#techno is technically there too

[ninjamelissajulien]

My clock collection is now complete. I got Cole right on my birthday!

[hitracks]

Can we see a c! Wilbur design maybe? (If you're chill w/ it) Or Technoblade and Philza?

I’m planning on doing a whole separate ref for Wil at some point so I will do both Blade and Philza for you… im really really normal about Techno like really serious I promise you. ( <- lying through his fucking teeth. ) LOTTTTS OF DESIGN PARTICULARS WITH HIM. I deviate a lot from his skin ( for one I get way too engrossed with drawing animals so humanoid it is. ) but I make his outfit more errr. Flashy…? Also southern inspo all over this bitch. as a southern man myself I am forced to give him ( modest ) matador esque pants and a bolo …. I think putting him in that is hilarious cause the closest things piglins have to bulls are fucking hoglins LMFAO. Imagine him in a Nether rodeo … terrifying … Away from design in general I love his character sooo much. I think its important to keep his funny nerd qualities when designing him. Like techno is a beast with technical skills and combat but if you ask him to sit in a room with more than about 3 people he starts sweating. Make him a little loser guys … hes got like one friend total and lives in the middle of nowhere in the snow as a Nether mob. Nothing normal about him. No bitches and no gains …

PHIL …. ghh … I have an unpopular take on him because i dont find him very fatherly. Hes more like an estranged uncle who dgaf about his kids. Shanks from one piece if you will. As much as I like his dynamics, for his character I feel like people are constantly glossing over the fact he isolates himself on purpose away from everything and everyone so he doesn’t have to deal with it … Him and Techno are so close because 1) They’re both crazy fucking good at everything and 2) Neither of them WANT to interact with others outside of themselves usually. Techno most often times only talks to people for his own personal gain or when he has no choice … Philza just get dragged into everything cause Wilbur is like a damn blight on the world. IDK! I wish people made him more aloof or terrifying because the concept of him is so genuinely freaky like hes got spies everywhere all the time and could or could not be immortal or some sort of biblical creature like THATS SCARY!!! I tried to mess around with him being green and the Minecraft equivalent of souls ( exp drop when you die ) being the same shade-ish …. Hes just some eldritch horror to me. Not explainable by mere words…

[sircantus]

Im thinking….long lost royal child type of au?? except its more like- king!phil one day decides to give up his crown, and thus flees the castle, taking his young children away with him so that they can grow happy and healthy without the burden of being royalty, the burden of all the kingdom looking to them with a million expectations.

wil, techno, and tommy grow up as literal farm boys, just living simple lives with simple passions, and then later, as they are older, they find out that they are technically in line for the literal throne of the kingdom they reside in. Duty comes knocking on their door, wanting an heir, and beside the shock of realizing there is this giant important role in your very blood, theres also some sense of betrayal for the fact Phil never told them they were literal royalty.

Phil is a little apologetic, but not really. He’s mostly just pissed that people have come for his sons, and is very vehemently against them being on the throne. The boys, in their betrayed anger, ignore Phils efforts, and go to be royalty, only to realize there is such little comfort and joy to be found in the luxurious life. No one sees them as people. No one loves them truly. They are just painted as figures for the kingdom, judged for every action, looked to for every grand, heavy decision. It is too much. In that moment, they realize why Phil left at all, and why he took them away.

And then Phil bursts into the castle like “ok partys over i want my kids back” and proceeds to steal back his boys with all the power of a past king and all the rage of a father protecting his children

[transformers-spike]

Yeah separately because that is. A whole can of continuity-hopping-worms that I’m not ready to open. I just want to bang the old men!!!!!!

As the pole dictates, I'm going for Alpha Trion in his alt mode. Consider this a prequel to Solitude. Will I ever do the TFA Ultra Magnus soft femdom? Probably someday, I already started writing it.

“Okay?” he asks, muzzle pressed against your cheek. There’s a slight mechanical warble to his words, but the English is nigh impeccable. It’s been a few months and he’s already grasped more than you did studying German for three years. His pronunciation has rapidly evolved, going from techno dial up noises to something almost human if not for the digitized waver in his voice. For someone so huge, let alone made of metal, he’s awfully gentle with your squishy human body. You kiss his snout, sending a wave of crackling energy to his horn and tail. “Yeah, I’m good, no need to fuss over me,” you say with a smile on your face.

You climb the last steps of the human-sized stairs up to his bed. The fabric is notably similar to a non-sticky gym mat, uncomfortable to sleep on, sure, but manageable when your goal is to get your rocks off. There’s no time for a strip-tease when he’s been insistently brushing his muzzle against your sex for half an hour, purring poorly translated but no less sweet praises. Naked on all fours, feeling all kinds of vulnerable in this new position, you brace yourself on your arms, arching your back to show your ass in what you hope to be an attractive display of your goods. Your heart is pounding in your chest like you're teenager waiting for "dessert" after a date , and no matter how many times you do this, he makes you feel like an utter virgin. He props himself over you, half standing on the bed, half on the ground; his hands (or paws if you want to get technical) pressing into the soft mesh of the mattress. Yes, he could fall down and crush you. But you trust him not to, because if none of the Primes have, there's no way in hell the chillest member is going to put an end to your life when he has the focus and self-control to create near-perfect sand replicas of your ships.

“Ready?” he asks to be sure, to which you reply with a quick “Yep!” and push against his panel. The feeling of his snug cock brushing over your sex and stomach sends a fire to your loins. The pace is slow and passionate, member languidly (and carefully) stroking sensitive nerves that make you shudder with delight. The blue fluid coating your thighs is warm and welcome next to the chilly air. His vents breathe excess heat onto your back, and you barely get the chance to thank him between moans when he finds the perfect angle to make you lose it. You grip onto the bed, ass up, face down, bucking against him pathetically. Ah, dignity. It’s been months since you lost her. “Like this?” he asks again, angling his head to catch an awkward glimpse of you under his frame. You give him a thumbs up and cheekily reply “I need you to fuck me like I owe you money.” A bit too jokey of an answer, because now he’s looking at you like you just spontaneously grew an extra head. “Yes,” you confirm, “like this.” He complies immediately, maintaining the perfect (and probably uncomfortable in his case) angle, pressing against your sex so pleasantly your knees are shaking. It doesn’t take long for you to cum, crying out his name as you’ve done many times before, legs buckling underneath you. He doesn’t seem to mind having you rest on his member, and he leaves you a few minutes to collect yourself before he pulls away and transforms back into his normal form. You roll over and spread your arms out welcomingly when he reaches over and takes you into his hand. Then, he sits back down on the mattress with you in his palm. “May I?” he inquires for the final time, gesturing at his hardon, terribly polite for someone who sounds like he’s on the brink of losing it from sexual frustration. “Please do,” you answer with proverbial popcorn in your lap, stroking your sex as he starts pumping his member.

[cosmicroadkill]

So after obsessing over Arachnis Prime and reading @sonicasura's bat Optimus idea I just was really, really digging it and was inspired to make my own AU similar to it

So basically in this AU both Optimus and Elita fall back into the cavern; Elita's power times out like in canon but Optimus manages to catch her as she's falling. The issue is all that does is put too much sudden weight and tension on his grappling hook causing it to pull out of the rock and send them both tumbling down. The explosion separates the two of them, sending Optimus even deeper in. While Elita becomes Blackarachnia as she does in canon, during and after her change she's looking for Optimus to see if he survived, eventually finding him in a terrible state. He'd run into the cavern's other denizens, massive vampiric and carnivorous bats. He managed to fight off and kill a few but not without serious damage, bordering on death.

In a bid to save him, but also for the selfish reason of not wanting to be a freak alone, she makes him a techno-organic like herself. From there, Optimus lives up to his name for the first little while, practicing with his new alt and eventually managing to fly out of the cavern to watch for any Autobot ships, believing Sentinal will surely come back with or at least send help since he didn't come back for them originally, eventually realizing that Blackarachnia is right, no one is coming.

Well, no Autobots at least. The two get picked up by the Decepticons, Optimus being very much not about the idea but following Blackarachnia almost blindly as he still sees Elita-1 in her and basically owes her his life.

From there it's kind of all over. For a good bit he kinda just follows her around like a puppy and follows her commands; after all initially the idea is for them to return to how they once were, but eventually, Optimus will realize that Blackarachnia is no longer his beloved friend and something will happen to cause him to finally turn on her and split off into his own thing, of what I'm not sure; honestly, it'll more than likely be a build-up of things instead of one big thing.

There's also the debate of how Optimus deals with the Decepticons and basically being one for a while. On the one hand, I like sonicasura's idea of him just being a victim of circumstance. He's not a Decepticon, or in this case, he's only a Decepticon in name, he's just a man who's trying to deal with his current situation the best he can while sticking to his morals and general worldview.

On the other hand, I like the idea of Optimus realizing the flaws and downright failings of Autobot society and becoming a Decepticon for real. He doesn't agree with their morals and what they do a lot of the time, but the ideals Megatron puts forth? He can get behind those, especially since he and Elita were failed by the system they followed so doggedly while Sentinal abandoned them (as far as he's aware) and potentially still gets 'rewarded' (given the rank of Prime and his own team; Optimus would not know he's delegated to bridge repair until later if at all)

More than likely he might fall into a third option of neither, where he abandons the Decepticons like Blackarachnia does but refuses to rejoin the Autobots because of the whole debacle, likely hiding away with the Dinobots on their island.

Also as you've likely noticed I haven't quite come up with Optimus' new name? I'm partial to Chiropteras, as Chiroptera is the order bats are from. I considered going with Optimus Primal since Blackarachnia is also from Beast Wars and a lot of people used/use Tarantulas for spider Optimus before Arachnus Prime was revealed, but my biggest thing is in TFA Prime isn't technically anything special, it's just a rank, so why would he still be Prime or even make it Primal? Unless he's giving himself the rank because he feels he deserves it/is bastardizing it for his own use. I could also potentially use the name of another bat transformer in the way that Tarantulas is the name of a Predacon from Beast Wars but none of them really fit? Cause there's Nightscream, Sonar, and Nyx (and technically Noctorro but he's a bat and a bull). I could use Nocturne or Nocturnus, too.

Lemme know what y'all think?

[blueinkphantom]

Phantom of a Book

Summary: While in prison, Techno finds out a new fact about Dream and with it a new escape route opens up for his roommate. The choice of whether or not to use said escape plan gets taken out of their hands, however, when a visitor comes. (7,280 Words)

Aka. a Fic that was supposed to be finished on the 17th December for the Dreamnoblade Christmas Event. I just now managed to finish the second chapter which is why i didnt post it here before.

Bubbling of lava was the only sound reigning in the cell.

It had been weeks since Technoblade joined Dream in prison. Two months if Techno's inner clock was still to be trusted. Which it was more than Dream's at the very least. The green teletubby's was pretty destroyed by now considering he didn't even know how long he had been in prison so far.

And technically, Techno was already supposed to be out and about. By a bit under 2 months to be exact. Either Phil's inner clock was just as terrible as his roommates or he forgot to read the will.

Either way, it didn't seem like his original escape plan was happening any time soon. As a result, they had started to try digging a tunnel from the hole in the corner. And it was successful so far. They already got... two blocks downwards with Dream right now breaking the next one a bit to the side.

Every now and then he'd get him to pause a bit and eat something. Only having potatoes didn't give Techno much to work with but he still tried to cook them a bit so they weren't completely raw at least. It was working okay-ish, he'd say.

He wished being the spirit of an object would erase any need for food. Then at least they wouldn't need the potatoes. Unfortunately, they were only halfway a spirit so to say.

Speaking of that subject. He was still curious how Dream seemed to know what to do with him when he was recharging in the sword. It’s not common knowledge after all. And he doubts there are many books on the topic if any. So the only way he could see Dream knowing about this was through personal experience. Which brought up another question.

Was Dream friends with someone like Techno or was Dream himself like him?

Glancing over to his roommate, it was hard to tell. Similarities to the object are usually only obvious once the object is known. But considering he also didn't know what Dream even was, it would be even harder.

His right eye reminded him much of an eye of ender down to the slitted pupil while the other was more pale, probably a result of what also caused the scar across said eye. His hair was as white as snow but that seemed more recent. Looking at his black hands, he still didn’t have any more clue. He could see the guy as the spirit of a weapon, maybe his Nightmare axe but he knew that didn’t need to be true. Philza once told him off a librarian who had been the spirit of the very library she worked at. There was also someone that had been the soul of a pair of elytras.

“What are you staring at?” Dream asked in an annoyed tone.

“How did you know what to do?”

“What do you-”

“At the execution, when I had to retreat into the sword. How did you know what to do?”

Dream stared to the side. “Does it matter?”

“Of course. Chat’s curious. Imagine the clout I could get from potentially unlocking more of the mysterious guy’s backstory.”

“Well, curiosity killed the cat.” The guy muttered, probably in an attempt to get Techno to stop pursuing the topic. Unfortunately for both, Techno could be stubborn.

“But satisfaction brought it back. And besides, Technoblade never dies and with it Chat too. Thought you’d know by now.” Techno chuckled.

Dream grumbled.

-----

There were many topics Dream would rather talk about than this. So many in fact that Dream tried to pick any that would distract Techno from the current one.

“You know, if you are also like me, you can just tell me. I won’t judge. I won’t use it against you or whatever you think I will do.”

“Why are you talking like you already know?”

“Call it a hunch. I have been told to have a sixth sense by some.” The piglin grinned at the other who in turn raised an eyebrow as the edge of his lips moved slightly up.

“A sixth sense or voices that whisper hints?”

“Eh. Same thing.”

Dream's tail swished back and forth as silence resumed. His thoughts stayed on the topic, debating with himself if he maybe should tell him. He already clearly knew that he was something. Besides, Dream knew what Techno was.

“Fine.” Dream stared back at the lava wall, vehemently ignoring Techno’s presence and gaze at him as he stood up.

“So are you-”

“I’m the Revival Book.” Dream confessed to Techno with a firm look all while broadening his shoulders and uncurling. Something Techno seemed to find amusing, though he didn't comment on it. Though it was unsurprising. Technoblade still seemed taller despite sitting. Taller and handsomer with the orange glow of the lava throwing him into a warm hue.

"Ah." was all that Techno uttered at first. Eyes slightly widened either at Dream telling him or the object named.

Dream's tail kept swishing back and forth behind him and he resisted the urge to wrap it around his own leg. "Well, roommate who is also the spirit of the book that can bring people back. I may have a new escape idea." Techno announced happily though Dream could see the nervousness on his face which made him instantly hesitate.

"And what's that?"

“You know how we can retreat into our object at any time if we want to? If you have the book here, what if you-”

“No.” Dream could see where this was going and no way in hell would he do that.

"Very fair. Very fair. Can't blame ya considering the horror stories that exist. I can tell ya, being stuck in someone's inventory is not pleasant. 1/5 stars. I'd take this vacation over that any day." Techno chuckled. “Well. Guess we will stick to the current plan.”

“What would it even bring? I can walk myself out so me being in your inventory won’t bring much. At most, there’s one less person to fight against Sam and anyone else who wants to stop us.”

“Well, not if a certain someone finally read the note I left him. You know how I knew this was a trap? Well I had planned that someone gets me out via a stasis pearl chamber. If he still were to read the note at some point, I could get us both out as long as you have the book with you here. But also I get it if you don’t wanna.”

Dream stayed silent. What if Techno doesn’t ever let him out?

-----

More time passed. Techno’s suggestion was almost like an elephant in the room, keeping a certain amount of tension in it. Neither spoke about it. Not that they talked that much during said time anyway. Only quick words when food got dropped in or the silence got too much. Despite not doing much, this place had a strange way of sucking the energy out of people. Probably the mining fatigue extending into more areas than just mining.

A chance to escape, one requiring lots of trust. Techno wouldn’t blame him if he passed up on it. He would still return later for the teletubby whether the guy trusted him or not. He couldn’t leave him here. When he first heard of Dream’s imprisonment he figured the favour would be used for a breakout. By now Dream wouldn’t even have to use the favour for it. Techno get him out with or without it. He couldn’t leave anyone in here, especially someone who had never gone against him and instead assisted him. Heck, he had any chance to keep him in weapon form and instead took care that he could come back as soon as possible. He will get Dream out.

Who knows, maybe it's even a courtship behaviour for whatever species Dream is. He’s pretty sure he saw something with cages and caging under one species, either creepers or wardens.

He was brought out of his musings when Dream stepped in front of him, leaning against the wall in what looked like an attempt to keep the pressure off his right foot.

“Okay.” Dream’s voice cracked halfway through. It had gotten better before but with the new silence, the bit of progress regressed a bit.

“Heh?”

“You can put me in your inventory.” He could see Dream slightly shaking, something he tried to unsuccessfully suppress.

It took Techno several seconds to respond, surprised by either the trust or saddened by the desperation. Considering who it was, the latter seemed more likely even if he hoped it wasn’t that.

Before he could respond in any way shape or form though, redstone ticked loudly alongside the heavy shifting of machinery.

Dream tensed immediately, form stiffening more than Techno thought possible. He barely wasted a second as he put himself between his roommate and the slowly retreating lava curtain.

It only took him a small bit of time to register who was on the other side.

Sam, of course, Warden of the prison. And Quackity.

-----

"Well. Well. Well. If it isn't my two favourite prisoners. How have you been? You been good?" Quackity asked as he waltzed off the bridge wearing netherite armour and ...were those shears?

"Yeah, you know. We've just been chilling. Not much to do in here." Techno replied while keeping his eyes on him, only shortly glancing over to Dream who was standing in the other corner, leaning on the chest.

"Hm. Im sure. I'm sure." The duck's eyes squinted at him as the grin stayed on him. He turned around to where Sam was still observing them from the other side and called out "Okay, well. Sam-" Seeing a chance, Techno sprung forward, not seeing his roomy shaking his head as a pink fist connected with Quackity in an attempt to throw him into the lava below.

Unfortunately, the three months had taken their toll, the punch not doing much besides pushing Quackity a bit further just before the edge where he turned quickly to him. "Yo, what the fuck?! What the fuck is wrong with you, Techno?! We didn't even start! What is wrong with you?" Techno chuckled even as the duck was slashing at him with the shears, leaving multiple cuts of varying size and depth. "I was gonna ease into it. I was gonna ease into it. Okay but since you so clearly wanna rush things along, why not?"

"Sam! Keep this guy in check." Keeping him in check apparently meant, aiming a bow at him with an arrow notched, ready to fire any second.

When Techno looked back in the cell, he saw Dream near the hole, Quackity close to him. "Here's what's gonna happen. I am sick and tired of these prison visits." He stepped closer and closer to Dream, with his roommate trying to get further and further away to the other corner until he was pressed against the chest. "I've been trying to get the revival book for the longest time, Dream. And today, you are gonna give me the book. You wanna know why?"

"I'm not giving you the boo-"

Quackity slammed his fist against the wall right next to Dream's face. "You wanna know why? Because this guy, this guy right here is your only way out of here and if you won't give me the book, he dies and with it your only chance of getting out of here. That's the only reason he's here. So that I finally get the book after all this time you’ve wasted."

"That's kinda harsh,” muttered Techno. “Don't do it, Dream."

"You know what I don't even care if you break out. If this guy gets you out. All I care about is the Revival book, and you are gonna give it to me.” If Quackity had half the knowledge about stuff, he's gonna care a bit more probably. Besides, it's not like Techno can really die. Not unless his Sword gets smashed to bits and the Sword is safely tucked away at home. Speaking of death...

"Wait. Hear me out. Hear me out, Dream. Does he really have any leverage? Cause if he kills me and my best friend is a Necromancer, doesn't that kinda just work out? You could just revive me after. I'm just saying." Dream’s eyes were locked onto his, the same thought Techno had probably crossed him too. Techno won’t die. Then his gaze skittered to Quackity, awaiting his reaction which was as expected another slice of shears at the piglin before turning to Dream again.

"You know what just give me the Revive Book. Just give me it. I'm not playing games anymore. I don’t care."

“I can’t give you the Revival Book, you know that. Hell, even if I could give you the book you're just gonna kill me. And probably kill Techno right after. The whole reason I'm in here is cause I have the book. Otherwise, I'd be dead."

"Okay then you know what. What if I just killed you both right now? No more best friend for you, Techno. And no headaches for me. Why not stop the madness, right? Not like the book brought many good things with it anyway, did it? So I'm just gonna kill you both and get this over with."

"Now let's just relax first. Let's calm down." Techno tried, moving both hands up to no success as Quackity didn’t stop talking. 

"No no. I should just kill you both right? So why not? Starting with you Techno and don’t think I’ gonna forget about you, Dream. And I'm gonna make sure it's painful enough as payment for ruining the execution and every second I have wasted here just because you couldn’t do a single thing. Just because you wouldn’t tell me and wouldn’t open that goddamn book." Any protests from Dream got ignored as Quackity turned to Techno. "I've been waiting a long ass time to do this." The first slash still hit him but the next got blocked by Dream who put himself between them. "Oh, you wanna go first? Wanna make sure that there's no chance for Techno to come back? Want him to watch his buddy die? Fine by me."

Techno tried to pull Dream away, out of Quackity's range but before he could make much progress, the rips on Dream's form spread. Rips that reminded him of torn-apart pages until they split apart entirely and green mist formed. Green mist which seemed to dissolve but turns out to have just entered the object as a book was left behind. One that Techno didn't hesitate to grab before Quackity could. And by the duck's wide grin and eyes, he knew that the guy was aware of what it was even if he didn't know the full extent of its connection to Dream. "Techno, give me the bo-" He saw the swing and felt part of the blade enter before the sensation abruptly left. His arms stayed raised in defence as he slowly took in where he was.

Blackstone walls with Nether bricks. A pink sheep connected with a led to a wall decoration bearing three wither skulls. Lava flowed down in the corners and stone bricks on the floor, some with moss.

It was the Syndicate Meeting Room. He was out. He was-

"Did it work?" A familiar voice. A familiar voice that he was incredibly glad to hear.

"Oh my god. Phil." He was still on edge as he turned to his best friend for years.

 "Here, drink that. Drink that." The immortal handed him a glass of milk alongside a golden apple. Both of which Techno gladly consumed.

"Phil. I gave you that book three months ago, Phil!" Techno exclaimed once he swallowed the bite he took out of the apple. His wounds healed, stitching themselves back together with the feeling of pins and needles pricking his flesh.

"You said three months!" Philza tried to argue.

"No, I did not! I thought you'd take like two days. I've been in jail for three months!"

A look of realisation came across his oldest friend. "Wait, wait wait. Oh my god, you said three days."

"Bruuuh."

"Well at least you got a book out of it, it seems."

Ah. He nearly forgot. He looks down at his right hand, still holding the book, still holding Dream there.

"What's with it?"

"Well. The good news is, we don't need to head to the prison soon."

"Not fancying another visit to Dream?"

"I mean if he was still in there, I'd go back. You know break him out and stuff. Return the favour and all.” Techno moved back to his hair, settling down into it and setting Dream down on the table, out of his inventory even if it would probably take a while for him to come back with the hits he took.

"Did he break out?"

"Now yes. Next thing is waiting till he’s back." His gaze stayed on the book, noting the glowing green writing, and the firm but used-looking leather cover. An eye of ender was sitting on the front inside a golden frame. One that looked just like Dream's. Slowly the parallels became clearer.

The white hair from the pages that were still as white as snow despite the many years this book probably existed. The eye. The black on his hands from the ink that likely stained the pages. And the green highlights in his hair from the glowing title.

It made sense.

Dream is the spirit of the Revival Book.

----- ----- -----

It's been a few days since Technoblade got teleported out of the prison.

Getting used to being out again went well so far. Sure, he may be a bit apprehensive about potatoes now. For all the love he held for the multi-use vegetable, even he could apparently get enough of them, especially when he's had nothing but potatoes for weeks. If they had at least been prepared in different ways but no. A shame considering how many different delicious meals one could cook with them. But now he lacks any appetite for them. Dream probably won't have one either once he returns, whenever that is.

Dream's book was still on the pillow where Techno had put it upon entering the room. He figured out quickly that he wasn't entirely comfortable with leaving Dream out of his sight in this state. Sure, he'd probably notice if anyone tried to sneak in but this felt safer. Besides, this way he got a comfortable amount of warmth from the fireplace while still staying a good distance away. Techno's been freezing more than usual after getting used to the heat of the cell. No doubt Dream would have even more issues considering his longer stay. He's probably gonna need several layers of clothing when he comes back.

If he comes back.

Techno tried to shake that thought.

Now he knows that there can be different recharging times from one object spirit to another. Heck, with all the things Dream went through in that prison, it shouldn't be surprising that he took a bit longer. It didn't stop Techno's worry from constantly nagging. It didn't stop a few of the voices from throwing in their concerns as well.

The book still had that green shine over it. Dream was still alive. Logically, he knew that. The small bit of a tail he had barely ever ceased from swishing back and forth whenever his thoughts drifted to his roommate. There was nothing he could do but wait. Wait and hope Dream returned.

Knock, knock.

Techno turned to the door, hand already on his sword's handle before he even thought about it. Silently, he neared the door.

Chances were, it was just Phil who had made it a habit to check on him daily. Preferring to be safe than sorry though, Techno listened first to make out anything suspicious. Not that it was needed when a voice soon rang out. "Heya, mate. It's me." Just Phil. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and nearly earned Phil's fist in his face when he opened the door.

"You know, I'm all for trying out new greetings but I don't think a fist to the face is the best." Techno smiled more when Phil let out a laugh at that.

"Didn't expect you at the door so soon. Anyway, you ready for the meeting?"

He stared at his friend blankly for a tick. And another. "About that..." He sheepishly looked away, avoiding Phil's gaze.

"Did you forget about it?"

"Yup." His mind was running between preparing for any unwanted visitors, preparing for when Dream was back and taking care of his usual chores. Everything else had slipped his mind.

Phil clapped him on the back. "It's fine. Come on. We still got time."

They packed and headed out with Techno carrying Dream in a bag that would hopefully not prevent him from forming like being in an inventory would. The meeting itself went by in a blur. His mind drifted to the book beside him. To the person in it. Like it always seemed to. Even before this whole thing, his mind would sometimes drift to Dream. Curious about what his favourite flower might be, his favourite animal and more.

When Niki and Ranboo asked where he'd been the last months, Phil answered for him. Explaining how he'd been locked up and stuck there till Phil, rather late, got him out with the stasis chamber. What followed were concerns about Dream's breakout and questions of if he had anything to do with it to which Techno was honest. Though he did try to avoid mentioning how Dream's like him, well aware that the teletubby would prefer as few people as possible to know his status as spirit. Techno himself avoided many people knowing. Too many had wished to wield the sword that housed the mighty warrior.

Luckily, he managed to calm them mostly down, partly thanks to bringing up a few things about how the prison was handled and reassurances that he would ensure their safety.

The meeting got dismissed rather early and once Techno was back at his cabin, he only went out to feed the animals again before falling into bed, taking the book with him.

-----

More days passed. So many hours and still Dream didn't come back out. Techno continued with attempts to keep his worry down. Him and Dream just take different times to form again. The teletubby had been tortured for weeks by the time he was there. They had different objects, him a sword and Dream a book. Maybe it's the material. Maybe- Maybe Quackity had carved into Dream while in the book. So many factors that could delay it. So many reasonable explanations.

Maybe Dream just didn't feel safe to come back around him? He tried not to think about that. But also, he couldn't blame Dream if that was the case. He couldn't put him outside. That was too risky. What if someone decided to visit right then and take him? No one had come to attack yet. No warden or duck or ex-best-friends with a murderous promise. None. Yet.

He glanced at the unmoving book on what could probably be considered a makeshift nest. Pillows and blankets and a cloak he had made for Dream surrounded the book from beneath and around. The faint green shimmer never stopped, reminding Techno of an enchanted object. It reminded him of how Phil and Chat described his sword whenever he was inside.

It was beautiful and unnerving at once. The longer he stared, the more he could see the parallels between the book and Dream. The eye of ender on the cover fit with the one Dream had. The green glowing writing in enchanting language matched the words he could see through some tears in the clothing Dream wore when they tried the book on Techno. The pages nearly looked white as snow or rather Dream's hair. If he took a guess, the ink used for the words and sketches inside was probably as black as the tips of Dream's claws that gradually went over to his usual skin tone along the arm or the words on his skin when not using the book.

He gently felt along the cover with one of his hands before removing it as if burned. He technically held the book for multiple minutes by this point - hours if one were to include the time he accidentally fell asleep with it in his arms - still he tried to keep it to a minimum for Dream's sake. He knew Dream wasn't the biggest with touch. Touch-starved? Most likely, based on how he still leaned towards Techno in prison and how he'd been before, way before. Willing to touch? Eh. Considering the bits he learned while roommating with him in prison, it wasn't surprising. Trust this broken is hard to get again, even more so when all recent touch seemed to have been with the intent to hurt.

It reminds him of himself before he met Phil.

A groan brought him out of his musings. Steve was looking at him with such a puppy-eye look that Techno barely had to think about what he wanted. "You hungry, Steve?" Another groan. "Alright. Alright. You get your food." He rose back to full height before picking Dream's book up. "Just need to do something quickly." He tried to carry as many blankets and pillows too before moving everything downstairs into a mostly hidden corner in the basement and restarting the nest. Maybe if the delay was due to being constantly in the same room as him, this would help Dream feel comfortable enough to come back.

He stepped away, eyes on the book before turning and climbing back up and started making dinner.

-----

Having many animals had its perks, Techno would like to note. They were good company, fighters and more. However, they could also be a disturbance to his plans.

When Techno woke up the next day, he found Dream's book next to him, one of the foxes lying on top of it.

He sighed, before softly petting the fox which continued to sleep despite the gradual removal of the book from below it. With it in hand, he headed down and started his daily routine, item placed once more on a seat near the fire.

The voices started throwing different suggestions for why Dream was still in there. Ranging from simple refusal to death. He tried to ignore that last suggestion. Dream couldn't be dead. The book would have to be destroyed. Just like the sword had to be broken and shattered into pieces for Techno to die. The voices were wrong. Nothing more to it.

He tended to his farm and animals, cooked and fixed some of the fence around their clearing that was starting to deteriorate a bit. A squirrel shortly paused his work as it climbed along the structure.

It was when he was putting away the dishes that a green light from behind made him freeze.

Turning showed a green mist taking shape around the book and a second later, Dream sat there, left eye focused on Technoblade as his face shifted between multiple microexpressions.

Dream was there. Dream was back. His hair was still white, one eye with a whiteish hue over it and one leg missing.

They both stared at each other for several ticks.

"Welcome back, teletubby." Techno greeted him, trying to go for humour with all the relief in his chest at seeing Dream out.

"Why didn't you open it?" Dream asked, voice rough from not having used it in more than two weeks. A frown sat on his face.

"Huh?"

"I've been inside for days. You had so many chances. Why didn't you open it?" Dream looked at him as if he had grown a second head. As if he was a puzzle he couldn't solve.

"Why should I?" Techno asked back. "You didn't give away what was inside even under torture. I could be wrong but I was under the impression you weren't really a fan of anyone else knowing what was written inside."

"Yeah, but not like that ever mattered. It sure as hell didn't matter when Sam let Quackity in the first time. Didn't matter when Quackity tried to get it to open with an axe while I was inside."

"It matters to me," Techno responded, stomach sinking at the thought of someone attacking him while inside the object. No wonder Dream's right leg didn't form. Severe damage could limit how much of one's body can be formed. Especially if it's damage to his object. He wouldn't be surprised if his torturer had intentionally aimed at his leg in hopes this would happen.

Dream was silent, eyes moved to the side as Techno's own flickered over Dream, trying to find anything else that was missing or damaged. Except for a missing ring finger, he didn't find much to be concerned about. Scars of course. Plenty. One or two in the form of a familiar smile, some burn scars and others from an axe or knife. But nothing else that would impact Dream's ability to move much.

After many more ticks, Techno clapped his hands. "So, anyway. I made some food if you want. Fish with spinach. It should still be warm."

His roommate squinted at him. "I'm fine. I can get some myself."

"Sure. Sure but I may have made too much, so really, you'd be doing me a favour," Techno continued, hoping for an agreement. And he got one, although reluctant and with obvious scepticism.

He didn't let that dissuade him though and put some of the food on a plate before noticing a slight shake in Dream's hands. "Wanna sit at the table?"

Dream looked to it before shaking his head. "Alright. Hope I didn't salt it too much though. Phil says I sometimes go overboard." He also for some reason had always accompanied it with a wink which Techno was still confused by, though that detail didn't feel important.

After sniffing at it and still looking for something off, Dream took a bite and then another. He didn't keep track of how many but it turned out too much as it didn't take long for Dream's face to turn pale and attempt to rush outside only to reach a window and promptly throw up.

Ah right. Stomach's not used to that much.

-----

Carefully, Techno cut more and more slices of wood away. The form was slowly becoming recognisable much to his satisfaction, but there was still a decent way to go. Once finished, it would fit neatly next to the wolf, crow and pig carved from the same material. After that, he already had another one in mind.

The fire in the chimney flickered softly. It crackled regularly from the bits of water in the wood which was unavoidable. The warmth helped well with the current weather. A snowstorm ruled outside. Not the strongest snowstorm that Techno had ever seen but still not one that should be underestimated.

Looking over to Dream, who sat on a couch near the chimney, he was somewhat glad for the weather. The guy was determined to get out and do whatever stupid thing he had in mind. And that was when his body hadn't even fully healed to its capability.

Not to mention the appointment he had booked for Dream to get him a prosthetic because let's be honest, Techno doesn't have the medical and mechanical knowledge required to get Dream a good one. Not even a decent one. There was maybe one or two people on the server who could make a good one, but Techno didn't trust either of them with this.

Safe to say, Techno wasn't entirely comfortable with letting Dream out and about. Not until he at least healed more. And even then he hoped the guy would stick around. Continue the roommates arc and all. Nothing else. Chat shut up.

In his slight distraction, he slipped and the carving knife cut him on his finger. It luckily didn't get deep, piglin skin is rather sturdy, still blood exits. He put the wood and tool to the side and went to get a cloth to stop the bleeding. When he turned from the cabinet where he got the cloth though, Dream stood right there, eyes fixated on where the wound is, the cut looking like a crack in metal.

"Let me look at it." Confused, Techno did.

Dream held his hand and Techno could feel his face heating up for some reason. His friend leaned down with his head so close that he could feel the heat of his breath as he whispered something Techno couldn't make out. A tick and he felt the skin there tickle. The wound glowed green as it sealed shut. Stunned he kept staring at where there was just a wound but now there was nothing. Only a small faint scar that's barely noticeable.

"How did you-"

"The book didn't just have the secrets to revival." Techno glanced up and saw Dream also still looking at where the wound was. He shortly lifted his head before averting his gaze and moving back to where he was with the help of the stick one of the woods wolves - one that for some reason loved to steal Techno’s glasses - gave him.

-----

It started with the wolves barking outside.

They didn't bark when it was a friend. Every time Niki, Ranboo, Phil or Dream entered this area, the dogs didn't bark. That was the first sign for them to get ready.

They had discussed this, him and Dream. Techno would go out, armour and weapons at the ready. Dream would try to hide somewhere in the house where he hopefully won't be found while Techno tries to get them out of this with the least amount of bloodshed. As much as Techno wanted to get back at Quackity and Sam, killing them could lead to more unwanted attention from the rest of the server, especially if they got confirmation that Dream was still with Techno instead of on his own somewhere. Right now, the priority was safety.

So Dream hid himself away covered by Steve. As embarrassing as the position seemed, Dream figured neither of the two looking for him would risk angering a bear just to see or get what seemed to be in its grip.

If he had a mouth, he would have stopped breathing when he heard Quackity enter. And he knew those footsteps even if they sounded more unsure. He also knew the ones that followed and noted a third one he expected missing. Just Quackity and Technoblade then. Sam probably stayed outside in case Dream tried to sneak away.

The two inside were talking. Dream knew they were talking but he couldn't focus on the words. He tried to. He needed to know but he couldn't. Mind

A screech cut through his haze. For a second he worried that it was Techno before registering the next words. "Technoblade, get your fox off of me, dude. Get your fucking fox off of me."

Dream tried to peek and sense what was going on and got a rough image. A dark blue figure shook in pain as a smaller, way smaller green one tore into his arm that had reached up to a bookcase.

"Aw, come on. They just want to play. Ain't that right, Em?"

"It's literally biting me. Get it off of me." Dream had to admit, that fox was determined. She didn't let off despite the way Quackity shook his arm. Good fox.

Blood was soaking through his sleeves when one of the wolves came from behind and bit into his leg, mauling on it multiple times. It didn't go missing on him that it's the same he lost and he wondered for a second if the hound knew.

If it wasn't for his current mouthless state, Dream would have burst out laughing when another one bit into the intruder. For a second, he thought they might be close to actually kill-

Quackity's form poofed, leaving his items behind. He heard a cackle from somewhere in the room. He'd have thought it was himself if he could make sounds. Instead, it was Technoblade who seemingly couldn't hold it in himself.

"Well done, Em and June. Well done, you two." Techno praised them. Tears crinkled at the edge of his eyes as he petted them.

He stood back up properly and went to the door only to come back rather quickly. "Welp. Sam dipped too. Probably scared of the big fearsome fox and hound. Probably helped that Ravyn was outside too." Techno's gaze stayed on the outside a bit more. Likely making sure that no one was there anymore. "Dream, you can come out. Pretty sure we are not gonna have to worry about them for a bit."

Dream did so after a few more ticks. Forming around the book again. However, he realised a moment too late that it left him stuck with Steve, who seemed to like holding him. "Um. Techno. A little help?"

"You know what? Nah. Who am I to take my emotional support bear's emotional support war criminal."

"Techno!" Dream tried to wiggle out of the soft arms, only to be held closer. He would have tried again if not for the snout moving against him as the wolf that still had blood around its snout was starting to lean against him. Same for the fox as they seemed to cuddle together against him.

Moving would be impossible now without accidentally hitting one of them.

Reluctantly, Dream gave up, sagging in Steve's hold while Techno brought in two more wolves. One snowy one and one woods. Both joined the animals already resting and Dream didn't need to look up to see Techno smirking at him.

"When I get out, I'll get my revenge."

"Sure you will, bud. Sure you will. What do you want for dinner?"

"...Broccoli Gratin."

-----

Dream settled back in the same place on the couch the next day. Once more idly watching as Techno carved a new wooden figure that Dream could make out to be a cat. It looked good already. Incredibly so. He had spotted the wooden figures on his shelves before and debated asking but never did.

"Whe-" His voice cracked. He moved past. "When did you start with wood carving?"

"Uh. Probably around eight months ago? Give or take. Been wanting to get into it a few years ago. Didn't really get to. Stuff got in the way. Lost the books teaching woodcarving. Got called to war. You know, usual things?"

"Heh. Yeah. Usual."

Dream's gaze shortly went up to Techno's eyes. They were blue. Like the sky but, more colourful. Like aquamarine. Like the gem on his sword.

"You know, I wasn't always the spirit of a sword." Techno at some point voiced. "It's been... roughly about a hundred years ago I think. I was in an arena, one of their best champions even if their treatment of me never really matched it. The audience would cheer whenever I fought, not that it mattered to the owners besides the money it brought them." He huffed. Dream stared, unsure how to respond.

"I was good enough that I caught a certain god's attention. The Blood God loves to see fights and apparently, he loved to watch mine. So much so that he gave me a blessing." The last word was accompanied by a tone he couldn't pinpoint. Dream glanced back down to the figure the other was still carving.

"That night, I became immortal. Not to be killed unless the sword he gave me was shattered beyond repair. It was also the night I became free. So both immortality and freedom. Pog if you ask me." Techno seemed to be carving details like the eyes and mouth now. He was silent after that. It took only a few more ticks for Dream to open his mouth instead.

"I made a deal with Schlatt. He got protection and an army, I got the book. Then one moment I was there, burning a copy of the book, the next, I was like this." It was less than Techno told him. But Techno didn't need to know about the experiments. He didn't need to know about Punz and how somehow only he became the spirit of the book, not his mercenary.

"Huh. Always thought you were a bookworm. You sure you don't write any fanfics?"

"Oh my god, no." Dream immediately responded.

"That was a suspiciously quick denial," the piglin joked.

"No, it's not. What?" A smile tugged at his lips, tail swishing back and forth behind him.

"Come on. What's your pen name? I promise I won't tell a soul." Techno grinned.

"No, I'm leaving." Dream said as he planned to stand up, only for one of the wolves to settle on top of him.

"Yes. Good, Yawn." Techno encouraged.

"No, No. Bad." Dream tried to discourage it to no avail.

"Well. Guess you're stuck now. Now where were we?"

Dream leaned his head back, scratching the spotted wolf with one hand.

-----

Dream couldn't sleep. It was nothing new. He spent plenty of nights awake either by choice or inability. Usually, though, he didn't need to figure out a way how to get out of another person's arms.

Slowly, he started shifting into a mouse, making himself small and light enough that hopefully, Techno wouldn't wake. He stepped along the bedsheets and down onto the floor. He gave his sleeping roommate one last glance before changing to a screech owl and quietly flying himself down the ladder and through an open window. Once on the porch, he shifted back.

It was cold. Freezingly so. He didn't have the cloak. Or anything really fitting for the temperature.

Just a few hundred ticks and then he'd go back in.

Before the time passed though, he heard the floorboards inside creak and just a few ticks later, a cloak found its way around him and a certain piglin next to him.

"Nice night, isn't it? The sky's so clear you can even see the stars and constellations like the Nightmare Eater and the Lava Walker." Techno spoke softly. Eyes up to the sky as well.

"Which ones are those?" Dream asked, not so much for the knowledge about stars and more just to hear Techno's voice.

His roommate pointed to different stars while leaning closer to Dream, their heads next to each other. "This one's Nightmare Eater. A phantom that feasted upon the nightmares of gods till they had enough and punished it by turning it into stars, never to get another meal." He pointed to another cluster. "And that's Lava Walker. A strider who had helped a young adventurer get help from his friends after falling down from a great height in the nether. The injury could have caused his death if the strider didn't get them. As thanks, the lil guy got immortalised."

Dream looked from the stars to Techno, seeing them reflect in his eyes. A sparkle in his blue eyes that entranced Dream. He didn’t even notice their hands being intertwined.

Techno turned his head down, looking back at Dream after noticing his silence. His eyes flickered to his lips.

They stared at each other as the moon shone down on them.

With the stars as only witnesses, Techno kissed Dream and Dream kissed back.

[in1-nutshell]

Silver Aid the sparkling part 2

SFW, Platonic, Cybertronian (techno organic) reader

TFA

Optimus didn’t know why humans had a fascination with explosives. Granted he had some bad experiences with them, not to mention he had lost count of how many fires he had to put out because of these kinds of things.

So, he was a bit biased.

But he had to admit that the colors were nice to see from a far.

It was some sort of celebration the humans had; some holiday he couldn’t remember the name of. The team was technically off duty, but trouble always seemed to follow them around. It was good to be on alert.

Bumblebee and Sari were trying to explain to Prowl how to play with the sparklers; Bulkhead had brought his easel and paints attempting to paint the colorful sky above them; and Ratchet was inside the Plant. He didn’t like the loud noises the fireworks made.

Optimus himself was watching everyone from his spot on the ground near a couple of bushes by the Plant. Maybe he’d stay out a bit longer before turning in a bit early, or even try one of those sparklers.

SNAP!

Optimus looked behind him, crouching down to get a better look at whatever made that noise.

Maybe it was one of those squirrels or racoons Prowl had been trying to sneak into his room for the past months?

More snapping was heard, it was something bigger.

Or maybe it was a lost dog or cat.

The snapping sounded heavier this time.

The Prime grabbed his axe in one servo and was ready to strike at anything--

“Oppy?”

He dropped his axe at the sound of the little voice.

A voice so young that he hadn’t heard since Cybertron.

A tiny frame suddenly tumbled from the bushes and landed in front of his knees.

The sparkling sat up, pouting a bit, before looking up at him rather confused.

They both studied each other for a minute before the sparkling smiled widely at him. She waddled a bit until she put both servos on his knees.

“Oppy I found you! I found you!”

… There was no way this was her…

Maybe this was Silver’s sparkling—wait no, she would have told him about that.

And there had been weird situations the bots had been in…

And there was only one bot from his sparklinghood that gave him that name…

The sparklings optics widened happily reaching at him. He gently picked her up, slightly cradling her in his arms, she didn’t seem to mind too much. The sparkling was too busy rejoicing having found her friend, even though he was so much bigger than last time. Maybe this is what happens when you drink too much energon?

“Oppy! Oppy! Oppy!”

…Sweet Primus…

“Silver? Is that you?”

Silver hugged his neck cables the best she could.

“Oppy! You too big! Too big to hug! But still hug!”

She pulled back and gently patted the side of his face smiling.

He couldn’t help but smile back.

She always seemed to be able to make him smile no matter the circumstances.

Too bad their moment didn’t last long.

“Optimus do you know where Ratchet hid the rest of the—IS THAT A BABY!?”

Optimus and Silver jumped a bit at the new voice.

Silver peaked from her now taller friend’s shoulder angerly.

Who decided to yell at him!

That’s not nice!

Oppy hates yelling!

She looked down at the funny looking sparkling and glared.

“No yell! Scare Oppy! Say sorry!”

Sari couldn’t believe what she was seeing, and Optimus suddenly had a bad feeling about this.

Silver had always had a bit of a protective streak when they were all younger, especially when it came down to newer bots.

Sari flew up to get a better look at it.

The sparkling was adorable, even with the little angry look on their face.

But that color scheme was a bit familiar…

Sari turned to the Prime.

“Did Silver and Megatron have a baby?”

Optimus shook his helm immediately.

“No, but I have reason to think this is—"

“IS THAT A SPARKLING!?”

Leave it to Bumblebee to let the world know about the sparkling at once. Soon enough the rest of the team began crowding around them both. Silver tried to ignored the sudden loud voice around her and came up with a single thought. She didn’t like this, not one bit. First, there were a bunch of new bots around, none she had ever seen before. Second, some of them were poking her pedes and servos. Finally, it was getting way too crowded for her liking, and Oppy hates crowds!

She needed to fix this right now!

“Go!”

The bots looked at her waving her servos in a shooing motion.

Bulkhead wagged one of his digits at her face.

“Aww! Look at tiny Silver! So tiny—"

“Go! Go! Go! GO!”

The bots slightly winced at the shriek she gave at the last word.

Bumblebee leaned to Bulkhead’s side.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have called her small, big guy.”

Optimus sighed readjusting his hold on Silver.

“It’s not that. She is trying to get you all to back up.”

Ratchet looked at Optimus a bit skeptical yet had a feeling he knew why his former student was acting like this. “And how do you know that Prime?”

Optimus groaned internally.

“I just know okay.”

“Oppy no like crowd. Shoo! Shoo!”

Optimus felt his faceplate burning as the others smiled a bit teasingly.

“Aww! Look Oppy you have a little protector.” Bumblebee teased.

Silver glared straight into Bumblebee’s optics making him shudder a bit.

“Yeesh! She still has that same glare.”

Prowl thankfully got the message.

“Maybe we should back up. Give them some space.”

The bots slowly stepped back.

The sparklings glared and hold was still strong, but now it softened a bit looking at Optimus’s face.

She had a worried look patting his face.

“Oppy okay? Oppy?”

Optimus smiled.

“I’m okay Silver.”

That put a smile on the sparkling’s face.

The Prime took that moment and turned to the others.

“Silver, these are my friends, Sari, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Prowl and Ratchet.”

Silver looked at the bots then at Optimus.

“Oppy friends?”

He nodded.

“Down now.”

Optimus gently placed the sparkling down and waddled to the bots, circling them before coming back to Optimus’s side with a judge look.

Ratchet raised an optics “Are we being judged by a sparklng?”

Optimus quietly shushed him.

Silver finally smiled and waved at them.

“Me Silly! Silly friend Oppy! You Silly friends now!”

Prowl gently pats her helm a bit.

“Quite the extrovert, isn’t she?”

Optimus just sighs as she waddled up to them giving pats on their legs before waddling back to Optimus.

“Why Oppy big now?”

“Umm…”

“Oppy drink too much energon?”

“Yes! Oppy drank too much.”

She looked around.

“Where Nel and Eeta?”

Oh Primus how was he going to explain this one.

“… They’re on a trip now.”

Silver looked at him curiously.

“Trip?”

“Yes, a trip.”

“Coming back?”

Optimus gently rubbed her helm.

“I’m sorry Silver, we can’t see them right now.”

“That okay. I wait.”

This was not going how he thought it would. Hopefully she would forget about this soon.

Optimus then rubbed small circles on her back until soft little snores were heard. Silver Aid was always the first to fall asleep.

In a whisper the Prime addressed the team.

“We have to figure out what happened to her.”

Sari gently patted the sparkling’s arm.

“No duh, but how? Where did you even find her?”

Optimus gestured to the bushes behind him.

“I don’t know how we are going to figure this out, but we will.”

Sari spoke up.

“Maybe my dad can find something about Silver becoming a baby.”

The team agreed. In the morning, they would pay a visit to the Professor, but first there was something Optimus needed to do. The Prime tried to pass Silver to Ratchet, but her grip tightened and let out a soft whine when the field tech’s servos touched her. Optimus held her and she went right back to sleep.

He silently carried her into his room.

Her tiny servo had clamped down on one of his digits. Peacefully unaware of the stress she was inadvertently causing on the young Prime.

He placed her on his chassis and sighed.

“Oh Silver… what are we going to do with you…”

With that the Prime’s optics slowly closed and drifted into a pleasant sleep with the grip on his digit tightening a bit.

Meanwhile…

Megatron was slightly pacing back and forth across the room. It took the entire team to convince the leader to at least take a nap before returning to the skies to search for the sparkling. Everyone else was working on the main console. Lugnut was looking over Blitzwing’s shoulder. Blitzwing and Starscream were typing furiously.

“Has anyone any trace of her signature?”

“She’s techno organic Lugnut.”

Lugnut tapped Blitzwings’s wings a few times.

“Meaning?”

Blitzwing vented heavily before turning to the bigger mech.

“What that means Lugnut is that we don’t have the trackers for techno organic bots yet! They were a work in progress and nowhere near finished.”

“…So still no sign of her?”

Starscream nearly threw the keyboard at the wall.

“By the Allspark, OF COURSE THAT MEANS WE DON’T HAVE ANY SIGN OF HER!”

This is how any bot would see sparkling Silver Aid trying to fight them for Optimus's honor.

[blueishspace]

The Watchers court p3

Martyn: Court back in session, bring the second witness to the stand.

Tommy: Hello Jack!

Jack: ...Hi.

Pearl: Introduce yourself mate.

Jack: Jack Manifold, he/him, owner of the innit hotel.

Tommy: Oy! That's my hotel.

Jack: The previous owner died in prison so I took it.

Tommy: I got better you fucker!

Pearl: ... I see?

Punz: Ehm ehm, we have an examination to do your honurs.

BigB: O-oh right, you can begin your questioning.

Punz: Jack Manifold.

Jack: Punz.

Punz: It has come to the attention of the court that Dream might have taken some extreme measure to take care of... Thomas.

Pearl: That's a kind way to phrase it.

Punz: Perhaps you can shed the light on how much of a necessity they were to mantain the peace-

Tubbo: Objection! Leading the witness!

Grian: Sustained, try and rephrase it if you can.

Punz: ... Alright, do you happen to know if Tommy might have done something to deserve such measures?

Jack: Of course he did.

Tubbo: Jack? What are you doing??

Jack: Telling the truth! Tommy is a selfish asshole who cares about nothing but himself.

*Tommy steps backwards*

Tommy: Fuck you too Jack!

Pearl: Order in the court everyone. Continue with your testimony.

Jack: He is just a pretentious asshole-

Tubbo: Objection! Those are not offences, you are just insulting the prosecution!

BigB: ... Sustained, are there any actual crimes that you remember?

Jack: Wh- he started so many wars!

*Pearl and BigB look at Grian*

Grian: ... You do know who you are talking to right?

Jack: Like the disk war-

Tubbo: That was Dream technically.

Jack: The L'Manberg war!

Tubbo: And that was Wilbur.

Jack: ... Manburg vs Pogtpia.

Tubbo: That was Schlatt...and Wilbur.

Jack: ... ... Doomsday?

Tubbo: Techno. And Phil. And Dream. It wasn't even a war.

Jack: H-he burnt George's house!

*Ranboo walks back in*

Ranboo: T-that was an accident...and partly my fault.

Jack: Well- he... he... he killed me!

.

.

.

Tommy: Uh?

Jack: The fuck you mean "uh?".

Tommy: Did I kill you?

Jack: ... YES! You pushed me into lava!

Tommy: N-no, that was just a vision, that didn't actually happen.

Jack: It did! I had to crawl out of because of you!

Pearl: People, as much fun as this is we are putting Tommy on trial. This is a trial against the defendant, Dream.

Grian: Yes, the reasoning come second and I doubt this witness convinced anyone of Dream's innocence.

Tubbo: Wait!

BigB: ...?

Tubbo: I... Tommy said he tought it was a vision.

Grian: He did, yes.

Tubbo: Jack, did this death happen while Tommy was in exile?

Jack: It...did.

Tubbo: Now the question is, why did Tommy assume it to be a vision? Well, if this death happened during Tommy's exile, one where Dream looked after him the whole time, then I think the defendant is suspect.

Grian: ... Sustained. So, what do you need?

Tubbo: I need to speak to the three people who saw Tommy during exile. I call to the stand Dream, Ranboo and Ghostbur!

Tommy: ... Four.

Tubbo: Uh?

Tommy: I call to the stand MD as well!

Grian: So... when did you meet Tommy, in this "exile" specifically?

Dream: Well, I led him to his exile like I was ordered too.

Ranboo: I... I would visit Tommy sometimes near the beginning... I stopped after a while...

Ghostbur: Oooh! The holiday! I went with him and Dream! He looked sad so I would give him blue!

MD: I don't know man but he looked shitty when I arrived! And that Dream dude was there too man.

Tubbo: What do you remember from that time?

Dream: I took the initiative of making sure Tommy wouldn't escape, my responsability as an admin you see.

Ranboo: Tommy...he used to be so happy when I visited him but then... I stopped.

Ghostbur: We built houses together! It was fun! He used to look at me weirdly but I think we became closer friends after a while!

MD: Let me tell you man. It was a mess over there, seen rats living in better conditions then he did.

Punz: ... Did the topic of ...visions ever come up?

Dream: Oh yes, sometimes he said he would see things that weren't there... I suppose it is my fault I didn't expect it to get that bad.

Tommy: Bullshit.

Ranboo: I... I don't know, I don't remember too well, sorry.

Ghostbur: Visions? I... hmmmm. I think so... It was... Uh what was I saying again? Oh right! I think I heard him mentioning seeing something once!

MD: Oh yes man, it sure did. The kid was terrified man.

Tubbo: What did Dream do?

Dream: ... Nothing more then was already said-

Ranboo: He lied!

Grian: Oh?

Pearl: Go on mate.

Ranboo: He said Tommy didn't want to see me anymore! I remember! It was a lie! You wanted to be alone with him!

Ghostbur: He...well, he sent me out once under the snow. He knows I melt but maybe he forgot... That was the last time I was able to see Tommy for a long time, I got lost I think ...hmmmm.

MD: He killed me. The kid said Dream was his owner and then he killed me!

Tommy: ...

BigB: Do you have something to say?

Tommy: He told me I imagined it... that MD died of overdose and I had hallucinated it.

MD: ... He did what? Fuck you, how dare you!

*MD jumps on Dream*

Grian: ORDER! ORDER IN THE COURT!

*in the jury*

Squiddo: ...

E1!Jimmy: ...oh.

Knight!Grian: Holy hell.

Grian: Is the prosecution satisfied?

Tubbo: Sure am.

Grian: Taurtis, bring the witnesses out please.

Taurtis: On it!

Martyn: Watcher and Listeners, there will now be another break and then will be the last witnesses.

Prev Next First

[starry-bi-sky]

hi I saw your post about hadestown and bingge and I'm frothing at the MOUTH. I think like how shen yuan started hyperfixating on pidw bingge just fuking becomes a number 1 fan for the performance troupe. What other performances do you think Shen Yuan will xianxia-ify?

SAME. Aaaaaa im so glad you liked that post, im in a similar state over it <33 Bingge went in expecting a vaguely entertaining but ultimately mediocre show and instead got fucking SCALPED. Like instantly obsessed, unable to go back to the way he was before, completely unhinged <3

And aaaurrgh I have this design idea for the Hades actor where throughout the whole show, Hades is wearing a mianguan with so many beads hanging over the front of his face that you couldn't see anything above his mouth. His upper face completely obscured by his crown and the jewels/beads hanging from it. The picture of an untouchable, terrifying, powerful emperor.

But during Epic III, when Orpheus sings the first "la la la", Hades bellows "Where'd you get that melody!?" as he stands from his throne in rage. As he does, his mianguan falls from his head to the ground, revealing the full of his face for the first time. Revealing the face of an angry, scared man.

He doesn't put the mianguan back on for the rest of the show, and he's so expressive that it's no wonder he wore the mianguan all the time.

and as for your ACTUAL ask -- nothing too modern gets xianxia-fied! Hadestown was easy because it already had mythical elements due to being another myth. He just had to rewrite it in a way that would make sense in PIDW. And he doesn't xianxia too many musicals i think, some of them require too much outside context that would be too hard to translate.

Epic I think would be one that gets xianxia-fied, although that's one of the trickier musicals because Jorge has very specific musical motifs behind each character that makes it hard to translate into PIDW -- Hermes' is associated with the harp and the lyre but every time he's in a song he also comes with a very techno-disco-y (???) beat. Plus a lot of other technical aspects as well -- Scylla is the first to come to mind -- that SY's troupe doesn't have the manpower or funds for.

I think it could happen, though! It's just rather tough and it helps fuel SY's decision to keep the musical adaptations to a minimum AND to use musicals that aren't super modern. Hunchback of Notre Dame I think SY could get away with xianxia-fying. Anastasia too. I don't know many plays so I can't say what plays he could xianxia-fy, but he DOES write stage adaptations for some of the stories he tells his troupe, and finds that he really likes it!

It's surprisingly fun coming up with roles, lines, story beats, etc, trying to figure out how he could make this into that. Writing is fun, and the mental challenge that comes with even more so. He loves it!

He makes a stage play telling the story of Hades and Persephone -- albeit altered to fit into Hadestown, rather than the original tale.

And eventually he starts making up his own stories as well -- retellings of myths from PIDW and his world, and things he made up himself to tell certain messages. Rarely does he play a major role in any of these stage plays themselves -- much to Bingge's dismay. It's too much attention for his poor thin face to take! He most often just plays Orpheus. He prefers to stay behind the scenes during plays.

But you can always find him outside the theater when his troupe is in town! If they're not preparing for a stage performance, SY loves going out to tell stories to a crowd! It brings him a lot of joy to watch them sit on the edge of their seats, hanging on to his every word. He especially loves telling stories to children, they get so excited and their interruptions can get annoying sometimes, but its endearing.

And oh, he does love to sing. He's just so very shy about it. It's a miracle that his troupe managed to convince him to be Orpheus -- but that's probably why they waited until opening night to do it. People get so weird when he sings -- it makes him self-conscious. So he only sings when he's alone or around his troupe while on the road.

Oh yeah no, Bingge is OBSESSED with this group. Specifically one mister Shen Yuan who looks so very much like his old teacher, but ISNT him. He's not sure if Shen Yuan is a descendant of Shen Qingqiu's family line, or straight up the man's reincarnation, but at this point he doesn't actually care that much he just needs the man's attention.

It's actual so funny I think. I don't think fan merch exists in PIDW which is a problem, because Bingge WILL resort to stalking. He's going to orchestrate a fan meeting with SY mark his fucking words. He has to see what this man is like when he's not on stage -- is he as pure as the character he portrays? Or is he as rotten as the face he wears.

(It turns out to be the former, and Bingge doesn't know what to do about it. Kidnapping is high on that list. It is SO high on that list.)

[antimony-medusa]

You Blew Me Into Stardust

Kristin laughed, the sound emerging too-loud in the half-empty bar. She hung her head in her hands. “Oh yeah,” she told the bar top. “I mean, the mechs—they were originally designed to battle sculk anyways, and it’s not like anything bad happened to the people who built them, so we’ll be good.” “Oh yeah, all those ancient cities still goin’ strong today.” Techno ran a finger around the top of his glass. “Civilization standin’ strong overall. Whole situation went so well, I don’t give us more than a 50% chance of someone dyin’. Maybe 40% if we’re lucky.” “Oh god.” Kristin emerged from her hands laughing, and pushed her hair out of her face. “No worries, it’ll go great to go back there. We’ll all do great. Happy about this, actually.” Ponk came over with the bottle and refilled her glass, and she nodded to them. “Thanks.” “And if only one of us dies—” Techno grinned at her, tired. “Then the other person just has to deal with it. And that’s easy. I’m doing great.” “I’m doing great,” Kristin echoed, a little choked up. She straightened fully and looked down at her drink, turning the stem of the glass between her fingers. “I miss him.” She cleared her throat. “I miss my husband, Techno. I miss him a lot.”

Status: 9/9 chapters, updated 9 August, 42,846 words

Fandom: Dream SMP

Rating: Teen Audiences

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Characters: Technoblade (Video Blogging RPF), Kristin Rosales Watson, Phil Watson | Philza, Ranboo (Video Blogging RPF)

Relationships: Technoblade & Kristin Rosales Watson, Kristin Rosales Watson/Phil Watson | Philza, Technoblade & Phil Watson | Philza, Technoblade & Kristin Rosales Watson & Phil Watson | Philza

Tags: Alternate Universe - Mecha, Technically Post Apocalypse but that's kind of background, Benchtrio is also here, Syndicate is also here, Dream is also here, Endersmile hand in unlovable hand, while I'm tagging duos, Peerpressure, Wardens (Minecraft), Alternate Universe - Sculk Kaiju Defense, Grief, Happy Ending, 40k of chanting Let Kristin Kill at higher and higher volumes, Inspired by Art, We fridge Phil but then we get him back, Hospitals, Needles, Body Horror, Really abysmal management, MCYTblr Summer AU Fest 2024, Marvel-movie levels of violence throughout, Queerplatonic Relationships, Queerplatonic Technoblade/Kristin Rosales Watson/Phil Watson | Philza

And it's time for the second fic I wrote for @mcytblraufest! Inspired by art by the incredible @errs-other-other-blog-again and betted by the invaluable @droidofmay, this is slightly more than 40k of mech au that contains a lot of terrible jokes about grief and death, because well— gestures to the main characters. This fic has put me through the wringer due to the time constraints, but I love it a lot and am delighted to be able to share it with you. Enjoy!

[gaysaito]

rewatching the finale w our boyfriend im gonna be so fr i still dont have my thoughts straight (haha) and jayvik is consuming half of my active thoughts . I DIDNT EVEN FUCJING SHIP IT IN S1 .. gah . love wins or smth

GAHH close 2 finishing arcane .. 2 episofes left so ive unblocked the main tag ive already seen too many spoilers elsewhere anyway ..... mental illness ..

[itsbenedict]

Games I Played In 2024 And Whether Or Not I Thought They Were Good (Part 3/4)

[1] - [2] - 3 - [4]

More of them! I've been doing these roughly in chronological order so I'm going to have more to say about these ones probably.

Another Crab's Treasure

Haaaaaah. Mixed feelings on this one!

The idea is that it's a Dark Souls game, only, like, vibrant and colorful and ocean-themed. You're a hermit crab who's trying to get his shell back! Cute!

First off: if you get this game, do not get it on the Switch. It is broken on Switch. Like, crashes regularly, freezes up on simple object interactions, drops frames all the time... it's rough. I've seen LPs of people playing the PC version, where it looks and plays much better, so that's probably what you want to do instead. I'm shocked Nintendo let them release it on their store in this state.

And... that kind of colors my perception of the gameplay, too, because it turns out soulslike difficulty gets way more frustrating if you're usually dying to the game freezing up during an enemy attack, or the camera getting stuck where you couldn't see the tell animation, or some other technical issue that completely wasn't your fault. I was fighting the game every step of the way.

That said, I can easily see the version of the game that works, and the gameplay's pretty fun! The various shell powers, the rolling mechanics, and the smart enemy design make it really smooth to play when it's actually running at full FPS. The environment design is also really good, and overall it's very well-executed.

Hated the story, though. What a mess. It's... totally thoughtless doomer nonsense, whose primary message is "capitalism bad!" while completely failing to depict any capitalism and instead having the government be bad. It's all half-formed ideas from people with no model of how the world actually works- just a vague sense of anger at powerlessness and disenfranchisement, directed at incoherent strawmen. The speech where the evil corrupt mayor tells you that laws exist to make it legal for him to kill anyone who defies him is especially eye-rolling- as is the strawman of techno-optimism who shows up as the surprise final boss. Just idiotic stuff.

None of its metaphors even work on its own terms- like the thing where pollution is a nebulous force of corruption caused by greed in the hearts of the crabs who hoard trash, except that the greedy trash hoarders live in the clean colorful heights and the poors with no trash live in the polluted undercity with too much trash. Wait, what? Yeah.

Fun though.

Loop Hero

This one was really cool! It feels like there's some potential it had that it didn't realize, but I enjoyed it as a smaller experience anyway.

The idea is... the world's been destroyed, and you can sort of bring it back by remembering. As you walk along this desolate looped path autobattling enemies in search of a boss, you can put down tiles that change it- biomes that spawn different types of monsters, buildings that give you buffs, and terrain with global effects. As you progress, you unlock more types of tiles, and learn synergies between different types of tiles that create new effects.

There's a lot of these, and they're really cool. Like, put down nine mountains or hills in a square, and bam, you get a tall peak that spawns harpies to fight. Or put forests next to a lightning tower, and get burning forests that, uh, I think lower everyone's HP or something? Place a light source next to a field, and it blooms with flowers, doubling its XP bonus or whatever it is those do.

My problem I think is just that there's not enough of them. Each type of tile has between two and four different kinds of interactions with other tiles, and you don't really get too many elaborate combos. Most types of tiles ignore each other. I kind of wish there'd been a little more depth to these systems, with more surprising interactions with older terrain types as you unlocked new ones. Let me run a river past a spider nest and get diving bell spiders, or put a storm tower next to a vampire castle to spawn frankensteins! The surprise tile synergies were the most exciting part, and there was definitely room to include more of them.

The story had some kind of cool things to say about, like, the weight of creation, passing judgment on the world, deciding what has the right to exist. I don't know that it really explores it fully, but there's something there!

Hades II

Yep, this thing's in early access! And no surprise: it's good as hell. I've wasted far too much time in it.

Gameplay-wise, it's going to be pretty familiar if you've played Hades, but there's a few major changes. The most impactful, I've found, is that you only get one dash. No upgrading it with the mirror or getting more from Hermes- you get one, and then can hold down the button to run slightly faster if you gotta move fast. This makes Melinoe play very differently from Zagreus, who favored getting in close and overwhelming foes with a flurry of blows before zipping back out with dashes when things get hairy. Melinoe needs to stay safe a lot more than Zag does, and relies on her ranged options to do so.

(There's also a few other tweaks- every attack comes with a charged version that costs mana from a mana bar, olympian calls are replaced with "moon blessings", and of course all the weapons are new and take some getting used to- but the dash is the biggest thing.)

The story, this time, is fascinatingly weird. It concerns a war between the gods and the titan Chronos, and... it's not entirely clear if you're on the right side of it. They play up how callous and evil the gods are with respect to mortal life, and have multiple supporting characters who put this concern front and center where Hades 1 kind of sidelined it. But Melinoe is this weird, uptight honor student type of character with a strong sense of propriety and familial loyalty, and kind of doesn't care about that compared to her quest to rescue her family.

It keeps, like... dropping hints that you're not really on the right side, here? Chronos is personally unpleasant and loathsome, but you keep getting little hints that what he's actually doing is an improvement over how the gods were running things. Various character arcs seem to be headed in a "the gods suck and you should stick up for your non-god friends" direction, but...

...I mean, they can't actually do that, can they? Just, structurally! It's a roguelike, meant to be infinitely replayable! Hades 1 had a pretty elegant resolution to that problem, reframing the gameplay as something that can fit without the central conflict, but I can't imagine how Hades 2 could possibly do that. An entire section of the world takes place on a fleet of ghost ships sailing to join the war effort! Even Melinoe failing to grow and just winning seems incompatible with the game continuing. A good chunk of the game doesn't exist without the conflict! I don't see how they can possibly put a bow on all this, and I'm excited to see how they try.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

My favorite game from my childhood has received an updated rerelease on Switch... and they did it right. You gotta check this out.

I've talked about why TTYD is great before- I think one of the first posts on this blog, waaaaaay back in the day when my posts were bad and you shouldn't go looking for them? But the upshot is: the battle system uses small numbers, and you can figure out exactly what kind of damage you can dish out and take in a given turn, and plan your risk-taking and resource management around it precisely- in a way you can't really do when you've got big damage numbers with RNG ranges of outcomes. All the risk is in the execution of your guards and special moves, which let you attempt harder inputs in exchange for more favorable outcomes, with a chance that you'll fail because you fucked up,

Going back to it after so long... honestly, with fresh eyes, the writing isn't quite as lively as I remember? Like, I remember a big reason I was disappointed by later PM games was that there were no partners, or that the partners didn't really talk or figure into the story. But... honestly, TTYD does have that same problem, outside of the chapters where those characters are introduced. Once someone's In Your Party, their relevance is kind of over, and they all deliver pretty similar filler lines while out. That's something they could maybe improve on in a proper sequel.

Still, the writing generally remains sharp and very funny, and the variety of scenarios it throws at you are great. And the remake adds a few things that really enhance the experience- like new remixes of the battle theme for every chapter, and extra animations for every character, even the random background nobodies. You can hit NPCs with your hammer and they'll play a little "hey, ow!" animation now! Different characters get different dialogue bleep sounds! And they added a warp hub for backtracking, so the General White quest isn't so tedious! And a warp pipe between Creepy Steeple and Twilight Town, to cut out like an hour of pointless backtracking! All the changes they made were really smart.

(Including: putting Vivian's trans stuff back in the script, after it was cut in the original localization. Good on you, Nintendo!)

Pokérogue

I was weak. I held out two months, and then gave in. And I regret everything.

This fucking thing ate multiple months of my life. It's... infuriatingly addictive. It boils the Pokémon experience down to this ultra-tuned flow state, with accelerated levelups and mechanics to streamline the game into a roguelike form factor, and it's so goddamn tight. Every moment of it is setting you up with a thing you can do next, so there's no stopping points- just new goal after new goal after new goal. It totally hijacked my brain until I beat the damn thing into submission, doing absolutely everything it's possible to do in it.

Except "ever voluntarily using Skwovet", because fuck that thing.

Don't play this. It's bad for you.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Technically not a new game, but the DLC is basically an entire new game, with a map about the size of the base game and its own progression system and story.

I don't have too much to say about the DLC itself! It's More Elden Ring. Miquella's story is cool and tragic, the final boss was a terrifying surprise, and the new environments and enemy designs were sick as hell. If you liked Elden Ring for those things, there's more of it here! 'Nuff said.

What stuck out to me was... I started a new character and a whole fresh playthrough of the game, because I didn't know what the entry point to the DLC was. And while last time, I built a strength-focused warrior with tons of HP, this time I decided to try out a totally different build and play a squishy wizard with ranged attacks. And the game was so different like that! Still balanced, still fun, but completely a different game.

Instead of being about getting in close, staying in close, and sticking around for a long time while finding openings to attack, it became about staying at a safe distance, dodging projectiles, and retaliating with nuke spells to end fights before bosses could get much of a chance to hit me. Some areas that were a huge problem for me before were trivialized by my reusable ranged blasts, and some areas that were no trouble were suddenly a difficulty cliff because there was no way to be effective at range. I'm surprised at how much of a transformation it was! Impressive feat of design.

WEBFISHING

This is a cute little multiplayer fishing game based off Animal Crossing's fishing system. It's a relaxing little second-screen game without too much going on! Not too much to say about it- it does what it sets out to do. Kinda wish they'd tried a little harder for some of the fish "jokes", though- a lot of them are anti-humor about not having a joke for this one. I will retaliate by... not having much of a review for this one.

DEATHLOOP

This thing was fuckin' cool. You're an amnesiac trapped in a time loop- but not just any time loop. The people on this island came here specifically to trap themselves in a time loop, where they could kill each other and live out hedonistic fantasies with no consequences, but something fucked up and now only you and a crazy lady who's trying to kill you are actually experiencing the loop. For everyone else, it's their first day, and they don't take kindly to you trying to break the loop and ruin their fun.

In order to break the loop, you have to kill a bunch of important assholes (called "Visionaries") who've somehow anchored the loop to themselves. But you've got to do it in a single day, and they're scattered all over this huge island- so you've got to come up with a plan. Find ways to manipulate where they'll be at what times, when they'll be vulnerable, and line up that perfect killstreak.

It's fun stuff. Initially, it seems impossible- they're too spread out, too inaccessible, too heavily-defended. But as you work on figuring them out one at a time, you learn lots of little details about gaps in their defenses, ways to fuck with their routines, and traps you can set for them so they'll die without you needing to be present. It's like a mystery game, even though the minute-to-minute gameplay is a pretty standard stealth action shooter.

(Said gameplay's pretty fun on its own- though weirdly, the starting pistol pretty much kills everything in the game in one headshot and has perfect accuracy, so I'm not sure why they bother giving you other guns. I upgraded to Frank's SMG which is basically the same gun but it reloads instantly, and basically never needed to use anything else.)

The story's... a little weird. It tries to focus on the relationship between Colt and Julianna (your also-looping nemesis trying to stop you from breaking the loop), but like... she's not... there, except as an annoying random superboss encounter that sometimes spawns in the middle of you trying to do other shit. She's just a voice over the radio that snarks at you and doesn't have any relationships with any of the other characters.

So like, ultimately you learn a twist about who she was to you before you lost your memory, and she explicates her reasons for wanting to protect the loop, and there's like, some decent character work being done there?

Buuuuuut, in attempting to foreground this character dynamic and make it the main resolution to the game, they kind of forgot to give a satisfying resolution to anything else. Like, these seven people you spend the whole game obsessively stalking and learning everything about so you can efficiently murder them in one go... don't really get a resolution other than being anticlimactically murdered. And there's like no resolution to like, what is the loop and how does it work and why did it get fucked up and what are the stakes here. It's all so meticulously done that I get the impression some writer somewhere answered these questions while plotting it, but they just either didn't put any of it in the game, or I missed something huge.

One negative I will say is: this thing made my old computer overheat like instantly. I had to build a proper gaming PC before I could run this thing- and that was in fact my main motivation for building it, was because I wanted to play this game without my laptop melting. Not really playable on smaller machines, even on minimum settings.

-

One more coming down the line, for the games I played but didn't beat this year, and that should do it!

[1] - [2] - 3 - [4]

[sircantus]

Oh oh oh what is "Rich boy rich boy whatcha gonna do"?

THAT one is a dark sbi au kinda where struggling artist wilbur gets caught up in the influence and the attention of Technoblade who is like, the eldest son of the Craft family, who is super rich and somewhat famous with Phil being a famous person and Tommy being a spoiled child. Its a little funny bc its like wilbur constantly wanting to shake Techno for being such a rich kid (ex. techno has never had cheap pizza bc he’s had literal chefs making his meals all the time) and they get into funny little shenanigans with Techno constantly dragging wilbur into Rich Events (wilbur shows up to a ball with a shirt that has food stains and Techno has to wrangle him into the next room to put on something Presentable, bc we have a reputation, WIL-!) but its also meant to be a slow horror where Techno goes from seeming like a down to earth person to someone who will actually do anything to make sure he gets what he wants. (And he wants Wilbur to be his Friend. his friend. No one elses, thank you!)

Its- ahhhh i wanna ramble on but i dont wanna too much but anyhow one detail i like in the au is that theres a contrast between Tommy and Techno in how they act bc Tommy acts like a typical rich kid who gets all pissy when hes denied something and Techno and Wilbur tend to be like “wow he’s throwing a tantrum again lol” and Wilbur thinks that its just Tommy whos got some issues but then later on Techno has something go wrong with his 77 step plan to befriend Wilbur and he gets so upset about it that he snaps and tears apart his whole room in a fit of rage, which is such a MOMENT bc then its a reveal that Techno isnt any better, hes just better at keeping it behind closed doors. And PHIL is also just as bad as them bc he’s entirely justifies the damage and is like “ahh its going fine techno its not all lost but i can arrange for someone to go missing if you want”

Also also Techno is technically?? A fashion designer?? In the fic yeah i think that was the thing Phil is like a big name and Techno takes after him and theres also the detail of Techno constantly trying to have Wilbur wear his pieces and Wilbur is like “there is no occasion where i need to wear something thats worth more than my car” “well we do have this charity event next week-“ “who is WE??”

GOSH its all so much its such a fic and it does get really dark at some bits (wilbur ends up trying to murder techno lmao) but ehh its a wip who knows if ill ever post it haha

Also its called rich boy rich boy whatcha gonna do bc the rich boy is techno and whatcha gonna do is wilburs mental process when he realizes how deep in trouble he is

[fandomnerd9602]

Time Off

Julia Carpenter x reader

Being part of the Spider Society is rarely easy. You work as the technical support for your girlfriend Julia Carpenter. You come up with her gadgets and even help her from the comfort of your laptop.

It may not have been much. But Julia appreciated all the help you gave. It always put a smile on her face to know that she wasn’t alone in the war on crime. She could always count on your arms to hold her after a long night on patrol. Your words of encouragement and the occasional techno jargon put her to sleep.

Today was one particularly harsh battle. One bruise, one too many cuts and hits. She was worn out. Julia needed you more than anything.

She barely made it back to your shared apartment/ hideout which you dubbed the Web. She weakly pushed open the window and crawled in.

She gave you a weak smile, “hey”

“C’mere” you gently whispered before walking up to her and hugging her tightly. You picked her up bridal style and carried her up the steps of your apartment and into the bathroom.

You diligently went about your task. You removed her outfit with the delicateness of a spider. You bandaged her wounds, whispering sweet words in her ears and topped off each bruise with a kiss.

“How do you put up with me?” She asked. “I always come home looking like this!”

“Because you’re the only one I want to come home to” you answer back. You put her favorite shirt of yours on her and carried her out of your bathroom and laid her down gently on your bed.

Julia groaned and moaned. It felt good to be in her own bed, but it felt bad that you had to set her down.

“Stay” she practically commands you in her gentle yet sultry voice.

“Just give me a sec,” you answer back before giving her a kiss and heading out. A quick shut down of all your equipment and you were right back to your room and into her arms.

Julia Carpenter, the Spider Woman, she’s always busy saving the world but luckily she’s got you to save her.

[hazard-c-horror]

What I meant is, does Hazard lore in Septicemia Moon Au is the same lore they have outside of the au too?

(sorry for the confusion, I keep forgetting the word "Septicemia")

And as for the other questions,

well...:

What happened that Hazard suddenly started hating the world so much?

I'm guessing this was not Earth so, we're there similar creatures to humans or something? (if so, did they make something to upset hazard?)

Did Gemini have a different form before the one that we see them today in?

Are the different powerful entity's Hazard's followers or are they also friends with you?

If so, are you all still in contact?

(silly question): are you an actual space cat or something? In the first panel we see Hazard in, you look like a cat that has been picked up by a human and became a looooolng noodle XD

Is it just me or does one of the other powerful entities look like Tecnoblade? (Bloodgod? Is that you?)

That's all of them for now :3

Sorry for the long ask

💝☺️

1. Oh yay, I was kinda right with the first one. Again, it is kinda the general but there are some universes where Hazard and the astrals don’t know each other

2. Gemini nor the other astrals knew why Hazard demanded the world to be destroyed. That’s why Gemini said “Hazard suddenly grew enraged”. But This kinda won’t be explained in the future, but I’ll give context, as to not spoil another thing that ties into the reason.

Sometimes there are worlds that are… too far gone to be saved, or are not very peaceful. Hazard cares a lot about fairness and logicality. And may be enraged if someone close to them is harmed. It wasn’t entirely Hazard’s decision to exterminate the planet, but there was a breaking point. One thing that goes above EVERYTHING.

3. No it was not earth, I didn’t know what to do for another world/planet, so I just made an anthropomorphic animal world.

4. I think it’s canon (In actual tsbs lore.) that the forms we see now are not actually their true forms. And they just make forms to fit/ease the beings on the world they’re going to. So Gemini fit the form of the beings of the plant Hazard inhibited on. Much like Hazard does themselves

5. This will kinda be explained later. But for the most part it’s kinda both

Hazard is always in contact with them.

6. Hazard’s base form is actually a Loth cat from Star Wars. So technically yes, they are a space cat ^u^

7. This one yes?

Little blorb. There actually a healer, though I think their outfit was inspired by Techno. They are very close to Hazard. And you maybe will see them again :)

Your fine for the long ask, I quite enjoy it

[luminique]

You did say you wanted the Lighter and his new spouse's wedding reception so here it is.

The wedding reception venue is at Cheesetopia. I will fight anyone who thinks Lighter doesn't want his reception there. He fought Ethereals for Cheesetopia to have a door. He wants his wedding reception there. Because of the wedding, Casa, Burnice, Wise, and Belle made Cheesetopia look so beautiful and the food and drinks taste so good that Cheesetopia became the number one spot in the Outer Ring to hold wedding receptions after someone in the Inter-Knot talked about the wedding.

The wedding reception was a blast. Lighter asked Billy to DJ and he was serious about being Lighter's DJ. Billy plays a mix of country, rock, alternative, techno, rap, and pop and no one is left out thinking they can't dance to any song he has on the playlist. You also asked Lucy and Caesar to play piano and sing for their first dance as a couple. The two of you happily dance once Lucy starts playing and Caesar starts singing. Lighter might not have the most elegant dance moves, but you don't care, Lighter and you are having fun! It was the same for the last dance.

Actually, every dancing time was fun during the reception. You had a special dance with your parents, Lighter had a dance number with the Sons of Calydon with Piper even acting energetic during the dance, and your family and his family had a dance-off on who's family is the best at doing line dancing. Billy played five line dance songs back-to-back until he finally told them they were both good at line dancing. The wedding album has a dozen photos of the dance-off.

The speeches at the wedding were beautiful. Your family thanked the Sons of Calydon for accepting you into their family. They thank Lighter for being a good man to you and hope that you two have a great future. Big Daddy gave the speech and talked about how you changed Lighter's life for the better because they all remembered how aloof and reserved Lighter was before you came into his life. He thanked your family for accepting Lighter even after they all found out about his past and how he and the Sons of Calydon are glad that Lighter has another family that cares about him.

The cake-cutting was fun. Lighter and you had linked your arms together when you two fed each other the cake.

Then, it was the bouquet and garter toss. Lighter went first. Big Daddy caught it, but then he gave it to Billy who then gave it to Woody, Grassy, and Bricky who then gave it to Bellum (Lighter invited him) who then gave it to Wise. He kept it. When it was your turn, Caesar was ready. Lucy, Burnice, Casa, and Belle were there to make sure she didn't go overboard. Piper didn't join. Of course, Caesar won the toss.

When the reception was almost done, and Lighter and you were ready to exit, Lighter picked up you. He told you his home was with you and the open road, so his motorcycle served as his house. You laughed all the way to his (and technically now your) motorcycle. You and Lighter waved everyone goodbye as you two rode off into the night.

HELLO ?!?! im being so serious that you NEED to make your own blog and release your own posts because i will eat it up EVERY SINGLE TIME !!

THIS IS SO CUTE !! AND THE ENDING TOO HAS ME GIGGLING ARKDHAKDHJD i could DEFINITELY see the SoC putting on some sort of fire/fireworks (especially burnice). it would just be so sweet and so personal i feel

the lighter brainrot is so real and all of you are fueling it. THANK YOU FOR THIS !! i am reading it before bed and will now dream about the whole sequence hehe