#then i got a book id put on hold about course design and teaching

[toadlett]

an incomplete list of things you can probably* do in your local library

borrow books and stuff! That includes comics, manga, various languages, audiobooks in various formats, and nonfiction including handbooks for citizenship, driving tests, study guides for academic subjects. If we don't have something we can likely order it in.

Our libraries recently stopped using any overdue fines, so you don't even need to worry if bringing the book back on time is a barrier, and a lot of other libraries are doing the same.

accessible books and audiobooks, specially designed for people with dyslexia or other neurodivergences, plus large print, and we often have magnifiers people can use if they want.

Also ask for recommendations, library workers read a lot and we can help you find that good shit.

ebooks, eAudiobooks, digital newspapers (including in languages such as Ukrainian and Urdu) and magazines! a lot of these you will be able to access through your phone, tablet etc, but you can also come into the library to access online resources we have such as Which magazine and genealogy sites.

Free wifi

Computer use, with scanners, printers, laminating and photocopying facilities.

help with computer/ IT issues, and courses to help you improve your IT skills.

access to jargon-free health information, including a wide range of information from macmillan to help with cancer diagnosis, and regular drop-in sessions where you can talk to a macmillan worker.

public information boards where people can post about local events and points of interest, from local council members holding office hours to country dancing.

books and other media for sale from withdrawn stock and donations. always very cheap, eg books at 20p and videogames for £1 each. but often we'll let you take what you'd like for whatever you can afford, we'd rather it go to a good home!

Events! Most libraries run programs of events over the summer and other school holidays aimed at kids, but also regular clubs, such as code clan - which teaches kids coding skills, books groups aimed at variois age groups and interests, and knitting/ crafting groups. we also have events aimed at adults throughout the year, such as author visits, talks from local experts, quizzes and first aid workshops.

Free stuff:

free sanitary products

free hearing aid batteries

free colouring and activity sheets for kids - and hey if you're really proud of your colouring and want to give it to the library staff to put on the wall we love that.

free compostable waste bags

free dog refuse bags

free calendars showing when your bins will be collected

usually free books that we're given as part of various events

free stickers, and often pencils or other extra gifts if you ask nicely.

A warm, generally fairly quiet space with accessible public toilets where you can hang out. If it's hot, we give out cups of cold water. Last winter we got supplies so people could have free hot drinks, we likely won't get that this year but frankly a lot of library staff will get you a hot drink and a biscuit if you need. And if you need to ask for information or help, whether with the simplest smallest thing or something big and scary, it's a good place to go. I've helped a customer figure out if a text was a scam, and I've sat and waited for an ambulance with someone, and I've found lists of phone numbers to help someone talk to mental health support, and i've helped people find information on their local MPs so often I have a word doc with all the names and contact info ready to print. Just ask, library staff are usually up for helping.

Oh and joining is always free, and usually requires minimal ID. We recently dropped the requirement for proof of signature, so to join where I work you just need something with your address on - if you don't have a permanent address you can ask us to put the library address. If you're under 16 you need someone older than 16 to be a guarantor, but we can give you a form to get someone to sign and bring back and that's enough for us to join you.

I'm making this big angry list because libraries across the UK are being absolutely slashed right now - in the council area where I work we're likely to lose a third of our local branches. I love working as an artist, but i also really love working in the library because it is a reminder of how simple it can be to help people day to day. That's what libraries are for, and you should value and use yours, because that's how we show the people holding the purse strings that they are needed. Also there aren't many jobs (especially ones that'll employ my autistic ass) where i can get a living wage but also read at work if it's quiet.

*based on my experience working in north Lanarkshire libraries in Scotland, services differ depending on different local authorities.

Hey if you're able to access your local library, do me a favour and use it. I guarantee they'll have services or events that might be useful or interesting. At the very least its a chill place that's always free to hang out.

[whentherewerebicycles]

today was an ELEVEN HOUR DAY god I just got home but it was so fulfilling and full of so many good human interactions!!!!

[lovelyirony]

made up fic title: i didn't know i was lonely (til i saw your face)

i wanna get better 

Howard Stark is the world’s smartest man. Tony knows this, has read it in so many newspaper articles and interviews and magazines that he could probably cut out every single time a journalist writes it and make a new fucking wallpaper out of it. 

It’s permeated every single aspect of Tony’s life. The problem is that Tony looks exactly like his father did. Everyone compares everything. How quickly he builds a weapon, how fast it can take for him to churn out an idea. 

His humor is the same, way of dressing is the same, and he should be the same. The world needs another Howard Stark for the next lifetime. They don’t need a Tony Stark. 

(And maybe...maybe Tony doesn’t mind that. It’s so much easier, to pretend to be somebody else and have them look at that.) 

Tony doesn’t make friends. Ever. Friends are not beneficial, and it’s not like they could hang out anyways. Tony reads in books about friends who go to diners together and attend movies and skateboard, but really? He doesn’t have time for that. He has to build things and study business, and get his life all sorted out. 

He is sixteen when he goes to college. He feels far too young, and the kind, warm hand of Jarvis’ smoothing out his hair makes the feeling worse. 

“You will be fine, Anthony. Study hard, and who knows how quickly you’ll graduate.” 

“Of course,” Tony says stiffly. 

“Have fun, Tony,” Ana says, grinning. “College can be a fun time.” 

It’s not supposed to be fun for him. Howard told him to focus on his studies only. His whole life would be the engineering and business buildings, and maybe he would sometimes get takeout. Maybe he wouldn’t. 

Point is, this is just like everything else in his life: the goal was to be exactly like Howard. Graduate top of his class, blow the world away, and have a glass of scotch after a job well done. (Or gin, or whiskey, or hell...all three.) 

- 

Rhodey was not a factor. At all. 

Tony had thought that his mother had paid extra to make sure her son had a room all to himself. Not out of a desire, no: out of necessity. Can’t have daddy’s little prodigy revealing anything. 

And maybe she meant to, but he’s not going to question it. Not when he’s just been staring. 

“Hey man,” the guy in the room says. The name-tag on the door says “Jim.” 

“Hey,” Tony says. “Good to...sorry. I just...I wasn’t expecting anyone here.” 

“Last minute decision. My room decided to burst a pipe. Technical difficulties. They say they’re gonna get it fixed as soon as possible. That a problem for you?” 

There’s more to the eyebrow raise, more to the tone. Jim isn’t going to take shit, and he knows who Tony is. He saw it in how his eyes widened for a moment. 

Tony likes him. He doesn’t know how it’s going to go later, but for now: Jim is a likable guy. 

“Not at all.” 

- 

To get used to sharing is definitely interesting. Tony has to get used to a lot, which isn’t a bad thing, but he wasn’t expecting to have to tiptoe at three a.m. while making ramen because Rhodey has something called a “sleep schedule to maintain.” 

Tony doesn’t know what the hell that is, but he doesn’t like it. 

Jim plays a lot of records, which is...odd. Tony’s never really been one for records, mainly because he’s future-thinking. But the way that Jim smiles when he hears a song and tells Tony a little anecdote about his father’s dancing in the kitchen? That’s good. 

So Tony buys some records, and falls in love with one band in particular: AC/DC. He can’t get enough of it. 

Jim, apparently, can. 

“Oh my god,” he groans, entering their dorm room. “Are you still playing that band?” 

“They’re amazing, Jim-Jam,” Tony says, turning it down a bit. “Besides, I thought your bio lab lasted for another hour.” 

“It was supposed to, but one of the sorority girls got too flustered with a fraternity guy and then things caught fire.” 

“Boo,” Tony says, frowning. “It’s the worst when a lab catches on fire.” 

- 

Tony is not expecting Jim to invite him anywhere, take him anywhere. After all, that’s not what school is for, and Tony’s not exactly the world’s best roommate. Besides, their RA said that they didn’t have to be friends, they just had to be good roommates. 

(Tony remembers this whenever he forgets to put away his ramen bowl.) 

But Jim invites him to a restaurant with a couple of his buddies from ROTC. 

“It’ll be fun,” he says, smiling. “Besides, you never go out.” 

There’s a reason for that, although people here aren’t really “fanatical” about Tony, thank god. 

- 

The dinner turns out to be terrible, because all of the guys just want to talk about Tony’s dad. 

“How did he end up getting the better reaction timing on the new pistol, the Stark 77?” A guy named Terry asks. 

And Tony freezes. 

That wasn’t Howard’s. That was his. 

Jim must’ve seen something on his face. 

“I, uh, I guess it must’ve just been something with the screw-in method during assembly,” Tony says weakly. “If you’ll excuse me, I just realized I have something to do at home.” 

- 

Howard’s been using his designs. No credit. 

He spends about ten minutes on the phone. It amounts to this sentence: 

“Without me, boy, you’d be nothing. Who do you think paid for school? Private tutors? Advanced textbooks? Who, yourself? Don’t be ridiculous.” 

Tony’s red-faced, and the phone gets hung up, and he stares out at the sky for maybe way too long. He forgot his ID to swipe back in, and has to launch little bits of rock at what he thinks is his and Jim’s window. 

Jim brings him up and sits with him on a bed. 

“I’m fine, honestly.” 

“No, you’re really not. Tony, you’re a terrible liar.” 

And he is, really. He can lie about so many things, but family and his state of mind are a bit harder nowadays. 

He gets hugged. 

That’s...holy shit, that’s new. He’s not sure the last time he got hugged by someone he liked. Jarvis tended to like the shoulder-pat, and Ana...well, she loved to hug him, but it had been a while. (Maria and Howard, he was quite sure, had skipped the ‘human emotional intimacy’ section of life.) 

“Your dad sucks,” Jim mutters. “Just so you know.” 

“I know. I know.” 

From then, they become friends. Tony is wondering if its pity. He asks Jim as such. He snorts. 

“Tony, I don’t make friends out of pity. I’m not that kind of guy. If we were friends out of pity, I’d be moving out next semester.” 

Tony smiles. 

-

He learns how to do friend things. They have a sleepover complete with the greasiest pizza possible, video games, and at least one debate over Star Wars. 

(It’s about whether or not the skeletal structure of Jabba the Hut holds up in truth, and how density of space affects him on different planets.) 

Tony, somehow, starts calling him Rhodey. It sticks, and Jim doesn’t complain. 

Rhodey’s sweaters slowly become Tony’s, and Rhodey teaches Tony all about casual affection. 

Hugs before class, kisses on the forehead, and more than enough teasing to last three lifetimes or more. 

- 

Come May, everyone’s abuzz with summer plans. Tony, however, is dreading it. Rhodey lives in Virginia, and Tony lives in New York. His mother wants him to live in their summer home in California. 

“Oh come on, I know that you’ll have to visit me,” Rhodey says, grinning. “Tell your mom it’s a business trip or something.” 

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were corrupting me,” Tony says haughtily. Half his wardrobe is packed up, and he’s just waiting on Jarvis with the car. 

“Of course I am, gotta train you for when you liaison with the government for army contracts.” 

Tony laughs loudly. 

“Ah, so true. I’ll mark it down as heir-apparent training with my dear, drastically old father.” 

Rhodey nods, grinning. 

Tony’s leaving a day earlier than Rhodey is. 

He hopes he comes back a day earlier. 

After all, you can’t wait until you see your friend again. 

[twstarchives]

Only The Roses Should Be Red

Card: Dorm Uniform - SSR Characters: Riddle, Cater, Trey, Deuce

Chapter 1

—HEARTSLABYUL DORM - LOUNGE—

Cater: Ugh… I just can’t get this memorized!

Trey: Oi oi, Cater. Where did your usual smarts go?

Cater: That’s easy for you to say, Trey-kun.

People have things they can do and things they can’t…

Trey: Failing next week’s written exam on practical magic could send your final grade spiraling, huh…?

Cater: Right! I seriously have to drill this spell into my head somehow…

Trey: Don’t say that while you’re opening Magicam on your phone.

Cater: I just don’t have any motivation…

But I’m able to remember things that get uploaded to Magicam…

Like the long menu names from trendy cafés, or the dates that cute clothes go on sale…

Riddle: Why are the two of you frowning?

Trey: Oh, Riddle. Right now I’m helping Cater study for his magic test. He’s close to failing.

Riddle: …He’s close to what?

Cater: Hold on a sec, Trey-kun! You didn’t have to tell him that!

Trey: Practical magic is a required course, so if you fail it here, I just don’t think you’ll be able to pass this year.

Riddle: Cater. Are your grades so poor that you might not even pass this year?

The only thing that should be red in this dormitory are the roses! It’ll be off with your head for all the red marks you’ve gotten!

Cater: N-No, no! This is the only thing I’m really bad at! I’ve never gotten red marks in any of my other classes!

Riddle: Failing something in even one of your classes should give you a sense of impending doom.

So? What are you struggling with?

Cater: “Auto-Cleaning Using Enchanted Supplies”…

Riddle: Auto-cleaning… So magic that makes brushes and rags clean by themselves.

I’m still a second-year, so I haven’t learned that lesson yet. But if it’s just the spell you need, I’ve read a book on it.

Cater: I’m having trouble with this “auto” part. The composition of this spell is almost like programming a machine.

It won’t work if I don’t follow the formula exactly, but… I just can’t memorize it…

Trey: That brings up a good point. You should avoid using any breakable objects with this magic, and be careful on the carpet…

Since you’ll have to cast that magic on the cleaning supplies beforehand.

Riddle: Cater’s Unique Magic allows him to clone himself, right?

If you’ve mastered magic that complex, how are you having trouble with this?

Cater: Well… I’m great at thinking of lots of things all at once, but I’m not that good at envisioning outcomes, or planning things out…

Riddle: So what you’re saying is… You’re smart, but you don’t put in any effort. I see.

Very well. Then I will teach you how to study.

Cater: What, seriously?!

Trey: But this is third-year level work. Is this really alright?

Riddle: Who do you think you’re speaking to? I’m the dorm leader of Heartslabyul.

Having the ability to fix all students’ problems regardless of grade level was one of the first qualifications of becoming dorm leader.

Ever since I took that role, no one has repeated a year or dropped out.

And as long as I’m in this position, there will be absolutely no failures in my dorm!

Just leave everything to me.

I will make it so that Cater gets a high score, guaranteed.

—LIBRARY—

Deuce: Um, the shelf that had alchemy grimoires was this one, right…?

Riddle: First we should use floating magic as a base… No, it’d be better to implement the transparency magic first.

A book further detailing the spell would be——Ah!

(Crash!)

Deuce: Ah!

Riddle: Ouch… I apologize, I was looking the other way.

Deuce: Dorm Leader Rosehearts! I’m so sorry!

Riddle: Oh, look who’s here—Deuce.

Deuce: I’ll help you pick up the books… Wait, you’re planning on reading all of these?

Riddle: Yes. Is there a problem?

Deuce: You have at least twenty grimoires here, and they’re all big and seem complicated…

Riddle: These are the materials I need so I can compile a test prep notebook for Cater.

Since solving student problems is the dorm leader’s duty.

Deuce: Th-That’s our dorm leader for you…! You have my respect.

The only thing I can help you with is carrying things for you… but, I will at least bring them to your desk.

Riddle: Thank you. You’re a big help.

Good. If I just summarize all of these grimoires, he should do perfect on his test.

I’m looking forward to handing him the finished product.

Chapter 2

—HEARTSLABYUL DORM - HALLWAY—

Riddle: Don’t take another step, Cater!

Why is it so hard for you to memorize just 300 pages of text?!

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!!

Cater: It takes longer than one or two days to memorize 300 pages!

Plus, everything’s written so tiny and squished together, and it’s on A4-sized paper!

Stop yelling so angrily with your face that red!

Trey: Now, now, Riddle. Let’s calm down a little.

Riddle: Hah… Y-You’re right. Sorry for that.

...Ahem. Alright, Cater?

This test prep notebook I compiled for you is designed to counter any questions you might have.

It has the basics, advanced concepts, and trick questions… If you memorize just these 300 pages, you’ll be able to understand all of that.

So stop thinking about how hard it is and just memorize this text!

Cater: I know you worked really hard to make this, and I want to memorize everything too.

But every time I open the text, whenever I get to page 3 I just get tired all of a sudden…

Riddle: Page 3, you said?

So you’ve only read up to the table of contents?!

You’re just asking to have your head roll!!

Trey: R-Riddle. I understand how you feel, but come on now…

Riddle: Nngh…!!

Trey: And Cater. If this is putting you to sleep, then start reading out loud. Put some effort into getting this memorized.

Our busy dorm leader went through the trouble of making this just for you, after all.

Cater: That’s true. Yeah. Sorry…

Alright. I have one week till my test, so from now on I’ll seriously try to study!

Riddle: Hmph. If you had me do this much for you and still end up failing…

It really will be off with your head. Keep that in mind!

Cater: I-I’ll do my best.

I’ll make a post of my plans on Magicam, and then take a break from it for a little bit.

First let’s take a picture of the test prep notebook Riddle-kun made… Here.

(Snap!)

Cater: #TestStudyTime #300PagesofText #HandmadebyRiddlekun #TakingItSeriousNow #NoDozingOff

Posted~! Alright, I’ll go back to my room and start studying. Thank you, you two.

             (Cater leaves)

Riddle: Honestly. That drives me crazy about Cater.

He’s only ever looking at Magicam like that and forgets about studying.

Trey: I’m sure you can understand the feeling of trying to get out of doing something you don’t want to do.

Riddle: That doesn’t mean it’s okay for students not to study.

Trey: That’s true…

…Do you have any foods you don’t like, Riddle?

Riddle: Hah? That’s so random.

But if I had to answer… I guess I wouldn’t want to eat anything that’s bad for you, or anything with too much seasoning.

Trey: What if you had to eat every last bite of something with heavy seasoning, no matter what…

How would you eat it?

Riddle: Hmm. I’d figure out a way to make it just a little easier to eat.

Like adding hot water to dilute the flavor, or eating it in portions with sides like bread or rice.

Or also maybe eat it with something I like…

…………..AH!

——I see. That’s what’s going on!

In that case, Cater would definitely….!

Trey: What happened, Riddle?

Riddle: Trey, there’s something I want you to show me.

Chapter 3

—HEARTSLABYUL DORM - ROSE MAZE—

Cater: *Yawns*… I’m tired…

I seriously just can’t go on without Magicam… Alright, forget I made that rule. Morning Magicam check~!

Riddle: You have a big mouth, Cater, just like the walrus who stuffed his face with oysters.

Cater: Ah, Riddle-kun! M-Morning~ You look totes cute like always today!

Oh, th-this is not what you think! I wasn’t looking at Magicam or anything…

Riddle: Ah, speaking of Magicam…

I made an account yesterday too.

Cater: Oh….. HUH?!

You started a Magicam?!

Riddle: What’s with that reaction?

Should I not have a Magicam?

Cater: No, it’s not that! It’s just, you’ve always said you “weren’t interested” and never made an account, so that surprised me.

Riddle: Hm. I just happened to feel like making one.

And I thought I’d come ask for your ID.

Cater: For sure, let’s add each other! I’m super excited to see the pics you upload~☆

Riddle: Hehe. Be sure to check everyday so you don’t miss anything.

—CLASSROOM—

Ding~♪

Cater: Oh, Riddle-kun posted on Magicam! Let’s see~

I wonder what kind of picture he posted~♪

...Huh? What’s this?

Is this… a picture of a broom?

Riddle: #FirstOfAll #TouchAllFourCornersOfYourRoomWithTheBroom #WhileCastingTheSpell #FloatingMagic #SageAndSalt

Cater: Haha, he put some weird tags. It’s like he’s not familiar with it yet; it’s cute~!

—HEARTSLABYUL DORM - CATER’S ROOM—

Ding~♪

Cater: Riddle-kun uploaded something to Magicam again. This time… a towel? Err, no, this is…

A rag!

Why would he upload a picture of a rag?

I wish he’d post more attractive pics, like selfies or aesthetic lunches.

Riddle: #AfterTheBroom #PutMagicStoneInWaterBucket #5DropsOfPurificationPotion #KeepWaterTempBelow20Degrees #ExtremelyImportant!

Cater: Wait? Don’t tell me, these tags…

—HEARTSLABYUL DORM - RIDDLE’S ROOM—

Riddle: Next is the spell to brush the carpet.

I’ll take a picture of the scrub brush… umm, what tags should I put?

“#WaterMagic #FireplaceAshes #SilverApple” and then… also…

This should be good. …There, it’s posted.

Oh. Cater immediately liked it.

It looks like his account is showing progress of his studying today as well.

I’ll leave a like. …Good.

—HEARTSLABYUL DORM - LOUNGE—

A few days later

Cater: Riddle-kun!! Trey-kun!!

Riddle: Cater. How were the results on your magic test?

Cater: Tada, take a look! I got an 85 on the written portion, and an A on the practical portion!

Riddle: That’s great!! …….*coughs*.

Trey: Good for you, Cater.

Cater: Now I won’t have to repeat a year! Thank you, Riddle-kun, I mean it!

Riddle: Hmph. I gave you thorough instruction. This was the obvious result.

Trey: I was surprised when Riddle suddenly asked me to show him how to make a Magicam account…

I never would’ve imagined he’d use pictures and tags to teach Cater spells.

Cater: Well, that seriously was a genius idea!

The spell hashtags on Riddle-kun’s account were super, super, super cool!

When I was frantically trying to study from that notebook, it put me straight to sleep, but these I memorized no problem!

Next time, I’ll take you to a Magicammable pancake café as thanks ♡

Riddle: God, you really are a sweet talker… But there won’t be a next time.

Because if you ever get close to failing a required course again, it really will be off with your head!

Cater: I know, I know ♪ I’ll work hard from now on!

Riddle: Good answer. Now, to get started…

Bam!

Cater: Ggah, what’s with all these books?

Riddle: This is just the beginning. Go through all of these to get ready for your next test!

Cater: What?! Are you serious?

Riddle: Didn’t I tell you? As long as I am dorm leader…

There will be absolutely no failures in Heartslabyul!

[nsschaintale]

Link 6: Justice For Some

Chaintale Extra

Chain Link: The Fallen Royal Scientist

Link 6: Justice For Some

It had been several years since the last human had fallen and things seemed to be calm. The Underground has seen some changes over the years including the induction of a new leader of the Royal Guard. A competition has taken place as the previous leader Keldin was retiring due to family and looking for a replacement. The one who came out on top was Ketju Acheris. With her strength and determination, she managed to outlast the other monsters and become the new Head of the Royal Guard. This had also inspired the younger monsters to join up and train hard so they might one day take over, should she do the same thing. This includes Catena himself, who enthusiastically trains at every waking hour in hopes of taking that position. Tether is happy that his younger brother got something to look forward to, even if it has him on wit's end with worry at the thought of a human who might come down and do harm to everyone. At least with the Royal Guard around, he shouldn't have much to worry about. Now about Gadwyn, Tether was noticing something off about him. Knowing that the Project Barrier Break is two humans away from completion, he had always wondered why he had come home late nearly every night or early morning. He always chalked it up to work holding the scientist at the laboratory, but even he would at least try to come home to rest. Perhaps he's using the lab beds? That's what he figured, but there was this nagging feeling that there was something else. Especially when he caught a strange look on his father's face a few times while coming across him. Remembering what Gadwyn told him and Catena years prior, Tether started to think that his father has a plan outside of the project and it may have to do with his hatred towards humans as evidenced by Percy's cruel death. Feeling like he's overthinking things, Tether got ready to meet his father at the lab for work. Apparently, there's news of a new intern joining up and he had to go meet them with the others. Tether spotted Gadwyn and the group near the elevator, standing by a chubby yellow lizard girl with her two front teeth poking out from her snout, and wearing black half-framed glasses, a white blouse with pink ruffles on the seams of the collar, sleeves, and bottom, a yellow line on the sleeves, a gold bracelet, and khaki cuffed capris. She had on a chain lanyard that has her photo ID that has “INTERN” on it.

Gadwyn: Everyone, I'd like you to meet Kusari Allori. She will be interning here for the time being.

Kusari (adjusts her glasses): H-Hi, it's nice to m-meet you all. (gives a little bow)

Gadwyn: You can do introductions on your own time, but for now, we need to begin our tasks for today. Tether!

Tether (jolts): Guh, yeah?!

Gadwyn: You will be helping Miss Kusari out by giving her a tour of the facility. Once done, bring her to us so we can teach her about the project.

Tether: Yes sir...

Once everyone dispersed to their places, Tether and Kusari began the tour by heading north of the elevator.

(Tether and Kusari walked down the hall past a few blank screen panels and entered the resting area where three rows of three beds are present; a pair of ficus plants are seen in the far bottom left corner, a small clock is hung on the right side of the doorway, and a panel with green lit letters are seen)

Tether: This is pretty self-explanatory, this room is where we sleep at if we're too tired to go home after working. It happens a lot.

Kusari: Won't they get disturbed while sleeping?

Tether: It depends if you're a heavy sleeper.

(Tether and Kusari exits the resting area and makes their way further past it, arriving at the mirror room; three full-body mirrors have two blank panels between them and five more mirrors are at the opposite end; across the first three mirror is a long empty table)

Tether: This is the mirror room. ...I actually have no idea what they do in here.

Kusari: Um, maybe it's for checking to see if your clothes are all right?

Tether (shrugs): I dunno. Maybe.

(Tether and Kusari exits the mirror room and heads up into the hall leading to the central laboratory; they arrive at the observatory of the central lab room where it has a large balcony area walled off by safety windows and double doors leading into the laboratory)

Tether: That's the central laboratory. It's where all of our experiments take place. Those of us not involved in the project can observe from the outside. Looks like they're about to start another experiment. You'll get to see it closer if you join us after your internship.

Kusari: Okay.

(Tether and Kusari exits the observatory and goes right, entering the fan room; past the blank panel is three rows of 8 giant fans and a control switch)

Tether: This is the fan room. It basically keeps the lab cool through the ventilation, since it's in a hot place.

Kusari: O-Of course!

(Tether and Kusari leave the fan room and walk past the lab; they arrive at the shower area, three separate doors has a male symbol on the first door, a question mark on the second door, and a female symbol on the third door)

Tether: This is the shower area. Men on the left, women on the right, unknown in the center. Plenty of showers inside. They're rarely used but again, they're here in case someone gets stuck here.

(Tether and Kusari leave the shower area and they arrive at the extraction machine; it's a large steel machine that looks like an ant's head in design, four pipes rise into the ceiling and two additional ones connect from the sides of the eyesockets to the mandibles; a large section of the floor is missing and they can see the rest of the lab on the lower level; a blank panel and a door is seen on the left side)

Tether: This is the extraction machine. We've caught some humans over the years, so we used this to extract essences from their Souls.

Kusari: Sounds dangerous...

Tether: To the humans, yeah. To us, I don't know. I've never messed with it myself.

Kusari: Why is part of the floor missing?

Tether: The machine lowers into the lab below when in use.

Kusari: Oh. (walks over to the edge and spots two monsters working on the machinery below before joining Tether again)

(Tether and Kusari entered the room by the machine and on the opposite wall of the room, they see a TV stand with a CRT TV on top, a shelf underneath with a VCR machine, and flanking the setup are two bookshelves, filled with books and VHS tapes)

Tether: This is the TV room. Nothing too interesting about it.

Kusari (walks up to the bookshelves): Hmm... What are these?

Tether (follows): Those video tapes? I'm not sure. I've never watched them, but Dr. Gadwyn said one of them inspired part of the Project.

Kusari: Oh! I-It must've been something amazing to do something like that.

Tether: Must be.

(Tether and Kusari exits the TV room and walks past the machine, arriving at the break room; the floor is blue tiled, 6 square tables are arranged with two pairs lined up to make two parallel rectangles and the other two are in opposite corners; five grey refrigerators line the back wall, the center one flanked by two blank panels and the fridge closest to them has a microwave in the wall by it)

Tether: This is where we take breaks. Plenty of fridges to put stuff in. Just.. (sighs in disgust) ..make sure you don't accidentally leave any food and side experiments in them.

Kusari: ...I...take it you know from experience...?

Tether (squints): Yeeaaah.... I may not have a nose, but the sensation of being near it was just.... (shivers in disgust)

Kusari: How b-bad was it....?

Tether: The entire facility was shut down for a week just to remove the fridge and clean the very spot it was on, then a month just make sure nothing was contaminated. Pa- uh, Dr. Gadwyn was absolutely livid during that time. I couldn't get the sensation out of my mind for a week, it was gods-awful.

Kusari: Th-That does sound awful!

Tether: Ugh, it was. We were all busy at the time for the project, so I figure someone left something in there and forgot it. Although....forgetting something for a year isn't exac-

Kusari: A YEAR?! How has no one noticed that?! Did no one check any of the fridges during that time?

Teher: I'm still wondering that myself... Come on, we better get moving.

Kusari: Urgh...

(Tether and Kusari backtracked to the elevator and went left; they arrive at the door to the power room and entered; it's a wide area where at the opposite end, a tall machine is hooked up to 9 pipes and the lights on the two headlights, the container, and the panel are glowing a soft red)

Tether: This is the power room. It may not look like much, but it's what keeps the place running using the energy  gathered at the Core.

Kusari: Oooh... (walks up to the machine) Is there something in there?

Tether: I don't know. I never really go near it.

Kusari (backs away): Ah! M-Maybe I shouldn't go near it th-then..

(Tether and Kusari leave the power room and arrive at the infirmary area; to the left side of the five doors present are three sinks and the right side of the fifth door is a blank panel; the doors lead into rooms with medical beds and equipment)

Tether: This is the infirmary area where we take Fallen monsters into individual rooms and try to revive them.. Luckily, we don't use this place as much, but it's here just in case.

(Tether and Kusari went back to the elevator and went south; they arrive at what looks like a makeshift morgue, the right wall has several metal drawers with different labels on the front; the labels have the ID code for the humans marked; they stopped in front of the drawers)

Tether: This is... I guess this is where we've been keeping the human bodies...

Kusari: L-Like...actual human bodies, or...

Tether: Yep...

Kusari: ..They're actually in there...?

Tether (pulls open the drawer labeled “KI06”; the body of Kindel lay on the platform): This one's the last one captured.

Kusari: Whoa... (adjusts her glasses) This is what a human looks like?

Tether: There's different ones. (opens the drawers one by one, hesitating on PE05; pulls open the drawer)

Kusari: Oh, whoa! You're right! Th-There are different ones. Although... They look smaller than I imagined...

Tether: We suspect that they're younger versions of humans, kids maybe, but they did show powers stronger than our own.

Kusari: Ah, I heard! I remember hearing rumors of a monster helping a human years ago. Pretty silly, right?

Tether: Yeah, it is... (stares at Percy's body for a moment before closing the drawers)

(Tether and Kusari returned to the elevator and went up to the lobby)

Tether: Of course, you've seen the lobby. It's where the families and visitors of the scientists come to. There's a little play area for the kids to stay if their parents don't have babysitters.

Kusari: Oh, that's cute. (sees a multiple-eyed monster approach her and Tether)

Multi-eyed Monster: Ah, young Tether, it has been a long while. You've grown up handsomely.

Tether: Ah, Ms. Bakersol, it really has been a while. Kusari, this is Ms. Bakersol.

Kusari: Hello.

Ms. Bakersol: Ah, you're a new face, hello! Are you here for a tour?

Kusari: Oh, y-yes, I'll be interning in the lab soon.

Ms. Bakersol: How lovely! I hope Tether isn't causing too much trouble.

Kusari: Eh?

Ms. Bakersol: He used to be a little troublemaker, but I'm glad he's found something to focus on.

Tether: M-Ms. Bakersol...!

Ms. Bakersol: Ahohoho! Ah, how is your brother? Is he doing well?

Tether: Yep. Still doing basic training and errand work, but he's getting up there.

Kusari: Brother?

Tether: Yeah, younger. His name's Catena. He's a trainee in the Royal Guard.

Kusari: Oh wow! Wait, the Royal Guard, the one Ketju leads now?

Tether: The one and only. Why?

Kusari (blushing): O-Oh, nothing! Just wondering!

Tether: …?

Ms. Bakersol: Well, I won't keep you two long. I got some little ones to watch over. (a few eyes turn to look behind her at a little Loox Eyewalker monster) Ethan, what did I say about not sharing?

Ethan (startled then glances around sheepishly): To not do it again.

Ms. Bakersol: Yes, now play nice. (turns eyes back to Tether and Kusari except one) Ah, anyway, I'll let you return to your tour. Have fun and a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Kusari. Have a good time, Tether. (returns to the play area)

Kusari: Th-Thank you. ...You were a troublemaker?

Tether (flustered): W-We should go to the Core, yea?

Kusari: … (giggles)

(Tether and Kusari left the building towards a tall elevator north of the crossroad, going to Level R3; they were greeted by a few monsters who were leaving the Core as they crossed the bridge and reached the lit entrance; once through and after taking the elevator, they went left and arrive at the Core)

Tether: Welcome to the Core.

He had heard that the Core had sections that are interchangeable in order to confuse humans, and the duo got a demonstration of such a thing. Kusari was worried about the liquid running below the area, but Tether explained that it's a form of geothermal energy that is converted into electrical energy that powers the entire Underground. The safety railings along the paths are there to keep everyone from accidentally falling into the liquid. They noticed huge blocks of ice falling into it and Tether mentioned how the ice keeps the liquid cool. Kusari asked where the ice came from, and Tether had notice someone in Snowdin throwing ice into the river, so he assumed that was where the ice came from.

Tether: Now that that's done, let's head back so you can start your interning.

Kusari: Okay. Th-Thank you for the tour.

Tether: No problem.

(Tether and Kusari return to the lab; sees Gadwyn)

Gadwyn: Ah, there you are. I take it the tour went well?

Kusari: Yes sir! This place is really interesting!

Gadwyn: I appreciate your enthusiasm, Miss Kusari. For the time being, you'll be running errands for us, so there are some areas that are off-limits.

Kusari: Ah, I-I was wondering why there were places Tether didn't take me.

Tether: Yeah, can't take the new ones to them. Safety reasons.

Kusari: Oh, that makes sense.

Gadwyn: Right, well, let's get you set up for your first set of tasks for today.

Kusari: Yes sir!

Gadwyn: Tether, we've prepared for our next round of experiments to begin. (turns away) I expect you to be there.

Tether: Yes, sir...

Kusari: ….?

The next few weeks were spent by the scientists in conducting experiments and Kusari running errands. As Kusari was on her way to deliver some documents to Gadwyn, an alarm sounded.

Kusari (almost drops the folder): Wh-What is that?!

Scientist1: It's the alarm!

Scientist2: A human has come!

Kusari: A human? Ah, that must mean it'll end up like the others Tether showed me... (sees Gadwyn walking by) Oh, it's Dr. Gad- (sees a strange look on his face, like a twisted grin) That....was strange.

This human in particular is a dangerous one. Her green eyes were flaring in ferocity as she raced throughout the underground. She spouted demands as she faced the monsters. When she was chased by Darius, she managed to shoot him in the leg, taking him down. She was able to get through Snowdin into Waterfall, running into Ketju. Ketju faced the girl and told her that she must give her Soul up so the monsters can go free. The girl, Judy as she gave her name, answered Ketju with a shot, taking her left eye out. While Ketju writhed on the ground in pain, Judy made her escape to Hotland. This put the monsters in the lobby into a panic and they all went into the main lab area to hide until she passed through. Judy looked around to find the monsters, but found nothing and moved on. She continued on and ran into two Royal Guard soldiers. She faced off against them, firing a shot at one of them and escaping deeper into Hotland. She met Kæde and fired a warning shot, hitting a spider in the process. She managed to get far enough to enter the Core and felt like she was getting close until she heard the sound of wind pulsating. A large magic circle appeared before her and rings of chains pulsed around it a few times before Gadwyn appeared within, a Soul container tied to his hip.

Gadwyn (steps away from the circle as it vanishes): A pleasure to meet you, human, but I'm afraid your journey ends here. If you would be so kind as to give up your Soul-

Judy: Never! Now tell me where the missing children are!

Gadwyn: Oh? And why do you care?

Judy: Because their families need them back, and justice will be served to you monsters!

Gadwyn stared at Judy for a while before he scoffed at the answer.

Gadwyn: Justice, you say? (chuckles darkly) Funny you should say that. You say that justice will be served for the humans, but what about our justice?

Judy: Your justice? The monsters' justice?

Gadwyn: Yes. The humans attacked us first and took so much from us. Took many of our friends and loved ones. Took the life of a monster prince who only wanted to return the body of a human to the surface. Took away our hopes and dreams. Betrayed us all...

Judy: Well, what about the missing children? They did nothing wrong! I'm sure they only want to see what's down here!

Gadwyn: Really? I've no idea of what became of the monsters in the Ruins when the little boy arrived, but explain to me why a young girl punched her way through the snow fields, taking out any monster who faced her?

Judy: Because the monsters attacked her!

Gadwyn: The girl in the tutu who tried to buy her freedom with the truth of harming a monster?

Judy: I...well-

Gadwyn: The bespectacled boy who used his words to trick monsters to his side?

Judy: That's just-

Gadwyn: Or the boy whom I've heard ate a monster?

Judy: Guh, but that could be a rumor!

Gadwyn: A rumor? Oh, I'm afraid you're wrong. It may not look like it, but there are many eyes in the Ruins and one certain spider queen who has connections...

Judy: But-

Gadwyn: In addition! There are also the humans from centuries prior that were once our friends, but turned against us. Therefore, humans like you are not to be trusted. I almost lost one of my sons to one. I lost my beloved wife to the Seven Magicians from years ago. (muttering under his breath) Mu anamchara Alysída... (glares at Judy) Tell me, after hearing what I've said.. How does it feel to be an enemy of ours?

Judy: I... How am I an enemy to them? They're the ones who are our enemy! They know where the kids are, keeping them trapped for so long. Yet he says the humans harmed them first. That's not right, the monsters are the bad guys and bad guys need to be punished with swift justice! …..But if the humans really did do those things... (stares at Gadwyn) ...Is he like a hero to the monsters and am I...the bad guy...? (shakes her head) No, that's not righ-

Gadwyn: It appears that you are lost in thought. Allow me to give you a choice. Surrender your Soul and I'll help return your body to the surface. Refuse, and I'll have it removed by force. What say you?

Judy (aims her gun at him): I chose neither. (shoots at him)

Gadwyn (sidesteps, dodging the bullet): I'll ask again. What say you to my options? (approaches her calmly)

Judy (checks her gun, seeing no bullets in the chamber): Darn it, I'm out!

Gadwyn: You're out of bullets, it seems.

Judy (aims her gun): I gotta try...

Gadwyn (stops a few feet away): Human, don't make this hard for yourself. You do realize- (senses something) This feeling.... Magic? (notices something glowing inside the barrel) What is that?

Judy: Take this! (pulls the trigger)

To the duo's surprise, a bullet of yellow light shot at Gadwyn, grazing his right arm and startling him.

Gadwyn (grabs his arm): AAAGH!

Judy: Oh... OH! I did that? (gasp) Let me try it again!

Gadwyn (enraged; a pair of dark blue chain decals appear on his face, one running up the right side of his skull from his eye and one down on the left side from his eye to his mouth): You damned hell spawn, you've made your choice. (lifts his hand above his head) Vester!!

(a large lupine skull with a pair of wavy horns and chains attached to them appeared beside Gadwyn)

Judy (aims her gun at the skull): What-

Gadwyn (levels his hand with his glasses; closes his hand into a fist): Fire.

The pain Judy felt as the blast let loose by the skull hit her was immeasurable. Her screams were drowned out by the roar of the blast. Once it was over, Judy was on the ground, burned and bleeding. She didn't want to join the five children who fell before her. She was determined to live. Even through her pain, Judy aimed her gun. Even through her agony, she pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

She was really out of bullets.

And out of life.

Gadwyn (shivering): …...... (gasps sharply) I... (clears his throat and straightens himself up) That was...Well. I hope I didn't go too overboard. (looks at his grazed arm) That magic bullet she shot.... Could it be that-

CoreRoyalGuard1: Dr. Gadwyn!

CRG2: Are you all right!?

Gadwyn: Yes, I'm fine. It's just a scratch.

CRG2 (grimaces at Gadwyn's wound): Are you sure?

Gadwyn: Yes. (looks at Judy's body) Hmm, hopefully, we can get something from this one. (sees the yellow Soul rise from the body as he detaches the container from the chain; captures the Soul in it and stares at it, a crooked smile gracing his face) Just one more and-

CRG1: Sir?

Gadwyn (jolts): …..Right. One of you help carry the body to the laboratory, please. Carefully.

CRG1 (looks at the body then at his partner): You wanna do it?

CRG2: I'm not touching it.

CRG1: Well, I don't wanna either-

Gadwyn (glaring): Gentlemen.

CRG2: R-Right! (hurriedly picks up Judy's body with caution)

The trio made their way back to the lab through Gadwyn's teleportation circle. During this, the monsters in the lab had calmed down from nearly encountering Judy. As the monsters talked among themselves and leaving the main lab, the scientists were preparing for the arrival of Gadwyn and the body.

Kusari: Th-That was so close! We almost got attacked by that human! I hope D-Dr. Gadwyn is okay, right, Tether? …..  (looks around not seeing him) Tether? (walks off to find him, meeting another scientist)

Scientist: Oh! Kusari, Dr. Gadwyn just arrived and wants everyone to meet him in the lab.

Kusari: Okay! I'm g-gonna find Tether and tell him! (rushes off to find Tether; finds him in the morgue looking at a body) Eh? (watches him from outside of the door) What's he doing?

Tether (looking at Percy's body): Another human got caught just now... Just one more and we monsters will be free.... That would've been nice...if there was another way for us to go back to the surface without killin' anyone.. (looks away for a moment before looking at Percy's face again) If only Papa didn't kill you, you could've helped us tell our story like you wanted, the truth of the war... You could've...We could've returned home...to the surface... (sighs) When we get out of here, I hope King Kette will allow me to bury you somewhere, rather than have you locked up in this place. (moves a few loose strands of hair from Percy's face) I think it's time for me to go. I really don't want to leave, but I'll have to let you back in now. (moves to push Percy's drawer back in the locker; gets startled by Kusari's presence and the sounds of monsters moving around somewhere in the lab) Aah! H-How long were you there!?

Kusari: Eep!! S-S-Sorry! I was coming t-to get you because Dr. Gadwyn w-wanted everyone to meet up with him!

Tether: Ooh... I'll, um, be there...

Kusari: Eh?

Tether: What?

Kusari: Y-You have tears... You're crying for the human?

Tether: Huh? (rubs his sleeve over his eyes and looks at it, seeing blotches and smudges of wet spots on it) Ah... (roughly rubs his eyes and holds his arm behind his back) That's, uh, I had something in my eyesockets..

Kusari: Are you sure? You were talking to that human- (covers her mouth)

Tether: …...You heard that much...huh..?

Kusari: …. (nods) Yes, s-sorry...

Tether: ...It's fine. (looks back at Percy) His name's Percival.

Kusari: Oh? Did you name...him?

Tether: No, he already had that name. I don't know the others' true names since they were only labeled by their Soul Trait, like Percy's is PE05 for Perseverance.

Kusari (approaches the body, stopping by Tether): So, the humans have names?

Tether: Pretty much.

Kusari: What's special about this one?

Tether: He.......was the first human friend I had, as far as I remember...

Kusari (surprised): R-Really?

Tether: Yeah. Met him in the snow fields. I couldn't really place it, but I felt compelled to help him. Dr. Gadwyn told me that he could've had the ability to brainwash others, but I didn't feel any sort of magic being used on me that would cause that.

Kusari: Then...t-the rumors about the monster helping the human was...

Tether: Yeah, it was me...

Kusari: Oh.... Do you know why he came down here?

Tether: To learn about our history. He also found out that it was the humans that started the war years ago, not us. He was going to return to the surface and show others his findings. Even made a promise to do so. But....

Kusari: He got killed...

Tether: Choked to death. Saw it happen on the monitor.

Kusari: ….He sounds like a nice human.

Tether: ..He was. His words felt genuine. I felt like I could trust him. And it seemed like the humans only know one side of the story. If Percy was alive, he would be trying to convince people that we're not as bad as they thought. But at this rate.... (pushes the drawer close) ...they're likely to be closed-minded...

Kusari: Oh...

Scientist: Oh, there you two are! Dr. Gadwyn's looking for you two!

Kusari: Oh, were we gone that long?! W-We're coming! (rushes out with the scientist)

Tether (follows Kusari before stopping by the door; looks back at the locker): ….Sleep well... (leaves)

Once the duo managed to meet up with Gadwyn and the other scientists, they were promptly reprimanded for being late. Afterwards, Kusari was sent off to do errands and Tether stayed to help with the experiments. Judy's body was covered in burns and open wounds from Vester's shrapnel-laced blast. The group had to salvage as much of her as possible, but they did learn how injuries like what she has could be made. As they studied her body, there was a commotion in the main lobby.

Gadwyn: What in the Underground is going on?

When he and the group arrived in the lobby, they saw Ketju and Darius being wheeled into the ER area.

Tether: What the hell?

Kusari: Ketju!

Gadwyn: …..Right. Any healers that are present, please go tend to Lady Ketju and Darius immediately.

Kalina: Right away! (rushes off after the monsters taking Ketju and Darius)

Tether: I hope they'll be all right. Looks pretty serious. (glances at Kusari; notices her shivering) Kusari?

Kusari: …..

Tether (looks at Kusari): ...Kusari?

Kusari (has a worried, panicked look on her face): ….

Tether (touches her shoulder): Kusari-

Kusari (jolts): AAAAAH!! …..Uh...I-I'm gonna w-wait by the d-door.... (rushes off to wait by Ketju's room)

Tether: ….That was odd.

With Kalina and the other healing monsters' power, they were able to heal the wounds on Darius and Ketju. While Darius's leg wound has healed all the way, Ketju ended up having surgery. A few hours later, it was done. Even with healing magic, Ketju's left eye was gone, so there was no choice but to cover her injury up until it healed enough for her to wear an eye patch. Once done, Kusari was let in to see Ketju.

Kusari: Your eye....

Ketju (hesitantly touches her bandage): Yeah...I didn't think that human was that tough.... Judy, was it? It got a good shot at me... What happened to it?

Tether: She's being used in our experiments.. Well, her Soul, mainly.

Ketju: She, huh? So they got her? I'll have to be more vigilant and teach the others to be more careful...

Kusari: Y-You should rest, though!

Ketju: Yeah, I know. The others will be worried. Can you let them know I'm okay?

Kusari: S-Sure!

Ketju: Oh, I thought I saw Darius when I-

Darius (runs in): Lady Ketju!?

Ketju: There he is.

Darius (ears drooping as he approaches Ketju's bed): Are you all right? Ah! Your eye!

Ketju: Yeah, it sucks, but I'll live. Are you all right?

Darius: Yes, ma'am! Thanks to the healers here, my leg's feeling better!

Ketju: That's great!

Darius: I'm gonna tell the others you're okay! (rushes out)

Ketju: Darius and the sisters are a nice bunch. They really warmed up to me when I took over for Mr. Keldin. But man, if I ever see that human again, I'll ki-

Gadwyn (walks in): That won't be necessary, Lady Ketju.

Ketju: Dr. Gadwyn? Nice seeing you here. You said “That won't be necessary”. What, going after the human?

Gadwyn: Yes, as she had been dealt with.

Ketju: So you captured her. That's good. I'll need to take her to-

Gadwyn: That won't be necessary either.

Ketju: Buh, what does that mean?! What, did you kill her  or something?

Gadwyn: Yes.

(silence)

Ketju: Ah...how?

Gadwyn (adjusts his glasses): With my weapon, of course. She shot at me, so I blasted her away. Very effective, but not one I'd use on a whim.

Ketju: That's some weapon you must have. Looking at you, I wouldn't have guessed you could fight.

Gadwyn: Looks can be deceiving, Lady Ketju. (heads to the door and stops by Tether) You'll never know what kind of person you'll meet until you get to know them. (side-glances at Tether) For better or worse.

Tether (slightly glares at Gadwyn before looking away): …..

Gadwyn (turns to Ketju): I must return to the experiment room to resume the tests. Good day and rest well. Tether, Kusari, come along once you're done. (leaves)

Tether: ….

Ketju: Yikes, was he always like that?

Tether: No. Not at the beginning, but....things in our past happened and...I don't think he's gotten over them. He throws himself into his work, more now than before. I've wondered what changed... Oh, I was wondering-

Catena (runs in): LADY KETJU, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?!

Tether: And there he is.

Ketju: Y-Yeah, I am. Just lost an eye, but still alive.

Catena: THANK GOODNESS! EVERYONE WAS WONDERING WHERE YOU WERE AND GOT WORRIED! I'LL GO TELL THE OTHERS THAT YOU'RE OKAY! (sees Tether and Kusari) HI TETHER, HI NEW PERSON!

Kusari: I, uh, hi? I-I'm Kusari Allori.

Catena: NICE TO MEET YOU, KUSARI! I SEE YOU'VE MET MY BROTHER!

Kusari: Y-Yes, he's given me a tour of the area! Wait... Brother... Oh! So you're the brother Tether told me about!

Catena: SO HE DID!

Ketju: Huh, so you're Catena's brother. He always talked about you. Like, a lot.

Tether: Really? And I thought I was the one who always doted on him.

Catena: WELL, OF COURSE I GOTTA TALK ABOUT MY BEST BIG BROTHER IN THE UNDERGROUND!

Tether: Nah, the best big little brother has gotta be you, Cats.

Catena: Nyeh heh heh.

Kusari: Wait, Catena's the younger brother? I thought he was the older one. Y-You know...because of how tall he is..?

Catena: WE GET THAT A LOT, BUT NOPE! I'M A FEW HUNDRED YEARS YOUNGER THAN HIM!

Kusari: Whoa..

Ketju: Heh, that's pretty cool. If you two are brothers, then who are-

(door opens; Gadwyn and Kalina enters)

Gadwyn (looks around): ….I see you're still becoming acquainted with each other.

Ketju: Oh, back again, Dr. Gadwyn?

Gadwyn: Yes, just passing by with Kalina and letting her know you're up and chatting.

Ketju: Ah. Yeah, I got to meet Catena's brother for the first time.

Gadwyn: Well, I hope my sons aren't causing too much trouble as you're needing to rest?

Ketju: Nah, it's all- wait, sons?

Tether: You didn't notice?

Ketju: I mean... Catena looks a little more like him. You look like a different skeleton.

Tether: Trust us, we're all part of the same family, even if it seems... (glares at Gadwyn a little) ..different.

Gadwyn: …..Right. Well... (turns to Tether and Kusari) As I stated before, after you two are done, Tether, I want you to report to the central laboratory immediately. We will be resuming the experiments on JU07 and the Justice Soul. (heads to the door and stops; glancing back) And please refrain from making any side trips. (leaves)

Tether: …..

Catena: W-WELL, I'M GONNA GO LET THE OTHERS KNOW YOU'RE OKAY, LADY KETJU! GET WELL SOON! (dashes out the door)

Ketju (shivers): That was strange. Did it get tense all of a sudden?

Tether: Anyway, I guess visiting time is over?

Kalina: Yes, I'll be tending to Ketju's wound for a while, so I won't be joining up for the rest of the experiment for now.

Kusari (sighs in relief): Thank you.

Ketju: Yeah, thanks.

Kalina: No problem. You and Tether should hurry along before Dr. Gadwyn gets angry.

Kusari: Ah, y-yes! (hurries out the door)

Tether: …..Ketju.

Ketju: Yeah?

Tether: You were wondering how I look different from...Papa and Catena, yeah?

Ketju: Oh, uh, yeah, but-

Tether: I would guess it's from my mother. Papa told us about her. How she lived, how she loved....and how she died. (scratches the back of his skull) Sorry about that. It's been some time since I thought about it. (shrugs) I better move on then. Don't wanna deal with his crap the rest of the day. Nice meeting you, though, and thanks for taking care of Catena.

Ketju: Welcome..? (watches Tether leave) Huh, his mom must've had a really nice smile if he looked like her, right? (looks at Kalina; notices a confused look on her face) Dr. Kalina?

Kalina (flinches): Uh huh?

Ketju: ...You all right?

Kalina: Oh, uh, yes, of course, I'm fine! Let me...change the bandages out. (unwraps the bandages)

Ketju: …....So...how many more left?

Kalina: Huh?

Ketju: Of the human Souls, how many do we need?

Kalina: ….One more. (removes the pad and examines the wound)

Ketju: I see. We're getting close to freedom, huh. You guys are doing great.

Kalina: Thanks. Hmm.. Your wound's healing well, but it looks like you'll be left without a left eye. You'll have to wear an eye patch to protect it.

Ketju: Huh, all right. Hope it's a cool one!

For the rest of the day, Ketju rested while her injury healed. Meanwhile, more experiments were being conducted by Dr. Gadwyn and his team and Kusari continued her errands. They had a few failures, but they managed to come up with a combination to test out. This took them most of the day, so they decided to take a break before resuming.

Tether (reading over his notes while heading towards the break room): ...Seems to require a little of everything, but until we get the last Soul-

Valin: I just don't get what Gadwyn is up to. He's been acting strange lately.

Tether (stops outside the entrance; see Valin standing by the coffee machine and Minki moving to the fridge): ?

Minki (taking out his lunch from the fridge): Right? It's like he's become obsessed with how the experiments turn out. (closes the door) I know we're getting close to completing the project, but he makes it look like it's a life-or-death thing. (sits down at a table)

Valin: I mean, a lot of us did die down here, but not in the way he makes it feel like. (sips his coffee) It must be something to do with his wife.

Minki: His wife?

Valin: Yeah. That's right, you weren't with us when it happened. It was centuries ago, but Gadwyn developed a hatred for humans since she almost turned to dust. He pretty much snapped the neck of one a long time ago.

Minki: Yikes, really?

Valin: Yeah. PE05, I believe. Guess it tried to brainwash one of his sons, the eldest one, I think.

Minki: Tether?

Valin: Yeah! I'm curious as to how that human did it.

Minki: Wish we could've seen what the humans could do before taking their Souls.

Valin: Yeah. But hopefully the one we chose won't have an adverse reaction to the concoction. It'll be devastating if it didn't work.

Tether: ….. (steps in and goes to the fridge to get his lunch) Hey, guys.

Valin (flinches): !

Minki: Oh, hey, Tether! Joining us for break?

Tether: Nah, I'm gonna be meeting up with Dr. Gadwyn to discuss something. Maybe next time. (leaves)

Minki: All right. (turns to Valin) Valin?

Valin: Uh, yeah?

Minki: You looked scared, what's up?

Valin: Ah, n-nothing. I better go...do some tests.

Minki: But it's not time to go back yet.

Valin: Yeah, but I wasn't...uh..feeling hungry much. See you later, Minki. (dumps his coffee in the sink and rushes out)

Minki: …. (eats their sandwich) That was weird.

Tether (standing outside the opposite end of the break room; a written sentence showing “Almost turned to dust. Mom?” is seen): …..What did he mean by that...?

Once the break was over, everyone returned to their duties. They were able to gather enough Justice essence for testing before deciding to transfer it to King Kette. But when they were about to put the Soul back into the portable container, it managed to make its escape.

Valin: Ah!

Minki: Whoa!

Gadwyn: Don't let it escape!!

The group were making grabs at the Soul, but it kept shooting yellow bullets at everyone. Distracted, it was caught by Gadwyn's gloved hands.

Gadwyn: Got you, you little pest! (sees a glowing light peeking through his hands) What is-

Without warning, an explosion shot out from the backs of Gadwyn's hands. The Justice Soul blasted a hole in them to escape, and as it did, Gadwyn crumbled to the ground, screaming and writhing in pain.

Toroast: Dr. Gadwyn!!

Tether: PAPA!! (crouches by Gadwyn) Are you all right!?

Gadwyn (holding his hands under his arms): Forget about me! Catch the Soul!!

Minki: We're trying! (dodging the bullets) Ah!

Kalina (walks in and sees the commotion): What on earth!?

Valin: Close the door, you're gonna let it out!!

Kalina (sees the Soul flying towards her): Aaah! (shuts the door quickly as she ducks from the flying Soul; rushes over to Gadwyn) What happened!?

Toroast: I can't reach it!

Tether: Tch. (watches the Soul flying around as Minki, Valin, and Toroast try to catch it without getting hit by the bullets; looks back at Gadwyn getting treated by Kalina; has a thought) Maybe...I gotta try it! (holds his right hand out)

Kalina: Tether?

Gadwyn: What is he doing? Don't just sit there, help them!

Tether: I hope this works... Focus on the target.. (watches the Soul)...and... (his right eye glows an indigo purple and an indigo chain decal runs to his mouth and to the back of his skull; his hand glows and a loud PING sound rings out; the Soul is caught in a chain ring, glowing indigo) Ngh...got it!

Everyone was stunned at the sight. So much so, they almost forgot to contain the elusive violent Soul.

Tether: Gh..guys, get the thing....  (holds his wrist and he struggles to keep his hold on it) I don't know how long I can...

Minki: Ah! (grabs the portable containment device and rushes up to the Soul, catching and locking it inside)

Tether (deactivates his power, sighing heavily): Glad that's over.... Ah. Papa! (scoots over to Gadwyn) Are you all right?!

Gadwyn: I'm fine. But my hands....

Kalina (helps Tether get Gadwyn up to his feet): We're going to have to fix your hands up quickly. Come on!

Gadwyn: Damn it all!

(Kusari gets close to the door but jumps back when it swings open; sees Kalina and Tether helping Gadwyn to the ER area)

Kusari: Wh-What happened!?

Tether: There was an accident. The others'll fill you in.

Kusari: Wha?? (enters the laboratory; sees various bullet holes and smoking bullet marks on the walls, monitor, and floor; a few items were knocked over or broken; Valin and Toroast were sitting on the floor and Minki was sitting on a chair)

Minki: Kusari.

Kusari: I just saw Miss Kalina and Tether with Dr. Gadwyn!

Minki: Yeah, the Justice Soul tried to escape while we were preparing to send it off to King Kette. It was a disaster... Blasted holes into Gadwyn's hands when he caught it.

Kusari: Oh no! Will he be all right?

Toroast: We hope so. But Tether, he was amazing! He manage to catch it with his magic!

Kusari: He did?

Valin: Yeah, I wonder where he learned how to do that?

Kusari: Maybe he learned it from someone?

Valin: Maybe! If it wasn't for him, things would've gotten worse!

Minki: Ah, we better get to fixing this while Dr. Gadwyn gets healed.

Kusari: Oh, l-let me help!

As Kusari, Valin, Minki, and Toroast fixed up the lab, Tether sat outside the ER, hands clasped and left knee bouncing while waiting for the news. He had noticed his father's arm wound before, and now this injury with the hands. The longer he doesn't hear anything about Gadwyn, the more worried he got. This went on for a few hours as the skeleton went from just sitting to pacing back and forth. A few times, he saw the healers run by him from the ER to elsewhere, but with no news of the scientist's condition. By the time Kusari joined up with him with the other scientists, Kalina stepped out of the room.

Tether (stands up quickly): So?! Is he all right!?

Kalina: He is, thankfully. But...

Tether: But?

Kalina: ...It'll be some time before he can use his hands again. The blast from the Soul was so severe that we had to cauterize the holes-

Tether: Holes?

Kalina: Yes, he has holes in his hands now, and it's likely that they'll remain that way. We tried to find what's left of his hand bones, but with no luck.

Kusari: Ah, that's why you came back into the lab.

Kalina: Yes.

Tether: Can we see him?

Kalina: Not right now. When we told him what happened to his hands, he nearly flew into a rage, so we had to sedate him. I'll keep an eye on him and let you know when he awakens.

Tether: Okay...

Kalina: Of course, he did say for you guys to continue the experiments even if he's out of commission, so...

Tether (scoffs): Of course he did.. Thanks, Kalina.

Kalina: No problem. (walks back into the room)

Kusari: At least we know he's all right, but poor Dr. Gadwyn.

Tether: Eh, he may not look it, but he's tough.

Kusari: That's right, he took on a human, right?

Tether: Yeah. (sighs) I guess we gotta get moving. Don't wanna look like we're slacking off.

The rest of the night sees the scientists continuing the experiments until it was time to go home. Tether had stayed at the lab until Catena came by to check on Ketju when he heard about what happened to Gadwyn. This put the tall skeleton into a panic until Tether fully explained the situation.

Catena: THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT, BUT IT'S STILL WORRYING! WILL HE EVER USE HIS HANDS AGAIN?

Tether: I'm not really sure, to be honest. I know he won't be too happy about being away from his work.

Catena: WELL, I THINK HE NEEDS THE REST, WHAT WITH ALL OF THIS SCIENCE-Y STUFF YOU'RE DOING! EVEN THOUGH, THIS ISN'T REALLY THE WAY TO GO ABOUT IT.

Tether: Yeah. Oh, and uh, thanks for teaching me that Soul-catching skill. It really came in handy.

Catena: AH, SO YOU GOT TO USE IT! YOU'RE WELCOME! IT WAS SOMETHING WE LEARNED IN OUR TRAINING, SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT WORKED! I GOTTA TELL KETJU THE GREAT NEWS!

Kalina (walks out of the room): Hmm, oh? Ah, you're both here. I was going to contact you.

Tether: How is he?

Kalina: He just woke up. He'll be groggy, but still capable of speaking. (steps aside) Go ahead.

The brothers thanked her and entered the room, seeing Gadwyn lying in bed with a slight scowl on his face. To say that he looked unhappy about his predicament was an understatement.

Catena (rushes to Gadwyn's side): DAD! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

Gadwyn: Yes, yes, of course. At least... (moves his bandaged hands a little) ...most of me is okay. (glares) That damned Soul....thinks it got the last laugh. HA! I'm alive and the human's not.

Tether: Well, seeing as you're okay, we'll leave-

Gadwyn: You're all continuing the experiments, correct?

Tether: I- Yeah?

Gadwyn: Good. (sits himself up) I'll come and check on the progress.

Catena (pushes Gadwyn back to the bed): NO, YOU SHOULDN'T! YOU SHOULD LEAVE THAT TO TETHER AND THE SCIENTISTS! THEY CAN DO THOSE THINGS WHILE YOU REST!

Gadwyn: Nonsense. (tries to force himself against Catena's hand) I'm not going to let this keep me down.

Catena (uses the Soul Catch ability on Gadwyn and pushes him back down): NO, YOU MUST REST!

Gadwyn (struggling): I- What?! (stops) Ah, so this is what Tether used to stop that Soul.

Catena: OH, YES! WE WERE TAUGHT THIS IN THE ROYAL GUARD TRAINING!

Gadwyn: Well then. ...All right, you've convinced me. But do teach me that when I get released. It looks to prove quite useful.

Catena: OF COURSE! UNTIL THEN, GET YOUR REST AND GET BETTER!

Gadwyn: I will.

Tether: ...

Gadwyn promised that much, but his mind was still on his work. When Kalina went to check on him later that night, he was already awake.

Kalina: Oh, you're awake! I'm just about to-

Gadwyn: Kalina.

Kalina: Yes, Doctor?

Gadwyn: I want you to do a favor for me.

Kalina: Oh, yes. What would you like me to do?

Gadwyn: Follow my instructions precisely. I want you to get three vials of the Justice essence and take them to my house.

Kalina: What-

Gadwyn: Behind my house, there's a small building. I'll give you the key to it. (carefully digs in his top and pulls out a silver key connected to a silver chain necklace; takes it off and hands it to her) Don't lose it.

Kalina: But-

Gadwyn: Put them in the second drawer in the table on the left side of the room.

Kalina: Why do you need those?

Gadwyn: Don't..question it. Just follow those instructions. And whatever you do, don't let your curiosity get the better of you. And DO NOT LET MY SONS SEE YOU. They should be asleep or getting ready to sleep by now.

Kalina: I...Is this why you've been-

Gadwyn: Kalina, I can only trust you with this. Please do this for me.

Kalina: …..Yes, Doctor. Let me at least check your hands.

Gadwyn: Thank you...

After Kalina gave Gadwyn his checkup, she began to do Gadwyn's favor. She kept wondering why he would ask such a thing of her, but she had figured it had something to do with the scientist's behavior over the years. That twisted glee in the project being so close to being finished. Once she entered the lab, she went straight to drawing out the essences. Three vials she took and carefully placed in her bag. Kalina soon made her way out of the lab and to the River Person's location.

Kalina (climbs onto the boat and sits down): To Snowdin, please.

River Person: Tra la la. And we're off.

(the boat drifts from Hotland through Waterfall)

River Person: Tra la la. How would spiders wear pants with so many legs? Tra la la.

Kalina: Uh...

Kalina, and maybe many other monsters, could never understand the River Person's random musings. Before she could answer, they arrived at Snowdin. She made her way towards the house and looked for the building.

Kalina: Around the back... (sees a small building when going to the back; approaches the door) Ah! There it is. ….What could he be hiding in here? (enters the building) Huh, I thought this would be for his house.

She opened her way in, entering what looks like a small laboratory. To the left, there is a long white table attached to the wall, where it was covered with cork boards, whiteboards, a large flat screen computer monitor with a white keyboard, and papers neatly stacked on the right corner area of the table and pinned all over the boards. Next to the table was a tall, four drawer filing cabinet, across from it was a tall covered item that had a dim pulsating light, like something was on standby, and the opposite wall had a more cleaner table. She noticed various diagrams and charts that she didn't recognize from the experiments. Kalina wanted to look at them further, but she promised to not be too curious and went on with her task.

Kalina: Second drawer... Ah! (opens it; sees various empty vials that have traces of Soul essences and a red notebook) What? These are...Soul essences? (lays the full vials in the drawer and picks up a vial that has purple liquid in it) He's been taking extra ones? Is he testing something-

(a cracked groan is heard)

Kalina (drops the vial back in the drawer and slams it shut): Oh geez... What was that...?

(the groan is heard again)

Kalina (ears flatten in fear): H...Hello...?

???: Uuuh...aahahah.....

Kalina: It's....coming from...that covered thing...?

???: G.....G...uuh....G..uuh....

Kalina (shivering; slowly approaches the covered item): He..llo...?

???: …..

Kalina: Is..someone-

???: GuuuAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Kalina: AAAAH!!! (trips over the rolling chair and falls while moving backward) Aaah! (scrambles to her feet and runs out of the building)

The fear that went through Kalina drove her to run, but not before remembering to lock the place down. She struggled with the key even if it was the only one she had. She can slightly hear the cracked groaning from behind the door, which sent her running again. Tether was jolted awake by this, which prompted him to look out his window.

Tether: What was that..? (looks around, sees nothing out of the ordinary) Hmm... Must be the neighborhood kids again. (gets back under the covers and goes to sleep)

As Tether went back to sleep and Kalina was speeding her way back to Hotland, neither of them heard the guttural sounds of the thing behind the veiled object in the back of the mini laboratory. Even the one word it managed to say...

???: G...aaa..d...y....

  TO BE CONTINUED

[dreadnought-despair]

[CHAPTER 1 - Library - 016]

[PREVIOUS] [NEXT]

As expected from going to bed so soon, I woke up at butt'o'clock in the morning. At least the first thing I heard today didn't have to be MONO-9000’s annoying cackle… I could take a shower in peace!

The blaring alert went off a few minutes after I stepped back out into the bedroom– just in time to drown it out with my hair dryer. It was highly unlikely that MONO would have paid any attention to my petty act of defiance, if he was watching at all, but sometimes it’s the little things that keep you going.

By the time I’d finished drying my hair (why did it have to be so thick) it was time to head over to the library. Things seemed weirdly quiet as I made my way through the hallways and the cafeteria… it wasn’t that early in the morning, was it? Surely people would be eating breakfast by now, under ordinary circumstances. I opened the door to the library to find…

…well, not a whole lot. Honoka was there of course, and Riko and Yusra, Kapono, Aoi… Sal, too, despite his earlier protesting. Even Tiffani had managed to drag herself out of bed before noon. But… that was it. I could see why some of the others would be hesitant to come, but where was Vash? Or Jurou? Or Nik?

They all sat around the small round table in the corner, and I dragged one of the empty chairs over there for myself.

“Well… that’s half of us!” Honoka piped up, her voice sounding a little hollow amidst the smaller-than-expected crowd.

“Figures.”

“I-I’m sure some of them just overslept…”

“…”

“…”

I was reasonably sure that’s what Ishi was doing, at least, but the others didn’t seem terribly convinced. Salvatore seemed to deliberately avoid eye contact as he twirled his pen.

“… I don’t want to have to repeat myself. Should we wait for the stragglers?

"Hmph! I got 2 hours of sleep last night and I still dragged my ass out here! If they aren’t coming, they aren’t coming. Get on with it, I’m here for some drama.”

We looked around at each other nervously as Tiffani munched on some popcorn.

“…I suppose we should get started.” Yusra folded her hands neatly in her lap.

“Just… around the circle, then? Like it’s show and tell?”

“Why don’t you go first, Tiffani, if you’re so excited about it?”

“No.”

“Oh c'mon darling, it’s only fair! If you want in on the gossip, you gotta be ready to spill some beans of your own.”

After some badgering from the rest of us, Tiffani finally relented with a snarl.

“Fine! Fuck you guys. Fine.”

“…I was cheer captain in middle school.”

“Y-you were what?”

“You fucking heard me! I’m not saying it again.”

I, unfortunately, was the first to break the stifling silence. I had sworn before I even stepped in the room that I wouldn’t laugh at anybody’s secret, but I just– a cheerleader? I couldn’t help but let out an undignified snort.

“Pfft– oh my god? I-I’m sorry I– I’m sure you were great at it I’m just–”

“Hey Tim. Guess what? Guess what I got right here?” With a vengeful grin, she waved her letter in my face and began to read loudly. “‘Timaeus Woodworth stole a book from his school’s library–’”

“Hey! I was in the third grade! A-and I paid the replacement fee!”

“Third grade...? What book was it?”

“…Magic Tree House #7...”

Maybe I should’ve been a little more miffed as the huddled crowd erupted into laughter, but I found myself laughing with them. There was an unspoken relief that maybe all our worrying had been over such childish secrets– I could feel the tension in the room start to dissipate. I didn’t mind being the laughingstock if it put the others at ease in a dreadful time like this.

“Okay, seriously though, we should probably just tell our own secrets.”

“Yes, it would be unfair to the absentees to not allow them a chance to explain themselves.”

“…I s-suppose that’s fair.” Honoka’s brow furrowed a little, but she nodded in agreement. I wondered briefly whose secret she knew.

“Whatever.” Tiffani crumpled up her paper and tossed it to the garbage bin. She missed by a few feet.

“…Yeah… Who’s next?” Kapono peeped up from his scarf at the crowd.

If we went in the current order around the circle, then Sal would be next… But surprisingly, Riko spoke up instead. She glanced around the room, her face flushing a little.

“I, uh… I... cosplay sometimes. I won second place at a cosplay contest last year. At San Diego Comic Con…”

“At SDCC? Wait– holy crap!” Aoi gasped and clapped a hand to their cheek. “I thought you looked familiar! I watched that contest! W-were you the Voyager-era Romulan commander with the scalemail sash–”

Riko’s face lit up like a flashlight.

“Oh my god you recognized it? That’s my favorite uniform design but no one ever knows what it is–”

“The craftsmanship was amazing! I’m so jealous! All I’ve got is a crappy storebought Next Generation science officer uniform–”

“Thank you! Scalemail is such a pain in the ass to work with but it was totally worth it–”

She froze as if she just now remembered there were 7 other people in the room with her. We were all too stunned by her sudden shift in demeanor to say anything.

“…Of course, if you people breathe a word of this to anyone I will murder you in your sleep. Understand?”

“Y-yes ma’am!”

“My lips are sealed, dear. But there’s nothing wrong with having a hobby, y’know!~”

“It’s, um… Y-you don’t get it.” Riko sounded unusually subdued as she leaned back in her chair. Yusra piped up quickly, as if to spare her further embarrassment.

“…I’m afraid my secret is not quite so interesting! Papa’s corporation is a regular donor to Hope’s Peak Academy. I prefer not to tell people that, for fear they might think I bought my way into the school… but your trust is far more important than my pride.”

“Hmm… you think that’s why you were kidnapped with us?”

“It could be? I fear I don’t remember enough of my time at Hope’s Peak to say for certain.“

Sal was silent for a moment, then started writing in his notebook again. He’d been taking notes almost nonstop through this whole meeting, even when no one spoke, as if his pen had a mind of its own. It was a little strange, I thought… was he even taking notes?

Ah well, none of my business. Next in line was Aoi, who seemed to hesitate a little more than usual before they spoke.

”…Uh, well, my given name was Akiko. I was designated female at birth. Suprise?“

"Akiko…? Huh.”

“Yeah. It’s a nice name, just… too feminine for my liking. I’ve been Aoi for a few years now.” They shrugged. “I’m more annoyed that MONO was petty enough to dig that up than anything else, really.”

“He does like the petty bullshit, doesn’t he? This isn’t even, like, fun gossip. You guys are so boring.”

Sal laughed humorlessly, more like a scoff. "In a situation like this, I’d say boring is a good thing.”

Honoka was next in line, though I already had a pretty good idea what her secret might involve. She wrung her hands nervously as she spoke.

“I’ve… never actually performed a full show on stage.”

“Huh? But what are you all dressed up for then?”

“B-because I like to dress up... And it’s important to look professional for my students!” She brightened up again-- she must care about them a lot.

“Students? Well no wonder you’re a SHSL! It takes twice the talent to teach others than it does to perform.~”

“Ah...! That’s--” she stammered over Yusra’s kind words-- “y-you’re really giving me too much credit...”

Honoka nodded quickly to Kapono, trying to divert attention from herself as her cheeks turned red.

“A-pha-si-a… from…” Kapono rapped his knuckles on his forehead a few times. “Injury… at a dig...” He paused for a few moments, and his gaze sank to the floor.

“I… don’t like, um… talking about it.”

“That’s okay, I understand.”

“Yeah, we don’t need the details. Just making sure you aren’t a serial killer or something.”

"Did you have to put it like that...?" Why did everyone just assume there was a serial killer? It wasn’t funny...

And finally, we found ourselves staring at Salvatore, the last one in the circle. He looked back at us with an uncharacteristic silence, then pouted comically.

“Ah, I was hoping I wouldn’t be the only one with a big showy confession to make… I’m not used to being in the spotlight! But here we are.”

“What’s that supposed to mean–”

“My name and talent are fake.”

You could hear a pin drop in the silence that followed, if it weren't for Tiffani crunching away at her popcorn.

“Er… pardon?”

“Aha! I was wondering about that.”

“…Wh-what?! You can’t be serious!”

“It’s true. As far as you all are concerned, I don’t have a name. Sal is fine. But to the corrupt and despot rulers of this world, I am known by my penname… Janus. SHSL Investigative Journalist.”

Wait wait wait. Hold the phone. That Janus? Not the two-faced Roman god of beginnings and endings, but the-- the one in the news--

Tiffani’s grating cackle snapped me back to reality.

“Holy shit! Oh my god! What kinda shitty B-movie am I watching right now?”

“Laugh all you want, darling, I can prove it! Who wants to see notes on my latest international child trafficking ring takedown? You won’t believe which high-profile politicians were involved this time!~”

His laugh had a strange, bitter edge to it. He might have been ribbing Tiffani, but there was no question he was deadly serious about his confession.

And the contents of his notebook left no room for doubt– each page he flipped through was chock full of intricate notes and diagrams that would put a conspiracy theorist to shame. I caught a glimpse of the map of the Dreadnought from the Electro ID, covered in words… how much had he learned about this place?

“Or you can just ask Riko– you’ve got my secret, right?” He snapped the notebook shut and leveled his gaze coolly at the tall girl.

“…How did you…”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t figured it out yet, darling? The distribution isn’t random at all! If you anglicize our given names and put them in alphabetical order…”

Our new resident detective cracked his notebook open again, to show us a list he’d already written on a fresh page:

...He was right, wasn’t he? Riko had Sal’s secret, Tiffani had my secret, I had Vash’s secret... Was that really all it was?

“That seems… unusually straightforward.”

“I’m sure MONO wanted us to figure it out fairly quickly. Makes it easier to pick a target if you know who knows your secret, doesn’t it? And it gives you an advantage over the ones who haven’t picked up on the pattern yet…”

“He must not have expected us to work together as much as we have--”

“Th-that’s all well and good but… why should we trust you?” Honoka’s voice was shaky as she spoke up, but she stood her ground. “Why can you just– tell us all this? Won’t you get in trouble?”

"More trouble than getting kidnapped and forced into a murder game?” he snapped.

“…Fair.” After a few moments’ deliberation, she backed down, but some of the others still seemed pretty wary.

“It is a bit, um, far-fetched, you know…”

“You can fucking say that again.”

“Of course I can’t make you trust me, dear. But I simply have no reason to hide anymore! If our kidnapper knows this much about me already, then lying to you doesn’t do anything but make me look more suspicious. I’d rather lay all my cards on the table.”

Another hesitant silence, finally interrupted by Riko.

”…I believe you.“

”…Me too...“

“So what?” she growled, cutting Kapono off. “Are we supposed to just stand around gawping at your superior intellect, Mr. Holmes? Or are you going to do something about all of this?”

“Now now, is that any way to treat your new informant? You can’t rush this kind of relationship!~” He giggled coyly-- apparently that flamboyant personality wasn't all just acting-- but quickly grew serious again.

“I’m just as eager to escape this place as you are, but I won’t divulge any theories until I have more information. Panic over mere conjecture won’t help us. And when the time comes, I’d rather speak to a full audience... Everyone has the right to know what’s going on.”

“...Can’t argue with that.” Aoi nodded and tucked their hands in their sleeves. I didn’t blame them-- what on earth could we say, in the face of such a bizarre claim? Tiffani, however, was not so easily swayed.

“I’m still not buying any of this bullshit. We’re not in a fucking spy movie.”

“I-I’m not sure either... We barely even know each other, and you just told us all your secret identity?”

“I mean, our kidnapper already knew who I was. My cover’s apparently been compromised from the start. But once we get back to terra firma, all I need is a new name and a new face and I’m back in action.”

“...N-new face?”

“Tim, honey.” Sal-- Janus? laughed and drew a circle around his face with his finger. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you think any of this is real.”

Now that he mentioned it, I could see tinges of plastic in his hawk-like nose, the roots of his bleach blond hair... I didn’t have much reason to doubt him anymore. My problem was more conceptual than anything else-- if this was really Janus standing before me, the vigilante whistleblower who’d evaded capture or even recognition for years, then how the hell did our kidnapper get ahold of him in the first place?

That wasn’t something any of us could answer right now, though. Instead we sat in awkward silence, mulling over all this new information, till Yusra finally spoke up.

“So... that’s all of us, huh?”

“All of us that showed up.”

“What do we do now...?”

"Well, I don’t know about you, but I think I’m gonna go check on Ishi... just to make sure nothing’s wrong.”

“A-alright.” Honoka looked like she was about to say something else, but stopped herself. Instead she stood up and looked around the table. “Everyone... stay safe, okay?”

“...”

“...”

“...Yeah.”

We didn’t have to say anything to know exactly what she was worried about.

I dismissed myself from the room and headed back to the dorms, still pondering the events of the meeting. Aside from Sal's dramatic revelation, the others didn't seem to have much to hide-- that was comforting to know, at least. But it only made me more worried for the students who didn't show... Some of them might have overslept, but we couldn't know for sure.

Not unless I asked them myself, anyway. Maybe after I found Ishi, I could go check on the others, too?

[PREVIOUS] [NEXT]

[danatole-headcanons]

Ace, Andy, Kena, and Vic’s Danatole Kid Hcs

@melchirits

* THE KIDS * * helo naught xhildern, it’s danatole child time * THE KIDS: Fyodor(Theo) and Lucette (Lucy) Dolokhov-Kuragin * Dickle * every close friend/relative gets One Name to suggest * all of them are really good and considerate…………..until they go to balaga, a family friend * they tell balaga that he has One Chance……. And the name he choses is dickle * “ok balaga you have one shot at this, don’t fuck it up” * “ok ok hear me out. dickle.” * anatole is dying * dolokhov is having a heart attack in the background, im fucking wheeding * “ok but give me at least three chances” * “hear me out: succulent butterfly or FUCKING NUTMOBILE” “why’d you scream the second one?” “Because it should be in all caps” “get the fuck out” * “you had one chance, WE’RE NOT NAMING OUR GOTDAM SON DICKLE” * “but can the middle names spell dickle, what about troika” * “balaga please get out of our house it’s midnight” * “how about pikachu. Or ash ketchum.” * fedya, screaming from the background, heart attack paused: “YES” “i think i thought of the perfect name” balaga literally gets to anatole’s height by climbing him and whispers, “the loud THX noise from that one movie.”[a] * “name the child the THX noise” “balaga,,,,its been four days please leave” * he Won’t give up * Other balaga recommendations: * FUCKING NUTMOBILE * lucas steele, and variants * paul pinto * razor boy * succulent * marvin * paul pinto in khakis * lucifer * succulent butterfly * lampost * trash can * naruto * pikachu * ash ketchum * kukas steeke * THX noise * fursuit * (anatole kicks him out after that one) * ALSO * “fedya you are the father” * “so are you” * “oh shit true” * the first child (theo) grows up and learns that they were literally almost named fucking nutmobile and is ready to deck both balaga and their dads * balaga is like “im gonna teach your kid how to drive” * anatole astral projects while Everyone it holding fedya back from destroying balaga * balaga teaches the kid how to drive anyway bc fedya and anatole can’t stop him * so the kid gets pulled over by a cop the first time they drive (w/balaga) bc of course * the police person is just like “I KNOW YOU” and balaga screams “FLOOR IT” * “green means go, red also means go probably, yellow means speed up” * “balaga why is my kid crying” “,,,,,,,,,,reasons” * balaga calls theo dickle forever bc he can * Lucy has Fedya’s Determination and she does everything balaga does better * balaga cries into a wine bottle on the pavement * “balaga eating saltines and chugging wine on the sidewalk”~Quote from Ace * one time balaga takes lucy out for night lessons * fedya wakes up as this is happening and has a panic attack because “where is our kid oh dear god” * he literally sprints out into the driveway and balaga screams “FUCKING FLOOR IT” and lucy’s doing all sorts of pro maneuvers * while balaga ends up hanging on for dear life because “oh so this is what it’s like to be my passenger” * “lucy lucifer” * balaga has a corkboard full of parking tickets he never paid, he hoards them like trophies * (balaga voice) speed limit 420 haha nice

* “Balaga that says 42,,,” * “if i put four engines in my car,,,” * balaga owns a school bus that’s decked out like a monster truck * balaga works for uber AND lyft, like a double agent * one time he gets an uber and lyft at the same time so hes like fuck it and gets them both * fuzzy dice on rearview mirror * balaga’s car is named nutmobile & it has a nut sticker * balaga sleeps in his car in a walmart parking lot at night?? * on lucy’s first birthday balaga teaches lucy how to say fuck and fedya decks him in the street * balaga picks lucy up from school or something one day and he saw her and just yelled “HEY LUCIFER” * lucy whips around like YEAH FUCKASS WHAT DO YOU WANT, she was like 14 * BALAGA IS LITERALLY AT ANATOLE AND FEDYAS HOUSE ALK THE TINE AND HE IS JUST YELLING LUCIFER ALL GHE TIME AND FEDYA ID LIKE SHUT THE FUCK UP BALAGA * balaga runs like naruto * balaga was the babysitter literally all the time * balaga worked as a gym teacher for a month before getting fired * (“what’d he get fired for?” “nothing you can prove”) ~Andy and Ace * someone else parks in his parking spot and he just keys the car * balaga worked as a librarian for two hours before being fired for telling the kids to shut the fuck up * balaga never gets fired from uber no matter what * Review: 5/5. Almost died but i got to my destination, 30 minutes away, in 2 minutes. * “LUCY, HYPERDRIVE” * balaga has completely taken over anatole & fedya’s garage * they try to walk in one time like “is this is fucking dead rat” and he shoots them with a paintball gun and says “no this is covfefe” * Balaga goes as a gc egg shaker for halloween w the kids * “No you just hear the beads and then theres tiny egg man” ~Kalvin * “yeah the guy who lives in our garage uhhhh tiny egg man” ~Theo * lucy draws balaga and he says “hell yeah fanart,” hangs it up on like the ceiling of his car * when lucy and theo play mario kart she always chooses rainbow road * chooses monopoly for Family Game Night * “lucy please we’ve been playing for three days” “no it’s blond dad’s turn” * anatole’s dying on the floor, fedya’s crying, theo’s dissociating * theo’s a hide and seek master

*They watch Buzzfeed Unsolved * lucy & theo go ghost hunting, lucy’s humming the ghostbusters theme and theo’s shaking like a leaf in the corner with ten vials of holy water on him * “hey demons it’s me, ya boi” “LUCY NO” * “COME AT ME DEMONS!” “L U C Y P L E A S E” * Theo is Dipper Pines * lucy is always ready to Deck People (kalvin style) * lucy has a pokeball in her backpack to throw at people she doesnt like * the guys at school call her “hellraiser” and the girls call her “lucifer” * theo and lucy are Not Straight in the slightest * lucy is pan, theo is gay & ace, & also trans * lucy makes so many innuendos she got detention multiple times because of it * theo can play literally any instrument and spent his money on bookfairs in elementary school * Theo knows that anybody who plays violin is a basic bitch so he plays viola instead * “Fyodor jr.!” “Sorry dad, you’re basic.” ~Convo with Anatole * theo quickly become better at gambling than fedya, it switches from fedya letting him win to him actually getting demolished, fedya cries * lucy does the thing where it looks like you’re doing ballet but then you go over to someone and kick them in the face * lucy literally carries around a bag of glitter to throw on people when they say/do something stupid * lucy’s ringtone is the THX noise and it’s always so fucking loud * ippolit kuragin is the cool uncle but also cryptid * is a fashion designer in NY apparently * unrelated: (dolokhov voice) me me big anxiety * theo stans all the murder musicals * also is totally straight for phillipa soo * also stans all things LMM * lucy’s contact pick for Blond Dad is That anatole pic * lucy is team valor and theo is team instinct * fedya’s valor, anatole’s mystic (prettiest logo???), balaga’s instinct * everyone outs poor anatole for being on team mystic * “so uh anatole what team did you pick?” “mystic” “oh because they’re smart and stuff–” “no, they’re the most aesthetic * the kids are highkey competitive about pokemon * anatole does that thing where he does 600000 soft restarts to get a shiny starter * he REALLY LOVES alolan vulpix!! * lucy has an embarrassing collection of photos of anatole * Balaga insists on giving the kids The Talk * theo didn’t talk for a week after but it could have gone much worse * someone: so how’d It Go? * theo, shaking, looking up with the purest fear in his eyes: it could have been worse * balaga teaches theo to curse * also, someone @ theo : “fuck, i mean shoot! im so sorry!!” theo, drinking a glass of vodka: what the fuck you can swear around me i literally fuckimg 21 years old what the shit * theo, quietly: in the heights is better than hamilton * lucy, a floor down: EX-FUCKING-SCUSE ME * once lucy asked balaga “hey do you sell drugs” * and balaga was like “no why, do you need them? bc i can get you them” * everyone sees theo as the calm kid, but if you talk shit about his family he Will duel you in a denny’s parking lot @ 3am hamilton style * there’s always the option to go live in the garaga with balaga * Theo’s secret dating the Andreirretasha kid, Nico(lai) * They are the cutest couple™ * Okay some Mama Helene™ bs * Helene was the mom, Fedya was the dad * “Helene and Dolokhov arm-in-arm,” * Lucy looks like a mini Helene, Theo looks like a mini Fedya * The only difference between Helene and Lucy is while Helene has the green-hairpiece-thing, Lucy wears a mauve bow * On Lucy’s fourteenth bday, Helene bent down to eye-level, look soulfully into her eyes, and said this: * “Lucy, as my daughter, i feel as if you should have this..” * It’s a necklace that says “Bitch” * Lucy was 13 when she started her drunk text collection * On Lucy’s 16 bday, helene gave her her most prized possession * “Lucy, I want you to have this, I was going to give it to you later in life, but you’ve come so far already..” * She pulls out a book from her purse, written in fancy calligraphy on it are the words “Burn Book” * “Lucy this is everything that someone i know has done wrong, treat it with care…” * It was one of the only times lucy has ever cried * You bet your ass there’s an entire section dedicated to Anatole * “Anatole, age 1-6, Anatole, Age 7-10, Anatole, Age 11-13, Anatole, Age 14-18, etc” * Theres even some stuff about Cryptid-Uncle-Ippolit * “Hey dad? Remember when you and uncle Pierre tied to guy to a bear for shits and giggles?” * Theo is on the spectrum * Helene got him a fidget cube * He and Lucy do sibling costumes * Theo is a gangly mess of limbs like how does the kid function * Theo was cis-passing when he started dating Nico * When he told him he was trans, Nico just shrugged and kissed him alot * Yeah so I love these kids and might write a fic

[treeyo]

Harvesting yields is one of the obvious goals of Permaculture and the summer season is indeed bountiful.  Rhythms change from spring, foods diversify, and the heat intensifies. Time is an interesting dynamic with day

Home: Treasure Lake

length long but shortening day after day after the summer solstice. With time, the buildup of a permaculture site is about both short term bursts and waiting long term.  I wish I could say my plums are ripening but they are still too young to produce.  However the forest remains abundant with wild foods and the lake continues with its never ending beauty.  Summer, it is a season of enduring heat, managing systems, and yeah picking food. The extreme heat of this region is obvious again this year with the oddity of lack of rain after a spring inundation.  Finally a reprieve yesterday through some good rain.  Photosynthesis again rages as everything springs back to life. And I get the chance to develop the tinystead with others as evolution of living at the lake continues as well.

Education

Summer is also about travel, people coming together here and there, and having fun. Chances to teach come from this cultural trend. I got to do exactly this at Whippoorwill festival in the Red River Gorge area of Kentucky.  After learning from others like Bill’s body hacking (kneepainguru.com) and Tim Hnesley’s mushroom mastery in the field, I got my time to teach as well.  Active forest enhancement, a movement I am pioneering that combines so many fields including permaculture, agroforestry, syntropic farming, and my degree in fish and wildlife management.  It’s about seeing the forest as another important part of the ecosystem that needs intervention to obtain even more yields for ourselves and the other players of the ecosystem.  I had a very engaged group in a sweltering day walking through the forest and learning tips and tricks from my 20 years of experience doing this. I look forward to further launching this movement.  I also got a chance to teach about the interesting tips for a tree planting jar which has been able to plant over a 1000 dollars worth of trees in our local community and Treasure Lake where I live.  In essence we need to drive home investment in tree planting.  Even if you have no land, how can you give back to the earth for this vital resource and noble act?  I encourage you to do so.  Skip going shopping or the bar one night, unless your bar is like mine, where the tips for the night go directly to tree planting.  In the end Whippoorwill was not just about teaching but gathering with community, old friends and new connections.

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Tip money from Treasure Lake collected for tree planting rather than income, a community fund

Tim Hensley of Berea, KY schooling us on mushroom ID

My next teaching opportunity is right around the corner with me and Abby coming together once again.  Its almost paw paw season and I am stoked to continue to educate people about this plant as it exemplifies my work of active forest enhancement.  My focus will be on the propagation side of it all this time.  Lets see what we make with the harvest this year as well!

https://treeyopermaculture.com/permaculture-design-courses-pdc/herbal-walk-and-permaculture-planting-with-abby-and-doug/

Paw Paw fruit

Harvest and Foraging

I have planted countless gardens over the years and one of the staples in them is tomato plants.  Everyone loves them, they are challenging but abundant, and aromatic.  You have to trellis them, baby them, and voila, delicious veg.  However I don’t eat tomatoes raw, so all these gardens I have barely enjoyed them.  This year I planted amish paste tomatoes as my Italian blood asks for this kind of food everyonce in awhile.  So I have been getting nice yields from my plants in the guilds of two newly planted Mt Ash trees out in front of the bar.  Mixing perennials with annuals, I love doing it and don’t forget that part of food forest management.  Plug some annuals in before the perennials fill out and obtain a yield.  Soon I will share my recipe for pasta sauce!  Also in the forest when we have had our little bit of rain the oysters growing on fallen hickory and chicken of the woods on well rotted oak have flushed.  I need to go check again now that it finally rained again!  Definitely after whippoorwill andTim’s session i am seeing even more.  It’s also one of the reason I love working with Abby because she is always teaching me something new as I adjust back to this ecosystem. Another harvest we obtained based off of our handwork and ecosystem management was honey.  Well its mainly the bees hardwork but we took a tiny bit, a fraction of a normal harvest as well still encourage bees at this site.  It’s been a challenge with how we have managed this hive but as I get into it more, well more yield comes.

Chicken of the Woods Primordia

Chicken of the woods maturing

Amish Paste Tomatoes

Daniel, My neighbor down the road, holding a bit of his Egyptian Walking Onion Harvest dried at the lake

honey from our hive

oyster flush on pignut hickory

TinyStead Development

I still am moving into the tiny house and developing its surrounding area. I need to go slow with this, again tiny steps as i said in my last update blog. But me and my friend, carpentry master, Tom, hammered out a deck on the northside of the tiny house.  Two years ago we took apart a deck and built picnic tables for the campgrounds at the lake with the bigger wood.  The deck planking we still had and I got a chance to salvage more deck wood from a project my friend Bryan was working on.  So then me and Tom combined this into an oddly shape deck maximizes all the reused materials.  Ok me and Tom occasionally screamed and yelled at each other, but we are like that.  In the end it was fun and I’ am grateful for Tom’s effort to build this with me.  Community continues to be vital in this project and I am grateful for all who put in effort to evolve this place.

Tom being Tom

deck construction

deck construction

deck construction

Before deck

Deck after

Urban Permaculture

Occasionally side gigs pop up for me here and there like puffball mushrooms in a field.  I have been heavily vested in the Cincinnati Permaculture Insittutes edible Nursery both in the city of Cincinnati and here at the lake. Its one way in which I practice urban permaculture as our nursery helps to fuel edible plantings.  I enjoy it.  Through that, I have gotten hooked up with a landscaping job of furthering bringing life and functionality to an urban garden that has had some issues with continuity.  Its definitely a problem in designs that one must solve.  Anyway i have been just cracking on when i can, clearing the jungle overgrowth and mulching the existing fruit trees that have been growing.  The overgrowth has not been welcome by the community of Lincoln Heights where the garden is located.  Its a African American community, set up in the 1800’s, that really could use a space like this to help with food insecurity and connection with nature.  So i chop and drop vegetation and sheet mulch as i slowly bring the jungle under control for the purpose of making the space more usable.  Its been a fun job, not easy at all, but indeed when i leave the site i look back and say, wow, that looks much better than it did before.

Beginnings of sheet mulch

freshly mowed with next layer of sheet mulch of grass clippings on top of previously mulched fruit trees

Thick mulching

Fruit trees and gardens

And with that phrase what if humanity could do that?  What if our time on earth granted us the opportunity to co create with nature and others to beautify this planet.  In the face of so much social turmoil, just as Rob Hopkins, predicted in his book Transition Towns, well it really comes down to what will be your legacy?  You cant control humanity but you can control your actions and being an influencer of positive change.

Treasure Lake

Mussel shell eroding

Monarch, will the world still see this in 50 years

the lake

Bee Balm

Sunset boat rides

the campsite we call florida, a favorite spot on the land for me

lake

paw paw

  Summer Yields Much: TreeYo Project Update Blog Harvesting yields is one of the obvious goals of Permaculture and the summer season is indeed bountiful.  

[lewiskdavid90]

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Update on December 25th, 2016: Lambdas & Nested Classes have been added as two new sections.

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