#you can’t hide from me Kaine

[scarletspider2the2ndpower]

“The Lost Boy,” Spider-Boy (Vol. 2/2024), #9.

Writer: Dan Slott; Penciler: Nathan Stockman; Inker: Paco Medina; Colorist: Erick Arciniega; Letterer: Joe Caramagna

[running-with-kn1ves]

Hi! Can I request a Officer x female!Nurse reader during a zombie apocalypse? The Officer would be the stalker-ish, possessive type who’s made it clear he’s protecting her from the others because she’s one of the best at her job. But in reality, he’s just making excuses to be close to her—always hovering when not  patrolling the hospital. Could you possibly add like…non-consensual touching/kissing, definitely power imbalance, manipulation in the form of comfort. Maybe nsfw if you can?

A/N: started this a while ago but only just now got around to finishing it in a... "semi-decently" way.

Synopsis: you're a nurse healing those still alive after the start of the apocalypse; unfortunately for you, a certain annoying guard has made it his mission to have your undivided attention. 

TW: noncon kissing, touching, feeling up, etc., intimidation, power imbalance, general sexual assault warnings, zombie apocalypse/infected theme

WC: 3600

“Oh come on now, I didn’t hit him that hard.”

“You literally pummeled the man to the ground!” The underwhelmed attitude of the guard trailing behind made you dig your fingers into your temples. “He lost his front tooth, Kain. And the guild wants MY head for it.” 

Pacing through the halls of the abandoned hospital, you make your way to the opposing wing, Kain following quickly on your heels. 

“Don’t honestly tell me you’re worried about the ‘guild’. " Kain speaks, creating quotes with his fingers. “You’re the only nurse they got who’s actually qualified enough to do a damn decent job.They can’t get rid of you, they need you too much.” 

You make a sharp turn into an old hospital room, throwing Kain off. He stumbles over himself to follow, while you quickly distract yourself with the limp body resting on a raised bed in the middle of the room. You hurriedly picked at the bloodied bandages of one of your fellow survivors, the mangled man out cold under the wool sheets as you began to inspect him.  The process was like clockwork, being what most of your job had become now that you were stuck with flesh-eating monsters and a third of the human population left, most of which was crippled in some way or another. 

 Kain peeks up from behind you, irritated yet curious as to what was more important than responding to him. His head popped up next to yours as he looked at the bandaged man, giving a bothersome frown. 

“You shouldn’t have been talking to anyone about me, period. This all could’ve all just been avoided, Kain.”

Kain opens his mouth to speak, looking like an awed fish as you berate him. 

“Who in their right mind cripples one of their own men?” You mumble under your breath, hoping he wont hear lest he throws a fit. "Now, can’t you see I’m working here? You’re getting in my way.” 

You push past him to throw away the old gauze and stained bandages. 

Kain’s constant look of mild amusement faded. 

“Ya should’ve heard what he was sayin’ about you. Then, you might not feel that way.”

You avoided Kain’s sharp stare, pretending to not listen as you pulled open a drawer beside the hospital bed. 

Lifting his eyebrows in suggestion, Kain rested his hands on the front of his patrol vest, continuing to chew his gum with feigned nonchalance. “Like a piece a meat…” He muttered.

Clearing your throat you ripped open a new package of gauze with your teeth, avoiding Kain; Maybe it’d be best if you changed the topic. 

“Well… What are you still doing here in the first place? I thought you were supposed to be at your new transfer by this morning…” 

You remembered primarily because you thought it’d be your first day of freedom. 

Kain rubbed his nose with his thumb, trying to hide a wide grin that showed his dimples.

“I’ve been stationed to protect the hospital for another six months.. Just found out this morning. Some other guy wanted to go and…the guild commander thought my talents would be better off here.”  

Your face dropped. The sliver of fragile hope you held onto, shattered. Finally, you thought, you’d be rid of the overbearing coos and humiliating social teasing, his invasive bullying-- the dream seemed to fizzle out like the end of a candle wick, slow and sad. You began to rewrap the survivor’s wounds, hands on autopilot while your stomach sank.

And like a switch, your annoyed tone was spat back at him. 

“Okay?” You shrugged.  

You had been Kain’s prime victim when picking meaningless fights for the past eight months, his presence like a wall of muscle in your path. But no more, you wouldn’t sit and entertain his bullshit for another half a year.

“If that’s true, then nothing’s changed. Don’t you have better things to do than annoy me?” You swat Kain away with your hands like a fly. “Go stand guard or something. Be useful.”

You pinned the end of the final bandage, rearranging the patients scratchy bedsheets. Without another word you began to walk away.

 Kain grunted in annoyance, watching you turn into the adjacent room across the hall to leave him in the dust.

“Well, you never know,” Kain shouted, running after you across the hallway. “You might come up against a stray infected. I know you haven’t had this set up for long, the doors hardly do anything to keep a draft from blowing through. What happens if I’m not there quick enough? You’d need someone much bigger, and much… stronger than you, to protect you.”

You let out an exasperated noise, recognizing the insult in his words. But Kain didn’t mean it as an insult; he was thinking of other… things. 

“Besides, you need protecting just from the things in here you can’t handle, and I decide to offer my assistance-- at a zero cost.” 

You scoff again. “What do you mean ‘things I can’t handle’?” You copy his previous quotation movement, half distracted by rummaging through a large cardboard box of old medical supplies. 

Kain follows you inside the room, seeing your back turned to him next to an empry hospiral bed. A lightbulb went off over his head, his printless fingers grabbing the privacy curtain and pulling it. The curtain surrounding the bed, you, and him-- clouding the fluorescent lights from the hallway. The ones inside the hospital room flickered, barely making the guards face visible. 

“Something like this.” 

An arm traps you from behind, one of Kain’s scarred palms leaning on the wall next to your head. You turn around to look at him with a scowl, not yet realizing what he was trying. 

From the corner of your vision you saw the mean glint in Kain’s eye. 

A smug, egotistical smirk rested on his face.

“I can see it now…. some band of other survivors coming in, raidin' what they could and stumbling across you,” He pushed his dirty blonde hair back with his free hand, calloused fingers sticking out his glovelettes. “So helpless in your dirty scrubs, scared and alone….What would you do? Would you even be able to defend yourself?” 

He watched as your eyes shifted, trying to avoid him as you attempted to shove your way out. But he was a wall of muscle and pheromones, a light slap telling him to knock it off wasn’t going to cut it this time.

And this, was exactly what you were trying to avoid. 

Kain shoved your shoulder against the wall, pushing his nose against the sensitive front of your neck; it nearly made you grunt from surprise. 

“Ah…” You felt him exhale, licking his lips against your jugular. “What a cute bitch…You smell so fresh, So different than all the rotten corpses in here. Maybe we should take this one to go, huh boys? I’m sure they’d all like a turn.” Kain said to himself. 

You try to swat at him again but he catches your other arm, wrenching it back behind you. "That's not funny, asshole!” 

Kain gave an angry laugh, your stubbornness testing the edge of his limits. His harshness and your violent panic ruined any playful mood left. 

“You know, you really don’t understand how lucky you are; how much I care about you. Just trying to-- protect you.” Kain struggled to  keep you compliant, and to keep his urges at bay. his eyes wildly flit between staring at your lips to your soft exhausted body, the one now in his hands, bulging from his fingertips. For a moment his attention seems to linger on the shallow movement of your chest, falling and rising with each worried breath. But it soon pulls back to your rageful glare, a harsh swallow coming from his throat. 

“Why won’t you just take my help? I want what’s best for you, Don't you understand that...” He couldn’t stop looking at your sweet lips, downturned into a frown-- a frown he wanted to kiss away. 

In his mind, when he imagined kissing you he thought you’d be stunned at first-- but would quickly fall into his arms, holding onto him as if he was your lifeline. 

“Fuck it..” Kain murmured under his breath. 

He didn’t spare any time, knowing you'd put up resistance no matter how well he tried to swoon you. Leaning down to get his first taste of you, sweet kisses lapped at your lips before you came to realize what was going on. The curious, self-interested pecks to your lips were so cautious at the start, until Kain’s mouth began to grow lewd. He took your slack jaw as permission to greedily devour your tongue to the fullest. His mouth seemed to fit like a puzzle piece against yours, twisting upward to savor your mouth. You were surprised but not all shocked-- though, this was the first time he had tried to kiss you directly. 

“Kain,” He let go but swiftly kissed again under your chin, gliding down your jawbone to your ear. “For the last time-- don't make me fucking hit you--!”

Kain drug his tongue up your skin, pinning your arm behind your back to shove you further against the wall; any closer and you'd be a part of it. He took in deep whiffs of your homey smell, of the sensation of your warm skin and its smoothness on his. 

"What're you going to do about it? Gonna fight me off?" The thought made him give you a cheeky grin; it was almost too easy.

When was the last time he touched something so plush… so calming compared to the flesh wound that was what was left of the world? Even the sounds of your labored breaths made Kain…excited. When it came to your body pressed and aligned with his, he couldn't help but feel overly eager in wanting to push and press you flush against him. 

“Stop-! You can’t do that here-- ”

But with your writhing body and fingers digging into his scalp, he realized that doing such a feat would be harder than he imagined. Your days of carrying injured survivors into their beds and helping unload traincarts of medical supplies made you nearly a worthy rival in strength. 

"Can't stop now…" you heard him mumble, a big, warm hand coming to grip your chin. He was above you, caging you in with the biceps you mocked were more well-formed than his brain. Your hand was still pinned behind you as he pushed his squishy chest against yours. 

You dug in your pocket for one of the two needles you always kept on hand. You pulled out the one with a peeling sticker-- its purpose for telling the difference between the two. This particular syringe held enough to sedate a horse-- which, you complemented to Kain’s large size. 

You held it up like a knife, test-squeezing a little bit of the serum out. 

Kain was busy nestled into your neck one moment, and the next he wasn’t. You were so sure he had forgotten about the hand you were raising, that you paid little attention to the one pinned behind you. 

Without notice that he had even caught you, the guard tugged at the wrist behind your back, twisting it against the wall unnaturally. Your breath caught into your throat, body tensing as your forearm let out a crunched pop. A weak moan of agony came from your mouth, Kain’s hand that was once petting you possessively, now slowly taking the needle from your shaking fingers. 

You tried to fight him, attempting to stab him then and there. But you were no match, not when your right arm was continuing to be crushed, the longer you tustled him for the syringe.

Kain lets out a triumphant laugh, throwing the needle behind him. 

“Nice trick; I didn’t know you were such a flirt, nurse. How did you know I liked a little fight?” 

Kain doesn't hesitate to dig both hands into your back pants pockets, allowing you the grace of cradling your throbbing arm. He felt up what he could while removing the other syringe, and keys from your pocket. 

“Now,” He started, pulling your head back toward the wall with a grip on your hair. “Let’s see this pretty mouth do what it was meant for.”

Kain practically suffocated you with his body, pinning you back as he slowly pushed his thumb into your mouth. 

"Ahh-thole!" You tried to sound out.

Kain watched your plump lips open around his finger; you attempted to bite the digit invading your personal space, but Kain yoinked down on your lower jaw first. The officer pushed the pad of his finger against your tongue, sensations of the muscles smooth wetness making him shudder; your startled sounds of awe only spurring him on, the glint of drooling interest in his eyes shifting to one of excited admiration. 

Your stomach sank as you saw the shift in his expression, the peak of his interest making him look like a dog in heat. You were afraid he might miss your lips and smash straight into your cheek. Kains thumb was quickly replaced with his tongue, slowly gliding against your lips as he bit their fullness. He tasted bitter, like thick smoke and faint tobacco. 

Kain on the other hand, was finally…finally, getting to experience the sensation of your arousing mouth, the one he had fantasized about so many times. He fantasized about how they'd taste during your first kiss, while he ran his fingers against the dip of your back, how they'd look around his c-- 

Your relentless teeth made blood trickle from his bottom lip, surprising the guard as he let out a pained groan. But Kain was too stubborn, he wouldn't let you go just like that! He had gone too far now, he couldn't go back to the way things were-- he needed you, needed this. 

But you felt so lewd, Kain’s forced kisses making a slew of wet sounds as he occasionally slowed to pull at your lips with his teeth for payback, leisurely grinding against whatever he could press up against. Lord, it was like a high from the heavens for him; your body, your smell, it was enveloping him in a joy he hadn’t felt since... Well, since he could last remember. 

Your knee came to push deep against the officer’s crotch. You could feel the shift in between his legs as you shoved as hard as you could. 

Kain let out a muffled groan, separating from you for a moment.  But he only returned with a bitter laugh, kissing you between revengeful bites. 

"Sweet little nurse," Kain singsonged, looking at how you winced at the burn of raw bites left on your lips. Your feet shuffled underneath, twisting and turning to wriggle your knee deeper into his crotch. "How're you gonna fight off the big bad officer? Hm?"

Kain’s leg rammed between your thighs, forcing them apart. He dug the toe of his boots into the wall, positioning so you were practically sitting on his leg. 

"Fuck you," you spat, hating the way he pulled at the back of your collar to lift your head back, making it easier to kiss you. "Eat shit and die, Kain. I'm not your fucking toy-!"

The officer giggled like a schoolboy, feeling a painfully intoxicating sting from your words. The anger and yearning made it harder for him to see straight. 

"We'll see about that…!" He huffed, lifting your jaw to the sky. A long, wet stripe made its way down from your chin to your ear, a shudder leaving Kain’s mouth as he swallowed the salty tang of your skin. 

You heard low chatter from the radio attached to his hip, his name repeated by a deep voice.

“Officer K..ain.. four..… intruders…4--” The voice was cutting in and out, static making the message hardly discernible. 

“Shit…” Kain huffed, kissing through words as the corner of his lip became smeared with blood. “Why now-- for mm.. fuck’s sake….”

Kain’s head fell low as he left your lips, hanging in frustration. You were gasping for breath as you turned your head to the side, dizziness coming in a small wave. 

The surface of your skin felt hot, a sharp taste left in your mouth from Kain. The officer was currently licking over his lips, tasting the remains of your sweat and his own blood. 

Your head throbbed; the sterile stench of the hospital clung inside your nostrils, thick coughs coming from the room over, your 'patient' likely still feeling the twinge of his insides bleeding out. How could you still be dealing with Kain's bullshit, while the world around you was continuing to be mauled and raped by the disease plaguing your species? 

The officer was an effective distraction from your nursery duties, his grating voice interrupting your thoughts as he still clung to you.

“Nurse, help me out,” He whined. “I can’t go out there looking like this!" Cain threw his hands down, letting you go to your surprise. "C’mon what do I do? You're the expert.”

You saw what kain was referring to, his hand covering a bite of retaliation you left on his neck, and the crotch of his black pants billowing out in a restrained fashion. 

“Dear g-- Kain!” your immediate reaction was to shove kain back away from you, But the guard held a hand to his forehead, hardly lurching backward from your assault. You hit him afain, repeatedly punching at him to get him back for all thar had transpored. But kain merelt pushed his hair back to show his glistening forehead, barely holding up a palm to protect himself. 

Kain chuckled wryly, groping at himself in a futile effort to make his erection less noticeable. 

“This is all your fault--! Fucking…Asshole--” You grunt, mumbling curses as you pushed at the man again. “You don’t have the time, anyway. Get out of here, go do your damn job.” Wiping your mouth, you look at his radio. 

You were tempted to chew him out as he stood still, but Kain got to you first. Rubbing at your neck to get rid of his love bites, you fell prey to Kain’s harsh shove of your shoulders against the wall. He seemed to throw you around like a stuffed animal, his strength 

 Kain grabbed your shoulders, shoving you against the wall again. You let out an involuntary “umph”, as the officer pressed his flushed forehead against yours. His fingers reached for your chin again as you tried to jerk your head away.

“Look at me-- before I go,” His voice grew low and harsh as he whispered, the clear stomps of other officers clicking outside the patient room. “I suggest that if you don’t want to be reprimanded by the guild--” Kain stopped momentarily, grinning as he imagined in his head. “Come to my room. Tonight.” 

“...Room?” You questioned. Ah right, all the officers got rooms to stay in, while the rest of you measly survivors had to sleep close together in tight quarters. "Like hell I'll do that. You're the reason they're on my ass, they think I told you to defend me!"

Kain frowns, dissatisfaction making him furrow his eyebrows.

"What was I supposed to do? Let that guy practically violate you with his words? I couldn't stand letting him do that." he clicked his radio off, annoyed by the continued static call of his name. "You, wouldn't have allowed that either. I know you, you would've unleashed far worse than I had; but, I saved you the trouble, and the ass beating."

"But--" 

 "I know i know, you're still being 'reprimanded'," Kain gagged as he scrunched his fingers. "However, i could easily sway the guild council's opinion as a leading officer… in return for something, of course."

Your eyes narrow. 

"And how would you do that? You're the one that caused this whole mess in the first place!"

 Kain’s mouth was left lingering open against your cheek as he tried to hold himself back. 

"A few of the council members owe me some favors… I wouldn't mind cashing one in if it meant, a night with you."

The guard’s breath hitched, his damp cheek pressing against yours as you winced in disgust.

“Seriously? You're willingly playing into their corruption; disgusting.” 

Kain dug his hand into your hair, taking a deep inhale of it, ignoring your criticisms. He tried to press you up against him, as if your body wanted to give him physical affection. 

"Take it or leave it. It's a much better choice than the tunnels, hm?"

That made you shudder. You doubted they'd throw you to the tunnels and catacombs of the city for something like this, but who's to say you're not one mistake too close to being zombie bate.

You were too stuck in the dread of what he was asking for. You knew he wouldn’t be satisfied if you let him have you, even if it was just for a night; he’d always come crawling back for more, until he completely consumed you. But did you really want to deal with his bullshit if you didn’t show up?

The radio chimed again, and Kain caught himself before he lashed out again, merely letting out an annoyed grunt. 

“Got it?” He asked, pressing his knuckles against your jaw.

The guard didn’t wait for an answer, instead squeezing your face with one hand and pushing a multitude of kisses on your bruised lips. You tightened your lips shut, trying to turn and grunting as he kissed and kissed and kissed, not a thought of pulling away-- until the radio snatched his attention again. 

All of a sudden Kain’s hands were off of you, his bulky body had pushed past the privacy curtain, leaving it closed. You heard the door shut as he stormed out; shutting the door with a tight firmness that irked you. Letting out an exasperated sigh, you listened to his heavy military boots trudge down the hospital corridors, waiting for them to be completely silent.

That silence was quickly filled once again however, your mind snapping back into work mode as the dying man in the adjacent room’s hospital bed began another violent coughing fit. 

You shut kain out of your mind-- but in the back of your head, you mentally played what you felt would happen tonight if you took up his offer. Hell, what were you going to do with him? 

Murder was starting to sound real tempting.

[haliaiii]

so.. virgil.. he’s one of my new favs his neuvilette-esque design and bloodlust have captivated me…

Man oh man what can I even say about Virgil, he’s really something that’s for sure

Ok so kicking it off with some fun facts about him before I start my 3k word essay:

- His job title is Chancellor

- Basically the existing world is currently ruled by one empire (the country’s called Carmenta) and at the head is the emperor. There’s also the council that acts pretty much as the Parliament, with 7 total members, who are also governors of the main 7 cities making up the empire (all are named after planets btw, with the capital called Jupiter). Virgil is the head of the council, and holds a pretty high position in the government, basically he kinda acts as the Emperor’s advisor too.

- He pretty much leads the meetings and makes a lot of important decisions for the country itself

- Also Kalani lives in Jupiter, and basically works as a policy adviser, Virgil is pretty much her boss

If you want to know how she feels about him, pretty much

- Anyway politics aside, if you haven’t noticed yet from my last post about Virgil, he’s not really a great guy

- In fact he is retrograde’s main antagonist !!

I can’t talk too much about his past without spoiling a large portion of the story but let’s just say he has a weird obsession with Sam and likes to make Val suffer

Anyway here’s some more old art

That first one was a really old drawing back when I was trying to figure out his design, second one isn’t really a canon look but I do like the design so idk I might use it maybe?

- About his eye: you’re probably wondering why he hides his eye, and that’s cause it has something to do with his past! (I told you specifically what happened to him but for the general public who sees this, they won’t know but it’s related to what happened 500 years ago) but all you need to know is that it’s pretty ugly, if you do some digging on my instagram, you’ll probably find that animation I did of his eye so it’s not really a secret- 😞

- Also the whole council has some pretty weird outfits so he doesn’t really look that out of place tbh

- Another fun fact: Back in the concepts, his origin used to be that he was actually a robot that survived the Cataclysm 500 years ago (now it’s not too far off but there’s some very big differences, he’s not a robot tho now)

- He's definitely lost a lot of his humanity over the past years, and cracks are really starting to show

- For his weapon of choice, he uses a sword, similar to a rapier

- He does come across as friendly to the general public to maintain a good image, being a good looking guy has certainly helped his popularity too

- He definitely has something to do with Val's past, and is intrinsically linked with Sam

- Despite Kalani being on edge around him most of the time, he remains friendly with her and has even invited her to lunch on occasion

- He's met Kain only a very few times, and Kain's opinion on him is that he's a friendly guy like on TV but there's something kind of off

- Val turns the TV off every time Virgil's face shows up

- Sam feels a vague familiarity

Anyway that's all I can say about Virgil for now!! He's very very much so plot relevant

(also p.s. did you know I have Pinterest boards for like most of my ocs, even the ones I haven't talked about publicly yet? If you wanna look at their styles and aesthetics you can check it out here: https://pin.it/a6YnFld )

[joshuaorrizonte]

Untitled, Chapter Six - The Drunk Tank

@eventide-imp @zottower

Ask to be tagged/untagged!

Also, I have since realized that a certain prolific author has already written a series of books called Dragonsinger, so I'm back to square one with the title. My apologies for injecting my original stuff into an existing tag.

The guards hauling Kain along threw him bodily into the large, unfurnished room. He fell heavily, and a moment later Gavin stumbled into the dingy space, and the door slammed shut behind him. The sound of the lock engaging echoed painfully around them and faded, leaving them in silence. 

“Well,” Kain ground out, picking himself up with a wince. “That could’ve gone better.”

“I don’t like this,” Gavin said softly. 

Kain curled his lip in derision. “Of course you don’t. You’re so hard to please. This is prime accommodation-“

“Will you stop being sarcastic and engage your brain for two seconds?” Gavin demanded with a hiss. “We still have our weapons! Why wouldn’t they disarm us?”

Gavin’s words struck Kain like a bolt of lightning. He was right. They were both obviously armed, their swords sheathed but worn openly. Everything Kain knew about being arrested told him they should have been disarmed. “They let us keep our armor, too,” he said slowly. 

“I don’t like this,” Gavin repeated. “There’s only one reason I can think of that they wouldn’t take our weapons and armor.”

“Could it possibly be that I was kicking up such a fuss that-“

“You were a peacekeeper in Reythak,” Gavin cut him off sourly. “Would you truly have let someone being arrested keep their weapons if they were acting like a child having a tantrum?”

“A—a child having a-“

Gavin ignored his indignation, peering into the darkness. “There’s so much in here that we can’t see…”

Kain immediately went quiet. “I have a light spell.”

“Don’t.” Gavin shuddered. “I get the feeling we’re going to need your magic for other things.”

“What other-“

A low groan from the darkness interrupted him. “What the hell was that?” Gavin whispered.

“The reason we were allowed to keep our weapons, no doubt,” Kain answered, shifting his stance, planting his feet firmly to the ground and dropping his weight, his entire body tense, fingers itching to snap his sword into his hand. “It will be used to the darkness,” he whispered. “Gavin, your magic is stronger. Can you blind it?”

“If you’re right, of course,” Gavin whispered back, “but we will be blinded as well, and there’s no telling which of us will recover first.”

“Do you have a better idea?”

Gavin scoffed, “Of course not. This has taken me by surprise. If I had time to think-“

“You might. You just might if we’re very still and very quiet.”

“They’re going to toss Liashta in here shortly. I’d rather have this thing taken care of before then, if you don’t mind.” Kain muttered about Gavin being uncharacteristically impatient, derisively, about him being afraid, and Gavin snapped, “Yes, I’m afraid, and you’re dumber than I’d given you credit for if you’re not! We don’t know what this thing is, but we know it’s a big enough threat that they felt the need to toss us in here with our weapons and armor."

"At least we know they don't want to just let us be eaten," Kain murmured. 

"Don't be so sure. Depending on what this thing is, it may have been a token gesture."

"You are just full of sunshine."

Another low growl interrupted Gavin’s retort. The room shook as the monster in the space lumbered forward. Kain gasped hard as the creature stomped into the dim light of the chamber. "That... that's a dragon..."

Gavin recognized it in the next moment. It was a dusty red from head to tail, including its eyes; those eyes lacked pupils, a milky film over the orbs. It's scales hung loosely in places, threatening to fall off and leave it's soft hide beneath exposed. Indeed, there were exposed spots all over the beast. It moved as though every step pained it. It roared at them, deafening Kain for several moments after. When he could hear again, Gavin's soft voice cut through the ringing in his ears: "You poor thing..."

"What are we going to do about this?" Kain asked, dreading the answer. 

"What else can we do?" His voice was full of sorrow and despair. "It's suffering. We can't leave it like this. It's being used as an executioner, and you know it isn't happy like this. Look." 

Gavin pointed, and Kain's gaze went to the dragon's feet. Heavy chains bound the dragon to the dingy floor. Kain could see blood welling from beneath the thick iron shackles, and he shuddered. "We're riders," Kain said helplessly. 

"I know. I know! But that's exactly why we need to do this. We can't leave it to suffer like this!"

Kain drew his sword in the next moment, his mind made up. "You're right," Kain said, although Gavin’s sorrow was in his own voice now. "We can't leave it to suffer like this. I wish we had Stormsong with us. She could tell us what this old gentleman is thinking and feeling.”

“It hasn’t attacked us,” Gavin observed, sadness in his tone. “We know from Stormsong that dragons’ intelligence surpasses that of human and elf both. I think it knows we mean well… that we can free it.”

Both of the men startled as the dragon snorted, stalking closer, it’s great snout snuffling. Kain reached out with his free hand and gently touched the dragon's snout. The dragon nuzzled against his palm, and Kain smiled sadly. "We'll make this as painless as we can, sir," he whispered. 

"It will be painless," Gavin said, his soft voice firm. 

Kain glanced at him, stroking the dragon's head. "Do you have something in mind?"

Gavin nodded, his expression wary. "You must promise not to make a thing of it. I wouldn't make this known but for necessity. But this old man's comfort is more important than mine."

Kain's expression softened, not pausing in his gentle movements on the dragon’s snout. "I won't make a thing of it," he promised, "and I'll keep it between us."

Gavin nodded, gratitude in his expression. Kain watched curiously as Gavin turned his attention to the dragon, clearing his throat. And then the dark knight began to sing, his voice threading almost sweetly into the air. A sense of peace settled over Kain as Gavin sang, the melody strangely familiar. The great red dragon's blind eyes fixed on Gavin, and it snuffled again, eyelids drooping. It crouched and then laid down, Kain going to his knees with the beast. He continued stroking the dragon's head soothingly as it rested its chin on Kain's lap, closing its eyes. 

As the dragon’s breathing deepened, its head growing heavy on Kain’s lap, Gavin nodded to him, not ceasing his song. Kain embraced the creature with one arm, resting his head on its snout for a moment as he maneuvered his sword to press the tip to the dragon’s temple. Gavin’s singing abruptly cut off as Kain thrust forward with all his strength, driving the blade into the dragon. Its breath shuddered to a halt and Kain, after a moment, withdrew the sword, laying it on the dingy floor beneath them.

Neither of them asked if they’d done the right thing. If it hadn’t wanted this, it would’ve fought them, killed them easily. They knew from Stormsong that dragons understood human speech; it knew what they had planned. 

But that didn’t make it less painful.

Gavin took a deep breath to speak. Kain beat him to it. “So. Dragon singer.”

“Yes. You promised.”

“So I did.” Kain paused. “Is there anything else you need to tell me?”

Irritation flashed across Gavin’s face. “There is nothing I need to tell you, no. You’re free to ask questions.”

Kain sighed. “Forgive the misstep. I’m not used to my companions withholding critical information from me when he demands trust.”

“That’s remarkably fair.” He sighed. “There is no sister. I am Darkfell’s dragon singer.”

“So there’s no need to go to Darkfell.”

“Not quite. We have a ceremony… something to amplify magic. I don’t know where my dragon is, who’s taken him, nothing. If I want to have any hope of successfully singing him back, I need that ceremony, and we can only do it in Darkfell.”

“I see-“ Kain cut himself off, blinking in surprise. “Wait. Skyfall wasn’t just a red herring? You truly have a dragon?”

“I truly am a dragon rider, as well.”

“How is that possible-“

Gavin sighed. “There’s more duality to me than that.”

“What does that mean?”

“Irrelevant. My point is that yes, I am a singer, and yes, I am a rider. I-“

“No, not irrelevant!” Kain snapped. “We could’ve used your power back in the parlor! We didn’t need to be here - you could have used your magic to put them all down-“

“I will not kill at your command, Kain, stop being absurd,” Gavin snapped back. “I didn’t need you to know about this to do it, and I certainly don’t do it on your directive. I could have, but what good would it have done us? I cannot ‘put down’ an entire city’s guard! No one’s powerful enough to do that!”

Kain grimaced, putting a hand to his forehead. “Alright. Alright, fine, you have a point. But still, what do you mean, there’s more duality to you?”

“None of your-“

“It is my business,” Kain interrupted bluntly, “if we’re going to be traveling together. You need to tell me everything that’s relevant.”

“The rest of it is not relevant,” Gavin said firmly. “It is absolutely none of your business. At least, not yet.”

“What in the world do you mean, ‘not yet?’”

Gavin, in response, simply gave him a smug yet misty smile, and turned away. “So we’re here, in a prison, with a dead dragon. What are we going to do about it?”

Kain stared at him with narrowed eyes, covering for the fact that he had no idea with his irritation with the dark knight. But he thought about it regardless, and said finally, "They will be back to make sure the dragon killed us. They're not going to be happy that we killed it instead. We need to be ready for them. Will you be able to sing them to sleep?"

"I can sing those soldiers to sleep. We'll need a plan for the rest. Putting a dragon to sleep takes a lot of magic. I won't be able to do that again for very many people."

"Just curious: what happens if you try?"

Gavin gave him a dead stare. "What happens to you if you overextend your magic?"

"I can't."

"You what?"

"I can't overextend my magic," Kain said slowly. "I'll be knocked out long before that happens."

Gavin exclaimed something that sounded like an elven curse. "I've never before wished I was anything but what I am," he said, his soft voice an annoyed growl, "but this may just do it."

"Why? You can overextend your-"

"Yes, and if I overextend too far, it will kill me."

"... alright, that idea is straight out the window." 

"I'll say," Gavin said incredulously. 

Kain glared at him. "You can stop the ones who come for us, though?"

"As long as it's not half the guard, yes. You may need to watch my back afterwards."

"You don't need to worry about that. I'll always watch your back."

Gavin’s expression softened. “Thank you, Kain. I wasn’t sure about you when we met, but now I… well.” His face flushed and he looked away. 

Kain wasn’t sure if he wanted to press or not. But he was in no hurry to decide; there was a good chance that the guards who threw them into this hole wouldn’t be back for hours. After all, they’d just been fed to a dragon. There was no reason for the guards to return anytime soon. 

And that was dangerous ground for Kain to be on. 

Gavin looked up to see the strange look on his companion’s face. “What is it?” He asked cautiously. “You look pensive.”

“Pensive.” Kain looked away. “That isn’t how I would phrase it.”

“I’m aware,” Gavin said, his voice cool and unbothered. “I’m trying to be diplomatic. What you have on your mind is plain to observe and it’s quite…”

Gavin’s voice trailed off. “Disgusting?” Kain offered, his voice flat.

“I was going to say uncomfortably tempting, but if you want to go in that direction instead, we can.”

“Tempting, huh…”

The dark knight backed up a step as Kain advanced. “Keep in mind our surroundings, what we just did, and the fact that we don’t actually know when the governor’s guards will be back. I do not wish to make love in these circumstances, and I don’t think you want to, either.”

Kain sighed, and stopped his advance. “But you admit that you want to.”

“I admitted that I wanted to back at the shrine. That doesn’t make it a good idea, Kain.”

“What’s the worst that could happen?” Kain asked, his voice soft and suggestive. “You discover that humans aren’t as gross as you think?”

“I’ve never thought that-“

“Oh, bullshit, Gavin. Do you think me that sheltered? I’ve never met a night elf but I’ve met plenty of moon and sun elves and they all couldn’t wait to be away from the repulsive humans. The only reason they tolerated our presence at all was because we were dragon riders.”

“Kind of makes you think,” Gavin retorted softly, accusing. “Doesn’t it?”

Kain shook his head. “That’s different-“

“Why? Because you’re the one doing it?”

“Because I never thought you were disgusting,” Kain replied bluntly. “On the contrary, you’re far more beautiful than a single being has a right to be.” Gavin’s eyes widened ever so slightly and he pulled away, startled, as Kain continued, “I thought you were evil. There’s a gulf of a difference between-“

“There really isn’t.” Gavin contradicted in a strained voice. “I find evil to be pretty repulsive.”

“And that’s where you’ve proven to me that I was wrong,” Kain told him, crossing the distance between them. Gavin didn’t resist as Kain reached up and pulled Gavin’s helmet off. Gavin didn’t resist as Kain tucked the helmet under his arm and caressed the night elf’s face with his free hand.

Gavin resisted as Kain tried to kiss him. “This is never going to work,” Gavin murmured, turning his face away. 

“Why not?”

“Because you find me evil, Kain!” Gavin’s face snapped back to fix once more on Kain’s, his words a gasp of frustration. “You find me evil and I consider you beneath me-“

“I’m not beneath you yet.”

“You vulgar-!” Gavin growled, cutting himself off as he lunged forward, pressing his lips to Kain’s hard. Surprised, Kain did nothing for a few seconds before melting into the kiss, dropping Gavin’s helmet and pulling the elf flush against him. They remained like that for several moments before Gavin pulled away abruptly. “That helmet took days to get the perfect fit with. You better not have dented it.”

Kain let out a bark of a disbelieving laugh. “Are you serious?”

“Quite.”

“After that-“

“I told you, I consider you beneath me.” Gavin thrust him away, and stooped to pick up his helmet. “I’m not going to debase myself by fucking a human.”

Kain’s lip curled delicately. “You’re so full of shit, Skyglow. You’re making desperate excuses-“

“Why are you so eager to bed a creature you think is evil?”

“Did it occur to you that I don’t think that anymore?”

“Then you’re too easily placated for my tastes.”

Kain’s already sour expression soured more. “You are just full of excuses, aren’t-“

His words cut off in a sharp gasp as pain flooded his mind. Gavin was by his side in the next second, easing him to the floor as he grasped his head, moaning in pain. He could hear Gavin’s soft voice, raised now in concern bordering on panic. “Stormsong,” he managed to gasp. “Something’s happened to Stormsong-“

At that moment, the door to the chamber slammed open. Gavin sprang to his feet and bolted for it, yanking his sword from its scabbard on his back. Kain heard Liashta scream seconds before the sickening sound of metal sliding into flesh reached Kain’s ears. Irrational terror gripped him, the pain stealing his sense, and for a moment, he feared that Gavin had just murdered his childhood friend. 

The fear was allayed as Liashta sank to her knees where Gavin had been only moments before. The door to the room slammed shut, and a body was dropped to the ground. “The door’s unlocked,” Gavin said, breathless with adrenaline. “Get him up, Liashta. We need to go.”

“What… what happened here?” Liashta asked. Kain looked at her. Her gaze was firmly on the dead dragon. 

“We’ll explain later,” Gavin replied in a tight voice, storming over to them. “Kain, get up,” he ground out, grabbing his upper arm and hauling upward. Kain stumbled to his feet with a groan, his head in the hand that Gavin wan’t yanking. Seeing that Kain was in no shape to just go, Gavin leaned in close to him. “Don’t lose it,” he growled. “Stormsong needs you, Kain. She needs you to be strong. We need you to be strong. You need to fight the pain and be ready to fight our way out of here. Can you do that for us? Can you fight?”

“I—I—“

“Can you fight, Kain?”

Kain nodded, although Gavin wasn’t sure he comprehended what exactly what was happening. Regardless, Gavin took it as an assent for them to go. He took Kain’s wrist and headed back for the door. “Where were you when you were taken?” 

It took a moment for Liashta to realize Gavin was talking to her. “We were resting in a guest room,” she answered. “I can bring you to it-“

“No, don’t bother. I don’t think Stormsong will be there.” Gavin huffed, putting a shoulder to the door. “Are you ready, Liashta?”

“I’m ready. Kain?”

“Don’t bother,” he repeated. “Kain’s in no condition to answer.”

“Can we rely on him to carry his weight?

“Honestly, no. But we can’t leave him here.”

“True,” Liashta said. She took a deep breath, then nodded. “I’m ready when you are. Hopefully we won’t be swarmed the moment we’re out that door.”

“Indeed.” Gavin put his free hand on the door, listening intently to what was happening on the other side. Satisfied that the corridor was empty, he pushed the door open, and gestured Liashta through, easing the door closed as she darted silently out of it. Keeping a firm hold on Kain’s wrist, Gavin looked up and down the corridor, and whispered to Kain, “We need you to guide us. We will protect you; just focus on finding Stormsong.”

“Yes… this way,” Kain replied, and started walking down the corridor, leading them away from the drunk tank, deeper into the basement of the manor.

[invisibletinkerer]

Fic: Thicker than Blood

Someday, I may actually get back into a living and active fandom. Today is not that day. But I have somewhat regained my ability to write, and so written a little fic about the latest piece of media that gave me Feels:

Fandom: Final Fantasy IV Length: ~1,800 words AO3 link: archiveofourown.org/works/54783670

(After the crisis is over, Kain is not okay. Cecil goes looking for him.)

The second time Cecil climbed Mt Ordeals, it was in no sense an ordeal. Despite being alone and armed only with a single blade, the spirits of the mountain let him be. He had already been blessed by the light once, and nothing he had done since had rescinded that. The mountain welcomed him back.

He wasn’t here for the mountain, though.

He glimpsed Kain long before he was close enough to talk to, a thin silhouette against the sky, standing on one of the peaks visible from certain angles through the forest canopy. It was impossible to make out his features from below, but even so Cecil knew it was him. He couldn’t have explained how he knew, but who else would it be? If anything, he was relieved that his friend wasn’t hiding from him.

Cecil made no effort to hide himself either, but when he finally reached the peak, Kain had seated himself cross-legged on the rocky ground, facing away. He looked oddly vulnerable without his dragon armor, blond hair spilling over a worn and dirty shirt. His spear was resting on the ground to his left, and there was a tenseness in his back that told Cecil that he was expected.

“I knew I’d find you here,” Cecil said, approaching slowly. As if Kain was a wounded animal, easily spooked, and perhaps he was. He sat down by Kain’s side a few feet to his right.

“I knew you’d come,” Kain replied quietly. Too quietly. Kain had been a loud person, once.

“This is a good spot,” Cecil remarked. “The view is nice.”

Kain shrugged.

Small talk wasn’t the way to go. “You went to the shrine, didn’t you?” Kain had disappeared without telling anyone where he was going, but he’d muttered something about needing to ‘find himself’, and Cecil knew from personal experience that this was a decent place to start when dealing with an identity crisis. He’d hoped – perhaps naively – that his friend would return in time for the wedding, but he hadn’t. “What did you find?”

Kain huffed, but didn’t turn to look at Cecil. “I wasn’t turned into a paladin, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“That’s not what I’m asking. That was my journey. I’m asking about yours.” He paused, chewing on his lip. “You don’t have to tell me, but… Look, I know this is hard on you, but this silence – I don’t think you’re doing anyone any favors, least of all yourself.”

Kain sighed, but didn’t speak.

“I’m worried about you. We’re all worried about you.”

“Rosa?”

“She would have come with me if I hadn’t insisted she’d stay. We’d both hoped you’d be back for the wedding.”

Kain shook his head. “You should know better than that. I’m glad you’re married – I am. But no. I shouldn’t be a part of your life.”

“That’s nonsense. We want you to be! Neither of us blame you for things you did when you weren’t in your right mind, Kain. You’d never have hurt us if—”

“I know!” Kain interrupted with some force. “I wouldn’t have! But I did, and I wasn’t only acting on orders. You don’t get it, Cecil!” He paused, clenching his teeth and looking down at hands clawing at the fabric on his knees. “You don’t understand what it’s like. To have half of your self stripped away, leaving the dark underside that’s left to fill the space. I can’t just put a cap on it and pretend like it’s nothing. Everything I did—I was still me. All of those feelings are inside me. I don’t know why you pretend to forgive me, but I’m a monster. Cecil, I—” He glanced up and met Cecil’s eyes for a moment, then turned away with a look of anguish.

Cecil hazarded a painful guess. “You hated me?” It had certainly seemed like hatred in Kain’s eyes during the months he’d been working for Golbez. But that was over now, and things should be getting back to normal, not spiraling out of control. The fact that Kain felt so guilty about it all was in itself proof that he had not been himself, and Cecil wished he knew what to say to make it right.

“I’ve never hated you,” Kain denied. “But…” He swallowed. “Look. You were the one with the talent. The artistic one, the graceful one, the top swordfighter. The handsome and charming one. I grew up in your shadow, Cecil, but I don’t think you ever noticed. And… I met Rosa first, but you were the one she fell in love with. Of course you were.” His fists clenched and unclenched in his lap.

Cecil was struck by the quiet fervor. “I’m sorry,” he managed. He had indeed never noticed. Had Kain always felt that way?

“It’s not your fault. It’s just who you are. You’re special. Just look at you now – you’re a paladin. You’re a king. You’re a pure-hearted hero. You’re a half-blood alien from the moon!”

“I didn’t—”

“No, and neither did I! You’re… we were a team. The rest didn’t matter, because I loved you. You were my best friend, the closest I’ve ever had to a brother. And Golbez… he took that away. And that left only jealousy and resentment. Do you see now?”

Cecil nodded slowly. He was starting to. Negative feelings that had always been overshadowed by the positive ones, suddenly shuffled to the surface, leaving confusion in their wake. But even so. “I love you too,” he said. No past tense. “You’re my best friend. You’ve always been.”

“Even now?”

“Even now. If you’d still have me.”

Kain was silent for a long moment, back hunched, face hidden by his hair. Cecil wanted to reach out to him, but maybe Kain needed the space. He wished he was as perfect as Kain seemed to think he was, maybe then he’d know what to do.

“I heard my father’s voice,” Kain said eventually. “In the shrine. He told me that yes, I could do it. I could be whatever I wanted, I could surpass him as a dragoon, or even be something else. But only if I could forgive myself. And..." He shook his head.

So the mountain had withheld its blessing. It was unfair. Why couldn’t it do for Kain what it had done for Cecil? “Does it help that I forgive you?” he asked. “And Rosa, too. And Cid, and Rydia, and Edge might be blustering about it but I know that he admires you for sticking with us to the end despite everything. And—”

“Stop it!” Kain interrupted. “You don’t know half of it. It’s not just what I did—I was planning, and anticipating—you have no idea of the extent of what I’m capable of. I don’t know how Rosa could ever stand to look at me. She shouldn’t have to. And you. I would have killed you—I would have enjoyed killing you! Can you know that and still call me your friend?”

“Yes,” Cecil said plainly. “Because that’s not who you are. Golbez turned you into that by violating you. You didn’t deserve what happened, any more than the rest of us did. Everyone has dark thoughts and feelings, and that’s fine! What makes a decent person is the ability to stop yourself from acting on them, and that ability was taken from you by force. It’s not your fault. The shrine was right – you have to forgive yourself.”

Kain’s breath hitched audibly. “I…” He didn’t seem to find any words.

Cecil took a deep breath. “What can I do to help?”

“I don’t know.” It was barely a whisper.

Cecil shuffled closer, and when Kain didn’t pull away he reached out and drew his friend into a tight hug. A moment later, Kain’s arms returned the embrace with desperate strength.

They sat like that for some time. Cecil could feel Kain trembling against him. He didn’t quite cry – just an occasional dry sob – but he clung to Cecil like he was all that kept him alive. Maybe it was. Cecil hadn’t understood before now just how much Kain hated himself for what had happened. It wasn’t right, none of it was, but Cecil had his own part of the blame. If only human hearts could be healed with a simple Cure spell, the world would be an easier place to live in. Holding his broken friend, he mouthed a silent prayer to whatever gods might be listening. Help him. Please.

The trembling died down eventually, and some time after that Kain finally straightened and untangled himself from Cecil. The sky was darker than it had been. Night would be coming soon.

“Will you come home?” Cecil asked.

Kain didn’t reply immediately. After a few seconds, he sighed. “Did you notice that the second moon is gone?” he asked, ignoring Cecil’s question.

“Yes,” Cecil replied. “They left our planet’s orbit. Golbez took the time to send me a telepathic farewell.”

A small grimace. “He did, did he?”

“We never really knew him – the real him, I mean – but he was my brother.”

“Have you forgiven him?”

Cecil had to ponder the question. Saying yes would be a lie, but saying no would be hypocritical. “I’m not sure,” he settled on. “It’s complicated.”

Kain’s face twisted. “He doesn’t deserve it.”

Kain was making a point. Golbez’s position was complicated enough for Cecil himself; he could barely begin to imagine how Kain must feel about it.  But it didn’t matter now, did it? “You don’t have to forgive him, Kain. You just have to forgive yourself.”

“Aren’t those the same thing? If he’s accountable, then so am I. And if I’m not, then who do I blame? Don’t say Zemus; he wasn’t there. He wasn’t the one who drove a wedge into my mind and twisted.” He illustrated the last part with a fist against his forehead.

“I don’t know,” Cecil admitted. He wished he did. “But I do know one thing.”

“And what’s that?”

“Golbez is gone. You’ll never have to see him again. And neither do I, or anyone else who is alive today. We don’t have to deal with him anymore. This isn’t about him – I never knew him, but I do know you.”

“But he’s your brother. He’s your family, the ones you’ve always wanted to find. You can’t tell me that doesn’t matter. And if you can’t forgive him…”

“It would have mattered a lot more if things had been different.” Cecil grimaced. “And maybe, if it had been just me, I would have been conflicted about it even as it is. But no, I’m not sorry to see him gone. I’m relieved.”

“Why?”

“Because he messed with you. And if I have to choose between the brother who is a virtual stranger to me and the brother I grew up with, it’s not a choice at all.”

Kain closed his eyes for a moment. “You actually mean that,” he breathed.

“I have only one brother,” Cecil said. “Please come home, Kain.”

[halfling-myth-lady]

digimon fanganronpa? i'm all ears

Okay,so this is in a weird position where it’s finished enough that I can say it’s somewhat done,but it still kinda is very far from completion.

So,bassically all the contestants are the game protagonist and support characters(Masaru and Touma included since they got their own game.) and while I don’t have a proper setting(I feel like a school would fit,but you need some extra context for that that would spoil chapter six) I do have the mascots,of which are monotama (a very mean egg that likes to see people suffer) and Monodramon/Machinedramon(can’t decide whether to make it another mono or just a Machinedramon,also he doesn’t talk)EDIT: I forgot that there was already a monodramon

I don’t have every talent mapped out,so I’m all ears for suggestions on the talents/which talents would be better/funnier:

Izuku fujira(digimon world 1):shsl computer programmer

Age 15 and height is 5’2

Fuck the shitty excuse for a postgame they haven’t been in the digital world since they were nine

Inferior complex

Aroace and closeted nb

The dw got them interested in technology

Has since accepted the dw was just a dream(spoilers:it was not)

Shiki Shishiro(next order):shsl gamer

Age 19 and 5’8

Her,himari,kouta,shoma,and luche are basically besties who do stupid shit and somehow don’t die in the process

Orphanage kid

Lesbiab

This girl is able to take care of two fucking vpets at the same time I think we can all agree on how she got her ultimate

Was...shocked to say the least when she saw Izuku for the first time

Makoto akinaga(ReArise):shsl writer

Age 16 and 5’7

His digital world was shut down

Despite his ultimate,hasn’t published any of his books,having gotten his talent via fanfic(he has written like 30 of them though)

Pan

Didn’t know what to do once his dw was shut down so he just....wrote.

Don’t get fooled by his writing genius,he has like three Braincells and they only work while writing.

Airi takahashi(world ds):shsl errand girl

Age 17 and 6’7

Sweetheart

Had a big fucking growth spurt between world ds and now

Undecided

Just kinda runs errands

Is also pretty damn strong(her sweater hides it though)

Tomomi kozue(world ds):talent not decided

Age 18 and 5’6

Occasionally visits Airi and pagumon

Pretty laid back

Sees kain as pretty immature

Lesbian

Kain Makishi(world ds):shsl trickster

Age 16 and 5’10

Calls all the ds cast his friends with somewhat mocking nicknames to match(albeit they don’t think of him as a friend,even tomomi,everyone’s just annoyed)

Is nicer than he was in ds,but still somewhat arrogant

Bi boy

Just kinda causes trouble

Childhood friends with tomomi

Fuck it,I might have the rest of the cast planned out but through everything and the fact that the fic went from being about 60% finished to about 90% in the span of me writing this,I think you have a pretty solid idea of the cast,but just in case I’ll leave the names in the tags

[littleperilstories]

Whumptober 2022: #22 :: Pick Your Poison

Whumptober Masterpost Toxic | Withdrawal | Allergic Reaction

Whumpee: Freddie Howell, Fen Bailey-Song

Whumper: Kain Brockhurst

@whumptober-archive / @whumptober

CW: needles/injection, threats/peril, restraints (handcuffs, straps), gag (cloth), gun use

Fen & Freddie

Follows Day 23 and precedes Day 31

“If you lie, or hide something, she’s going to be the one to pay the price. Is that clear?” How could a mouth be curled into such an amiable smile when the eyes were so chillingly cruel?

“Stop!”

Freddie couldn’t move—the straps against the table too tight, too restricting. He couldn’t stop them from torturing Fen in front of him. He could barely move.

“Why?” Brockhurst asked with mock sincerity. “You’ve been entirely useless so far. Do you like watching this happen to her? Aren’t you hopelessly in love with her? Do you think she’ll ever want you now that you’ve let me nearly drown her when you could have been the one to stop it?”

Sprawled on the floor, heaving and coughing and spluttering from having her head held underwater too many times, Fen stilled. She was gasping, trying to catch her breath around the soaking wet cloth tied around her mouth, but her eyes met his. She’d heard.

“I’ll talk.” Would he regret this? Almost certainly. I can’t do this anymore. Not to her.

He waited for Fen to protest, to shout at him through the gag not to give in, to glare at him with hate-filled eyes as he betrayed her sister.

Instead, she just stared at him, tears mingling with the water on her skin.

“Great!” Brockhurst grinned. “There is just one matter first.”

“No.”  Freddie shook his head. “No more matters. What do you want to kn—”

Fen cried out as the goons lifted her again. Freddie jerked against the restraints.

“If you lie, or hide something, she’s going to be the one to pay the price. Is that clear?”

How could a mouth be curled into such an amiable smile when the eyes were so chillingly cruel?

Freddie nodded. The men didn’t put Fen down, but they didn’t dunk her head below the water, either.

Brockhurst grinned. “Let’s begin.”

~

“Kain! Don’t!” Hurling a muffled scream through the gag, Fen must have seen something Freddie couldn’t.

He felt the prick of a needle in his arm before he saw the plastic syringe.

“What the fuck?” The words came out in a gasp, exhausted. Choked with every betrayal Freddie had delivered to Bridget, Starr, Jeff, and the others.

“Well, you’re just lying here, all wrapped up so nicely for me,” said Brockhurst. “And you’ve given me such wonderful intel on where to find my old friends. So I thought I’d give you a little gift to show my gratitude.” He patted Freddie’s cheek. “I have this little project I’ve been working on, you know, something to keep me busy until I get back the formula. Something to keep me out of trouble.”

He winked.

“The formula, my formula, it’s good for enhancing those of us who are special, you know? People who are already superior.”

Freddie heard Fen shouting something across the room, and he wanted to roll his eyes and hurl another Fuck you at Brockhurst, but it was getting harder to concentrate on what he was saying. An odd sensation boiled in his head; the pinprick where the needle bit into his skin burned ferociously, felt too big, like a gaping wound. How, why? It was was a needle, how could it feel like—

“My intention for this one,” said Brockhurst, “is to see if regular people like yourself can be endowed, even temporarily, with gifts such as mine.” He turned to glance backward. “I’d have tested on you, little miss, but you’ve got a secret gift of your own, haven’t you?”

Fen’s response and Brockhurst’s subsequent laugh faded into squabbling noise, each sound indistinguishable from the next. Freddie’s heart was racing, fast, too fast, and when he drew in a breath, it didn’t seem like quite enough.

This is wrong.

He was dying, he realized. I’m going to die from this. He had no doubt that Brockhurst was telling the truth—he probably had made whatever was in that syringe to try and create more freaks like him—but it wasn’t right. It wasn’t ready, wasn’t made for humans, not yet. It was fucking toxic, and it was going to kill him.

Noise exploded outside the bubble of Freddie’s awareness, and he caught some of the words, but they were foreign, nonsensical.

Freeze!—Hands—see them!—surrounded—

All he could feel was his heart hammering in his chest, flashing its warning lights, screaming in panicked alarm: Much more of this and I’ll give out. All he could understand was a single truth: I am going to die here on this table and I never told her…

~

Fen sobbed as an officer pulled her to the floor a second before a bullet blasted across the room and pinged harmlessly off the wall—straight along a trajectory which had been blockaded by her own body an instant before.

“It’s all right,” the officer said. “You’re all right. We’ve got you.”

The guard who’d fired the gun was on the floor. Fen didn’t look to see if he was dead. She didn’t care.

“Freddie,” she gasped as the moment pulled the still-soaking gag from her mouth. “He poisoned him, he’s dying, I can tell, please—”

Still standing in front of the table that was Freddie’s prison, Brockhurst was stoic and unmoving, his eyes locked onto something across the room. Already his body was littered with tranquilizer darts; soon he would fall, Fen knew, and maybe the nightmare would be over. Maybe. Maybe. If Freddie was okay.

She turned, trembling, to see what Brockhurst was glaring at.

Bridget.

Fen’s older sister stalked into the room, her eyes dark with fury and something that was a hairsbreadth from despair.

“You went to the government,” Brockhurst said, his gaze flicking across the officers in the room. The voice was weakening, but still cold. “You’ve doomed every single one of us, you fucking bitch. Everyone.”

“No,” Bridget said softly. “You did that the moment you brought my family into this.” She didn’t watch him crash to the floor, unconscious, but turned to look at Fen.

Freddie’s tremors grew more violent, hampered now only by the straps holding him to the table.

“Fen—” Bridget was on her knees, beside her, not seeming to notice the officer. In one motion, she tore apart the handcuffs, snapping the chain as if it were a blade of grass.

One of the straps on Freddie’s arms tore apart as his limbs flailed and shook. Gasping, Fen threw herself toward him. Both her sister and the officer caught her and pulled her back, gentle enough but firm.

“Don’t get close!” Bridget barked, an edge in her voice. Genuine fear. Of Freddie. Freddie. “You don’t know what he’ll do in that state.”

“Then fix him!” Fen shouted. She knew she should be wrapping her arms around her sister, sobbing into her shoulder. And she would. She would.

But Freddie was dying.

How she knew he was dying, Fen didn’t understand. But it was as true as her own name or the fact that she loved him too, and he had no fucking idea and if no one did anything, he never would.

“Brockhurst poisoned him,” he whispered. “He’s dying, B. I know it. I can tell.”

Bridget’s face was soaked with tears already, as if they’d started to flow the moment she turned from Brockhurst’s falling body.

“Fen, I—”

“Fix him!”

Fen could feel the fraying inside her, the immutable truth that if Bridget didn’t do something, that one damn thing she was good at and fucking known for, that Fen was going to shatter and might never be able to put herself back together.

Face schooled into detached, clinical solemnity now, Bridget nodded and pulled away, her arms drifting almost dreamily to her sides as she stood. The officer gently pulled Fen to her feet.

“Let’s go, sweetheart. We need to get you to a hospital. Make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m not going. I’m fine .” Nothing could have been further from the truth, “I’m fine, I swear—it’s him—he’s going to die—”

Bridget turned back for just a moment. “It’s okay, Fen. I’ll heal him. I’ll do it. Do you trust me?”

No, Fen almost said. Hadn’t her sister wallowed, waited, for days? Let Freddie sneak out and throw himself into this mess? But she nodded. It was all she could do. Guess I have to.

“Then trust me now.”

Outside the compound, Fen found herself on a stretcher amongst a sea of sirens, flashing by lights, ambulances, and black cars. The officer tugged a blanket around her shoulders. “It’ll be okay, honey. It’ll be okay.”

But there was no sign of her sister or her best friend. Not yet.

“They’ll be okay.”

Please, Fen thought, please let that be true.

[i-am-plotting]

The Game of The Crown

#Snippet 6 - Possessive

CW: Charlotte is a child in this one, death mention.

=-=

As soon as she entered her small greenhouse, Charlotte allowed her legs to fail and her knees soundly hit the floor, the thud came with a small pain, not that this little fall could as much as break the skin under the fabric of her clothes. Part of her wished it had truly hurt, part of her thought she deserved the pain.

She closed her eyes tightly, she couldn’t cry, crying wouldn’t help, in truth, it would make things worse, the area around her eyes would become reddened, showing her weakness to however was there to see, her voice would break and her mask would fall; she can’t allow any of that.

But she could do nothing about the deep helplessness inside of her, this growing certainty that no matter how hard she tries, she won’t ever be able to protect anyone. That thought was worryingly increasing in frequency, the thought that everyone would be better, safer and happier if she wasn’t alive. It’s hard not to think so when this is so clearly true, still... still she wants- she needs to live, and people need to die so she won't.

“Found you.” Kaine's nonchalant voice came from behind a wall of roses, making Charlotte flinch. “I already told you not to let your guard down, you are supposed to feel me approaching.”

She took a deep breath, she hadn’t cried at least, but who knows what will happen once she starts talking? “You were hiding your presence.” She tried, but she knew this was just a useless excuse.

“Then be sharper, also I can feel your presence way too well, hide it, control yourself Charlotte, or do you want to die?”

Charlotte shook her head, putting her breathing under control and hiding her presence as much as she could while still focusing on her surroundings.

She should look up to her brother’s face, she shouldn’t keep her head down, but she knew what she would see on his face; nothing. No a single emotion, a unbreakable mask that doesn’t allow her to as much as glimpse into his true feelings, much less guess what are his real thoughts.

“You are sad,” he commented, a hint of planned artificial curiosity in his voice, because the only emotions he shows are the ones he fabricates.

“Of course I am!” she snapped, but quickly controlled herself again.  “But it shouldn’t be visible, I know, I’ll stop.”

“Are you like this because mother killed that maid?” Kaine said, not judging… maybe; Charlotte can’t ever know. “Were you close to her?”

“Do I need to be close to someone in order to not want them to die?” she asked, but not waiting for him to answer, the lack of ethics in that place was the last thing she wanted to listen to right then. “She barely made a mistake, she didn’t deserve to die for that!”

“It doesn’t matter what people deserve, it only matters what they have power to get,” Kaine said, the same trained motto that Charlotte was sick of hearing. “Do you want to protect them? The commoners I mean.”

“If I try, mother will just kill them.”

“Because you are not trying enough, better, you are not trying right,” Kaine said, “Charlotte, you know how you should treat commoners, don’t you?”

She didn’t answer. She didn’t want to.

“Charlotte!”

“...objects, I should treat them as objects. I know, okay, but I don’t want to simply use and dispose of people,” she snapped again, damn, she really should learn to keep her feelings inside. The maid would —maybe— be alive if she had properly hidden her worry back then.

“You are too slow, Charlotte,” Kaine said, “Think with me, will you? If you must treat them like objects, and you want to protect them, then protect your objects just as much.”

“... I don’t get you…”

“Of course you don’t,” he sighed, but even this sign of annoyance was thought about and planned. “Be possessive, Charlotte, if you protect them, if you treat them as people then they will become your weakness, people will hurt them to hurt you, or will hurt them just because. But…” Keine’s bright red eyes gleamed dangerously, “If you make them yours, if their life belongs to them the same way your clothes do, then you can have total control over them, you will be the only one they will need to fear, because no one else will touch what is yours.”

Charlotte thought about it for a second, “How are you sure… that they will leave my people alone this way, mother will–”

“–Be pleased. You know very well that power pleases mother the most, so show your power. Go overkill, go extremely overkill if someone as much as touch your things wrong, then, when someone hurts your people, you can go overkill in the punishment for it too.”

Charlotte thought about it, go ‘overkill’. Kaine is telling her to kill people, right? The only way to make things work is by blood, she needs to kill some people first then the next ones will be warned, everyone will be scared of her… including the very people she wants to protect.

“They will hate me.”

“You are being too greedy, Charlotte, you can’t be loved and protect them at the same time, so pick one–” he held her by the shoulders, making her glance at his eyes and freeze. “Do you want them to live or to love you?”

Charlotte remembered the life before the palace, before it all happened, she remembered the fire and the deaths. She can’t go through it again, she just can’t. “I want them to live as safely and comfortably as possible.”

“Great. Then make them yours, and make everyone fear the very thought of touching them,” Kaine said, and once again Charlotte couldn’t tell what he was feeling, there was nothing on his face. “We should start tomorrow, so we need to plan the scene and the pawns.”

Charlotte didn’t like to use people as pawns, but she had to, she had to kill a few to protect more, and she had to survive no matter what.

=-=

[kallithewriter]

The Character: Kallista Kaines

The origin of the name Kallista Kaines comes a character I made back in 2015-2016? for the Overwatch universe.

Art Credits: (Left) daddy_bec (via twitter)

A woman of knowledge. A hacker. An innocent face with tricks up her sleeves. Kallista was forcibly recruited into Overwatch's Covert division, Blackwatch. She and her hacker group called the God Brigade were set to expose Overwatch by shining the light on Blackwatch but instead, Kallista found herself being integrated into the division and discovered what was slowly strangling the life out of the division and the Foundation.

A long time ago and on a different blog there were prompts for voice lines. Here are are those voice lines:

Character Name & Title: Kallista Camilla Kaines, Blackwatch Intelligence Director Class: Offense Country of Origin: Bristol,England Voice Description: soft, flowy, vibrato-rich, haughty British accent when she’s angry or annoyed

Attacking Enemy Ultimate: “Game Over!” “You’re Mine!”

Friendly Ultimate: “Incoming!” Ability 1: “I swear I’m not using hacks” Ability 2: “ Hacking faster than a speeding bullet” ---- Killing Enemy: “I would stay down if I were you” Killing Genji: “Eternal peace is in death,” Killing McCree: “Risk everything, fear nothing, have no regrets.”

Killing Reaper/Blackwatch Reyes: (Reaper) “So much has changed…” (Reyes) “The king has fallen...” Killing Soldier 76/Commander Morrison: “Have a seat. Jack,” (Morrison) “Have a seat Commander.” (says it firmly)

Killing Sombra: “She who has knowledge has power, right Sombra?” Killing Tracer: “A stitch in time saves nine” Killing Doomfist: “I should have dealt with you when I had the chance” Killing Widowmaker: “Au revoir,” Killing Bastion: “Sorry! No upgrades for your model!” Killing Hanzo: “Your shame and dishonor caught up to you,” Killing Junkrat: “Talk the hind legs off of a donkey will ya?”

Killing Mei: “Freeze don’t-- oh…” Killing D.Va: “Awww I cheated,” (sarcastically) Killing Orisa: “Seems like you need an upgrade,” Killing Roadhog: “That was kinda easy,” Killing Reinhardt: “Rest easy my friend” Killing Zarya: “Будь что будет - so be it” Killing Winston: “No hard feelings right?”

Killing Lucio: “Aww, I wanted an autograph,” (jokingly)

Killing Mercy: “I guess you weren’t much of a hero after all, huh doc?” Killing Symmetra: “A glitch in your plan, Vishkar,” Killing Ana: “It’s time for you to rest Captain…” Killing Zenyatta: “There is no peace in this world, not now,”

Teammates When a teammate gets an elimination: “C’mon, keeping it coming yeah?” When a teammate is on fire: “Congrats. Now keep doing it” Thanks: “Thanks” “Thanks mate!” When Mercy Damage Boosts them: “I’m not gonna be held responsible for what happens” Group up: “Get the hell over here,”

Hello: “Hey” “Huh? Oh, Hi”

I need healing!: “Help a girl out?” " A little healing? Please?" Interactions (write down a possible interaction your character can have with their teammates in spawn):

Mercy: Kallista I thought you were dead.

Kallista: That was the plan~

Mercy: Why?

Kallista: If I tell you, I have to kill you (sarcastically)

---

Reaper: You’re supposed to be dead

Kallista: …there were complications with that

Reaper: We’ll talk later

Kallista: yeah

Reyes: You ready?

Kallista: of course.

Reyes: Try not to break everything. (referring to her ultimate

Kallista: No promises, heh

---

BW Member: Where the hell have you been?

Kallista: Hiding?

BW Member: Why? We buried you!

Kallista: Technically you didn't but that's neither here or there.

---

McCree: Look what the cat dragged in

Kallista: I’m offended.

McCree: Why?

Kallista: You’re still wearing the cowboy get up.

McCree: Don’t you give me that sass already

What they have to say about maps: Temple of Anubis: “Long time no see right Anubis?” Hollywood: “Ugh this place is still trashy as ever”

Route 66: “Think we’ll see a cowboy? Oh! A tumbleweed!” Kings Row: “Ah yes. Where everything started...London,” Ilios: “Blue skies smiling at me, nothin but blue skies from now on” Dorado: “Home…” Horizon Lunar Colony: “I never would have thought I would be in space...wait was that an alien!?” Volskaya Industries: “More cold...why…I’ve thought I���d never have to see this place again,” ---- Support Character Specific (Write down what your character would say while healing a certain character or what the Overwatch character would say while getting healed:

General: C’mon C’mon get your shit together (British accent)

McCree: What’dya know my guardian angel Kallista: AGAIN. I can’t keep saving you cowboy

To a BW member: Reyes trained us better than this.

To S76: Pull it together old man.

To Reaper: On your feet, that’s quite unsightly for you.

[aquietwritingcorner]

Sicktember Day 23: Ear Infection Word Count: 1220 Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl Rating: K/G Characters: Kain Fuery Warning: Summary: Kain Fuery’s ear is hurting, and he’s not sure why. Lucky for him, the doctor has a clue. Notes: AO3 || ff.net

___________________________________

Ear Infection

Fuery reached up, and then aborted the motion, resisting the urge to pull at his ear. It had been hurting him for a few days now, but there hadn’t been time to go get it looked at. It was just an earache, after all. It would go away in time, he was sure. Besides, the days had been full, busy, as they steaked out in a building, keeping watch. He had been on the radio most of the time, monitoring communications and coordinating people. There hadn’t been time for going to the doctor.

But it was killing him.

He winced as pain went through his ear again, and he squeezed his hands as he tried not to let on about how bad it felt. Sure, he had ear pains here and there as a child, but he didn’t remember it hurting this much! Then again, that had been a long time ago, so his memory might have been dulled. Another stab of pain went through his ear and he changed his mind. This might be worse than what he had experienced in childhood.

“Kain Fuery?”

Fuery heard his name, and stood up, not quite able to hide the wince that the change in elevation brought him. “Yes!” he called out and headed towards the nurse who had called his name. She smiled at him, greeted him, and then escorted him to the back where she gathered some basic information before sitting him a room that was far too cold.

He was left alone for a while—or maybe it just seemed like a while, in this room that seemed separated from the flow of time—and he looked at the posters on the wall, glancing over the basics of joint pain, the problems of unhealthy eating, and the dangers of smoking. He shifted awkwardly on the examination bed, the paper under him crackling, trying to listen and figure out if anyone was coming near.

He was having a little trouble with that.

Finally, the door opened, and a doctor strolled in.

“Sergeant Fuery?”

“Yes, sir,” Fuery replied.

The doctor reached out a hand, and Fuery did as well, returning the handshake.

“Hello, Sergeant. I’m Dr. Spalding. What can I do for you today?”

Fuery sat back down on the table. “Well, sir, my ear has been hurting me. Normally I’d just wait for it to go away on its own, but it’s starting to effect my work.”

“I see,” Dr. Spalding said. “May I?”

Fuery nodded.

Dr. Spalding stood up and gathered a tool or two. Fuery stayed put.

“Can you describe the pain to me?” the doctor asked.

“Most of the time it’s an ache. It’s the kind that you can’t quite stop noticing and it hurts a lot. Sometimes, though, it’s more like a spike of pain and those really hurt.”

“Any effects on your hearing?”

“Yes. It’s been harder to hear things out of that side. Sounds and voices sound kind of muffled.”

“Any fever?”

“…Yes. I didn’t even notice it, but one of my commandings did, and she insisted that I come here.”

“I see.” Dr. Spalding had been looking in Fuery’s ear while they spoke, feeling his neck, and looking in his throat. “Tell me, do you have allergies?”

“Yes, sir. They call them seasonal allergies, but they last all year, really.”

“And have you been around a lot of smoke recently?”

Fuery thought back. Havoc had been stationed with him often, and he had been chain smoking most of the time. “Yes. A colleague of mine smokes a lot.”

The doctor nodded as if that explained things, but he went back to Fuery’s ear. He stopped asking questions and instead did something.

Something that hurt.

“Ow!” Fuery said, trying really hard not to jump.

“Sorry,” Dr. Spalding apologized, and pulled back. He sat on one of the rolling stools that all doctor’s offices seemed to have and sighed. “It seems, Sergeant, that you have an ear infection.”

Fuery blinked at him. “A what? I thought only kids got those.”

Dr. Spalding shook his head. “They’re more common in children, but adults can get them too.” He glanced around the room for a moment, then pulled out a half-hidden poster of the ear. “There are three major kinds of ear infections. Outer ear infections are in this part,” he pointed on the poster to the area in front of the ear drum, “and are generally from bacteria that form if water doesn’t clear out well, of if bacteria get in a scratch in the ear. It’s usually called swimmer’s ear.”

He pointed to another part of the ear. “This is your middle ear,” he gestured from the ear drum to something that looked like a shell to Fuery and was labeled cochlea. “It’s a common area for ear infections to form, usually from a blockage of the Eustachian tube. Fluid builds up behind the ear drum and can’t drain. Children’s Eustachian tubes are less slanted and more horizontal, which is why they get ear infections more frequently.”

He indicated the last section of the ear. “This is the inner ear. Infections there aren’t common, and they’re usually signs of something more serious.”

He put down the poster. “I think you have a middle ear infection brought on by exposure to an allergen. I’ll prescribe you some anti-biotics which should help. I’d suggest keeping some anti-inflammatories on board as well, and if you have an antihistamine or decongestant, to take that. Give it a week and if it isn’t better, then come back and see me.” He handed Fuery a script.

Fuery nodded, taking in all the information that the doctor had given him, as well as the script. He shook hands with the doctor. “Thank you. Hopefully, this will clear it up.”

“It should,” Dr. Spalding said. “Just give it a bit of time.”

Fuery nodded. “I will.”

Fuery left, stopping by a pharmacy that was close to Central Command to drop off the script, and then continued back to work. When he opened the door to the office, everyone looked at him.

“Sergeant?” Mustang said. “What’s the word?”

“I have an ear infection, sir,” he said.

“An ear infection?” Breda said.

Fuery nodded. “Yes, sir.” He made sure to be looking at the Colonel when he said his next words. “The doctor said that he thinks it was brought on by an exposure to smoke.”

All eyes turned to Havoc who blinked, and hastily removed the cigarette he had in his mouth. “Ah, you don’t say?” he said.

“Well then,” Hawkeye said. “That just gives you another reason to cut back. It won’t do us much good if you affect the hearing of our communications officer—especially if you two are on a mission together.”

Havoc had the grace to look abashed.

“I assume he gave you a prescription?” Mustang said.

Fuery nodded. “Yes, sir. I dropped it by a pharmacy. I’ll pick it up on the way home.”

Mustang nodded. “Good. Alright then, everyone back to work.”

They all slipped back to work, and Havoc gave Fuery a clap on the back and an apologetic look. Fuery just nodded his acceptance and thanks.

After all, he was going to get as much milage out of this as he could, at least towards Havoc.

[something-very-special]

they ran over the seals

More Replicant playthrough observations and general nonsense under the cut. For reference, up to the keystone quest; completed the Forest of Myth and Junk Heap.

This fucking game I swear to god.

A vaguely coherent ramble about sidequests An observation about sidequests in general in this game -- and I don't recall if I ever voiced this somewhere public or it was just a personal observation from my time with the original -- is that the quests in the first half of the game are all relatively easy to complete. There's that one asshat who wants 10 goat hides, but other than him, most of the sidequests are either very much based on finding characters, or gathering a sensible number of items that are either relatively common, purchasable, or given a guaranteed spawn for the duration of that quest.

The sidequests everybody remembers having to do are in the second half, where everybody is demanding and awful and I'm sorry ten MACHINE OILS do you know how goddamn rare those are? They're goddamn rare.

(We'll not discuss Life in the Sands.)

This is generally agreed to, in the technical vernacular, 'suck'. And it's always funny that the most interesting sidequests are the ones with very minimal requirements (Yonah's cooking, getting Popola drunk, the Lighthouse Ladoh my god everything's gone blurry I'm not crying you're crying who am I kidding we're both crying). That particular aspect of the design also feels intentional, not really gating your ability to progress the really meaningful or funny sidequests behind an unreasonable number of rare items. The other aspect of the design is that these quests are not meant to be completed in a single playthrough; most of them are single-stage and just absolutely unreasonable, but if you're going through the game four times you have a... reasonable chance of getting everything you need more or less naturally.

Nobody does that but I think that was the intended design. I think it's a good idea, although the execution of expectation is flawed so I don't really blame people for saying those sidequests suck. (Although I will in turn blame people for saying the sidequests suck as a blanket statement. Yeah getting that guy who burned his kitchen down a billion Broken Motors is aggravating but did you not find that old man's dog? Speak to Ursula on her death bed? Solve a murder? Then again I think tracking down that rotten son who's trying to get away from The Family Business only to learn his father is a con-artist and get literally no reward is the height of comedy so maybe I'm not the greatest point of reference.)

But that asshole in Facade can get bent. I can't exploit my garden properly, jackass! I am no longer a god of time. (I kid, of course.) (This guys sucks even when you can fix your clock.)

Forest of Myth It didn't even occur to me to wonder how they would incorporate the comprehensive voice acting into the Forest of Myth. I like how it plays out, although I wish the voices maybe had a fade as you went deeper into the dream instead of just cutting out at some point, especially for the lines where the characters are being ascribed actions by the narrator that they themselves aren't doing near the start of the Deathdream. But it's just delightful to go back to it. The second half of the game really sticks in your mind both for emotional reasons and because you play it at least three times per full playthrough of the game, but the first half is just so much fun.

Protip: Talk to everybody after you've finished the dream sidequest. Weiss tries to dissuade you. Don't let him dissuade you. I'm still delighted by the Mayor; "We're building a statue of you, made of solid gold. I know you don't own a horse, but we're going to put you on a horse."

I forgot about Yonah being a disaster chef Papa Nier's reaction to the stew is better. Brother is still funny but Papa Nier just expecting to die is comedy gold.

For anybody curious, the joke about the cakes is that Yonah made 'fruit cake' using some of the worst possible fruits for cake-making. If only she'd thrown a tomato into the mix, too.

Lighthouse Lady Every time. what the fuck is a canal I'm aware of the addition of the new-old content but it didn't occur to me until Popola suddenly starts nattering on about fixing the canal when I'm expecting Yonah to talk about a penpal that oh, yeah, I guess Seafront would have had something going on the first half that would play into the second half? (I assume it does. Be weird to introduce these characters just to have groundwork for an added sidequest. ...but it was a cute sidequest.) But look Popola my boy is supposed to be in the next area I visit could we-- I mean he's on the way could we just-- no-- fiiiiiiiiiine. (It was short and sweet, though, and I appreciate that the couple's love is exemplified by them both calling Weiss a floating magazine in tandem.) On a related note but was I the only person suddenly concerned when the sidequest completion maxed out at 50% and not 51%? I had to double-check with a guide just to make sure, since I've spent the last decade telling people to make sure you hit 51% before going on to Part II.

MY BOY I love that nowadays, Emil is everybody's son. But I really wish I could go find somebody only familiar with Automata and just watch their reaction. (I'm guessing there are streams out there that fulfill this but man I'd love to get it in-person.) If you're only familiar with him from Automata this has to be a mindfuck.

Personal anecdote, but I've had the privilege of playing NIER with somebody else almost every time I've gone through it. I had a wonderful experience of doing a replay some years back with somebody who had experienced it with me before but didn't have the most solid memory of the beginning (and had actually missed the entire weapon's lab the first time through). I get to the boy at the piano introducing himself and the 'Wait, what?' was a thing of beauty.

MY ANDROID This was a welcome mindfuck for me; finding Sebastian and having him 'reactivate' in such an unnatural, mechanical way. I don't recall if it was ever officially confirmed that Sebastian is an android (I know that it's just understood that this is the case but I'm not I can't recall a specific one) but the little flair they added to his animation caught me completely off guard. I liked it!

Destroying the food source A lot of people will cite a major inciting incident for the game as being when the protagonist heading back into the village and killing the child Shades just outside the entrance. This moment is such a great bit of subtle foreshadowing that's so easy to miss... but kind of joining that, just before the Knave of Hearts attacks, I realized that the Shades out on the Northern Plains are clearly ramping up for an assault of their own by murdering the sheep. The sheep population at this point is decimated (which is great when you realize you haven't gotten the Sheepslayer trophy and you're about to enter Part II and you don't know if the boar drifting minigame got carried forward with the inclusion of 15 Nightmares). You go out onto the Plains and you will find not only small clusters of sheep left behind instead of the vast, terrifying herds from the start of the game, but until you get their attention the Shades are prioritizing killing the sheep. (Also annoying because that doesn't count toward my sheep murder number.) The Shades will be out there also killing sheep earlier on, but since the whole map is in Overcast mode after talking to Yonah it's especially prevalent to go out to the Northern Plains and seeing the slaughter. And I realized-- they're cutting the Village off from a primary food source. Shades don't eat and they don't have any beef with the local ungulates (at least, no more so than anybody else does), so why are they hunting down the sheep? To deprive their enemies of resources. Sheep are extinct by the timeskip. It's actually really clever of them, and a really clever indication of their sentience and intelligence before it's fully verified.

"Let's get these shit-hogs!" Everything about the way Kaine and Emil interact across the entire game is perfect I will brook no argument this is objective fact.

Emotive Rectangles I wrote an essay about this before but it really bears repeating that the job the original animators did with this scene is just phenomenal. The way Weiss drifts, flits, flips, fans his pages, drunkenly swerves, shoots around the room in defiance... He's a goddamn rectangle, but there is so much emotion and personality in this scene just based on the movements conveyed through a what is effectively just a box. Ten years later and triple-A titles with full facial capture don't have this much seething personality. I really have to give props to the cavia animators, wherever they wound up. That studio could really put some subtle love and care into their titles, utterly unnecessary and easy to miss but you can tell that whoever was working on it was giving it their all. The books are probably the exemplification of this, but every time I go into Seafront and visit the seals I can tell that the guy on seal duty was having just the best day. They made Emil so pretty There's an FMV cutscene right smack in the middle of the original game after the battle against Noir. I understand why it was a necessity on a technical level, but it always looked pretty out of place and a little uncanny valley compared to the rest of the graphical fidelity. That's no longer a necessity so this cutscene is rendered in-engine. I admit I was actually curious to see it redone this way and it looks fantastic. I single out Emil since he is the focal point of cutscene and because his particular high-poly model had some pretty weird difference from his in-engine model, but he and Kaine both look great. But, like, it's almost mean how pretty he is.

They made Brother Nier so pretty Yeah okay you got me he's kind of hot. Kaine's expression when she wakes up and looks him over is... significantly easier to read now. Good voice, too. (Ancient rumors tell that one of the issues with international releases of RepliCant was that they couldn't find an English VA with a voice that 'fit' Brother Nier. He sounded good out the gate but hearing him growl "Let's go TAKE CARE of those KIDS" during the thief sidequest-- I got chills. It sounds so silly but there's a kind of percolating fury to that delivery. Papa Nier was like frustrated but mostly disappointed dad; I felt like Brother was going to take care of those kids, and nobody was going to find the bodies. Younger Brother Nier just never stops looking goofy to me but Older Brother just looks great in motion, between the alterations they made to the movement and just the entire weaponry system. The distinction between the two halves of the game was always a little odd in the Gestalt version-- not odd enough to really raise eyebrows if you didn't know about RepliCant, but of course you can tell that this age gape between the optimistic doe-eyed dogooder and a man largely ruled by his fury and calloused by tragedy is what the timeskip was going for. Swab me down and call me Ishmael, it works. Younger Brother wasn't quite clicking with me-- not because of any writing or voicework issues, but I've got Papa Nier on the back of my mind and it's impossible not to compare and contrast the delivery and dialogue between the two. I know that this is intentional, too; Younger Brother is supposed to be that happy-go-lucky video game protagonist, always doing the right thing and helping people, in order to contrast against the man he becomes. Even just edging into Part II the effect is dramatic and it recontextualizes Younger Brother into a much more effective overall character. And let me reiterate, I enjoyed my time with Younger Brother just fine, I have no issues with him. But he's up against Well Meaning Big Dummy Part I Papa Nier. No contest. And I'm excited to see where Older Brother goes from here.

Speaking of voices I mentioned this before but the delivery on the character's lines is different. The entire game was re-recorded and quite a few lines are still pretty similar to the original, but there are some that are... definitely different. Part of this is a difference in the relationship between characters based on their life experience and ages-- Weiss is much more of an ass to Younger Brother but has a much more even respect for Older Brother (neither of which are like the rapport he established with Father). Some of Kaine's lines feel more aloof, dismissive, and almost tired in the front half of the game. I haven't really gotten to a point to dig into Emil's rapport with the other characters, but the delivery feels more hesitant and uncertain (which I think is more in line with his Japanese VO, but I'm prefacing that on an untrained ear and a presumption rather than recent memory). It's been interesting to see not just where hey adjusted dialogue (and how-- there are some lines that didn't need to be rewritten), but also how they adjust tone and delivery. Dealing with Younger Brother is one thing, but as I said, I'm very excited to see what's different in the second half, especially being much more familiar with that part of the game. Speaking of Voices! Halua got dialogue! I... preferred when it was inferred (and the implications of "I'll always be watching over you" are borderline malicious given the results of their fusion dance, yeah THANK YOU HALUA this is GREAT). Halua's delivery also felt a little too innocent and upbeat both for the situation and when compared to her narrative voice in The Stone Flower, where she comes across as much more cynical and cold. But given what she's been through and the nightmare she's finally escaping I guess she's allowed express happiness. She's certainly earned the right to having a spoken line. No matter what. Every fuckin' time.

"Here we go." This was always a great line to kind of ease in to the officially-official start of Part II-- every time you start up a New Game+ you're greeted with Emil musing about his conflation of Halua to Kaine, and then the phrase "Here we go". There's a lot in that one line. On a personal level he's grounding his thoughts in the moment and steeling himself for what comes next and pushing through his pain and sadness and fear. Whatever Nier told him in the facility he's still terrified, desperately terrified, that Kaine -- who was the one who told him his life had meaning -- is going to reject him. And why wouldn't she? Ultimately they don't know each other, not really. He understands at that moment that his relationship with Kaine is based on confused memories of his sister, that maybe the bond he thought they established isn't actually real. As soon as he frees Kaine he's going to have to confront her, like this, and how could she ever-- she won't-- but he can't just leave her. Whatever happens next. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. (God it matters.) "Here we go." On a meta level, that's our introduction into the second half of the game. The first half is all prologue. This is where we'll be spending the rest of our time, even to the point that 'New Game+' skips straight ahead to this moment. Now that we've finished the establishment, this is where it all builds and where it all matters. Here we go, audience. The ride starts now. You get up to this point now in Replicant. You get the same lead-in. My dumb ass even whispered "Here we go", because I can't help myself. And he says, of course he says--! "Anyway." ... ...a-anyway? What the hell kind of line is that? "Here's some deeply personal musings that are also an indication of my own discomfort as I babble to myself just to fill the void so I can stave off thinking for just a few more seconds. ANYWAY." What a... bizarre decision. Just bizarre.

Upgraded melee combat The introduction to the armored Shades always feel kind of rough-- the defenses on those Shades are significantly higher than anything you've faced and the new weapons you're given to combat them just aren't that good. (If you got lucky you could have a fully-upgraded Faith by now, which is nearly three times as powerful as the 'heavy' two-handed sword you're given; if you downloaded the 4 YoRHa pack for Replicant you've probably been able to upgrade one of those weapons once, which are also a really nice strength boost that leaves the freebie heavy swords and spears in the dust). As an introduction to the new weapon types it always feels like rough going. But then you get a chance to get decent weapons and the combat system truly opens up, and compared to the first game you really feel it. At this juncture I would always just bustle off to Facade and grab the Phoenix Spear and never look back-- the raw power compared to the rest of your arsenal coupled with the triangle dash is basically the bread and butter of the rest of the game. It's not exciting, but it's effective. No more triangle dashing, which was deeply disappointing... but both weapons definitely feel good. I am also somewhat ashamed to admit that it wasn't until now that I realized attacks weren't just about rhythmic input-- you can hold the attacks down to do different charged hits and combos depending on when you execute them in your combo, similar to Automata. I, uh... I felt a bit dumb. But hey, wow, it's a welcome adjustment and it makes all of the weapon types feel equally valuable for different purposes. I never liked using the heavy blades in the original release because they just felt too slow for the damage output they did, even if their 'point' was mostly to sheer off armor (and they definitely felt too slow for use in crowd control). Now they're still heavy and slower, but not to the point that you're basically leaving yourself open just trying to attack. Spears now do crazy sweeping combos and multi-hits. Both of these properties were borrowed from Automata and I find myself prioritizing melee combat and almost forgetting I have magic because honestly it just feels intuitive and fun. I feel like Kaine and Emil might have gotten a power boost as well? Not that I can really confirm this but going into some of the Junk Heap rooms I'd focus on killing a few robots in the corner and then turn around and just see a field of item drops and no more robots. Don't take my word on that, of course, but they felt a little more effective, and a placebo effect is still an effect. "You're staging a protest? That's fun!" Emil. Rebel without a cause. Will not hesitate to kill you if you trespass on his property. (Might explain the statues in the courtyard, actually.) I'll have to double-check this dialogue because I definitely remember more of a melancholia before we get to roasting marshmallows. I think Papa Nier actually offers to talk to/implicitly threaten the villagers to let them in the Village whereas Brother offers to sleep outside with them... which is actually kind of funny. In the former it comes off as Emil and Kaine maybe kinda-sorta not wanting to be allowed in the Village for their own reasons (they're not happy reasons but they're reasons nonetheless) and reassuring Father that no, it's okay, it's fun! The latter is almost telling Brother to stay inside because he'll ruin their sleepover.

(They're absolutely having giggly girl talk about him outside the gates, 100%.) they ran over the seals All I want in Seafront is to enjoy the music and run out to the big beach and hang out with the last living seals and they put a fucking pirate ship on top of them. Oh, wow. Gideon. Wow. OG Nier featured a Gideon that tried to keep himself together and then had fits of mania. You'd be concerned about him during some of the dialogue but generally speaking he came across as... functional. The delivery on all of his lines is now so insanely murder bonkers, like every line he's addressing you like you're already chained to the wall of his serial killer dungeon and it's glorious. I don't know if the distinction between the games is deliberate (in that Gideon in Gestalt was just more even-keeled between his 'rip 'em apart' snarlings and was always just totally nutso in RepliCant) but I do appreciate it. It's a good mirror to Brother Nier's own anger, which only ever seems to be mollified when he's talking to his friends (even kindly accepting sidequests there's a pretty consistent -- not universal, but consistent -- air of barely-bridled frustration). The other characters that Brother encounters are various reflections of himself if things had just been a little different-- Gideon was a representation of the kind of obsessive madness that would have eaten Brother alive if he hadn't had his network of support. Gideon's constant fury and bloodlust even bleeds into him just saying "What can I do for you?" He has no anchor to keep himself sane, nobody to stay human for; he's all mania, all anger, and he only takes any real interest in Brother on his return because he sees an opportunity to act out his vengeance. After defeating Beepy and Kalil he even goes so far as to not only blame Beepy for killing Jakob, but for also killing their mother, which is patently insane but really speaks to how far his justifications and fury have taken him. Papa Nier responds to his anger toward Beepy by basically backing away slowly and saying "Oookay then". Brother, however, actually commiserates; "That's enough. [...] We get it. We really do." This is definitely one of those moments where Brother's context works better than Father's; he absolutely sees himself in Gideon. He completely understands him and sympathizes. He recognizes the madness of his own quest, he sees where it could take him, and there's a resignation when he speaks to Weiss: "Revenge is a fool's errand." "...yeah." Papa Nier has a similar delivery and similarly implies that he understands how terrible his quest is, but there's something decidedly haunting in Brother's sympathy. Also just verifying something on the wiki and this bit of 'Trivia' really jumped at me:

Gideon is the only character to only cause the deaths of other characters. In his case, he caused a platform to crush Jakob and ordered the deaths of P-33 and Kalil, with P-33 surviving.

Metal AF.

[natsubeatsrock]

The Rewrite of Fairy Tail: Bonus (What If? #17)

What if Mirajane beat Azuma?

Finally! After all these crazy scenarios that involve an insane amount of foresight and background info, it's nice to have an idea that requires a simple set of circumstantial knowledge. No doubt this has some far-reaching side effects. However, the only real part of the scenario that matters is the scenario itself. And we have a real interesting fight to consider now.

As fun as the Erza and Azuma fight was, it's worth remembering that there was a fight involving Azuma, Mirajane, and Lisanna earlier on in the arc. Unfortunately, they lose and Mira is taken out for the rest of the arc. Azuma didn't seem to be too happy about his win against Mira either.

The way to change this fight's circumstances is simple. In canon, Mira was incapacitated after trying to protect Lisanna from an explosion. You can already guess what I'm going to suggest. In our scenario, Mirajane continues to focus on fighting Azuma and ignores the impending explosion. I know that sounds cruel and it's almost absolutely out of character for Mirajane, especially at this point in the series. But follow along with me for a bit, I know what I'm doing.

Mirajane, in this scenario, gets motivated to fight based on two equally important ideas. At first, she fights Azuma thinking that if she can beat him, the spell that's holding Lisanna will break. Unfortunately, she's not so lucky. The explosion goes off with Lisanna inside. (Stay with me now.) 

Now, she's motivated by revenge. She wants to destroy the man that's responsible for separating her from Lisanna again. Remember, this is the arc after Edolas. They were just reunited, and now this happens. She's going to be out for blood. This motivation proves to be enough to defeat Azuma. Part of this might involve breaking out the Halphas transformation we only got in the anime. At any rate, she taps into a similar well of rage and strength used to beat Freed in the Fantasia arc. (Berserker Mira, anyone?) 

However, she snaps out of it. For one, she is a member of Fairy Tail. (The series cast and the guild.) Killing isn't a part of their modus operandi. Even if it was, what's the point? It's not as if wailing on Azuma will bring Lisanna back.

Or so she thinks.

See, Lisanna was thinking ahead of Azuma's plan. She realizes she's able to use magic. Before the explosion, she uses the state of distraction to transform into an Animal Soul that will help her survive the explosion and hide from Azuma. Once the fight is over, she reunites with Mirajane, and everyone is happy.

What? Do you honestly think I'd go through the trouble of bringing Lisanna back to kill her for real? Who do you think I am?

This is fun because it gives us yet another awesome Mirajane fight. While arguably the most prominent of her siblings, it isn't as if she wasn't passed on for times to shine. While her situation is fairly reasonable, she would definitely benefit from one more fight. And it gives us a great segway into the Halphas form if we decided to use it.

Not to mention, going through with this scenario means Mirajane can help fight for the rest of the arc. She might be a bit too weakened to help with Master Hades. But she might have more than words to give Rustyrose for hurting her brother. Not to mention, she'd absolutely help with the concurrent fights against Kain and the other members of Grimoire Heart as the Strongest Team fights Hades.

Lisanna isn't the focus of this idea, but it's cool to see how she benefits from this scenario. Mashima didn't do a whole lot involving new Animal Souls for Lisanna post-Edolas. We got a few, but most of them don't end up being used in creative ways. This is one way to change that a bit.

Though, I have some reasons not to go through with this scenario when rewriting Tenrou. I can't speak to why Mashima didn't do many things. But I'd like to think one reason things play out the way they do is that Lisanna couldn't use magic while trapped. The actual battle didn't involve an explicit condition that particularly prevented the use of magic from inside the bomb. But Mashima may have had a reason not to explicitly make that clear. (Read: I'm willfully delusional.)

On Mira's side, it wasn't just a matter of not being strong enough to beat Azuma. One of the big issues was that she was too tired from the earlier fight with Elfman and Evergreen to keep up Satan Soul to beat Azuma. Remember that Mira's only just got back into using magic recently. That's not something that would be an arbitrary fix. That actually makes sense to have the canon outcome.

But that's all minor stuff, right? I could just write a bit more training for Mira. If she knows she has to get ready for this exam, she'll want to make it a challenge to make it past her. (Not that it matters, considering how she gets beaten in canon.) And Mashima didn't mention the condition for Lisanna, so it's not impossible to change that. I could make this happen, right?

There is one big issue for this fight that does matter. If you remember, one of the big problems with Fairy Tail I have is that there was not a lot of training. This arc served as a sign that all the characters had room to grow. And with other events in the series, that becomes more obvious. That's one of the best aspects of this arc.

We get that in this fight as Mira is forced to realize she isn't strong enough to beat some enemies with her current strength. Lisanna is forced to pick up the slack and fight a few people in the anime. When Erza actually fights Azuma, this serves as a shift in her midset of strength. It also serves as a sign of her own weakness. There's a reason this is the arc she and Gray talk about always needing to be saved.

Based on Part 17

What If? #1 | What If? #2 | What If? #3 | What If? #4 | What If? #5  | What If? #6 | What If? #7  | What If? #8 | What If #9 | What If? #10 | What If? #11 | What If? #12 | What If? #13 | What If? #14 | What If? #15 | What If? #16 |

[cluelesslychosen]

✜The Lost Spark✜

✜AU EVENT✜

“Mum said her shipment is going to take a while.” Momi turns to her younger siblings and pulls out her wallet. “She’s giving you guys ¥2000 each for lunch and other stuff. Don’t spend it all at once, okay?” Dani gives her sister a silent nod and takes her share of the allowance. Riley swipes the remaining money. “What about you?” He asks “You’re not coming with us for lunch?” “I wish, I’m going to help Mum carry the resin supplies. She’s got a deadline and needs to get the  sculpt and prototypes done fast.” Momi replies, tucking away her wallet and adjusting her bag. “You two are big kids.” She tells him “Besides, Dani’s with you and you guys know Shibuya station. We’ll meet by the konbini when we’re done, okay?” “But it’s so crowded,” Dani whines to them both “Can’t we stay with you guys?”  she pleads. “I don’t like the noise.” “I mean you could,” Momi replies “But you’ll have to wait until we get on the train to get a meal.” Riley rolls his eyes at both his sisters. “I don’t want to babysit Dani.” he groans, “I always have to babysit her when we go to Shibuya!” “You’re not babysitting her! The both of you are looking out for each other.” Momi asserts herself, crossing her arms. “The two of you wanted to come so don’t be giving each other grief, okay?” Dani shrinks herself and glances her eyes away from their sister. Riley scowls, shoving his hands in his sweater pockets. Momi takes a deep breath and pinches the bridge of her nose. “Guys, please.” She begs, “It's only for a little while. Please, keep an eye out for each other. I’ll make it up to you guys when we get home, okay? We’ll text you when we’re done.” “... Whatever.” Riley scoffs before immediately turning away and walking down the hall. Dani stands beside Momi in silence before speaking up. Dani whimpers to her sister, “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, Dani.” Momi sighs, patting her head and ruffling a bit, “You didn’t. He’s… frustrated at a lot of things right now.” Momi then puts her hand on Dani’s back and pushes her forwards, “Go on, get something to eat. Mum and I will see you guys in a bit, okay?”

Ten minutes and ¥500 poorer, Riley sits down at a bench and looks at his food. Beef Omurice. Typical of him, being a picky eater he thinks to himself. He watches his older sister across from his seating.  He could tell from here she was having trouble with speaking and asking questions.

Whatever, she could do it herself. She’s not a baby, he tells himself as he shuffles his bag onto his lap to put away his wallet. Only to open it and see the round, white form of Calumon sleeping unaware in his backpack. Oh no. Not here!

“Hey!” He whispers and shakes his bag a little to stir the creature up. “Psst! No free rides!” The Calumon opens their enormous eyes and yawns before turning and giving Riley a small wave. If this were a cat, he’d find this adorable. But this was a digimon so-

He grabs onto the creature and pulls it out of his bag by the nape of their neck and glares at them. “Why do you keep bothering me?!” he hisses at them. They simply just tilt their head with a “Luu...”

He rolls his eyes with a scoff. before he can do anything the creature immediately escapes his grip and darts for his bento. Eyes hungry. “Oh no you don’t!” He holds their head in one hand while keeping his meal in the other. “I’m not letting you steal another bite of food!”

He pauses when he feels the eyes of the crowd peering in his direction. Riley can feel the judgement radiating from them as they stared. Pressing down on him like a weight while he feels his heartbeat quicken.

Too many eyes, he can feel their thoughts. He needs to go. He has to go. He needs air. Disregarding Calumon he shoves his meal in his bag and begins running from the bench and down the hall. Confused at his quick exit, Calumon floats on the spot before chasing after the boy, concerned. “Psst-” Dani pauses from her purchasing process, about to pay for her lunch when Kain whispers. In his Kyaromon form he fits in his partner’s backpack without others noticing. “Dani!” he whispers, “Dani, Riley's running off!” Uh-oh. Dani gives an apologetic bow to the cashier and places her meal down. “I’m so sorry, I’m not hungry anymore. Have a good day-” She turns and launches after her brother in the ever noisy crowd. The noise made her vision buzz but she pushed past that as fast as she could. Losing her brother in Shibuya would be a nightmare. She couldn’t let her parent’s down again. Riley runs. He ran past the crowds, not paying attention to where he was going. Soon enough, the sounds of people faded and the sounds of his footsteps echoed off the corridors. He takes his deep breaths in the cool air and as he recollects he realizes where he is. A corridor that was in preparation for a remodel. This hall was open but no one was using it. He rubs his face and leans against the plywood wall. Finally… Calm. “Caluu!!” Or not. The little digimon toddles over and rests on Riley’s shoulder. He scoffs trying to pull them off but their tiny claws cling onto his sweater. They let out a rather defiant “No!” in response and he lets go. Huh? They’ve never… spoke before and that caught Riley off guard. The digimon clung on with determination, fear and… concern? Why was he picking up concern? He stares at the little creature for a moment before replying. “Did you… talk-” Riley’s eyes widen for a moment when that familiar tell-tale feeling returns. Pins and needles shot up his legs and then his spine. The pressure building in his head as he grabs onto it. Calumon clutches onto the boy. They make concerned noises for Riley as he tries to steady himself. The lights in the corridor all begin to flicker in intervals. He squeezes his eyes shut. The wind inside dies to a whisper and the temperature plunges. Not freezing but it feels cold and wet like a late autumn rainstorm. There's silence. “No-No, just breathe, breathe-” Riley mutters as he tries to ignore everything. Until the sound of rushing water hits his ears and eyes snap open. Water rushes out from the other side of the tunnel, freezing cold, dark water. The warm lights turn a sterile white. His breath is visible as he tries to calm himself down but finds himself failing in every aspect. The episodes before were bad but never like this. This was different. Completely different! “W-What the hell is going on--” “Child… Oh, Child...” The voice creeps into his ears like a squirming worm. The word carried on a struggling breath. Lungs water-locked and gurgling. It paralyzes him, legs refusing to move as he feels his stomach churn. He knows he needs to run but that voice- He turns his head towards the rushing water. 

Three, large red eyes pierce through the darkness ahead. Before the rest of it begins to slither out the darkness. Sharp teeth glimmer in the lifeless light in a grin full of malice. His voice hitches in his throat. Body frozen, terror overriding every function. Before finally, finally he-

Dani’s digivice begins beeping in her sidepack as she runs down the hall. Kain pops his head out and jumps from Dani’s backpack, digivolving into his Impmon stage. “I got a bad feeling about this Dani!” He calls out as he runs beside her. They both round a corner and see the unfinished corridor. A terrified scream sounds from the corridor. A scream they both knew well enough by now. “That’s Riley!-” Dani charges into the tunnel with little hesitation. Kain hesitates but follows, Evolving once more into his Wizardmon state. They run through the hall as fast as their legs can go. The lights flickered, hurting Dani’s eyes. With each flicker the lights grew cold, the corridor grew longer. Space warping. Shoes splashing into rising water. The current makes it harder to traverse.

“Riley?!” Dani called out through the tunnel. Pause. A Scream. Running faster, filled with trepidation they move. As fast as their bodies can through the raging current. The scream gets louder. A blinking of lights, they reach the scene. Almost frame by frame. Riley is trying to dodge the digital monster’s limbs, splashing around in a panic. Calumon hides in his hood and cries out in fear. Claws grip onto his waist and he screams again. His eyes catch onto Dani’s, reflecting the fear and terror back. Kain moves without thinking, pulling his staff from his cape. A large fireball crashes into the squidlike demon. It roars in agony, clutching onto it’s face as fire takes it. Seeing this opening Riley bolts, trying to use the current to gain any semblance of speed. It feels as if a few feet are miles. His legs can’t seem to take a proper stride and he fumbles hard through the knee deep waters. “Riley!” Dani shouts at the top of her lungs, out stretching both her arms to him. She runs forward to him, not caring if Kain screams at her to stay back. Only keeping her brother safe mattered to her. Riley stumbles forward, water in his eyes and head pounding. He sees Dani running towards him. He forgets his resentment, his anger, his fear in this moment and he cries out for his big sister. Arms reaching for her. “Dani!”

So close. 

But they don’t reach. A tendril shoots from the darkness and wraps itself around Riley. Both Riley and Calumon are  wretched backwards. Riley’s goggles sent flying. Dani helplessly watches as her brother gets pulled away into the darkness. What she thought was darkness. What was a darkened tunnel was in actuality a rift of some kind. Seeing this, Riley struggles hard against his captor. As hard as he thrashes it’s not enough, only getting one arm free. He continues to reach for Dani in desperation.

“Dani! Help me! Dani!” He begs with tears forming in his eyes. The darkness consumes both the digimon and Riley. They disappear. Dani stands there, arms outstretched to nothing, water disappearing and air returning. But in her shock Kain jumps forwards. He holds out his hands and yells out, in rage. “Give him back, you Monster!”

 Magic sparks from his hands and he pulls his hands apart. The closing rift jerks with resistance. The Wizardmon struggles to hold the portal open. “Go Dani! I’ll follow you!” He yells back at his partner, still frozen. “Go! Now!” His words break Dani out of her paralysis. Her eyes drift to her brother’s goggles. With a nod she steels herself, takes a deep breath. Dani grabs onto Riley’s goggles. She had to get Riley back! She shouts in her mind and runs full speed and jumps through the rift. The moment Dani leaps through, Kain releases the portal and runs right behind her. 

It feels like static, cold static. It’s hard to move limbs, hard to see. Hard to breathe. Riley feels the void around him getting more and more cold. The humanoid creature continues dragging him and Calumon down. He swears he hears it laughing at him. Speaking in a language he doesn’t quite understand but he can tell what it’s thinking. It’s in the throes of victory. He has a child, he’s won. His master will praise him. Like hell he will!

He uses his free arm to hit the tendril as hard as he can. He didn’t care if the impact would shoot pins and needles down his arm “Let go of me!” He screams into the dark, hitting as hard as he can. Calumon clings to Riley before they hop off and begins to try and remove the tendril’s grip around Riley. A futile effort as the squid like monster snatches Calumon in his oversized arm. “PEST!” it shouts as it’s claws start crushing the little digimon. Calumon in turn cries out in pain from the bigger digimon’s grip. Hearing the tiny digimon cry out in pain seemed to awaken something in Riley. Something he can’t understand but he runs on instinct.

“Don’t--” Something feels like it’s burning in him. “You--” Something that he let go from deep within. “Hurt--” At this moment he didn’t care about the need to hold back. “Her!” There was no one else here. It was do or die.

His fist hits the digimon, burning white light sears the digital flesh of their captor. He screams out again in agony.  Holding this child was like holding a glowing hot stone. They try to bite through the pain but it's too much. The white light completely overwhelmed his body. Like a star in the dark and as intense.  Grappling onto the sea demon’s arm he screams out one last time. “Let us go!”

The light radiating off of him almost becomes flame like. White hot and incinerates the limb of the digimon. Data disperses as the light burns it’s arms away, running up and burning the left side. The digimon screams in complete agony to the point it rather drop its prey or die. It chooses self preservation. It darts away into the digital sea. It sounds like it’s screaming for forgiveness from someone but Riley can't make a word of it. His vision is going blurry.

Calumon, now retreats to the boy. They cling onto his hoodie and cry out to him but he’s fading. Both in a literal and figurative sense. His eyes glaze over as the light begins to fade away. Calumon knew they had to do something. Riley saved them. They had to save him back. They can’t last here, Riley definitely can’t last here. They close their eyes and the gem on their forehead glows. Calumon doesn’t know what they’re doing but all they do know is that they had to save Riley. Bring him somewhere safe. The remains of Riley’s light merges with Calumon’s. A force pushes them upwards. Away from the darkness.  

There's a brief resistance the closer they get to the light. Before it feels like they shattered through a glass wall. The small white digimon opens their bleary eyes. and sees now they are in the digital stream, the current of a network. Calumon feels relief before they lay themselves on the now unconscious Riley's body. They too needed rest. Unaware of what their power had done.

Wherever they drift too, it was better than the darkness they escaped.

[sabraeal]

Through the Wringer

Go For Broke | Previous

Obiyuki AU Bingo Mystery AU

“So let me get this straight.” Suzu heaves a sigh like a pair of cement shoes, nose pinched between a pair of fingers so long and spindly that if he moved them together with the other eight, spiders would start jawing on about his fine set of gams. “You just...gave her the paper.”

“Gave is a strong word.” Obi kicks his heels up, dirt crumbling right onto the placard that reads SUZU EASON, ADJUNCT. “I showed her the stuff, and she took ‘em.”

Right out of his hands too, so quick he’d hardly had time to blink. That Nowakoski girl had some fight to her, that’s for sure.

“And by ‘she,’ you mean our murderess,” Suzu snips, waving his hands. “Get your boots off my desk! This is-- this is an academic institution, not some-- some speakeasy or something.”

He slants his smirk the way he knows will drive his favorite almost-professor crazy. “They don’t let you do it at bars either.”

“Then I cannot fathom why you think you can do this here, to my very own desk!” Suzu frowns down at the worn desktop, running his fingers over the grooves of the hundred despairing adjuncts that came before. “I just got the thing, Obi, I want to keep it nice for at least a little while.”

He gives it to him, dropping his soles back down to the dirt. The egghead looks like he could use the break.

“And stop smiling!” Suzu huffs, brushing the clay and gravel off after him. “You just let a murderess take our only proof that Kain Wisteria may have died of something other than an unlucky break in Amiens.”

Obi waggles a finger at him “You’ve been hanging around that fussy grouch box and his rocks, haven’t you?”

Suzu puffs up, using all six foot, four inches of him to be just as intimidating as Raggedy Andy. “Professor Lata is a tenured professor.”

Obi doesn’t have the heart to tell him that’s not as impressive to all the non-eggheads outside.

“And he’s the geology chair,” he continues, as if that’s helping matters. “So his opinion--”

“Ah.” Obi fishes a wrapper out of the trash, the spicy scent of hot pastrami still thick on the air. “He bought you lunch.”

Suzu deflates, eyes skittering away from Obi’s grin. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”

“Seems to me like you’re taking pages out of his book,” he says as Suzu snatches the paper out of his hands, crumpling it back down into the trash. “Being a real grouch, I mean.”

“I’m not-- I’m not being grouchy!” he hisses, mouth pulled thin. “Do you know how much trouble I could get into for all this? You told me this would just be a little favor and now--” he throws up his hands-- “I didn’t even ask Shidan for permission! We’re sitting on a-- a ticking time bomb of a theory that you just gave to a murderer.”

“Oh come on.” He shrugs beneath the weight of his trench. “She didn’t kill anyone.”

Suzu’s as pale as they come in this city, so it’s a real light show when he gets hot and bothered. Which he is right now, if Obi can tell his colors.

“And which head made that deduction?” he grits out. “I’ve practically staked my career on this-- by accident-- and now our only proof is in the hands of--”

“Hey.” A head sticks around the corner, wearing a face so cute someone could slap it on a doll and it’d sell like hotcakes. “So this is where you’re hiding out.”

“Oh!” Suzu presses a hand to his chest, clutching at the cotton of his button-down. “It’s just you, Yuzuri. Can you tell Obi that he can’t just--”

“I’m not here to get involved in your lover’s quarrel.” Her hands hook on her hips, right where her sweater meets the swell of a decent pair of hips. “Shake a leg, mister. You’re needed down in reception.”

Suzu blinks. “Wha?”

Yuzuri’s mouth purses, sour, accentuated by the vibrant blush of her lipstick. Most earthly creatures could only aspire to be in Haki Arluleon’s league, but the department’s secretary certainly comes closer than most. “Kihal Guerreiro is down there reenacting Sunrise Over Okinawa.”

Obi tilts his chair back, mind grinding through his memories like a freight train through a signal gate. “Isn’t that the one where the girl burns down--”

“Sure is.” She fixes Suzu with a glare. “And it’s your fault.”

Ah, the girl’s got spunk. No wonder Suzu’s so stuck on her.

The aforementioned adjunct gapes. “M-me? I’ve never met her in my life! I don’t know anyone famous!”

Yuzuri cocks her hip in a way that clearly says, yeah, pull the other one, too.

“Okay, well,” he hedges, “I did see Rita Hayworth having an ice cream once. But that’s it, I promise!”

“I don’t care if you saw Hedy Lemarr dancing naked on Rodeo,” she snaps. “That woman is down there kicking up a real fuss because of you.”

Suzu goes whiter than a sheet that’s shook hands with Clorox. “You haven’t-- you haven’t told Shidan, have you?”

She barks out a laugh. “I didn’t have to. She’s down there reading him the riot act as we speak.”

“Oh.” Obi’s seen poltergeists with more solidity than this post-doc. “Oh no.”

“So you better get down there lickity-split,” Yuzuri tells him, “or else I’ll tell her where you live.”

She turns on her heel, real neat, like some of the flyboys did in their birds, showing off that long seam up that back of her nylons before she slams the door behind her, hard enough to rattle a diploma off the wall.

“Oh hell,” Suzu breathes, hands digging runnels through his hair. “Oh hell, I’m in for it now.”

“You know,” Obi muses, gaze lingering on the door. “I like that dame.”

Suzu sighs. “You would.”

Reception’s never been a quiet place; the secretaries are always typing away like gunfire, writing up the department’s next magnum opus or fielding calls that have them cradling their receiver like another appendage, but today it’s certainly, well--

Louder.

“Listen here, Mister.” The words ring off the walls like an air raid siren, spoken from the diaphragm with true talent. “My friend has been calling your office for days, and she hasn’t heard from a single person who can give her an answer for this.”

Obi rounds the corner just in time to see Tinsel Town’s rising star shove a paper right into the professor’s chest, blue eyes blazing with a fire that would put Dresden to shame.

She’s dynamite up close; an Amazon straight off the isle with the stilettos she’s wearing, staring Shidan straight in the eye without having to crane her neck. Every inch of her is as dangerous as the femme fatales that have made her a household name, but still--

He’s hardly paying attention to her. Hard to, when her shadow’s got hair so red it practically blazes.

“My apologies, Miss Guerreiro,” Shidan soothes blandly, gaze hooded with the kind of weariness only a chair could muster. “I would normally be happy to answer any questions one of the public may ask, however--” his mouth pulls thin-- “I wasn’t even aware that one of my fellows had undertaken such an investigation.”

Suzu stiffens beside him, knuckles white where they grip the corner. “Well,” he breathes, backing away. “That’s my cue--”

“Why look.” Shidan’s gaze snaps over his shoulder, fixing Suzu as thoroughly as formaldehyde. “Here’s my fellow now. Suzu--” his teeth flash as quick as gun cotton-- “why don’t you come over here and explain yourself to this nice young woman.”

Suzu gulps, throat making a hollow thunk. “Ah...of course, Professor Weise.”

Obi’s not the kind of guy that leaves a man behind, but as Suzu shuffles his sad-sack self into the fray, he finds himself diverting from the flight plan, circling right around to where a high-necked blouse and Mary Jane bobs worriedly in Guerreiro’s wake.

“Well, well, well.” She jumps, turning those big eyes toward him, green as any of the arsenic bottles in the lab’s cabinet. “If its isn’t our winsome Wisteria heiress. Funny seeing you here.”

Her mouth pulls thin. “Oh. It’s you.”

“It’s me,” he agrees, slipping up beside her. She smells nice, something floral and vanilla that clings to her hair and makes him think of cookies at grandma’s. “I gotta say, Miss, for a humble war nurse, you sure got friends in some very high places.”

She huffs, arms crossing over her chest. “For your information, we met long before she got into show business.”

“That so?” he hums, hiking up a brow. “Now that you mention it, she was in one of Kain Wisteria’s flicks, wasn’t she? That one about the South Pacific.”

“She was in three,” the little miss corrects primly. “But the one you’re looking for is Sunrise Over Okinawa.”

He snaps his fingers. “Right, it came out just as I...”

She turns, all question.

“Ah, never mind,” he coughs. “Seems like Wisteria sure liked her work, if he kept using her like that.”

“Mm.” Her face crumples with the shadow of concern. “He did. He told her that with a little more work, she could be his muse.”

“Hah.” Obi lifts his hat, scratching at the back of his head. “That man liked his muses.”

Her knuckles blanch where they grasp her elbows. “He sure did at that.”

“You know, I’m surprised he didn’t try to put you in one of his flicks.” He grins down at her. “You might not be no Veronica Lake, but you got that Judy Garland look.”

Something happens to her face, so quick he can’t catch more than a ripple of it before it’s gone. She turns to him, shoving a paper into his hand.

“Here’s your report back,” she says, the words trembling. “You might want to be more careful where you leave these things.”

She glances at him, and he hears loud and clear: or who you leave them with.

“Right.” He glances down, catching the coroner’s letter head, stark and official under the university’s warm light. “Hey, ah, if you’re having trouble, I could get you in to see my friend.”

The girl whips back to him, wide-eyed, staring like maybe he’s missing a couple of sandwiches from his picnic basket. “I...appreciate the offer, detective.”

“Obi,” he offers, giddily.

“Obi.” Her mouth parts just slightly, uncertain. “But isn’t he right there? I could just ask him myself.”

“Well, sure,” he wheedles, “but that’s no guarantee he’ll talk to you. You know these egghead types. Insular.” He leans in, flashing a smile that could charm the hose off a Hepburn. “But me, I can put a good word in for you.”

She hums, hose still snug. “That so.”

“Sure thing.” He nods toward the charlie foxtrot happening hardly two yards from where they’re standing. “I could go up there right now and ask for you. I’m sure he’d be happy to do me the favor.”

“Of course he would,” she huffs. “He’s having a strip torn off him from both sides. Thank you very much, Mister...Obi, but I think I can wait.”

“Not at all.” He grins so wide the Cheshire Cat would go green with envy, and he’s rewarded with a look so wary that Wisteria’s pet cop would slap him in irons just to head him off. “Good thing for you, Miss, I don’t have any shame.”

She blink. “What? No, you can’t--”

He steps right up to the Western Front, marked by Guerreiro’s sharp elbow and says, “Hey, Suzu, this is the girl I was telling you about. Miss Nowakowski. She’s got some questions about that report you gave me.”

Suzu goggles at him. “Ah, sure, pal.” His mouth pulls into a rictus grin. “I’d--I’d love to meet her. Why don’t we all just go up to my office--”

“No need.” The red head shoulders through, nearly knocking him off his feet. She might be a tiny thing, but she stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of them like she’d the tallest personality in the room. “I only came here to say that I’m giving permission to exhume the body.”

Shidan chokes. “I-- I’m sorry? I don’t think I heard that--?”

“I’ve already put in the request at the precinct,” she explains, shoulders square she she stares them all down. “But I want to come down here as request personally that you do the toxicology report, Mr Eason.”

“Oh, I-- I don’t-- I’m not--” Suzu pants, hand hooks in his sweater vest-- “I don’t have the authority for that, Miss.”

“But I do.” Shidan stares down at the lot of them, his mouth in a thin line. “I think we should be discussing this in my office. Come this way, Miss Nowakowski, Miss Guerreiro. It seems I’ve missed a few crucial conversations.”

[pof203]

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Quotes Kingdom Heats Edition (Sora)

Before I begin, I just thought I’d let you know that this could be some great fanfiction material. Like somehow, Sora found his way from the Final World to World B. He was actually summoned there to a fighter for Materia just as Young Xehanort is summoned to fight for Spiritus. Sora’s friends (except for Mickey, Donald, and Goofy) were summoned by Materia as well in hopes that fighting for her will help them find a way for them to bring Sora back home. She would send him home herself, but the power of waking is unknown to her as well as Spiritus. Well, without further ado, here are Sora’s quotes.

To other characters:

Warrior of Light: “Aren’t we on the same side?”

Garland: “It’s not all about destruction, you know!”

Firion: “I have a lot of Keyblade. Does that mean I’m like you?”

The Emperor: “Unless you have big round ears, you’re no ruler of mine.”

Onion Knight: “I started my journey at a young age, too.”

Cloud of Darkness: “Sorry, one being from the Darkness at a time.”

Cecil Harvey: “You’re a king? Are you friends with Mickey?”

Kain Highwind: “Hey, your last name reminds me of our ship.”

Golbez: “You’d be surprised how far hope can get you.”

Bartz Klauser: “Hey, my blade changes, too!”

Exdeath: “Even your name doesn’t seem right.”

Gilgamesh: “I think you and I will be good friends.”

Terra Branford: “If you don’t want to fight, I won’t make you.”

Kefka Palazzo: “Clowns. Why’d it have to be clowns?”

Locke Cole: “I have a promise to keep, too.”

Cloud Strife: “Don’t hold back, Cloud, give it all you got!”

Tifa Lockhart: “Are you still looking for Cloud?”

Sephiroth: “Not you again!”

Squall Leonhart: “You won’t get me this time, Leon!”

Rinoa Heartilly: “Nice dog. Can I pet him?”

Ultimecia: “Oh great, a Maleficent wannabe.”

Laguna Loire: “If I win, will you write something about me?”

Zindane Tribal: “It’s showtime!”

Kuja: “I know mermaid songs more cheerful than yours.”

Tidus: “How long was I away from home?”

Yuna: “I thought you were in Radiant Garden.”

Jecht: “Our next match should be in Blitz Ball.”

Shantotto: “You and Donald should talk.”

Prishe: “Fighting me barehanded? You must be tough.”

Vaan: “You may fly the skies, but I fly the stars.”

Gabranth: “I know I can win this trial.”

Vayne Carudas Solidor: “No fair, you’re not even using Drive Form!”

Lightning: “My friends are my power, too.”

Snow Villiers: “You’re not related to Riku, by any chance.”

Y’shtola Rhul: “I was trained by Merlin himself.”

Zenos yae Galvus: “How do you walk in that thing?”

Noctis Lucis Caelum: “I see, you have someone you wish to find, too.”

Ardyn Izunia: “And I thought Master Xehanort was cooky.”

Ramza Beoulve: “Let’s see who’s the better swordsman.”

Ace: “Cards? Do you know someone named Luxord?”

Sora: “It was funny the first time, but now this is getting ridiculous!”

Riku: “In the end, I guess it will always be between us.”

Kairi: “Of all people, why’d it have to be you?”

Roxas: “Time to show me... who you really are!”

Lea: “Good thing I have plenty of burn paste.”

Xion: “Xion... Just who are you, really?”

Terra: “This time, no amour.”

Aqua: “Aqua, I kept my promise.”

Ventus: “I guess our hearts meet once more.”

Young Xehanort: “It’s time to settle this!”

Shinryu: “I’ve faced worse Heartless than you.”

To Sora:

Warrior of Light: “Your Keyblade also draws on the Light.”

Garland: “Your heart is no match for my power!”

Firion: “I look forward to our hearts clashing.”

The Emperor: “Once I defeat you, your blade will serve me.”

Onion Knight: “I’ve never been a Keyblade Wielder before.”

Cloud of Darkness: “There’s more than Heartless hiding in the Darkness.”

Cecil Harvey: “I use Light as much as you do.”

Kain Highwind: “Can you throw you Keyblade as far as I can fly?”

Golbez: “You have much energy for one person.”

Bartz Klauser: “I wonder if I can copy your Keyblade.”

Exdeath: “I will use your key to open the Void!”

Gilgamesh: “Which shall win? You heart or my muscles?”

Terra Branford: “Does your Keyblade also have destructive powers?”

Kefka Palazzo: “You look like someone I can mess with.”

Locke Cole: “Don’t lose that positivity of yours.”

Cloud Strife: “Where have I seen this kid before?”

Tifa Lockhart: “Are you sure you’re okay with us fighting?”

Sephiroth: “I wonder if the Keyblade will change its mind once I defeat you.”

Squall Leonhart: “Leon? Actually, I like it.”

Rinoa Heartilly: “I hope you and this girl from your island will be happy together.”

Ultimecia: “Even the Light fades with time, my dear.”

Laguna Loire: “You brought a key to a gunfight?”

Zindane Tribal: “Some hearts were meant to be stolen.”

Kuja: “What symphony is your heart playing?”

Tidus: “Why do I feel like we’re already friends?”

Yuna: “You really see me as some fairy?”

Jecht: “Just don’t cry when you lose.”

Shantotto: “Who will fade? My stave or your blade?”

Prishe: “My Light came be as bright as yours.”

Vaan: “Your airship can go into space? Sweet!”

Gabranth: “I shall judge if your key is worthy of being a blade.”

Vayne Carudas Solidor: “Not even your light can save you from my power.”

Lightning: “Who’s idea was it make a sword shaped like a key?”

Snow Villiers: “Think you can light the darkness within me?”

Y’shtola Rhul: “I can’t wait to see what magics you have with you.”

Zenos yae Galvus: “How can you call yourself a warrior with a misshapen sword?”        

Noctis Lucis Caelum: “I wonder if one of my ancestors had a Keyblade.”

Ardyn Izunia: “Let’s match the Power of the Lucii with Kingdom Hearts.”

Ramza Beoulve: “Your hair is such a cliché.”

Ace: “You’ve been lucky so far. Let’s see how far it goes.”

Riku: “I want to see how much you’ve grown since I last saw you.”

Kairi: “Don’t hold back, Sora. I’ll show you how strong I’ve become.”

Roxas: “My summer vacation is far from over.”

Lea: “I hope you’ll have the fight memorized.”

Xion: “I hope Kairi’s feeling won’t too much of a problem.”

Terra: “I can see why you and Riku are good friends.”

Aqua: “Show me the true strength of your heart.”

Ventus: “I can throw the Keyblade better than you can!”

Young Xehanort: “Even after all this, you still understand nothing.”

About Summons

Ifrit: “It’s Jafar with horns!”

Shiva: “I’m not used to the cold.”

Ramuh: “Is this what they mean by “spark of brilliance”?”

Odin: “En gard!”

Leviathan: “I live on an island. Swimming’s no problem.”

Alexander: “Cool! I can have my own castle!”

Bahamut: “I think I almost summoned you once.”

Summoning

Ifrit: “Set this world ablaze!”

Shiva: “Send them into a deeper freeze!”

Ramuh: “Bring on the storm!”

Odin: “Cut us down a path!”

Leviathan: “Suck them in the surf!”

Alexander: “Let the judging begin!”

Bahamut: “Give me strength!”

[druidx]

A Bad Start

Context: I’ve finally got around to watching Star Wars: Rebels, about a year and a half after it was recommended viewing for the SW RPG I was playing at the time. And it got me thinking about the character I played, Cookie, and how I’d never really committed anything about her to “paper”. So, as an attempt to cure my writing blockage, I thought I’d write a short fic about the incident that forced her and her definitely-not-a-Jedi Master Darruhl Kain (played by a friend) joined the crew of the Soaring Saladin. If there’s interest, I might write more about her. She was fun to play. Warnings: Threat of fantasy violence, allusions to drug-taking and alcohol imbibing, wanted persons

It started like any other day. Pela slunk through the streets of Eedu, between grand buildings dilapidated by the constant mists, besides those who used the Force to hide their true selves. She took twisting turns through the close-knit streets, sweeping around puddles in the broken road and over rampant vines, her head down and face covered over by the dun headscarf. Tiny, unremarkable Pela, in her scrappy, piecemeal clothes. A pale, pathetic human on a planet of strong and fine-boned Dathomirir. 

Finally out of that ever-present mist, turning to fire in the setting sun, rose her target – a rusting metal dome from which spilt laughter and music. Folk left the place, swaying under the influence of drink or drugs. Some made their way back to the spaceport, hidden behind warnings and fences. Others, often in the company of others, drifted into the main streets of Eedu. Pela watched them all from the shade of a tree, dark eyes flicking over each person, feeling the whorls and eddies of Force that flowed through the area, as her Master had taught. The biggest pull was from inside the rusted cantina, so on she went, moving like a wraith – pale and sickly on light feet. Inside, the cantina was dim. Pela pulled off her gloves, stuffing them into her bag. The pulse of the music was strong, a heavy beat that pushed at her skin. She stilled and centred herself, letting the beat slide past her, like a heartbeat, smelling the incense and the unwashed bodies of a dozen different species and cultures. She walked forward, gliding through the crowds. A touch on an elbow. Ghosting over a neck. The caress of a lekku. Each opened a new world to her, seen through the eyes of those she graced. This one was shipping power cells. She tucked the information away – it might be handy later. That one was meeting a mistress. Less useful, but maybe someone would pay for the information. Still, there was that pull of the Force... Tricky to nail down, it wafted like an exotic spice – muted burgundy against the wash of muddy blue, moss-green and umber – calling, whispering to her. Pela wound her way through the crowds, eager to follow the pull. It led her towards a booth at the centre of the cantina, wherein sat a tall figure, enveloped in coarse black robes. They must have something of great worth, she thought, padding up. The wraith let her hand drop, intending only to trail her fingers over the back of a wrist. The moment she did so, there was the snap of a static discharge. Pela's eyes widened. That wasn't supposed to happen... The figure pulled away, looking up at the terrified girl. Red eyes met hazel. Pela's mind rang with unknown words; a sensation of something new and fully formed existing where it shouldn't, crowding her mind. Before he could shout, Pela was off, barging through the crowd to the cantina's exit. Her breath came in spurts, her heart hammering louder, faster than the music. Her head whirled, trying to make sense of what happened, of the fact she'd stolen a full memory, that she'd stolen from someone important. A call rang out behind her. The wraith whimpered. He was coming for her.

"Master!" Pela cried, slamming the door closed behind her. "Ah, there you are," said a tall Zabrack, walking into the living area from the kitchen, "Ishtar called by to ask how you were getting on with their shield oscillator-" "Master, we have a problem. We have to leave. Now!" She raced past the confused Zabrack, into the kitchen, pulling out packets of dry food and cramming them into her pack. "Pela?" he said. When she didn't respond, he marched over, gripping her shoulders and twisting her around. "Pela! What happened?" "Oh! Master! There's a man. He's coming for me. I stole something, with the Force, I didn't mean to! It just happened, it jumped from his mind, and now he's following me, I know he is and he's going-" "Slow down! Slowly now, what happened?" "Master Darruhl, please. We don't have time-" Pela paled further as a heavy banging sounded on the door to their tiny apartment. Darruhl glanced at the door and back to his student. "Yes, I sense it too," he said to the unspoken question in her eyes. The banging came again. "Quickly now, girl." The Zabrack pushed Pela towards the kitchen's large window. "Get to the roof, and be calm, as I have taught you. Once I've rid us of this person, we'll leave. Now, go! Go!" Pela slipped through the window and out onto the ledge. She crouched a little, then pushed up, using the Force to propel herself to the next ledge and the next, landing with little grace on the roof of the building.

Satisfied his student was safe, Darruhl pulled off his trousers, wrapping the outer robes of grey around himself as though hurriedly pulled on, before answering the door. "Yes, yes," he snapped, looking up at the large black droid on his doorstep. "What is it? I was sleeping, you know." "Apologies for disturbing you sir," said the guard droid. "Are you Darruhl Kain?" "And if I am?" the Master asked. "Do you associate with one 'Cookie' Crom? First name unknown." Darruhl shook his head, wishing the guard hadn't been a droid. People were so much easier to manipulate. "No, I don't know anyone of that name," he told the droid, trying to keep his heart-rate under control. "Then perhaps you have seen this person? She was observed entering this housing block." The droid brought up a holovid of a waif, all narrow gangly limbs, with her head and part of her face obscured by a dark scarf. Again, Darruhl shook his head. "Can't say that I have. Though that picture isn't much to go by. What've they done, anyway?" "This person is accused of stealing something very valuable from one of Dathomir's guests in the spaceport." "Well, I can't help you," Darruhl said. "I suggest you cease lying," came a new voice from behind the droid. The security droid looked over his shoulder. "Sir, I agreed to your accompaniment as a gesture of goodwill," the droid said. "I detect no irregularities with this gentleman's answers. I request you leave the police-work to me." "I have elected to ignore your request," said the new voice. The droid was forced to the side by some unseen hand, it's metal feet squealing on the concrete passageway. It voiced some complaint, but Darruhl had stopped paying it any attention. A figure, swathed in black robes stepped into the doorway, forcing the Zabrack back a few steps. Darruhl sniffed the air. A Sith. Of all the people his student could have tanged with, it had to be a Sith... "I know she's here," said the sith, his voice cold and smooth as ice. "Hand her over. I want back what she stole." "I don't know what you're talking about," Darruhl said, his hand going to the lightsaber at his belt. "It's just me here. I suggest you leave on your own or I will throw you out." The sith had been reaching for his weapon, but now paused, his eyes flicking around the apartment. He looked back at the Zabrack. "Perhaps she has indeed departed, but she was here. Make no mistake, Darruhl Kain: I will find my thief, and will take back what she has stolen, with all the Force at my disposal." With that the sith turned in a dramatic billow of robes, stalking out of the apartment. Darruhl watched him retreat down the corridor before closing the door. A sith. He closed his eyes and heaved a sigh. Why, by the Force, did it have to be a Sith? He walked back to the kitchen, activating his comlink. This was no longer a simple case of moving a few cities over... "Pela?" he called through the 'link. "Yes, Master?" came her timid reply. "Get back in here. We need to pack."

~*~*~ "Do you really think this will work, Master?" Pela asked as the two stood near a star freighter, waiting for the ship's captain to appear. Night had truly fallen now, the warm mist leaving dew on Pela's shoulders. It muffled and obscured everything around them, the lights of the spaceport creating pearly spears of light that illuminated nothing and everything. "Yes, my student, I do." The older man stood tall, confidence radiating from him, as Pela tried not to huddle at his side. She cast furtive glances into the night, seeing with more than her eyes, as her Force Master continued, trying to allay her fears. "Once spaceborne, we will be constantly on the move, never spending more than a few days on each planet or station. It is a big galaxy out there, my dear. Only the best bounty hunters would ever hope to catch up with us. I doubt very much that this Sith has skill nor patience to track us down." "Track me, Master," the human said, her tone unhappy. "Perhaps it would be best-" Darruhl turned, gripping his student by her frail shoulders. "Pela, I may be many things, but an apostate is not one of them. I will not abandon you. Not now, not ever. Do not suggest such a thing again!" Pela sunk into herself, averting her gaze. "No, Master. Of course not. I apologise." Darruhl let out a pained sigh. He'd long since given up on trying to convince his student she need not cower or apologise to him. Instead, the Zabrack chucked her chin, then rested his forehead carefully against hers, mindful on his horns. "Trust in the force, my student," he said. "Let it guide you, let it be your strength. Remember who we are." He began chanting, his voice lilting in the cadence of one who has spoken the words many times before. Pela joined in, her voice tremulous at first but swelling with quiet confidence, "I am the dividing line. I am the place where two halves meet. In my left hand, I wield the darkness; in my right hand, I wield the light. The Force is my center, and I am the center of the Force. The sword I wield is grey, the line between the light side and the dark. On its edge, I hang the needs of the Force. For I am the balance, the symmetry, and the harmony. I am the Grey." They drew away from each other then and Pela felt her Master's Force presence surround her, as warm as any hug. "Thank you, Master," she murmured, sending her own back. Beside them came the clanks and hisses of the freighter's ramp lowering. Darruhl flicked his robes free of his sabre handle, as Pela moved behind him, facing into the shimmering spaceport. "Greetings, sir," Darruhl said as a Bothan descended the ramp. "I presume you are Captain Manosh Fay-Laoy?" "Good evening to you," said the Bothan, as a blue Mon Calamari waddled down the ramp behind him and crossed her arms. "Please, call me Manny. I assume you are Darruhl Kain, the one who contacted me about leaving this delightful planet?" he added, derision heavy on the word 'delightful'. "I am, indeed. Have you considered my proposal then?" Darruhl asked. Behind the Mon Calamari appeared a T8 unit and a Trandoshan. Darruhl squinted at the Trandoshan. There was something off about the man, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it... "I have," said Manny, twisting the hair on his chin in thought. "I believe it will be an equitable exchange." He gestured to the Trandoshan, "Visq here could use some back-up, and I know I'd feel safer having another fighter aboard. I'm sure Nindan and T8 wouldn't mind help to keep the Soaring Saladin flying, either." The T8 unit trundled down next to the Mon Calamari and gave a couple of sharp, descending blips. The Mon Calamari, Nindan, nictitated her eyes. "He says he hopes your mechanic is as good as you claim because the Saladin needs a great deal of help staying in the sky." She glanced around. "Where are they?" "There is not a machine out there that she cannot coax into behaving," Darruhl said. "Isn't that right my dear?" The Zabrack stepped aside, and Pela turned. "I, ah," she stammered, flicking worried eyes at her master. He raised an eyebrow. "Now is not the time to be modest." The human ducked her head. "Yes Master," she said, her voice chary. Pela turned to Nindan, the human keeping her eyes downcast, twisting her fingers. "If... if it please you, Mem, my Master is correct. I have not yet met a mechanism that didn't respond to my assistance." Nindan narrowed her eyes and glanced down at the astromech. It gave a short ascending beep, followed by a longer descending one. It chattered a moment longer before Nindan nodded to it. The astromech trundled down the ramp and over to Pela, blooping at her demandingly. Pela took a step backwards, her eyes wide and wild. Darruhl put a hand on her shoulder. "I think our little friend here would like a demonstration," he said. "Oh." Pela crouched down. "My apologies Messer T8. Let me run a diagnostic." From her pack, the girl pulled a tool roll. She took a few deep breaths, her eyes closed, and ran a hand over the droid. T8 blipped and turned, trying to follow her hand, but she clamped her other on his top. "Please don't move." After a long moment, she opened her eyes. "Poor baby," she said, voice filled with pity. "You really need an oil bath. But here," she flipped open his front casing, fiddling with the droid's innards for a moment. "That should help stabilize your AGP array until I can look at it properly, and I think I've mended that loose through-flow – your thrusters should be a little more even in power-output now." Pela closed up the front panel and patted T8. "Feel a bit better now, sweetie?" she asked. The astromech buzzed and whirred a moment, then let out a bleep that sounded a lot like 'Yippee!'. T8 dashed over to Nindan, jabbering at her. The Mon Calamari cocked her head as she listened, then turned to her Captain. Nindan gave a burbling chuckle. "He's asking if we can keep her," she translated to the Bothan. Manny nodded, turning back to Darruhl. The Bothan grinned. "If your mechanic has T8's approval, then she has mine. Welcome aboard, Mr Kaine," Manny said, ushering the Zabrack and his human companion aboard the freighter.