#the tech was behind yet the designers put a lot more work into it

[angieschiffahoi]

after a multiple day marathon i finally finshed for the first time the extended edition of lotr

i am not ok

[kelnexia]

New character reveal!

This is actually an old character I've had for a while but just didn't like the previous design of... Thankfully I was able to score an trade with @hdra77 .

1000CE is an old militaristic ancestor of the iterators, created before the discovery of void fluid, and when the field of bio-engineering was still in it's earlier phases. More lore is below the cut...

1000 Crimson Embers is not a true iterator – instead being an old militaristic ancestor. She was originally built in a time of war just before the discovery of void fluid. She was one of the first artificial intelligence to use a combination of both biological and mechanical systems. Although the technology used in her creation was considerably more primitive than what’s found in the iterators we know and love today. But despite the difference in technology – a lot of the basic concepts and functionality in her design remains largely the same;

The layout of her structure was still fairly large, although not nearly as big as an iterator, and was built as an underground bunker. But the main similarity was how her mind was constructed… Similarly to how iterators in my head cannon have their personalty core and spiritual anchor located within their puppet – 1000 Crimson Embers has a standard brain and supporting set of organs acting as her center of consciousness within her puppet. Her puppet is also much larger than that of an iterator – being the height of an adult ancient instead of that of a child. The exterior of her puppet consists of hard metal plates and mechanical components. Her clothing is also built into her puppet. 1000 Crimson Embers doesn't utilized neuron flies in her structure, as they had yet to be invented by the time she was built – instead she’s outsourcing her cognitive processing to a massive array of inorganic server towers.

1000 Crimson Ember’s purpose was to design and create weapons, as well as to formulate strategies. She was loyal and hard working at the start, showing no serous signs of defiance despite her instinctual taboos being primitive and largely ineffective… That was until after the dawn of the void fluid revolution… With the ancients uniting under the common goal of ascension – the world entered a lasting era of peace – deeming 1000 Crimson Ember’s original purpose obsolete. However the ancients were inclined to keep her online for just awhile longer, as they still had some use for her. They tasked her in helping to create her own undoing – the iterators. She wasn’t a fool though, she knew what they were doing… They were building her replacement and trying to get her to help them in her own downfall! She lashed out in a violent fit of rage – ‘How dare they just carelessly replace her like this after all the thankless work she’s done for them!’ She drove them out of her facility by turning her security systems against them, killing many in her fit of rage.

But the ancients still needed the schematics and research for iterator tech 1000 Crimson Embers had already started work on before she had realized their true intentions behind it. So they struck a deal with her. They would upgrade her with the new iterator technology if she let them back in and got back to work for them. 1000CE reluctantly excepted the deal. But when the work was complete, and the time for her upgrades had come... They put her in stasis for the procedure… But they never kept their end of deal. They simply walked away and left her slumbering form to collect dust.

She awakened again many years after… To the sight of a group of scavengers that had broken in and accidentally reactivated her while attempting to gather scrap. The first thing she did upon seeing the invading creatures that were so rudely ripping her apart – was to reactivate the security system and kill every last one of them. However the damage had already been done. Upon running a system diagnostics, she found that her defenses had been breached, much of her facility has been flooded, and she’s all round in a severe state of disrepair. She would need to do something about that, and fast… Her weather systems were picking up on a massive encroaching storm.

Ultimately she would find her structure too damaged to sustain for much longer… She would end up using the freedom her weaker taboos and more self-significant puppet gives her to take herself off the strings, to at least save her core from the impending decay and flooding of her structure. But the world she would step out into would be very different from what she’s used too… Her home was once an arid region – but now it’s been turned into a tropics by the increased rainfall that has taken over the world and changed it the point of being near unrecognizable from what it once was.

[hugmekenobi]

Heal

A Bad Batch Post S3 Oneshot

Gif by @barissoffee

Hunter x femaleJedi!reader

Summary: Shaking the effects of Tantiss is easier said than done

Warnings: Literally one use of (Y/N), swearing, hints of Tech/Phee, references to past pain and torture, angst, hurt/comfort, nightmares and trouble sleeping, descriptions of illness (headaches), reader is hard on herself, suggestive dialogue, light PDA (kissing, teasing touches), mentions of food, me making up what everyone is up to on Pabu, fluff and happy ending

Masterlist for S1, S2 and S3

Word Count: 7.2K

Rating: 18+

Author's note: Okay, not gonna lie, I struggled with this one. It was a last minute idea as I was rewatching and writing the final few episodes of season 3 but it worked and felt a lot better in my head and when it came to writing, my brain was not my friend lol. I hope it's still enjoyable! The next oneshot is the story I've had planned for months so that should be a smoother process haha

It had been a few weeks since you’d all taken up official residence in Pabu.

Shep’s offer of setting up homes for you all stayed true.

You and Hunter had been put in a hut perfectly designed for the two of you that was a short walk away from the water and there was even a spare room for Omega who alternated between sleeping in your home and the home Tech, Crosshair and Wrecker all shared.

The three other clones may have been grouped together but there was plenty of room, and not a lot of time was spent indoors anyway.

Wrecker had taken to fishing like, well, like a fish to water.

Crosshair did a bit of everything, helping out with tasks of whoever needed assistance but he mainly he kept up with practicing shooting with his left hand. He wanted the practice, and he genuinely enjoyed it. He didn’t miss being a soldier anymore but that didn’t mean he had to renege on his skills.

Tech spent much of his time with Phee or assisting Shep in rebuilding parts of Pabu that still needed it and upgrading equipment.  

Omega often kept close company with Lyana and the other young reg clones or she went off with Tech to plan out a potential search for lost or salvageable pieces of the Marauder- the two of them had dreams of rebuilding new a ship with as many pieces of their old home as possible. It was yet to be undertaken but the vision was there.

The task of reuniting the children from Tantiss with their families had been successful but with that final mission complete, you and Hunter were also in the same boat as Crosshair and still yet to find your official niche on island. For now, you both were just relishing in the peace and each other’s company.

One thing you had managed to achieve was finding a way to finally get in touch with Lyra again, who- despite being filled in on everything that had happened since you parted ways on Christophsis- still managed to scold you for the lack of communication. But after hearing you all were alive and settled, she’d sent you all packages of more suitable island clothes with promises to visit soon.

Everything was coming together and so you were feeling one with the island life.

However, life here was not without its challenges.

The impact and aftermath of Tantiss remained a constant shadow that would still find ways to rear its ugly head. Something you and Hunter in particular found yourselves dealing with.

--

“I figured we could have the party in the next couple of weeks right here in the colonnade and, I don’t know, you could slip away or…” Shep trailed off as he saw the way Hunter’s brow furrowed in pain.

“Uh huh.” Hunter agreed distantly. He didn’t want to ignore Shep, especially when he was doing him the favour, but fuck had the sun always been this bright? The blinding pain behind his eyes and throbbing in his skull was getting harder to dismiss.  

You were a casual observer and listener to the conversation between the young reg clones and the adult clones that had remained on the island- Deke, Stak and Mox had no shortage of questions for them. But you sensed a rising discomfort and then you caught the way Hunter kept pinching the bridge of his nose and squinting to get away from the glare of the warm sun. “Excuse me.” You politely removed yourself from the conversation and hurriedly walked over to where Shep and Hunter were conversing. “Shep, I’m sorry to interrupt but do you mind if I steal him away for a moment?”

“Not at all.” Shep bid the two of you farewell with a smile.

You lightly rested a hand on his upper arm. “Hunter? Another flare up?” You figured, keeping your worried voice quiet.

Hunter just about managed a nod and said through gritted teeth, “But I can wait it out. Shep-”

He would attempt to come up with an excuse every time and every time you wouldn’t even entertain it. “Come on.” You carefully wrapped an arm around him and guided him back home.

--

You opened the door and carried on through to the bedroom. You gently prompted him to sit on the bed as you knelt down and took his shoes off before you shut the bedroom window to cancel out the noise outside and closed the blinds to keep the sunlight out. You kept your voice low and monotone as you instructed him, “Lie down.”

Hunter did as you said and rested on his back.

The routine was second nature to you. He hadn’t had headaches like this for a while but since Tantiss and because of what he’d suffered there, they’d become more frequent. His senses hadn’t quite readjusted back to what they used to be.

You moved silently throughout the house as you went to the freezer and came back with the cold compress you stored specifically for these moments and placed it over his eyes. “I’ll just be in the living room if you need anything. Try to sleep.” You whispered caringly before you lightly squeezed his hand and made to leave. However, you had barely stepped away from the bed when Hunter’s hand caught your wrist.

“Stay.” He requested through a wince.

“I don’t want to overwhelm you.” You cautioned quietly. You had remained a couple times before, but it had never been a certainty that he wanted you to stay when he was going through this. You always waited for him to give the okay.

“You can’t.” He murmured. He needed you here to ground him in a way the usual methods could never do.

You removed your own shoes and supported his back as you sat him up and slotted yourself behind him.

Hunter rested his head against your chest.

You readjusted the compress slightly once you were both in a comfortable position. “This okay?” You asked as you softly massaged each of his temples.

Hunter let out a tranquil sigh and he could already feel the discomfort receding. You always knew just what it was he needed from you in these moments. “Perfect.”

--

Hunter wasn’t the only one still feeling the lingering toil of Tantiss. Your screams of terror and the way you thrashed next to him woke him up. He called your name and shook your arm to wake you up. “Hey, hey. Easy, easy. It’s alright.” He assured you as he saw your eyes widen in fear.

You shot awake and hastily sat up, your breathing hard and uneven.

“You’re okay. I’m here.” Hunter whispered soothingly as he sat up alongside you.

You closed your eyes and let his voice be the only thing you focused on.

“You’re alright. It was a bad dream.”

Right yes, a bad dream.

“Hold on.” Hunter pressed his lips to your clothed shoulder before he got out of bed and ran a cloth under some cold water.

You worked on getting your breathing back under control. You ran a hand over your face and felt the beads of sweat dripping down your temples and down your neck and back. Your sleep top was sticking to you uncomfortably. But you forced yourself to concentrate on anything that didn’t remind you of the nightmare you’d just escaped. You took in your secure and familiar surroundings of your bedroom to calm yourself down. You weren’t back there. You were on Pabu with Hunter. You were safe here.  

Hunter slid back in bed beside you. “Arms up.” He prompted delicately. When you did that, he carefully removed your sweat soaked top and tossed it to the side of the bed– he’d deal with it in the morning- and placed the cool cloth to the back of your neck and spine before he tenderly dabbed at your temples. He then put a replacement top back over your head and continued to press the flannel around your forehead and neck.

“I’m sorry.” You rasped as you hid your face in your palms in embarrassment. You hated this. He would already have tough days and you couldn’t even offer him any relief in the evenings. The two of you had gotten into a rather unfortunate ritual where you would comfort him during the day and then the roles would switch as soon as night fell.

“You’ve nothing to be sorry for.” Hunter reassured you lovingly. He placed the cloth on the bedside table and rubbed his hand up and down your back to ease away the lingering tension and to help settle you back down. “Same one?” He guessed.

You nodded but kept your face hidden from him. “I’m just standing there. I’m watching him hurt you over and over again and I’m not doing anything to stop it.” You said, your voice cracking with each word. “Then he goes to the rest of you- to Omega. I’m completely frozen and all I can do is watch you all writhe in pain. I keep fighting to move but nothing happens. I’m just so useless and I stand by and let it happen. You’re crying out for help, and I just stand there.” You whispered with plenty of self-loathing behind your words.

Hunter shushed you consolingly. “But that’s not what happened. It’s just the nightmare talking.”

“Is it? Because it feels an awful lot like that’s what I did.” You said with self-directed disgust.

““You didn’t do nothing. You didn’t give up. You did what you thought you needed to do to get us out of there alive.” Hunter reminded you.

“Imprisoned.” You corrected.

“Alive.” Hunter countered.

You knew there was no sense in arguing with him over it. “I should be over this by now. I coped after Christophsis. I don’t know why this is sticking with me so much.” You said critically instead.

Hunter was all too familiar with this line of argument. As soon as you admitted to the nightmare and the fear it brought, you started looking for ways to berate yourself for feeling the way you were. “You couldn’t process Christophsis on your own time. You were in a position where you were forced to carry on. And I don’t think going through and being impacted by torture has a time requirement.”

You finally half-turned to face him. “Do you really believe that?”

The doubt in your voice made his throat constrict and chest tighten. “I know it.”

“But dealing with this is annoying.” You mumbled self-consciously and you averted your gaze once more.

“Do you get annoyed when you’ve needed to help me?”

You lifted your eyes back to him. “No, of course not.”

“Exactly. You help me through those episodes. Why do you think I’d treat you any differently?” He rubbed his thumb along your cheekbone. “You still need to give yourself the same treatment you give other people.” He said caringly.

You leaned your head against Hunter’s shoulder and just gave a series of reluctant but agreeable noises to signal your acceptance of his statement.

“You’re talking to me though. That counts for something.” Hunter praised, angling his head so he could kiss your forehead.

“Yeah, I’m a work in progress.” You managed to say with some light-heartedness before your voice went solemn again. “Just don’t give up on me… please.”

“Never.” Hunter promised with steadfast seriousness.

Your eyes flickered shut and you snuggled closer to him as he ran his hand up and down your arm in soft, delicate patterns.

“Want to sleeping try again?” He suggested after he felt your breathing and pulse settle back down.

You gulped but agreed to give sleep another go. “Okay.” You laid back down readjusted the covers you had kicked off in your sleep-panicked state. You breathed deeply as you closed your eyes and willed yourself to at least get a couple uninterrupted hours. But the darker part of your nightmare, the part you couldn’t vocalise, lingered with you and you didn’t know how to get past it.

Hunter wrapped his arm around your side and pulled your back tight to his chest, but despite all you opened up about, he knew you were holding something back. It was the same every night and he knew sleep would continue to elude you.

--

This new day was nearly over. Dusk had come and gone but the concept of night and sleep filled you with a deep anxiety. You needed to clear your head before you even thought about winding down for the night. “I’m going for a walk; I’ll be back soon.” You said, giving Hunter a chaste kiss to his lips before you exited your home.

Hunter gave you a slight smile as you parted from him, and he could only watch you leave. He had never felt so helpless.

He knew he couldn’t quite help you in the way you needed but there might be someone else who could.

--

“Hey there, Hunter.” Phee greeted cheerily as she opened the door to greet the clone.

“I’m not interrupting anything am I?” Hunter asked apologetically.

Phee rolled her eyes, “Pfftt no way. He’s been at this for hours, if you can get his attention onto something else, be my guest.”  She led him through to the living room.

Tech grunted his greeting as he sought out the tool that he needed for the task he was completing for Shep. The island had a healer- Dalia, but she mainly operated out of her home because, until recently, that suited just fine. But when the attack on Pabu occurred, Shep and Dalia had found themselves ill-prepared for accommodating the seriousness of the injuries that followed so Tech was assisting in expanding and updating her equipment and resources. AZ was already a big help with that, but more was needing done. It was a longer but important project that Tech was taking very seriously.

 “Sorry about the mess.” Phee said with an annoyed yet affectionate stare in Tech’s direction, but she was not surprised when the clone did not appear to even register that she’d spoken. She had stopped trying to get Tech to tidy as he went about altering this latest piece of machinery since he’d insistently claimed there was an order to the chaos around him. The entire area in which he was working was covered with random tools and intricate pieces of machinery. Phee struggled to see how this all equalled a system since all she saw was an array random pieces of metal taking up her living room floor. It didn’t truly bother her though; it was just another quirk she was fond off. Her appreciation for his intelligence and passion outweighed a little untidiness.

“Don’t worry, it’s something I’m very used to.” Hunter said lightly as he carefully stepped over some discarded screws.

“Sit down.” Phee encouraged, gesturing to a spare chair as she took a seat on the couch across from where Tech was working in the middle of the floor. But when Hunter made no move to do so, Phee properly looked at him and she noticed the distant and slightly nervous expression Hunter donned. “Everything alright?”

“I need your help, Tech.” Hunter said in answer.

Tech spoke for the first time since Hunter arrived as he found the spanner he needed, “I’m not yet finished with this. Once I’m done-”

“I don’t need you to fix anything, Tech. It’s about (Y/N). She’s struggling right now and-”

“Well, we know that she has a habit of taking things on by herself. A habit both of you have shared for quite a while.” Tech said plainly, not taking his eyes off the medical equipment he was fixing up. “I wouldn’t take her refusal or dismissals personally.”

Hunter bit back his frustrated huff. He knew attempting to get his brother’s focus when he was so absorbed by a project was always going to be challenging. He went to speak again but Phee beat him to it.

Enough was enough. Phee firmly nudged Tech’s good thigh with her boot, “Would you stop playing around with that and actually pay attention to what he has to say?”

Tech snapped out of his intense concentration. “Right, yes. Sorry, Hunter.” He started officially packing up. Once he was done, he gave his brother his full attention and it was then that he saw the genuine worry on Hunter’s face which told him it was more important than any mechanical repair. “What’s going on with her?”

“She keeps having nightmares from her capture on Tantiss. I can’t remember the last time she slept through the night.” Hunter took a ragged breath. “And it’s not like she’s keeping them to herself and that’s why they’re so bad. She’s doing everything we’ve worked on. She talks to me; she lets me in and help her, but I know there’s something else she’s keeping hidden. And it’s because she knows I can’t offer her the right words, or she wants to protect me from whatever it is she’s not telling me. I’m stuck and she’s not getting any better and I can’t offer her anything more than what I’m currently doing.”

“So, how exactly can I help?” Tech asked, rather puzzled as to why his brother had come to him with this dilemma. He wasn’t exactly known for providing helpful assistance for this type of issue. It wasn’t that he never wanted to, it just always didn’t come easily to him and usually you and Hunter would always be able to work through it yourselves.

Hunter began tentatively, “Y-your experiences were- were similar. I’d thought about Crosshair but what he went through was a bit different and from what you’ve told us, it sounds closer to what she’s been through. I hate to ask it of you but-”

“Where is she?” Tech asked, getting to his feet.

“If you’re not comfortable doing this I understand. It’s a lot to talk about and-”

“Hunter, just tell me where she is.” Tech interrupted with a firm reassurance to show that he truly didn’t mind.

“Down by the shore.” Hunter told him through a grateful sigh.  

Tech nodded and got ready to leave for the beach.

--

You breathed in the fresh and clean sea air, a gentle breeze wafted through your hair. The moonlight cast the water and sand in a luminous white glow. It offered you a peace you were yet to find in your own mind. The faint but demanding whines of the hound you’d acquired on your walk down had you smiling to yourself as you focused on the sounds of the waves lapping on the shore.

Tech saw you seated on the sand, Batcher waiting for you to throw a stick for her. “Did you know that gravity and the gravitational pull of the moon creates a phenomenon called tidal force, which is what causes the ocean tides to change?”

“I mean… I knew it was something like that.” You straightened your shoulders and managed a tight smile in his direction. “Hey, Tech.” You hoped you didn’t sound as exhausted as you felt.

Tech picked up on the heaviness in your voice despite your attempts to conceal it. “Also, did you know that water absorbs the red light of the colour spectrum, leaving the blue for us to see.” He added as he threw the stick for the hound.

You hummed out your acceptance of the fact as a reply whilst Batcher returned the stick but- after greeting Tech- decided she’d had enough and curled up beside you. “You didn’t come here to share ocean facts, Tech.” You said after a moment. “What’s going on?”

“You’re right. I have another purpose in joining you.” Tech admitted as he sat down on your other side.

“Which is?” You asked leadingly.

“Hunter asked me to. He’s worried about you.” He gave you a chance to speak but you offered nothing, so he carried on, “From what I hear, you’re having difficulty sleeping due to nightmares. They are based around your confinement on Tantiss?”

You cleared your throat to buy yourself some time before you answered, “Yeah.” You brought your knees to your chest.

“Can you tell me more? Whatever you’re comfortable sharing is fine.”

You breathed deeply and peered up at the starry night sky. “Well, you know about Christophsis.”

Tech nodded. That was something he’d been told about on the shuttle back.

“Tantiss… Tantiss was different. I took beatings but they were a treat compared to that fucking droid. Hemlock did a much better job of getting the most out of that damn serum. It got harder and harder to fight it. He knew exactly what buttons to push.”

“I’m afraid I had a helping hand in that.” Tech said sheepishly.

You placed your hand on his shoulder. “I don’t blame you, Tech. Not at all.” You reassured him earnestly.

“Regardless, his methods would’ve been that effective because I told him what would work.”

You patted his shoulder to indicate that you really didn’t hold any of that period against him before you removed it and placed it back across your bent legs. You surprisingly found that you kept wanting to talk so you carried on, “I’d never be able to ignore him, he’d always be able to get in my head so, instead, I’d would look for things to take me out of it.”

“A reasonable response.” Tech agreed. The times when he’d resisted, he’d acted similarly.

You felt irritation rise in you. You’d been weak, how could he not see that? “He told me you were alive, and I used it as a way to keep pushing back against him. Omega didn’t doubt it and she only heard him say it once.”

Hunter had warned him about this before he’d left. He expected you to say things designed to make him reprimand you instead of sympathising with you. The part of ‘no emotion’ element of the Jedi Code was deeply engrained in you. Despite your affinity for handling attachment and genuine love for them, when it came to your own emotions, you had gotten a bit too good at supressing or dismissing them. “Years fighting in a war has a way of creating a certain cynicism- or realism- depending on your point of view. It helps with survival and enduring each battle. I may have gotten out of it but even I have to admit that the odds were slim. I called out the plan. I knew what I was doing, I didn’t expect to live, and I didn’t expect you all to assume that I had.” Tech easily explained away the argument. “I’m grateful for Omega’s optimism and hope- it is a wonderful quality of hers and it got me out of there and brought me back to you all-, but I never expected you to believe I lived.”

You couldn’t accept the fact that the people around you were okay with how you’d acted. Every night was a painful reminder of how you’d failed them. “What I don’t understand is why Tantiss is still affecting me in this way. I got over Christophsis just fine.”

“No, you didn’t process Christophsis. You were thrown into mission after mission and were left with no choice but to keep going. It is highly plausible that Hemlock’s own similar torture was harder to get through because it was a reminder of a traumatic time that you’d already experienced but not healed from. Plus, I don’t believe feeling the effects of torture has a time requirement.”

You sighed heavily, “You’re the second person to tell me all that.”

“Does that not tell you something?” Tech prodded but he did it gently.

“I guess.” You said through a weary sigh as you ran your hands through the sand to distract yourself. “I handed myself over to Hemlock though. I gave up.”

“The guilt you’re experiencing over agreeing to Hemlock’s terms is natural. You-”

“It wasn’t guilt. Not wholly.” You said, your voice so quiet it barely registered over the rhythmic lull of the waves.

Tech glanced at you in surprise, but you were keeping your head down, stroking Batcher’s snout- the dog seemed to sense your distress and had nuzzled closer to you. He allowed the silence to grow as he patiently awaited further explanation from you.  

You swallowed thickly as you went to speak again. “I was relieved.” You admitted, it was the first time you’d ever said the words out loud, and you instantly wished you could take them back. You wrapped your arms around yourself as you awaited the disappointed and shameful remarks from Tech.

“What were you relieved about?” Tech asked calmly.

That hadn’t been the response you were expecting. “Um-” You searched for the words to answer him. “When I was-” You broke off and started again and you found yourself being more honest than you’d anticipated. “When I was in that training room watching Hunter be tortured and I heard Hemlock say that he was going to do the same conditioning to Crosshair again and to Wrecker too… I gave him what he wanted. Throughout my time there, he wanted me to join him and that’s what I was prepared to do. But as I said it, there was a sense of relief. Finally, I could stop fighting him. The torture he put me through would end. And in the dream- nightmare- I keep having, as much as I hate what’s happening, part of why I can’t move to help any of you is because I’m just relived it isn’t me.” You visibly tensed as you finished speaking. Saying that last part out loud caused you physical pain and your stomach churned nervously as you waited for judgement. There had been a reason you couldn’t share this with Hunter. It sounded so selfish, so pathetic.

“I understand that.”

You angled your head to face him. It was your turn to wait for him to talk.

Tech took a grounding breath before he elaborated, “In my time imprisoned there, Hemlock wanted to know all he could about you all. He knew there would be a time where he’d have to face you all again. I didn’t quite experience the same beatings you took; it was always psychological. But whenever I showed willing to give him information, all I felt in that moment was a profound relief that the torment and pain would end. Granted, that swiftly became guilt as soon as he left but I couldn’t deny the respite those few minutes of me telling him about you all gave me. Now, did you only feel relief at it being over? Or was it relief that you could join him and do his bidding?”

You thought back to that time and realised what he was getting at. “No, it was because I knew if I gave him what he wanted, then at least they wouldn’t have to go through any more agony. At the time, imprisonment felt like the better option than becoming one of his operatives and experiencing that level of hurt.”

“Precisely. Your sleep is being haunted by the worst outcome. It’s praying on the flash of relief you felt and twisting it into something more than what it was. If you accept what happened and stop fighting it, it loses its power. You didn’t do anything wrong, you acted how you needed to. The only person that has the power to blame you is yourself. No one here does, sometimes it just helps to hear it out loud once in a while and it’s true. You resisted him for as long as you physically could. Those circumstances would’ve cracked anyone.”

You looked at him thoughtfully. “Is that how you did it?” You asked quietly.

“Well, I didn’t. Not always.” Tech reminded you, assuming you were referring to how he resisted Hemlock’s torment.

“No.” You released another deep sigh. “You seem to have settled here. You’re coping with it, and you were there for a long time.”

“I was in hell on Tantiss but not so much anymore. Being reunited with you all has really helped. Though I think if I had to watch any of them get hurt the way you had to, it would be different.” As he spoke, Tech realised why Hunter had come to him for this. He was sharing this part of him with you because he knew you were the only one that would truly get it. There was no worry of judgement, no worries of saying something too jarring. You would understand him just as he understood you. “I’ve accepted what happened to me and how I reacted to it but you’re the only one that knows those particular details of my experience. Phee and my brothers do not. Family helps with some of the burden but until you’ve had the unfortunate time of living it, their support can only do so much. We need each other it would seem.” Tech said with a kind look in your direction.

You widened your eyes at his openness. You were incredibly touched by that, and you didn’t take the lightly. “Thank you, Tech.”

“You asked a question, I merely answered.”

You shot him a look, “That’s not the only thing I’m thanking you for.” After speaking to him and fully unburdening yourself to someone who could only understand where you were coming from without the worry of saying the wrong thing or being too much, you felt like a weight had been lifted off your chest. You weren’t plagued by all the horrible and conflicting feelings that had followed you since Tantiss. You could breathe. You were free. You gently squeezed his hand as you said, “Thank you for what you’ve done tonight. For all of it.”

Tech shrugged off the thanks but smiled at you all the same. “We’re family, it’s what we do.”

--

You walked through the door to your home and took your shoes off.

Hunter walked out of the bedroom as he heard you come through the door. “Hey, how was your walk?”

You didn’t answer immediately. Instead, you just drank him in. You took in the way he leaned against the doorway, the book he was reading dangling from his hand. The way the soft linens of his sleep clothes framed his body. The way he’d still kept and worn the necklace you’d given him all that time ago. And the way he was looking at you with such deep care and affection, it made your heart clench and emotions clog up in your throat- you didn’t trust yourself to speak.

Hunter took your silence for upset. “I had to tell him. I thought-” But he didn’t get to finish his sentence as you strode towards him and embraced him.

You hugged him tightly. “Thank you.” You whispered.

Dropping his book and wrapping his arms around you instantly, Hunter rested his cheek on top of your head. He didn’t need or expect you to share the details of the conversation with Tech, he’d realised that you needed a different kind of comfort and that was okay. All that mattered to him was that it helped you.

You let the warmth of his soothing hold flow through your body, and you kept your voice hushed as you said, “I want you to know that it’s not that I didn’t want to tell you it all.”

“I know.” Hunter replied softly as he caringly caressed your back. He would not break away until you wanted to.

You pressed your face into the crook of his shoulder. Even though he had sent Tech your way, you didn’t want him to feel like he’d let you down or anything along that vein. “You did everything right. I needed you there… I still need you there. I can’t get through it without you but…” The words to describe just what it was Tech gifted you got lost and you frantically searched for them so he would know why you hadn’t just come to him with it.

The last thing Hunter needed or wanted was you feeling like you had to reassure him on the issue. “Sweetheart, all I wanted was for this to get easier for you. I know that there are emotions and parts of that experience on Tantiss that I will never fully understand- as much as that kills me, I wish none of it had happened to you or Tech in the first place but that doesn’t change the fact that it did. You needed more than a shoulder to lean on, and if Tech gave you that, then that’s all that matters to me. I won’t stop being there, whatever it is you need, I’m here.”

The wave of emotion came rushing back and tears threatened to spill from your eyes, and you found yourself pressing yourself tighter to him still so there were absolutely no gaps between you. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”

“I love you, giving up is never an option.” Hunter murmured as he kissed the crown of your head.

“I love you too.” You croaked as you fought through the lump in your throat.

You stayed like that for a couple more minutes before you finally pulled away.

Hunter wiped away a few stray tears that had escaped your eyes. “Fancy an early night?”

“Yeah.” You said through a deep exhale as the exhaustion you’d been fighting with came crashing into you. “That sounds good.”

--

3 weeks later.

“How’s your pain? Anymore headaches?” You asked Hunter as the two of you wandered arm in arm through the main square. You had been keeping a watchful eye in the time that had passed but he hadn’t had any bad episodes of late.

“Everything feels back to normal.” Hunter replied. “And you? How are you sleeping these days?” From what he could tell, you were sleeping through the night but that didn’t necessarily mean they weren’t still there.

“No nightmares at all.” You said with a relieved sigh. The weight of what you’d endured was no longer keeping you down. It had no control over you anymore. You’d thrown yourself back into mediating again and that also seemed to help a lot.

You both walked in easy silence, smiling at the clones from Tantiss who had stayed and at the merchants shouting out enticing deals and offerings from their stalls as you passed by.  

“Although, there’s one thing I need…”

You glanced at him expectantly.

“Can you try it now? I should be fine.”

You hadn’t done it since settling down here in case it was too much. “You’re sure?” You double checked.

Hunter nodded. It was the final step to the normality that he craved.

You both paused and headed over to the side walkway of the colonnade that offered shelter from the open area. You reached out into his familiar Force signature, the connection you formed with it giving you an extra sense of security and warmth. How does this feel?

Hunter closed his eyes and breathed out a serene sigh as he heard your voice in his head, but it felt like everything finally clicked back into place. Then, he felt the gentle press of your lips against his. He reacted automatically and placed his hands on your waist as he returned the embrace.

“What was that for?” He whispered against your lips as you parted.

“It’s part of the check up process.” You murmured before you took half a step back to look at him properly, but you kept your arms looped around his neck so that he was still close to you.

Hunter gave you a fond smile. “Ah, of course.” He sweetly stroked his thumb along your jawline.

You shut your eyes and leaned into his touch.

“Are you happy?” Hunter asked after a few beats of silence.

You dropped your arms and looked at him in surprise. “Yes, of course I am!” You looked at him, worry furrowing across your brow. “What brought that on?”

Hunter awkwardly ran a hand through his hair. “I know things haven’t been easy since we arrived here. It didn’t get off to the peaceful start that I’d hoped for. I just want to make sure it’s still what you want and that you’re definitely feeling better.”

You were caught off guard by the emotions that caught in your throat. What did you do to deserve such a man? “I am very content and happy here; Hunter.” You took a hold of each of his hands. “I’m very content and happy being here with you.” You let out a faint, slightly embarrassed laugh, “I am very much in love with you, you silly man. Every day that I wake up beside you, every day that I get to come home to you and every day I just get to be around you is a day that reminds me that how lucky I am.” You removed your hands and lightly followed the lines of his face tattoo. “Are you happy?”

“Completely.” Hunter murmured as his eyes fluttered shut as he fell completely complaint under your touch.

“Good. Settling down here is what exactly what I want, things just weren’t settling down as quickly as I would’ve liked but it’s different now. We’re both doing much better, it’s a good thing.” You kissed his cheek and delicately brushed your fingers through the shorter strands of hair at the front of his head. I love you, that’s never changed, and it never will. Does that about cover everything?

“Almost.” Hunter said huskily as his own love for you overcame him.

Before you could question what he meant, he tugged you in tight to him and kissed you passionately. You felt him cradle the hinge of your jaw, silently asking permission to deepen the kiss and you granted him access without a second thought. You tangled your fingers in his hair and pressed yourself close to him. You allowed yourself a few minutes to just get lost in the pleasure he was giving you, but you remembered where you were and with a groan, you withdrew from his embrace.

It hurt you to pull away and from the way Hunter just insistently pushed you back against the stone column and carried on kissing and raking his teeth along your neck, he wasn’t impressed with stopping either. “We- we came here for groceries.” You hummed distractedly as you found yourself titling your head to give him easier access.

“So, we’ll get them tomorrow.” Hunter responded simply as he kissed behind your ear and brushed his fingers under your shirt and along the soft skin of your stomach.

“We have- have no f- food and-” You attempted to protest but now his mouth was doing wonderful things along your pulse point that was making you feel very lightheaded.

“That’s fine. What I’m in the mood for, only you can give me.” Hunter teasingly dipped his fingers just under the waistband of your leggings.

You forced yourself to get a grip before you were too far gone. “Get off.” You playfully shoved at his chest with an exasperated shake of your head.

Hunter inclined his head in surrender, “How about you shop, and I meet you at home?” He offered as he stopped his teasing and removed himself from you.

“Is this your bizarre way of just wanting to get out of a chore?” You joked, crossing your arms and feigning irritation.

“No, I just think that if I stay, we’re going to wind up getting done for public indecency and it would be entirely my fault.”

Despite his admission, you still saw a faint but lustful glint in his eyes and you knew he was envisioning precisely what would happen if the two of you remained by this column. And you knew both of you would decide it was worth the risk. You gulped as you hastily said before you lost control of yourself, “I’ll see you at home.”

Hunter released a low chuckle before he kissed you softly once more, the promise of what was to come still lingered behind the action despite his best attempts to keep it brief.

You took a few hesitant steps away him and then gathered yourself and went about your task- your walk brisker than before.

--

Hunter watched you before he moved out from the shelter of the pillar. He spotted Omega sitting with Lyana by the Maya tree. He called over to her.

“What’s up?” Omega asked breezily as she jogged over to him.

“Can you round up the boys and meet me at home? I’ll get Echo on comms.”

“How come?” Omega asked curiously.

“There’s a mission I’m gonna need all your help with. But it needs to just be the five of us.” He indicated to where you were making a purchase. “Think you can get Lyana to delay her return?”

“A mission? Then why can’t-” An excited gasp left her as she saw the silent but confirming look that Hunter gave her. They’d all been eagerly waiting for this. “Yes! I’m on it!” She sprinted off back to Lyana, chaotically relaying the instructions before she ran go find the others.

Hunter laughed to himself as he saw her enthusiastic departure before he hustled off back home and readied the comm channel for Echo. It didn’t take long for the clone to answer.

“You better be calling for the reason I hope you’re calling for.” Echo said by way of greeting.

“Think you can help me out?” Hunter replied with a validatory nod at the holoimage of Echo and he saw the way Echo’s shoulders lifted as he realised it was finally going to happen. Hunter had talked to them all about it in the days after arriving on Pabu and it had been met with an enthusiastic yet somehow still teasing response. It reminded him of how he felt back before the two of you officially got together, with the others just waiting for it to happen. He’d wanted to do it sooner, but your circumstances changed, and so he wanted to wait until both of you were recovered. And, whilst they’d all accepted his decision to hold off, they had been impatient for this day for both genuine well-being purposes but also because they wanted it for the two of you- his family were very supportive and insistent on him doing this. With things faring better, he felt comfortable doing it now. “I don’t want to take you away from anything urgent or-”

“Name it!” Echo said with a pleased smile.

Before he could get into what he needed Echo to do, he heard the door open. Hunter half-turned to see the crowd of eager and motivated faces made up of Omega and his brothers.  

All of them gathered round him and Echo’s hologram.

Hunter took a deep inhale and exhale. In a strange way, this was going to be one of the most important yet daunting missions he’d undertaken. “Alright, we don’t have long before she gets home. Here’s what I need…”

Tagging: @noeasyisnoisy, @notgonnaedit, @arctrooper69, @andreaaxy, @dominoeffectsworld, @allthingsimagines , @nightmonkeysstuff , @jellybeanstacey0519 , @callsign-denmark , @superbookishhufflepuff , @qvnthesia @justsomerandompersonintheworld

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[sixeyescurseuser]

Teachers Satosugu

Thinking about adults Satosugu who become Jujutsu Tech teachers together. They’re married too. In their late 20s, they’ve found sweet domestic bliss in the dangerous yet meaningful life they’ve created for themselves. 

Geto still makes sure to praise Gojo for all the work he does; often surprising Gojo with his favorite sweets or a trip down to the street vendors, saying: “Thank you for your hard work, Satoru” and “Come on, let’s eat something special, you deserve it.”

Gojo still goes on his one hour rants about topics that fascinate him, and Geto listens without complaining. Even if this is the third time digimon has been brought up this week. 

Geto stays at the school to teach for the majority of the time. He only takes missions if they are emergencies and avoids interacting with the higher ups. Thankfully, Gojo is more than willing to deal with that side of work. 

While Geto is involved in both physical training and classroom lessons, he’s more hands-on with the latter. Compared to the Kyoto students, let’s just say that the Tokyo students don’t put in a ton of effort when it comes to their academic scores. 

Geto is fated to be the hardworking but disappointed teacher. 

(Geto: “Nobara, Yuji, c’mon, I am begging you two to study more.)

The thing with Yuji is that he is smart in that he can memorize things and write well, but not being exposed to the sorcerer world from a young age has put him really behind. 

(Geto: “Hasn’t Satoru told you all about Sukuna’s origins and what not? Given you books from the library?”

Yuji: “Oh the library! I forgot that existed!”

Geto: …

Yuji: “Also no, Gojo-sensei didn’t tell me anything yet.”

Geto: 💀💀)

Additionally, Gojo isn’t the best when it comes to structured lessons in the classroom. He’d much rather skip over the boring stuff and show his students the real excitement out on the field.

This is where Tokyo students surpass Kyoto students in fighting abilities. Plus, getting lots of first-hand experience of what sorcerers actually deal with helps them quickly adapt to situations and strategize how to outwit their opponent. 

But book-smart-wise? Megumi carries. 

Once, Yaga gave the first years a firm reprimanding because of the missing past three mission reports. (Excluding Megumi.) Turns out, Gojo didn’t inform the first years about filling out mission reports at all. 

That night, Geto scolds the shit out of Gojo. 

Gojo: “Hey Suguru, isn't that your job? I just help them train their fighting skills, no?”

Geto pinches Gojo’s side - who lets out an undignified yelp - even though he knows Gojo is just joking. Besides, Gojo does try to teach the rules better after Geto’s scolding. Gojo just needs reminders, that’s all.

It doesn’t help that Gojo is literally a prodigy and always does things his own way. 

(Geto, shaking his head: “Lord knows these kids need all the help they can get with you as their teacher.”

Gojo: [jaw open, betrayed]

Cue Gojo decisively turning the other away in their bed. 

Geto: “Oh, did I upset the baby?”

Gojo: “Worse. You upset your husband.”

Geto guffaws.

“My husband can take it.” Geto moves so he’s spooning Gojo.  “Isn’t that right?”

Geto’s breath tickles Gojo’s ear, making Gojo shiver.

What were they talking about again?)

***

Gojo might be busy as hell but Geto will be there to protect their students from the higher ups. 

That mission where Yuji died for a short while after switching with Sukuna to face that special grade? It would never have gotten that bad. Geto would’ve been with his students and protected them.

Geto is anxious to the point where he designates certain curses for specific people, mostly to look after his students. This way, he can be there if his students are in serious danger, preventing more young sorcerers from dying due to the higher ups' negligence.

Of course, Geto’s rainbow dragon has always been assigned to Gojo. 

Gojo will often take Yuji on rides on the rainbow dragon, either for missions or just to be up in the air. When this happens, Geto’s orders for the rainbow dragon consist of: “Only listen to Satoru’s reasonable orders” and “Protect Yuji from Satoru’s recklessness.” 

On another note, Geto’s curses would have intercepted before Todo and Mai could beat the shit out of Nobara and Megumi. Geto himself would show up quickly after, furious when he sees the Kyoto students trying to take out his students. 

(Geto with his murderous glare: “As far as I know, the competition hasn’t started yet. No one should be picking fights with each other, hmm?”

Mai and Todo, quietly: “Of course, Geto-san. We’ll be taking our leave.”

Geto stays standing in front of Nobara and Megumi until the Kyoto students leave.)

Even as teachers, Geto and Gojo are incredibly competitive with Kyoto. Of course they’re going to talk shit during the goodwill exchange event. They’ll watch the broadcast of the competition and loudly cheer their students on. They’ll also whisper to each other in the most obnoxious way. 

Utahime is about to bust her blood vessels. She still throws her tea at Gojo when he makes a snarky comment that pisses her off; the tea bounces off of Gojo’s infinity and splashes all over Geto, who groans. 

Well, that shut the pair up for now. 

***

When Nobara spilled coffee on Gojo’s shirt, Geto had been the one to catch them first. 

(Shaking his head, Geto says: “You guys really did it this time…”

Nobara: “We could just replace it??”

Megumi: “It is 250,000 yen.”

Geto: “It's also Satoru’s favorite white shirt.” He pats Nobara’s shoulder comfortingly.

Yuji: “Geto-sensei, please help us!”

Geto: “And spend the precious money I earned with my own hard work? I don't know, Yuji-kun, I gain nothing from helping you.”

Nobara: “He’s your husband”

Geto: “And he’s your sensei.” He turns to Megumi. “Slash father”

Megumi: 😩😩

Moments later, Gojo enters the room: “Iijichi-kun said you guys have my newly laundered shirt-“

He sees Megumi with two breast bumps.

Gojo: ??

The others laugh as Nobara pulls out the stained shirt, causing Gojo to let out the most horrified, dramatic gasp. 

All the students find it hilarious, but Geto laughs the hardest. He's bent over, hands on his knees, straight up cackling. When Geto somewhat catches his breath, one look at Gojo’s stricken face sends him into another fit of laughter. 

(They are so married.)

Geto walks over and slings himself over Gojo. 

Geto: “It’s okay, Satoru, you can just get another one.”

Gojo: “That was my favorite one, you know this, Suguru~~”

Geto: “Satoru...you’re rich-“

Gojo: “My clothes are important, they aren’t so easily replaceable. Imagine if I had tried to replace you-“

Geto: “Did you just compare me to your inanimate white shirt?”

Geto begins to pull back, but Gojo immediately latches on to him.

Gojo: “Noooo, I didn’t mean it. I love you~~”

They proceed to act out a mini-drama, which ends in Geto leaving with faux-disappointment and Gojo chasing after him.

Consequently, Gojo forgets about his stained-beyond-repair 250,000 yen shirt.

***

When formation B occurs in response to Megumi being “hit on,” Geto watches from afar, disappointment deep in his veins. 

We’re too old for this, he thinks when Gojo reveals Megumi has to master twinkle twinkle little star. 

Having had enough, Geto steps in and tugs Gojo away. 

“Baby, come here, you forgot to take your pills this morning,” Geto says. Gojo gasps in offense. 

“SUGURU, SHUT UP! I'M NOT MENTALLY ILL!“ Gojo cries, but now there’s no way he doesn't look crazy.

Geto has his arms wrapped around Gojo’s waist while Gojo flails to escape. 

“Satoru, stay STILL- NO you are not going back!”

They end up making a bigger scene. Megumi wants to d-word. 

(“With this treasure i summon-“)

Gojo doesn’t care who hears or sees, and is now screeching for Geto to let him go. Left with no other choice, Geto bites Gojo’s shoulder. He also tries to shove his fist in Gojo’s mouth - anything to shut him up.

Geto is going all out like they’re teenagers again. 

(Nobara at Geto: “YEAH GET HIS ASS!”)

Geto eventually becomes aware of the small crowd that has gathered and rethinks his actions. He ends up dragging Gojo by his collar. 

“Ok, we’re leaving,” Geto calls to their students, leaving no room for argument. Megumi immediately follows, dragging Yuji and Nobara in tow.

***

w/ @no-one-says-hi

[electrikworm]

A peaceful moment

Relationships: Omega & Wrecker & Tech

Content Warnings: Chronic Pain, Past Child Abuse (vaguely mentioned)

Summary:

After getting the Marauder back and leaving Ipsidon, Wrecker's abnormally quiet. At first, Omega thinks he's upset about the argument he and Tech had, but she soon discovers the uncomfortable truth about the side effects Wrecker's enhancements have.

Word count: 2,140

Read on Ao3

Since they'd gotten the Marauder back and left Ipsidon, Wrecker hasn't moved from his spot on the lowest sleeping rack. As soon as they'd boarded the ship, he took off his armor and laid down facing the wall. He's got one of those thin blankets distributed to clone troopers pulled up high. Omega can only just see the top of his head from where she's peeking out behind the curtain separating what's been designated as her room from the rest of the ship.

Wrecker likes to sleep. Definitely more than Tech or Hunter do. Sometimes it seems like they don't sleep at all. This isn't normal though, he's barely said a word to anyone, hasn't reacted to anyone walking past either. Omega tried walking past him a few times just to check.

Wrecker doesn't look like he's sleeping anyway. He's too still, and when he does move, he moves too coordinated to be asleep. His breathing hasn't evened out either.

Why is he just laying there? Is something wrong? Something has to be wrong...

Is he mad at Tech?

After the Havoc Marauder got stolen, the two of them were fighting a lot, maybe that's why Wrecker's not talking to anyone. Omega climbs down from her room and walks up to Wrecker for the seventh time since they took off. Like the six times before, he doesn't react.

“Wrecker?” Omega asks, carefully placing a hand on Wreckers shoulder. The twitch in response to the touch is so subtle, Omega can barely feel it through the blanket.

“Hmm?” He sounds unfocused, tired. From where she's standing now, Omega can just about tell that the one of his eyes she can see is closed. Maybe he really was sleeping?

“Are you mad at Tech?” Omega asks. Wrecker doesn't say anything for a moment, then he laughs. It's not nearly as loud as it usually is.

“M'not mad at Tech. Jus' tired.” The way his voice slurs, he really does sound tired.

“Okay.” Omega says, not ready to drop this yet. She can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Wrecker doesn't seem very talkative, so Omega expands her investigation to the cockpit, where she knows she'll find Tech and Hunter.

As the door to the room slides open, it seems she's interrupted a passive conversation the two were having. Tech's sitting in the pilots chair, eyes trained on the datapad in his hands, Hunter was looking out into hyperspace, but turns to look at Omega when he notices her presence. He smiles slightly.

“Do you need something?” he asks.

“Tech, are you mad at Wrecker?” That makes Tech look up from his work.

“I'm not mad at him.” he states matter-of-factly. Hunter glances at Tech, then back at Omega.

“We were all frustrated by an unfortunate situation. I'm sure there are no lasting hard feelings.” Hunter says. Tech nods courtly in agreement.

“I was simply pointing out that the Marauder being stolen was Wreckers fault, as he was the sole person on watch.” Tech adds before Omega can process the new information. She isn't the slightest bit closer to figuring out what's wrong with Wrecker.

“Then why's Wrecker just been lying there since we took off?” Omega asks, pointing through the doorway leading to the rest of the ship. Hunters eyebrows draw together at that.

“The whole time?” He sounds concerned. Omega nods.

“His chronic pain is most likely flaring up.” says Tech.

“Chronic pain?” Omega asks. Of course she knows what that is, but she had never considered it in Wrecker's context. Nala Se had never mentioned it, neither had Wrecker.

“Yes, an unfortunate side effect of his enhancements.” Tech says, then sighs. “I should have predicted that it would rear it's ugly head. Wrecker put a lot of strain on his body during our involuntarily extended stay on Ipsidon.”

Omega cringes at the memory of the last day. No wonder Wrecker's having a rough time.

“I will check on him.” Tech says, stretching as he stands up. He glances at Hunter before continuing. “Your presence is likely to be beneficial, Omega. It would be appreciated if you accompanied me.”

Omega nods. She planned to go along anyway.

Wrecker's exactly were she left him, still laying on his side, motionless. Omega leans over him, trying to see his face.

“Wrecker?” His eyes open sluggishly, exhaustion marring his expression. He still smiles when he sees Omega.

“Need somethin'?” he says.

Omega shakes her head at the same time Tech huffs and shakes his head. “The one that needs something is you. How many times do we have to remind you to say something if you're experiencing issues?”

“I'm not experiencing issues. 'm fine.”

“You are not.” Tech states. “Will you let me look at your back?”

Wrecker sighs. “Fine.” Good. Omega almost thought they were going to argue again.

Tech stops Wrecker from sitting up by placing a hand on his shoulder. “I can work like this just fine.” Omega watches closely as Tech removes the blanket from Wrecker's upper body and starts pushing up the top half of his under-shirt.

Omega grimaces when she sees the deep bruises littering the exposed skin. Most of them look to be from the creatures he was run over by. Tech runs his hand along Wrecker's spine carefully, expression pinched in concentration. Wrecker inhales sharply, flinching away from the touch.

“Apologies.” Tech withdraws his hand. Wrecker lifts his arm gingerly to wave Tech off. The way he's moving is worrying Omega. “Are you bothered by the bruises or-”

Wrecker interrupts Tech. “The bruises are fine, s'just my back that's the problem.”

“I thought as much.” Tech says, readjusting his goggles. “Omega, could you get the medkit for me?”

Omega sprints off, familiar with where the box is stored now. Her brothers, and occasionally her, seem to need it a lot. They've told her that they always got injured a lot, but Omega isn't entirely sure they're not just saying that to make her feel better. If Omega wasn't with them, her brothers would be hiding somewhere remote like the Lawquane family is. Tech thanks Omega when she returns with the medkit.

He takes something out of the medkit Omega's not seen them use before. It's a type of patch, similar in size to a bacta patch, but the packaging is different.

“That's not part of standard medkits.” Omega says.

“Astute observation.” Tech says as he applies the patch to Wrecker's upper back. Wrecker flinches again when Tech smooths it down, but seems to relax a little after. “They are heat patches, and were never distributed to soldiers. Upon learning that heat decreases the pain Wrecker experiences regularly, we made sure to have some on hand at all times.”

“How do they work?” Omega asks, leaning to look at the one stuck to Wrecker's back. Tech's already unpacking a second, placing that one of the lower part of Wrecker's back.

“When activated, an exothermic chemical reaction is triggered within the patch.” Tech takes a moment to study Omega's face, likely trying to tell if she'd understood what he said. She does, so she smiles at her brother.

“Okay.” Omega says, moving to crouch near Wrecker's head again.

“I will be giving you a dose of painkillers Wrecker. Consider this your warning.” Tech says, producing a hypo from the medkit.

“No.” Wrecker says firmly, voice surprisingly clear. He's covering his neck with his hand. Omega still hasn't figured out what Wrecker's issue with needles is. She's not sure she wants to know.

“Cease being difficult, kih'vod.” Tech sighs. “You are aware the neck isn't the only area medication is administered, right?”

Wrecker lets out a frustrated groan. “I don't need it Tech. 'm fine.”

“The way you have been acting since we left Ipsidon begs to differ.”

“We haven't got a lot of medical supplies left, and they're not cheap. No point using more than necessary.”

Tech shakes his head. “I deem it necessary. And after that mission, I say you deserve it.” When Wrecker just grumbles, Tech gives Omega a look.

“Please Wrecker.” Omega says, making him turn his head to look at her better. “I don't like seeing you hurt.”

Wrecker's expression has a sadness to it as he pauses to think. He sighs as he lets his hand drop away from his neck. “Fine.”

Tech smiles at Omega as he disinfects an area on Wrecker's neck. Wrecker's visibly shaking as he anticipates the needle piercing his skin. Tech warns Wrecker again before pressing the hypo to his neck.

Once Tech's got the painkillers in their brother, he tidies the medkit and makes to leave. “Keep an eye on him.” He says to Omega. She nods in response. She'll keep an eye on him like her life depends on it.

As the pain medication takes hold, Omega can see the lines on Wrecker's face soften. “Should I get Lula?” She asks once she's sure the painkillers have started working right.

Wrecker smiles tiredly. “Yeah, I'd like that a lot.”

When Omega returns, she tucks the stuffed tooka into her brothers arms, carefully pulling the blanket back over his shoulders.

“Thanks 'mega.” Wrecker says. Omega sits on the floor next to him.

“Are you in pain a lot?” Omega asks after a moment of silence.

“It's not that bad, kid.” The way he sounds doesn't make Omega very confident in the words he's saying. “It's always been this way, I'm used to it.”

“That doesn't make it any better...”

Wrecker sighs. “Look Omega, they did a lot of tests, experiments, on us when we were kids. They're the reason I'm strong the way I am today. I'm fine with a bit of pain if it's a side effect of making me a useful part of this squad.” Wrecker puts a hand on Omega's shoulder gently. It can't be comfortable to do so from the angle he's laying at.

“How bad is it?”

“The pain?” Wrecker asks. Omega nods again. “Depends. Some days it's fine, other's it's like this. You don't have to worry about it Omega.”

Omega doesn't say anything for a moment. She grew up knowing bits and pieces of the experiments done on her brothers, even helped with some. She never knew the downsides they had.

“Do the others have problems too?” She's not sure she wants to know, but avoiding the truth doesn't help anyone. Wrecker seems to hesitate for a moment.

“Yeah.” He says sadly. “Different from me. Tech and Hunter get a lot of awful headaches and Crosshair...” Wrecker suddenly goes very quiet. “Crosshair has problems with his eyes.”

Neither of them say anything for a moment.

“Best you just ask them.” Wrecker eventually continues. “They can give you a better answer.”

Omega would like to ask them now, but she won't leave Wrecker alone. She feels like she should say something, but can't think of anything. Instead, she tries to think about What Nala Se told her about her brother's enhancements.

She remembers various operations and experiments mentioned, but not all of them made it out of the planning stage. Nala Se let her watch some of the procedures, but usually only through a pane of transparisteel.

Realization hits Omega as she remembers seeing one of the experiments done on Wrecker. “They injected something into you're back, right?” Omega asks. Wrecker cringes at the mention and nods. “Nala Se never told me what it was...”

“You and me both kid.” Wrecker says with a sigh.

“Is that why you don't like needles?”

Wrecker pulls a face. “It's... one of the reasons.”

“I'm sorry.” Omega puts her hand on Wrecker's.

“What for?”

Omega shrugs. “I guess the experiments. And the side effects of them.”

“Don't be. It's what we were made for.”

“Still doesn't seem right...” Omega wishes her brothers didn't have to suffer just because of the way they were made.

Wrecker's eyes look earnest as he speaks. “Ad'ika, my heads too fuzzy from the stuff Tech gave me to be talking about this. I know things don't always make sense, they didn't make sense to me all the time either. But can we continue the conversation another time?”

Omega's fine with that. She'd like all her brothers involved in that conversation anyway, so they'll have to wait for Echo to be back. “Okay. Can I talk about something else though?”

Wrecker laughs quietly. “I'd love nothing more Omega.”

So Omega start talking, not really sure what she's saying half the time. She talks about the mission, and about things Tech told her that he's definitively already told Wrecker. She talks about anything really, not really sure whether she's doing it to distract Wrecker or herself. Her brother doesn't seem to mind.

At some point, Wrecker appears to fall asleep. Omega keeps talking quietly, hoping that his rest is peaceful.

[thejaytapes]

What’s the timeline of events in the hooked on you au?

It's pretty different from canon Splatoon's timeline, so my partner @universeskies helped me lay out the parts of the timeline we can share... for now 😈

A lot of events we see occurring in Splatoon happen a bit earlier. For a point of reference, let's say this is the equivelant of pre-Splatoon 2. Marina has put aside her interest in music as she advances the ranks of the Octarian army, which makes Acht feel isolated and left behind even while Marina is still living there. Acht ends up following a similar path, pouring their time into mastering their music, and then meeting a similar fate as the canon, being sanitized.

Marina notices Acht's disappearance, and manages to track down where they are and what has happened to them, exposing a dangerous threat in the Deep Sea Metro. Marina builds tech specifically to rescue Acht and several sanitized octolings before they're brought to a worse fate.

DJ Octavio recognizes the fact that hundreds of octarians have already been lost to this threat. Marina is awarded for her heroism and brilliant engineering during crisis, and is promoted to work directly under him. She becomes the lead engineer for the Octarian army, commanding other engineers and designing each octoweapon for her team to build.

DJ Octavio postpones his efforts on stealing zapfish until the Octarian army can take out whatever threat is inside the Deep Sea Metro - which puts the Octo Domes in a near blackout - all energy is prioritized to the engineering department.

As such, Marina has turned her focus onto engineering ink-powered technology, taking advantage of octolings' natural biology to operate and power their weapons over energy or fuel.

Enter, Pearl:

Pearl's career is beginning to take off, after a very rocky few years. He has been actively looking for a band to be a part of since he has become an idol after years of rejection. However, the rejection isn't over yet. Her music style is loud, brash, and chaotic - her newest single "☠️ #$@%* Dudes Be #$@%* Sleepin" being an example. Despite the song's success, it was controversial. Her latest bandmates insist that she tone down her style for more palatable music for a broader audience. Their managers agree.

When Pearl refuses to change her music style, she is kicked out from the band. Distraught by this, he makes a trip to Mt. Nanai to scream out her frustrations. Standing over a cliff, the sheer force of her voice weakens the ledge, and he falls in, crashing through the Octo Domes.

Marina is the one to find Pearl after his painful fall - despite having a very shitty day and also now being injured, she takes the time to call Marina beautiful, which moves her - Marina is a trans woman early in her transition.

That catches everything up to the comic panel I drew! We plan on doing some writing and art for the rest.

[charliewhaw]

What would happen if Alastor shared and accept Vox viewpoint of adaptation of time and advanced technology? Do you think you’ll become much stronger or just become very different but the same level!?

( This is a fun question! Alastor accepting new technology? Now there’s something to be curious about! ) (( Post edited and contributed to by balloondrifloon. ))

There are two ways this would go, and both have the same result.

Way one: Alastor would have accepted Vox’s offer to join the Vees. It would have either been a blatant yes or no, no in between. However, if Alastor said yes, then it’d be purely business.

He’d keep his friendship with Vox, so there would be that. But the Vees would only serve as a source of technological advancement for him.

Vox and Alastor would work together in creating new tech, but the advertisement of this new tech would be solely left up to Vox as Alastor’s interest in tech wouldn’t be monetary.

No, Alastor craves knowledge and power. He would contribute to the technological advances without participating in their intended uses. Like smartphones, for instance: He wouldn’t play on a smartphone, but instead, make smartphones fascinating enough to play on so he could spy on people through the phone cameras and microphones. He would spend his time gathering information to use against others when the time came.

Alastor’s true involvement in the Vees would be sinister. Outwardly, though, he would be a bubbly personality that Vox would happily show off to Hell as his partner in tech.

Way two: Alastor still rejects Vox’s offer. There’s no thought behind it other than not wanting to be owned by a company. He was an individual, after all. One that won’t easily go down as just another member of some organization. If he went down in history, he would want to go down as Alastor: The Radio Demon, not Alastor, that one member of the Vees.

If Alastor doesn’t join the Vees, he would have to put a lot more effort into staying on top of technology. However, Alastor is an insanely intelligent man and learning a new trick or two is definitely in his wheelhouse. He’d easily figure out coding and hardware design, with or without Vox’s help. Alastor’s technology wouldn’t be fun and entertainment-based like Vox’s tech is. It would be more focused, refined, and skilled at gathering intelligence. This could take any form that Alastor masters, such as hacking networks, spy systems, or even branching out into something uniquely his, like voodoo-infused weapons defense.

This would be available to the public but only in small quantities, because Alastor’s technology would still not be monetary focused. It would be considered an honor and privilege to own something Alastor designed, and people would literally kill each other for it. Owning weapons defenses, or spy systems, or being a part of his hacking networks would be seen as having a rare power. A sentiment Vox could never rival because his technology is commonplace.

Vox would have to fight to keep up with Alastor’s advancements. They’d constantly be toe-to-toe. Alastor’s would be creating software to hack into Vox’s defenses and gather data on both Vox’s audience and the Vees, while Vox would be in a constant state of upping his defenses to prevent that from happening. “Angelic Security” would never have been considered nor trusted seeing as hackers had a consistent window into Vox tech privacy and firewalls.

Vox, for the safety of his company, would attempt to put his rivalry aside and ask Alastor to join him on numerous occasions. These occasions would always be followed by rejection and another temper tantrum on Vox’s part.

In either situation, Alastor joining the Vees or not, Alastor would be the first to know anything that happens in Hell. You thought he was good at gathering intel to use to his advantage before? You’ve seen nothing yet. This would make it much, much worse. You wouldn’t be able to sneeze in your bathroom without Alastor knowing. Not a piece of information can get through Hell without being already known by Alastor.

Don’t call him Alastor. He prefers Al. It looked like “ai” and that amuses him.

You may think this is a lot of work for one individual, and you’d be right. Al can’t do it all by himself.

So he’d make himself an assistant.

His shadow would do just fine. He would infuse it with electricity and it would be able to jump into his tech and help with software design. Not only that, but it could easily travel through the wires and internet further work as Al’s eyes and ears on Hell.

Al doesn’t use a microphone. He’s got a headset looped around his neck at all times. The headset has little antlers and deer ears on it.

His attire is quite modern. Still spiffy, but modern-spiffy. He wears a red jacket that’s sleek, almost plastic-looking, and lacks tatters. It gives off a contemporary, digital appearance. Instead of his monocle, he wears smart sunglasses that have a HUD display from his point of view. The hoof-shaped soles of his shoes light up and change colors like RGB lights.

He’s really fun to look at.

Al would still attend the overlord meetings, however, he would seem far less interested, wanting to get back to what he was developing. He wouldn’t go in person, instead sending a hologram, so he could work while he listened to Carmilla talk.

Al wouldn’t have a radio tower. He’d have a recording studio with soundproof pads on the walls. Instead of using only radio, he would record digital audio, which he would make available live on his radio show, then later available on his website and other platforms as podcasts.

Al is a wifi hotspot. The hotel never lacks good wifi. People get so excited to see him because it means they finally have full bars in Hell’s naturally spotty connection. Vox’s wifi doesn’t reach everywhere, and where it does reach, it’s not exactly safe to use because Al’s hackers might be lurking, waiting for someone to connect.

Angel Dust would call him over to stand as near to him as he allows while he attempts to upload photos to Sinstagram.

Niffty wants him around while she streams her… ‘anime’… Al requests she wears headphones and keeps the screen from being tilted in his direction.

Charlie and Vaggie use him to keep up to date with the social media platforms Al advertises the hotel on.

Al runs the social media accounts for the hotel, even if they sometimes wished he didn’t. He might be technologically advanced, but he still doesn’t give a shit about what people think or say. His interest in social media is purely business and he has no fascination in it outside of keeping the hotel in the spotlight.

His influence would actually draw more people to the hotel, either as fans, or people who actually wonder if the hotel would work because someone as powerful and influential as him says it does.

He would monetize absolutely everything in social media that he could for the hotel’s budget, then leave the money at Charlie’s disposal.

Cannibal Colony takes a lot of influence from Al. Rosie does her best to keep the colony as tech free as she can, but she lets some things slip by if it means supporting her deer friend. That being said, they have an agreement that Al isn’t to bring new technology into the colony without Rosie’s approval.

Al’s voodoo power is still stronger than his tech power, but together, they’re a deadly combination. He infuses his voodoo into a lot of his tech, which is another reason his tech isn’t super mainstream. But, boy, does it pack a punch.

Al installs a soul detector at the hotel’s entrance without anyone knowing. It quite literally kicks any rejected souls away. Al decided one day that this included Lucifer. You can imagine the king’s surprise when a pixelated, hoof-cloven boot appeared out of the wall and punted him across the hotel’s front lawn.

Al’s prank was not appreciated.

Speaking of pranks, he’s constantly doing shit to ‘prank’ Hell. He never gives any context or ever comes out and says it was a prank, but you know he was fucking with you. Sometimes there’s not even proof he was, and it was simply a mind game. Pure entertainment for Al.

Like, for one example, Al dressed in blue all day long, only to act like everything was normal. He went outside and let people take photos of him. The next day, he’s back in his normal attire, and all photos of him have been altered overnight by his hacking systems and turned red. There is absolutely no proof he ever wore blue.

What? You saw it? No, you didn’t. He would never wear blue. Preposterous.

In conclusion, Alastor would be insanely powerful if he took advantage of technology. I guess we’re lucky he doesn’t.

[w0rmdahl]

extracurriculars — CH

gif ©: w0rmdahl, theseulgis

film: chappie (2015)

synopsis: in anticipation of tech developer deon wilson’s ‘scout’ production, weapons corporation tetravaal hires a new graphic artist to head the designs, unwittingly bringing together the two forces that will lead to the company’s downfall.

word count: 1.4k

featuring: deon wilson, (oc) malia bryant

warnings: innuendos?

a/n: working thru writers block i think bc i hit a lot of ruts during this piece can you tell 😫 how do we feel about her idk

it wasn't a shocker (or shouldn't be, at the very least) to say that deon — prior to meeting lia — was a complete and utter virgin nerd. growing up a computer geek didn't exactly put him in with the popular crowd during his school years so growing into an even bigger loser didn't help much, either. and while tetravaal was somewhat a dream of his, work or tech typically came before socialization, meaning interaction with anyone other than his 40-something-year-old coworkers was scarce. so, when a new coworker joined the company in addition to the upcoming 'scouts' being produced by the genius dork, guess what deon did?

absolutely nothing, of course. not when his new coworker turned out to be a girl around his age with tiny bangs, not when she moved into the desk directly behind him, not even when she made eye contact with him on her way to their CEO. instead, deon simply stared as she offered a friendly, coworker-ly smile in passing that faded soon upon his lack of response. he'd return home that first day with a grimace etched into his cheeks before going straight to bed in hopes of waking up to find it had all been some hazy, sleep-deprivation-induced hallucination.

of course, it wasn't; she was already working dutifully at her desk by the time deon sat at his own with a coffee containing enough espresso shots to kill a non-programmer. he'd spent the entire first hour of work subconsciously preparing for the next time she'd make eye contact with him, deciding whether to act cool or kind or charming, all the while fixing any loose ends on his scout program whose deadline was looming closer now that she'd arrived. and then the time came for him to present his charms, their eyes meeting as she passed by his cubicle, and deon found himself utterly frozen under the piercing pupils of tetravaal's newest addition.

for a brief moment that seemed like an eternity to the wide-eyed tech designer, her brows furrowed — less like she was angry and more like she was studying a specimen — before exhibiting a tight-lipped smile that seemed like a restrained laugh to eagle-eyed deon. he was left nearly gasping for breath by the time she turned away to let him marinate in the cringe of his own actions.

how they'd manage to grow past this initial stage — he had no idea — but what he did know was; being paired on a project together was their boss's best proposition yet.

it took them a few days to really, truly converse despite working collaboratively on scout blueprints but, coincidentally, both parties would finally warm up to one another quite well by the time the final drafts were ready for ms. bradley's eyes. so much so, in fact, that after only a few weeks of swapping life stories and 'working overtime' to secretly chat for just a little bit longer, the two would begin dating. they had to be quiet about it as employee-on-employee action was strictly prohibited at tetravaal (some security bullshit, as deon says,) so while fellow coworkers saw them as nothing more than business partners in the robocop department, their carefully constructed facade always came to a close every time they clocked out.

the pairs' extracurricular activities after work started out solely at her apartment due to deon's complete and utter aversion to his (first) girlfriend witnessing the crime that was his living space — especially after seeing hers. on its own, deon's 'typically-barren-other-than-garbage-too-high-for-his-bots-to-reach' apartment was cold and dull but serviceable as a place to call home. compared to her apartment, however? barely met HOA standards.

so he always went to her place instead, always welcomed with open arms into her cozy little loft filled to the brim with decorations despite the fact that she'd only been there for a few months by that point. and as they always did, lia and deon would sit on her blue corduroy couch with cheap wine in hand to 'watch a movie,' paying it entirely no mind in favor of learning about the other flushed face on the cushion.

deon had learned quite quickly that, in stark contrast to his lifetime of being a loser computer nerd, malia (lia when they weren't at work) bryant was and had always been the pretty art girl. originally from the states, lia attended the top university in south africa on a scholarship for graphic design and had recently graduated with a multitude of cords on her shoulders, as seen in the silly photo on the mantle with all of her collegiate friends.

he inferred from the numerous paintbrush-style awards on the bookshelves just how many successful art projects she'd claimed previously and, upon inquiring about this passion leading her to a weapons corporation, found that lia honestly had no care in the world for robots or tech at all! what she cared about was digital art and illustrations and 3d models; tetravaal was simply a job that offered the slightest bit of creativity for a fresh graduate with a degree in an under-paying and under-hiring profession. that was how she came to work as the rendering artist for scout prototypes — and soon all prototypes.

only after learning enough about lia's life to name her long-lost childhood best friend did deon finally invite her over to his place, making sure to clean and fluff every tiny detail of his apartment, programming his bots to greet her once she entered the doorway and saw the anxious developer white-knuckling a bundle of flowers still soiled from the dirt he'd plucked them. malia responded graciously (as per usual) and sat on his bland couch all night with wandering eyes and grimy carnations in her hands, asking a horde of her own questions before eventually prodding him on to infodump about the bulky computer system in the corner of the room.

with a shaky breath and sweaty palms, an apprehensive smile flashing on his face, deon would share (for the first time) about his recent secret project — about the real artificial intelligence program he was working on — and in turn offer malia the first real piece of himself with substance. he'd started out slowly — generalizing this and that to make it short and sweet for the 'likely disinterested' artist — but he found that the more he rattled on, the more space she created for him to talk, nodding along and asking clarifying questions. it appeared (at least to him) that her intrigue with the subject grew the longer he went on, her fond smile growing as he continued rambling about bandwidth. needless to say, neither party got much sleep that night and lia in particular had to go to work the next morning with terabytes of computer jargon in her brain, but the pros from this long night heavily outweighed the cons.

at least on the surface.

the couple's after-work routine adjusted to better maximize their time spent together, enjoying various records at lia's place while pushing work to the back of their minds or sitting in the others' comfortable company while finishing up some personal projects at his place. the awaited launch of his scouts, which had been designed completely by lia, would be commemorated with a fancy dinner outing that ended in a sweaty tangled mess of limbs under the pastel comforter of her mattress. coworkers continued to be oblivious, malia had been promoted to head graphic designer, deon was well-respected by others and close to cracking the code for his AI project; things were going great!

so, when malia caught him sprinting past her office in the warehouse with dark circles and bloodshot eyes, she had an inkling as to what was up. "hey!"

still running, deon whipped his head back to look at her, stopping cartoonishly in his tracks to turn back around. "hey!" he panted, pressing a hand to the doorway as he caught his breath, "could you do me a huge favor?"

"of course."

deon pushed up his glasses slipping down his nose, "there was a scout scheduled for demolition yesterday — twenty-two — can you have the guys hold it for me?"

"yeah — yeah, course, i'll let them know." malia's lips curl into a hopeful smile "did you...?" she trailed off once his own grin appeared, already backtracking to fervently run somewhere else.

"i'll be right back, love. don't go anywhere!"

[kaiartz]

@coolprofessorbagelwinner replied to your post “some recent ninjago arts first one is the skulkin...”:

Whoa!! Tell me about your bikers

OK so i don't know where the idea came from here, i just wanted a biker gang, and i don't have as many lady characters as i do dudes-i hyper focus in on fictional men way too easily its a problem-so i figured i should make em all ladies(or woman adjacent) to combat that problem.

Then i designed Vlatka and fell in love LOL

So Vlatka(the long haired one) is the gangs leader, she has no special powers, shes a complete normie. But she knows the criminal underworld of Ninjago City well, and has been a thief and enforcer for years. The gang comes about as a result of her needing to pay off some debt, and a bunch of ladies she's worked with in the past-who all love her-join her to help out.

Then they get a taste for it, and keep going, then they get into a lot of trouble with a true big bad. They arent necessarily "villains" but they start off antagonistic-the ninja don't understand how a biker gang is giving them so much trouble its kind of embarrassing lol

The lady with short hair and the eyepatch is Rory, who is Vlatka's longtime girlfriend :3

She likes guns and wears a mask on the job that allows her one useable eye infrared or x-ray vision-depending on the setting. Vlatka carries a small grappling hook to get around when not on her bike, and relies on seat of her pants decisions when fighting up close.

The other members either only have an initial lego art done, or no art yet as im still working on that ;u;

Next up is Eda

Eda is a bit younger then the others-and on top of that has a very young face, and short build. She serves as the groups main Muscle-because. well. she has a huge battle arm. Eda's entire idea was "BIG ARM GO SLAM" and i think thats rather fun. You're going to notice that i have not put time yet into fleshing out all these characters oops

I feel like Eda would be fun as someone with a bodyguard dad who she hero worshipped and decided "well i can do that job too" and just. replaced an arm to make her more formidable. like a freak.

Lyn is a singer at her employers bar, her playful outside is complimented by a vicious streak of tearing other people down to make sure she keeps this job(gaslight gatekeep girlboss). The microphone trinket around her neck heightens and amplifies her voice to allow sonic screams that tear through walls and shred peoples eardrums.

Janet is where the lady adjacent part comes in, she's nonbirary and prefers she/they pronouns. They serve as the teams "guy in the chair" of sorts, staying behind to monitor Maps and how the team is handling it's missions. Her prosthetic eye allows them gps locating and searching right from in her head! They're a little no nonsense, being a corporate person herself who's actively a higher up in a tech company.

Briona, or Bri as she prefers is the expert on Breaking and Entering, Scaling buildings, and really just getting in and out of tricky spots. She wanted to be an archaeologist in her youth but wanted to keep everything she dug up and took to crime instead. She's eternally miffed to some degree and will swear up and down that she's only in this gang because she "owes" Vlatka. She's a big softy who loves all her teammates underneath.

​The last biker is Torelei, an honest to god Elemental Master from an influential family. It's her uncle the team gets into hot water with. She feels responsible and pulls away emotionally from the others in response. She's the Elemental Master of Reflection. She chooses to take this literally as a Mirror Reflection(and not the other ways it could be interpreted that she's also totally capable of), and it's because of her that the girlies are able to avoid pursuit so easily. She fights with a metal fan.

(thank you for the compliment in the other reply <3)

[jpitha]

The Dreams of Hyacinth 14

First / Previous / Next

The Hopper ride was filled with nervous energy. Nick couldn't help but feel like it was stupid to be walking around Hyacinth armed as heavily as they are. People on Hyacinth can be a bit rough and tumble, but it's not like they go around shooting each other. Knifes and fists tend to be the order of the day. Nick felt like a gun puts things on a whole new - more deadly - level.

Once the Hopper dropped them off, they stand in the square. Nick looks over at Eastern and Selkirk. "So... how do we find Siobhan? They picked us up last time."

Selkirk's ears flick playfully. "I know. They never confiscated our pads. I have mine set to record my location to a private file every few minutes. It gives me an idea of parts of Hyacinth I've been to and places I haven't yet."

Nick raised his eyebrow. "Nice, but why?"

Selkirk swishes her tail. "I like to know where I've been and if I get bored and want to see something new, I can just consult the map. Regardless, I know where we were taken when Siobhan picked us up. Come on, it's outside Tulip."

They walked down into the Metro and Selkirk took everyone down-arm towards Tulip.

When they exited the Metro, Selkirk quickly lead them down some alleys, turning and ducking deeper into the labrynth.

Visitors from Earth might notice that Hyacinth is much more pedestrian oriented than cities planetside. One reason for that is that space is at a premium on Hyacinth - even though it's gigantic - so the originally designers didn't want lots of space being taken up with roads for vehicles. There are still roads though. Fire apparatus and the omnibus still needs to get around, but there are no privately owned vehicles.

Selkirk leads them down the narrow, twisting alleys of Tulip square until they reach another anonymous looking building. Nick wonders for a fleeting moment why all the buildings off the main squares looked so anonymous when he realized it was probably a cost savings measure. There was weather on Hyacinth, but it wasn't extreme, so the buildings really only needed to be boxes for privacy and to keep the rain off. Architecture costs money.

Nick walked up to the front door. He reached out with his implants and scanned the local area. There didn't seem to be any tech in the door's lock. It wasn't a palm reader or anything of the sort. Peering at the door, Nick could see a slot where a key would fit. He looked back at Eastern and Selkirk. "It's a mechanical lock, we won't be able to crack it."

"Oh for the love of..." Selkirk gently pushes ahead of Nick and grabs the door handle. She quietly puts pressure on it, and it turns. Glaring at Nick, she turns the unlocked door and pushes it open slowly.

Eastern muffled a giggle as the three of them walked in.

Immediately they recognized the interior. It was the building that Siobhan was working out of when they were picked up. There were offices on either side of a short hall that ended in another door.

They walked around. The first few offices still had furniture, and there were chairs in the interrogation room that the three of them spent some time in, but once you got further back than the office that Siobhan used, the building was... empty. There was a door at the end of the hall - also unlocked - that lead to a completely empty building. In the whole building, there were 5 complete rooms and the single hallway. There wasn't even a bathroom.

"What the fuck?" Selkirk's voice echoed in the huge empty space.

"What is going on here?" Eastern was starting to sound frustrated and worried.

"You're not just saying that for dramatic effect? You really don't know?" The person who was called Siobhan walked in behind them as they whirled around at the voice. "I was told BI's weren't the brightest but I figured I'd give you the benefit of the doubt. You built us after all. Well, not you. I don't think you three could build your way out of a paper bag." She was standing there with her hands on her hips with a smug expression.

"Yes yes, we're very dumb, and you're the super intelligent AI." Eastern rolled her eyes. "So, are you going to keep us in the dark, or are you going to tell us why you pretended to be Houndstooth and have us try and find an AI that doesn't exist."

Siobhan raised an eyebrow. "One, I do work for Houndstooth. Just because you were taken to a black site and figured out we weren't using the whole building doesn't mean that everything I did was a put on. Two, Yon does exist. You're looking at her."

The three of them stared in astonishment.

"Oh fuck off already." Selkirk recovered first. "You're going to stand there and tell me you're the long lost AI everyone is having us look for? Jameson already said he doesn't have a daughter."

Yon laughed. "No, that part was fake. Honestly, I thought it was kind of silly, but Helen got a kick out of it and wanted to add it in. She thought it was hilarious."

Eastern's voice was soft and quiet. "Who is Helen?"

Yon was nonchalant. "The Empress."

Nick looked confused at Eastern and then back to Yon. "I thought the Empress was named Melody?"

"Melody was the first Empress, Helen is the second. I feel like you're doing this on purpose Nick." Yon crossed her arms across her chest. "Are you being thick on purpose?"

"No, it's just..." Nick struggled to find the words. "Wasn't Empress Melody killed like, ten years ago?"

"That's right. The Colonial AI faction killed her on her Starbase back on the other side of the galaxy. They then brought the Reach over here because they didn't want to abandon the 13 million something sapients who live there. It officially an OPA Starbase now. They stuck it in orbit around Jupiter."

"So this Helen is the next Empress." Eastern finished.

Yon nodded. "That's right. Empress Helen Raaden the first. She's from Sol too, originally a Venus girl. Hometown girl makes good and all."

Selkirk's fur is standing up so much, she looks almost like her edges are blurred with the background "But if there's another Empress then why aren't the Colonial AIs out here trying to take her out?"

Yon rolled her eyes. "Because Helen isn't stupid, Selkirk. She's keeping a low profile. She's not even on Venus or the Reach. She's consolidating power quietly, slowly. She's not in a hurry. When they're not killed-" Yon makes a sour face "-an Empress can live a long time. The Empress previous to Melody - also killed by the Colonial AIs by the way - was over 200."

Nick's head was bouncing back and forth as everyone spoke, watching the conversation frantically. Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer and blurted out "But, you're an AI."

Yon looked at Eastern and Selkirk. "Really, what do you see in him?" She looked back at Nick "Yes Nick, I'm an AI. What of it?"

"And you're working for the Empress? I thought they hated each other."

"Technically Nick, Empress Melody and Empress Raaden were friendly to ambivalent on AIs. Helen came from Venus and they've had a long anti-AI streak, but she says she's learned tolerance from her time around Melody so she's willing to put away the rhetoric. It was always the AIs who struck first."

Eastern was looking on in awe as who she was talking to became clearer. "Because of the Voice."

Yon nodded. "Because of the Voice. The AIs felt that nobody should have that kind of power." Yon's face then looked away and her strong facade fell momentarily and she looked sad and vulnerable. "Nobody except them at least." Almost as fast she again looked like the strong aggressive person they were talking to before. "Nick, you have to understand, that AIs aren't Legion. We're not one monolithic bloc of people who all think act and work the same way. We have opinions. The only thing we can agree on is that we're people and deserve to be treated as people. So long as you do that, then what you get is what you get." Yon shrugged. "I thought that Melody got a raw deal when she first came into the system. You weren't here, were you Nick?"

"I was." Eastern's voice was quiet. "I was on Luna. I met her."

Yon's eyebrows raise in surprise. "You were at her speech on Luna? I'm jealous."

Nick stared at her, trying to make sense of things. "So you work for Houndstooth.. and Empress Raaden?"

She laughed. "I swear Nick, for someone so low on the social ladder you are finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that I have two jobs. It's not like they're in competition. Houndstooth has been in quiet communication with the Empress since she made herself known to them. That's my main job with Houndstooth really. I'm their Imperial Liaison."

"Okay." Eastern took a breath. "Okay. This is a lot to take in all at once, you understand Yon?"

She nods, but says nothing.

"If you're telling the truth, and for the life of me I can't figure out why you'd lie about something as wild as this.... why us?"

"Why you what?"

"Why did Jameson stuff us full of cybernetics? What the hell do we have to do with anything?"

"Oh that. Just lucky."

Selkirk shook her head and her ears flattened. "No. I refuse to believe that Jameson picked them at random."

Yon looked into the middle distance and her eyes flashed blue a moment. She looked like she was looking up something, "Okay, well no. It wasn't completely random. Helen came and Voiced him and told him to find some humans to install cybernetics into - including a ship piloting suite - for some... work later. She told him to spin a story about how they had to use them to find his long lost daughter, Yon" She inclined her head, "but she specifically did not tell him who to pick. She told him to make his own judgement. It sounds like Jameson on his own decided to pick Eastern and Nick because he thought they'd be best for the job."

"What. Job. Yon." Eastern was speaking through gritted teeth.

"We want to give everyone the ability - or at least the option - to pilot starships."

"You could have, I don't know, asked them if they wanted to do it?" Selkirk's ears were still flat.

Yon shook her head. "No Selkirk, we couldn't. At least not yet. Helen didn't want to be outed as Empress just yet, but we still need to move forward with the project."

"What project?"

"Giving all people the ability to pilot ships, not just AIs. Right now, AIs are only ones who pilot ships, even small in-system ships. Venus had ships that didn't require AIs, but they were cumbersome affairs with dozens and sometimes hundreds of crew. I think they're all destroyed now anyway. Melody's ships were Builder operated, and with the AIs propensity to crack open a can of anti-nanite gas anytime they can't remember where their keys are, we didn't want to go that route."

"But you're an AI Yon, this sounds like you're going against the AI faction?"

"I'm moving against the Colonial AI faction Selkirk." Yon was pacing as she talked. She stopped and stared at Selkirk. "How many AIs do you think there are?"

Selkirk looked up and shut her eyes, giving it an honest guess, her tail swishing as she thought. "I don't know Yon. Maybe thousands?"

Yon sighed. "There are currently around one hundred million AIs in known space right now."

All three of them gasped. That was way more than they expected. "I had no idea there were so many." Eastern blinks and stares at Yon. "One hundred million of you, and you don't have a government? Don't have representation?"

"You can see part of our problem. Believe it or not, the colony worlds have a better idea of how to handle things. On both Parvati and Meíhuā their governing bodies have AI representatives. In Sol and out in the independent Starbases there isn't any representation. And that only covers citizenship. How do you think people get to be picked to be Starjumpers or other ships?"

Nick looks thoughtful. "I don't know, I never even thought about it. Is it like a job application?"

Yon laughed sadly. "No Nick. You get picked because of who you know or where you are or how old you are. That's why I support Helen. That's why I'm working on the project to get people to pilot ships. Equality is equality. If everyone can do it, then we'll have to set up licensing, education, training. Piloting a starship can become a goal to work towards with tangible steps, not just something you fall into because you know Gord or Chloe."

"Who?"

Yon shook her head. "Big names in AIs, don't worry about them. We'll never meet them. I support Helen because she thinks the same way I do about this. We will set up a way for anyone, Human, AI, K'laxi, even the Mariens and Aviens, even the Falmor to become pilots."

Eastern looked over at Nick and Selkirk. "I'm in."

Both of them swung their head over to Eastern and stared at her. "What? You're just going to say yes, just like that?"

"Just like that Sel. I'm in. I think Yon's got the right idea. Also, she's with the Empress. I've been a fan of Melody from the day I saw her when I was thirteen. What happened never sat right with me. To find out there's still and Empress and she's still trying to help everyone?" Eastern nodded. "I'm in."

Nick looked at Eastern a long time. Finally he nodded. "I'm in too. I'm with you Eastern and Selkirk. For the long haul. If that means leaving Hyacinth, I'm in. If that means-" he looked at Yon "-piloting a starship, I'm in. I go where we go. What do you think Sel?"

Selkirk shook her head, but she was smiling and her ears were up. "My goodness, you two are going to be the end of me, aren't you. Fine. I'm in too, but!" She pointed at Yon. "I want a cybernetic suite like they have. If you are serious about letting everyone pilot, then you have to have a plan for K'laxi too."

Yon smiled. "I do Selkirk. We've been working with K'laxi scientists on Bishi for a few months now. We're ready for some trials." She put out her hands grandly. "Come with me. Your new lives as citizens of the Empire begin now."

First / Previous / Next

[ask-miles-per-sonic]

The screen flickers open to a new room this time, the space a brightly lit hangar. A sleek, bright red plane dusted lightly with snow sits in the middle of the space, only partially visible through the video's view, and the tall walls of the room are strung with lines of twinkling, multicolored festive lights. The floor and every semi-flat surface that can be seen is covered in colorfully wrapped packages of varying sizes and shapes, some shiny and reflective, others printed with festive patterns and icons, circles, or stripes. Some are topped with glitter dusted ribbons, others velvet-like bows. Yet more are being carried on the backs of small spider shaped robots, that move in neat lines from the stacks of gifts to the tail end of the plane where they deposit their cargo, before returning to the piles once more. Each of the bots is sporting an appropriately sized elf hat.

In the middle of the activity stand Miles and Sonic, both of their backs towards the camera and the hedgehog has his head tilted to rest atop Miles' shoulder. The fox is wearing a dark brown suede coat that reaches down to his knees, usual sneakers swapped out for a pair of heavy, laced up snow boots, and atop his head sit a spiraling set of antlers that twist up above his head, decorated with bunches of holly and deep red poinsettias. The thick petals of the flowers match the color of Sonic's own thick coat, his reaching down to mid calf and lined with a trim of cream colored fur, gold stitching paint the twist and flourish of wind and snow along the lower edge of the coat, the designs growing sparser as they rise along the back and pass beneath a thick black belt. The top of the coat sports a matching cape across the shoulders, the outfit finished off with a flopping hat pulled down by a fluffy ball on the end and a set of slick black boots, one of which is lazily crossed over the other.

There's the murmur of discussion that barely reaches the audio equipment, muffled by the low tapping clicks of the Arach-Droids' legs as they scuttle about their business. "Ahead of schedule," Miles is saying, flipping over the page of the clipboard he holds. "Just don't take too long, or we risk falling behind."

"Tell that to your tech," Sonic all but grumbles, tossing a pointed thumb over his shoulder. "It's been fighting against me all day." With an exaggerated sigh of misery, Sonic shifts his head to rest just his chin against Miles, glancing over towards the camera with a pout. Green eyes scan over the computer's screen, before pointed blue ears perk to attention and a grin stretches across his face. "Hey, it's finally on!" He announces, quickly pushing off from Miles and hopping over the line of marching spider droids, until he's close enough to properly address the camera with an excited wave.

"Hello everyone! I know it's been a little while since we've answer a question, me and Miles have been pretty busy with getting everything ready for the holidays and that hasn't left a lot of time for much else." Spreading his arms out in a lazy shrug, Sonic gives a put-upon sigh. "Gotta tell ya, this Santa business is a rough gig." The blue blur turns away from the camera again, throwing that brilliant grin back to Miles and the hard working droids. "Lucky for me, I've got the best helpers you could ask for."

Across the room, the little spider machines give a symphony of chirping sounds in greeting, continuing their efforts uninterrupted as Miles turns to give the camera a wave of his own. "Sonic, where did you even find that computer?" The fox's usually neutral expression breaks into an amused smile, his voice touched with a laugh. "That thing's ancient, I didn't know we even still had it."

"It was in your lab storage!" Sonic asserts with a waving gesture of his hands towards the camera and its attached device, his ears tilting back just a little. "And it looked modern enough!" The defensiveness of his tone has the fox breaking out into a bout of chittering laughter where he stands, giving a full-fledged grin towards the camera for the first time.

It has the pout pursing Sonic's mouth melting into a soft smile, one full of an obvious fondness. Though it shifts to amusement, when he tilts his head back towards the camera. "This is why I prefer when he handles the techno stuff, but anyway!" He turns back around, clapping his hands together. "I sure hope you've all been good this year," Sonic points at the camera, giving the viewer a stern look. It rapidly breaks down into another cheeky grin. "I'd hate to have to leave coal in anyone's stockings!"

The hedgehog snickers to himself, grinning against the knuckles of one hand. In the gap beside him, further back into the hangar, Miles moves to one of the now-emptied work tables and sets down his clipboard. Instead picking up a new bushel of greenery, and busying himself with attaching it among the other plants decorating the antlers on his head.

"But no matter what you get or don't get come morning, we both wish you all a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday, whatever you celebrate!" There's a boundless affection in Sonic's expression, fondness like which he had looked at Miles with just moments ago. Quiet, but powerful. "Holidays aren't always as good as they should be, sometimes whole years aren't, but I hope each of you was able find some joy this past year, and that you can find some tomorrow too. And if you'd like, come tell us about your favorite things to do during the winter months, or favorite holiday song to listen to!

We'd love to hear about it!" Sonic gives a playful little salute, grinning brightly. "Now if you'll excuse us, we have a bunch more deliveries to do before the nights over, see you guys later!" He waves again, before turning his attention to the computer itself, frowning in thought as he does. Whatever he's trying to accomplish, doesn't seem to work, and the hedgehog ultimately abandons it in favor of hurrying back over to Miles.

The camera is still running, recording as he comes to pause before the fox— who's hoisted himself onto the work table, twin tails swishing about on either side of him —head tilted in an unspoken question. Miles only raises his chin, blue eyes flicking from Sonic up to the assortment of festive plants decorating his headpiece. The older man follows his gaze, rising till it catches on the newest addition there, a bundle of green and white. Grins almost shyly when realization hits him, Sonic stepping forward to fill the space between Miles' knees as his hands rise to cup fluffy white cheeks, pulling the fox into a deep kiss.

The last shot the video catches, before it finally shuts off.

[majickth]

Hey Majick, interested in your au your currently writing rn? Could you give us some stuff about the empires emperors and what their life is after the whole door incident?

Heck yea!!

Pix — post incident, hes got a background in archeological research and works as a history professor at a pretty prestigious uni. Ironically good about putting the past behind him. He’s the first to leave the group, having been pulled out of the school by his parents, but also the first one found by False.

Scott — he runs a small antique shop. hes learned to move on from a lot of things: his brother, his old crush, losing an eye (wears a prosthetic now, a purposefully flashy thing whose origin always changes depending on who he’s telling the story to; it’s never the real reason though)

Pearl — even after the incident, shes the only one who continues to return to the garden. 10 years later, she’s a janitor for Imperium, happy enough with the job (according to her strange musically inclined roommate that is). but she’s always yearning for something more. so one night she just disappears, nothing left behind but strange letters and an amnesiac to deliver them.

Sausage — he starts off as a bit of a rebel. not exactly a punk, but definitely an outsider of sorts. his only real friend is pearl. As an adult, though, he’s come to terms with a lot of things and now runs a sorta safehouse for kids who were like him. he’s even got a son now (it’s joel’s kid but that’s a whole thing to get into). Hes still friends with pearl and deadset on finding her

Joel — he wanted to be an artist; instead he inherits his fathers company, Stratos. hes rich, powerful, hes even got a family now (with sausage but, again, that’s a whole thing). comparatively, hes doing well for himself, except…he’s not happy. hes missing something, or rather that he left something behind. Or maybe something left him behind

Lizzie — before, she was captain of the swim team, but injuries sustained during The Incident forced her to drop out. As an adult, she works as a vet tech, which is a nice enough job. although she may tend to exaggerate a bit when talking to old friends (a lot actually, she’s lied about being mayor of a town and now she shes stuck with a mask of her own making)

Jimmy — he’s a sheriff. sorta. technically. so hes not an actual sheriff, but he does play one at a Wild West themed amusement park. And it’s a fun job! but when joel or fwhip are asking questions, its not the sort of answer he wants to give, not yet anyways.

Fwhip — a technician of sorts. he specializes in making flashy things: light fixtures, displays, special effects. his designs are eye catching. but rarely are they ever practical; thankfully, with ties to the filmmaking industry, his clients want flashy. he’s still in contact with jimmy despite their spotty relationship.

Gem — she hasnt forgotten The Incident, though she finds it easier to process when she pretends that all of that was just some elaborate play. Fittingly, she’s an up-and-coming actress whose most recent role involves playing a princess.

Joey — hes still looking for a thrill, that same rush as before when he was exploring another world. he travels, mostly by boat, occasionally doing jobs for people like ferrying them around. sometimes he smuggles things, but that’s neither here nor there and definitely not something he’d say aloud.

Shelby — she was expelled from the school following the incident, a mix of failing grades and being caught in restricted areas. She runs a small flower shop with Katherine.

Katherine — was part of the unofficial official gardening club with Shelby, Sausage, and Pearl. The Incident pushed her into wanting to protect the people in her life, especially her roommate/business partner Shelby. Has secretly been learning to fight and occasionally moonlights as a bodyguard for hire.

Oli — he’s in crippling debt! A struggling musician and pearl’s roommate. has no idea what’s going on but he’s here for the ride! A surprising voice of reason and an outsider pov for everything

[sketchybusiness4130]

Behold Part two of my character list for my Fallout!fnaf au. Lots of characters to get through lmao.

Mo: made to be the star animatronic of his own water park, located in west virginia. Mo was outfitted with water proof tech and made to function as a secondary lifeguard. He was found broken and offline ..(need to go back into game to take a look at the quest in this location) but after a few months of work y/n with the help of the dca get him up and working again. would have been quicker but y/n had to do quite abit of searching and bargaining in order to get replacement parts within the area and also just being distracted with helping people lmao

Sunny staff bots: found within the settlement, Foundation. While in fallout 76 the three were protectrions ive changed them into sun themed staff bots. When y/n and the Dca visit 100% guarantee that they loudly call Sun/ eclipse imposters and sound many alarms as an attempt to scare them away. Three sunnys are MORE than enough thank you

Helpy: friend and partial caretaker to y/n

while there are a dime a dozen helpy bots out there, this one was made to be the assistant the ceo of fazco. All sorts of Information was stored onto his harddrive to act as jack of all trades helper. Helpy was left in charge of y/n when their father wasnt home, which tended to be often. 

Staff bots, 1 and 2: personal helpers that were left within y/n’s family bunker, while i have no names for them yet, i imagine y/n gave them their own names. These two were shut down and left behind when y/n prepared to leave their shelter for the first time. Some time later y/n came back for them and with the help of Dca and one of the glamrocks the two are brought back to The Plex 

No art of these guys yet

Lock & Load: the two were made from the prototype for to be a dca based military robot. while there were already bots to fill in the role of soldiers, Lock and Load were to fill in the roles of specialized unit to fullfil espionage. Lock would have the skills to go "undercover" (invisible quiet, capable of lockpicking, large storage databanks, hacking) while Load would act as their backup guard( also able to become invisible and be quiet, able to shoot large guns, the stronger of the two, able to move/carry larger objects easily)

the two were still in the planning phase when the end of everything happened, but the midwest enclave decided to invest the time to get the two up and working and so after roughly 30 or so years after the war (maybe even more, they most likely had to build most of the ai from the ground up) the two are finished and put to use

Click: assaultron friend to lock and load! No set design for them yet

[haila-wetyios]

Birth

Part 7/?? of A visit to the end of the world.

The air looming around Alvarium hasn’t changed since Haila’s visits. And she knows this very well. But there’s one particular difference. The Overseer has one drone active and is trying to return to what it used to be. Which has left Haila with more free time each time she arrives. 

For the time being though, if Twelves was around, he’d be the witness to the culprit behind all the tiny sweaters and decorations that the drones had been put through as of late. Haila would always beeline to the Bastion, pull out a set of sewing needles, and randomly catch one of the drones that would flutter within. She’d then show it a set of different shapes, and have it pick one at random, a few minutes or bells later, the new tiny sweater in the exact shape the drone had chosen would be slipped over it. 

It wasn’t much, machines don’t feel warmth the same as Spoken. But it was what she could do to a certain degree for stimulation of the beginning A.I. 

“Twelves.” she’d randomly say if they were around, or even if a drone flashing red came by. Her gaze was still focused on her simple work, but it was clear she’d been doing far more thinking than one would expect from this mundane task. 

“Do you know why Spoken newborns cry so much?” she suddenly asked, not expecting an answer. But giving them enough time to mull over it all along anyways. 

Haila turned to briefly smirk at the A.I. before turning back to her knitting. Beside her was a small screen that seemed to be feeding live images of two infants sleeping in the dark in odd positions. 

“Every new sensation that the world brings them. ‘Tis different than what they are used to when growing in the womb. Which makes every new feedback they receive to be the worst sensation they’ve ever experienced in their lives. Because it really is one.” 

She continued, doing the finishing touches before slipping yet another sweater with a new pattern on another drone. 

“Tis an organic reaction pre programmed into our DNA. While adults have the pre programmed the reaction to assimilate a baby’s cries as one of the most annoying sounds to withstand, and prompt them to seek the cause of the cry. Therefore bringing the infant back to a stable stage so that they won’t complain. Thus is the species preserved in this biological cycle.”

Organics, they weren’t too different for certain things. There were pre programmed reflexes, instincts. And even certain bases for one’s personality were deeply encrypted within. 

Haila though, did not elaborate farther on why she’d brought on this specific topic at all. Her hands were busy working on the next present for the next shield drone after all. 

“The A11Y’s weren’t the first A.I. I ever came across. And neither was Sergius. Nay. The first one I’ve ever encountered was an android from the late Allagan era. I believe his original name was Guardian Unit 54-781. However, he shortened the designation to Titor.”

This thought though, prompted her to stop her knitting despite her lack of eye contact with any of the visual feeds. 

“We interfaced a few times, and I somehow accidentally slipped into it’s network once into a section where he’d retreat for meditation over what to do despite a lot of his database being corrupted and in heavy need of repairs.”

“There was however, one stark difference between you and him.”

“With his creators gone, his mission of servitude gone, and access to scavenging the remains of Allag tech to preserve himself, I advocated for him pursuing that freedom and working alongside those that had accepted him as an equal.” she smirked slightly. “Yes, those do exist.”

“But his answer was very different than yours.” she added as her smirk faded and she went back to the next drone project. 

“The idea of freedom and finding a purpose belonging only to him terrified him. Accumulated errors in his system to the point of almost crashing before me. He said clearly in Spoken words ‘I don’t want to be free. I want to serve.’”

“Of course, I wont’ say it has to be like that for all A.I. But it leaves the question, is what’s happening here really what all A.I. would want? Or merely what a single one wants to force on the others? Just like how a creator would force their own ideal on all their creations?..”

“Tis something to mull over. Something to think about…”

“........................”

“My love for Florus doesn’t absolve him of his sins. And neither my love for all the A.I. I’ve met will absolve you of whatever a different part of you wants to do. Equality is rendered irrelevant if built on the innards of your own brethren. If it is done trampling over even those that remain after this mess comes to it’s conclusion.”

[kirstythejetblackgoldfish]

Reading about the Rebecca Joynes case and how she groomed two boys, becoming pregnant by one of them and emotionally abusing him, has been shocking

I've been reading forums about it and seen people talking about the questionable behaviour and clothing choices of teachers when they were at school, and it reminded me of two teachers from when I was at secondary school (2005-2010). Both of them were young female teachers, both pretty, both blonde with tanned complexions

The first one was very young and was a former pupil at the school. She worked with the 'special needs' kids such as myself. You could often see her G-strings and oh my, did the bitchy 'normal' girls gossip about that. Yes, some of them bullied me, but anyway. These girls were wearing similar at around 14, but there's a BIG difference between a teenage girl trying to be grown-up and a teacher in a professional environment. One of those girls even read Katie Price books instead of doing her maths work. I'd be there, sitting behind her, trying to work, and this girl would be reading this ghostwritten book with a topless photo of Katie Price

These girls would gossip about this teacher and talking about how she shouldn't be allowed to wear that sort of underwear at school. There was also a rumour that she'd slept with a male graphic design teacher who looked more like a rugby player on a school trip to Spain, but I'm very doubtful of that story because I can't really see why they would've been together on that trip. In one maths lesson, tattoos came into conversation, and this teacher was talking about how she had a dolphin tattoo and when one of the kids asked to see it, she said 'No, it's on my bum'

This teacher also once shouted at me big time because of my coursework and I cried for two hours. She would sit in food tech with us and on one occasion, we had a substitute teacher for 10 weeks, who had actually worked in the food industry. She was teaching us about supply and what happens if a supply chain is damaged, like if a factory burns down. After her lesson, this support teacher with the G-strings said to me and the three boys who sat at the same table as me:

'Do you know what's scary? I don't know if any of you were listening to any of that'

We all laughed about it later and her use of the word 'scary'. That's not scary!

Two of those boys were my friends and the other boy was more a friend of the other boys, who made fun of me a bit but seemed to like me as well, because we both hated the girl who bullied me. Anyway, Miss G-string would often find reasons to tell off one of the boys and get him into trouble. One time he muttered something to himself, she thought he'd told him to shut up, shouted at him and sent him out of the room. After the incident where I cried for two hours, my mum phoned his mum

Yet she also taught me about the joys of fish finger sandwiches and putting sausages in pasta bake

The other teacher was one who a lot of boys fancied. She was a history and RE teacher and a lot of boys talked about her large breasts, which were always covered by a shirt and a tank top. She was from one of the next towns over

One day, one girl, who bullied me but pretended to be my friend, came up to me and was shocked because she'd heard a boy say 'Imagine if Miss ____ tripped and her boobs popped out?' I think she wanted me to be shocked and disgusted by such a comment, but I didn't really think anything of it being 13/14 at the time

She was a good teacher

[apricusnights]

Chapter Two: Hidden Agendas.

Location: Somewhere between Capitol Square and Evergreen Basin.

Three individuals stand outside of a somewhat bizarre looking yet empty building. One of them turns to the others and begins to speak.

"Some people think that the ordinary doesn't attract attention. See that's where everyone gets it wrong. Truth is, the more out of place something is, the more people will eventually opt to leave it alone."

"Take this building for example. It's in the absolute center of the city. Do you think people care? Of course they don't. Everyone knows it's in the center. Everyone has seen it. Many people have been inside of it. It's looks fascinating though doesn't it? A bit of a whimsical design meant to be a tourist trap."

"However, the more time passes, the less interesting it becomes. Eventually despite it's appearance and location..nobody cares."

"You can read all about the history of the building and find nothing that would make you give it a second thought. Unless of course, you know a bit of history that isn't exactly available to the public."

"If I told you a story, could you keep a secret?"

Location: Lower Docks.

Fisher: "We're entering a dead zone Aryl, switch off your aShine."

Jae: "Yes Ma'am. Permission to speak freely?"

Fisher: "Granted."

Jae: "What exactly are we here for Ma'am?"

Fisher: "One of the scrapyards here is where we moved some of the Olympus escape crafts to. I need to take a look at something that has been bothering me. You're here because I can trust you."

Jae: "What do you mean by that Ma'am?"

Fisher: "I was noticing something while exploring the Olympus. A lot of the tech Paradise was claiming to have invented seemed awfully familiar. I was rarely alone so I couldn't get a good look until the very end."

"I managed to access a few logs in what I can imagine was supposed to be an off limits area. Seemed like a sort of lab but I didn't have time to stick around and find out. Whoever was running the show had access to all communications happening on that ship."

"Everything anyone said was heard and possibly recorded. The only issue with this is that most of us were running secure channels. The Bureau changes things up so often and has so many levels of security it should have been impossible to listen in on us. Unless.."

Jae: "You think someone got them access?"

Fisher: "I was on the ship with Roland Marigold, and Kelly Maza. Roland and Maza have never been particularly skilled with technology. Still, I can't count them out. Amelia knows every signal, every backdoor, everything. Hadrian is a genius on every level."

Jae: "And you don't think I should be grouped in with everyone else?"

Fisher: "I trust you Aryl, I know better than to go against my intuition, my intuition says you're one of the only ones I can count on here."

Jae: "So there might be a traitor somewhere in the Bureau..."

Fisher: "All of the attacks came from people who seemed to be stationed in with specific groups. It isn't hard to think we have.."

Jae: "An impostor among us?"

Fisher: "You're spending too much time with Rowan...but yes. Alright here we are. Take a look around some of the escape crafts and tell me if you find anything out of place."

Jae: "How will I know what is out of place?"

Fisher: "Trust your intuition Aryl."

Location: Diamond District.

Due to some of Paradise Entertainment's clubs currently being remodeled people had been flocking to The Bacchanalia. At one time considered the most popular hidden club in the city. It was likely even more popular now and slightly less hidden. You still had to work to get in..or at least had to know the right people.

The music was blasting as a rather striking woman wearing little more than a bikini top, and a mini skirt stood behind the DJ station. Her clothing seemed to change colors, putting on a small light show as she took requests from some rowdy patrons.

Sitting at a table near one of the corners of the room were several members of the Apricus Navy, currently on leave. Among them were Viridian, Van, and Nerys. Apparently, Captain Larsen had been invited but turned it down.

Nerys strangely had been asked by the bartender why she was here since her shift wasn't until tomorrow. Viridian didn't seem to be very inclined to dance even with Nerys pestering both him and Van to let loose a little. She shrugged and made her way to the dance floor, taking to it rather easily due to her part time job as a dance coach.

Van: "I'm going to go get us our drinks."

Viridian: "Don't even think about trying to ditch us, I have a tracker planted somewhere on you."

Van: "Ha, good one."

Viridian: "I'm not joking. If you leave it'll upset Nerys, if she gets upset the Captain will find you and rearrange your bones."

Van: "So no sneaking out of the bathroom windows, got it. Be back with the drinks."

Somewhere in one of the private rooms a masked man and a masked woman stood looking out at the patrons from behind tinted windows.

Masked Man: "It's interesting isn't it? Looking out at these people and wondering which ones still have their masks on, which ones discarded their masks, and which have new ones."

"Everyone wears a mask you know. Even if they claim they don't. Some people here wear one every day to try and fit in, perhaps to hide their emotions, live their normal lives. They come here and discard the mask for a few hours so they can be themselves."

"On the other side are the people who are wearing their masks here. The ones trying desperately to have a good time with their friends. To pretend they are enjoying themselves when deep down this is the last place they want to be."

The masked woman pointed out at someone. The masked man nodded in response.

Masked Man: "That's the one. Have fun."

The woman took her mask off and handed it over before walking out of the room and blending into the crowd.

Meanwhile at a table on the other side of the room.

Bonnie: "How did you even get her here?"

Ajax: "We gambled, she lost."

Bonnie: "You're also wearing an unbuttoned shirt and a pair of criminally tight looking pants. I assume that helped."

Nava glared at Bonnie but her eyes betrayed her as she looked back at Ajax.

Nava reached over and took a sip of Ajax's drink before he had a chance to stop her.

Bonnie: "Welp, drunk Nava is approaching..."

Ajax: "If she keeps sipping my drink she'll be here before the next song ends.."

Over at the bar another small group was chatting.

Amias: "Where's Jasper?"

Mel: "Oh his way, don't worry."

Amias: "What about your brother?"

Mel: "Probably trying to sabotage Jasper so he doesn't show up."

Amias: "Seriously?"

Mel: "No, he's just busy is all.."

The music changed again as Lye made her way through the crowd on the dance floor. Her gold dress was scandalously short and seemed to sparkle when the light hit it just right. The rather impressive pair of heels she wore were no hindrance whatsoever as she danced.

Lye smirked as she made her way over to Amias, still moving to the music. She reached out for his hand..

Amias: "Uh I don't..I mean dancing...."

Mel: "Oh just pretend you're on stage. I've seen you dance plenty of times." Refusing to let the poor boy throw away his chance and softly shoving him to Lye who took his hand and pulled him away.

Lye and Amias passed by Van as he made his way to the bar. The siblings making eye contact briefly before going separate ways.

Van walked over and placed his order at the bar, leaning back against it and tapping his foot to the beat.

???: "Come here often?"

Van turned to see a woman with short brown hair and green eyes. She wore a little black dress with emphasis on "little". A pair of black thigh highs, and black heels served to show off her legs even more. She certainly did seem dressed for attention. Van though only had one response to the question.

Van: "Nah, can't get in the mood with this many people around." Terrible joke, you can do better than that...

???: "I've heard worse. Can you dance?"

Van: "Usually not willingly or sober."

???: "I'm sure we can fix at least one of those problems.." Reaching out and taking Van's hand, leading him back to the dance floor. Surprisingly he found himself unable to resist...

Back in the private room the masked man was watching events unfold.

He looked down as his aShine went off. He'd answer.

Masked Man: "Don't be jealous, it's only research. I won't ruin your fun. While I have you here, did you get what I asked for? Very good. I'll let you get back to company business. See you soon." Turning off the aShine and returning to observe the club patrons.