#aaaugh. In the void

[its-gambit]

Allen steps through a ring portal and looks at Gambit and Ace. "Hey loves," he chuckles, absolutely feeling all the pain now.

Bonjour…

Hi..

*looks up at him drained*

[aggressivedaikons]

shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow

[autisticlalna]

i went insane in avid's comments again so here's the weekly wall of text:

the remodeled control room is supposed to get a stronger signal down into the Void-- and, potentially, to what's below it. everything glitches out like when Avid has flashbacks(?) to Limbo. Avid's confused, worried, and then glitches into his OSSHA uniform and is eerily calm. "They're not safe. I need to stop them. They can't fall in. If they fall in, I… I can't leave, I can't- I can save all of them. I will save all of them."

THEN WE HAVE THE MYSTERY ROOM. this has already been pointed out elsewhere in the comments, but that specific palette harkens back to areas under control by Olm, the Old One from the Avid Adventures series. there's a very memorable boss intro where you walk through a beautiful cathedral in darkness as tendrils of something worryingly fleshy spread across the walls and floor behind you. the fact that Olm's infection is here, of all places, is frightening-- and where IS here? is this part of OSSHA HQ? it's pretty hard to build hidden places in Skyblock, but… has this been here all along?

"Don't worry. I'll take care of you, Trog. You'll never fall in the Void again! None of them… will ever fall in the Void again." TROG'S BEEN TUBED!! THEY'VE BEEN PICKLED!! AAAUGH!! the worst part is, Trog might've been gone for a while! the last we've seen of them (in episodes / "in-character", anyway) was when they stopped by Cherry Kingdom to negotiate a trade deal, and that was… um. nearly three weeks ago. that would track with how oxidized their tube is, too.

and the thing is, Avid knows about Trog's trip to the Void. in Trog's POV, they reach the bottom of the Void, find someone there, and then get pulled back by the OSSHA station when Avid last turned on the machine. Trog told Avid about what they saw, and that might've been what spurred Avid into action to kidnap them: they got too close. Avid thinks he's protecting them (after all, the only reason they came back up was because of external influence-- what if they were trapped down there Forever? wouldn't that be awful? isn't that terrifying? Avid's doing them a favor, surely.) while his boss wants Trog out of the picture entirely before they can poke further into the carefully-constructed trap Avid is caught in.

there's still a lot to unpack that I don't have the keys to: "I can't leave", what exactly Avid saw or heard and why it pushed him to check in on Trog in stasis, how much time is lost between glitch segments (in the sense of "Avid is skipping from place to place, so we're probably skipping over things being said and things he's seeing as well"), if anyone else has been put in stasis yet.

[ask-robokasa-and-rui]

Lore Post//

It was close to midnight. Rui stayed up late to do some machine sketches. But really, the reason he was staying up so late was because he was still worried about Nene. He hasn't seen her since Mizuki died. He was getting worried.

Nene...be safe...

He was lost in his thoughts when his eyelids felt heavy. He slowly gave in and fell asleep.

He wakes up to an...unfamiliar place.

Hng...w-where am I...?

Rui gets uo and looks around. He recognizes this place as a backstage to a stage. But from where?

What is this place...?

Rui's ears then catch something. Music? Singing? He approaches the stages entrance, and peeks at the stage. On the stage were three robots. He could only recognize one of them. Tsukasa. One of the others was pink and the other was blue.

Daisy! Daisy! Give me your answer do! I'm half crazy! All for the love of you!!

It won't be a stylish marriage!! I can't! Afford! A carriage!!

Suddenly, Tsukasa's head snapped and it looked at Rui dead in the eye with void eyes.

Gah-!

But you look sweet.

The other two robots did the same.

Upon the seat.

Then the audience joined.

Of a bicycle built for two....

....what's going o-

Rui felt two hands on his face.

You're perfect...you need to join them! You must...join them.

Join us Rui Kamishiro.

...!!!

Then fingers digged Rui's skin.

No..

They dragged it...

No no no...! Stop!!

And ripped his skin apart.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! AUGH!!! AAAAUGH!!!! IT HURTSS!!!!

Suddenly a huge, hard force hit his head.

AUGH!!!

Rui was able to look up. Only to see a girl holding a hammer.

S-STOP!

The girl hit him again.

AAAAUGGH!!!

And again.

AAAUGH!!!

Again.

AUGH...Stop...stop...

The girl hit the final blow.

Rui was in so much pain. But he felt it slowly go away. He looks up to see he was in a pitch dark place with only a mirror in front of him. Rui shakily got up and went over to the mirror. When he looked at it, nothing was there.

Where am I....?

When he spoke, his eyes widened. He sounded very distorted. Almost...robotic. Rui placed his hand on the mirror only to be met with his own reflection. But it was different. He wasn't the same anymore. He wasn't RUI anymore. He was met with a robot version of himself. Rui was shocked. He placed a hand on his face, only to feel a hard, metalic surface.

....!!! No...no...

AAAUGH!!!!!! Huh-?!

He wakes up on his desk.

Heavy breathing...

Rui?! Is everything okay?!

T-Tsukasa...? Oh thank goodness...it was just a nightmare...

Oh...Night-mare! You mean like...dream but homicidal?

...yeah.

Well...don't stay up so late!! If you want I can sing you a lullaby to sleep!!

No need...I'll get to bed myself...

...Must've been a wild dream...?

Yeah...

Hm...

Tsukasa looks at the clock. It was close to midnight.

It's almost midnight! You should sleep!

I will Tsukasa...I will...

I'm just wo-...wowiowowowriiiiied!!!

Oh god you're getting all wacky again!!

Sororosoaoeoryyrroeoairory!!

Don't talk will ya... turn around so I can fix it.

BLEGH!!

Tsukasa threw up black ooze. It also came from his eye. The one with the star.

Bleeegh!!

Oh god...it's even worse now!

R...Ui...uii...!!

Hang on! Hang on! I'm fixing it!

Aauugh....it hurts...

Done!

The ooze stops leaking.

Blegh! Ow...

You good?

No...

Sigh...well...I'm going to sleep!

Can I sleep next to you? I-Incase you get a nightmare again!

...sure.

Tags: @aspenii @bobcross1010 @blankblyke @mizuribbons @mai-mai-mai @kusanagi-nene-official-mod @kiwi-does-stuff @scodscod @delartz @m3sm3r1s3r-m1ku

[th-compl-x]

"we aren’t super familiar with most of the source medias you mentioned, but if any of your fictives like talking about source and want to share favorite memories/interpretations/etc, consider this an invitation for any of them to talk about it!"

— @indigochromatic

-–— Genshin Impact —–-

🌿 Genshin, at this stage, is rather disappointing. For those of us who are aware of its existence, we're not exactly pleased with its limitations and development, presently. There's a lot of discourse in the community going on, which stresses plenty of us. We're currently losing voices (voice actors), and the game as a whole has dropped in quality to the point where it might one day be simply shut down. The Gacha industry is incredibly harsh, and it leaves a lot of room for worry. For example, what if I was never able to see my home again? The places where I met my husband or raised our child, Kalpalata? What if I could never use my own body - the avatar of myself - in the game again? When that day comes, will a part of myself disappear in that moment? It's a frightful thought. And then there are some of us who have always felt this way, to a degree. Such as Crast.

🟨 Considering my source material was more so Warframe than Genshin, it's a strange feeling "downgrading" to where my actual body and face come from. For clarification's sake, Warframe is a game with extremely movement-based gameplay. You can practically fly as a Tenno without ever needing wings. Though, we do have those as well–

🌿 And flying horses.

🟨 Yes, and flying horses, haha, but my main point is that Genshin seems to lack the most fundamental of points for me to feel "at home" in its world of Teyvat. To be frank, it's deadening. I am the equivalent of a God, or Demigod in that realm, yet myself - as a Tenno - would easily defeat my source character, Zhongli, and I am by no means "extraordinary". My power comes from experience, training, and the blessings of the Void, but Morax is but a draconic entity. The types of grandure he once possessed are long gone, and I could most-likely defeat him with a simple shotgun, not even of the Infested variety!

🌿 Ha! That would be a laugh...

🟨 But my general point is this: Teyvat is weak in comparison to so many other realms our System shares. It's a terrible means of emulating ourselves, of playing along as if we are not simply holding the controller, but are within the space, walking the paths ourselves, climbing the mountains–

🌿 ...walking the deserts...

🟨 Yes, precisely! We're held down by its lack of capability. Combat is very two-dimensional, new characters released outshine ourselves, and so our host is forced to retire us- our avatars - in order to succeed and enjoy herself. She can not play as who I am in any realistic capacity. It's truly a shame.

🌿 I, myself, am actually alright with my capabilities as a character, but our host has also had grandiose luck on her side when "building" me, in-game. My equipment has good stats, and my team is impeccable. But this can not be the same for everyone universally. At least not without a mentally grueling amount of work or a large sum of cash spent. Or both.

🐲 IT'S NO FAIR!! I WANT TO BE MY OWN BEING!! THE POWEFUL SOVEREIGN I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, NOT SOME BOY'S SUMMON!!!

🌿 Oh, here we go...

🐲 I WAS ONE OF THE COUNCIL!!! IMPORTANT!! MY LIFE HAD MEANING BEFORE I WAS REDUCED TO A PATHETIC PROJECTION OUR USELESS HUSK CALLS A "WAFFLE"!! I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!

🌿 Well, you certainly do "waffle on", don't you?

🐲 SHUT YOUR STUPID MOUTH YOU MANGY FOX!! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING TO!!? I AM—!!

🌿 "The Great K'uhul Ajaw", we know.

🐲 RRRRRR!!! AAAUGH!

��� But he does have a point. In fact, both he and Crast are goin' on about the same deal!

🟨 Oh? Are we, now?

👤 Weak dragons! You know how important those are to our host body! Haven't you stopped to consider how upsetting that must be? Not only to you and Ajaw here, but her?

🐲 HMPH! FINALLY an idiot with some SENSE!

👤 Thank you. I think.

🟨 Hmm. I see your point. You're referring to—

👤 Wuthering Waves, yes. In comparison to Genshin, that game features MANY powerful dragons, and beings overall, that could possibly even topple yourself, Mr. Apostle! Think about it: Morax is "dead" and stripped of his power, Dvalin is corrupted and trapped away in a tower, Durin - the big one - is also dead, even the giant serpent Orobashi is deceased! Every dragon, every crumb of their past civilation? Demolished. Buried. Gone!

🐲 But not in Natlan.

👤 No, not in Natlan, but most of them have been turned into Saurians, or "worse" in Jessica's opinion, were never proud beasts but strange half-snake half-human hybrids she wrinkles her nose at! It's very disconcerting... It's like her favorite childhood creature has been disgraced, and what's even stranger is the fact this all originates from a Chinese company: A country in which dragons are often seen as spiritual guides, good omens, or even gods!

🌿 Hm... I think we've all strayed rather far from the intended topic at hand.

🟨 Yes, I believe so.

🐲 OH WHATEVER!! You're all boring anyway...

👤 Well, allow me to wrap this up, then. In conclusion, our feelings about Genshin are... complicated. Some of us still "live" there, like Diluc. Others are not so lucky to be so ignorant.

🌿 What a way to put it.

👤 Meanwhile, there are some who are satisfied with their in-game capabilities, but most are not. We have to fudge the numbers a little, make sure they—

🐲 rrrrrRRRRAAAAUUUGHH!!! WILL YOU SHUT UP ALREADY!!? OR DO YOU JUST LIKE TO HEAR YOURSELF TALK!? HONESTLY!! YOUR VOICE IS SUGARING MY EARS AND MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE THERE ARE ANTS INSIDE MY BRAIN!!

👤 Man alive...!

🌿 Alright, everyone, let's wrap this up. For real, this time. I've got work to do in Gandharva Ville...

🟨 Hmm, yes. I have a tea to finish.

👤 Then let's just say this: It's complicated for those from Genshin Impact. But other franchises? Now, they might be more receptive.

KEY:

🌿 — Tighnari

🟨 — Orneus Crast, aka: "Zhongli"/"Morax"

🐲 — K'uhul Ajaw

👤 — Shikanoin Heizou

🐲 RRRRRGH!!! WHY DOES EVERYONE ELSE GET THE COOL GIF AND I GET THE DANCING BUTT PIC!?!!

H– HEY!! STOP THAT!!!

I COMMAND YOU TO— WHA—!?

🌿 . . . aaah, enough of that. Thank goodness.

[the-lonely-crow]

your gerrymichael is so fucking good especially your michael design???? your art is so. aaaugh. dissolves into the void

Ahh thank you sm i just love them a whole lot

[gaesnek]

not joking major major spoilers

honestly just the idea of hunter's campaign is so fucking sad like stabby rat running through deadly wastelands with an actually life saving package and she makes it but with the knowledge that she will soon succumb to the rot. AND THEN SHE CAN'T EVEN ESCAPE IT THROUGH ASCENSION void worm really be like nah sis can't let you outa the cycles you got some nasty ass turbo cancer LIKE AAAUGH CRYING SOBBING

major rainworld spoilers

aaaaaaugh artihunter is such a sad ship ngl like angry bomb mouse falls in love in stabby rat but then hunter's rot and aaaugh IT'S SUCH A SAD IDEA. but then if you hc that memories are retained between cycles it becomes so silly like yeah babe you'll succumb to turbo cancer and return to the cycles but i'm stuck here for good so lets spend infinity together. LIKE AAUGH

[grimzeyblogs]

learned there's bad endings to bugsnax where you let people die and if they were in love their partners have voice lines reacting to it and i don't want to live anymore now.

[duck-you-3000]

What if one day at a certain time we just all decided to agree to scream and like 4:00 on a Tuesday a million people just stood up and screamed at the void.

Idk man just what I’m thinking about

[floor-of-inhumanities]

A Chat with Grave

“How are you feeling, Locke? That last battle seemed to have taken quite the toll on you.”

The Librarian jumped and turned around, seeing the familiar set of pink eyes staring at them once again. “Ah- Grave... I thought I said not to sneak up like that. It... It makes me nervous.”

“Apologies, my dear patron. I was merely curious about your state.” Grave smiled. “You passed out right after those fixers were dealt with.”

Locke gave a small nod. “You worry a bit too much... i-if anything, I apologize I couldn’t really... thank you. Your healing abilities are a big help. I think they’re the only reason my body was able to keep standing for as long as it did.”

“I’m glad to hear that-”

“B-but... the scent of blood-”

The man gave a small shrug, still holding onto his smile. “Sorry about that~ Yet, if I can’t make them bleed, I can’t do that healing aura you know? It’s just like back in L Corp... These flowers cannot turn pink within a place with no sunlight.” Grave took hold of some of the books Locke was carrying. “I’ll be sure to make it up to you- would something sweet help you calm down? I do know you’re rather fond of the sweets Laetitia shares with everyone.” He then gave a small hum. “...Except when they’re filled with her little friends-”

“Aaaugh- don’t remind me about that...” Locke shook their head in disgust. “I... I couldn’t eat for an entire day no matter how hungry I got...”

Grave laughed a little. “Well then, perhaps I should prepare some of my homemade mochi for you then?”

“...That sounds... tempting.”

“Very well, then. Let’s get these books to the proper place. I expect you to take a nap while I make you something to eat.”

Locke froze. “...A nap?”

“Yes, you need to rest up.”

“...”

“Have those nightmares been plaguing you again? Worry not, dear Locke. They are but fragments of your imagination.”

The librarian gulped. “Y-yeah, but...”

“Perhaps Void Dream can help? You know she-”

“N-no-! Ahaha-” Locke shook their head with a wry smile. “Let’s... no.” They cleared their throat. “I’ll... just try to think happy thoughts...”

“Like the thought of eating some sakura mochi?”

“...Y-yeah... Thank you, Grave.”

[foileadeux]

YOOO holy shit!!! so fast...

@foileadeux hii

[scourge-sympathiser]

what's the jaystrike and long distance au?? im familiar with beetlebite, covenant, and firelight, but wadda bout thos 2? i think i recall jaystrike faintly but it dont come 2 mind, and the long distance 1 im completely unaware of [[u can only share 1 if u want becuz if it's a lot then i get it if u dont wanna cram it all into 1 post]

>:3€

ill start with jaystrike! ive also called it the mentor tiny AU n probly some othr stuff, i can nevr pick a single name, fun fact before i get into it is tht ive had this AU in some form or another since i waz like. 13? so thtz fun

aftr his death scourge findz himself in a strange place, a concrete expanse drenched in a thick smog that makez it near impossible to see anything just a few pawstepz ahead... Alone... the neck wound tht killed him still dripping with thick dark blood

it doesnt take long for him to start wandering, just for somthing to do.... as he walkz he startz to think, about many thingz, for the first time maybe evr he recallz the blue furred cat who stopped tigerpaw from killing him.. from there the elderly cat who shared food with & the thingz he ended up doing with the life thy had saved..... slowly he thawz, leaving not a warm heart but a void.. he comez to regret.. A Lot... he continuez walking

back in the clanz firestar is visted by bluestar in a dream- she stright up tellz him tht itz jaykitz destiny to be a medicine cat... firestar putz a lot of stock into prophecy, so. he decidez to just Make jay be the medicine cat apprentice bcuz! prophecy! & also a bit of misguided worry for his grandkit

jay is, obviously, fuckin pissed, but doesnt rly kno wht to do... hez visted in his dreamz by feathertail, who tryz to explain the importance of destiny.. but jay just cussez her out and runz away

he eventually findz himself somewhere tht is... clearly not starclan... the ground hard beneath his pawz & a thick stinking mist surroundz him until he stumblez apon a small, heavily scarred black cat, who seemz exceptionally shocked to see him, a brief extange haz the very frustrated jay full on ranting to the strange stranger

the thing about scourgez own personal hell is tht othr catz shouldnt be able to reach it- but death is a kind of sleep and afterlife a kind of dream, so jay is able to get in

scourge listenz to this young cat & realizez tht he can help him- he decidez tht he Will help him.... and so scourge introducez himself as tiny and offerz his training... jay is just kinda shocked anyone is evn giving him the chance to prove he can be a warrior! so thy begin training

as this goez on, tiny findz the haze lifting & grass finding itz way thru the concrete.. eventually hez able to find his way to the living world thru jaypaw & hang around as a ghost, using this opportunity to watch catz hunt- hez been able to teach jaypaw many [underhhanded] fighting movez, but he doesnt kno much about more practical skillz for a forest, such as hunting

also happening at this time is an increasingly exasperated feathertail frequently visting jaypaw to try and get him to accept destiny.... feathertail in this AU is jaypawz main starclan messenger bcuz she knoz firstpaw wht itz like to hav 2 giv up yr life [literally in her case] for the whimz of fate..... well, tht & she cant help but see the 3 as the kitz she nevr had in a way

part of this Waz bcuz leafpool is dating mothwing who waz feathertailz ex in this and im still super attached to tht ship but idk if ill have to change tht bcuz of her manga.....i rly rly dont wanna tbh but aaaugh off topic

eventually, jaypaw haz unintentionally earned his medicine cat name...fearful tht becoming a full med cat will ruin any chance hez got at becoming a warrior, jaypaw Panicz && runz away before leafpool can name him & goez stright to firestar and Demandz tht he hav a trial to become a warrior

it probably takez more thn just doing good at one trial but he doez become a warrior eventually! named jaystrike [an intentional refrence 2 my windclan AU scourge finchstrike lmao]

... i waz gonna also talk about the long distance AU but this got... Long..... so ill save tht until som1 else askz about it skfhskdh

[turquoisemagpie]

Healing (5)

5)

Marvin and Schneep rushed around the house looking top to bottom for clues as to where Jack was. They knew Anti would hide him somewhere simple, if not in plain sight, just to mock the other egos and their apparent stupidity. “Vhere vould he keep a body? Itz not exactly an eazy zing to hide.” “Where you’re less likely to look.” Marvin answered, “Probably in the last place you’d think of looking.” “Zo, vhere vould zat be? Vhere have ve not checked?” They paused to think, but didn’t stop scanning the rooms around them and double checking around doors. As they headed towards the stairs, Marvin suddenly had the answer. “Jack’s office!” he yelled, “Returning to the scene of the crime is always the answer in crime dramas!” “It’z alzo a common crime drama trope, if I’m zinging correctly.” The doctor added. Marvin shrugged. “Anti likes recurring themes. Why do you think he always keeps his throat cut and his clothes black?” Both the egos rushed up the stairs and stormed towards Jack’s office. They burst through the door and found Jack’s body slumped in his chair, his headphones on as if he was ready to start a video; Anti must have humorously put them on him, probably making a few snidey jokes about his inability to make videos anymore in the process. As they both lifted his body out of the chair, the doctor explained, “Lazt time I checked, Anti’s poison had clogged itzelf vithin ze spinal cord, mainly around ze cranial area… I zing zat’s vhat it’z called- anyvay, because he vas attacking hiz brain. Zo, hopefully the poison haz not moved.” “What do you need to do?” Marvin asked, laying down Jack’s body flat on the floor of the office. “Zomehow ve need to force ze poison to v-one focal point in ze body, idealy just at ze back of hiz neck, and I vill make a zmall incision in ze muscle tizzue and ze poison should drain out of him. Vonce it iz all out you can uze your magic to restart hiz syztems and bring him back to life!” Marvin’s eyebrows’ raised. The whole thing seemed like it would take a while. “Ah.” he sighed with a tone of dread, “’As easy as that’, eh?” “Yes!” Schneep barked, his voice sounding a bit more like the confident, unstoppable Doctor Henrik Von Schneeplestein, “Ve can DO Zis! Now, do you mind if I uze your top hat for a zort of drainage bucket?”

There was a long silence in the void where Anti stood. He simply stood still and listened, occasionally twitching his head towards where he heard something moving. “How̵ ͘l̵on͘g i̶s̛ ̀ìt go̧in͡g t͏o ̀ta͟ke yo̶ư ̶t̛o ̨fin͘all̸y̨ m̕a̷ke͞ ͡th̷e ̕f͠i̶r͟st ͘b̡l̨ow̛?̷ ͢I'v̶e̕ g̸o͟t a͡l͏l̛ ͘t́hȩ t̡i̧me͏ in t͝h́e͡ w̕o͢rl̷d.͝ ͝” Jackaboy kept his distance. He would try to take him down eventually, but he needed to waste time, anything to give the others a chance to save Jack. He quietly snuck around to the back of Anti, waiting for him to lower his knife so he could make a grab for it. Glancing all around the room for any signs of the hero, Anti smiled and said, “T͘hìs ch͢a̷ra͠de̵ ͜i̷s jus͢t ́w͟hat I͞'͞d̢ ͜exp͠ec̵t̸ f́rom͝ you͢, ͜Ja̛ck͞ab̡oy..̕. ̸M̕aking your͟self͘ ͟ìn̷v͠i̵şi͡b̨le,̶ ̛cow͠er̕i̷ng aw͟a͠y͞,̕ no͏t d̡oi͟ng͝ ͏a̕n̷yt̷h̨i̶ng... Time w̛aste̕r͞!́” Jackaboy took a step forward. Spotting a faint outline of his shoes indicated that his invisibility was wearing off. He needed to make his move soon. Anti continued, ̸”Įf ̀you ͞had̡n't bęen͏ wàs̷t͜in̛g͠ ͟t͞i̶m͞e, ̸wa͞i̡tiǹg͟ fo͜r͢ ̸t͘h̛e͢ '̡p͏erf͏ect̕ ͡móme͞n͞t͟', Ja̕ck w̕o̧ul̷dn't̕ ̡b͡e dead. ̀Y̡ou cou̵ld h̴ave͝ s͘ave̴d h͞i͞m..́.̴ ̴b͠u̕t ̴no.͝ Y͠ou͏ ̡went͡ c̷r͠yin̷g ͡to͜ ̕thaţ ̛fr͝aud o͘f ͠a͞ m͟a͠ǵicia̛n͝! B͞eca͢u̷s̕e ͝ḩe͘ could̵ d̕o śooo͞oo ̨mu̕ch m̀ore th̸a̵n y͞ou̧ ͡e̕ve̴r ̛co̡uld̵...͝ ͏” Jackaboy’s fists started to clench. He was two steps away from Anti’s back. “'̕Su̷pe͞r h̵er̷o' m͘y ͏A͠SS̀!” Anti spun around and swung his knife at Jackaboy. The hero dodged it and made a grab for Anti’s arm. He yanked the knife out of his hand and threw it into the darkness. Anti disappeared then reappeared behind Jackaboy and kicked him hard in the back so he was on the ground. Anti leaped on him and began to strangle him, but Jackaboy flipped his legs up and around Anti and pushed him off. Both the egos got back on their feet and began delivering punches on each other. Although Anti could glitch from one place to another, Jackaboy was precise, knowing where he would reappear and what he would do next. A pretty even fight, especially now Anti was disarmed. But Anti was a computer virus with green hair, a body of electronic energy that would never get tired, while Jackaboy Man was… just a man. Soon his punches were weaker and less accurate, his legs were starting to shake, his heart was beating uncontrollably fast, making his breathing heavy and his movements slow. Anti made more punches, each hit just as strong as his first, he even began to block each punch Jackaboy made. Slowly Jackaboy’s legs gave in and the hero was on his knees, too weak and exhausted to stop Anti’s kicks to his stomach and face. “N͘o̸t̨ ̷ąs̕ ̕'super͢' n͞o͝w̨,̢ ͜ar̸e͡ yo͝u̶?̨.̶.͜.͠” Anti gave Jackaboy one final and almost earth-shattering punch to the head, knocking the hero out. He left him lying in his own blood and tears as he walked back to the center of the void, closed his bruised up eyes and concentrated. One ‘imposter’ down, two to go.

Using what Marvin considered to be very questionable methods of pushing poison through a dead body, such as very rough back massages and even holding Jack’s body upside-down, Schneep surprisingly succeeded in driving the poison up to the neck and head. Using a clear space on Jack’s desk, they laid his body down, leaving his head hanging over the edge. “Vight!” Schneeplestein snapped as he pulled up his surgical mask, “To vork.” He pulled out a scalpel from his pocket and made a small incision at the back of Jack’s neck. Almost instantly the gloopy black substance began to drip out and into Marvin’s hat on the floor. “Not quvick enough.” Schneep sighed. He started to make smaller cuts along the first incision to get more poison to flow out. Marvin’s body stiffened suddenly as a muffled thud came from the room below him. Whatever was going on between Jackaboy and Anti was clearly getting violent. The magician’s heart sped up as he pondered if he should stay with the doctor or try to help Jackaboy. He felt like he needed to do something useful while waiting for the poison to go. He went back into Jack’s room, where he had left his suitcase all this time, and brought it back into the office. “I think I’ll make the solutions now, while we’re waiting.” he told Schneep, “Better ready than waiting.” The doctor didn’t respond; he was too focused on Jack. Marvin opened his case and thumbed through all his neatly labeled herbs and fluids. ‘Ok, focus, Marvin,’ he thought to himself, ‘Lavender aids circulatory problems… that’ll help. Some ciprofloxacin, most probably helpful- same with Ampicillin.’ His ears were starting to hiss. ‘Err… Burdock root might clean his organs a bit… maybe? Peppermint will certainly help his soar throat, but… but is it life educing?’ The hissing was getting noticeably louder, and a high pitched ringing noise joined it. Marvin rubbed his ears, but the annoying noise wouldn’t go away. As if it was coming from within his mind. ‘Ignore it. Focus. Reishi mushroom, gives oxygen. Must use that... Aaaugh, this stupid noise! Forget it… Fo͝rget͏ ít.͢ Right… err, what else? Or is that it? No. It needs more or it won't ͘wor̢k. Just a few more things… gosh, it seems like a lot. Or n͘ot e͜nough͘. I don’t know, I’m not sure. It̕'̛s n͝o us͝e.́ You can'́t ͘d̴o͡ ͜a̧ny̛ţhi͏ńg to h̛elp h̨im̷ now͜. ͝’ Marvin shook his head viciously. “Get out of my head, Anti!” he growled, “You won’t stop me.” ‘F͟ro̡m̀ ac͜comp̛lish̶i͢n̕g w͝h͜at?’ Anti hissed in his ears, ‘Yoú͘r̨̀ ̀͜wh͡ơļ̴e͡͏͘ ̴c̡͘a͢ree͟ŕ ̶̶͠i̶̸̸s ̛a͝ ̛j̴ò̧͟k̕e̶͘.̢ ́Ý̕O̡͞U a̧͞rȩ͢ ̀a j͞͏ok̛ȩ͡.̡̨̢.̢͟.̷  ͏E͜͠v̨͠e͢r͟ ̛͢n͘otì̴c̶̢͠e̶̢͞d ̢h̨͝oẃ̸̕ ỳǫu̵r̴ ͘c̶͝r͘͢͝ǫwd́͝s̀ gr̵͘o̴͏w on̷̛͜ly̷ wḩ͢en you  ̷͟͞t͏̀͠à̧k̨e̛͝ ̶th̀͡a̛t stup̷̢͝i̢d ̡͞m̴̡a̛s͟͡k͡ ́o̕f͜͟f̵͜?.̢̨..͏ ͞͏̕Théy̷ onl̸̀͢y ̨l̢ó̕v͞e͝ t̢͠͡h̵e̡ ̸͢͝f̵a̴c̶͠e,̵́ ̨ǹ͠ǫ̶͡t ͡th̵e̕ ̶͏͜m̕ą̵n̡͠͡.̸ I̴̢͏t̷'̨͝s̷ ̧̕n͘ot ͟e̸v͜͢ęn̢ ͏ỳ̵͟o̢͡ur͘͢ ̴̡̡f̕a̴̴ćè̵͟.̢.̀.͡ ̨͡it'̵̵̡s̡͞ ́J̵̀͝a̵̡c̕͠k̛͟'͏̸s.͏̴̴’ “Your face is Jack’s too! We’re all part of his image! You know that!” Marvin turned to Schneeplestein who had been silent this whole time. He was trembling wildly, staring off into nowhere, and slowly his hand, which held his scalpel, was hovering over from Jack’s neck to Schneep’s throat… He screamed as Marvin lunged on him and pulled his hand away. Marvin prized the scalpel out of his hand and threw it aside. The doctor blinked himself out of his trance and shook his head. “Stay strong, Henrik.” Marvin assured, “Stay focused. You’re doing well, you’re doing really well. Don’t listen to Anti.” ‘Ý̴ǫu͞͡ ͟͞ar̴̴̡ę̛ ̨all no̶bodies!̶̴ Wa̢͠ş̶̕h͢-̨a͏w̡͟a͠y͏s.̶ A ͘͠wa̴s͠t̡͘é̛ ̡̕͡o̢f̡͘͢ ͠͞t̛i̕͢m̨̢͠è͟.̡ ̛ N͜͡o͘͞b͏o̸̡̕d̶y̵͟ ̷̛e̕v͘e̸͘n̵͘͠ re̵m͟͜e̛̕m̵̧b̶̴̀er͢s ̧ y͢o͏u.̨̨͟… ͘͞ų̛n͜ĺ͡i̢͝k̀e̕͢ ̷̵́ m̡e͏͟. ͏T̵͡h̨́é̴y̶͟ A͘͢LL̕͜͠ ̀ŕ͝e͡͞m̶͝e̴m̵̢̛b̵̀e͜͡r͜ ̨Ań͝t̷͠i̛̕͟s̵͘͝ept̶̵͜ic̢̕e͡ỳ͡e̛!’ The doctor and the magician were about to protest until they both felt their spines crumple up to pull them both up right, like soldiers standing to attention. They felt their arms and legs go limp yet they still stood up, as if they were held up by invisible strings. As hard as they tried to snap out of it, Schneep couldn’t stop himself from retrieving his scalpel, nor could Marvin prevent himself from taking out a vial of deadly nightshade and twisting the cap off. ‘No͡w.... b̢ȩ ̵good̀ lit͟tle͟ pup̸p͘et̡s.͏..̡ and́ ̛end th͏is ͜sḩow.́.͏.́’