaning on Taichi so much.

There is a hint of possible jealousy here. The passing of the torch from a dependable male role model to a romantic suitor is a pretty common romance trope.

The interpretation of romance as a woman being passed like a ball from father to husband goes back millennia. It's literally the reason fathers walk their daughter down the aisle at a wedding. It signifies the father handing her over to the husband. And it's not always without conflict; Sometimes husbands have to pry their womanball out of the father's cold, dead hands.

So when Takeru suddenly goes after Hikari's male role model, it's another moment that is about one thing but feels like it could be about another. He says, "It's always Taichi; Why not Hikari!?" but it's not super hard to hear "It's always Taichi; Why not me!?"

T.K.'s outburst is a lot simpler. He just says outright that he likes Kari, then backpedals and runs away out of embarrassment.

The dub ends this scene by cutting out a shot of the dark ocean. The original gradually transitioned to this shot after Hikari started hearing its waves again; The dub has no sound of waves and removes the shot, further demonstrating how much more stable Kari is right now.

Hikari exits the school grounds alone. A small breeze picks up for just a moment.

Hikari: The ocean....

She steps out onto the crosswalk ahead of her. Pan up to that tree again, where Tailmon is comfortably napping. She wakes up and sees Hikari down below.

Tailmon: Hikari?

Tailmon hops down to street level to pursue, but then she sees it.

Tailmon: Huh!?

Standing atop a staircase leading down to the beach, Hikari looks out across Tokyo Bay. There, she glitches again. Her body begins to fizzle with static, except for her backpack for some reason.

Tailmon tries to cross and catch up to her, but a truck cuts her off, honking. Tailmon loses sight of Hikari behind the truck. Once it's passed, she's gone. She leaves behind only her backpack floating in the air, until gravity reasserts itself and the pack falls to the ground.

Tailmon: Hikari!?

Nope. She's not coming back from this one. Just like she said she would, Hikari has gone. She's at the ocean now.

In the dub:

Announcer: Will Mary Robinson please report to the office? Your locker is missing.

XD HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I'm sorry. I just. I've always loved that one. That's my favorite goofy PA announcement. Twenty years later and I can still recite its exact cadence. The principal must be so fucking baffled right now.

(Kari emerges from front gate) Kari: ...the beach....

After Kari goes to cross and we pan up the tree, the dub adds a bunch of horns honking. We only see one car pass by though, right after Gatomon wakes up.

Gatomon: Kari! (Blue car goes by behind Kari after she finishes crossing) Passenger: You're speeding, Harold! (Gatomon descends the tree) Gatomon: Kari! (Kari fizzles with static) Gatomon: Kari, are you okay? What's happening to you!? (Gatomon tries to cross but is interrupted by a truck. Kari vanishes) Gatomon: Where'd she go!?

Up in Computer Club, the other Digimon are gathered with Daisuke and Iori watching Miyako work. The room fills with the sound of typing while she talks with them.

Miyako: I thought I could expand the D-Terminal's protocols. Daisuke: ...what does that mean?

Before Miyako can answer, a dejected Takeru enters the room.

Miyako: I want to be able to communicate with the Digital World in real time, instead of just by email. Iori: I'm sure the Digimon Kaiser is already doing that. Daisuke: Gotcha. If only we knew where he is now. Chibimon: I love it! That way, we can stop our nakama from having to undergo Dark Evolution!

...huh. Yeah, Chibimon raises a good point. The SkullGreymon/MetalGreymon (Blue) incident happened because the Kaiser was able to get the Children over in the one place while attacking Agumon in the other. Better communication would have been a huge help.

While everyone else is focused on Miyako's programming, Patamon is more concerned with his Partner.

Patamon: What's wrong, Takeru? You don't look so good. Takeru: (defeated) It's nothing....

As if on cue, Tailmon suddenly throws the door open. Out of breath and gasping, she stammers out:

Tailmon: IT'S HIKARI!!! Takeru & Daisuke: Eh!?

So much for nothing!

In the dub, there is no keyboard clacking. Instead, for some reason, there are mouseclicks. Mouseclick. ...mouseclick. ... ... Mouseclick mouseclick.

Yolei: By increasing the system memory, I'm expanding the D-Terminal's capabilities. Davis: (sarcastic) Boy, do you know how to party. (T.K. enters sullenly) Yolei: I thought it would be better if we can communicate in the Digital World not just through email but in real time too. Cody: Great idea! It could be helpful for keeping tabs on the Digimon Emperor. Davis: Boring! I think I'd rather go outside and play some soccer. DemiVeemon: No kidding! Let's go outside and get some fresh air! This place smells like a pile of stale sweatsocks! Patamon: T.K., what's the matter? You look awful. T.K.: It's nothing, really. (Gatomon throws the door open suddenly) Gatomon: Kari's disappeared! T.K. & Davis: Huh!?

Yolei's mouseclicking the same changes to the D-Terminal that Miyako's programming, but Davis and DemiVeemon are just being shitty and contrarian. Daisuke and Chibimon need the technical jargon explained to them but once they understand, they're into it. It's a good idea and they're excited to be a part of it.

There's a great transition here where Takeru and Daisuke going "Eh!?" suddenly cuts to black, only for the scene to slowly fill in like eyes adjusting to the dark, revealing it's actually the black light of the lighthouse shining directly on the camera.

HIkari slowly comes to, opening her eyes in this new place.

Hikari: ...ah?

There are no words. No sound but the breeze. Just the dawning horror of finally being in this place, looking out at the dark ocean that's calling to her.

Annnnnnd break for commercial. HEY KIDS WANNA BUY A SUPER SENTAI RANGER!?!?

The dub, I wanna note, sometimes likes to do their own scene transitions. But they preserve that awesome lighthouse transition perfectly.

Kari: (surprised gasp) It happened again! I'm back at the beach! But something's not right. What kind of lighthouse shines dark light!?

Valid question. Top ten on the list of high school pranks sure to cause a major disaster.

The dub also takes its second commercial break here.

Back in computer club, the team unpacks Hikari's vanishing.

Daisuke: She vanished? Are you nuts? We can't go to the Digital World unless we open the Gate here! Takeru: That... might not be the case for Hikari-chan. Daisuke: What are you talking about!? Iori: Um-- Miyako: It's useless! The system I have now can't pick up Hikari-chan's location! Daisuke: Then she must be in the Digital World! Open the Gate! Iori: (concerned) Daisuke-san.... Daisuke: We'll go in and bring her back! As soon as-- Iori: PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!!!

The typically polite Iori suddenly yelling at the top of his lungs grinds everything to a halt. The room falls silent and all eyes turn to him.

Iori: We don't know exactly where Hikari-chan went. If we just open a Gate at random, we'll be lost in the vastness of the Digital World.

Nobody has a response to that. He's right, of course. The room is silent for a moment before Takeru realizes the problem they're having.

Takeru: She's not in the Digital World. Group: O_O Takeru: The ocean... Yeah, it's gotta be the ocean!

After making that startling remark and offering no clarification, Takeru bolts from the room to pursue his next lead. Patamon flies after him while everyone else remains in stunned silence.

Personally, "Our missing person is in the ocean" is not a revelation I would find comforting. I don't think Takeru's sudden outburst did anything to relieve the fear and tension in that room.

In the dub:

Davis: There's no way that she could just vanish into thin air! She's gotta be in the Digital World and she probably needs us! We'd better hurry! She might be in a lot of danger! T.K.: It's not that easy. She might not be in the Digi-World. Davis: Did you hit your head!? Cody: Uhhh-- Yolei: It's no use! Right now, the system can't even pinpoint Kari's location! Davis: We can't afford to waste any more time! Let's just go and find her on our own! Cody: Davis, I don't think-- Davis: Now is the time for action! Yolei, open the Gate-- Cody: WOULD YOU ALL STOP TALKING!?!? Group: Huh!? Cody: It makes no sense to open the Gate until we can target Kari's exact location! The Digital World is gigantic and if we go in there without any direction, we're bound to get lost too! T.K.: She's not in the Digi-World Group: Huh!? T.K.: The beach. That's where she is! (T.K. runs from the room) Patamon: T.K.! (Patamon flies after him)

It's rare that I say this but I would actually call this an improvement on the original.

Daisuke does this weird thing where he's initially skeptical and points out that Hikari would have to open the Gate, but then suddenly he flips positions and starts arguing hard that they need to go to the Digital World. Davis doesn't bring up that contradiction of facts. Instead, he takes a consistent position from the start of the argument: Kari must be in the Digital World so we need to go get her.

Similarly, we see T.K. trying to explain that Kari might not be in the Digital World from the get-go. He already knows she's not in the Digital World. He checked the Gate personally, and he had that talk with her.

So it's odd that Takeru takes the length of the conversation to suddenly realize that the place Hikari went to is the place she said she was going to go. By contrast, T.K. is trying to get them to understand this right from the start; He just gets shouted down by Davis the first time and has to capitalize on the silence that Cody's outburst brings to reassert it.

Takeru arrives at the beach overlooking Tokyo Bay. Standing at teh top of the steps, the place where Hikari disappeared, Takeru puts his hands up to project his voice and yells as loud as he can.

Takeru: HIKARI-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!

In the dark place, Hikari finds herself exploring an alleyway at the beach, made up of wooden fences gating off certain homes. She passes a sign that reads, in DigiCode, "Innsmouth".

...I can't read DigiCode, I'm just very familiar with that one through osmosis.

Well, it's good to know where she is, finally. She's in Innsmouth. I'm sure that's fine.

Takeru's voice seems to cross the boundary between realities. It carries to Innsmouth, but Hikari doesn't seem to notice. Pausing by the sign, she ponders the same question everyone else is asking.

Hikari: Where... am I...? Is this not the Digital World?

Only silence is there to answer her question, and so Hikari continues to look around.

In the dub:

T.K.: KARIIIIIIIIII!!!

T.K.'s voice does not carry over. There's a clean cut from T.K. yelling her name at Tokyo Bay to the ominous quiet of Innsmouth, without the important implication that the fabric between places may be somewhat thin.

Kari: This place is creepy but at least the beach is nice. And... deserted. It must not be the tourist season.

Kari (sigh) walks around Innsmouth quipping to herself. This episode is scary and they are trying so hard not to get angry parent phone calls.

Back in the human world, Takeru scours Odaiba Beach by foot. Patamon and Tailmon hurry to catch up to him.

Patamon: Is this where Hikari is? Tailmon: I watched Hikari get digitized. Are you sure she's not in the Digital World? Takeru: She's not. At least, not the Digital World that we always go to. I saw it too. Hikari-chan... she was starting to disappear. Patamon: But... where did she go? Takeru: I don't know. I don't know! But I have to find her!

Takeru takes his D-3 out of his pocket, squeezing it furiously.

Takeru: This thing isn't any use at all!

Takeru is quite reasonably losing it. Hikari is lost in another world that we don't even know how to get to. It's an impossible problem to solve.

Interesting to note that Tailmon expressly describes what happened to Hikari as being digitized in a way that compares it to the kids coming and going from the Digital World. She's not confused by what she saw; Only by the context it happened in.

So that staticky effect wasn't a new metaphysic; It's what the digitization process looks like when it's not being drowned out by the blinding light of the Gate activating.

In the dub:

Patamon: T.K., wait for us! Gatomon: Yeah, T.K.! Let us be your advancemon! You're a lover, not a fighter! T.K.: (distraught) This is all my fault! I knew there was something wrong with her. She needed my help and I let her down! If I didn't leave her by herself, none of this would have happened. Patamon: Come on, T.K.! Let's go to the Digital World! T.K.: She's not there! I saw her disappearing in class. She's in a different dimension! (T.K. takes out his D-3) T.K.: And this stupid piece of junk is useless!

In contrast to Hikari and Kari, Takeru is the one who's keeping it together better than T.K. is. T.K. covers the key points but also takes some time to wallow in despair over abandoning Kari earlier.

Takeru is still visibly upset, but he's trying to hold it together. Emphasis on trying.

The detail that Hikari was being digitized as her method of transit between worlds doesn't make it into the dub.

In the dark place, Hikari emerges from Innsmouth and out onto the beach. There, she spots a tunnel in the distance and makes her way towards it.

Absolutely looks like a place you would want to go inside of.

Back in the human world, a helicopter passes by overhead while Takeru is searching. Stopping, her does what T.K. was already doing and opens up.

Takeru: I said some awful things to Hikari-chan. Patamon: Eh? What? Takeru: I was supposed to protect Hikari-chan and I.... Tailmon: (firmly) Hikari isn't a weak girl.

Tailmon's assertion takes Takeru by surprise. He slowly turns to look at her.

Takeru: ... Tailmon: Hikari's a strong girl. But that's because she has her nakama to help her. Takeru: But... (distraught) But what can I possibly do right now!?

Yep, now Takeru's breaking down too.

It might seem like Tailmon just doubled right back to Hikari needing help, but it's a difference of mindset. Takeru said he's supposed to protect Hikari. It's the same thing he accused her of always looking to Taichi for, and the fact that he thinks that lends a lot of credibility to that unspoken alternate interpretation from before.

But Tailmon says no. You were wrong before to say she should just do it on her own and you're wrong now to say she needs to be protected. Hikari is a strong person who, yes, relies on the support of her teammates so that she can work together to accomplish things. She's neither a rockstar superhero nor a helpless burden; She is a valuable participant in a team.

She doesn't need Takeru to come save her. She needs Takeru to participate with her.

In the dub, Kari's still complaining about how much Innsmouth sucks. Which. I mean. She's not wrong?

Kari: There's not even a hot dog stand on this beach! (gasp) (Kari notices the tunnel) Kari: It's a doorway! Maybe that's the way out of this stupid world.

She's about to file a complaint with Cthulhu's manager.

As Kari approaches the tunnel, various voices from within start calling out "Kari", giving her even more reason than Hikari has to not go in there.

(In the human world, a helicopter passes by) Patamon: Look! The news copter! Maybe another high-speed chase? T.K.: Agh... I really wish we had more of a clue as to where she went! Patamon: Well, what did she say? T.K.: The beach. She kept saying something about the beach. Now we'll never find her! Gatomon: T.K., don't be such a scaredy-cat. (T.K. slowly turns around) T.K.: Huh!? Gatomon: Kari's one tough kid. We have to believe she can take care of herself until we find her. T.K.: You're right, Gatomon! Thanks. Come on, let's keep looking for her!

Here we go the opposite direction. Takeru's the one being vulnerable and opening up while T.K.'s focused on the task... though still panicking about it.

They still touch on the "Hikari's strong" point, but they cut out Takeru's accusation earlier so all Gatomon can do with it is offer hope.

T.K. ends this scene in a much more positive place than Takeru does. T.K. is reinvigorated and ready to go find Kari, while Takeru's struggling to understand how he can apply what Tailmon's saying about Hikari to this situation. Cool, she needs help, not protection. So. How do I do that?

Against all reason, Hikari enters the scary tunnel.

Hikari: (thinking) This place... this terrifying place... I don't need to do this... Why am I...?

Even Hikari can't understand what's compelling her to go deeper and deeper into the scary tunnel.

Suddenly, she hears a groaning sound ahead of her. She sees red eyes glowing in the dark. Two pairs of them.

Hikari: Who are you!? Voices: (groan) Hikari: Who's there!? Voices: (groan)

Suddenly, one of the creatures lets out a louder, almost angry-sounding noised and stands up.

Hikari: WHO ARE YOU!?!?

Should not have gone in the scary tunnel.

In the dub:

Kari: HELLO!!! IS ANYBODY IN HERE!?!? ECHO!!! ...coming in here has got to be the worst idea I have ever had. I must be out of my mind. Voices: ...Kari.... Kari: (gasp) Voices: Help us! Help us! Kari: Get back! I play a lot of soccer! So I know how to kick! (Creature stands up) Creature: Help us.... Kari: What do you want from me!?

The dub creatures speak English and call out for Kari by name.

The original implies that Hikari is being compelled or controlled in some way. She's not fully in control of what she's doing, and is drawn into the scary tunnel for reasons she doesn't understand. Dub Kari seems fully in control of her own faculties and snarks at herself for the awful decision of entering the scary tunnel.

Also of note: Kari isn't one of the soccer kids. Tai, Davis, Sora, and Izzy are the four soccer players, though Sora transitioned to tennis after entering middle school.

But there's nothing stopping her from playing recreationally with Tai. Well, nothing except childhood trauma but that's his problem, not hers. :P

Back in the clubrooom, Daisuke's made up his mind. He holds his D-3 up to the computer.

Daisuke: I don't care what that jerk Takeru says! Hikari-chan is definitely in the Digital World! And nothing will stop me from finding her! Chibimon: Daisuke.... Daisuke: DIGITAL GATE, OPEN!!!

Against all established precedent, the Gate remains firmly closed. It will not allow Daisuke to pass.

Daisuke: Huh? Why won't it open? DIGITAL GATE, OPEN!!!

Nothing. Still, the Gate remains firmly shut.

Daisuke: FUCK!!!

Daisuke furiously pounds his fist on the desk. This does not open the Gate either.

Returning to the scary tunnel, Hikari hasn't fled from the creatures within. They don't seem to be chasing or attacking her, and so she takes a closer look. The creatures seem to have trouble even standing, with the one that stood up previously now back on the ground again.

And on its right arm, she spots the familiar sight of an Evil Spiral.

Hikari: Are you... Digimon? Creature: ...Digi...mon....

Hangyomon is a Perfect-stage Data-attribute Aquatic Beastman Digimon. We saw them before on Spiral Mountain, serving as soldiers in MetalSeadramon's Deep Savers forces.

Narrator: Hangyomon! Aquatic Beastman Digimon. Perfect-stage.

Yeah, the narrator cuts in with a rundown here like "Aha! I know the answer to this!" before either Hikari or the creature she's talking to has confirmed their identity. And then doesn't even tell us, like, anything at all.

Some real Um Actually energy coming off the narrator right now. This is the worst rundown in the history of Digimon Analyzer rundowns.

The Hangyomon in front reaches out helplessly. Weakly, they explain their situation to Hikari.

Hangyomon: We don't know... who we are... or how long we've been here.... Hikari: (quietly) Oh no... Hangyomon: ...only that we serve our god in the depths.... Hikari: God...?

Nobody told these Hangyomon that we already killed him three years ago so they don't have to do that anymore.

Hikari's demonstrating amazing strength of character by even being willing to stand here and have this conversation, but it's strength of character that's been well-established. This isn't any different from when she set out to free the Numemon. Hikari doesn't judge people by how scary or gross they are.

In the dub:

Davis: I don't care what T.K. says! I know Kari's in the Digital World and I'm gonna save her instead of digging up clams on that stupid sandy beach! Here I come, Kari! DIGI-PORT OPEN!!! (Gate remains shut) Davis: I just changed the stupid batteries! DIGI-POOOOORT OPEEEEEEEN!!! (Gate remains shut) Davis: RRRAGH! (Cut to Kari in the scary tunnel) Kari: You guys don't look so well. Creatures: (miscellaneous groaning) Kari: So what are you? Are you Digimon? Creature: ...Digi...mon...? Creature: (rundown) I don't know if we're Digimon but I know we're Scubamon! We have big flippers for swimming deep in the ocean. Scubamon: We have no idea how we got down here or how long we've been in this awful tunnel! Kari: You poor things! What happened to you? Scubamon: We don't remember. One day, we were serving our undersea master, and the next minute we were here! And we feel terrible. Kari: This is awful. Who would do something like this?

Kari remains entirely nonchalant and unaffected by the spooky atmosphere, but the compassion is there.

Unsurprisingly, their "god" is now their "master".

Note that in the original, the Hangyomon never self-identify as such. The narrator tells us that's what they are, but they can't even answer the question of if they're Digimon. In fact, they don't even recognize the word.

But, due to how the dub handles rundowns, somebody has to give a diegetic rundown for the Scubamon. So the Scubamon have to self-identify as such.

Note also that Scubamon is the wrong name. The dub calls this species Divermon. Is that an error? Well... we'll talk about that in a bit.

Hikari: But... but why are you...?

The Hangyomon in front holds out their right arm, showing Hikari the Evil Spiral.

Hangyomon: One day, this suddenly showed up and drained away our strength. Its voice tells us to worship a god who is not our god. Hikari: Digimon Kaiser.... Hangyomon: Yes, we thought you'd know something about this. Hikari: (gasp) Hangyomon: We could see you no matter where you were. You... Surely you, the Chosen Entity, would be able to take these off! Hikari: So that's why you called me?

Absolutely creepy that the Hangyomon could see Hikari across realities but she doesn't interrogate that any further.

Also note that the Hangyomon does not call Kari 選ばれし子 Erabareshi Ko, a "Chosen Child". They call her 選ばれた存在 Erebareta Sonzai. 存在 Sonzai simply means... existence. A thing that is.

An English equivalent would be if they called Kari something like, "Destined One". It's close, sure. But. That. Is not the phrase. They aren't using her title. They mean something else.

In the dub:

Kari: Why not... go back to the ocean? Scubamon: I wish that we could. A dark man came into our Master's kingdom and put these Dark Spirals on our arms that stole our strength and made us all his slaves. Kari: The Digimon Emperor! Scubamon: That's why we summoned you. You are our only hope. Kari: Huh? Scubamon: You have to help us. You are very powerful! Enough to free us from the Dark Spirals! We've used the last of our strength to get you here. Please help us return to the ocean where we can serve our Master! Kari: I don't know what I could possibly do to help.

We lose the eerie details of the Hangyomon "seeing you no matter where you are" and calling her the wrong thing.

Hikari walks deeper into the scary tunnel, approaching the Hangyomon. She reaches out for the Evil Spiral on their arm.

Hikari: I don't have that power. Hikari: (thinking) Why am I telling myself I can't? I can do this!

Gripping the Hangyomon's wrist, Hikari's holy pink light shines brightly and--

A sudden crash shakes the scary tunnel, causing some of the ceiling bricks to dislodge and fall. The entire tunnel continues shaking from the quake.

Hikari: AHH!!! EVERYONE GET OUT!!! QUICKLY!!!

Hikari ushers the Hangyomon from the tunnel, only leaving herself once the last of them is out.

In the dub:

Scubamon: (group) Help! / Help us! / Help! (Kari approaches and reaches for the front Scubamon's arm) Kari: Alright. I'll do my best but I don't know if I'm strong enough. Kari: (thinking) Come on, Kari. Stop doubting yourself! You are not a quitter! (Kari's light begins to affect the Scubamon's arm, but then the tunnel shakes) Kari: Come on, everybody! We've gotta run! Let's go! The tunnel is collapsing! (Kari ushers the Scubamon out) Scubamon: (fleeing with the others) Get out of my way!

Solid.

Exiting the scary tunnel, Hikari stops and coughs from all the smoke.

Hikari: What was that--

A massive, beastly roar cuts her off, pulling her attention skyward. A lone Airdramon soars into view overhead.

Hangyomon: That is the messenger of the new god who seeks to control us! Hikari: Digimon Kaiser!

Airdramon turns around in the air and comes in for an attack run. Sailing overhead, they breathe a plume of black fire along the beach. The Hangyomon scatter, but three Hangyomon are caught up in the attack and incinerated.

Hikari: (shocked) How could... How could he be so cruel!?

I imagine the fact that his vaunted Evil Spirals are inexplicably not working on these Hangyomon probably has something to do with it.

In the dub, Hikari has no questions. She just keeps coughing until Airdramon reveals themself.

Scubamon: That creature is a servant of the Dark One who put these rings on us. Kari: The Digimon Emperor! (Airdramon comes in for attack run) Airdramon: GYAAAAAAGH SPINNING NEEDLE!!!

They cut the shot of the three Hangyomon being incinerated. Replacing it is a brief and simple explosion that does not explicitly claim any lives.

(Scubamon flee the blast) Kari: WE'RE SITTING DUCKS HERE!!! And I can't fight without my friends....

Further censoring the three deaths, Kari reacts with fear about her tactical disadvantage instead of horror over what just happened.

I don't know why they called Airdramon's breath attack Spinning Needle. It involves neither spinning nor needles.

In the human world, Takeru is back at it. He cups his hands over his mouth and calls out to Tokyo Bay.

Takeru: HIKARI-CHAAAAAAN!!! Tailmon: Just calling out to her from here....

Tailmon's skeptical that this would work, but Patamon joins in to help.

Patamon/Takeru: HIKARIIIIII!!! / HIKARI-CHAAAAAAN!!!

Suddenly, something hits Tailmon.

Tailmon: Feelings....

No time to dwell on that, though. Back at the dark ocean, two more Hangyomon burn up and die. They even disintegrate into pixel dust, an effect we haven't seen much of in this series yet.

Hikari sits with the Hangyomon, defeated and helpless. Her mind drifts to the people who support her.

Hikari: What can I even do? Help me, Onii-chan... Tailmon... Takeru-kun...

Out in the human world, Tailmon has joined Takeru and Patamon in calling out for Hikari.

Tailmon/Takeru: HIKARIIIIII!!! / HIKARI-CHAAAAAAN!!!

Suddenly, Hikari's pink light appears as a distortion in the air in front of them. It glows more brightly, revealing Hikari herself reaching out for them.

Takeru: Hikari-chan!?

Takeru takes a moment to process what he's seeing, then leaps from edge of the landmass.

Patamon: TAKERU!!! Tailmon: Feelings are what connect the worlds!

Tailmon and Patamon jump for Hikari as well, and the three of them flicker out of reality in midair.

In the dub:

T.K.: KARI!!! KARI!!! Gatomon: I think he just went crazy. (Patamon joins T.K.) Patamon & T.K.: KARI!!! KARI!!! (Gatomon suddenly realizes) Gatomon: Ah! They've both flipped!

Gatomon realizes nothing which makes it peculiar that she's suddenly going to be calling out alongside T.K. and Patamon next time we see her.

Again, the shot of two Hangyomon burning up and dying is cut. Kari's losing hope and coming apart just from the flame blasts being laid on the beach.

Kari: I feel so helpless! My brother would know what to do. I need you Tai... Gatomon... the National Guard!

...

Really.

Gatomon, Patamon, & T.K.: KARI!!! KARI!!! (Kari suddenly appears in a glowing distortion of light) Kari: T.K.! T.K.: It's her! (T.K. jumps) Patamon: T.K., wait! Gatomon: Ah, what the heck. I've got nine lives. (Gatomon and Patamon jump too)

Altogether, Gatomon is shockingly flippant about finding Kari in this scene. She does not seem invested at all.

The effect that plays as Takeru, Patamon, and Tailmon cross realities is distinctly different from the typical digitizing effect for entering the Digital World. It doesn't take them too long to drift between worlds and arrive at the dark ocean.

The trio land on a high cliff overlooking the beach.

Tailmon: This is not the usual Digital World.

Hikari comes running down the beach.

Hikari: TAKERU-KUN!!! TAILMON!!! Takeru: Hikari-chan! Hikari: You came to help me!? Takeru: That's right!

Hikari's not the only one who's noticed them, however. From a distance, Airdramon approaches to investigate the new arrivals.

Takeru: Let's go, Patamon! Patamon: Yeah! Takeru: DIGIMENTAL UP!!!

The evolution sequence is a little different. The early parts of the stock animation, with the Digimental activating and Patamon crying out "ARMOR SHINKAAAAAA" are replaced by dynamic animation of Takeru's energy pouring out of the D-3 and into Patamon. This allows us to see the bright green of Takeru's holy light cleaving through the muted color scheme of the dark ocean world.

In the dub:

Gatomon: T.K., promise me we'll never do that ever again. Kari: T.K.!!! GATOMON!!! T.K.: There she is! Kari: HEY GUYS, I'M RIGHT DOWN HERE!!! T.K.: STAY THERE!!! (Airdramon approaches) T.K.: Time to rock, Patamon! Patamon: Right! T.K.: DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!!!

Gatomon remains entirely flippant about all this.

Once Patamon's evolved, Takeru takes to the air on Pegasmon.

Airdramon moves straight in for a bite. Pegasmon quickly flits to the left, darting out of the way of Airdramon's teeth to avoid a sudden and anticlimactic end.

Airdramon circles in the air and fires off two bolts of black firebreath. Pegasmon keeps mobile, dodging each one in sequence.

One of the two bolts, however, hits the nearby village of Innsmouth. The four surviving Hangyomon wail despondently as they watch their village explode in flames.

Takeru: DAMN IT!!! PEGASMON!!! Pegasmon: NEEDLE RAIN!!!

As Pegasmon closes distance to Airdramon, he sprays his needles straight into the top of Airdramon's head. He keeps shooting until they pass each other, then rises upwards.

In the dub:

Airdramon: SPINNING NEEDLE!!! (Airdramon fires two shots; One destroys Innsmouth) T.K.: PEGASUSMOOOOOON!!! That was too close! Pegasusmon: WIND MANE!!! (Pegasusmon sprays needles into Airdramon's head)

Fuck Innsmouth, I guess.

...I mean, yes. Fuck Innsmouth. But still.

The Scubamon make no noise when the village explodes and T.K.'s only concern is that the shots nearly hit him. We watch the village explode but nobody engages with the destruction that the show went out of its way to show us.

Tailmon runs over to Hikari, eager to join the fight.

Tailmon: Hikari! I need to Armor Evolve too! Hikari: M-My D-3 is... in my backpack....

A flashback shows us Hikari's backpack dropping onto the sidewalk after she crossed over, having not been taken with her.

(I sure hope Tailmon grabbed that and stuffed it someplace safe.)

Tailmon: Oh no....

Nefertimon will not be joining this battle, which is taking a turn for the worse. Airdramon is on Pegasmon's tail and lining up their shot. Pegasmon evades the next burst of black flame by suddenly ascending rapidly, but this is the worst position to be in during aerial combat.

Rising high and circling in front of the lighthouse, Pegasmon arcs around to try and attack. Airdramon follows him and remains firmly on his tail. However, watching this, Tailmon suddenly realizes something.

Tailmon: (gasp of inspiration) Takeru: Shit! I refuse to let you win!

Takeru, meanwhile, is in dire need of backup.

In the dub:

Gatomon: Quick, Kari! I have to Armor Digivolve right now! Kari: But... I don't have my D-Terminal.... (Quick Flashback) Gatomon: We're toast... Oh, I don't know how much longer they can last! (Pegasusmon circles in front of the lighthouse) Gatomon: (terrified gasp) T.K.: He's on our tail!

The dub's gasp is one of fear and worry for T.K., rather than the lightbulb moment of the original.

Note that Kari says D-Terminal here instead of D-3 but honestly either works. She needs both to Armor Digivolve. She does not mention that it's in her backpack, but with the sudden flashback, I think it's clear from context.

Tailmon has a plan now. She takes off at full sprint on all fours, racing along the edge of the cliff.

Tailmon: (commanding) PEGASMON!!!

When Pegasmon flies close enough to the cliff, Tailmon leaps from the edge and lands on his back. Takeru grabs onto her as she lands to stabilize on her on the flying steed and they rise into the air, avoiding another shot from the pursuing Airdramon.

Once she's with the boys, Tailmon points out her target.

Tailmon: Pegasmon! Destroy that lighthouse! That's what's draining our power! Pegasmon: Got it!

Pegasmon circles around for an attack run on the lighthouse and lets off his shot.

Takeru: Do it, Pegasmon! Pegasmon: SILVER BLAZE!!!

His attack hits the lighthouse dead on, destroying the exterior and revealing a Dark Tower within. The Tower topples over into the dark ocean.

In the dub:

Gatomon: (worried) PEGASUSMON!!! (Gatomon jumps onto Pegasusmon) Gatomon: Pegasusmon! The Control Spire! You've got to take it out! Then I can Digivolve! Pegasusmon: Here goes nothing! (Pegasusmon charges the lighthouse) T.K.: FULL BLAST, PEGASUSMON!!! Pegasusmon: EQUUS BEAM!!! (Pegasusmon destroys the Control Spire) T.K.: Nice shootin', Pegasusmon!

Gatomon's been script-reading. She's a few steps ahead of the plot, calling out the lighthouse as a Control Spire before that's been revealed.

With the Control Spire destroyed, a beam of Hikari's pink light shines down and breaches the clouds. Tailmon leaps into it. Tailmon CHO-SHINKAAAAAA!!!

Hikari: ANGEWOMON!!!

Kari: ANGEWOMON!!!

It's a single proper noun. There's not a lot to say.

Airdramon surges through the air towards Angewomon.

Pegasmon: SILVER BLAZE!!!

Pegasmon lets off a shot of his own, nailing Airdramon right in the throat on their approach. The shot momentarily knocks Airdramon off course but they twirl in the air and continue their advance.

Angewomon: HEAVEN'S CHARM!!!

There's one we haven't seen in a while. Putting her palms together, Angewomon generates a vertical line of holy light, like a gigantic energy bow. Then she spreads her arms wide to create a wave of energy and fires it into Airdramon.

The shot hits Airdramon dead on for an instant kill.

...no, I did not mean that it broke their Evil Ring. Airdramon clearly and unambiguously disintegrates into pixel dust. Angewomon hits them with everything she's got and just kills that guy.

Takeru: We did it! We defeated Airdramon!

We sure did, Takeru. We sure did. ...the veterans are scary.

In the dub:

(Airdramon advances) Pegasusmon.: EQUUS BEAM!!! (Pegasusmon hits Airdramon) Angewomon: HEAVEN'S CHARM!!! (Angewomon kills Airdramon) T.K.: Nice job! This battle is just a day at the beach!

Contrary to the censoring of the Hangyomon deaths earlier, Airdramon's clear and unmistakable death is shown in full.

The dub takes its third commercial break here, following T.K.'s post-mortem one-liner.

Following Airdramon's death, there's one last order of business to attend to. Angewomon descends over the beach. There are now five surviving Hangyomon even though there were four earlier.

With a ray of her holy light, Angewomon releases the Hangyomon. The Evil Spirals unwind from around their arms and fall uselessly into the sand. The four five surviving Hangyomon are all free.

Since the dub's returning from commercial, they can't use the momentum from the previous battle. To reset this part as a new scene, they splice in that full-body shot of Angewomon from when she first evolved, and then she descends.

Kari also gets a line in this version, further re-establishing the scene.

Kari: Angewomon! You've got to help them!

It works.

The five Hangyomon are released from bondage. Hikari-- Wait, what's happening?

Free from the Evil Spirals, their bodies begin to morph and shift. The five creatures abandon the forms of the Hangyomon and revert to things like the monster in the stairwell that had been watching Hikari earlier.

Hikari: (frightened) Is this... what you really are?

Hikari tries to back off, but one of the creatures grabs her by the arm. They have no intention of letting her leave.

Hikari: W-What are you doing!?

Takeru and Patamon come running down the beach.

Takeru: LET GO OF HIKARI-CHAN!!!

But that's all they have to contribute. They landed like way on the opposite end of the beach for some reason and will not get here in time to participate in this scene. Weird choice, my guys.

Creature: The reason we called you is because you would make a suitable bride for us. We must produce many more offspring to resist the new god. Hikari: (distraught) B-But I helped you!

GROSS. GROSS. GROSS GROSS GROSS. GROSS GROSS GROSS GROSS GROSS GROSS GROSS!

This is worse than every single harassment Mimi suffered in the Digital World combined. Fuck all of these things. I wish more of them burned up in Airdramon's fire.

Also... uh... yeah. Welcome to Innsmouth. It's not a great place to be.

This is what they meant when they called Hikari the Chosen Entity. When they meant something else. This is the something else. This, and not the Evil Spirals, is why they've been watching her.

It's also why they had the worst rundown in the history of rundowns. Because they aren't actually Digimon at all. That was a fake-ass rundown by a fake-ass Narrator for these fake-ass Hangyomon.

And it's why it's... unclear whether "Scubamon" is a mistake or not. It's entirely plausible that the dub just fucked up and forgot it called them Divermon. There've been errors with names in the past. Isn't that right, Shogunmon/Gekomon/ShogunGekomon?

But it could also be deliberate. The Scubamon provided that name themselves. The fact that they provided the wrong name for the species they were alleging to be could be a subtle hint at the falseness of their identities.

In the dub:

(Creatures revert to their true forms) Creature 1: Much better! Creature 2: Now that's what I call a red-eye reduction! Kari: (terrified) Wait a second... You guys asked for my help and I gave it to you! Now what do you want! (Kari backs off but a creature grabs her) Kari: (gasp) Don't hurt me! (T.K. comes running down the side of the beach) T.K.: LET HER GO, YOU CREEPS!!! (That's enough of T.K.) Creature 3: Come with us, child. You'd be our new queen! We need you! Kari: (distraught) I trusted you guys and you lied to me!

To nobody's surprise, the dub dances around both the topics of "bride" and "producing offspring", settling on simply making Kari queen of the eerie sea creatures.

Anyways, this whole disgusting fish bride thing has gone on long enough. Angewomon lets off a warning shot, firing it into the ground at the creatures' feet.

The creatures may need to be told twice but they don't need to be shot twice. They back the fuck off.

Creature: Chosen One, we believed you'd be grateful to be our bride. Very well. We'll return to our former god in the depths... and wait....

With that, they retreat into the ocean and disappear.

In the dub:

Creature: But we thought you would love to be our queen! With your power, you could lead us in the battle against our undersea master! But I guess we were wrong. Beware, child! Our master can sense your power too! And he will come for you!

The dub is so grossed out at this point and desperate not to talk about that that it invents a whole new cliffhanger.

They also seem to have misunderstood what the creatures meant when they said they wanted to "oppose the new god". The new god is Ken. The Digimon Kaiser. They wanted to breed new offspring to fight the Digimon Kaiser.

The dub has them wanting Kari to lead them in battle against that Cthulhu-looking thing in the depths below... for some reason, even though all their conflict in this episode has been against the Emperor.

With the creatures gone, Takeru finally reaches Hikari. She has only one thing to say.

Hikari: I want to go home.

Takeru puts a hand on her shoulder.

Takeru: (gently) Let's go home. That's why we came.

Hikari gives Takeru a warm smile. Then they leave. Takeru rides Pegasmon while Angewomon carries Hikari. Together, they ascend into the pink light still glowing through the clouds.

Rising through the light, the dark ocean below vanishes from view, and they appear in a brightly colored but vaguely defined animation backdrop. I think it's supposed to be a field of flowers?

Narrator: What the children saw may have been a different world from the Digital World they'd known up until now.

Thank you chiming in and clarifying that. I hadn't gotten the message until now.

Takeru and Hikari exchange smiles in the light. Which would be a great place to close, but no.

We cut back to the dark ocean for one last scene, witnessing the Cthulhu-like entity rising from the black and murky depths once more. They let out an eerie and eldritch sound, and then we close.

In the dub:

Kari: ...I'm ready to go home now. (T.K. puts his hand on Kari's shoulder) T.K.: It could be worse. We could be scraping gum at school.

XD Goddammit. That's a pretty good tension-relieving brick joke. They got me.

(Pegasusmon and Angewomon take their Partners up towards the light) T.K.: Last one home is a rotten Digi-Egg! Pegasusmon/Angewomon: Whoa ho ho! / Ahahaha! Kari: Thanks for coming after me, T.K.! I really appreciate it. T.K.: It's okay, Kari. I know you'd do the same for me. Kari: Hey, T.K.? Remember this morning when you said you really cared for me? What did you mean by that? T.K.: Huh!? Oh, well, you know. It was just... stuff. Kari: Mm... Well, you know what? I care for you too. (Cthulhu-like creature rises from the dark ocean) Narrator: Who is this evil, dark undersea master? Don't miss the upcoming Digimon: Digital Monsters!

The Narrator only implies that the next episode will have anything to do with this creature at all but doesn't outright say it so I can't technically call him a liar. Those two sentences are disconnected from one another and only seem contextually linked because they're stated side-by-side. It's a clever trick you also find in manipulative journalism.

This episode was shippy as fuck for Kari and T.K. so it doesn't come out of nowhere. But the dub has them whole-ass confess their feelings to each other at the end. I hope you're not expecting that to go anywhere 'cause that love confession is basically fanfiction. They will remain Ambiguously Shippy moving forward.

Assessment: So, let's get this out of the way first and foremost. The silhouetted creature is Dagomon. That's not ambiguous; The Japanese episode title calls them out by name. They're one of the two Virus Perfects from the Deep Savers line and are expressly based on Cthulhu.

But also, given the reveal surrounding the "Hangyomon", it's probably not actually Dagomon. It just seems like Dagomon in silhouette. In keeping with the eldritch and unknowable vibe of Lovecraftian dark ocean, the true nature of the Cthulhu-like entity that the sea creatures worship remains unexplained to this day.

(It's probably just Cthulhu.)

Something that's sticking in my craw is that Hikari mentions and even flashes back on a time something like this happened to her three years ago. But it wasn't the sea creatures back then; They only recently started stalking Hikari as a super gross measure to counter the Digimon Kaiser. And it wasn't the Digimon back then 'cause that didn't line up with any of Hikari's Digimon experiences that we've seen.

So. Like. What's the other other time Hikari's been haunted by otherworldly experiences? It's probably not as simple as just "She's schizophrenic" because she suggests that she hasn't had hallucinations like this for three years. Mental illness usually isn't considerate enough to leave you alone for years at a time.

The three-year timespan suggests that whatever she was remembering has to do with the Digital World. But that flashback doesn't line up with anything we ever saw in the first anime. So. IDK.

...they also didn't explain why Daisuke couldn't get the Digital Gate to open, come to think of it. Not sure what was stopping him there.

Hikari's sudden beam of holy light piercing the clouds, both Super-Evolving Tailmon and allowing passage between worlds? That would probably be kinda deus ex machina-ey but this is Hikari. We've seen her do shit like that before. Remember that time she Warp-Evolved Taichi's Digimon herself? Hikari's always been crazy powerful, just in ways she doesn't fully control.

In fact, the point that her D-3 is still in the other world makes it really interesting, because this is something only one of the veteran kids could have done. It connects with the endgame Apocalymon revelations that the children's power comes from within, and they don't actually need Digivices or Crests to manifest it.

This is what Tailmon meant when she said Hikari is a strong kid; She needs support, just like anyone else, but she's not weak for needing it. Once Takeru took down the Dark Tower, Hikari could manifest her power and solve everything.

#digimon #digimon adventure 02 #revisiting digimon #revisiting digimon adventure 02

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aceofwhump · 2 months ago

Note

Do you have any good 9-1-1/Lone Star fics to recommend?

Hi there! Yeah I've got a few that I like. They're all TK though. With a little Owen. And I stopped watching the show so much are like season 1 set.

Like Hell by romeoandjulietyouwish: Buttercup alerts Owen of TK having a panic attack

You Can Never Really Forget by whumpitup Summary: TK couldn’t remember the night he was shot. One night, everything comes back to him in his sleep, and Carlos is there to rescue him.

Now’s Not The Time To Panic by trashpup Summary: TK gets triggered during a call, but things turn out so much worse than he could’ve imagined.

Worth the Wait by xtinyteenyx Summary: After his night with Carlos, TK decided to try to fix what he felt was broken in him.So, TK starts to talk in his therapy sessions. He wants to open up to his team, wants to open up, so he can allow others in. And, hopefully, fully give his heart to Carlos.TK wants to find his happiness, and he’s ready to work to make it happen.

Lean In by Indigo2831: Tag to 1x08, Monster Inside. TK isn’t the only one fighting for his life.

The Long Road by StoneyT456: When TK moved to Texas with his dad, a part of him thought that he would also be leaving his addiction behind as well. But unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. But TK soon learns that while he only had his dad in New York to help him, he now has an entire family.(A series one-shots about how TK’s addiction is still something that he is struggling with.)

Bad Luck by hollyhobbit101 After a rough shift, Judd decides to take T.K. out riding to take his mind off things. Except T.K. has an unlucky streak a mile wide, and it has a habit of showing up at all the wrong times.Alternatively titled: T.K. Strand and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Adrenaline’s a Helluva Drug by Shearmouth It seems that even on simple calls, TK can get himself into more random trouble than should be humanly possible.

Ride The Storm by RECHerondale When a storm rolls in, all is not well. But, with a reminder that he’s not alone, TK realises that they can weather any storm. Together.

not like the movies by boneswrites My take on the direct aftermath of TK getting shot, what happens in that hallway until when Carlos sits by his hospital bed with some extension to that scene.

I know I need to tell you but can I? by Geekygirl669 Tk tries to work up the courage to tell the team about his addictions. But before he gets the chance something happens and Owen is forced to tell the team for his son.

Rest by CottonCandyWhump “Hey kid, you okay? You look like you’re going to barf,” Judd observes. TK nods, not trusting his stomach enough to respond verbally. “You sure?”The truck bumps again and TK realizes that he’s definitely not going to make it back to the station. “Actually, can we pull over? Like, now?”

Backfire by strxngehxrringrove Hey could you maybe write something where T.K. has a panic attack at the station and no one can calm him down but Carlos and his dad please.

hold my hand by b00mgh that scene from the season finale with bus driver lady, but TK trips and almost dies because smoke inhalation is a bitch and pain is real!

the highs, the lows, and the jello cups in between by lorarawr Vignettes from TK’s recovery in the hospital. Featuring Owen as a tender father who loves!his!son, Judd being so over it, and Carlos knowing how to tame a surly tiger.Slightly AU because people don’t go home that quick from being in a coma.

I Can’t Blame You (For What I Turned You In To) by StoneyT456 He runs over to his son, puts his gloved hand on his back, a mask on his face. He moves on autopilot, pushing to the back of his head anything other than get him out get him out get him out.And he does. The relief he feels at getting him out quickly leaves as he notices his son is falling to the ground. Collapsing in front of him. Again. He doesn’t even have the strength to say anything to him.Not until his son just jumps up, going to the woman he saved.“Woah, woah.”“Hey, hey, hey.” TK stumbles up to her, reaching for her hand. “Dad."And Owen stops. He knows TK will be fine. He knows that he is hooked on the same drug that he is. Knows that he has turned his son into the same kind of addict he is. And Owen doesn’t have any right to critique him on it, to call his son out for being willing to sacrifice himself for a random stranger.Because after all, isn’t Owen the one that taught TK how to do that?

Shots Fired by matimae He was shot. The realization came as suddenly as the pain when the initial shock wore off. He was shot. aka the missing scene from 1x08 because I wanted it, so I wrote it

Hidden Hurts by Illn Another day on the job, turns out bad for TK. Not that he knows.

#mod replies #ask #911 lone star #tk strand #fic recs

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chicgeekgirl89 · 4 months ago

Text

Summary: After the gas cloud dissipates, Carlos and T.K. go home and Carlos starts to realize just how much his work interfering with his life.

Read on AO3

Carlos had never realized exactly how much a person can say with a hug until he fell in love with T.K. Strand. Before that, hugs had just been a quick way to say hello or give a little comfort to someone else. Truly, as an adult, the only people he really hugged were his mom, his sisters, and his niece and nephew. Now hugs are one of the top five ways of finding out what his husband is feeling.

Hugs from T.K. Strand can be put into the following categories:

Happy Hugs- Tight, but squishy, sometimes a little bouncy and they don’t tend to last very long because T.K. usually has things to say to go along with them.

Silly Hugs- T.K. flopping as much of his body onto Carlos as humanly possible and smothering him with his weight. If they’re upright this results in lot of staggering around and potentially falling to the floor, if they’re on the couch or in bed then Carlos is usually smashed flat into the horizontal surface. T.K. considers it a bonus if he can do it while wet, dirty, smelly, or naked and make Carlos squirm in discomfort.

Worried Hugs- Fast, quick squeezes of reassurance that are over within seconds because T.K. needs to run his hands over Carlos and check for injuries; physical and emotional.

Tired Hugs- Floppy, boneless, short and usually followed by T.K. requesting that Carlos shower or come to bed with him. Sometimes the latter part can be circumvented by the promise of food.

Sexy Hugs- These involve the running of T.K.’s hands up Carlos’ chest first, before he loops them around his neck. This type of hug is accompanied by a lot of kissing and grinding until Carlos gives T.K. what he wants.

I Almost Died Today Hugs- Carlos hates these hugs. T.K. sags into him, like he can barely hold himself up anymore and needs Carlos to take over. He smushes his face into Carlos’ neck and exhales and clings on so incredibly tight. There have been too many of these in the short time they’ve known each other, more than anyone should have to endure.

It’s the last kind that Carlos gets when T.K. and Tommy come through the front door of Tommy’s house and it immediately makes him worry. He’d known that they were in a tenuous situation out there with the train crash and the gas cloud, but it isn’t until T.K. basically collapses in his arms that he understands without words that he almost lost everything today.

He holds on tightly, aware that they have an audience, some of whom are very young and don’t need to realize the danger that almost made them orphans today. So he says nothing, instead rubbing his hand up and down, trying to soothe away the fear and exhaustion he can feel eking out of his husband’s bones.

He cups T.K.’s cheek in his hand when they pull apart, searching his eyes. “You okay?” he asks.

T.K. nods wordlessly and then their attention is pulled to the awkward situation happening around them. Carlos doesn’t envy the conversation Tommy and Trevor are about to have, so they make their excuses and head out.

By the time Carlos has stowed his things in the back of the Camaro, T.K. is already in the passenger seat, head tipped back, eyes closed. Carlos buckles his seatbelt and looks over at his husband. “Do you want to talk about it?”

T.K. shakes his head without opening his eyes. “Not yet.”

“Are you hungry? Do you want to pick something up?”

Another shake. “I just want to go home.”

He turns his left palm upward, a silent request, and Carlos obliges, slotting the fingers of his right hand into place. T.K. has already put his ring back on after work and Carlos can feel it tucked in between his fingers, a reassurance that whatever happened today, they are still here and things are okay.

They pull out of the driveway, Carlos steering with one hand. “Was Trevor at the house when you got there?” T.K. asks.

“He was,” Carlos says. “I guess he wasn’t supposed to be.”

“Did he tell you about what’s going on with him and Tommy?”

“He did.” Carlos keeps his voice mild despite the concern swirling inside of him. He’s not sure he really wants to hear how close he came to becoming a widower today, but T.K. will need to process it eventually and he’s more likely to spill how he’s feeling if he thinks Carlos isn’t freaking out. “Quite an ultimatum he laid down.”

“Almost as bad as a secret wife.” T.K. turns his head and finally opens his eyes, the ghost of a teasing smile on his face.

“Almost,” Carlos says with a chuckle. “Do you think Tommy’s going to do it? Meet with Trevor’s ex?”

T.K. shrugs. “I don’t know. Probably. Tommy talks a big talk, but when it comes down to it, she’s a mom. I think she gets it. She’ll want to try and make it work. And after today…I think she knows what she wants her priorities to be.”

After today. It’s an opening and Carlos waits, letting the opportunity to talk sit comfortably between them so that T.K. can choose to take it if he wants to. It turns out he does.

“We were trapped in a school,” he says, his voice quiet, hand still holding onto Carlos’. “We weren’t supposed to be there, but there was a missing woman and the gas cloud was coming and Tommy wouldn’t leave her behind. She told us to go, but we didn’t.”

“You couldn’t leave her alone,” Carlos says in understanding.

“No. We couldn’t.”

There’s a moment of quiet. “Did you find the woman?” Carlos asks curiously.

“She died.” T.K.’s voice is flat and Carlos feels a stab of sympathy. “It was…awful. A terrible way to go.”

Carlos hears the words T.K. doesn’t say: he watched a woman die a horrific death and thought he and two of the people he loves most in the world were next. Carlos squeezes his husband’s hand in reassurance before raising it to his lips and pressing a kiss to his wedding ring. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

T.K. leans his head back against the seat. “Me too.” He’s quiet for a moment and then, “I used a fan.”

Carlos thinks he misheard. “A what?”

“A fan. There was a fan in the classroom and when the gas started coming in I turned it on to try and blow it away.”

Carlos bites the inside of his cheek. “You thought a fan was going to save you all from a giant cloud of toxic gas?”

“Well it sounds dumb when you say it like that!” T.K. huffs indignantly. “It was all we had Carlos!”

“Maybe you all could have just started blowing really hard. Feels like it would have had the same effect.”

“I hate you,” T.K. says grumpily, but he doesn’t let go of Carlos’ hand and the tension that was clinging to him seems to have shaken loose.

“I’m sorry,” Carlos says, keeping his tone light and teasing. “I’m sure you and your fan did a great job.”

“Damn right we did,” T.K. grumbles, shifting to get more comfortable. “You’d better be nice to me or the next time you want something blown I might say no.”

“Really?” Carlos throws T.K. an amused look. “You love blowing me. You’d last five minutes.”

“Longer than you’d last with my mouth on you,” T.K. shoots back, a wicked smirk on his face.

The car falls into comfortable silence and a minute later T.K.’s fingers go limp. Carlos glances over and finds T.K.’s head is leaning against the window, cheek smushed adorably into the glass. He smiles and curls his fingers a little more tightly so their hands don’t slip apart.

When he pulls the Camaro into its parking spot he cuts the engine and speaks softly, trying not to startle his husband. “Hey, we’re home babe.”

T.K. blinks awake and looks at him, eyes slightly unfocused. “Did I fall asleep?”

Carlos nods. “Just for a few minutes.”

T.K. groans and stretches as much as the confines of the car will allow. “Almost dying really takes it out of you.”

“Come on. Let’s get you upstairs. Everything will feel better once we’re home.”

When they’re inside Carlos sends T.K. to shower while he heats up some soup from the freezer and throws together a small salad. “I’m really not hungry,” T.K. says when he returns, bundled up in a hoodie to fight against the chill of the air conditioning.

“I know,” Carlos says, cupping the back of his neck and pressing a kiss to his damp hair. He smells like soap and shampoo. “But you need to eat something.”

They sit at the table, T.K. slowly making his way through the bowl, one spoonful at a time while Carlos pulls out yet another file, this one about a murder his father worked for six months in 2003. He already went through four files at Tommy’s house tonight, he doesn’t need to keep looking. It’s more of a habit than anything else at this point, or maybe a compulsion. When he has downtime he looks. One of these days, all of that looking is going to pay off, he knows it. And the faster he gets through these files, the faster that payoff will come.

T.K. doesn’t give him a pointed look or ask him to put the files away. He doesn’t say much of anything really, just eats two thirds of his meal before pushing the bowl away. Carlos looks up at the sound of the porcelain sliding across the table. “Do you want something else? I can make you a sandwich. Or there’s a little bit of pasta left from the other night.”

T.K. shakes his head. “I think I’m going to go to bed. Are you coming?”

Carlos checks his watch. It’s already after eleven. He has work tomorrow, it would probably be smart to curl up beside his husband and get a decent amount of sleep tonight. “Let me just finish up with this case and then I’ll be in. Twenty minutes tops.”

T.K. opens his mouth and then closes it without saying anything, his shoulders slumping a little. He looks small tonight, vulnerable in a way that hurts Carlos’ heart. Carlos almost closes the folder in his hands and gets up. He almost wraps his husband in his arms and whispers how much he loves him, reassures him that he’s safe, that they’re alive and together. He almost pulls him into the bedroom and makes soft love to him until he forgets the horrors he saw today.

But before he can do any of that T.K. turns and walks away and it feels like something between them shifts a little bit in a way that Carlos can’t quite figure out. And then he looks down at the file again and sees a name he recognizes from another case and he’s no longer at home finishing up work for the night, he’s digging deep into the past until his neck aches and his eyes feel gritty. When he finally looks blearily at his phone it doesn’t say eleven twenty pm but one forty-seven am and he feels a shock that so much time has passed without him realizing it.

He hastily puts things away and cleans up the now cold soup bowl, leaving it in the sink for the morning before quickly brushing his teeth and pulling off his clothes for bed.

The light on his side of the bed is still on. T.K. must have left it for him, thinking he’d be in soon. Or maybe just hoping he would be. Carlos can’t actually remember the last time they went to bed together. It’s been…weeks probably.

The realization disturbs him. T.K. had a terrible day, he should have been in here comforting him, not working an impossible case that he’s completely lost on. But he’s here now, he tells himself. T.K. could have asked if he needed Carlos to be with him.

Usually when he climbs into bed, T.K. instinctively rolls toward him, even if he doesn’t wake fully. But tonight T.K. stays firmly on his side, almost on the edge of the mattress. Carlos’ side feels colder than normal and there’s an odd ache in his heart that he can’t figure out, almost like he needs to cry, but the tears won’t come.

He shifts his body closer to T.K.’s, sliding a hand over his hip until he’s spooning against his back, but T.K. still doesn’t stir. He’s got his airpods in and when Carlos cranes his neck he can see that T.K.’s moody playlist is on. That makes him feel like total shit. T.K. was hurting tonight and instead of asking Carlos for help he’d come in here and wallowed in his sadness alone.

Carlos closes his eyes and swallows around the lump in his throat. He knows he’s been drowning himself in work lately. He knows it’s taking a toll on him and that he hasn’t been the best husband.

He’ll be better, he promises silently to himself and to T.K. in the dark and quiet safety of their bed. He’ll leave the office on time tomorrow night. They can have dinner together, maybe watch the new episode of Only Murders in the Building or Secret Lives of Mormon Wives because he knows how much T.K. loves trashy reality TV and he’s heard some chatter around the office that it’s fun in a horrifying kind of way.

Tomorrow, he thinks as he begins to drift. Tomorrow he will hold his husband in a tight hug that means “I love you, I’m sorry, I’m glad you’re safe, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me,” and kiss him and love him the way he deserves. Tomorrow he will start trying to fix what he suspects he’s been slowly breaking for months.

But the problem with tomorrow is that by the time it arrives, you often forget the promises you made yesterday.

#911 Lone Star #Tarlos #S5x3 Coda #T.K. Strand #Carlos Reyes #Married Tarlos #Tarlos Fic #911 LS Fic #Angst

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