#the pocket imager! Nate uses it a lot especially out on the field

[deva-arts]

Has Vincent ever truly broken down and admitted to having real feelings? Every facade's gotta crack at some point.

Vincent likes to pretend he's uncaring and unempathetic (especially regarding Sera,) but he's surprisingly protective of others, regardless of who they are.

...

...In his own way, of course.

Teehee so I wrote something about this um I never post any written oc stuff so enjoy

Sunlight wafts through the curtains where the couple lay peacefully atop the bed. Nathaniel was finally home from a long shift at the medbay, and Seraphina had decided to take a break from tuning her weapons to stay with him for the day. Birdsong filled the room, and they savored the soft, sleepy embrace they were in; life pried them apart far too much to be wasteful with quiet moments.

Nathaniel pulls her a bit closer, then freezes, mental gears whirring. Seraphina noted the pause right away.

She pries her eyes open to squint at him. “What’s wrong.”

He still has the face on- the face that says he is trying to understand something absurd yet concerning. “I-…” As if trying to prove himself wrong, he feels for her ribs again over her shirt, following the curve as his hands enveloped her torso. Oddly enough, he even motioned to count each one, only to halt in yet another worried pause, lips pressed into a thin line.

Seraphina quietly observed him, raising an eyebrow. “…Hugs exist, Nathaniel. No need to reinvent the wheel with whatever this is."

Nathaniel stops, nonplussed, then he breaks into laughter, forgetting his previous alarm. Success. "Hah... Ahah.. No, it isn’t that…” His face falls back into a placid smile, and he pulls his hands away to sit up beside her.

Blast it all.

“It’s just that… Something is-“ He makes a vague motion with his hands. “-Different with your bone structure, but I wouldn’t be able to tell just what without proper scans.”

She blinked, sitting up to meet his expression. Were they really going to talk about this now? “Ah. Well that was kind of obvious, wasn’t it? I wouldn’t be able to function if I were a normal human with wings slapped on me.” …Was that wrong? Did he have some odd hope dashed regarding her skeleton of all things? Was he weirdly fascinated about skeletons???

He gave her a concerned, humorless grin. “I know that… But… Ser…”

Seriously? He was weirdly fascinated about skeletons?

Seraphina was unimpressed. “I fail to see how this is important at the moment, Nathaniel.” And right when they got some quality time...

Nathaniel didn’t respond. He looked away, his expression unreadable while he softly wrung his hands in thought. …She never liked when he got quiet like this. It always tugged her heart wrong.

Well, whatever it was, it was certainly worrying him to this point. Might as well hear him out. Sera gave his shoulder a light squeeze in an effort to be consolatory. This usually helped, right?

“… I was being... Harsh. What’s wrong, Liebe?”

Nathaniel hugs an arm around her shoulders, keeping her close by. So it’s a hug that works in this situation. Duly noted. She hugs him back, sweeping a wing over his shoulders.

He hums. “I…I don’t think I could practice on you and your brother with the same confidence as before.” He pauses. “All this time, I’ve been working under the assumption that you were just atypicals... But… No common atypicals have genetic variations that run that deep. They usually follow similar ‘rules’, so to speak.”

He drops his gaze to look at her. “I don't know how I've missed this, but I found something entirely different with a cursory check. Which means that I was operating on you with no clue about your bodily composition. All this time.” …Oh. Nathaniel remains ever pensive, even a little guilty.

…That...

"It also means that you've got a more heavily manipulated variation. At least enough to alter things to this point while still retaining humanoid anatomy." 

“…I see.” She says, hugging him a little tighter. His face softened a bit, which Seraphina took as a win as she considered his words. This was certainly a cause for concern... But… She also knew Nathaniel had a tendency to bear his responsibilities on himself rather harshly. He was probably beating himself up about it even now.

"You couldn't have known, Nathaniel." She says, trying to keep her tone easy.

He exhales. "That's the point."

Sera rests her cheek against his shoulder. “…Well. Even then. We’re alive, aren’t we?” Something told her this wasn’t the best way to lift his spirits. And she was right- he frowned in record time.

“You’re alive, until the next time you two inevitably get yourselves hurt, that is.” Nathaniel muttered. “What would I do then? Improvise if I encountered a new organ? use my imagination?”

“I doubt it’s to the point that I have new-“

“You doubt, but you don’t know.” He looks at her again. "And I don’t either.”

Her face sours at that. Yet another thing prying them away from some rest... Bah.

“…Can we please take a few scans in my office?”

"It's kind of important, Ser. We can cuddle later."

"...You won't let up about this, will you?" She digs her fingers into his shirt in an attempt to coax him to stay and relax. He tragically doesn't cede to the gesture.

Seraphina huffed and kicked away the covers, vaulting off the bed. “Never a dull moment…”

Nathaniel merrily followed suit. “Let's be honest, who’d want a dull life, anyhow?”

---

“You aren’t doing shit to her.” Vincent sneered.

Nathaniel sipped some of his tea. Wow. So much for asking him for reference. He decided to waste his breath a little more. “For the nth time Vincent, I’m trying to see how her anatomy works, and that info would be really useful so I-“

Vincent loudly interrupted him. “So you can what, you lanky fuck? see how different you are? Find excuses to— to break her down? Gut her like a fish?”

Sera walked into the room in some light sportswear. "Vincent, what are you talking about-“

“NO.” He snaps at her, then turns back to Nathaniel. "Fuck you, Sasquatch. You. Aren’t. Doing. Shit. To. Her. I’ll make sure of that. I'll kill you. I swear I will.” Nathaniel kept watching on as he continued the insults. Hum. Sasquatch was a pretty genius remark in hindsight.

Seraphina rolls her eyes. “While I appreciate your sudden and unneeded sense of protection, I’ll remind you that Nathaniel is my partner.” She said. “I don’t need your approval. Stop harassing him.”

Vincent rolled his eyes. “You don’t know— You don’t know this. You say it’s okay but then they—” Seraphina interrupts him."There is no they, Vincent. There’s only one person here that will be doing this, and you’ve known Nathaniel for years-“

“I knew them for my whole life.” Vincent balled his fists until his knuckles popped. “My whole life. They only got worse, their ‘questions' became worse, and they never stopped, even though they knew me. There was always a reason to… To…!” He looks down, making a strangling gesture with his snarled hands, eyes filled with emotions she's never seen him express. He snaps his sights back to Nathaniel, ever hateful. "To RUIN ME."

“So don’t blame me for seeing this as another obvious excuse. That’s what they all say- that— that they need answers, and then they wreck you.” Vincent’s usual rasp of a voice almost seemed shaky for a moment. 

Nathaniel sets his mug down. "I'm not doing any of those things, Vincent."

"YET."

This was new. It was odd to see any sort of empathy displayed by Vincent, especially towards her of all people. Sera didn’t know what to say. Where were his complaints about her? the out of pocket comments? the impromptu call to something she’s inferior for?

…Why did it almost seem like he cared?

---

...Right.

“It should’ve been you." He says between bloodied coughs as she pulled off the last wire relays. He had no more energy to keep fighting, nor stimulants to keep him moving. He sucks in another ragged breath to speak, eyes brimming with pure hatred. "All this time… You got to have everything. Everything, when you should’ve been hacked apart with me. You should've been in hell with me. I wish you were. Then they would have realized you’re nothing special, 02. Nothing worth missing. You’ve always just been a cheap replacement.” 

---

Seraphina scowled. There was no way in hell that this cockroach was going to act chummy with her of all things. That bridge was burned the day they met.

“Look, you—“ Sera started to respond, but was met with Nathaniel’s “cut it out” face. Bother. She crossed her arms and let him handle the rhetoric.

“Alright Vincent, are you really convinced that I’ll hurt your sister somehow?” Nathaniel asked, crossing his arms with an odd, almost knowing glint in his eyes. So he did have a plan... But what was it?

“…There’s always an opportunity. ” He said lowly. If looks could kill...

“Fine, how about you stay in the room, then? You’d be able to see firsthand that it’s nothing to worry about.” Nathaniel gave him a bright smile. It was almost enough to make her forget what he just offered. Seraphina glared at him. “What.”

Vincent eyed him, judging him under criteria she couldn’t guess if she tried. “Alright, Sasquatch.”

WHAT.

"If you do something funny I’m destroying your clinic. Then you.”

Nathaniel didn’t hesitate to reply. “Sounds good.”

Sera gripped her crossed arms while Vincent took a seat on the opposite side of the room. Nathaniel grinned at her, shooting her a goofy two-eyed wink.

“Relax, Ser. It’s only some scans, your privacy won’t be violated if he’s there. I'm also making sure my clinic doesn’t get destroyed.” She hated how casual he sounded about this.

“I’m starting to hate your improvisations.” She grumbled.

“You forget that he lives with us.”

—

Vincent was… Honestly surprised after everything was wrapped up. It was like being shocked— no, wrong word— surprised, but in a good way- he didn’t have the term for that feeling yet.

His idiot knockoff was perfectly fine. Sober. Painless. Not even the slightest bit uncomfortable. Possibly a little awkward since he was there, but he had to be there, otherwise-

…

Otherwise…

…Really, what would that beanpole have done?

Vincent really didn’t know what he was so upset about. He did know Nathaniel for a long while, but... He also didn’t know what separated their coats from his. He wouldn’t risk it either way. Ever since the first day he looked into Sasquatch’s eyes, he knew there was something fucked up underneath.

...It didn't sit right with him.

Hell, he didn’t even have a word for a check this boring. Nice words? Gentle handling? No shoving into scanner machines? no electrocution? No VAST tech? Not even the slightest threat or restraint? As Nathaniel promised, she was okay and unmoved as ever, staring at him with the sort of look that said “I told you so.” What she would never know is that he had no grounds to believe him before this. He’s never seen tests like these before.

It was eventually finished in around three hours time. Nathaniel had made a catalogue of important scans, cross-referencing whatever he found with some basic physical inspection that culminated in checking her range of motion, doing a modest external examination, and being overall professional. Vincent thought that being professional meant being extra good at heartlessness, like knowing how to keep working for hours to the sound of blood-curdling screams. Or making deep, precise cuts even when the subject is moving.

Vincent was certain that Nate was going to pull out earplugs at some point and was ready to wring his neck like a towel.

...

His chest aches.

...No. Everything does.

...

But he didn't.

He didn't do any of those things.

It was there that Vincent realized another thing. If this was all Sasquatch needed to piece together what was going on inside of her, then why did they do so many procedures to him under the pretense of doing the same? He expected force, vivisection, grueling trials, and humiliation. He expected to see suffering, gritted teeth, and uncaring faces. But none of that was supposed to happen. Only a light exam with happy words, full consent, and a sunlit room.

Vincent felt something overwhelming for a moment- the sort of emotion he would’ve immediately attributed to harrowing jealousy. Envy so destructive, so fierce that it eats him from within. But no, now he finally found the word for it. The word he never understood how to convey, since he felt it all the time and no one would listen.

Vincent felt hurt; unbelievably so.

Was he just dealt a shit hand at every turn in life? Why couldn’t he have nice things? Why was everything so fucked for him from day one?

Why could no one care?

—

He realized at that moment, that everything he was forced to learn was a mere casualty.

And now... He is left with... Nothing.

Seraphina stepped out of the scanner’s range and walked up to him. “See, Vincent? There was nothing you needed to break into histrionics about. I’m fi-“ “Shut up.” He cut her off and shoved a data-port into Nathaniel’s hand. “You’ll find a better use for this.”

Nathaniel briefly looked it over. “What is-“

“You two proved me wrong. Good. I’m out, now.”

Before Nathaniel could even call for him, Vincent was already out of the circular window and speeding between the clouds. A trail of mist was left in his wake until his silhouette was too far to be seen.

Seraphina took the port from Nathan’s hands and observed; on it was a familiar logo- Venus Inc.

The organization that had apparently made them both. Whose existence Vincent loathed acknowledging, even in passing. The ones that nearly got ahold of her too, had she not been taken into hero work.

“Nathaniel.”

Nathan looked back at her, still looking out the window. “Yes?”

“Your insistence on him being there… You knew there was substance to his fear, didn’t you?”

“…More than you would think.” There was something grim about the look in his eyes. She already knew it meant nothing good.

Sera held his gaze for a moment, then pocketed the port herself. She would have to look into this later. But for now…

She rubbed Nathaniel’s back a little, offering a small smile. “Tell me what you learned from these scans of yours.”

The wave of darkness lightened up a little, and he smiled back. “Well… It’s… I can’t say I know everything yet, but for one your arterial mapping is entirely different.”

Oh.

Oh no. She legitimately could not care less.

He was bursting at the seams to speak about it though. His eyes were twinkling about the wondrous joys of… Anatomical function…?

…Perhaps it would benefit from a tactical perspective…

“Arteries? Do tell.”

"See, when we were still getting to know each other, I patched you up under the assumption that you were an atypical or something of that nature-“ He starts, activating the hologram projector in the ceiling.

“Yes, you’ve said that.” She says, eyeing some of the scan results that come out.

...Hm. Maybe it was a little interesting.

Nathaniel smiles at something, and starts to gesture towards some of the stills. “But in truth-"

[junker-town]

Matt LaFleur’s Packers offense sure looks a lot like Mike McCarthy’s

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Barring a handful of big plays, the 2019 Packers offense looks pretty familiar.

Matt LaFleur rode a rising tide of spread offense awareness to go from Falcons quarterbacks coach to Packers head coach in just three years. The 39-year-old earned high marks for rehabbing the Rams working under Sean McVay, and while a 2018 spent as Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator didn’t yield many on-field accolades, it was still enough to convince Green Bay he was the man who could turn a proud franchise’s flagging fortunes around.

But through two games, his fresh start for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense looks very familiar.

Barring a handful of big plays, LaFleur has trended more closely to Tennessee’s staid offense than the high-powered fireworks championed by McVay. Green Bay’s 4.3 yards per play is the third-lowest mark in the league, beating out only the lowly Jets and Dolphins — one team that’s already onto its third starting quarterback of the season and another that’s devolved into a black hole of despair. While some of those struggles can be attributed to a pair of tough defensive matchups to start the season, it’s clear these Packers aren’t yet the offensive juggernaut they were hoping to be after making a major coaching change.

What are the Packers doing right, and is it sustainable?

LaFleur’s spread offense works in fits and starts with a legendary quarterback like Rodgers behind center and a deep cast of solid young wideouts. The rookie coach’s ability to use every yard of the field has created the single-coverage opportunities his QB understands how to exploit. That was evident in the season opener when Rodgers leveled up to find Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a big gain against Chicago.

.@AaronRodgers12 ➡️ @MVS__11 47 yards to help set up the #Packers TD! #GBvsCHI #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/8fCTMXDEhF

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 6, 2019

Or when he hit Geronimo Allison with an absolute dart in the end zone to take a 14-0 lead against the Vikings in Week 2:

oooooh Geronimo Allison got UP for this one pic.twitter.com/cHwQJzh2Ji

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 15, 2019

There’s nothing complicated about either of these plays, which are arguably the two most meaningful throws of Rodgers’ 2019 to date. The Valdes-Scantling completion was a function of sending two receivers deep while leaving three targets to spread the field with short routes near or behind the line of scrimmage. The most notable of these is top target Davante Adams, who faked an end-around before splitting to his left for a safety valve screen. The over-the-top safety, backup Deon Bush, got caught watching and stuck in no-man’s land:

This allowed the second-year wideout to get inside leverage in single coverage. Seconds later, he’d be responsible for 47 yards — Green Bay’s biggest gain of the season so far.

One week later, Allison faked an out route before leaning back inside on his touchdown catch, creating space back toward the goal post for Rodgers to exploit. The Vikings should have had safety help there to shut that window. Instead Jake Kumerow, working in from the sideline, somehow drew three defenders to his short crossing route — including linebacker Eric Kendricks.

Kendricks’ commitment to that short route meant safety Anthony Harris had to pick up Jimmy Graham, who is an even bigger red zone threat than Allison. Rodgers had his pick of single coverage in the end zone from 12 yards out, and Allison — covered by rookie corner Nate Meadors — was his man.

The good news is these lineups are confusing defenses and creating gaps. They’re just not especially complex, which is why Green Bay has had trouble stringing these kinds of plays together over the course of a full game. If linebackers and safeties don’t wind up covering the wrong guy, the opportunity isn’t there, forcing Rodgers into checkdown situations. Both the Bears and Vikings caught wise to this, limiting the Packers’ big plays and holding them to only three second half points through two games.

Here, LaFleur tried to spread the field by motioning fullback Dan Vitale out of the backfield and balancing off two deep routes with two intermediate ones. Minnesota didn’t bite, even with a five-man pass rush. This left no opportunities for Rodgers as his pocket disintegrated.

Green Bay can still make that work. The Packers have receivers capable of beating coverage with clean routes and a quarterback capable of withstanding and/or escaping a pass rush to get the ball to them:

The issue is that this doesn’t leave Green Bay looking all that different than it did under former coach Mike McCarthy. Rodgers may be reading a new playlist off his wristband in the huddle, but his execution on the field shares a whole bunch of similarities with his past decade in green and gold. That was a scheme Rodgers grew more and more frustrated with as time went on and ultimately pushed the Packers out of the playoffs and McCarthy out of Wisconsin.

This is all familiar in Green Bay

Rodgers is throwing the ball less in 2019 than 2018, which is understandable given the fact his team has led for basically seven of its eight quarters of football so far. He’s also getting sacked more, thanks to an uncharacteristically bad start to the season from All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari (two blown blocks, two holding penalties so far).

Despite the added pressure that’s driven his sack rate from 7.6 percent to 9.9, Rodgers is still able to use his athleticism to buy time; his 3.1 seconds per pass average is the second-highest mark in the league. But he’s not using that time to allow plays to develop downfield. Per Sports Information Systems, his average throw only covers 7.6 yards through the air, down from 8.1 in 2018 and roughly in line with the 7.8 figure he averaged over the last four years of the McCarthy era.

LaFleur was brought in as a tool to open up a stale offense that had turned an aging MVP into a merely good quarterback. Through two weeks, he’s shown flashes of the strategic skill that made him a hot commodity on the coaching market, but he has yet to fundamentally change the Packers’ offense for the better in a meaningful, consistent way.

He rode into town with new wave coaching credentials in a league that’s beginning to wise up to the trends that made the Rams and Chiefs look so unbeatable. And while he came to Wisconsin as someone who can embrace the air raid-ish qualities that have taken over the NFL, he also came in with a reputation for leaving his quarterbacks vulnerable; in his lone season calling plays in Nashville, Titans quarterbacks were sacked on nearly 10 percent of their dropbacks.

Green Bay’s upgraded defense makes that less of a concern. Winning helps mask the team’s relative, uh, boringness. It also gives him some more runway to design the schemes needed to confuse secondaries and open the gaps players like Adams, Valdes-Scantling, and Allison have exploited to start the season.

The Packers should get better against softer defenses — the Bears and Vikings ranked second and fourth, respectively, in defensive efficiency last season — but they’ll also face much better offenses than ones led by Mitchell Trubisky and Kirk Cousins. At some point, Rodgers is going to have to dig deep into his reserve of amazing plays to outshoot another team in the race to the postseason.

It’s LaFleur’s job to build the windows Rodgers can force open with his arm. So far, he’s shown he’s still got work to do.