#the cole protocol

[empresskadia]

ODSTs are seriously just cannon fodder in the fandom. They're supposed to be the best of the best, the status everyone wants to be, but they die left and right. The discrepancy between their 'elite status' and their high mortality rate is something. I feel like I have to do another deep dive into the ODSTs.

I have so many thoughts about this passage.

[halopedia]

Spartan Saturday — Adriana-111

A member of Gray Team, Adriana-111 acts as both the team's muscle and their designated marksman. She notably served alongside her teammates Jai-006 and Michael-120 during the battles at the Rubble and Metisette in 2535.

She also served in Operation: SUNSPEAR, which had the team destroy the Sangheili world of Glyke. Following the Carrow Conflict in 2558, the team formed a strike force with the Swords of Sanghelios, now operating out of the prowler UNSC Perilous Contest.

[gerrysroots]

You know what I will defend Colin even if he IS making the tech malfunction. Fuck that spacebar up Scottish man

[long-suffering-little-spoon]

Guys TMagP #4 didn't have anything supernatural going on being a violinist is just like that sometimes

[zlinkiez]

Here's my Commission and Print Info Page! Any further questions feel free to DM me!

[namelessprince]

do you guys ever think about what wouldve happened if vyncent HAD killed mark. i do. a lot.

check out my commissions :D

[mlgssy]

(Jai and Adriana thoughts incoming)

So first, whenever a complication comes up during briefings, their eyes always meet first, then the two of them look at Mike at the same time. (Who always notices the little eye contact and he’s also shipping them)

Whenever Adriana has a bit of free time (and for this she makes some if she hasn’t) she manages to annoy him with a playful trick. Like hiding his socks in her own laundry (so he has to search it in her stinky one.)

Before Adriana would go undercover alone, Jai always put an arm on her shoulder as he winks at her as a sign of “Take care of yourself”.

Adriana always takes a bite from Jai’s food, because “my boyfriend’s food looks better than mine” (it’s an existing rule) even though they have the same ration.

They have their first time in EVERYTHING because they did everything together since they were little children, and they can’t imagine trying sushi alone or with anyone else (lol)

Jai was endlessly jealous of Delgado (even he didn’t have a reason)

[ovary-harvester]

Why am I not surprised that todays episode was written by the same icon who put tree sex in the first episode of his own podcast

[helpimstuckposting]

This episode really gave grifters bone vibes and that’s one of my favorite episodes, they’ve been killing it so far

[therealgchu]

tmp

finally digging into scrotocol. i wait till entire seasons drop before i listen so i can binge it all at once. i should be able to finish the first season in a week, or so, then i think i might relisten to archives for the halloween season.

i've been avoiding all social media on TMP, except that i'd see posts on the reddit sub talking about how "boring" it is.

fuck that, this is brilliant. i should have known eps 4 was written by cole weavers. that man is past master of body horror and gore.

speaking of cole weavers, anyone know if he's gonna do anymore tiny terrors?

also, is it just me, or is hearing jonny and alex again feel like warm hugs from old friends? even when they're talking about such horrific narratives.

on eps 5 now, and it's better than i ever expected. amazing sound scaping, great characters. though, i really do miss alex saying, "the magnus archives is published under a creative commons 4.0 international, share-alike license".

[bloodgulchblog]

i love that the arbiter used to be an asshole.

none of that father-to-his-men-but-terribly-mistaken stuff.

nah, he was as convinced of his own righteousness and full of violence as anybody.

[empresskadia]

I am only on page 7, and I'm already in love-

Spartan women are just chef's kiss, and Adriana has me kicking my feet

ALSO, SHE'S SLAVIC!?

I wish I could be so normal about Spartans, but I'm not, nor will I ever be.

[syntia13treeman]

Case files 04.01

what I think happened in:

Case 04.01, the case of "The Red Violin of Schwarzwald" or "Feed the Violince"

Today's case comes in the form of a very old letter. The author of this letter, an illegitimate son of some English noble, a talented violinist, as a youth was summoned to audition for Royal Court Orchestra of the Palatinate (Germany).

That summer he left his home in Alnwick Abbey in company of his music teacher, Mr Bardwell, who appeared to be one of those miserable people who feel the need to lift themselves up by putting others down. Bardwell spent a chunk of their journey trying to convince the author that he didn't actually have talent, just a good teacher (himself). (Aside: considering that Author's whole career was carried by magic instrument, Bardwell might have been actually right about that, I'll give him that).

As autumn and their destination grew nearer, Bardwell grew more distant, occasionally muttering to himself or spacing out as if 'listening to distant music'. This culminated one night in a violent fit of uncontrolled movement and incoherent words, which ended with the Bardwell flinging himself from a moving carriage and bashing his head open on the rocks.

The coachman, convinced he just witnessed a murder, attacked the Author. The fight led to his death and spooked the horses, which run off into the night, taking the empty carriage with them. Left alone with two corpses, the Author set off on foot through the woods.

Eventually he came upon a campfire tended by what appeared to be a distinguished English gentleman - nice, generous fellow who offered to share a meal, and effortlessly coaxed out of the Author his entire life story. Then, among many mentions of 'luck' and 'fortune', offered him a gift - a beautiful violin, which he pulled out of an 'unusually shaped sack' filled with various knick-knacks. The Author was then sent on his way, and less than a day later he arrived at the Manheim School.

The rest is history. The violin was, of course, a cursed object, which played amazing, mesmerizing music, but demanded blood in return, and if denied, it took its toll anyway, by compelling the audience to mindless acts of violence (including oral eye removal - don't think I didn't notice that little detail).

And as is often the case, the Author was not completely satisfied with the magic that entered his life, because it 'only' brought him fame. It didn't give him the status he believe he deserved, as the 'upper crust' of society whom he played for never thought of him as 'one of us' and never noticed nor appreciated the blood sacrifice he made with each performance.

Honestly, the Author had no right to complain about that, as he himself started teaching music to those he considered below him specifically so that he could occasionally murder 'someone unimportant' to feed the violin and spare himself some pain.

And so he continued for the rest of his life (I presume), praying on the poor, playing for the rich. At some point one of his noble half-siblings sent their son to spend one summer with the Author, so yay family ties.

As he grew old, the Author decided to write a will, in which he left the hungry-hungry-violin to the aforementioned nephew, together with a letter explaining the nature of the thing (which was rather kind of him, really, most inherited cursed objects don't come with a warning, in my experience). And then, presumably, he died, and the violin changed hands, one way or another.

So that's the story of a nameless bastard [both meanings]. Let's forget all about him and focus on the important bits, in reverse order of interest:

4.) Who put the letter online and why? It's either some sinister figure doing it for sinister purposes, or just some poor history student innocently digitizing documents found in a tiny local museum somewhere for extra credit. There are no in-betweens.

3.) How did the murder-feeding work? Was it more 'kill a man and bleed him on the strings for 3 months' worth of recitals', or more 'chain them up in the attic and bleed them bit by bit before each performance till dead'? No theories from me, just something to ponder.

2.) What happened with Bardwell? He 100% heard the violin and was compelled by its music. Was it just because it was near, or was the Gentleman playing it, waiting in the woods? Was the intent there specifically to kill the man, or was he just driven to find the source of music, and it was just too bad for him that this included jumping from a moving vehicle? And finally, why did it affect him and not the other two men present? Possibilities:

Maybe he had, at some point in his life, come in contact with this or similar artefact and was marked by it.

Maybe he made a deal with some stranger, accruing a debt that he didn't quite pay off and it's now come due.

Maybe he sat in the audience once, as a child, listening to strange music played by red-stained fingers, which he was never able to forget.

Or maybe it was just something about him - like his love of music combined with ego and jealousy - that made him particularly susceptible to the lure.

My money is on option nr 3; I wonder if we'll ever know.

1.) last but no least: Who was the Gentleman?

I don't know, but I love this guy just on principle. He is so very 'magic salesman' 'devil in disguise' 'stranger danger' folklore staple!

I guarantee that no matter where you're from, he'd greet you in your own language, claim kinship and wear exactly the kind of clothes that made him seem trustworthy in your eyes. You'd sell your soul to this fucker before you could blink and wouldn't realize till it was way too late.

I'm getting very strong 'actual-supernatural-being, not human-turned-other' vibes from him, and I'm really stoked about it. (I have nothing to back it up, maybe it's just all the stories featuring various devils/spirits/similar that I read as a kid that make me biased).

If he isn't a recurring character, I'm gonna cry. I want to see what other abominations he can pull out of his funky little sack, and what tricks he'll use to ruin many other lives. Just let me have this, ok? Please?

[yanderes-galore]

I'd like to see a yandere concept of Reth from Halo: The Cole Protocol. Either romantic or platonic is fine.

Be patient with me here as I haven't read much about Cole Protocol in years so things may be a bit off! From what I remember Reth is a Jackal/Kig-Yar rebel that wants The Rubble for himself so I'm going to try my best :)

Yandere! Reth Concept

(HALO: The Cole Protocol)

Pairing: Romantic/Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, OOC Reth most likely, Implied Human/Kig-Yar pairing but may also be Kig-Yar/Kig-Yar, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Protective behavior, Abduction, Dubious companionship, Scenting, Bird-like courting.

I actually have not written for the Kig-Yar species before, my usual content seems to have been either human or Sangheili.

However, this species is actually really cool to think about.

Kig-Yar loyalty can be bought with the right price.

Think of them like space pirates.

They are attracted to loot and often trade if it benefits them.

Reth is a good example of Kig-Yar behavior.

He trades with the humans of The Rubble not because he likes them, but because he can track where humans go to provide The Prophets with information.

They are a selfish species that tends to scavenge what they can get.

They are also bird/raptor-like in nature.

Reth may show a more platonic type of yandere towards a human and a romantic type of yandere towards another Kig-Yar.

After all, this time period is when The UNSC and The Covenant are fighting.

Species involved with The Covenant don't dare try anything romantic with a human.

Maybe after the war, but not now.

If Reth did have some strange form of romantic feelings towards a human it's hidden well.

If you're a human you are working on The Rubble to conduct trade between the two races.

If you are Kig-Yar you work closely with Reth on The Rubble.

Reth has proven to like power and hungers for respect.

He and his forces have managed to keep The Rubble hidden for quite awhile.

He also has managed to hide an entire Unggoy army he's been breeding.

He's smart, crafty, and has ways to manipulate the odds on his favor.

He's more accomplished than your typical Kig-Yar I feel.

Most of the time he's very absorbed in his own plans.

An obsession would be secondary to him until he feels his plans are stable.

Kig-Yar have a tendency to group, like a pack/flock.

Reth may find himself naturally drift towards his obsession, with orders or deals.

He keeps conversation brief at first, but soon attempts to open up more in private.

I imagine Kig-Yar are possessive of those they deem as theirs.

Be it a group member or potential mate, I can see Reth snarling or growling at others who get too close.

While in Kig-Yar culture typically have the biggest shipmistress pick their mate, with Reth it's different as he's a powerful male Kig-Yar.

He's in charge and has gone against his shipmistress.

He doesn't really care about tradition until he gets to keep The Rubble.

I imagine Reth would be very bird-like when with his obsession.

He groups you into his fellow Kig-Yar even if you are human.

Reth would show you his nest sometime in his obsession, it would be quicker if you are a Kig-Yar.

We don't get much info on how Kig-Yar courting works based on what I've seen.

So I give you the HC of them courting like birds.

Shiny gifts, impressive displays of power and decorated nests, stuff like that.

Reth is not all that opposed to being close to a human but likes his own kind too.

Kig-Yar actually work with others well despite being seen as untrustworthy by many.

Reth would actually be really close with his darling, platonic or romantic.

He gives you weapons he feels fit your needs and treats you with respect on The Rubble.

Reth may be selfish like many Kig-Yar but he does try to keep you out of the way of danger.

Even when given the order to kill all humans on The Rubble, even if you are one he'll spare you.

No one has to know.

Reth would be possessive of his darling, probably even nipping at you/clawing at you to leave marks.

You may not choose him as a companion or mate yet Reth makes it happen.

I wouldn't be surprised it he kidnapped you to his nest, showing you his treasures and preventing you from leaving.

Reth doesn't show much care to anyone outside of his inner circle.

You're the only one he wants to push any further with.

So... just relax.

He'll scent you, he'll cover you in treasures, he'll be a good Kig-Yar companion to you.

Even if you tried to leave, he'll hunt you down.

Escape is futile since he has Unggoy and other Kig-Yar ships to track you.

Kig-Yar are good at tracking, too.

If he's attached to you and has already claimed you as his, he'll find you again.

Reth, like many Kig-Yar, is selfish...

He'll keep you with him on The Rubble even if it's the last thing he'll do.

[coconut530]

Another derp for the episode of violin(ce) ~ 🎵🎻🩸🎶

[spartansagas]

Cover art for Halo: The Cole Protocol, released 2008 by Tobias Buckle.